Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! My name is Kesha Delacroix Dent, and I am a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Tarot Consultant and the founder of New World Mind & Spirit. I like to describe myself as a “self-identity makeover artist”, and I help people to change their lives by changing themselves first. I am the author of one book (so far!) – “Life Change Now: A 3-Step Guide to Manifesting What You Want Through the Magic of Being Who You Are.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
This book came together as sort of an alchemy of a few things. First and foremost, it came from my work as a hypnotic coach and Tarot consultant, which has healed my life as well as given healing and guidance to many of my clients as well. It is inspired by the Magician card in Tarot, which talks about describes the transformational, mental magic that we ALL have access to and are actually using everyday. But the question becomes: Are you using it to create what you want, or more of what you DON’T want?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I sometimes will pull a Tarot card and ask for the energy of that card to help me to write. I think for anyone with a spiritual practice, that’s not so unusual, as we often tap into our energy when doing work. But for a lot of people that would be unusual LOL

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been a HUGE reader by entire life, and physical books have kind of taken over my house LOL So many! The old early 20th-century stuff for sure have been important to me, like “The Kybalion” by the Three Initiates, “The Master Key System” by Charles F. Haanel, “Three Magic Words” by U.S. Anderson and more. More recently, the books of Deepak Chopra, Mike Dooley, Sasha Graham, Benebell Wen, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and sooo many more have changed my life as well.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished my first book as of this date. I have definitely been kicking around an idea for a four-part series that will combine physical, mundane self-help with esoteric, spiritual work.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
www.newworldcoaching.org/lifechangenow

Do you have any advice for new authors?
WRITE IT! LOL Seriously, I can’t tell you how long I’ve been “writing” this book, simply because I never got up “early enough”, or put aside “enough” time, or was “in the mood.” I always was waiting for this perfect hour-plus of writing time that rarely materialized, and when it didn’t materialize, I would just throw up my hands and say, “Guess I’m not writing today cuz I screwed up again!” But I finally realized I just had to do it, and my writing time was never going to be perfect or ideal. Just write. In 5 minutes. In 3 minutes. Whatever you got. So much of this book was written in “disappointing” 9-minute increments because I slept in…again LOL

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life is a game. You’re not here to play small and stay safe.

What are you reading now?
I’m hoping to return to reading fiction, which I haven’t had time to do a lot of recently…But I LOVE horror and scary stuff. One novel I’ve been waiting to find time to dive into one weekend is “Experimental Film” by Gemma Files.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just working on getting my new book out there!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh soo tough to answer! I would probably bring one short story anthology based around a landscape that I never see…so if I was on a tropical island, something themed around winter or forests…One short story anthology that was funny…I’d bring one epic adventure novel, and one self-help/inspirational book, probably “A Course in Miracles”, as clearly I will be in need of one if I’m stranded on an island! 🙂

Author Websites and Profiles
Kesha Delacroix Dent Website
Kesha Delacroix Dent Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in a small town in Mississippi, Greenwood, and moved to Florida in 2001. I have had many jobs, but my most rewarding is the one I gave now. I am a juvenile correctional officer in a level 10 maximum security facility. I appreciate the opportunity I have to change the paths of youth who have definitely lost their way.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Longshot: A Life Less Ordinary. I gave always loved science fiction and have written thousands of private stories and fragments, but this is the first that I took to fruition. Several characters are based on people, of dogs, I’ve known in my life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The biggest is that I always, always write the first draft of anything with pen and paper, then, when I type I revise and edit for the first time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Heinlein was the biggest, then David Drake, Eric Flint, David Weber (Love Honor Harrington!), And, more recently, Jim Butcher. The Dresden Files is probably my favorite book series to date. And I have to mention Mark Tufo. I know him personally, and he has done a great deal to get me to this point. He’s a great writer, and I really enjoy sci Fi horror

What are you working on now?
Well, the second book in the Longshot series, a new short story collection that tells an overarching story of the survival of humanity in the far future, and I have been writing a series of fragments that MN at or may not become books

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook! I also use Twitter to a limited extent

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying, keep writing, and remember that a firm editor is your best friend.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Shut up and write it down.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Coleman. Great read. About to reread Battleground by Jim Butcher.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep working on my prose and I am going to start actively plotting book three of my series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Starship Troopers by Heinlein, the Return of the King by Tolkien, Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo, and, finally, Survive on a Desert Island by Claire Llewellyn

Eric Johnson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The written word has long since been a passion of mine. I began writing in my early 20’s, poems, short stories, and plays. About 10 years ago I began writing a romance novel which I hope to finish this summer.
Science has been one of my favorite subjects to teach for many years. I enjoy seeing students when they are engrossed in hands-on learning activities. In this book, a student has become discouraged about education and then a science assignment reignites the joy of learning.

Included in this book are six labs which may be conducted at home using typical household items, vocabulary words to discuss, and higher level thinking questions to ponder.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have been teaching for over 20 years. When the whole world went under quarantine, teaching became undiscovered territory. I absolutely love teaching and know it is important to be flexible, always keeping in mind doing what is best for the students. Watching my students adjust to their new normal, I found myself concerned with their feelings about homebound learning.

