Awesome Author Interviews

Vanessa Ramsey Amazon Profile

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Vanessa Ramsey

Interview With Author Vanessa Ramsey

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an emerging author. I wrote my first story at the age of 10, naturally about princesses, pirates, and princes who save the day. Later, I became a teacher and earned a Ph.D., and my work focused on writing articles, teaching manuals, books, and delivering public presentations. This honed my language skills and mastery of words. Alongside this, I began blogging on social topics. After becoming a parent, I realized how essential proper education and parenting are for creating a healthy, thriving society. To date, I’ve published two books: Life Skills for Teens and Inspiring Stories for Amazing Girls. Both are aimed at building confidence and inspiration in children and teens.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Inspiring Stories for Amazing Girls. It was inspired by childhood memories and my parenting experiences, which have shown me the importance of instilling strong values and self-belief in children at the right time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing early in the morning when everything is quiet, and I can focus on my thoughts. I also enjoy being in busy places, and observing people’s emotions and behavior—train stations and local markets are my favorite settings for inspiration.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The magical world of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales has been a significant influence, as well as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Writers like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, with their deep exploration of human personality and soul, have also greatly shaped my perspective.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a second collection of inspiring stories – this time for boys. My 10-year-old son is the perfect critic to guide me as I write this book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon has been the most effective platform for me so far. As a new author, I’m still exploring additional channels for promoting my work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My first piece of advice: read a lot of good literature.
Second: Be observant. Look outward at the world, feelings, and the rich diversity of life around you.
Third: Start writing, no matter how small-posts, short stories, anything. Revisit and refine your work. Learn from great authors. You’ll find your voice, and success will follow.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Write not for yourself but for those who need your words.” This advice has kept me focused on creating books that inspire and empower my readers.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading The Grand Chessboard by Zbigniew Brzezinski. It’s an unusual choice, perhaps, but I’ve always been fascinated by how societies are governed and how to raise children who can think independently.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue writing books that inspire children and teens. I’m also considering publishing a collection of bedtime stories featuring the characters I’ve created for my son over the years.

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. Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov
2. C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters
3. The Bible
4. A notebook to write my own stories

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Marjorie Noble

Interview With Author Marjorie Noble

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My childhood zigzagged. I was born in California. My parents moved to Tennessee, then Kentucky and returned to California when I was fourteen. I graduated from UCLA (theater major), was an actress for a split second then moved to Reno and raised children. In Reno, I started a location casting company, then moved back to LA, worked as a casting director. Then I became an English teacher, the biggest challenge yet. When I was an English teacher in East LA, I saw donated boxes of YA novels. I decided to give writing a try. How hard can it be? Incredibly hard. Still, a family story sparked my curiosity. Arthur, my great uncle had been an inmate at an Ohio State Penitentiary. There was a prison fire, the cell doors wouldn’t open. Almost everyone was killed. I wondered who or what caused it? The site is now a parking lot, But what if it was a mall on Christmas Eve? Would it happen again? In response, I wrote The Demon Rift. When I read a Ray Kurzweil story about mind-uploading and VR paradises, I was concerned. If the technology is successful, and people decided to keep existing indefinitely, what could go wrong? Quite a lot. Babylon Dreams explores the downside of a VR heaven. Currently, I’m working on a third, The Dark Side of Dreams. It is the sequel to Babylon Dreams.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Dark Side of Dreams, among other questions, explores the nature of identity and what makes us who we are. How many memories, decisions or dreams? The protagonist is the same one who deleted himself by riding the virtual roller coaster, Babylon Dreams. A mind upload copy was made and hidden away, years before Gunter Holden killed himself and uploaded to Bali Hai. Unlike the original, the copy is not guilty of murder but when Mira, his descendent finds him, she plans to use him in a deadly attempt to regain Bali Hai and its virtual residents and VEI, the company stolen when Gunter failed to protect it. As he encounters the challenge of his new existence, the copy of Gunter Holden wonders who he is and what was left behind.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nope, no cigars nor do I toast the end of a story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My mother loved to read. She died when I was a teenager. We shared a love for James Michener’s novels where the landscapes, the creatures that inhabited it and the human who came later all share one grand story. The weaving of one story into another influence my first book, The Demon Rift, a story that spans generations. Charles Dickens was another influence. I love his humor and the characters he created, all the flawed human beings.

What are you working on now?
I am almost done with The Dark Side of Dreams. My next novel is called “The Daevas”. It concerns a woman who is followed by some daevas, demigods she encounters as a young girl.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Linked In has been helpful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be open and curious. Write for the pleasure of it. Read. Social media is necessary.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing and be open to criticism.

What are you reading now?
Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Picking up where I left off and completing The Daevas

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?
Hawaii
Great Expectations
The Black Stallion
The Illustrated Man

