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Eileen P. Duggan 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m freelance writer, editor, journalist, piano teacher and dabbler in other trades too numerous to mention. I have a bachelor’s degree in music and worked for 30 years in the news business.

I’ve written 5 books, one is published so far; the others are in various stages of readiness.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Not-Ready-for-Juilliard-Players was inspired by good, bad and outrageous experiences I observed while studying music at a community college.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Arthur Conan Doyle, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Jane Austen, JR Moehringer, JK Rowling, Stephen King.

What are you working on now?
A detective series set in Maplewood, Missouri, featuring a female private detective who is a former journalist and lawyer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still to be determined!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go ahead on and do it. There are umpteen books, magazines, blogs, classes and seminars about how to write. But at some point, you have to stop reading about it and just do it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Go ahead on and do it.

What are you reading now?
Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Doing more book writing and less client work. And publishing the books I’ve already written.

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 (Stephen King)
Mansfield Park (Jane Austen)
The Tender Bar (JR Moehringer)
The next Tana French book

How long am I going to be stranded?

Author Websites and Profiles
Eileen P. Duggan Website
Eileen P. Duggan Amazon Profile
Eileen P. Duggan Author Profile on Smashwords

Eileen P. Duggan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Perry Kay 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Perry Kay and I like to call myself a dark and twisty writer. (Grey’s Anatomy reference if you can’t tell) My first love will always be ‘words’. In fact, writing is what got me through my pretty eventful life. I’ve published my first book recently and I plan on publishing many more.
In my adolescent years, I was diagnosed with Mental Illness, including Depression, PTSD, and Anorexia. I’ve been to “Grippy Socks Jail” (psych ward) more times that I can count. I love bringing my struggles to life using vivid imagery in my writing or poetry.
I love using strange metaphors to bring my experiences to life. Sometimes people find it hard to find the meaning in some of my abstract expressions but I like it that way. When I write, all my defenses melt away and it’s just me and the paper. So, welcome to the secret world of Perry’s brain.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book is titled “Beautiful Heartbreak.” Beautiful Heartbreak is a book of poems about Mental Illness. Through my recovery journey I’ve used writing to help me through the dark times and also help others. I like to think my poetry makes people feel validated and less alone. The inspiration behind the title was an epiphany I had while in the hospital. I realized that all the pain and heartbreak I’ve been through is what I use to now create art. That’s why the title is “Beautiful Heartbreak.” Pretty ironic, I know.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unlike most authors, I don’t edit my poems. I don’t make a plan before I write. I don’t want to ruin the beauty that will spill straight from my heart. I pick up my pen and start writing and usually a beautiful story will unfold. I like to think of writing as a raw art. I love imperfection and flaws because the fact is, we all have flaws. Besides for grammatical corrections, I don’t edit any of the expressions or sentences. I firmly believe that whatever I wrote first was meant to be written.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing up as an Ultra-Orthodox jew, I only had access to books written by Orthodox Jews. Most of these books center around “acceptable” topics, and totally avoid romance, abuse, or mental illness. There was one book however titled “Dancing in the Dark” by Shoshana Mael (who I believe is a social worker) that made me feel somewhat understood. I read that book so many times, I could almost recite it by heart. The book centers around abuse, mental illness, and healing.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a book about my Eating Disorder recovery journey. Last year I spent two whole months in the psych ward, being treated for severe Depression & Anorexia. As lame as it sounds, I kept a journal. I wrote about everything that happened and believe me, it was wild. Wherever I go, fun goes too.
Most Eating Disorder books and movies either glamorize eating disorders, which is very dangerous or serve as a how-to guide. In my book I am avoiding mentioning numbers like weight, calories, or mentioning specific behaviors. I don’t want to inspire others to be sick. I want to inspire others to choose recovery. I want to tell my story of how I replaced the void I was left with when I gave up control.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not that familiar with marketing and am actually struggling with that. I do have a Mental Health tiktok account with a following of 42k and I have been trying to promote my book there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author myself but the advice I have is: do it. I learned that it doesn’t hurt to try. I reach out to every Magazine that reviews books. I reach out to influencers and bloggers. I’m a little shy when it comes to speaking up but I’m learning to break through that barrier. Just go for it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Yesterday is heavy, put it down.” I can safely say my life hasn’t been the same since I heard that. I was in rehab struggling with flashbacks and PTSD. There is not much you can do to avoid those, but whenever I did have control I chose not to let the past dictate me. Everyday is a new day, but if you are not doing anything to change, yesterday will be just the same. My past is what shaped me, it still haunts me occasionally. I don’t let it ruin my future. I realize that the memories only have power in my head.