The inspiration for “When The World Was Sick” was discussions with students when communication was conducted virtually with no physical contact. The challenge to create lessons which motivated and kept them engaged was a daily task.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I begin a book I just sit and write, no editing or questioning my plot, just write. I enjoy sitting at my desk in my sunroom, looking outside with my dog resting on a pillow beside my computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first place I will go in a bookstore is the Children’s Poetry section. Jack Prelutsky, Mister Rogers, and Shel Silverstein are among some of my favorite writers for children.
Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, and Jude Deveraux are some of my favorite romance writers.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on completing my romance novel and continue to edit my next children’s book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The main method of promoting my book thus far is my friends networking with Facebook. I also ask business owners to place my book among their inventories.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Advice I might give to new authors is write to for yourself and don’t give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It is difficult to narrow the best advice ever passed on to me, I have read words of wisdom from many individuals, but, perhaps the most inspirational comments have come from my 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?
If I were stranded on a desert island and was allowed to only take a few books, I would pack, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austin, “Where The Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein, and “Stories from Shakespeare” by Geraldine McCaughrean.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jennipher Adams Website
Jennipher Adams Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for ages. I started with poetry and song lyrics. Then we moved to Alaska in the 1970s. I wrote the first novel that winter in a cabin in rural Alaska. In long hand, I wrote in the loft while trying to keep warm. For many years I kept upgrading it from computer program to new program. Since publishing it early 2007, I’ve written and published over 30. All are romances in some guise.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Snake by the Tail is an offshoot from the first space romance written exclusively in the Stellar Unite Nations Universe. Another author created that world and I love creating in it. Then again, science fiction was my first love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The love of my life who died several years ago have a bad case of insomnia. On the weekends when he could sleep in, I didn’t. So I learned to be extremely silent. When I’m writing all you hear is the click of the keys on the keyboard.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I said I was a science fiction fan. Anne McCaffrey. Isaac Asimov, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Then I discovered romance books; Mary Stewart for one.

What are you working on now?
That would be telling, ha, ha. Seriously, I have a pen name I’ve kept close to the vest and what I’m working on has to do with the Cherokee tribe and their involvement in both the American Civil War and slavery. It’s a bit of a twisted tale. The Civil War was a war of brothers both between the North and South and those caught on the fringes.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I’m horrid at promoting. I’d rather be writing and don’t pay as much attention to marketing as I should. I tend to impulse promote. Not a great strategy.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Short of ending up in jail or dead, experience everything you can. It’s all useful when writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take the chance when it rolls around, it may never come again.

What are you reading now?
Working my way through the In Death series again while reading romantic suspense, regency and Victorian mysteries. Just finished a few space romances and have preordered another.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now, I’m planning on working more in the SUN Universe. It’s a great place to let your imagination free.

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?
Dragon Riders of Pern, Naked In Death, The Word for World is Forest, Fantastic Voyage

Author Websites and Profiles
Cherime MacFarlane Website
Cherime MacFarlane Amazon Profile
Cherime MacFarlane Author Profile on Smashwords

Cherime MacFarlane’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an extrovert who loves to travel, I often find being abroad or even changing my scenery inspires me to write. Most of my poems have come from being abroad, having the space to clear my mind and read. Carthatic, releasing and liberating.
I have one book out that was recently published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have my debut book, The Silence That Falls In Between, that recently came out a few weeks ago. The inspiration for my book came from my passion to support women who may feel as though their voice is of no value. Poetry is a beautiful way of choosing how vulnerable you want to be. You can hide behind the metaphor or find the releasing power of vulnerability. I’ve used my story as a way of building a bridge in a way that, hopefully, feels relatable.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not sure if this falls under the unusual category but I often write in the dead of night. The daytime is when I fill my mind and time with activities, projects, etc, so the dead of night when everyone is still, where there are no more distractions is when I often write.
It’s never planned, I’m trying to sleep and then suddenly; phone’s out, I’m frantically typing away before the words disappear…so is that unusual?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors I find inspiring are Nikita Gill, Rupi Kaur, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Morgan Harper Nichols, Brene Brown and Charlie Mackesy. The way they use their words to empower, to heal and make us feel less alone is just inspiring and beautiful.

What are you working on now?
Promoting my current book and slowly thinking about the next time…

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to this so this is something I’m still learning myself but friends have just naturally helped promote my book using their social media account. I, too, find promoting on my social media to be the most effective.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Firstly, I’m also a new author so hi! How are you? This is crazy, right?
The best advice someone gave me was to focus on what you can control and surrender the things you can’t. Yes, do all the research and promoting that you can do but release the anxiety that comes with the reality of being an author: the imposter syndrome, etc.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The above but also: if your book reaches only one person and it changes that one person’s life then that is just as powerful as if it had changed a million.

What are you reading now?
Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly. Wow! If I could just live in her head for a minute…

What’s next for you as a writer?
My debut book is still super fresh so I want to give it a bit of attention before I move on to another book. Though I do think of what the second one would be like.

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?
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Your Heart is the Sea by Nikita Gill
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
They should keep me sane for a bit. Can I also bring a notebook and pen?

Author Websites and Profiles
Sade Teniola Website
Sade Teniola Amazon Profile

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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Christian wife and mom in located in rural Kentucky, with a deep affinity for an old-fashioned, natural lifestyle. Often described as having been born outside my time, I love to spend time with my family in the great outdoors, one with nature.

With a degree in Equine Health & Rehabilitation gathering dust and a full-time job tethering me to a desk eight hours a day, I decided it was high time to invoke change in my life. To show my children it is truly possible to make your dreams come true, I dove into the role of Christian Romance author with my debut series, Smoky Mountain Romance.

So far, I have released one Novelette and one Novella in that series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest work is titled Smoky Mountain Embers. It is inspired by the Chimney Tops II Fire that affected the Gatlinburg area in 2016. What started off as a miniscule fire turned into a full-blown firestorm with hurricane force winds. The disaster claimed thousands of structures in the area. After researching the disaster which had hit so close to home, I felt compelled to tell a story which would honor both the lives saved and the lives lost.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No unusual writing habits but I do tend to write between 4am and 7am

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am completely in love with Diana Palmer’s writing style. She is absolutely my inspiration when it comes to writing. Also, my favorite book of all time is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I’ve read that book many times and will read it many more! Her scene descriptions are incredible! Plus, what can be better than water horses?