Author Websites and Profiles

Marjorie Noble Amazon Profile

Marjorie Noble’s Social Media Links

Raymond Parish Amazon Profile

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Raymond Parish

Interview With Author Raymond Parish

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Raymond Parish is my pen name for the Hank Anderson Mystery series. I am a Midwestern writer, psychotherapist, and educator. In addition to my three novels featuring Hank, I am the author of four critically praised nonfiction books and multiple articles on topics ranging from empowering cancer survivors to men in therapy. I live with my remarkable wife, my guitars, and my bicycle. Our three incredible children, two daughters and one son, have launched.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Last Step is the third book in my Hank Anderson series. It was inspired by a bit of research I’d been doing on white collar criminals. Hank’s mentor and business partner, Dennis Greenberg, is accused of a far-reaching financial crime. Hank, like myself, is a psychotherapist. Unlike me, he is drawn to high-risk human puzzles that regularly place him in a direct line of fire. In Book 3 I am once again interested in how Hank’s tenacity, wisdom, and loyalty intersects with his impulsivity and insatiable curiosity. The Last Step also gives me the opportunity to continue to track the trajectory of Hank’s growth and the development of his relationships with other key characters.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t believe in writer’s block. Instead, I believe in writer’s pause, my spin on the concept of mindfulness. When I feel stuck, when I write myself into a plot hole, I close the lid on my computer and move to other activities and interests. I shift my focus, allowing my creativity to resurface naturally. New ideas can arrive when I least expect them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My love for writing mysteries flows from my lifelong love of reading mysteries. The Hardy Boys took me to Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett, and Raymond Chandler (one of the inspirations for my pen name), who took me to Robert Crais, Stuart Kaminsky, and Sara Johnson, among others. I have also been heavily influenced in the development of characters and relationships by O. Henry, Charles Dickens, and Frank McCourt. McCourt, the author of the nonfiction book Angela’s Ashes, captured dialogue in a way that was far beyond words on the page. I could hear the characters speak as I read. Amazing!

What are you working on now?
I’m deep into the fourth Hank Anderson novel, tentatively titled Fool’s Highway. One of my interests is rock n’ roll trivia. I devour biographies and autobiographies about musicians in a wide range of genres, primarily from the 60s and 70s. The premise for Fool’s Highway brings us Hank’s uncle, a marginally successful musician, who returns into Hank’s orbit in an explosive way.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My loyal readers are the most important part of my promotional team: posting reviews, locating opportunities for book signings, passing the word about my novels to friends and family. I also enjoy online book interviews, the creative use of social media, and my interactions with fellow authors.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make peace with the time you have available to write. Don’t agonize. Write. As with most authors, writing has always been a part-time adventure for me. Twenty years later, I’ve managed to write seven books and multiple nonfiction articles for significant publications, while enjoying the process.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you keep writing, you’ll get better.

What are you reading now?
In nonfiction I’m reading Being Peace by one of my favorite authors, the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He was a brilliant teacher who wrote with simplicity and depth. On the fiction side, I’m reading another character crafted by a fellow Midwestern style author and the writer of the Virgil Flowers series, John Sanford. The novel is Dark Angel and the character is Letty Davenport.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will be focusing on promotion for The Last Step over the next six months, fitting in time to write. Robert Jordan, the author of the Wheel of Time series, said he would write until he was no longer able. Sounds like a good plan.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankel
The Best of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Best Short Stories of O. Henry
How to Survive on a Desert Island: A Comprehensive Guide

Author Websites and Profiles

Raymond Parish’s Social Media Links

Kristine Simelda Amazon Profile

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Kristine Simelda

Interview With Author Kristine Simelda

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in the US, but have lived on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Dominica since 1994. In the interim, I have written 4 adult novels and 3 novels for young adults as well as many pieces of published short fiction. The focus of my publishing imprint, River Ridge Press, Dominica, has been to honestly portray the experiences of cross-cultural island living per empathy, engagement, and respectful appropriation.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Climbing Jacko’s Steps and Bring Blessings Home, Book 1 and Book 2 of The Maxine Alexander Mystery Series, were published together in June of 2024. The novels were inspired by 2 true-life child kidnappings here in Dominica and hope to raise community awareness about child abuse and help stop crimes before they happen.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I live off the grid on the edge of the rainforest, so my writing habits are often influenced by the weather. I try to put in a day’s work most everyday whether it’s research, creating new work, or editing. When I’m deeply entrenched in a project, inspiration can come in the middle of the night, but the bottom line is that I keep going. One thing for sure, I’ll never run out of things to write about while living in such a magical place

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always been an avid reader. . . Alice Walker, Tony Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Annie Dillard, Sue Monk Kidd, Ann Patchett . . . but my reading habits have changed dramatically after 30 years of island living. When I first moved to Dominica, I read all the Caribbean novels in our library to get acquainted. Since it was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017, I read mostly on Kindle. Luckily, Caribbean literature is alive and thriving, so I read and often review notable books by those authors on my website.

What are you working on now?
I am collaborating with a younger Dominican author on a historical novel that’s set on a 250-year-old-plantation here in Dominica. Riverdale: A Tale of Two Sarah’s is told from 2 points of view location separated by many years: Enslaved Sarah from the 1800s, and Sarah Beth, the contemporary inheritor of the dilapidated estate. Getting their stories to mesh has been quite the challenge, but we have a first draft of 300+ pages.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Self-promotion has never been my strongpoint. My book launches here on the island have been quite successful, and I have a local fan base. But since Hurricane Maria in 2017 many sales outlets have disappeared. All of my books are available on Amazon in eBook or paperback, and I do have a website, a Facebook author page, and a Facebook page for my publishing imprint River Ridge Press, Dominica. Readers interested in my work can keep abreast of news and publications there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being an author is a big responsibility. Write from your heart and don’t be afraid to step on a few toes. Your prose and poems define what you are proud to feel and who you are proud to be.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Choice not chance determines destiny.’ I found it inside a fortune cookie while sharing Chinese takeout with my 94 year old Grandpa Charlie.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Tibetan Peach Pie by Tom Robbins. What a storied life he’s had! I’m halfway through Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, which is set in a privileged neighborhood in Ohio, similar to where I came from. the complicated but insightful plot reminds me why I migrated.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to curate a book of essays that reflects the perspective I’ve cultivated during thirty years of living outside my inherent cultural point of view.

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?
Pilgrim at Tinkers Creek, by Annie Dillard, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, and The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks

Author Websites and Profiles

Kristine Simelda Website

Kristine Simelda’s Social Media Links

Sarah Morales Amazon Profile

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Sarah Morales

Interview With Author Sarah Morales

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a novice author who took a leap of faith. After thirteen years as a dedicated teacher, I transitioned to stay-at-home mother of two girls. Cancer was not on the agenda. Turning to writing, I used my pain into a labor of love to share hope during the hard seasons in life. As a cancer survivor, I gained a renewal of faith. My journey has now taken a new and exciting turn as I embark on a career as an author, using my experiences to motivate and uplift others through writing. I always had a love for God, but I learned to fully surrender.

