Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write Women’s Fiction and Romance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book just released. It was book 4 in the Hideaway Lake series. When I wrote the series, we had stayed at this wonderful small town with a lake in the mountains of Pennsylvania. As I was sitting on the porch I knew there was a story to tell, so I told it and I’m still writing about that beautiful little place.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I’m always against a deadline. It is self-imposed but I like writing that way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many. But in The Women’s Fiction category I would have to say, Pamela M Kelley, Rachel Hanna, and Kirstin Hannah to name a few. I could fill up this page with names of authors that have inspired me.

What are you working on now?
I’m still working on the Hideaway Lake series book 5, The Sisters of Summer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love awesome gang <grins> and Bookbub to name a few.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Keep writing. The more you practice and get those books out there, the better of a writer you become. Nothing tops that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never, ever give up. Such a simple sentence, but it’s so true.

What are you reading now?
I just finished a book on email marketing. I love to keep up with the trends and markets. I feel as if there is always something new happening. For pleasure reading, I just finished the Beach House by Rachel Hanna.

What’s next for you as a writer?
You never know. There is always a story to be told. I love what I do and am constantly making mental notes of another story to write about.

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?
First, my bible. Then, I’d take along a trilogy by Heather Graham. One Wore Blue, One Wore Gray, and One Rode West. It’s such a great series. I think I’d take along Kathy Gifford’s The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi. I’ve been meaning to read that for a long time. It’s in my library on my kindle.

Author Websites and Profiles
Terri Lorah Amazon Profile

Terri Lorah’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written the first installment “Covenant of Blood” of a fantasy series called The Thayria Cycle.

I’ve also written a book called “The Police Are Not Your Friends.” It’s an anti-authority book aimed at kids, but at the same time it’s really not for kids.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Covenant of Blood” refers to a pact made between two anti-establishment characters prior to their rebellion against an entity known as the Sarasinian League.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do my best work in the morning and/or while fasting.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
By far and away my biggest influences are Hugh Cook and Robert Cormier.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the second book in The Thayria Cycle. I’m also writing a standalone novel set in the same world.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve no clue, and no real marketing strategy. I hate advertising (I use adblockers EVERYWHERE!) and don’t like the idea of pushing things on people.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Seek advice from readers and writers when you have to, but follow your instinct.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Work hard and be good to your mother.

What are you reading now?
I only read grimdark fantasy and military history.

What’s next for you as a writer?

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. A seriously good book about the Spanish Civil War that I can never remember the name of.
2. “I am the Cheese.”
3. Dunno.

Author Websites and Profiles
H.R. van Adel Website
H.R. van Adel Amazon Profile
H.R. van Adel Author Profile on Smashwords

H.R. van Adel’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Launching my first book this week!
I am a world traveler and mom to her four young children. I have visited over 25 countries and nearly all 50 states, dragging my kids wherever I can.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Passports and Pacifiers—Traveling the World, One Tantrum at a Time
I was inspired to write my book while in Scandinavia with my four children (7, 5, 3, 1). I had found a Kids-Fly-Free promo so we were spending significantly less than we would have to go many places near our home. The trip was so phenomenal and eye-opening to the kids and I wondered, how can I inspire more parents to travel with their kids?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write a lot in my head as I’m falling asleep or putting a kid down for a nap. If I have my phone, I try to jot it down there so I don’t forget it in the morning. If it’s really good, I get out of bed and at least get a first pass on paper.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Bill Bryson and Christopher McDougall
Currently enjoying work by George Mahood – who I discovered while looking for comps!
Mary Laura Philpott (fellow alum), Michelle Obama, Kristin Hannah

What are you working on now?
Promoting my book which launches this month! Also, I’ve started writing my second book, similar in content to Passports and Pacifiers, but with a different spin. (It’s kind of hard to travel during a pandemic but we’re doing our best to stay entertained!)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I’m launching my first book, I’m really just trying to get it out there. I’ve attended a lot of free classes on Amazon, Goodreads, and have been reaching out to do interviews and podcasts.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Don’t be afraid to fail.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Work hard.
Be kind.

