Awesome Author Interviews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are you reading now?
Jack Reacher

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

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Hitchhiker at the End of the Universe – Douglas Adams
The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
Jack Reacher Series – Lee Child

Author Websites and Profiles
John Parham Website
John Parham Amazon Profile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Barbecue Bible -by Steven Raichlen
The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide -by J. Wayne Fears
Home Winemaking -by Terry Garey (just in case)

Author Websites and Profiles
Melody Heart Website
Melody Heart Amazon Profile

Melody Heart’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Other than my Bible, I would probably bring some empty journals so that I could write rather than read.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author Websites and Profiles
S. Lee Fisher Website

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
If you’ve checked my Author description, I mentioned I was a biology student. I’ve always been busy with my school work so I’m pretty much stuck reading textbooks like my life depends on it. On free days, I enjoy lazing about in my room or in a cafe with a romance book at hand. There’s just always something to enjoy under that genre, you know? Reading through the turmoil these fictional couples encounter and the happy ending while drinking my caffe latte is a guilty pleasure. After reading like this for a few years, I started writing stories I’ve kept hidden in my desktop. I finally decided to publish these stories starting with the Drifting Series and my upcoming Doctors in Love Series. Each series has multiple books under them which are all slowly being edited and prepared for release. Currently, I have Drifting Book 1 out and Cursed To Love: Doctors in Live Series Book 1 open for pre-order.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Drifting Book 1 is a paranormal romance novel that’s a combination of my love for romance stories and my curiosity. Honestly, I’ve always been curious about the different sleep-induced phenomena. Astral projection, lucid dreaming, sleep paralysis. There’s a bunch of those happening to people and I always wondered “What if there’s more?”. The idea that connects sleeping, brain waves, and memories eventually formed into “drifting”. I created a universe in writing that had this rare phenomenon and the main character, Dr. Nadia Markoff, that would embody my curiosities. Of course, it would only be right to give her a hot partner as well.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
How unusual is unusual? I just write for personal enjoyment so it’s not like I learned or researched how to write. My writing process is probably really normal subjectively. I start with conceptualizing the overall plot. Then I slowly make an outline of major events I’d want to put in and then insert details in chronological order. So, you could say that I start from vague and then slowly fill up plot holes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well, in general, romance novels and authors have all influenced me since I just can’t put books under that genre down. Because of that, no matter what I write, it’ll have romance in it. I guess if I had to name a specific author, it’d be Nalini Singh. I always find her romance novels interesting since they exist in unique parallel universes.

What are you working on now?
I’m actually pretty busy now. Like I said before, I have Cursed To Love going live soon too so I’m basically trying to arrange its publishing and marketing needs as well as trying to maintain Drifting’s promotion. On top of that, I’ve got Drifting Book 2 waiting to go into editing so you can watch out for the release of that soon too.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You never go wrong with social media. People never let go of their phones these days so I naturally gravitate towards Facebook or Twitter where it’s easy to connect with people and join communities. There’s nothing more reliable than people to help spread the word.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well, I guess I could say that it’s best to just put what you’ve got out there and work hard to try and get your book across because books exist to be read, right?

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nonverbatim, it’s definitely got to be “It doesn’t have to be perfect, you’ve got to start somewhere. Let the world read what you have.” My friend told me that before I decided to start releasing my book and here I am.

What are you reading now?
Drifting is a story that slightly plays with time so I’ve been looking into a few time travel type romance novels and came across Trapped in Time: A Historical Time Travel Romance by Denise Daye. I haven’t finished it yet but it’s pretty interesting to see the present conflict with the past.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now, I’m just trying to get my book out there. I’ll continue promoting what’s already published and I’ll also work on getting the rest of what’s stuck in my PC edited, formatted, and released. It’s going to be very busy for me but I’m really excited to hear from people who like what I write.

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?
This is a pretty difficult question. But I guess I’ll bring what I haven’t read yet if I get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Definitely finishing up Trapped in Time: A Historical Time Travel Romance by Denise Daye and the rest of the series so that counts as three books. The last would be what’s next on my personal Reading List, Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright.