What are you working on now?
My next release will be Smoky Mountain Christmas, a Smoky Mountain Romance, which features a young woman who avoids attachments due to her infertility. She becomes snow-bound with a large, loving family and a handsome cowboy — the situation of her nightmares!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, selling in person within my community has been my most effective method of moving my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do it! Write your story and get it out there! Make your dreams come true and don’t be afraid to find your own path along the way.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not two people will take the same path up the mountain.

What are you reading now?
Just finished An Unforseen Match by Regina Jennings! It was amazing!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Over the next month, I will be spending quite a bit of time on marketing this new release. But I will also be starting on my next projects. Smoky Mountain Christmas is already reading for rework, rewriting, and editing. And I’m already brainstorming the next release after that and will begin writing it in the next few weeks as well.

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?
Wait, only 3 or 4? Well, if I had to choose…. Definitely The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Summer Breeze by Catherine Anderson, and then I’d have a tough time choosing just a couple of Diana Palmer’s.

Author Websites and Profiles
Andrea Byrd Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! I am currently a student at the University of Toronto studying Economics, Political Science, and English. I have written two novels so far, Last Moment, a young romance drama, and Burning Ember, an action and adventure with touches of fantasy and romance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book just released June 1st and it’s called Burning Ember. This novel is inspired by various events I have seen and experienced in my life ranging from statewide Californian fires to the nationwide social unrest and I started accumulating these ideas when I was in high school.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have been growing out of this one since it’s pretty inefficient in the 21st century, but I loved writing out my words by hand before typing them out. My writing used to always appear on paper first before being typed out after. There was a time when the sound of clacking keyboards disturbed my thoughts and only those lead lines dancing across fresh white paper could keep up with my imagination.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors that I adore, if only to name a couple, are A.A. Milne and Shakespeare. I know Shakespeare as an influence seems very distant and intangible but I think that is exactly why I look to his work so much. Shakespeare created so many foundations on which storytelling is built upon today and I think that’s irreplaceable and undeniable. As for A.A. Milne, I think his structure is often so simple yet so beautiful even so. So many of the lines he has created are almost plain at the surface level, but I love that feeling when the beauty behind the simplicity slowly seeps in.

What are you working on now?
I am currently thinking of my third novel and although the images are hazy, I already have some ideas in mind. I’m thinking of trying out the thriller and mystery genre next and I am also enthralled by story concepts involving time travel. I think time travel is pretty tricky to tackle but I’m excited for the challenge!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I don’t really know, but I do know that Goodreads is a wonderful place to connect with readers and I’m so excited to have launched my profile and I want everyone to know that I am open to, and enthusiastic about, answering any questions that anyone may have about my books!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a young and new author myself so I’m not sure if I am quite ready to be giving advice. But something I like to remind myself is to write because I love to, and not for anything else. Writing can feel like a difficult and lonely road sometimes but if you’re traveling for the right reasons you’ll find the courage and the strength to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Just do it.” –Nike

What are you reading now?
The Road Past Altamont by Gabrielle Roy

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to take a moment to expand my horizons and my views as I embark on my next novel.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring three survival books because I might be in trouble otherwise. Left with the difficult decision of only one book slot for fun, I would have to take “The Art of War.” Which actually may not be that fun, but I’ll be prepared. You never know what’s going to happen out there.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jocelyn Chen Website
Jocelyn Chen Amazon Profile

Jocelyn Chen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a TV writer, novelist, playwright and screenwriter who has been writing for television for the past twenty years, including such shows as House, Pretty Little Liars, Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Medium, JAG, The Glades, Homicide, Judging Amy, and Women’s Murder Club. I’ve written four mystery novels that were published by Signet: Breakfast at Madeline’s, Grand Delusion, Strange Bedfellows, and The Killing Bee. My latest novel, The Necklace, has been optioned for film by Appian Way and Cartel Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached as producer.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel, The Necklace, comes out in September from Oceanview Publishing.

Nine years ago, I read an article in the Glens Falls Post-Star about a woman from a small town in upstate New York who was holding a fundraising event at a local bar. She needed money to travel to the upcoming execution of the man who had raped and murdered her young daughter twenty-two years before.

Everything about this story stuck with me: not only the tragic death, but also the woman’s dire circumstances and her quest to find justice and closure two decades later.

For years I wanted to write a novel about this, but I didn’t know what the story would be. Then one day I was having coffee with a writer friend, John Henry Davis, and he suggested: “What if the guy who’s being executed maybe didn’t do it?”

And that’s how The Necklace was born.

After I wrote the novel, I discovered something amazing. There is a woman in Idaho named Carol Dodge who devoted her life to proving that Christopher Tapp, the man imprisoned for raping and killing her daughter Angie many years earlier, was innocent. Thanks to Carol’s relentless efforts, Tapp was finally set free and the real killer, Brian Leigh Dripps, was arrested.

Talk about life imitating art!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to ride my bike to a coffee shop in the morning, chat with the other writers there, and then get down to two or three hours of writing. That way I get to start my day with three of my favorite things: exercise, socializing, and writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Throughout my life, two writers have inspired me the most: Dr. Seuss and Elmore Leonard. Dr. Seuss wrote with such freedom and wealth of imagination, and I believe has had a tremendous, underappreciated impact on so many writers who came after him. Elmore Leonard wrote with such economy of language, and such wonderful realistic dialogue, that I still marvel when I reread his work today.