What are you reading now?
About to start Commonwealth by Ann Patchett for my book club. I recently finished Mexican Gothic and Little Weirds which I liked for different reasons. I’ve also been reading Holes and The One and Only Ivan with my kids.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m excited to see where this takes me! I’ve taken a year off of corporate America to spend more time with my kids and focus on my writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson, to reminisce about my time in Australia, to laugh, and to truly freak out about being on a desert island.
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Maybe Unbroken to inspire me to survive?

Author Websites and Profiles
Kaitlyn Jain Website
Kaitlyn Jain Amazon Profile

Kaitlyn Jain’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
To date I have written five full length novels and three novellas. All but one are historical fiction. I went down the rabbit hole of contemporary romance when I wrote On the Trail of Love, about a girl who inherits a mechanical bull business. My first two early historicals, A Secret Hope, set in ancient Ireland, and The Fury of Dragons, set in Roman Britain, were both inspired by St. Patrick’s early writings.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Test of Gold is Book 1 in the Hearts of Gold trilogy. It is set during the Gilded Age in New York City. Think Downton Abbey, but in turn-of-the-century New York. The true story of Consuelo Vanderbilt inspired my story. She was the original “Dollar Princess,” one of many young heiresses with multi-million dollar dowries who married cash-poor British aristocrats. Money exchanged for a royal title!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to listen to period appropriate music while writing. I also daydream about which actors and actresses could play the part of my characters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anya Seton, James Clavell, Diane Gabaldon, Francine Rivers, and Larry McMurtry, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second book in the Hearts of Gold trilogy, called Threads of Gold. I have an unusual main male character in this story, with an unusual birthmark. That’s all I’ll say!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I stay active on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I also try to drive traffic to my website.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! And take the long view. I started writing in 2004, and this is my first traditionally published novel. And most important, learn the craft and constantly try to improve.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Jodi Picoult’s quote: “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

What are you reading now?
The Earl’s Lady Geologist by Alissa Baxter.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have ideas for a Western trails series and a sequel to my first two early historicals, A Secret Hope and The Fury of Dragons.

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’m not sure I could survive with only four books! But I would take Shogun, Katharine, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Lonesome Dove, for sure.

Author Websites and Profiles
Renee Yancy Website
Renee Yancy Amazon Profile

Renee Yancy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I refuse to admit how long ago I decided to write novels, but it was a LONG time ago. I took several detours along the way, serving at US embassies around the world, earning a D.Phil. at Oxford, teaching senior military officers at the Naval War College in Newport, RI (USA), and building my dream house with a view of the water (I needed a place to write, didn’t I?). When I’m not writing or reading JD Robb books (yet again), I’m is active in several writing groups and runs a charitable non-profit foundation.

I’ve written six books so far, but Home Waters is the first I’ve let “out in the world.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My contemporary novel, Home Waters, was inspired by my obsession with the ocean, particularly Narragansett Bay where I live. I know I’m not alone in being inspired by the ocean; I look out at the water and feel like a knot inside of me relaxes and lets go. In Home Waters, the setting affects the main characters in concrete ways.
The other thing that inspired me was the answer I came up with when I asked myself,
what if? In this case, what if a scientist discovered a serious threat to the waters on
which he lived and then, while trying to deal with that, a family crisis explodes in his lap?
We all have families and work we care about; how do we cope when they both reach crisis point at the same time?

I’m inspired by books that are fun and I try to keep that in mind in my own writing. If I want a lecture, I read non-fiction. If I read a novel, I want to be entertained.