Author Websites and Profiles
Noe Segal Website
Noe Segal Amazon Profile

Noe Segal’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a wife, mom of 2, pharmacist and VBAC all natural home birth goddess. I truly enjoy traveling and spending quality time with family and friends. I’m originally from St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and currently reside in Florida. I’ve got dreams to take my little family (unit of 4) exploring around the world one day.
My book, The Deliver Method, is the first book I’ve written. I enjoyed coming out of my shell and putting my ideas on paper.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is entitled The Deliver Method: The How To Guide on Moving From A Difficult Birth Experience to Manifesting Your Perfect VBAC Story.

I was inspired to write this book after giving birth to my daughter naturally in the comfort of my home. After having my first child, I questioned the integrity of the medical system when my birth resulted in a c-section. Amidst the COVID pandemic, I manifested a way to change things about my first birth and created a way to feel more in control of my birthing experience.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m an audiovisual learner so I have to write things down. Plus I’m still learning to trust hearing my own voice. I journaled throughout my pregnancy journey; which I’m so grateful for. In my book I show you how to trust your body, create a support team that you can trust, and journal your way through the entire journey too.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible. Becoming by Michelle Obama.

What are you working on now?
Promoting my book. Getting honest feedback. Then gathering info for the second book to my series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Not sure yet. But I’m loving the ease of Awesome Gang!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Seize The Moment!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Love your neighbor as yourself.

What are you reading now?
The Bible. I wasn’t much of a reader growing up. So I figured The Bible would be a good place to start since I’m an author now.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Coaching mommas through pregnancy. Gathering info for the second book in my series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible. The Alchemist. We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers. And something about parenting.

Author Websites and Profiles
Willisa Clarke Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing and traveling for years. I’m the author of humorous books about the Caribbean, the Martin Billings Series of Caribbean thriller, and a variety of literary and mystery fiction.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book is A VIABLE THREAT and is the fourth in the Martin Billings series. A combination of current events, and a deeper understanding of where Martin’s life is headed led me to write this one.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to travel to places and write about them. My sometime writing partner, J. Lee Porter and I visited Colombia and wrote a story based on visiting Cartagena. I lived for several years in Cambodia and have written stories based there. I lived years in Venezuela and the Martin Billings stories began there (physically as well as in concept). So, my writing habit is to absorb a place and let it tell me stories.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to count, but certainly Hemingway (The Sun Also Rises and his short stories), John O’Hara, Isabelle Allende, Murakami, Henry Miller, Celine, and James Jones.

What are you working on now?
Developing ideas for a new crime trilogy and taking the existing one further (and making it better).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just learning marketing and very poor at it. I’m using Amazon ads and studying David Gaughrin’s course (and The Creative Penn–great videos).

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you love writing and minimize commercial expectations. There are easier ways to make money.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you get the urge to write a novel, lie down and put a damp cloth on your forehead and let the feeling pass.” I don’t recall where I heard it, and I’ve always ignored it, but that’s me.

What are you reading now?
Books on writing, mostly (James Scott Bell’s are good, as are those of Donald Maass), but I’m just starting The Leviathan.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working to dig beneath the superficial story and connect with readers by evoking powerful emotions. In a sense that requires knowing my own stories better… not just what happens, but how the happened and what that feels 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?
Probably books I haven’t read yet… rather than rereading old friends, I’d take a gamble that the ones I picked would be worth studying. And it depends on how many notebooks I could have.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ed Teja Website
Ed Teja Amazon Profile