In the past five or ten years, when I’ve been gobbling down psychological thrillers like candy, there are so many writers who have inspired me. Here’s a partial list: Gillian Flynn; Harlan Coben; Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen; Laura Lippman; Jessica Knoll; A.J. Finn; Paula Hawkins; Shari Lapena; Karin Slaughter; Mary Kubica; Lisa Lutz; Ruth Ware; Linwood Barclay; Fiona Barton; Lisa Jewell; JP Delany; and Hollie Overton.

What are you working on now?
A new novel called Clickbait, about a podcast reporter investigating a cold case.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do my best to connect with bloggers who have reviewed and enjoyed novels similar to The Necklace.

My website is mattwittenwriter.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write!

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

What are you reading now?
The Thursday Murder Club.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After I finish Clickbait, I’m writing a TV pilot called Brainstorm, about a young neuroscientist who gets kidnapped with her blind date and thrown into a high-stakes intrigue about a weapon of mass destruction that she herself accidentally created

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! A Jeeves novel by PG Wodehouse, and I’m not sure about the other two.

Author Websites and Profiles
Matt Witten Website

Matt Witten’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

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To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!

If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I serve suspense and crime fiction books and my latest work is my debut short story series:
“Shades of Secrets”.The first title of the series: “Behind the Wall” is out now on Amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Behind the Wall is the name and to be honest the idea for this story came to me one day when I was swimming in the ocean of thoughts and suddenly this story ringed in my mind and woke me up.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a very unusual habit of writing a story without having the end in mind. Like Stephen
King says that I let the story go on its own. To me defining the ending is like missing all those opportunities my creativity has to offer

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A lot of works by Stephen King especially “The Shining” and “It” as in both of the books the actual thing to be scared off is very unusual.
A lot of books by Agatha Christie such as “Murder is Easy” and “Dead man’s Folly”. I’m a big fan of her portrayal of negative characters.

What are you working on now?
Promoting Behind the Wall and working on the next titles in the series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Instagram Ads and book reviews.
(Cheap and effective)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself so I can tell what I’m experiencing. It requires patience and passion to make it big.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never Give up

What are you reading now?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, trying to gain insights on fantasy books as I have a similar idea that involves a magical world.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Publish the next titles on the series Shades of Secrets.
Become a leading name in the crime fiction and suspense genre.

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 Alchemist
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Elon Musk
Any other book that can tip on how to survive on a deserted island

Author Websites and Profiles
Harris Kloe Website
Harris Kloe Amazon Profile

Harris Kloe’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is the first book I’ve ever written. I am a combat veteran who was just looking for a way to get my postwar emotions out of me and onto paper. I created characters to represent different emotions and then somehow this insane story just evolved.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled The Lady in The Red Shawl, it was inspired by a painting that hangs on my wall. I would sit with this painting for hours just thinking over all my experiences and memories. She brought me such solace and comfort that I gave her to my main female character for the same purpose. (The cover of the book is a photograph of the real painting.)

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually write in the middle of the night when I wake up from a nightmare or can’t sleep. I’d say the majority of my writing is done after midnight and before daybreak.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
If I could meet any author in the world who ever lived it would be the beautiful Walt Whitman. The descriptions he makes paints a picture so clear to the reader and the emotions he traps in words transcribe across all generations.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on the sequel to The Lady in The Red Shawl. It will be titled The Lady Draped in White.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new to all of this! So far I have only explored Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Reach out to other authors who began the same way you are. I have been welcomed into so many author circles and been given such wonderful advice.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat people as good as you are, not as good as they deserve.

What are you reading now?
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next step is to see if anyone actually likes my book. It’s dark and a little psycho so I’m worried that no one will like it. I guess if Patrick Bateman still has fan clubs there must be a fan base who might like my Will Hartmann .

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My practical self is tempted to give the titles of 3 survival guides, but the impractical side of me would choose The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernst Hemingway and then as many erotic romance novels as I could carry.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nicolle Vaughn Amazon Profile

Nicolle Vaughn’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have spent the last 27 years as a certified high school technology teacher, the daughter of two high school teachers, and train a new set of students each fall into becoming the district’s expert geek squad. I received my Bachelor’s in Marketing and Communication from the University of Maryland and her Masters in Reading from SUNY Oneonta. In the summer my husband, (aka her high school sweetheart) and I have a marina on a lake in upstate New York. I raised two daughters who grew up working together in the general store and now both live in California but still call and tell me everything, sometime TMI. In my classroom, as Mrs. Rice, I spend six hours a day with technology and aspiring teenagers, and as they become older teens think their parents are outdated and “they just don’t get it.” That’s why I love providing just a little inspiration through my high school book series with simple questions and cheat sheets that parents and anyone can use to spark a conversation with teenagers. The number one thing I find as teens grow up in the pace of today’s technology is that teens are actually a lot smarter than many adults give them credit for if they would just step back and listen. I have gathered the most common quotes from teens and I share them with you. Revealing that teens really do want to spend time together and talk to adults to help them survive life. My next book (Number 2) in the High School Teacher Series will be like this, Operation: Improve your Life with Simple Habits for a Better Day inspired by teen quotes and stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Nicole Rice has spent the last 27 years as a certified high school technology teacher, the daughter of two high school teachers herself, and trains a new set of students each fall into becoming the district’s expert geek squad. She received her Bachelor’s in Marketing and Communication from the University of Maryland and her Masters in Reading from SUNY Oneonta. In the summers she and her husband, (aka her high school sweetheart) have a marina on a lake in upstate New York. They raised their two daughters who grew up working together in the general store and now both live in California but still call and tell her everything. In her classroom, Mrs. Rice spends six hours a day with technology and aspiring teenagers, and as they become older teens think their parents are outdated and “they just don’t get it.” That’s why she loves providing just a little inspiration through her high school book series with simple questions and cheat sheets that parents and anyone can use to spark a conversation with teenagers. The number one thing she finds as teens grow up in the pace of today’s technology is that teens are actually a lot smarter than many adults give them credit for if they would just step back and listen. She has gathered the most common quotes from teens and shares them with you. Revealing that teens really do want to spend time together and talk to adults to help them survive life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
3 habits work for me as a writer. 1. I write from 4:30 am to 5:30 am before I get ready and off to school. 2. I keep a notepad by my Peloton bike because the instructors on their get me thinking about life and ideas to write about in the books. 3. When a teen does or says something that I just know other people can relate to I think of whole chapters around this, teens are the most creative thinkers I know.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sophie Howard and C.J. Anaya.