My latest novel , Shoes of Peace on the Desert Road was published in May 2024 with Christian Faith Publishing. It comes down to five things: God, faith, family, friends, and a positive attitude. I live in Deep South Texas with my loving husband, two precious daughters and two dogs, Max and Peaches. I enjoy reading, listening to music, and traveling.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is titled, Shoes of Peace on the Desert Road. My two daughters inspired me to begin writing after my cancer diagnosis.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am old school, I wrote my memoir out on an old notebook that was given to me when I was a teacher.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Paulo Coelho.

What are you working on now?
Devotional and children’s book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have used social media, but I believe making those professional connections through LinkedIn has brought me some nice opportunities like an interview and featured in a blog.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from the heart and don’t compare yourself to others. There is a enough room for everyone in this big beautiful world of literature.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Pray!

What are you reading now?
Bible

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting my memoir and encouraging others through my 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?
Bible, Daily Strength for Women Devotional, The Alchemist, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes (Remind me of my daughters).

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Sarah Morales Website

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Amey Aubry

Interview With Author Amey Aubry

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer, an Energy medicine practitioner, and a mom of two amazing kids. I have written and published four books in the last couple of years.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Wannabe Mystic. It was partially inspired by the fact that I have always coveted mystical abilities. I’m amazed and enthralled by people who can speak to the dearly departed, have psychic abilities, or can see things outside the “normal” visual spectrum. It was also inspired by the thought that I love the main characters in all my books, and wouldn’t it be cool if they could somehow interact with each other. Shortly after that thought, my brain lit up with the notion that I could write a book in which they all had small parts and indeed would have the chance to spend time together!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Between being a planner and pantser, I’d say I’m more of a pantser. I get an idea and will sometimes create an outline of how I think the story will go. But for me the magic happens when I start writing. I always get ideas and inspiration that I didn’t realize was waiting for me, lurking just outside my logical mind’s ability to contemplate. It’s really fun!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite book growing up, which is still very high on the list was A Wrinkle in Time, and I enjoyed all the books that followed. I’m a huge fan of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, as well as the entire series. I’ve always had a soft spot for Charles Dickens books. I also love self-help and personal discovery books like The Four Agreements, A New Earth, and The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. Currently, my favorites are anything by Sarah Addison Allen and Heather Webber.

What are you working on now?
I’m in the early stages of my next book, Transporter, which is about a divorced mom who while chaperoning her daughter’s field trip finds a mug that transports her to an underground world.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stay connected to the joy of writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your bliss.

What are you reading now?
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just keep 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?
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Lost Bookshop (so I can see how it ends), and a really large journal so I could keep writing.

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Amey Aubry Website

Amey Aubry Amazon Profile

Amey Aubry’s Social Media Links

Susan Macias Amazon Profile

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Susan Macias

Interview With Author Susan Macias

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love words, books, and story! I work out how I feel about things by writing in my journal or on my blog. My greatest joy is to use words to make much of Jesus and point others to Him. While my seven children still lived at home, I wrote on my blog because I didn’t have time to write anywhere else other than a few articles that were published. Eventually, however, I published four books:
“Unceasing: A Parent’s Guide To Conquer Worry And Pray With Power.”
“31 Days Praying For My Daughter” A devotional and prayer guide.
“Putting Jesus On”. A devotional to help Believers find their identity in Christ.
“Finding Home”. A novel, described by one reader as, “a spiritual experience embedded in pure drama”

My sweetheart and I have been married for 40 years, and have seven children and 14 grandchildren. I live life free of gluten and full of caffeine, work as an Event Director for a non-profit, and usually find time to write every day. Connect with me on my website, susankmacias.com, or my podcast, “We’re Not Done Yet”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Finding Home. Thirty years ago, I heard a teacher expound on the Prodigal Son parable in its Middle Eastern setting. So many cultural nuances are lost in our Western reading. I was enraptured and thought immediately that I wanted to write this as a long form story. It took twenty years to begin the process and ten years to complete!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t think of any unusual habits, but I’m very productive on planes. I create higher word counts there, as I ignore my travel partners, than anywhere.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
For writing craft books: On Writing by Steven King. Surprised by Grace by Elizabeth Sherrill. Bird by Bird by Anne LaMott.

What grew my desire to be a storyteller: The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. All of Brian Jacques. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher.

What are you working on now?
My first novel. “Finding Home” tells the story of the Prodigal Son (with many more characters, stories, and events!). I am currently writing the sequel. My current work-in-progress is titled “Loving Anyway” and uses the parable of the Good Samaritan as the jumping off point, and continues the story of the Ezra ben Lavi family from “Finding Home”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I sell the most books at speaking events, and I am still working at the promoting part to find what works for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
*Look to others for inspiration but not for comparison.
*Don’t measure success on the number of sales, but on quality of work produced.
*Just write! You can’t edit what you don’t write
*Complete whatever project you’re working on. It won’t every be perfect, but you can’t build a body of work until you publish what you have and move on to the next project. Each book will be a little better than the last one, but you have to put your first book out into the world to ever have a second!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write at least 500 words a day. It truly adds up when I am faithful to do it!

