Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have just finished writing my first Ebook, I am now in my 30’s working as a Chef. Father of 3 and spend most of my free time with my kids.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Things I Wish I Learnt In School. I decided to write this book during Covid 19 when i temporarily became unemployed. I wanted to share with everyone the things i had learned later on in life that i wish i had learned whilst in school.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
no

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tony Robbins, Gary Vee, Phil Town

What are you working on now?
Turning my ebook into a book.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Give it ago, You will never know what you could have achieved if you didn’t try.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing – Walt Disney

What are you reading now?
The 7 day start up by Dan Norris

What’s next for you as a writer?
Bigger and better.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
To Hard to decide

Author Websites and Profiles
Justin Roddy Amazon Profile

Justin Roddy’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a new erotic romance writer. I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child. I grew up in Ohio and then moved to California when I married my Navy husband. Four and a half years ago we moved to beautiful Tennessee which is where my MC is based. I’ve been married for 25 years and have a daughter and son.

Romance is my favorite genre, especially erotic romance. Last year I left the healthcare setting after 20+ years as a nurse to try my hand at writing. Before I knew it, I had 11 books written! I’ve just released my first two books in a series called the Dublin Falls Archangel’s Warrior MC. I plan to release them over the next several months. And I have many more ideas not only for this series but several spin-offs as well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I released in April my first book, Terror’s Temptress, and on June 1st book 2, Savage’s Princess. Both were inspired by things I see and hear. I can be certain music, a scene on a TV show, or even ideas that come to mind as I’m reading other authors’ work. I also get ideas form things that I have experienced over the years being around military life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not unless you count having two pugs lay on my feet and give me soulful looks because they’re not on my lap…lol. I tend to like to write late at night as well that is my favorite time to read. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was a vampire:)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Christine Feehan, JR Ward are the two that come to mind. I have been reading them for years. I have read every one of Christine’s 80+ books and All of the JR’s Black Dagger series.

I’m also enjoying right now, Harley Wylde’s books. I have found we have similar ideas and styles.

What are you working on now?
I am about to start book 1 in the spin-off series for the Dublin Falls Archangel’s Warriors. This is going to follow the guys in their brother chapter in Hunter’s Creek. It will be about Bull, the president of that club. For those who read Terror’s Temptress, this is Harlow’s dad. Harlow is Terror’s Temptress. Though Bull is in his early fifties and has a grown daughter and two grandkids, he meets a younger woman who steals his heart. Something he hadn’t thought possible. His wife, died when his daughter was five and he’s never had a serious relationship since nor did he think he ever would.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still exploring that. It’s tough to find sites that do it for free or for a reasonable price and even if they do, a lot will not promote erotic romance. I have done it on Real Romance Reader twice, Once for each of my books. Still looking for a bigger exposure. I’m not a big social media person, so that doesn’t really help me to promote. I just started a blog to see if that helps. Its Romantica Goddessex at ciarastjaems@wordpress.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write and write some more and don’t be afraid to have someone ( or several someones) be your sounding board. My husband is the one I often discuss my ideas with, he reads my books, and makes suggestions.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be your own biggest fan and continue to push even if you don’t succeed at first! Everyone would love to be super successful, but the real pay off is how writing feeds your soul and sense of fulfillment.

What are you reading now?
Harley Wylde’s various MC series

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue to write this series and other spin-offs. And get readers to leave reviews on what they thought of my books. I always hope readers will get the same enjoyment from my books as I do when I read other authors’ books. I want them to be like I am, and hardly be able to wait for the next one to come out. That is how I am with Christine Feehan’s 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?
I’d have to say books on survival- One on medicinal herbs and plants, emergency medical one, survival 101, and then one romance by Christine Feehan. I’d like to say just her books, but I need to be realistic. I’m stranded! I need to have resources on how to survive so I can get back to all my other books!

Author Websites and Profiles
Ciara St. James Website
Ciara St. James Amazon Profile

Ciara St. James’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Shelley Paxton as seen in PBS, Forbes, CBS, CW, and Thrive Global is an author, international speaker, & transformational coach. She can best be summed up as a burnout fighter and fire re-igniter who is rebelling for rewriting the traditional script of success starting with her new book, SOULBBATICAL: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide To Finding Your Best Life (published by Simon & Schuster 1.20). Shelley spent 26 years as a highly regarded marketing and advertising executive, stewarding some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Harley-Davidson, Visa, McDonald’s, and AOL and walked away from it all to launch her own company, Soulbbatical and become the Chief Soul Officer of her own life. Her mission is to liberate the souls of leaders and organizations by inspiring them to realize their greatest purpose and potential. As a certified professional coach, she works with executives at Fortune 100 companies & with fellow rebel soul individuals and entrepreneurs. She holds a marketing degree from Boston College and graduated from iPEC, one of the country’s premier coaching certification programs. Paxton has trained with some of the top teachers in the world including Brene’ Brown, five-time New York Times bestselling author.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
SOULBBATICAL: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide To Finding Your Best Life