What are you reading now?
To be honest, I am not reading any books right now. I am going through all of my old journals from my darkest times. I’m trying to get into the role of the sick me. I need to do it for the book I’m writing. I don’t allow myself to spend too much time a day dwelling on it, because I don’t want to ruin my progress. However, it’s really been super empowering to look back at the younger me and not be able to relate anymore. I am in a much better place and I am so proud. All I want is, to spread the hope and inspiration to everyone struggling.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a lot of dreams for my future as a writer. I like to think my writing is powerful and has the ability to change people. I’m hoping to get my name out there so I can have an effect on more people. I’d love to hopefully one day, be invited to events where I can speak to younger people and inspire them. I have a lot to share and I’m hoping the world will make space for me to do that.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That sounds super nice honestly. No phone, no humans, just me and the books. I’d definitely bring “Dancing in the Dark”, “Diary of Anna Frank”, and “Room”.

Author Websites and Profiles
Perry Kay Amazon Profile

Perry Kay’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Liz Breen 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing for four years and have written five books with a writing partner under the name E.G. White and I’m currently writing my third solo novel. I’m a mum of three and wife who’s a teacher. I live on the south coast of England in a seaside town called Brighton. I have four cats and I’m a vegetarian.
Writing for me has become part of my everyday life. I write at least a paragraph every single day.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Inside Isla’ came to me while I was driving to work. It’s my first novel and I honestly have no idea where the idea came from. I wrote the first draft in a frenzied three weeks and couldn’t type fast enough. I sometimes doubt I even wrote it, merely typed up what came into my head. I love this book. I think it deals with big themes and has heart.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I do stay up at night sometimes, though, and write until 3 am.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Kate Atkinson and Marian Keyes, They are both extremely different writers but I have a very varied taste in books.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel called, ‘The Cleaner’. It’s about a single mother who cleans for a rich family in London and she gets close to, Jared, the husband who works from home.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Freebooksy and Awesome Gang. I also use smaller promotions sites like Indies Today. I have also used Just Kindles.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going! Writing is a lonely and difficult thing to do. I think it was Jodi Picoult who said, you can’t edit a blank page. I would urge anyone to just get a first draft written and then think about smoothing it over and making it a beautiful piece of work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
What people think of my writing is none of my business. I think writing without worrying about what people will think is so important.

What are you reading now?
Stephen King on Writing. It’s an excellent book to read when working on a project.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m only at the foot of the mountain, so more writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Life after Life by Kate Atkinson.
The Pursuit of Happiness by Douglas Kennedy.
How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Anything by Agatha Christie.

 

Prashanth Chakkula 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Prashanth Chakkula, I am from India. I am working in the tech sector and always love exploring new ideas. I am a successful corporate professional who dons life roles with enthusiasm. I love playing outdoor games and a few indoor games, a jack of many sports but master of none.
The other side of silence is the first-ever book written by me. I am currently working on my second book related to an entirely different zone than the first one.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Other side of silence- the hidden strength by Prashanth Chakkula is the name of the current book. A couple of years ago, I went to a destination in South India where a few incidents have inspired me. When I understood the incidents that happened at that place felt spiritual. I researched a bit and got to know that there is some syndrome in medical terms. I developed a fictional story out of it to prove some interesting points.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No I do not have any unusual writing habits

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Situations around me and my experiences while growing have influenced me to write up a story.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a science fiction adventure book, putting in all the experiences I faced while traveling destinations in India.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome gang, Instagram, Facebook

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Many thoughts will do rounds in our brains while starting up a new book. My experience is when we start writing, one day or the other, we will get the motivation and flow to complete the efficient script.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do not stop though you fail.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Untitled science fiction in the zone of Adventure.

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 only book I read till date was The Alchemist, and I wrote The Other Side of Silence
Probably I might take those two books.

 

Silvi Stamen 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Balchik Secret is my first book and honestly my favourite story.

I was inspired to write it during the last lockdown, when I was isolated with my husband and three cats.
Besides writing, full-time work and cats I am also a devoted gardener, who has a passion for travel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Balchik Secret – one interesting story that I found on the Internet inspired it. It was about Mary Queen of Romania and the beautiful castle that she had build in the small seaside town in Bulgaria.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think all writer write at night, so I do it as well.
Notes, I make a lot of notes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love romance books and yes it is Isabel Aliende that has inspired me the most.