What are you reading now?
Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

What’s next for you as a writer?
Selling directly appeals to me, so I would like to create more e-products that I can share, as well as sell my books and other products from my website. I’m also preparing to launch my first audio book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
Chronicles of Narnia
Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose

Author Websites and Profiles

Susan Macias Website

Susan Macias’s Social Media Links

Tanya Newman Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

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Tanya Newman

Interview With Author Tanya Newman

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve loved reading and stories for as long as I can remember. At the age of ten, I decided to write a book of my own. When finished, the story was an epic thirty pages, complete with a cover I drew myself. It led to countless other stories, mostly about horses and riding. Over time, romantic relationships became a theme in my work, and later, a little crime fiction began finding its way in there. Readers have described my work as romantic, mysterious, poignant, and heartbreaking yet heartwarming. I’m grateful to have discovered my passion so young, and to be able to do it and give the world what I’ve created. As the years passed, I completed BA and MA degrees in English, taking every creative writing class I could. In between years of teaching writing and raising my family, I have published short stories with Gadfly Online, TWJ, The Fictional Cafe, and Writing in a Woman’s Voice. I have three novels as well: The Good Thief (2016), Winter Rain (2017), and Brilliant Disguise (2024).
I live in upstate South Carolina with my husband, son, daughter, 2 cats, and Labrador/Coonhound mix, and where I set many of my stories. When not writing or serving as professional maid, laundress, chauffeur, or homework tutor (hubby handles bulk of the cooking!), I love a good cup of coffee, action/adventure movies with a good love story added in, reruns of The Golden Girls, the music of U2, long jogs, and traveling with family–our latest big adventure landed us in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I hadn’t planned on writing Brilliant Disguise. I’m not much of a direct sequel person. I’ve hardly ever found them to be as good as the original story. So when I wrote The Good Thief, to me, that was it. But then someone told me it ended on a mysterious note. Another asked me when the sequel was to come out.

I went back and forth on this thought and the more I heard my readers, the more I wanted to know. So I did the first thing I usually do in my writing process: nothing.

An idea comes organically through characters for me. I see them first, then hear them. If James and Scotlyn had more to their story, they’d tell me. I just had to sit back and listen. I wasn’t going to force an idea (what’s wrong with many sequels).

For a long time, they were quiet. Oftentimes, when they are, it’s because the story is painful to tell. But one day, Scotlyn started to speak through a few songs I happened to hear: “I Knew You Were Waiting” (George Michael and Aretha Franklin), “Waiting for a Star to Fall” (Boy Meets Girl), “I Will Wait” (Hootie & the Blowfish).
Scotlyn promised to wait for James, no matter what, at the end of The Good Thief. And waiting for someone, especially for someone completing a dangerous, deadly job, can be hell. As I explored that in the first several pages, another character grabbed at the mike, wanting attention: an old boyfriend of Scotlyn’s mentioned in The Good Thief. I didn’t like Raylan Hunt. But he had something to say. As unpredictable as he was tenacious, he wanted Scotlyn back no matter what. And as James finally made his way front and center in this circle of characters, speaking quietly in that low voice of his, I knew what he had to say was going to be no picnic. And it wasn’t. Raylan was a criminal and the FBI needed him and Scotlyn (the only woman Raylan has ever loved) to go undercover to see what they could find out. I didn’t know how it would turn out, but I knew that as the months passed and their story unfolded, Raylan’s obsessions and James’s intense love for Scotlyn would lead to a climax I’m not sure any one of them would survive.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if they’re unusual but I like to listen to my playlist to get in the mood (music is great inspiration), and I just make sure to have plenty of coffee and snacks on hand and a quiet place. One of my favorite writers said he liked to go to cemeteries to write. It sounds strange, I know, but I could see writing there because it is a quiet and peaceful place.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
F. Scott Fitzgerald, White Oleander by Janet Fitch, Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, some of J.R. Ward’s works, Michael Mann, Andre Dubus III, Jhumpa Lahiri

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new suspenseful/supernatural love story. I write a lot in the suspenseful love stories genre but the supernatural part is new for me, so I’ve been working a lot on world building and characterization.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook and my own website (www.tanyanewmanwriter.com)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot (especially poetry and in the genre you want to write) and write a lot, preferably every day.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read, read, read, and write, write, write from an old professor of mine.

What are you reading now?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m continuing work on my latest novel, and I hope to turn it into a 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?
On Writing by Stephen King
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
The Story and Its Writer
A Poetry Anthology

Author Websites and Profiles

Tanya Newman Website

Tanya Newman’s Social Media Links

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Mitchell Brockman

Interview With Author Mitchell Brockman

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Mitchell Brockman, I’m a dad of 3 from Cambridgeshire, UK. I’ve so far self published 1 book, but look forward to writing more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is Hundrum, it is inspired by a job I worked a few years ago where I felt like a literal ghost everyday. I’d speak to barely anyone and most days there wasn’t enough work to offset that. So I’d wait, and wait, and wait, internally crying out for something to happen or someone to talk to.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually write whilst playing dinosaurs with my youngest daughter, I don’t know if that’s considered unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tolkien is a massive influence on my love of books, The Hobbit blew my mind when I was younger and my love if fantasy can be teased back to that exact moment. I’ve also really liked the works of Steve Berry, Adrian Tchaikovsky and Trusy Canavan, aswell as the obvious classics.

What are you working on now?
I’m in the planning stage for 3 books.

The Beautiful Game – a story of a low level professional footballer who has to retire due to injury and finds himself thrust into the world of gang crime in the heart of London.

A comedy story focusing on the history of the Luckhurst family, each member of the family throughout the generations seem to stumble into unbelievably good opportunities, all whilst being the equivalent of Mr Bean.

And last but not least, I’m working on a collection of scary short stories for children.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Sites like these to be honest.

Not everyone is blessed with tins of followers on social media, and most don’t have thousands to drop on marketing and promotion, so sites like this are a godsend.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start writing, an awful first draft is better than no first draft.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.

What are you reading now?
Right now? My eldest daughter has been writing a book called Tom & Rainbow, it’s quite good!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Improve, improve, improve.

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?
How To Survive On A Desert Island by Jim Pipe.

The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, I could read them endlessly.