I wrote the book I wish I’d had as a guide when I walked away from Harley-Davidson and a wildly successful 26-year career as an Advertising and Marketing executive. The only (adult) life I’d ever known. I know what it’s like to feel scared and alone and still convinced to your core that there’s got to be more to life; a greater calling and purpose. And, I know how amazing it feels on the other side. This book is me putting an arm around the reader saying, “I got you.” Let’s go on this Soulbbatical journey together.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if these are unusual, but they work for me:
I’ve trained myself to write to a Deep Focus playlist on Spotify. I start the playlist 5-10 minutes before I’m ready to dive into writing. It gets my brain primed.
When I’m in book writing mode, I set aside entire days for writing versus smaller chunks of time. This is the best way for me to get into creative flow (and I recently learned that neuroscience backs this up!).
Before I start writing, I do a guided creativity meditation (usually on the Calm app).
The most inspiring places for me to write are in nature (near water) or by a cozy fire.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a Brené Brown devotee. I love her insight, humanity, struggle, and tell-it-like-it-is straight talk. Her work is leading a movement and I want mine to do the same!

What are you working on now?
In addition to speaking and coaching, I’m launching my own podcast called Rebel Souls in early Fall (2020). The mission is to awaken the rebel within each of us and use it as a force for good. I’ll be having conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, activists, artists, athletes, and anyone else who is rebelling FOR who they are, what they want, and the impact they want to have in the world. We’ll be celebrating inspiring stories of authenticity, courage, and purpose. Stay tuned!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social Media, my newsletter, my publicity team at Noel Elie Productions and encouraging readers to share what resonated with them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Authenticity is the truest form of rebellion. Show up, be you, own your voice, and the magic will happen.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
On the other side of fear is everything you want. Well, that’s my interpretation of what I heard, and it’s been a go-to mantra for me ever since. It helps me to convert fear to fuel when I need it the most.

What are you reading now?
I’m a non-fiction junkie and one of those people who always has her nose in multiple books at a time. At the moment, here’s what’s on my nightstand:
The Soul of Money:Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life by Lynne Twist
Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet – One Bite at a Time by Mark Hyman, M.D.
Fierce Free and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You by Jen Hatmaker
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo

What’s next for you as a writer?
I can already feel the ideas for book #2 (and possibly #3) percolating. But I’m slowing myself down to savor the moment of my very first book baby being out in the world. It’s a dream come true – I don’t want this moment to pass me by. Follow me on Instagram (@soulbbatical) to learn about future projects as they unfold.

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 one that I go back to again and again, and recommend and gift most often, is The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav. Pure gold.

As I joke in the book, I traveled with a back-breaking load of personal development books (yes, the good old-fashioned paper kind) for inspiration. My biggest influences and other favorites included:

Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong
Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning
Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art
Gay Hendricks’ The Big Leap
Tim Ferriss’ Tools of Titans
Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul
Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass

Author Websites and Profiles
Shelley Paxton Website
Shelley Paxton Amazon Profile

Shelley Paxton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Australian author and Mum. I have one short read out, however have written seven novellas that are about to be rapid released

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Cowgirl’s Dream is my latest book and it was inspired by all the amazing cowgirls I’ve know as I competed with horses growing up and into adulthood. A couple of very cute Brazilian bull riders I’ve met over the years might have provided some inspiration as well

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually have my daughter (20mths old) asleep on my while I write

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Carolyn Brown, Liz Isaacson

What are you working on now?
My Christmas Novel, Boots and Mistletoe

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, cross promotions and newsletters promos

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start writing and don’t stop

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just start writing and don’t stop

What are you reading now?
Mostly Spot books with my kids lol

What’s next for you as a writer?
A new series called Billionaire Ranch

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?
Some David Edding books. Or if my kids were with my, Spot or Dinosaur books to keep them amused

Author Websites and Profiles
Edith MacKenzie Website
Edith MacKenzie Amazon Profile

Edith MacKenzie’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Donte, and I’m not an author, I’m a dreamer. I had a dream that one day………one day…….I’d publish a book on Amazon and frighten the lives of millions and billions and trillions of Amazon subscribers. Maybe I didn’t frighten you but if you’re still reading this, then you’re at the least intrigued. I’ve lived in Atlanta, Georgia for most of my life. I use various avenues to express what I want to say to you millions of people. I write and record my own music, I dip my fingers into the cup of film, and I wrote the book “Georgia”. I have yet to even scratch the surface of my destiny, so stay tuned!!!!!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Georgia. It was just a crazy dream one night. I had to put it on paper