What are you working on now?
A new novel – referring to new romantic story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like kdpamazon, but Awesome gang are the best.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep on writing. A writer is a writer because they write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To try to write at least 2000 words daily

What are you reading now?
Roman Secret by Carren Swan

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing a romance 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?
The Man from Constantinople,
Millionaire from Lisbon
The Japanese lover
Roman Secret

 

Emily Grace 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an author of YA fiction. I’m currently writing a YA paranormal mystery series, but I also like to write YA fantasy. I have been writing stories for most of my life, but only recently decided to share them with the rest of the world. My debut novel The Secret of the Carter House was released June 2021 and is the first book in The Paranormal Detectives series. I have only published one book so far, but I’m currently working on the second and I have plans for many more!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Secret of the Carter House and is the first book in The Paranormal Detectives series. It was inspired by many of my interests, but the biggest inspiration was When the Curtain Falls by Carrie Hope Fletcher. I loved the way the book was written, and the way the story was told over two different timelines. It was like something just clicked in my brain, and all my ideas came together into one big idea that I was really excited about, so I began to write it straight away!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say I have any unusual writing habits, but I do often write things out of order. I’ll start writing the beginning of a chapter, then I’ll jump to the end, then onto the next chapter, then back to the middle of the other chapter, and so on. It can get very confusing sometimes! But I think it must be when my mind races ahead and there’s a bit that I really want to write, so I just skip ahead! I also find that I either write 50 words or 2000, there’s no in-between! If I feel inspired then I just have to write for as long as I’m able to, as I don’t know how long it will last.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Definitely Carrie Hope Fletcher, as it was her book When the Curtain Falls which inspired the idea for my debut novel. I was also very inspired by Enid Blyton, specifically her Famous Five series. It was all I used to read when I was younger! I also have to give a mention to Harry Potter, which has definitely had a massive influence on my life.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the second book in my YA paranormal mystery series, The Paranormal Detectives. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot, but lets just say that Mat and Charlie are off to investigate another haunted location, possibly across the pond… Charlie is still just as intent on finding paranormal evidence, and Mat is still just as adamant that they won’t, because ghosts don’t exist!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I’m still trying to figure this out myself! I mainly use Instagram, as there is such a lovely and supportive community on there for me to share my books with. I haven’t tried many other methods, although Goodreads can be quite good too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! Just keep on writing, and don’t worry about what other people think. Make sure you’re writing about something you believe in and that you really enjoy, rather than what you think other people would like to read about. If you do this, then your writing will be the best it can be and your enthusiasm will shine through on the page. You’ve got this.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about what other people think of you. This is something I find really difficult, but it doesn’t help to think this way. If you enjoy what you’re doing, or what you’re writing about, then it shouldn’t matter what other people think. The main thing is that you enjoy it. Obviously, I want people to like my books, but I wouldn’t waste my time writing about something I don’t care about just to please people. Writing is something that I would like to turn into a job, but I also wouldn’t want to take the joy out of it, as this is the reason I enjoy it.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading the Percy Jackson series for the first time. I know I’m very late to this, but I’m better late than never! I’m really enjoying it so far, and I can understand why it’s loved so much.

What’s next for you as a writer?
For the moment I’m planning to continue with The Paranormal Detectives series, as I love writing it. Mat and Charlie are the best to write, I’ve grown completely attached to them! I have lots of ideas for the series, so I plan to carry on writing these characters and their adventures for as long as possible. So long as I have the inspiration for more interesting stories, Mat and Charlie will continue to tell 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?
Ooooh, this is a tricky one. I would have to say Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman, as it is one of my favourite books ever. Although, it’s very short, so it wouldn’t keep me occupied for long. I would take The Martian by Andy Weir, as it makes me laugh. I would take Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, which also makes me laugh. Finally, I couldn’t be without a Harry Potter book, so I think I would take Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I won’t think about it any longer because I’m going to want to take twenty more!

Author Websites and Profiles
Emily Grace Website
Emily Grace Amazon Profile

Emily Grace’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Dr Snezhana Djambazova -Popordanoska 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a worldly renowned counsellor and motivational speaker who holds a PhD in Psychology. I provide therapeutic counselling both in person and through online appointments to people from different parts of the world, including Australia, Asia, Europe and Latin America. I have helped thousands of clients across more than 100 countries around the world to overcome their mental health problems, connect deeply with the infinite peace within, and raise their level of consciousness. As a motivational speaker I was invited at many national and international academic conferences and public events, as well as a guest at a few radio and TV shows to spread the message of how to transform suffering into joy and live a truly fulfilling, and stress-free life. I am also a founder of “Another Way – Life Education” (www.anotherwayeducation.org) which is an educational and humanitarian, non- profit organisation for personal growth based in Melbourne, Australia. The vision of this organisation is to reawaken human values within people, raise the collective consciousness, and bring positive changes in the world.
I am the author of the life-changing self-help book “Another Way of Living: A Journey to Infinite Peace, Immense Joy and True Freedom”, which received excellent customer reviews on some of the most popular online bookstores. This book was published in English, Spanish and Macedonian, and inspired hundreds of readers around the world to change the way they view the world.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Here is the true story of how my latest book “Another Way of Living: A Journey to Infinite Peace, Immense Joy and True Freedom” was born.
As many professional women in this modern age, I was desperately trying to succeed in my career as a professional in my field. However, while juggling with all my work commitments and home responsibilities, a few years ago, I experienced a serious injury that significantly affected my daily functioning. Suddenly, my life became a real nightmare … Due to this injury I could not do anything on my own. I needed help to dress up, and to open the doors at home. I couldn’t do any of the domestic responsibilities such as cooking, washing dishes, ironing, and so on. The only thing I could do was to sit down alone in silence, and contemplate my life…
This unfortunate event was a turning point in my life. I realized that I had to make some lifestyle changes, and to start living my life in another way. Gradually, I learned how to create a harmony between the physical, mental and spiritual aspects in my life. While living my life in this way, I was able to experience deep inner peace, joy and serenity daily, and live a truly purposeful life…
Wanting to share this wisdom and practical skills I gained, with as many people as possible, I wrote the book “Another Way of Living: A Journey to Infinite Peace, Immense Joy, and True Freedom’’ that was published recently. This book offers readers another way of living in this modern world – a life filled with peace, joy and abundance on a daily basis, a way to a truly meaningful and abundant life.