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Stephanie Ripple

Interview With Author Stephanie Ripple

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love coming alongside people to help them live healthier lives whether it be spiritually, physically, mentally, or emotionally. I just published my first book on November 8, 2024.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Off with the Old, On with the New: A Biblical Guide to Cultivate Character in Your Children was born out of my personal need for this book! I became a new Christian when my son was four and my daughter was a newborn. I was just learning how to live a Christian life myself, so I felt ill-equipped to raise my children to know and love the Lord. I read many great books on Christian parenting, but none of them were the guidebook I was looking for. I began gathering wisdom and practical application from Scripture, other parents, and during times of prayer. Eventually it occurred to me how helpful it would be for families to have it formatted into a book.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible first and foremost. Prescriptions for Nutritional Living is another book on my shelf that is falling apart from being referenced so frequently. Tales of the Kingdom is a favorite. Pilgrim’s Progress.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a devotional. God gave me the idea on a walk one morning and the words began to flow. At first I thought it would be an Advent devotional, and that is likely how I will use it personally, but I am discovering each devotion is pretty timeless so it may morph into something more general.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I am brand new to this, time will tell!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do it!!! I never dreamed about or expected to be an author, but it has been such an enjoyable and amazing journey. There have been struggles to overcome, but I have met some great people along the way and I am excited to share this resource with families.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be unoffendable

What are you reading now?
The Oxygen Advantage. I often invest time into learning about health and wellness.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Learning to market Off with the Old, On with the New so many families may be equipped to intentionally disciple and consistently discipline their children.

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, my prayer journal, Tales of the Kingdom, and the most comprehensive book on foraging I could get my hands on!

Author Websites and Profiles

Stephanie Ripple Website

Stephanie Ripple Amazon Profile

Stephanie Ripple’s Social Media Links

Ross Hightower Deb heim Website

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Ross Hightower Deb heim

Interview With Author Ross Hightower Deb heim

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Ross Hightower and DL Heim have been partners in crime for more than 36 years. While Ross built a career as a professor and Deb worked on four advanced degrees, they managed to raise two wonderful people and launch them into the world. When Ross started writing his first novel, Spirit Sight, they never dreamed they would work together, but after a rocky beginning, they discovered they loved writing together. It took a few beers, many intense conversations, and a few arguments to produce Argren Blue and Desulti, two books in the prequel series to the larger Spirit Song Saga (a soon to be 12 book series beginning with Spirit Sight)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Our latest book that we have co-authored is Desulti, one of the prequel books to the Spirit Song Saga series. it tells the story of Tove, the first woman from a lower caste, the Alle’oss, who request sanctuary with the Desulti, an organization of women who have renounced the patriarchy of the Vollen Empire, but can’t shake the prejudices of their upbringing. Desulti explores the impact of an oppressive society on the oppressed.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
We tend to do our group writing at our local brewery, beer in hand.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
NK Jemison, Patrick Rothfuss, Tamsyn Muir and Django Wexler.

What are you working on now?
Our publisher just set a release date for Oss’stera, then next book in the prequel series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Folks can find links to our books at https://rosshightower.com/ and can sign up for our newsletter at https://rosshightower.com/contact/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
write. and write some more. and find other people to read what you write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It takes 10,000 hours (or for an author about 1,000,000 words) to get good at anything.

What are you reading now?
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the rewrites of Oss’stera, finish the first draft of Spirit Light volume 2.

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 Name of the Wind, Argren Blue, The Lord of the Rings and a Calvin and Hobbs anthology.

Author Websites and Profiles

Ross Hightower Deb heim Amazon Profile

Ross Hightower Deb heim’s Social Media Links

Michael Colon Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Michael Colon

Interview With Author Michael Colon

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Michael Colon born and raised in NYC. I am a freelance writer for various publications and a novelist. I use my creative writing craft to impact the lives others in thought-provoking and meaningful ways. I often equate writing to painting masterpieces with prose. My inspiration comes from societal abnormalities, cultural differences, and my own life experiences. When I am not writing, I enjoy working out, going on nature walks with my wife, and watching sports.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is The Gift from Aelius. What inspired this book was wanting to exercise my imagination and ideas for a story that is a reflection of the world we live in today. I wanted to create an experience for the reader that takes them on a philosophical adventure. Human history and how I have felt growing up inspired the story, and the protagonist.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I prefer to write down my ideas and chapter content in spiral notebooks before typing it on google docs.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I will say life experiences and cultural artforms inspire me to write stories.

What are you working on now?
I am always writing and taking freelance work as it comes. For now, I am working a sequel to The Gift from Aelius.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
When it comes to promoting my work I use word of mouth, posting flyers, social media, contacting magazines and news outlets, and other content aggregator platforms. However, I am always learning new ways to market my work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Advice I have for new authors is to always understand that even though you achieved getting your first book published hat there is more work to be done.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Faith, hard work, and consistency will leave you in a better place then yesterday.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Publishing more novels.

Author Websites and Profiles

Michael Colon Website

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

James Agape

Interview With Author James Agape

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is James B. Agape, and I’m a Kenyan poet and writer who explores themes of mental health, resilience, and self-discovery through poetry. As an introvert, I’ve always found a deep sense of comfort in words and quiet reflection, which has shaped how I approach my writing. My first book, Pent Up Thoughts, is a deeply personal collection that captures my own experiences battling depression and navigating the complexities of mental health. Through this work, I hope to connect with readers on a meaningful level, offering insight and solace to those who may share similar struggles.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first published book, Pent Up Thoughts, is a reflection of my journey through mental health challenges—a journey that I continue to navigate. In those dark times, I kept my struggles hidden, not wanting to feel isolated or judged. Writing became my outlet, a way to release the pain I held inside. This book was born from that process, and I chose to publish it with the hope of reaching others who may be quietly battling depression, anxiety, or overwhelming worry. I want readers to know they’re not alone, and that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing is deeply rooted in what I feel at any given moment. When something stirs me or touches a nerve, I note it down in my journal. Throughout the day, I tend to scribble—a stream of raw thoughts and emotions—that eventually becomes the foundation of a manuscript. If a feeling resonates deeply, I let it flow onto the page unfiltered, writing earnestly and from the core of my being. I aim to capture each emotion as truthfully as possible, creating work that feels authentic to my experiences and true to the essence of each moment.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I find myself drawn to the timeless works of classic authors. Writers like Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Franz Kafka, and Charles Bukowski have left a profound mark on my perspective and style. Their depth, insight, and unfiltered exploration of the human condition resonate deeply with me. And, of course, the prolific Hermann Hesse remains a lasting influence, adding to the richness and complexity that I seek both as a reader and a writer as I endeavor to usher the world into my universe and mere existence.