BTW, I hope to use my love of baseball in a book one day soon.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Is it unusual that I have to be able to see a body of water in order to write?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Since I’m a voracious reader and have been my whole life, too many to count. But that’s a bit vague.
• Years ago I read a series of novels by Nora Roberts set on Chesapeake Bay and I was completely enthralled.
• My story is different in virtually every specific, but it does have something in common with those Chesapeake Bay books (in addition to the type of setting).
In both:
o The characters care deeply about family, but also have serious careers they work hard at and that matter to them.
o They struggle to balance the two and it isn’t easy.
That’s pretty much the task I give my characters in Home Waters: how do you balance work and family when both need you desperately? I have to confess, my characters surprised me by figuring out smarter solutions that I, as the author, started out with. Things us ordinary people can help make a reality.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second book in the Narragansett Bay series. A supporting character in Home Waters is the focus of book two.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Countdown deal on Amazon with promotion on Awesome Gang

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t expect instant success. This novel-writing thing is challenging and there is a lot to learn. Be persistent; you’ll get there.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Lisa Cron’s book, Story Genius. She shows you how our brains crave story (and what about stories our brains are looking for).

What are you reading now?
JD Robb, Origin in Death and Michael Lewis, The Undoing Project. I just finished Lisa Garner’s Before She Disappeared (highly recommend).

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish book two in this series. Get the word out on Home Waters.

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?
JD Robb’s Survivor in Death; Nora Robert’s Chesapeake Blue; Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone; and Deborah Cramer’s Great Waters.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Devlin Website
Elizabeth Devlin Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Devlin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Yorkshire, England, which is one of the most beautiful places in England, and have spent a great part of my life exploring it. As a result, I have now just published my 5th book about my travels and adventures across the north of England, often accompanied by my dysfunctional friends. We have hiked, camped, and been lost along the way, but at every stage, we have had fantastic adventure after fantastic adventure and created lifelong memories to treasure forever.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Walk on the Wild Side sees me walking a relatively short route through the beautiful dales and hills of the Yorkshire Wolds. I wanted to try something a bit more local, and I was very surprised at what I found. This land is more ancient than I could have ever imagined, and has a wealth of interesting stories to tell, every one better than the last.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a solitary writer, as are most people I would imagine, but lately I have been writing at the same time as home-schooling my son Max, who is ten, and it has gone surprisingly well.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Bill Bryson has been a big influence, as has Douglas Adams, who both appear to have a dry but incredibly funny sense of humour.

What are you working on now?
My tan.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media doesn’t work for me, so I tend to start with Awesome Gang and go from there. I am trying to build links to the local newspaper, who seem quite willing to help out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be persistent. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do anything, ever.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be persistent. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do anything, ever. Seriously, never give up.

What are you reading now?
I have just discovered a number of Indiana Jones books that I am slowly making my way through.

What’s next for you as a writer?
There are a couple of ideas rattling around in my head, but I think the next thing for me to do is to stop and take stock before I commit myself to any particular direction.

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 along Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, of course, because it is funny, as well as The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, just because it is such a long book and would keep me busy. I would probably need to read it more that once as well, in order to fully appreciate it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Paul Amess Website
Paul Amess Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Christian author that loves telling stories of how people lived out their faith for God. I have Christian picture books, a short story Christian futuristic series, and christian chapter books. I currently have written 12 books. You can find my books at

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a picture book called “All Seeing God”.. It is the third book in a series about who God is, namely His attributes like all knowing and everywhere. This book is about God’s omnipresence, or the fact that He is everywhere in every place in the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have written multiple books typing on an old ipad mini with the keypad on the ipad.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King. John Piper. James White. Sherrilyn Kenyon. There could be hundreds, but those are important ones to me.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a non fiction multi view book between theonomy and Christian libertarianism (I am libertarian)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I personally do not have a well worn marketing strategy. I mainly focus on creating the books. I plan on trying to methods to see what sticks.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start writing. By writing I mean get an idea and just start rough brainstorming it. If you were meant to be an author you will birth something in your head. My Last Tribe series was basically born in my head in one sitting.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Too much to count. Could not choose a best.