Ed Teja’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am about books and birds and bees and roses. And history. Historical fiction mined from the stories of my ancestors — America in the 19th century, civil war, gilded age, coal and coke and families. I’ve published two books (written more…), the first being AGNES CANON’S WAR. Agnes was my twice-great grandma. She’s amazing. Endured war on the Missouri frontier with all its brutality and heartbreak. And I am a librarian turned bureaucrat turned writer/gardener/hiker on the Oregon Coast; wife, mother, sister, daughter to a long line of extraordinary women.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
AN IRISH WIFE is my second and newest book; officially published in April 2021, a sequel (of sorts) to the first book about Agnes. The inspiration? to keep going the story and the memory of those people. Much more fiction than the first one (which was fiction, but lots of real stuff). Coal mining and Gilded Age and environmental destruction, raunchy politics, immigration nastiness, rich getting richer, poor getting shafted. Sound familiar? A coming-of-age story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t write much. Very undisciplined. I stare out the window at the bird feeder a lot.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Any wonderful, rich, detailed, lovely historical fiction — Shadow of the Moon, Code Name Verity, March, Brooklyn, War and Peace, Norwegian by Night, City of Light, The Year of the French. I could go on, but won’t.

What are you working on now?
Montana just after the Civil War, an Irish general-turned-governor (acting), a restless ex-union soldier one step ahead of his best girl, invasions of Canada and Metis rebellions. Fascinating stuff.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Don’t know — still experimenting. First book: very little on-line promotion other than Facebook. This one: all virtual. Just figuring out this discount ebook thing; fooling around with Instagram. We’ll see what happens.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Then write some more.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day.

What are you reading now?
The Girl in Green by Derek B. Miller.

What’s next for you as a writer?
See above (what I’m working on now). One step at a time.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
War and Peace. Shadow of the Moon. The Bible (only because I really should read it, as a product of western civilization, and I’ve never been able to.) And through in the Koran, too — if I’m stuck I may as well learn from it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Deborah Lincoln Website
Deborah Lincoln Amazon Profile

Deborah Lincoln’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Taylor Rochestie and I was raised in Santa Barbara, CA. I have been a professional athlete for the last 12 years and traveled the world playing all over Europe and China. I have just published my first book which launched on 2/22/21.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“A New 20/20 Vision” began as a letter to my unborn daughter, Joy. It started out as a letter to her, a hope and token of inspiration to help her find joy and happiness in her life. In a world where we are defined by external influences, it’s important to be self councilors about how we define success and how we create our authentic self. A letter turned into paragraphs and soon into chapters. It was a very organic process with a beautiful message of positivity.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My thoughts usually begin as a note in my iPhone around 2am. I lay in bed, unable to sleep and like to write down thoughts I have. In the morning I will turn them into full ideas and continue writing from there…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I find that most of my influence comes from the places I go and the people I meet. Conversations and traveling compile most of the influence you will read about in my own book. I like to learn about people’s “truths” and from there, learn from all the things that I have experienced.

What are you working on now?
Currently on my media tour, as I communicate more and more about the book, I also continue to spread the massage of love, hope, and positivity to whomever has a listening ear, or whomever is watching my actions. I believe we lead by example.
I am also further developing my favorite idea which is teaching “Generational Happiness.” Learning ways to pass down tools and inspire joy to the next generation.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I enjoy connecting with people on social media and on my website.
www.taylorrochestie.com
www.instagram.com/trochestie

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to develop your authentic thoughts and always believe that what you have to say is important and valuable. The process and the journey is the best part, so enjoy each step of the way.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Be the light that helps others see.”

What are you reading now?
I am actually reading my own book, trying to digest its message so I can continue to spread it to other people. The more I remember, the more I can focus outward on the message and creating happiness in others.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Learning from other writers, reading more, and continuing to grow in my knowledge of other people.

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, A New 20/20 Vision, and a really big book with blank pages with enough pencils and erasers to write for a long time.