What are you working on now?
At the moment, I am working on spreading the word about my first project to the world. Sometimes you wish it would be as simple as writing and letting nature take its course, but one also has to actively promote it.

I have a bunch of jumbled manuscripts but those are for another day.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Pinterest, it’s the media without the social, and because over time posts tend to garner great organic reach.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write, as long as you write from the heart, then your manuscript or book has the potential to positively impact countless readers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever come across is: “Be patient with yourself. Growth is a process, not a destination.” This reminder to embrace patience and self-compassion resonates because it acknowledges that progress is often slow and filled with setbacks. It encourages us to honor our own pace, to see challenges as part of the journey, and to allow space for learning and healing without rushing the outcome. This advice underscores that true growth takes time and that it’s okay to move forward gradually, as long as we’re moving forward.

What are you reading now?
Currently, I am reading STEPPEN WOLF by Herman Hesse.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next, I want to delve even deeper into themes that resonate universally yet are often left unspoken—mental health, resilience, heartbreaks, love, and the quiet battles many face alone. Building on Pent Up Thoughts, I hope to explore new ways of connecting with readers through honest, unfiltered writing that captures both the struggles and the beauty of being human. Ultimately, my goal is to create work that offers a sense of companionship, as I continue learning, growing, and sharing along the way.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1.) Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
2.) Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame by Charles Bukowski
3.) Steppen Wolf by Herman Hesse

Author Websites and Profiles

James Agape Website

James Agape’s Social Media Links

Sarah Ewen Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Sarah Ewen

Interview With Author Sarah Ewen

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my debut book!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Midlife Reboot: From Menopause to Renewal: A Step-by-Step Guide and Workbook for Women to Embrace and Transform their Middle Years.
What inspired me to write “The Midlife Reboot” was my own journey through what some might call a midlife crisis. I found myself stuck in a rut, feeling like the best years were possibly behind me, which was a wake-up call I needed to take charge of my life. This book is my way of sharing the insights and tools that helped me transform my life into something more vibrant and filled with potential.
I firmly believe that while we can’t always change the actions of others, we have the power to change ourselves. Writing this book was also a challenge that pushed me out of my comfort zone, showing me – and hopefully my readers – that it’s never too late to discover new joys and reignite old passions.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well I tend to write best reclining on the sofa with my laptop on my lap and best furry friend, Digby Dog lying snuggled up against my feet or under my arm…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots! But for this particular book I got inspiration from the following:
The Menopause Brain by Dr Lisa Mosconi
The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause by Dr Louise Newson
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Girls that Invest by Simran Kaur
The Gifts of imperfection by Brené Brown

What are you working on now?
I am a big believer in the importance of mindfulness so I am working on another non-fiction workbook in this genre.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is all new to me so I’m learning as I go! I’ve been learning a lot from Kindlepreneur and testing various methods to getting eyeballs on my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t dither! I spent way too long worrying about whether I should write a book. Imposter syndrome is a real thing! Then there were a LOT of distractions! Try and minimise these if possible – turn your phone and any notifications off.
I wasn’t sure until I started writing whether it would be any good but as I progressed I realised I absolutely loved the process and it all just flowed and I didn’t look back.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just to write from the heart, be authentic. So I did.

What are you reading now?
I’ve crossed over to reading more fiction now and I’m coming to the end of ‘Here one moment’ by Liane Moriarty. Would recommend!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep learning about the art of self-promotion which doesn’t sit comfortably with me but is a necessary evil for every writer.

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?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osmon
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Author Websites and Profiles

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Russell Carroll

Interview With Author Russell Carroll

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Russell Carroll and I’ve wanted to be an author for decades, but finally made it a reality in the past four years. I live in Sacramento, CA with my wife, two daughters, two German shepherds, an ackie monitor lizard, a ball python and a blue-tongue skink. We stay busy. I work as a Contract Manager for the State of CA, but my passion is writing.

My first official publication came in 2020 when my short story, The Purple Heart, was selected for inclusion in Nevada Necromance fanthology. This was very exciting, only cut short somewhat due to the COVID pandemic. My first published novel is Relentless Blades which just released on October 21, 2024.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Relentless Blades is my debut fantasy novel. It was inspired by my love of playing Dungeons and Dragons in my youth. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCWVJX7Q
Fun fact, twenty years ago, I entered a writing contest sponsored by Wizards of the Coast to write a novel in their Eberron campaign setting. Although I didn’t win, I made the short list and received invaluable feedback from the editor. This concept became the basis for Relentless Blades.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so, other than the fact that I work full-time and juggle family responsibilities, so my writing happens pretty much whenever I can squeeze in time. Which means, there is no room for writer’s block or excuses. I need to utilize the time when I get it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s cliche to say Tolkien, but he’s an influence on almost every fantasy author, right? Getting him out of the way, my biggest influences were the D&D writers from the 80’s-mid 2000s. There were many I enjoyed, but the ones that really stand out are R.A. Salvatore and his Drizzt saga and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman for the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Relentless Blades. I hope to have the first draft finished by the first half of 2025.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Good question. I’m still trying to figure that out. I promote mostly through Facebook, X and Amazon ads currently, as well as through my own blog.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Patience, patience, patience! Everything about writing and publishing a book takes time if you want to do it right. Nothing moves quickly, so settle in and relax for the long-haul.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ll keep this to writing and say: “If you can quit, quit, if not, you’re a writer” – paraphrased from R.A. Salvatore

What are you reading now?
I’m stepping out of the fantasy genre and reading Three-Inch Teeth by C.J. Box. So far it’s very entertaining.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The reviews for Relentless Blades have been great so far, but I’d like to push the marketing more to get it seen by more readers. Besides that, I’m working on the sequel.