What are you reading now?
Free to Choose by Milton Friedman

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing picture books for kids about God and books on political theory.

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?
Desiring God by John Piper, the Bible obviously, and the Doctrine of God by John Frame

Author Websites and Profiles
Timothy BankesII Website
Timothy BankesII Amazon Profile

Timothy BankesII’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m the pen name of two Discord-addicted writers who embarked on a covid-fueled collaboration in 2020. During that time, in a haze of caffeine and pretzels, I have written 5 books, a novella and a novelette and am currently working on a 6th novel. There may also be a short story or two. Honestly, I can’t remember…

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Mindstorm: A Young Adult Psychic Superhero Novel (His Storm Blows Out the Light Book 1). It was inspired by a particularly spicy vindaloo and a periodically malfunctioning hard disk. It’s the story of a team of psychic children who find each other as the world ends around them. And really, it’s up to them to save it despite some pretty evil organizations doing their best to stop them. It’s mostly inspired by Sir David Attenborough documentaries.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Since I inhabit two time zones simultaneously (by virtue of being composed of two separate writers, one formerly in Europe and one in Japan) I have the habit of writing pretty much around the clock. This makes for good progress but poor dinner party conversation.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was once influenced by Tolstoy novel–I tripped over a copy of War and Peace and landed face-first in the fantasy and science fiction section thus starting a life-long love affair which has not dulled. I do love me some Tolkien and I am also partial to Edmund Cooper.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a prequel to my 10 book science fiction series, Zero-Point Awakening called Wunderkind. I am also working on completing book 5 in that series. Book 1, Splice is available at Amazon and book 2, Shadow War is available for pre-order on Amazon.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method we have is our mailing list. We are able to directly communicate with our readers (which is amazing) and keep in touch and up to date with the latest from them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a lot. When you’ve written a lot, write more because that wasn’t really a lot. When you are finished that, write more. Then find a good critique group and be nice to them. Also, set up a mailing list.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t sweat the small stuff is a solid piece of advice. Also, don’t lick the yellow snow comes in a close second. Both are important. You cannot stack rank these.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Quantum by Patricia Cornwell and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (for a little light after-dinner reading). I am also reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

What’s next for you as a writer?
There is more writing in my future. And some editing. We are really looking forward to seeing the reader response for Mindstorm.

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?
Hollow, waterproof books that could be strung together with coconut fiber into a raft. If those were not available, I would probably be happy with a copy of Magician by Raymond Feist or a copy of Splice (my first book). That may sound a bit shallow but I really enjoy Splice and it can get quite monotonous on a desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
ZZ Adams Website
ZZ Adams Amazon Profile

ZZ Adams’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of the new novel Oja and the Parrot’s Curse. Born in Nigeria, but moved and settled in the United Kingdom subsequently. I have a BSc (Hons) degree in Biomedical Science from Kingston University, London. I try to combine my work with writing which sometimes makes me wonder where the day went and wished it had more than 24 hours to offer. In the process, I try to maintain a healthy mind, body and soul through meditation, gym and sports. I’m a keen animal lover who has an aquarium with pet fish that do not hesitate to remind me that they see, feel, are eager to stay alive and have their unique tacit ways of showing that they are not very different from we humans after all. My tropical fishes are named: Obama, Marley, Marcus Garvey and Mandela! Oja and the parrot’s curse is my first published novel but I am presently writing a second book which I hope to conclude in the near future.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Oja and the parrot’s curse is my latest book and I was inspired by my keen observations of the human experience. I am sort of an empath, and sometimes feel emotions more vividly than the average person hence the book and the story was a good way to share and narrate a considerable part of the emotions I feel regarding pleasures, pain, hope and success with the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I meditate for 30 minutes before I write anything. I always listen to some sort of flute or soft instrumental music for meditation while writing and it has become a habit.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Nelson Mandela- Conversations with myself.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a second novel which I have titled, “The doomsday shepherd,” but the title might change as I write.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media, mainly Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up on your dreams.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“To find your way out, you must first find your way in for the keys that you seek are with and within you.”