Author Websites and Profiles
Taylor Rochestie Website
Taylor Rochestie Amazon Profile

Taylor Rochestie’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author Websites and Profiles
Tex Jerhand Website
Tex Jerhand Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Penny Oates and I am 65 years old. Encouraged by my mother, I started writing in my teens and had a lot of short stories and half a dozen romantic novels published. Then life got in the way and I was going out to work during the day but kept doing quite a bit of proofreading and editing for others in my spare time, as well as ghostwriting four financial self-help books.
It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2020 that I really started writing again as I lost 5 stone in weight and reversed my diabetes back down to normal sugar levels. This was a great achievement for me so I was inspired to write a book about it.
That out of my system, I had the writing bug again and because dogs are a big part of my life, I wrote Lifestyle Training For Dogs.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lifestyle Training For Dogs was inspired by the increasing number of posts on Facebook from new dog owners struggling with what should be relatively simple training issues.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t really have any habits as such though I do a lot of my writing by recording audio whilst out walking my dogs. When I get back from the walk I let the play so the laptop transcribes it to text.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My mother has had the most influence as we would often discuss writing late into the night. I think the Harry Potter series had a big influence on me as well because I had never considered writing children’s books before but was in awe of the way she managed to link all the characters together throughout the series of books.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a 5 book series aimed at slightly older children. They will all be dog-related adventure stories with a touch of fantasy. I get so involved with the stories I think I am a teenager again, which is great!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have so far relied on followers of Signatures Shows I broadcast twice a week on Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, just keep going. Remember you are not an author until you sell books so set aside a percentage of your time for marketing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Successful people spent their time doing what unsuccessful people are not prepared to do.

What are you reading now?
Bills mainly. Though I have recently read Total Recall by Pippa Mattinson.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I think the series I have recently started will take care of this year, after that I may do a series of funny stories, sort of James Herriot style but from a trainers viewpoint as opposed to a vet’s, with horse and dog owners

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?
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, A Dog’s Purpose by W.Bruce Cameron, Mount by Jilly Cooper (because I never got round to reading it).

Author Websites and Profiles
Penny Oates Website

Penny Oates’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born in 1950 I grew up with James Bond thrillers and Asimov sci-fi. As a 60’s child, I couldn’t settle into a steady job and have lived the life of a nomad only settling when love took hold. As a result, I have met many interesting people which I now use to flesh out my characters. Now settled in a remote part of Thailand I have the time and inclination to turn some of my adventures into stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Broken Fingers. Inspired by 6-week stay in a Moroccan jail where the punishment for trying to steal from another inmate was a broken finger administered by another prisoner/enforcer.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in spurts. For days things go round in my head until one day I open the word doc and it all comes flooding out. I wish I could discipline myself and set daily targets but they just don’t work for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John le Carré, Gerald Seymour, Asimov (still!), Dwight V. Swain, Frederick Forsyth, Ken Follet

What are you working on now?
A sequel to Broken Fingers provisionally titled Broken Promises

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far done no promotion but soon to start with Booksgosocial.com They help me publish and I liked their style.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join an author group where you can get advice and encouragement because you are 100% going to need some. Litopia.com is my home where I hang out.
Read Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain, take notes then read it again. It spells out step by step the craft of writing. Written ages ago, all later books just regurgitate his wisdom in bits and pieces.

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

What are you reading now?
The Cobra by Fred Forsyth

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my sequel and publish it by the end of the year

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Lord of the Rings, Ken Kollet’s Pillars of the Earth, Both nice and long.
Spike Milligan’s – Adolf Hitler – My Part in his Downfall for when I need cheering up 🙂

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have co-authored three books “Adventures in Manifesting – Health & Happiness”, “The Unstoppable Woman’s Guide to Emotional Well-Being” and “Empowered Women of Social Media”. But it is in my own SOAR book series that I find complete fulfillment. The second of the series is “SOAR with Heart-Fullness – Keys to a Meaningful Life”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
SOAR with Heart-Fullness – Keys to a Meaningful Life.
Why is it that resolutions don’t work and business plans do? One of the reasons is that in business, we do quarterly reviews to make sure the business is on track with planning, financial forecasts, and anticipated results. When it’s not, we make adjustments. We don’t do quarterly reports with our resolutions. Therefore, we have no idea if we are on track or not. We don’t even know if our daily actions are in harmony with our purpose, or if they are really meaningful to anyone, including ourselves.
The purpose of this journal-type book is to help you make a true connection with your heart, your vulnerable authenticity, and your real essence so that you can fulfill your resolutions – and more. It is about sharing your truth through daily acts of meaningfulness and gratitude.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Whenever I feel inspired…I do need to be alone though and in silence.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many to name them all, but I will share the name of a few authors: Byron Katie, Marianne Williamson, Terry-Cole Whittaker, Brandon Burchard, Jay Shetty, Eckhart Tolle, and I could go on and on.