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’s a tough one.

Starless Night and The Silent Blade by R.A. Salvatore
A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Knight of the Black Rose by James Lowder

Author Websites and Profiles

Russell Carroll Website

Russell Carroll Amazon Profile

Russell Carroll’s Social Media Links

Lloyd Mullins Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Lloyd Mullins

Interview With Author Lloyd Mullins

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up on a tree farm in Indiana, and spent 20 years in the Air Force. Since retiring, I’ve moved with my wife, the lovely and talented Jess, back to my family farm, held a lot of (mostly terrible) jobs, gotten my BA and MFA in Creative Writing, and currently make ends meet working as a writing consultant at a local university. I’ve written two books: the first, Thumperica! A Novel of the Ghost of America Future, is a very dark dystopian satire (think Orwell & Atwood meet Monty Python & Quentin Tarantino). It’s a weird little book, but I think it’s pretty funny. Of course, there’s always the possibility that there’s something very wrong with me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, A Rare and Dangerous Beast, is an historical novel set in the Old West. It was inspired in general by my love of westerns and historical fiction, and specifically by several books that I read in fairly close succession: The Life of George Bent, by George E. Hyde, A Misplaced Massacre: Struggling Over the Memory of Sand Creek by Ari Kelman, Wyoming Range War by John W. Davis, Thunder on the Mountains by Daniel Sharfstein, and Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce by Kent Nerburn. They were about (respectively) a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, the Johnson County War, and the Nez Perce War. It occurred to me that one person could have gone through all of those (he would have to be either extremely lucky or extremely unlucky!).

Then I thought about using a Russian immigrant as a protagonist, in order to have him enter the U.S. through California during the gold rush, thereby skipping the whole trip across the continent that most of these stories use. During my research, I discovered the Buriat people, and the Decembrists (failed Russian revolutionaries who revered the American founding fathers, and Enlightenment philosophy). Having a half-Russian, half-Buriat main character who was versed in that philosophy, and who would be well-versed in horsemanship, archery, and could be mistaken for white, native American, Chinese, or a mix of those. I wanted a protagonist who could fit in just about anywhere, but not really belong.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only bad ones, to be honest. I don’t write every day. I also pretty much have to be completely finished with whatever I’ve finished (like marketing) before I can really concentrate on anything new.

I also tend to pretty much figure everything out in my head before I actually write anything, then write it all down as fast as I can, before I forget anything important.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh man, there are so many. Thomas Berger’s Little Big Man novels, George Macdonald Frazer’s Flashman novels, the works of Alistair MacLean, Henry Fielding, Dashiell Hammett, Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Schaefer, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, Margaret Atwood, Sinclair Lewis, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and Upton Sinclair, non-fiction by Erik Larson, Stephen Ambrose, Dee Brown, Cornelius Ryan, Robert Utley, philosophy by Hannah Arendt, John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Paine (don’t be too impressed. Mostly I just try to understand what they’re saying). And those are just ones that spring to mind. Honestly, there are too many to count.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m concentrating on promoting/marketing A Rare and Dangerous Beast, which is frustrating, because I have no idea what I’m doing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to book promotion. If I see one of my writer friends try something, I’ll give it a shot too, if it looks good. That’s how I found Awesome Gang. My friend, the awesome Laura Gilmore Gaddis did one of these interviews, and it looked like a great way to get the word out, so I’m giving it a try. I also use my blog to try to promote it, and look for opportunities to do readings at bookstores.

I clearly have much to learn about all this.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I guess just, if you want to write, then sit down and do it. Don’t wait until you’re good to begin. It’s one of those things that you only get better at if you work at it enough. And don’t do it to make money. It’s great if you do, but it’s a tough, tough business. If you’re not doing it for love of the work, then you’re bound to be disappointed.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always start a new document when you revise, especially when you’re just starting out. That way, you can look at the previous version and latest revision side-by-side, and see the improvements. Pretty quickly, you’ll start internalizing those changes, and your writing will improve rapidly. This works for pretty much any kind of writing, whether it’s school papers, stories, books, or whatever.

What are you reading now?
The Huntress by Kate Quinn, and Why Read Hannah Arendt Now, by Richard J. Bernstein.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now, I’ve got a small town murder-mystery comedy brewing in my head. Something that will take a minimum of research. I loved doing the research for A Rare and Dangerous Beast, but it was some heavy going.

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?
At least one of the Flashman books, something by either Locke, Mill, or Arendt (might as well figure out the meaning of life while I’m stuck), one of the Discworld books, probably Reaper Man or Small Gods, and I guess A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving? It’s really kind of hard to narrow it down. Ideally, I’d have my Nook and a portable solar panel. Then I’d really be set!

Author Websites and Profiles

Lloyd Mullins Website

Lloyd Mullins’s Social Media Links

Ayesha Aftab Ali Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Ayesha Aftab Ali

Interview With Author Ayesha Aftab Ali

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a passionate storyteller with a love for creating engaging worlds for young readers and beyond. My journey started with children’s books, where I aimed to blend fun with valuable lessons in a way that resonates with young minds. Now, I’m expanding into more complex narratives, bringing new depth to my writing.