What are you reading now?
Bhuddism, plain and simple by Steve Hagen.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I think the best answer for now would be- Time will tell.

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 holy Quran and Fifty shades of grey!

Author Websites and Profiles
Leo Unadike Website

Leo Unadike’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written one book. Some might call it the Beethoven of book, a symphony from a pipeliner point of view.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pipeline Diaries: Alberta Forever. I’m From the Wild world of oil and gas. It’s a good world, last frontier of men i would say. It test you, with long bouts in the wilderness, and the best part is when you see men crack under the strain. Just the other day Carl Jung would have enjoy watching the speculate of a young boys shadow coming out. Like some inner demon had taken over his body, and tried to pick a fight with me. Young boys trying to fight men? I indefinitely laughed in his face, and egged him on knowing the laws of weak vs strong. strong always wins. he backed down and apologized and then the demon back for more tried to fight again. laughing then walking towards him he coward back to submission. here or there things like this pop up and i enjoy them very much. all ways tested, always on guard. so i write about them so you can see the beauty of madness, that only can be created by harsh environments.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know many writers or studied habits of other. so i can’t say i do or don’t. So I will lie to you because it more better, than the text book in school. I light a big fat stogy’s, Romeo and Juliet is my brand. of course this is after a good deep shag with my girl friend. With these too inspiration of sweet and smoke the creative mind explodes with the cosmos in word form. and i write and write and i write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Charles Bukowski, Is one of my favourites. I like how he tell truth through his debauchery. He doesn’t try to be anyone but him self.
Robert Greene, the ways he does his book just sign to me. he paints these amazing picture through the greatest characters in history.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the masculine and famine side of a brake up. Explain how both sexes go through a break up, see both sides of a conversation and what each other see. The evolution of how the sexes interact to benefit them selfs for reproduction. What is attractive in a partner to both males and females.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every day when writing a book, find a place that you are comfortable with, drink coffee or beer, something to get the juices to flow. i write about experiences, so i can get maximum emotion in my words.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
better have a beer, might not be here tomorrow, could get hit by a bus.

What are you reading now?
mythology

What’s next for you as a writer?
Ecuador to build my little piece of paradise

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?
48 laws of power, Charles Bukowski potions from a wine stained notebook, Shantaram

Author Websites and Profiles
Ryan Wiersma Website
Ryan Wiersma Amazon Profile

Ryan Wiersma’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an engineering professor at a university in Bristol. I have written academic texts before, but this is the first ‘popular science’ type of book that I have written. I have done about 27 years of engineering research in areas relating to computer simulation and machine vision. Here is some more information about me:
Lyndon N. Smith has a strong interest in science and technology, and a particular fascination with developments in physics and engineering that can have potentially revolutionary effects on the way we live. He feels that scientific and technological developments of recent decades have been less dramatic than was expected, say, seventy years ago and that an investigation into why this is the case and what we can do about it is well overdue. His background includes degrees in physics, robotics and engineering, as well as 26 years of research experience in the UK (and USA), which has resulted in 180 technical papers, two books and the supervision of 20 PhDs. As well as being a professor at a major UK university, he is also something of a bibliophile; but has had a long-standing concern about the lack of accessibility of many science and technology related publications, in terms of the associated difficulties with public engagement with science, as well as reducing the likelihood of science having a strong and beneficial impact on society. He believes that one way to increase the accessibility of science is to employ an informal style, and to make liberal use of quotations and allusions to well-known figures from popular culture. This is what he has aimed to do with his new book. His intention is to make you wonder why we don’t hear more about how modern technologies can revolutionise our lives. He believes we need to spend more time and effort on looking to the future rather than agonising over the past. And he uses discussion of people and events from the past, as well as various predictions of the possible future, to throw light on the situation for science and technology, and what developments we might expect going forward. Lyndon lives in Central Somerset, with his wife and son.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is entitled: “Why You Can’t Catch a Rocket to Mars: Some Personal Reflections on Science and Society”. This was initially inspired by discussions with some of my MSc students, who, in 2015, told me that it was the day that Marty McFly was meant to have travelled forward from the year 1985 in the movie Back to the Future II. Apparently, in 2015 we were all supposed to have been flying around on ‘hoverboards’ – I started wondering why we were not.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in various different places around the house and garden – it helps to have a laptop to do this!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors that have infludenced me: Chekhov, Arthur C. Clarke, Sir Artur Conan Doyle, Gene Roddenberry, Gerald Durrell, Hunter S. Thompson, Isaac Asimov, and many more…