What are you working on now?
Helping other aspiring authors put their story on paper, publish it and dare step behind their story. Writing your own story is great therapy and healing exercise.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Be honest, and actively present on your social media.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Dare step out of your comfort zone and share your message. Your story can change someone else’s life.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To question each of my thoughts.

What are you reading now?
Paul Selig series.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As an author, I intend to do a lot more speaking engagement, webinars, courses and to continue helping others, live their lives in authentic vulnerability.

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 course in Miracles, Loving what is, A new Earth.

Author Websites and Profiles
Suzanne Letourneau Website
Suzanne Letourneau Amazon Profile

Suzanne Letourneau’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have always wanted to be a writer. But instead, I have been an engineer in the mining/construction industry, an artist, having worked for two music publications in the early to mid-1990s, and a lifelong fan of the Grateful Dead, with ticket stubs and a massive live show collection to prove it. After all those, I published my first book, The Foxfire Terror, a few years ago at age sixty. Since then, I have written two more books, Remember A Day, and Deviation. I am currently working on a fourth book, a dark, futuristic novel, Terminus Flux. When it comes to writing, more than anything, I enjoy the ride that I take along with the characters in the story. I love a good, dark story, or an ending that is maybe not what you would have wanted to happen. But there it is. Yeah… so there.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Deviation. Inspired by the meaning of the word–a departure from the accepted norm.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
One thing about having a day job–most of my writing is performed from about ten at night to two in the morning. Thank you, coffee.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Off the top of my head (in no particular order)… George Orwell (1984, Animal Farm), Stephen King (The Shining, On Writing), Jack Kerouac (On The Road), Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat’s Cradle), Aldous Huxley (Brave New World), Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451), John Steinbeck (Cannery Row), J.D. Salinger (Catcher In The Rye), Ernest Hemingway (The Old Man And The Sea).

What are you working on now?
A dark story of an unraveled America. A futuristic, highly technological society that has outlived its usefulness and spiraled into chaos and destruction. The few survivors are left to a hardscrabble existence, struggling to even determine what is left of the whole of society.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That is indeed the crux of the biscuit (per Frank Zappa). I have found no “best method,” and therefore, my books flounder in a sea of thousands of the same, among an army of unknown writers just like myself.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t do it for the money.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t do it for the money.

What are you reading now?
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the book I’m writing, and take some time to pursue some short story writing competitions 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?
The Bible
Tom Sawyer
Lord Of The Flies (just to read it in that setting… I mean, how appropriate)
The Boy Scout Handbook

Author Websites and Profiles
J.D. Wilson Website
J.D. Wilson Amazon Profile

J.D. Wilson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hamza Matar, is a Poet who aspires to write in multiple genres, who has published three poetry collections, his first book was published during college years in 2013, to raise awareness of complications of drug addiction and its consequences of mental health problems titled (shaded dreams and hazy days). in 2019 he published his second book (Actualizing devotion) a poetry collection about love, loss, spiritual healing, and devotion. recently in 2021 he published his third book which will be discussed in more details in the next question! Finally Hamza felt the argue to republish his first book after he eventually recovered from his mental problem (Psychosis) as he’s off drugs for over a decade and he stopped taking medications for a year now. So he decided to make major changes to the first book both in language refining and addition of few more poems summarizes his experience with drug addiction, consequent Psychosis, and recovery under a new title (EYE TO EYE: I MYSTIFY). the journey continues…