What are you working on now?
7 Habits for a Better Day. Operation: Improve Your Life.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Put one hour a day towards your book 7 days a week, and before you know it, you are an author. Put it on Amazon, do not wait, let the people all over the world see your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My sister, do it, what is the worst thing that can happen?

What are you reading now?
Leading with GRIT by Laurie Sudbrink

What’s next for you as a writer?
Gather stories from students I have taught in high school over the past 27 years and post them all together in one book, “where they are now”.

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.
A blank journal.
Morse Code.
How to hunt.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nicole Rice Amazon Profile

Nicole Rice’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Andre Soares, author, screenwriter and actor based in Atlanta, GA.

I was born in Rio, Brazil and grew up in France, raised by a single mother.

Books were a huge part of our lives, an outlet: I learned how to read at 3 and started devouring them. Creative writing was just a natural development: I wanted to craft my own stories and be in control of my narrative.

I came to the US in 2009, spent a few years in NYC and joined the US Army.

I now reside in Atlanta, and released my debut novella, “The Forerunner”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is also my debut novella. “The Forerunner”.

I drew inspiration from my cultural background: raised in Europe in a predominantly African household, I have a global perspective. I tackle issues and themes with a very unique outlook quite different from my fellow US authors (whom I admire, nonetheless).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to walk around my office space and visualize the scenes I intend to write down, or think out loud and reflect on characters and world-building interactions.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JK Rowling was a huge influence. What she accomplished with the Harry Potter series was phenomenal. And I’m not talking commercial success. The scale of what she constructed is still unmatched.

Walter Mosley is also a huge influence. James Patterson, Tom Clancy…and many more.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the second installment of my “Vice Versa” series, a trilogy that began with “The Forerunner”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like to interact with small but engaged pockets of readership. My blog readers and Facebook fans for the most part, as well as fellow authors I meet here in Atlanta.

I love to listen and get feedback and discuss specific aspects of my projects. It excites me. Something you don’t necessarily get with a broader audience.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Take your time. Authoring and creative writing take years to master (with a few exceptions). Learn your craft, humble yourself. Take harsh criticism and revise your positions if you find that it impedes your progress.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Show, don’t tell”

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading “The Holcroft Covenant” by Robert Ludlum (another inspiration).

What’s next for you as a writer?
I also studied screenwriting.

Once I complete this trilogy, I will finish working on a tv series I crafted a tv pilot for two years ago. It revolves around spycraft.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Burning by Megha Majumdar, Dune by Frank J Herbert, any spy novel (hi John!).

Author Websites and Profiles
Andre Soares Website
Andre Soares Amazon Profile

Andre Soares’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a teacher, writer, and podcaster. Though primarily a YA fantasy author, I have also delved into poetry, novellas, and children’s books. My latest release (June 21, 2021) will be my sixth book in print. When not writing, chasing after children, or fighting the urge to nap, I co-host “Quill and Ink: A Podcast for Booklovers,” where I interview authors from around the world and learn about their unique style of writing.

*I am a client of Creative Edge Publicity

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release is the sequel to the first book in The Reborn Marks series. RENEW takes place just a few short weeks after the ending events of REBORN. Though she’s escaped slavery and endured the hardships of the Wastelands to reach sanctuary, Lexil is learning that this idyllic setting is far from perfect. As well, she must deal with the guilt of those she left behind and remain in slavery. She must decide if she can live knowing others are in peril, and what she is willing to sacrifice to make a difference in the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write scene-by-scene, which not all writers do. Sometimes that means sitting down and writing half a page, and at other times that means writing multiple pages. As well, so signal my family members that I am deep into a story plot, and not just checking my emails and Twitter feed, I tend to wear a tiara when I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Pretty much every YA writer I have had the privilege of reading, especially the dystopian ones, as well as classic literature such as 1984, Pride and Prejudice, and Brave New World.

What are you working on now?
I have a few projects on the go. The third/ final book of The Reborn Marks series is in the editing phase. As well, I have a picture book being formatted. A novella I wrote last fall will be part of an anthology. This summer I plan to draft the final book in the Imagine series before embarking on a new journey with a brand new series (I’m collecting ideas already!)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find that being active on social media all through the year – not just when I have a new release – is beneficial. I’m on Tik Tok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook… you name it! – posting writing memes, book images, and engaging readers on a personal level.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Just write. `Don’t expect your story to be perfect on the first try. (It’s called a rough draft for a reason). Edit later, just tell the story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To let the characters tell the story – after all, they do it better than I do. They know themselves and they are going to take over anyway. If you set a story up the right way, eventually it begins to tell itself and all you have to do is record it.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Cloud Atlas. My Christmas present from my sister was a scratch-off literature poster and there were too many gaps for my liking. I just finished The Great Gatsby.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Too many things to count! I plan to scribble a few more picture books for someone else to illustrate, inspired by my daughter’s shenanigans, as well as those of her friends. I have new series to create, maybe a short story of two to tackle… and more!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A book about edible plants.