Books: Chekhov’s short stories, Sherlock Holmes e.g. The Hound of the Baskervilles, Star Trek, Durrell’s travel writing, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I, Robot, and again, many more…

What are you working on now?
An audiobook version of “Why You Can’t Catch a Rocket to Mars: Some Personal Reflections on Science and Society”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon ads seems quite good, if rather expensive and complicated.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read Chekhov (or other good writing if you can’t read Chekhov). Write every day.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Disipline is the most important thing.

What are you reading now?
P. G. Wodehouse.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another book – possibly on science and/or Sherlock Holmes.

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?
Turgenev fathers and sons, Travels with Charlie by Steinbeck, The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Stories and Novels, The Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lyndon Smith Website
Lyndon Smith Amazon Profile

Lyndon Smith’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Bermudian author who has written 13 novels and 2 novellas since August, 2018.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book, La Reina, is the sequel to Reinoso – Book 1 in the El Rey Series. I am completely inspired by characters. My characters show up and I write their stories. It’s as simple as that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I talk to my characters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love multicultural romance author Kenya Wright.

What are you working on now?
A quirky romcom called The Placeholder. Then, I’ll start Book 3 of the El Rey Series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still researching this, but Awesome Gang has been amazing so far!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to write from your heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Build a backlist.

What are you reading now?
Jennifer Sheppard – The Scottish Alliance

What’s next for you as a writer?
Screenplays

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?
Theodora Taylor and Kenya Wright books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brooklyn Knight Amazon Profile

Brooklyn Knight’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Just one.

Oh c’mon on, i spent 4 hours writing my bio. I am really not that interesting myself. Read my novel instead, at least is not about the obnoxious and boring me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Springs of silence.

On how life can be so overwhelming that even speaking feels worhtless. Specially for those with colosal amounts of consciousness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I honestly don’t think there’s an unusual writing habit. Each kind speaks out some sort of humanity.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nope. Secret.

What are you working on now?
On my second novel, due December 2021.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write away the trauma—like a did.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“everything in moderation, including moderation.” Oscar Wilde.

What are you reading now?
Secret. It’s mostly philosophy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My second novel. A middle aged man living in poor condition; alone.

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 don’t think i would be able to read dehydrated, i might ask instead for sunglasses.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Valletta Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a local from the island of St. Thomas located in the United States Virgin Islands. I have written a motivational book entitled Herotations. I have used a coined phrase of hindsight wisdom. This just means that the mistakes that I have made in life no one else has to.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Herotations was inspired by my life and the many ways that I saw that could have made it more worthwhile. For years I would share a daily quote to my social media public in hopes of inspiring a wonderful day. I decided that it was far pasa time that I share these quotes with the world and give some insight on who I am and why you should step into the realm of Herotations.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I prefer to write at specific times so that my mind and body know exactly what is happening and will be intuned.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible has been a major influence in my life.

What are you working on now?
I will be bringing out a children’s book series this summer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have been using Instagram, it gives me the ability to make some very creative commercials for my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is to plan your promotion strategy and keep to it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just do it!