This life-changing self help book reveals the key self-limiting beliefs that create suffering, rob us of joy and distract us from happiness. It introduces us to a deeper and direct experience of mindfulness, relaxation, and higher awareness, revealing the underlying science of a new way of living in joy, peace and freedom.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write whenever I feel inspired.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Louisa Hay, Paramhansa Yogananda, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Neale Donald Walsh have been my greatest teachers in life who have influenced me the most and inspired me to write motivational self-help books.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on another self-help book -which is a sequel to my previous transformational book “Another Way of Living: A Journey to Infinite Peace, Immense Joy and True Freedom,” which was published in English, Spanish and Macedonian, and inspired hundreds of readers around the world to change the way they view the world.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The website of our organization for personal growth: www.anotherwayeducation.org
and my Facebook Page: AnotherWay

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have faith, be patient and never give up! Everything that is yours, will come to you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Discover your passion and pursue it!

What are you reading now?
“Peace is every breath” by Thich Nhat Hanh

What’s next for you as a writer?
To publish my next motivational self help book and spread its message to the world.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. “The Alchemist” -Paulo Coelho
2. “Conversations with God” -Neale Donald Walsh
3. “Confucius from the Heart”-Yu Dan

Author Websites and Profiles
Dr Snezhana Djambazova -Popordanoska Website
Dr Snezhana Djambazova -Popordanoska Amazon Profile

Dr Snezhana Djambazova -Popordanoska’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

JC Compton 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am French-American author of fantasy, dark fantasy, and romance novels, as well as poetry. I have written 10 books, published one so far (and another coming out shortly).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, Undertakers Inc., was inspired by the loss of my parents a decade ago, and how the process of grief transformed not only me but also my perception of the world around me, which is very much what the main character, Tim, goes through. After losing all his family, his reality shifts to a constant state of grief, from which he emerges as he becomes a vampire and not only finds true love but is also reunited with his (now undead) relatives, for better or for worse.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To get myself in the mood of a character, I create a playlist for him/her, and that is what I listen to while writing about that character.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anne Rice and Marion Zimmer Bradley influenced my writing a lot, as well as many classic authors. I remember having a “click” after reading Lestat the Vampire, and words just started flowing out of me and would not stop!

What are you working on now?
I am completing the fourth volume in my Undertakers Inc. series, as well as some spin-offs.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like Facebook a lot. It’s a platform that suits me and my type of readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Use your spellcheck! Whatever you write, there is a reader out there for it, but typos make the read unpleasant. So use that spellcheck as many times as you can, and re-read your chapter/book as well.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do it now (as in, don’t wait for your dreams to come true on their own, live them fully).

What are you reading now?
Nothing, I have been too busy writing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After my Undertakers Inc. series, I have a medieval fantasy series (written years ago) I would like to publish.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Lord of the Rings, and probably some philosophy books.

 

JC Compton’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

R.M. Schultz 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
R.M. Schultz lives with his wife, daughter, and many pets in the Pacific Northwest. He started writing stories in high school and decades later is still pursuing his dream, having published 4 books with 3 more near publication. When he is not writing or reading or saving animals, he enjoys spending time with his family, the great outdoors, playing the guitar, or exercising in some form.

His stories take the approach of interesting but average characters striving for greatness in extreme circumstances, rather than ‘the Chosen One’ or superhero characters. If you as a reader enjoy taking different paths in fantasy and science fiction, you may love his stories. If you enjoy reading about superheroes, or the best of the best, or stories with similar tried and true plots and tropes in fantasy, you may not enjoy his stories.