Pride and Prejudice

1984

Author Websites and Profiles
Jenna Greene Website

Jenna Greene’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired public school teacher. I am also an engineer. I have written a book on Mathematics and my latest book on education, Bring Up Kings, has been read by thousands of educators around the world and applied, knowingly or not, by parents around the world who want to raise successful children.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Bring Up Kings. It was inspired by the lives of great human beings such as Einstein, Leonardo, Edison, Mozart, and how they were educated to become the masters of what they do.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Great Lives, Great Deeds by Thomas Carlyle

What are you working on now?
It is a book on urban plannng and design called Happiness Engineering: Building Ecstatic Structures for the Soul.

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

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

 

Author Websites and Profiles
Benedick Ganzo Amazon Profile

Benedick Ganzo’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a part-time teacher and part-time writer—so I get a little bit of the best of both worlds, even if work can pile up and be a bit hectic sometimes. I’m from the midwest, but I moved to the PNW for grad school and fell in love with the area. I’ve been here now for almost a decade and have a feeling I’ll be here for quite a while longer. It’s hard to give up the combination of mountains and water.

In my freetime, I can be found reading, consuming way too much TV (is there such a thing as *too much* TV? I don’t know), and wandering around the city with my dog. He gets me out of the house on days when the world feels like a bit of a disaster. Dogs are the best, we definitely do not deserve them.

I’ve currently got two Urban Fantasy series that I’m publishing over the course of 2021.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current series, The Protector Guild, started as a Nanowrimo project a couple of years ago. I only wrote about 20-30 thousand words initially, and wanted to write a story about a girl who was thrust into a new world and set of experiences. I’d been reading reverse harem/why choose books for a few months at the time and really loved that they all incorporated this interesting cast of characters—I think I loved that aspect of the genre more so than all of the romance even. Writing a series in that genre seemed like a really cool way to practice creating and developing characters, each with their own complex and compelling back story. I was also going through a difficult time with anxiety and depression, and building each of the characters really helped me through it—sometimes analyzing characters and their experiences/traumas can really help me understand my own. My dog kept me company during those long nights of writing and learning the craft, so I wrote him into the story as the protagonist’s cartoonish hellhound sidekick (who is obviously my favorite character).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do what are known as pomodoro sprints. I set a timer for 15-25 minutes and just word vomit all over my google doc. I don’t do any editing during that time and instead, just try to get into the flow and let my characters speak to me. It’s been a really cool way to get words on the page, without stressing too much about perfection. One thing I’ve learned as a reader of indie books is that I don’t focus much on perfection while I’m reading. It just doesn’t matter much to me—the perfectly-constructed sentence doesn’t seem nearly as important as the feeling a scene or a character evokes. Sprints have helped tremendously with that.

Also chocolate. When I have a particularly high word count day, I like to reward myself with chocolate (and, let’s be honest, I still get that chocolate even if I don’t.)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read everything. I always hate when people say that they love all genres, until I remember that I’m one of those people. And all of the books I read, whether fiction or not, shape my writing in some way. Right now, I’m really into audiobooking comedic memoirs/essays while walking my pup, and I read a ton of fiction/fantasy before bed, when I’m trying to wind down (and then eventually stay up all night reading…I need to work on that strategy).

What are you working on now?
I’m working on drafting the fifth book in my The Protector Guild series. I’ve been living in this world for so many months and it’s a ton of fun. It’s bittersweet that I only have two more books in this series (but oh do I have spinoffs planned!).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I post a lot on instagram and engage with facebook groups in my genre. It’s a great community and offers me a chance to talk to readers and see what they are enjoying.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m still an incredibly new author in the publishing world, and only really began investing time in it over the last six or seven months. I’d say the best advice I have is to sit your butt in the chair and get words on the page. Everything comes after that.

Second piece of advice is to be open to learning. These days, authors are required to do a lot more than simply write. You have to be a great storyteller, but you also have to learn how to market and use social media. There’s so many different hats to wear and you have to be open to learning about the process if you want to discover what works best for you. The self-publishing community is really generous with sharing information and education, which has been invaluable to me. I try to set aside an hour or two every week to listen to podcasts on indie publishing, or to read various books on the writing craft itself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Butt in Seat. If you want to be a writer, the first step is to sit down and actually start writing. Don’t just talk about doing it.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Victoria Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, David Gaughran’s Strangers to Superfans, and a collection of short stories called Love After the End.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a few new series planned that I can’t wait to get into. I know that the general suggestion is to stick to one genre, but I have a contemporary romance trilogy that won’t leave my head, so that’ll be next.

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?
MEAN.

I’d bring Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping, Camus’ The Stranger, Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes series (I’m counting that as one book), and any book by Roxane Gay.

Author Websites and Profiles
Gray Holborn Website
Gray Holborn Amazon Profile

Gray Holborn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written four books, and about a dozen novellas. I started writing during graduate school, which I attended while on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. My first publication was an academic article, and completing it felt like running a marathon. I love history, and one of my college degrees is in that subject.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Versatile Nation: How America’s Knack for Reinventing Itself Will Make Life Better After 2020

Like many, I watched the events of 2020 during lockdown with a combination of horror and fascination. At first I thought, there is nothing I can really do about anything that’s happening, but then I realized there was something I could do. I could use the extra time constructively, so I started thinking about how the US handled crises and upheaval in the past. I did some research, made some notes, outlined a few chapters, and over the course of several months it grew into a full length book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I presume my writing habits are normal, but there is no way for me to really know for sure 🙂

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love science fiction, especially Isaac Asimov, George Orwell, Suzanne Collins, Margaret Atwood, and Stephen King. In graduate school we read a lot of scholarly works, to numerous to list here, but I give top marks to Samuel Huntington.