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
His latest book titled (Manuscript of Micropoetry) which was independently published in 25/Jan/2021 both in Kindle edition and paperback. It’s 157 pages collection of short poetry! The thing that inspired him to put this collection into one book was -in fact- the feeling that this art of freestyle Micropoetry is widely known in platforms like Twitter and Facebook, it’s like a normal poem, only the limitation in characters length in twitter forced the poet here to be more focused into delivering the feeling plus the imagery under 280 letters in a few lines! which make it sounds like a daily inspirational short read the audience can sample one page at their own pace. then they may add their own footnotes unto each Micropoem! even as another Micropem. The book itself is another milestone in the poet’s career, as he’s working on a secret project that should be available by the end of the year 2021.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hamza likes to write late at nights, where the emotions get intense as tranquility and calmness covers the nigh sky. Where his four cats who keep him company purring by his side. Coffee helps him stays focused, as his drug addiction and alcoholism days are gone for good.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Every book he has ever read left traces in the way he thinks, added or changed his views of the world. Specially when a writer has a passion or tragedy to motivate them to write from the heart, recently Hamza admired the writing style of the famous author Milan Kundera, his writings are a great inspiration that gets you thinking about life from different angles. Facts not taking seriously, and sarcasm taken seriously. in a fragile mold of disastrous distraction.

What are you working on now?
Oh yes, that’s my secret project, which is going to be an Epic poem. The stage, the time, the characters, the events, the timeline, the plot, the beginning and the ending were already put on paper, Hamza’s main job now is to connect all these elements in an artistic fashion, planning to finish it into a complete Epic poem.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Of course paid promotions might be #1 strategy to reach a targeted audience. Your choice of book titles would make it easy to be out there by word of mouth!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Research the market! it should affect your choices. a successful book is a combination of the author’s vision, and of course what the readers are looking for!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Over, under, around, or through, whatever it takes I’ll do.”

What are you reading now?
HumanAlien by Vika. l. Coppens
a must read that I highly recommend!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I like to learn something A-Z before I apply it in my life, I also like to read ten times more than I write!

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” books would be great in a situation like that! however, how to produce electricity to charge my kindle device would grant me access to hundreds of books, not only three!

Author Websites and Profiles
Hamza Matar Website
Hamza Matar Amazon Profile

Hamza Matar’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve enjoyed telling stories since I could talk, and began putting them to paper soon after I learned to write. However, I never really put much thought to it until my daughter encouraged me to write a novel. I feel like that original, longer-form story turned out pretty well, and I enjoyed the experience so much I thought I’d write another. That second one brought me to recognize my extreme shortcomings as a writer, and the long saga that turned into seven books became my testing grounds for how I wrote, and trying different things. I have about a dozen stories outside of those, with a couple of sequels tossed in.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Incident on 95 came about as stories sometimes do – just thinking about things: A discussion of camping led to reminisce about prior trips, about long days driving, which triggered recollection of conversations held, over the years, with an acquaintance. As those ideas were stirring, I recalled thinking the words that start the story, just last summer, and I thought them in sort of a mocking manner. From that, I began to imagine a character thinking the words, and just started writing the story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
One time, I was reading a story about a rapper that billed himself as, “Underground.” As in, part of the underground scene. It was one of those moments where interest was interrupted by the preposterousness of it, since the guy was on the radio and mainstream. After that, I started billing myself as an underground writer, which is far more accurate because few have seen my writing, but more importantly, I write in my basement.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As always, I’ll say there are too many to list, which is exactly accurate. I love the big names, I love many genres, and I love finding unknown, unheard of authors. I’m inspired by great writing, by great stories – both fact and fiction alike.

What are you working on now?
Catching up on reading. There are a couple projects sketched, a final (maybe) installment to a series that needs editing, and several thoughts that are intriguing that remain three sentences in a file.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write if you like to write: Expect nothing and never quit trying.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t quit your day job.