R.M. also attempts to combine the wonder and depth of fantasy and science fiction worlds with a pacing close to the realm of a thriller, instead of the meandering pace of many epic fantasies.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Forgotten Sky. Inspired by starting with characters and figuring out their depths and desires. The story bloomed from there, a bit of a Game of Thrones multi-character point of view story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I need to chew lots of gum or sugary treats to stay focuses and keep my ideas on track. When it’s all working I can stay up all night to finish a chapter or set of chapters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
George R.R. Martin, Dan Brown, J.R.R. Tolkien, Anthony Doerr

What are you working on now?
Two other single book fantasy stories. One that combines fantasy and a thriller mystery and another about an afterlife that isn’t what is expected. Also the sequel to The Forgotten Sky is nearly through beta readers and editors.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It seems being on Amazon’s KDP gets me more readers than spending lots on advertising almost anywhere else, and I’ve tried a lot of options.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s a marathon. If you really want to do it, you have to commit and stay focused for years and decades.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The fact that all the big writers at some point wrote a great story that people connected with and broke out of their sluggish sales.

What are you reading now?
The Handmaiden’s Tale

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting through the edits on 3 books over the next few months and keeping up on reading as much as I can.

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?
In the specific terms of this question, I might have to forego the entertainment aspect of All the Light We Cannot See and A Game of Thrones and LOTR and pick a few survival guides for living on a desert island or I wouldn’t be around long enough to read much of anything.

Author Websites and Profiles
R.M. Schultz Website
R.M. Schultz Amazon Profile

R.M. Schultz’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Akhin Abraham 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Madhya Pradesh, India and then we moved to Dubai. After a couple of years we moved back to India and now we are settled in Kerala. I’m completing my Bachelors Degree in Computer Application. I love writing poems and songs when I’m free. So, I thought why not write a book? And I did. Finally.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Can We Fall Again? – is a new Young Adult Love Story of a boy named Charlie Dawson who falls in love with the wrong people and ends up getting his heartbroken. On his journey for love, he finds something even more precious that JUST love. He finds out that true love can come through friendship as well. What inspired me to write this book was a friend who loved listening to my stories and events that took place in my life. I decided to make it a book using my life events and a dream I had lately.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It may sound funny but yes I do. I wrote my full book using my mobile phone. I used to play music in my headphones and sit on my bed, writing down everything that I found interesting. Once I completed my first draft on my mobile phone, I then transferred it to my laptop. That’s where I did all my editing and proofreading. Once I thought that my book was finally ready, I went with my gut feeling.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say that my favorite author is John Green who wrote The Fault in our Stars. I haven’t actually read the book yet but TFIOS is my all-time favorite movie. I have seen the movie a couple of times. It’s just beautiful. I also love the movie Five Feet Apart which made me cry a lot. I love movies (or books) which teaches you to value the people you love and teaches us what true love actually is. If there’s anything you should learn from my book, it’d be that – Have hope in life no matter how difficult it may seem. Don’t forget to tell the people you love that you love them. We cannot say when we lose them. Trust in the universe and it’s magic.

What are you working on now?
I just published my first book on July 3rd 2021 – Can We Fall Again? – which is out on Amazon as an eBook as well as paperbacks. I’m taking rest for a couple of months as this book was a big move for me. My friends were even more excited than I was for the book release.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As I’m a self published author, I have to do the promotion myself. So there are a couple methods I use to promote my book. Amazon gives you free promotion plans if you publish your book through them. They give you a “Free for 5 days” program which helps you rank higher. In 3 days time from my book launch, I made 3 dozen sales using this program. Facebook is a great place to promote as there are groups based on your niche/genre of your book. I don’t have a mailing list of my own so I seek help from other blogger who would like to promote my book (which is either free or discounted) to their mailing list. There are a lot of websites who would promote your book if you have a good book and a great cover.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself but something I would like to say from the problem I faced while writing Can We Fall Again was Lack of motivation. There were many days in which I wrote 0 words. But don’t let that stop you from writing your book. I did it and so can you. Try to write everyday and if you miss a couple of day, it’s totally fine. You can take your time. Don’t forget to edit and proofread. I found a lot of mistakes in my book while I was proofreading.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It doesn’t matter if you get 1 book sale or 1 million book sale. Good things take time and this will too. But that doesn’t mean you can rest once you publish your book though. You have to promote it as much as you can. People should know that there’s a book out there that you wrote. Try to get reviews as much as possible.

What are you reading now?
To be honest, Nothing. But there is this amazing book I like that I would like to recommend to you. It’s called – The Power of Positive Thinking – by Normal Vincent. It’s an amazing book and has kept me motivated and going. The book teaches you many things of value which you can use in your life to be a good person. Maybe that’s what made Charlie (from my book) a good person.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promote, Promote & Promote. I’m not resting until I see my Book with a Bestsellers badge on Amazon. I want the world to be a good person like Charlie Dawson (main character from Can We Fall Again). The world has used and played many people but I hope that reading this story would change a person completely no matter how bad they were. Everyone was a bad person at one time. There’s still time to be good.

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?
Power of Positive Thinking is a MUST so that I don’t lose hope. Believe it or not, I would take my own book – Can We Fall Again? – so that I would know that I don’t feel alone. Then, I would be taking a Diary of a Wimpy Kid with me. Who doesn’t like that? We have positivity, love; so why not a little fun?