What are you reading now?
I just finished “Shades of Purple” by Ingrid Hutchinson.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Children books to help inspire our youth.

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
Herotations
Shades of Purple

Author Websites and Profiles
Carl “Hero” Gumbs Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing about fifteen years ago, just as a hobby and to increase my typing speed. My first book, a YA fantasy called The City in the Lake, came out from a Random House imprint in 2008. Since then, I’ve worn the letters off several laptop keyboards by writing quite a few other YA and adult fantasy novels. I have ten titles out from Big Five publishers and, let me see, six or so titles that I’ve self-published. But I’m not moving toward self-publishing in a much more decisive way, so I expect to bring out five new titles in 2021 and probably three to five more in 2022. I write fast, but not that fast — although my typing speed has improved a lot in the past 15 years, I also had quite a few complete or nearly complete manuscripts stacked up!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Tuyo is my personal favorite of all my novels. I brought it out in May 2020 because I wanted to maintain control over this book and all sequels, and this was the reason I also decided to pursue self-publishing.

Tuyo was inspired by, among many other influences, a conversation on my blog about whether it’s possible for a powerful telepath who can control the minds and memories of those around him to be a good person.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know how unusual this is, but I often get up before five in the morning in order to have uninterrupted time for writing before my day job. I mean, uninterrupted except for letting one zillion Cavalier King Charles Spaniels out and in and out and in.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many I hardly know whom to list first, but: Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Sharon Shinn. Guy Gavriel Kay. RA MacAvoy. I’ll stop there or I’ll list another hundred names.

What are you working on now?
So many projects!

I’m in the process of self-publishing a fantasy trilogy with a literary vibe. That’s about ready to go. The series title is Death’s Lady, with individual titles drawn from a John Donne poem.

I’m also currently revising the third book of the Tuyo series. As soon as that’s done, I’ll bring that book out.

Then I’ll immediately finish a science fiction novel — I got stuck 80,000 words into the story, and only recently figured out how to get unstuck.

After that, I need to think about the fifth book of my Black Dog series. And there’s a big, complicated fantasy novel I’ve barely started …

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just starting to look seriously at promotion, but so far I’ve seen good results from Freebooksy.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make absolutely sure to clarify the rights reversion clause in your contract so that “out of print” is a meaningful concept in this era of ebooks.

Also, exactly as everyone says, self-publishing is hopeless unless you learn something about marketing. Sorry.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
All proscriptive advice should be ignored.

What are you reading now?
I just finished a quite wonderful novel called The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard. It was perfect for my reading preferences right now because nothing terrible happens. The intensity comes from relationships, all of which are moving in a positive direction throughout the story. Also, Goddard is just amazing with description.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Far, far more self-publishing. Although I’m not writing traditional publication off, I do want to make a very serious try at turning self-publishing into a real alternative.

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. That’s quite a limit. Um.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
The Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells
The Touchstone trilogy by Andrea K Host

Author Websites and Profiles
Rachel Neumeier Website
Rachel Neumeier Amazon Profile