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write what comes to the dome

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King Stephen King Stephen King

What are you working on now?
My first script. A comedy about a cannibal 😂😂

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I just tell everyone I can

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Don’t think too much. Somebody gonna like it lol

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The only way you fail, is if you don’t try” – My Grandma

What are you reading now?
My book Georgia

What’s next for you as a writer?
Take over the world Craig

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?
Survived wilderness
Playboy (Don’t judge me)
Cell – Stephen King

Author Websites and Profiles
Donte Carter Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an independent Author/Illustrator of horror. I’ve written 3 novellas, an anthology collection (Vault of the Ghouls), poetry and manga (Japanese comic).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Vault of the Ghouls Volume 7’- inspired by ‘Tales From The Crypt’.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Must have coffee and jazz.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
R.L. Stine, Alexander Dumas, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Shel Silverstien.

What are you working on now?
Another ‘Vault of the Ghouls’ volume.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You don’t give 100%- you give 110%

What are you reading now?
Works of ancient literature

What’s next for you as a writer?
More scares!

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?
C.S. Lewis essays

Author Websites and Profiles
William Schumpert Website
William Schumpert Amazon Profile

William Schumpert’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Sometimes we just have to flow with the natural call appears in through the heart. Same happened to me. I was far from writing but, presently my destiny made me an author and I also write spiritual, motivational articles for the newspaper. It all started from the day when my 1st articles on ‘failure’ were published in the newspaper which encouraged me to illustrate more and more articles to bring change in the reader’s mind.
Moreover, Few fluctuations in my life ignited my insights over and over and one day I decided to harmonize my entire wisdom, insights, research on life together which unfolded my very initial book namely ‘REBORN WITHIN-the beginning of inner transformation’

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
As I conveyed the name of my very first book is ‘REBORN WITHIN -the beginning of an inner transformation’. Being honest, I was totally unknown to the name and everything about the book. I was covered with only blurred ideas and multiple what, how, when etc. Simultaneously the famous saying of Lao Tzu was dazzling in my mind ‘journey of thousands of mile begins with one step’. The major problem I had was my age. Yes, I’m 20-year-old boy spelling out spiritual and motivational content. Reading the book of a 20-year-old boy is bound to attack one’s ego. But, the problem is an infinite word. No matter what you are, where you are, it chases you like your shadow. Following the same attitude, I just kept writing and I was solely astounded that I wrote 300+ pages of the book. I wasn’t able believe in myself. In the same way, unknowingly the name even pumped in my mind.an As soon as would I touch the topic my mind would blow like the wind.
Especially, the main inspiration to write ‘REBORN WITHIN’ is the hostile atmosphere I grew up. It ignited an inner call to assist people, bring changes in their life, help them in transforming their life and encourage them to spread hands for others well being…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t say habit. But, yes!!! I write when my mind roams in a distinct world, my own created world. Whenever I dissolve myself in nature, many illuminating thoughts emerge in my mind and unknowingly I feel like writing my experience, colouring thoughts with ink and I just do that. Moreover, pin-drop silence in my loneliness is something that stimulates me to write from the bottom of my heart.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The very first book I had ordered out of my scholarship money ‘The power of your subconscious mind’ left a marvellous impression on me. The book reveals magical powers human is unknown for. Then, I’m grateful to read entire series of ‘insights of new living’ by OSHO. These books are more than words. It is something so natural, original and authentic.

What are you working on now?
I have decided to travel alone by bicycle to discover what life is and how it runs. Especially, to know to get a close glimpse into my being, find out my original being, who I am. I believe we are not part of existence, we are existence. Each sun shines within, each star blinks in you, each flower blossom in your being. Just the thing is, material world, societies-parents-teachers teaching since childhood has separated us from the naturalness of oneself in such a way that it is so challenging to teach up to own original being. But, now I want to kill such obliged teaching and give new birth to who I am according to my own experiences.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Being new in the world of ink, given question perplexed me. I think the best method I can follow is promoting the book on Instagram and Facebook etc social media platform as it seems the easiest and fastest way to reach up to the readers

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes! I have to say only one thing that don’t think ‘when I will be perfect then I will write’. tuning up the book is not about perfection. Instead, writing is a path to be perfect. The word ‘perfect’ is infinite. No matter how much you prepare yourself, you would not be perfect unless last breath. So, believe on yourself and keep writing. One important thing, be original while writing. Don’t try to color the content. Let it be natural. Because natural things comes from heart while artificial things come up from mind. Mind is not yours. It has been manufactured by society. But, heart is only yours. It is authentic. Just mission to it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Don’t play with the content’ yes!! I wanted to do proof reading of the book to make it fresh but if I would have done it, I would have lost my essence to that book. It would not have been mine at anymore. I’m not against language barrier. For it, it is fine if you think to have PR. But, when it comes to your own style of writing, don’t give right to anyone to play with it. Be what you are.