Author Websites and Profiles
Akhin Abraham Amazon Profile

Akhin Abraham’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Rabiatu Abba Ruma 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a twenty-something year old avid reader, born and raised in Nigeria. I studied Law at undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of Sheffield, UK. But… I have always had a passion for creative writing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The first and only book I have published (so far) is ‘A Prophecy of Dawn’. Which is part of a 6 book series (tentatively, the number of books in the series may change), the Dawn Saga. The names of the sequels are on my blog website.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Certainly! I tend to write some chapters of my book in a free manner of narration that explores multiple points of view in the same chapter. This is apparent in the first chapter where I narrated the scene from the perspective of the Emperor, the Emperor’s brother Prince Zeirick, and the Emperor’s natural son Trevelyn. I used this unconventional style in the that particular chapter because I felt it was necessary to give the reader an insight into their complex familial relationship and their inner feelings toward each other.
The overall book is narrated in the third-person, strictly from the point of view of one individual character at a time. But I realised that some scenes require further clarity by exposing the perspectives of other characters in the scene.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant Series was my first obsession with fantasy. It created this love for the world of magic and magical creatures that will never leave me for the rest of my life.
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time Series changed my life! This series was my first introduction into the realm of Fantasy Epic that completely transported to a new and exciting world! That was when I knew I wanted to create a world of my own.
Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy however sparked the idea of complex family relationships where I had previously envisioned everything to be ideal and simple. Hobb’s story opened my mind to complex emotions about a character that stayed with me years after I had put the books down.

What are you working on now?
Book 2 of the Dawn Saga ‘A Whisper of Dawn’.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads has certainly been the most accessible means of promoting my book. But… I’m exploring other options.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write! Don’t allow doubts to hinder your progress at the initial stages. As long as you have written with love and care, there will always be an audience that will appreciate your hard work and creativity.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You cannot call yourself a writer until you actually write.” This is the best advice I have received because I am a major procrastinator. I had been putting off writing for such a long time, giving myself the excuse that I needed to plan so more and build the stories just a little more. But when my friend said this (the quote) to me, I realised that I could not continue to micro-plan every scenario of the story without actually writing. And so, that is the reason the best advice I have ever received was ‘to write’.

What are you reading now?
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting and more writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Poison Study by Marie V. Snyder
Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson

Author Websites and Profiles
Rabiatu Abba Ruma Website
Rabiatu Abba Ruma Amazon Profile

Rabiatu Abba Ruma’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

D.A. Galloway 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in rural Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. After a long career in the paper industry and writing a bestselling nonfiction book, Safety WALK Safety TALK, I decided to follow a once-dormant dream of writing a novel. I enjoy reading about adventurers and explorers, traveling internationally, riding a recumbent tandem bike, and spending time with my grandsons.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Burning Ground was inspired by two memorable summers of my youth.

As a teenager, I worked on a fruit farm in Pennsylvania. It is here I met Redfield, a Crow Indian who lived a simple life but had a profound effect on the way I saw the world and people around me.

As a young man, I spent a summer in Yellowstone National Park in the late 1970’s giving guided tours on Yellowstone Lake. When I was not working, my days were spent exploring all corners of that magnificent land, often in the backcountry. My love for our nation’s first national park is rooted in that wonderful experience.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel to Burning Ground, tentatively titled Fatal Ground.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Outline your story in rough terms, but don’t be afraid to stray from your original ideas as the story evolves. Just remember the main theme of the story and weave everything around that theme.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Never LEAVE something. Always go TO something.”

What are you reading now?
A Terrible Glory by James Donovan

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to complete a trilogy of the Frontier Time Traveler series, which follows the protagonist Graham in the 1870’s through the Montana and Wyoming wilderness as historical events unfold.

 

Author Websites and Profiles
D.A. Galloway Website
D.A. Galloway Amazon Profile

D.A. Galloway’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

lynda Renham 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Lynda Renham, and I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I live in Oxfordshire in a quiet village. I have written nineteen books. Several of those have been romantic comedies and the others psychological thrillers. I’m an avid reader and a compulsive writer.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest crime thriller is titled ‘The Lies She Told’ I don’t really know what inspired it. I had been watching several true-crime series and I think they may have inspired the idea.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to switch how I write my novels, sometimes using pen and paper and then switching to my laptop. I also do a second draft after six chapters. I always have music, and that music has to represent the atmosphere of the novel, and I have to write in the same place.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Iris Murdoch, Norman Collins and Celia Fremlin. Not such well known authors these days.

What are you working on now?
A Romantic Comedy

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. It may seem like success will never come your way, but one day it may. I guarantee it certainly won’t if you give it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You become a writer by writing. There is no other way. So do it. Do it more. Do it again. Do it better. Fail. Fail better. I think it’s a good idea, especially when you’re younger, you keep your hand in by writing something every day. Margaret Attwood

What are you reading now?
London Belongs To Me by Norman Collins.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I continually hope for more readership and new ideas.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hours after Darkness by Celia Fremlin. I love this book and would like the time to read it again.