What are you reading now?
From Daylight to Madness, by Jennifer Anne Gordon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I never know until it’s what I’m doing.

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?
With time to spend, one would be Infinite Jest. Another as inspiration to persevere, Sidonia’s Thread. And because it was the antidote to a period of wallowing, How to become a Henchman, by J Bennett.

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Endicott Website
Daniel Endicott Amazon Profile

Daniel Endicott’s Social Media Link
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Southern guy, independent and hardheaded. Been around a good while and seen some crazy stuff. I currently split time between Lake Wedowee in Alabama and Rome, GA.

I’ve always been a do-it-yourselfer, finding ways to fix or repair most of the things I need. I guess I’ve approached writing in the same way. I’ve been learning how to do it for a long time, having whipped out good essays in high school and earning a couple of English degrees. I didn’t make much progress, though, with my creative writing until I enrolled in the MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte. I needed other aspiring writers to workshop with and instructors who were smart, accomplished, and honest. Persistence and hard work do pay off. I’ve had two books of fiction published so far and a dozen or so short stories in various journals.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ben Stempton’s Boy is a coming-of-age novel set in the rural south of the early 70s that fits loosely in the Southern Gothic genre. I wanted to chronicle the South that I grew up in during a transitional period in American history, and I wanted to share some of the experiences that shaped me as a young man. The initial draft took about ten years to complete while I was earning a living as a high school English teacher and raising a daughter and a son.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I try to capture images and scenes from my dreams during the magical moments between sleep and waking, before the concerns of the day erase them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Richard Yates, particularly Revolutionary Road; Hemingway; Raymond Carver; Elizabeth Strout, especially Amy and Isabelle; Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome; Joyce Carol Oates; John Updike; and Jame Smiley, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I’m revising and organizing a baker’s dozen of my stories into a collection tentatively titled Ourselves Again. I’m also playing with turning the titular novella in my published collection, Make It Right: a Novella and Eight Stories into a screenplay.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve mostly promoted on Facebook and Goodreads. Still exploring other options.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Revising is writing and vice versa. A writer (who succeeds) is someone who manages to find enough time at the writing desk to produce enough writing so that some of it is good.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get feedback from folks who aren’t friends or family members.

What are you reading now?
A newly released novella titled The Distance of Mercy by Shelly Drancik.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to follow my own advice about spending time at the writing desk. I’d also love to see my books find a wider audience, perhaps leading to a contract with a major house in the future.

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 Sun Also Rises, Updike’s Rabbit at Rest, and maybe a story collection or two (Andre Dubus II and Raymond Carver come to mind).

Author Websites and Profiles
Ron Yates Website
Ron Yates Amazon Profile

Ron Yates’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have lived all over the U.S. but have settled in beautiful Kentucky. With two of my three grown children, and five grandchildren in KY, I think I’m here to stay. I enjoy painting, hiking, bike riding and volunteer work including missions to other countries.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
His Star is my first book published. I am a retired first grade teacher. I never thought of writing, but the truth is, I have views on the beliefs of Christianity which I have suppressed most of my life. Now is the time to share them with others who have also questioned. I am working on a second book now.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a mystery reader who doesn’t always pay attention to the authors’ names. If someone isn’t murdered, I wonder why the book was written. My favorite is John Grissom. But I also read non-fiction on a regular basis, health, archeology and the bible.

What are you working on now?
Jesus’ teaching of the Sower and the Word. How the principles of sowing and reaping have influenced my life and helped me heal physically and emotionally.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Only Amazon, so far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Set aside time each day, or week to work on it, whether you are inspired or not. When you are inspired, scribble it down any way you can.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t get your panties in a wad. (It’s uncomfortable.)

What are you reading now?
Two books. A biography of the pillow guy, and the memoir of an archeologist.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just keep growing as a person and writing what I think.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1). The bible,
2.) “Living Off Grid, Off the Land”
3.) “Anatomy of a Miracle” by Dr. Jim Richards

Author Websites and Profiles
Jenette Litton Amazon Profile