I’ve written five children’s books, two novels in my reginal language so far; each crafted to inspire and entertain readers. A Mail-Order Bride is my first English novel, marking an exciting new chapter in my writing career as I explore adult themes and different genres.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled A Mail Order Bride. The inspiration came from my fascination with historical relationships and the resilience of people building lives under challenging circumstances. I was drawn to the concept of mail-order brides and the bravery required to step into the unknown for the sake of love, security, or adventure. This story explores themes of hope, trust, and self-discovery, as two people navigate the journey of becoming partners under unexpected conditions.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
While writing, I imagine myself on a serene beach—the colour of the sea, the gentle sound of waves, and the calm atmosphere all set the perfect tone. This peaceful scene helps me slip into my creative flow. I also enjoy listening to soft, romantic songs that add to the mood, making the writing process feel even more immersive.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Umaira Ahmed is a renowned Pakistani author known for her powerful storytelling and profound exploration of human relationships, faith, and morality. Her works often delve into societal issues, combining cultural depth with relatable characters facing complex moral and personal dilemmas. One of her most famous works, *Peer-e-Kamil (The Perfect Mentor), is widely celebrated for its exploration of spirituality and inner growth. Her narratives often blend romance with introspective journeys, which has resonated with a broad audience. Ahmed’s impactful writing style and focus on themes of personal and moral transformation have inspired many readers and writers alike.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on The Weight of Our Dreams, a novel that explores the complex and often conflicting nature of human aspirations. The story follows the lives of individuals who struggle to reconcile their dreams with the realities they face. Themes of ambition, love, sacrifice, and identity come into play as characters confront the pressures of societal expectations and personal desires. It’s a deeply emotional journey that examines how the weight of one’s dreams can both uplift and burden, and how finding balance can be the key to living a fulfilling life.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I’ve been struggling with promoting my books. I’m here because I hope to find new avenues and strategies for getting more visibility. While I’ve tried a few methods, I’m still learning the best ways to reach readers and build an audience. I’m eager to connect with platforms and communities that can help bring more attention to my work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is simple: just write what you feel. Don’t worry too much about following rules or trying to fit into a particular mould. Your unique voice and perspective are what will set you apart. Let your creativity flow freely and embrace the process—sometimes the best stories come when you allow yourself to write from the heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is, “If people talk behind your back, let them stay where they are… behind you!” It’s a reminder to focus on your own journey and not get caught up in negativity. People will always have opinions, but what matters most is staying true to yourself and moving forward.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m not reading anything. I’ve been focusing more on my own writing and projects, but I always look forward to diving into a good book when the time is right!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next for me as a writer is completing The Weight of Our Dreams. I’m excited to see how the story unfolds and how the characters evolve. It’s a project I’m deeply passionate about, and I’m looking forward to finishing it and sharing it with readers.

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?
If I were stranded on a desert island and could only take a few books with me, I would bring:

1. The Quran – A source of comfort, guidance, and inspiration, it would provide both spiritual nourishment and wisdom.
2. Peer-e-Kamil by Umaira Ahmed – This novel’s deep exploration of spirituality and personal transformation would be a thought-provoking read during such a time.
3. Tere Naam Ka Shajer – My second novel which is beautifully written, I find emotionally resonant, offering both reflection and solace.

These books would provide me with a blend of spiritual guidance, thought-provoking themes, and emotional depth to keep me company in solitude.

Author Websites and Profiles

Ayesha Aftab Ali’s Social Media Links

Lenn Millbower Amazon Profile

Pinterest Account

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Lenn Millbower

Interview With Author Lenn Millbower

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Disney, training, and entertainment expert who spent a childhood performing magic, ten years as a musician/magician on a cruise ship and in 48 of the US states, and 25 years at Walt Disney World, staring as a host on Epcot’s Listen to the Land boat ride, running every Epxot Future World Attraction, stage managing characters and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Disney MGM, writing training for internal cast members at Disney University and for business professionals at Disney Institute, and on the opening crew for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Post Disney, I speak at training and other conferences and have written six books for training and business professionals.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Santa System: Ten Leader Lessons from the North Pole, published November 12, 2024, was a work of love. For years I’d wondered how Santa, if he were real, would run the North Pole. I finally decided to figure it out and spent ten months thinking through how Santa’s Workshop actually works. The book is meaty and fun. It delivers ideas for business professionals and anyone seeking self-improvement AND shares the true story of Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Santa’s elves, and the Workshop’s interactions with other entities like the Easter Bunny.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have two habits of note. (1) For me the hard part is not writing, it’s knowing what to write. A lot of experts say to write, write, write until something happens. That doesn’t work for me. I will often write a sentence or two and then spend hours, or days, figuring out what I want to say next. For me, writing is essential because it helps me think and decide what I think. (2) When I am writing on a subject, I avoid reading anything else that has been written on that subject. I don’t want to be influenced by what other s have thought and written. I want what I write to come from me. not someone else.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was amazed at J.K. Rowling’s ability to create a whole Harry Potter world and absolutely loved Jasper Fforde’s The Big Over Easy for the fantasy world it created. Neal Gabler’s Walt Disney, Everything Was Possible by Ted Chapin, and Showmanship for Magicians by Dariel Fitzee were entertainment career favorites. Focusing on learning, Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Health, The Creative Brain by Ned Herrmann, and Soar With Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton and PaulaNelson (this one changed my life) influenced me.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I got two gems of advice when I was working at Disney. The first was when I got envious of those promoted before me, especially when I thought the promotion should have been mine. My supervisor told me that everyone has their moment and that you cannot judge your success based on what happens to someone else. Your path is your path and their path is their path. Accept who you are, follow your own path, and don’t waste time on envy towards others. The second bit of advice concerned those trying to turn Disney into something it is not (it happens all the time inside the Mouse House). He said that you can’t blame Disney for being Disney. People know it and want it. You either embrace what Disney is or go elsewhere to do what you really want to do.

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