Rachel Neumeier’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written thirty-five books since I was sixteen, and have twenty-five currently published, including three I have written and published with a group of high school students. These teenagers, ranging in age from thirteen to eighteen, are part of an afterschool novel writing program I run at a local high school in London Ontario.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I am currently finishing up a novel entitled The Librarians. I looked at one of those book nooks and wondered who would live there, and decided they would be fairy-like creatures who survive by borrowing things from stories. Set in a great library, it is a humorous romp through some of our most beloved stories. A traditional quest romance (knights and villains and lost items) it follows Dash, Apostrophe and Comma on their travels to retrieve the Adventure Stone from the Dark Librarian.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I write either directly in a word processing program or a notebook. I write every day without worrying about how many words I manage and usually start with a simple plot outline, leaving room for imagination and inspiration.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My library contains two thousand books ranging from the Stratamyre classics like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew to Grisham, Baldacci and Lee Childs. Many authors have influenced me over the years, including classic writers like Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters. I make it a habit when book shopping to buy at least one book from a genre I don’t normally read to expand my horizons.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on four novels. I am a few chapters from finishing up The Librarians, I am working on the first book of a series entitled Goth about a fifteen-year-old girl with some witch-like magical talents that get her into trouble, rewriting an older novel entitled Redemption about a serial killer, and working on the first novel of a fifteen novel historical fiction entitled the Canadians. This one has the subtitle The Cry of the Wyandot.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I have found that exchanging newsletters on Story Origin and releasing a few freebies on Inkitt has led to the most sales and readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are starting out, I would suggest that you write your story from beginning to end before trying to edit. I get my new student writers to work out a simple chapter by chapter plot outline, keeping it simple. Write down only a few sentences about what needs to happen in that chapter, leaving room for imagination and inspiration when you write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know.

What are you reading now?
I am reading a Baldacci novel called The Christmas Train.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The rest of the year will be filled with writing the second book of the Darkhaven series, which is a continuation of my current Crystal Raven series. I will also reformat one of my current books to increase the quality, and start a few new novels. I am also currently helping one of my students, Tara O’shay, complete her first solo novel. She will be the first graduate of our writing program at John Paul II secondary school here in London, Ontario.

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! This is a tough one. Probably Little Dorrit from Charles Dickens, one from Lee Childs, Baldacci, and something from Grisham. Which would last me about a week and a half, so I think I’d drag those authors along with me and make them write me some new books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Allan Lacoursiere Website
Allan Lacoursiere Amazon Profile

Allan Lacoursiere’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a UK-based, freelance, digital children’s book illustrator/ author. I have recently self-published a picture book titled ” I’m a Buzz, Buzz Bee. Learn about me!” which is my first published book.
I graduated with a foundation degree in Art & Design from London Metropolitan University in 2016 and with a Bachelors degree in illustration in 2019.
I love to illustrate projects that are full of magic, nature, adventure and anything in between. With every illustration I create, I try to depict the beauty of nature and everything that surrounds us. I get inspired by wild animal and nature photography because I think it’s important to bring even more attention to the world around us and make more people aware of how beautiful nature is. I always pay attention to the smallest details and aim to create colour palettes that are challenging the normal way we view things, which I think is what makes my work more unique

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is titled “I’m a Buzz, Buzz Bee. Learn about me!” It is inspired by a family-run bee farm owned by my uncle. During the summer I’ve spent some time at the farm learning about our fuzzy, buzzy, little friends and the honey-making process. There was so much that I wasn’t aware of. That inspired me to create a picture book that allows children to learn more about all the buzz-worthy facts in a simple and fun way!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m obsessed with making everything Rhyme!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was younger my parents used to read to me every night. It was almost always Dr Seuss or Hans Christian Andersen which I think influenced my passion for children’s books.

What are you working on now?
Another children’s picture book! It will be a bit different from the Bee book but, it will also RHYME!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first time self-publishing so I’m still learning the process, but Facebook has been amazing. I joined a lot of groups that share a passion for children’s books and got a lot of love for my book there! Social media in general is a great way to market. Due to the current situation, I am not able to do any school visits so I have to work with what is available!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it! I was super stressed and nervous to get my book out there but you know what? If you don’t do it you will never know how well it could’ve done!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To trust the process. I believe this is something that every author and artist needs to keep at the back of their head AT ALL TIMES.

What are you reading now?
The newest publication of “Character Design Quarterly”. I love to read books that help me develop and grow as an artist or author!

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a new author, I hope to get a bit more recognition and make more books!

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 the CDQ publications because they always offer so many visual elements on top of everything!

Author Websites and Profiles
Gosia Kozdron Website
Gosia Kozdron Amazon Profile

Gosia Kozdron’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account