I grew up reading Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series, which I think is when I realized I wanted to write books myself. Love James Clavell’s Shogun, I read it not long before travelling to Japan as an exchange student.

What are you working on now?
Two science fiction books, one on the Cold War, and another of a future war between the US and China.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a morning person, so I dedicate a few hours each morning to writing new content.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every day, but don’t be afraid to take a day or two off each week. Writing is a perishable skill. If you don’t use it, you will lose it.

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?
1984, Raise the Titanic, The Stand, and Shogun.

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two books and working on the third but the first one is my practice book and will probably never be published. I am very proud of it however, because it is through it, I became a writer and finished a manuscript. I have over 700 posts on a blog called belyndasbooks.com

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my novel is Secrets and Silence and what inspired it is the redeeming power of love. I wanted to delve into why some people rise above the hurts and challenges of their past.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get up at six o’clock most days and on Monday and Thursday I write a blog post and the rest of the days I work on my novel Secrets and Sorrow. The sequel to Secrets and Silence.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love to read and books by Laura Ingalls Wilder I loved as a child. I love Danielle Steele’s plotting and Stephen King’s suspense. The Thorn Bird’s by Colleen McCullough and Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell stand out for memorable characters.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel to Secrets and Silence called Secrets and Sorrow. Also a children’s book about a beloved dog.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have been interviewed on podcasts and internet radio shows. I have also given a webinar through a local arts group on self publishing. I am actively looking for speaking engagements and speaking at Toastmasters groups.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make writing a habit, and remember overnight success takes about 15 years. If writing feeds your soul it is worth doing and if you put it out into the world your readers will probably find you. It takes time to build a readership and a catalogue of work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Starting is half done, and be grateful for what you have and you will get more.

What are you reading now?
The Cave and the Light by Arthur Herman

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue writing and publishing my books. Building a readership, catalogue of books, and continuing my blog. Develop my public speaking with Toastmasters and speaking opportunities that present themselves.

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, and I need to think about what else would make the cut.

Author Websites and Profiles
Belynda Wilson Thomas Website
Belynda Wilson Thomas Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
LAURIE SUDBRINK established Unlimited Coaching Solutions, Inc. in 1999. Her proprietary system of GRIT® (Generosity, Respect, Integrity and Truth) has inspired tens of thousands of participants to take control of their own happiness and productivity at work. She is widely known as a dynamic speaker whose work ranges from small organizations to fortune 500 and has delivered workshops and keynotes at business and higher education conferences around the world.

Laurie’s book Leading With GRIT was published by Wiley in 2015, hardcopy. Laurie recently negotiated the rights back and has self-published, along with an audio book!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Leading With GRIT was inspired by my 20+ years of leadership development in organizations around the US, from small, manufacturers, to large Fortune 500, and government training provided for New York State and the Navy in San Diego. The common theme I found was that the old ‘command and control’ style wasn’t working. And while any managers had grit, they caused collateral damage along the way. GRIT – Generosity, Respect, Integrity and Truth is the roadmap to leading intentionally and with long-lasting positive results.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
not that I know of 😉

What authors, or books have influenced you?
don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements, The Mastery of Love
Ken Blanchard, One Minute Manager was first management book that influenced me.
Way too many great books to list here

What are you working on now?
Just finished audio of LWG, and the accompanying GRIT Productivity Planner.
Starting a Lead With GRIT Workbook and self-directed online course.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon.com/grittystuff storefront
LeadingWithGRIT.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t listen to other’s advice – follow your heart and your soul!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be yourself – everyone else is already taken!

What are you reading now?
The Nightingale

What’s next for you as a writer?
A GRIT series… Communicating With GRIT, Team GRIT Teen GRIT (potential co-author)

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
The Four Agreements
Wilderness Survival Guide
Blank Journal

Author Websites and Profiles
LAURIE SUDBRINK Website
LAURIE SUDBRINK Amazon Profile

LAURIE SUDBRINK’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, I’m Jessica. The Missing Piece is my debut novel and I’m so excited to share it with the world. 🙂 I love writing and hope to share many more books in years to come.

I love all things Disney or Harry Potter. I enjoy crafting and making fun things with my circuit for my house or for my four daughters. I currently live in Idaho with my little family. We enjoy hiking, geocaching and spending time outdoors as a family.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last book I’ve written is called The Missing Piece. It’s a sweet, fun. Disney-obsessed YA romance.

I would say a lot of inspiration from this book came from my interactions during high school and my early college years. I think the biggest similarity to my book and my life is that just like Emily I was discovering who I was at the time and trying to find my place in the world. While Mason isn’t based off of anyone particular, he was inspired by some of the boys I dated during high school and college. Ian on the other hand, is sweet, kind and thoughtful. The inspiration for Ian comes from my sweet husband (although the only things they have in common are the accent and the total nerdiness).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think it’s super unusual, but I do enjoy listening to music while I write. I know a lot of my writing friends can’t stand having music on while writing because it can be too distracting, but I find it inspires me and keeps my motivation going. I like to switch up what I listen to depending on how I’m feeling or based off the scene I am writing. Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Harry Potter has to be at the top of the list since this series is what really developed my love for reading and writing. I also really love anything by Sarah Dessen. Her books are pure gold; I could read them over and over again. John Green is also another favorite.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a mini series called Shut Up & Write, which I plan to post to my wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/user/Whachareading) and inkitt (https://www.inkitt.com/JBaxter10).