The Heart Listens by Helen Van Slyke. An oldie from my teenage years.

A Gentleman In Moscow I still haven’t read it yet.

Author Websites and Profiles
lynda Renham Website
lynda Renham Amazon Profile

lynda Renham’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Stanley Plock 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have only written one book but it’s a real mind-blower with only the most important revelations I have had in my 62 years on earth.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“What’s Really Happening on Planet Earth”
I felt it is very important to share what I have learned about life and the nature of reality.
The most fundamental religious teachings were corrupted to encourage fear of God and make people feel unworthy of ascending to Heaven in the Afterlife.
Many people do not believe in an afterlife.
A basic understanding of Quantum Physics proves that we are all part of a Universal Quantum Field that literally IS Everything, Including our bodies and minds.
There is an evil force on this planet that was allowed because they create the suffering that we need to learn compassion.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write in an outline format to keep things simple, well organized and pack a lot of information in a short and time saving format.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mostly informational videos on the internet.

What are you working on now?
Resting and hoping people will be inspired by my book.
I pretty much covered everything important and don’t expect to have any more to add.
At least not now.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Free ebook sites

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Not really.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

What are you reading now?
Watching informational videos on the internet.

What’s next for you as a writer?
No Plans at this time.

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?
Good question.
My interests are quite broad…

Author Websites and Profiles
Stanley Plock Author Profile on Smashwords

Stanley Plock’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Constantine Dhonau 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
In 8th grade, I started a myspace-official religion (thank you to our 121 dedicated followers). I picked up trombone after my ska/punk band broke-up in high school. Florida sucked me back in and I became depressed after blowing-out my knee on a 52-day backpacking trip in Colorado because I thought I blew my only chance at realizing my dream by just trying to chase after it. Someone planted the idea in my head to pick-up skydiving as a hobby in college. 8 years later, I jumped out of an airplane solo after watching a man break his leg on landing right before it was my turn to fly. I’m terrible at cooking. After 3 & 1/2 years as a wilderness therapy field guide, my roommate and I woke up one morning and decided to start a high-end catering company. Life is good & I’m satisfied with myself.

All that aside, I like tea. I’m a homebody and a space/tech nerd. I’m becoming increasingly attracted to Daoism. I’m working on letting go of fixed plans and surrendering to the current of life. For the rest and whatnot in between, you’ll have to check out the book.

“Collateral Intentions” is my first-ever publication into official authorhood. I am currently working diligently on another project with plans for a 12-book…series?…not exactly, but something of the like, at some time in the future. Gotta let it percolate.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Collateral Intentions” is a comprehensive collection of my writing from 17 to 28 years-old.

Yes, it has teen angst & cringe.
Yes, it has smile-back-at-that-moment coming-of-age.
Yes, it has letters to unrequited love.
Yes, it has knee-cracking, tear-extracting, mind-blasting, stomach-stirring rawness.
No, it does not have the answer to your problems.

T’was inspired by a desire to put together a book of selected works to read to my students in the field while I was a wilderness therapy guide. I made a small booklet with a few originals and many other established works. It was a fun process creating it (stirring a deep satisfaction to organize and agonize over the most minute details night after sleepless night, cursing the dawn as a landmark of time passing beyond what I could accomplish within “reason”). So, I decided to continue (how insatiable was the urge) and create a larger collection by combing through my dozen journals. Some friends caught wind of my side-project (whole-hearted obsession) that I started so I could have all my writing in one place and they began asking after it. I gave away manuscripts for the cost of printing. At some point, someone teased me about publishing. “PFEH!” I would say. “HA!” I would scoff. “HRNGH!” I would grumble. Then, after sifting through many-a-scam-site, I decided I would self-publish with Overlord Bezos.

Now, I’m like…submitting it to book contests & $h!*.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My journals are open and public. I write in them the same as anyone else would, except I invite and encourage family, friends and strangers to write in them as well. I enjoy capturing life’s raw moments and I see life as a collaboration of relationships, not an individually-informed perspective.

I often write and work on writing projects for days at a time. Eating, drinking, and sleeping very little. It’s somewhat manic, but its a choice and I enjoy it.

For “Collateral Intentions,” I spent a year transcribing 10 journals’-worth of poetry, letters, wrinkled cocktail napkins in a shoebox, milestone journal entries, and phone notes to a google doc (don’t do that), then transferred it over to Mac Pages (don’t do that either), then submitted my eBook to Amazon late (definitely don’t do that), and wrestled with a DOCX for over a year until I finally gave up on the last 5 errors in the printed version.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Saul Williams. Internationally-renowned slam poet, actor, author, musician. I’d say he’s the black David Bowey.