I have also been working on book two in The Missing Piece series. Ian and Emily’s story isn’t over quite just yet. I plan on introducing new characters and hopefully writing a trilogy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I am still working on figuring this out. I’ve done lots of free ebook giveaways through Kindle Direct Publishing. I’ve also found this website (https://kindlepreneur.com/list-sites-promote-free-amazon-books/) that has lots of really great resources to promote books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Absolutely! Don’t give up on chasing your dream. Writing a book isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Surround yourself with good writing buddies who support you and help keep you motivated. Don’t be afraid to share your work and get it peer-reviewed. I know this can be scary, but if we don’t put ourselves out there we won’t be able to grow.

When those moments of doubt consume you and you think you’re not good enough, take a break. There is nothing wrong with not writing every single day. If you’re stuck, frustrated step away from your writing for a few days and pick up a book in the genre you’re trying to write.

If you like challenging yourself or are looking for good writing friends, join your local Nanowrimo group. They’ll push you to write a book in a month and motivate you. Even if you don’t finish writing a book in a month, you’ll make some good friends and feel a lot more confident in your writing.

When your inner critic is nagging you and telling you the story, scene or whatever you’re writing isn’t good enough: Dim your screen. Try not to think about what you’re writing or if it makes sense and just write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One of my college professors told us about a post-it he had sitting next to his computer that said, “Shut up & Write.” While he didn’t directly tell this to our class, I took it to heart and have tried to apply it while writing.

What are you reading now?
Like most avid readers, I tend to read a lot all at once. Currently I’m listening to the audible version of the Sherlock Homes stories read by Stephen Fry (hands down my favorite narrator. He also reads Harry Potter and the Ickabog!) I’m also reading the Icakbog by J.K. Rowling, Part of Your World by Liz Braswell, Duel at Broken Furniture in by JF Lee and with finishing up Midnight on the Moon (Magic Treehouse Series) by Mary Pope Osborne with my daughters. 🙂

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next goal as a writer is to get back into a habit of writing; I don’t follow a strict schedule, but after my youngest was born last year and with homeschooling due to COVID, it’s been hard to get into the habit of writing, so I really want to focus on 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?
Wow, only three or four books . . . that sounds so difficult.

The first book I’d bring would be the Book of Mormon. I know religion isn’t for everyone and that’s okay; I’m proud of who I am because of my religion and grateful for the comfort and peace the gospel brings me. The Book of Mormon has shaped me into the person I am today; it has made me a better wife, mother, daughter and friend and has got me through countless difficult times. I know that if I got stranded on a desert island this book would help give me hope and peace.

For my second book, I’d choose something light and fun to read like the complete works of Jane Austen. I love Pride and Prejudice and it would give me something fun to do while passing the time.

My last two books would be more practical. Maybe a book that talks about which wild plants are safe to eat/use for medicine purposes. Then a book all about survival skills, so hopefully I could make it off the island at some point.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jessica Baxter Website
Jessica Baxter Amazon Profile

Jessica Baxter’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write fantasy and science fiction novels, with four books published so far. Awakenings (New Pantheon book 1, YA modern fantasy) and Conundrums (New Pantheon book 2), Dance of the Gozen (sci-fi military mecha story) and The Wondrous Wayfarer (a MG fantasy with sci-fi elements).

Aside from writing, I am a retired software engineer. I also love gaming of all types, anime & manga (I’m a fervent otaku), and fandom in general. I’ve traveled both domestically and internationally, participated in the Society for Creative Anachronism (even the fighting), and studied a wide variety of topics from history to astrophysics. And I try to draw from my experiences while crafting stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Wondrous Wayfarer was published in April 2021. It is the (first) story in the Adventures of Gavin Greene, and it tells about the Wayfarer, a mysterious vehicle which travels between worlds both fantastic and futuristic.

The story all started from a scene – perhaps a vision – of a modern kid discovering an ogre stealing his bicycle because it didn’t understand what a bike was. I was fortunate enough to find a great artist who brought the scene to life on the cover.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Aside from working around the demands of three teenage kids and four pampered cats, not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I can’t begin to count the authors I love. Classic science fiction authors like Asimov, Clarke, Niven, and Bradbury are on the list – I devoured their books when I was a kid. James P. Hogan, David Eddings, and S.M. Stirling showed me how paying attention to details, both in setting and plot, can create fascinating stories in fantastic worlds.

What are you working on now?
Pride of the Gozen, the sequel to Dance of the Gozen. More military mecha fun!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying to get a handle on marketing and promotion, to be honest!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to write – jump in and explore your imagination. Exercise your creativity!

At the same time, finding a good circle of fellow writers helps a lot. Get feedback early and often – it’s easier to adapt your story in the early stages.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t take criticism the wrong way. Develop a thick skin, and stick with it. You’re going to get rejections, you’ll encounter beta readers who don’t like your book or don’t understand it. But don’t get discouraged.

What are you reading now?
I’m in the middle of several books – Grunts by Mary Gentle and The Rules of Supervillainy by C.T. Phipps, as well as several manga series – My Hero Academia Vigilantes among them

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have plenty of books to write. I have three more books for the New Pantheon series (five in all), a third Gozen novel and maybe a short story collection set in the same universe, and the Adventures of Gavin Greene has at least five stories in it. After those, I also have a standalone superhero novel in mind, and a lot more ideas in my head waiting to get out.

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 question. Perhaps something from the Well of Souls series by Jack Chalker, Spellsinger by Alan Dean Foster, The Gentle Giants of Ganymede by Hogan, and of course whatever I’m currently in the middle of reading.

Author Websites and Profiles
Edward Swing Website
Edward Swing Amazon Profile

Edward Swing’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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