The Dao De Jing has utterly rocked my world and brought clarity, surrender, and trust to places in my life I struggle not to grapple into a stranglehold.

What are you working on now?
A MAGICIAN NEVER TELLS HIS SECRETS.

“Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, word of mouth has been my primary mode of ingratiation thus far. I’m currently working on getting sales away from MY mouth. I’ve put up a few copies in local bookstores, submitted to multiple writing contests, run ad campaigns on Amazon, and attended open mics with copies at the ready.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It took me just as long or longer to self-publish. I didn’t think I’d be good enough and didn’t have the patience to find the publisher that was looking for my book and submit it. Self-publishing does come with this cool DIY badge of honor, but I plan to find a legitimized press I’m excited to partner with for my future projects.

They have all the resources, they know the biz. While you still have to do most (or all) of the work, I imagine it would be a hell of a lot easier to have that publishing team to call when you’re looking for some help. In fact, I’m still hoping to find a legit publisher for “Collateral Intentions”.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Do what makes you feel good.”
– Howard
Retired, 3rd-grade Education

What are you reading now?
The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra

I thought it would be full-on woo but it is surprisingly, incredibly scientifically informed. I read a little every day and I am left saying, “yes, yes, YES” every time I put it down.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Saying “hello” to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show and watching him explode in laughter.

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 Pocket Dao De Jing (translated by Stephen Mitchell), The Little Book of Changes (translated by Peter Crisp), The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny, and How to Survive on a Desert Island by literally anyone

Author Websites and Profiles
Constantine Dhonau Website
Constantine Dhonau Amazon Profile
Constantine Dhonau Author Profile on Smashwords

Constantine Dhonau’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Willem Killian 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi!
Thanks for taking the time to get to know me a little better.

I am a primary school teacher, specializing in Social Sciences (History and Geography). During the many lockdowns in 2020, I wrote a book hoping to get my daughters interested in reading. It’s my favorite pastime – I like nothing more than to read a good book – and hoped to introduce them to new and magical worlds.

Unfortunately, it was an epic fail. They are too much like my wife, who also doesn’t like to read.

The story, however, stuck with me and I got serious about writing. I read a lot of books on the craft, found a mentor (Joseph Nassise, who is a brilliant supernatural action adventure author. Monsters, Magic, and Mayhem!), and honed my craft over the last year.

To date, I have co-written 4 full-length novels with dark fantasy author Liam Starker, and two novellas. Another two, full-length books are in the pipeline for release before November.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Stirring Embers is an urban fantasy action adventure, and is Book One in the forthcoming Light and the Void Series.

My daughters inspired me to write a modern fairytale where they would be the two main characters. The middle-grade manuscript then turned into a three/six-book series when I got together with college buddy, Liam Starker.

It just so happened that we both wanted to write books for a living and were both starting out. He had a great idea for a dark fantasy series from the point of view of the villain/monster. I was looking for a villain, he was looking for some likeable characters to kill off, and we started spit balling. Before we knew it, we had ideas for an entire series…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Does locking myself in my study for hours at end count?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to mention…

The obvious greats – Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, Terry Pratchett, J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks.

Onle recently discovered (during the last year): Joe Abercrombie, Jim Butcher.

Book Series that I love: The Dark Tower (S.K.), The Passage (Justin Cronin), The First Law (Joe Abercrombie), The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher), the Bill Hodges / Mr. Mercedes Trilogy (S.K.).

Please don’t ask me about a favorite book. It’s like asking what’s my favorite song or band – it all depends on the mood I’m in.

What are you working on now?
Final edits for Books One and Two in the Light and the Void Series. I will start writing the third and final book by the end of July. It’s all planned out, I just need to get to the writing part.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m terrible with social media and technology. I’m so bad that my friends don’t even bother phoning me during the day. I tend to switch everything off and lose myself in the worlds I create.

If I had to choose, I’d say it’s either my website, or my Facebook author page.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read, read, read. Focus on the genre you want to write in. Then start honing your craft. There are dozens of books and courses out there to help you.

If you can afford it, get a mentor.

And then write, write, write without the internal critic looking over your shoulder. Just get the story out; worry about the spit and polish later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
On writing:
Jodi Picoult: “You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

On Life: I tend to overthink everything, so I try t follow the KISS principle in everything you do. Keep It Simple, Stupid!

What are you reading now?
The Black Company, by Glen Cook.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing more books so that I can do this full time.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. How to Survive on a Deserted Island, by Tim O’Shei. That’s an obvious choice – you can’t read when you’re dead…
2. The Stand, Stephen King. Because it’s long and I haven’t read it for years. A re-read is in order.
3. A Little Hatred, Joe Abercrombie. I haven’t read it yet and need to continue the First Law books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Willem Killian Website
Willem Killian Amazon Profile

Willem Killian’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account