What are you reading now?
Presently I’m reading upon one of the vital topic of human existence as well as it’s relation with human consciousness, existence which is ‘sex’. Being in a tender age I experience multiple changes in my body and mind about the same thing and simultaneously I experience societies restriction about it. I want to find out answers of my many questions about sex and it’s influences to human existence.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Along with writing, I deliver motivational, spiritual talks for the same aim to devote myself for peoples well being.

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’ll certainly bring maturity, creativity, courage by OSHO and my one of the favorite books which is immensely close to my heart ‘the alchemist’.

Author Websites and Profiles
VISHAL TEKADE Amazon Profile

VISHAL TEKADE’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing when I was in 9th grade. It has been 7 years to that and I haven’t taken a break from writing except when writer’s block knocks my door. Words have always been a source of escapism to me. To be honest, I am diagnosed with mental illnesses and I am so thankful to the poet in me.

In 2018, I started writing my debut book. It has quotes and poetry. It didn’t succeed. while I am sad about it, I am also happy to have tasted failure. Recently, I self-published my second poetry book on Kindle.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest and second book is named ‘The Uncanny Whispers.’ it is a poetry book based on the idea of exploring life through the lifeless objects in our surroundings.

I was sitting in one of my university classes and playing with an eraser. I was so bored and out of the blue, I wrote poetry on an eraser. It came out better than I expected. later that year, I was sitting in a plane, alone, and being an introvert I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I saw the window shade and thought about what it would say to me if it was alive. That was the birth of my second book. I kept looking for such things and wrote on it until it turned into a publish worthy book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I won’t say it is unusual because writing is such a thing, I believe, that doesn’t happen if you plan and force your head to produce something creative. It happens out of the blue, all of a sudden, like a shooting star. You can’t keep staring at the stars and expect it to shoot from your gaze. It happens when it is meant to.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say Milk and Honey have influenced me. but most of my inspiration comes from my own experiences, imagination, and observation (EIO). I believe that every book is a result of the author’s own EIO and I would want to keep it exclusive to them. In short, I learn a lot from other books but my poetry rarely gets influenced.

What are you working on now?
To be honest, I have a half-written manuscript. But currently, my whole attention is diverted towards selling my latest book

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I mostly promote on social media platforms like Instagram. Though, this time I have tried promoting it here on awesomegang.com itself. I am hoping for the best results.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I, myself, am a new author. One thing I tell myself, which I would tell all the new authors is, to keep writing what you feel. Your book should be a result of what you want to share and not just what others want to read. Let the words come from within.
If you fail to succeed, do not quit. Success is at the top of the mountain. To reach there, we may stumble, fall, get hurt, lose companions, feel like quitting many times. What matters is to keep climbing until we reach the peak.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It is very short and sweet- everything happens for a reason.

What are you reading now?
I haven’t started reading anything as of now.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I wish I could answer this but we never know what’s in for us in the future. I would keep writing more and more and see what happens next.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take-
1. Looking for Alaska
2. Turtles all the way down
3. Milk and Honey
4. Her

Author Websites and Profiles
Yashvi Italiya Website
Yashvi Italiya Amazon Profile

Yashvi Italiya’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 written and self-published a non-fiction book titled run_frictionless. run_frictionless offers business owners a framework to help scale their growing companies. Self-published six months ago, it has 30+ reviews on Amazon and Good Reads. And a near-perfect score of 5 stars on Amazon.

This is my first title. I have more titles planned.

—

BIO:

Anthony has a decade of experience consulting to technology and software-as-service startups. Brands include salesforce.com, Google, SAP and IBM. He specializes in designing automated sales and marketing systems. He has consulted to SaaS vendors in the United Kingdom, Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, and Australia. Anthony has been a founder of two startups.

His first business, Firestarter, consulted on Facebook and iPad app development in South East Asia. The firm was acquired by Novus Media in 2010. He co-founded Futurebooks, an accounting firm servicing over 500 startups and ranked as Xero’s number one reseller in Asia.

When he’s not working, Anthony enjoys racing sports bikes and sailing boats.

Find him at linkedin.com/in/anthonycoundouris/

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
title: run_frictionless

I design and build sales systems for enterprise and startups across Asia Pacific. I’ve been doing this for a number of years. Each time I start a new gig I’m given three months to show results. So when I’m trying to free a founder or a sales team, I use the framework I designed called the 4Qs.

I first began writing about the 4Qs two years ago as teaching aid I could hand out to clients. I have rolled out the 4Qs to countless organizations. It’s my hope you learn the basics and walk away and implement the 4Qs in your startup. I have not been able to find a better framework.

The power of the 4Qs rests in its ability to create four, distinct quadrants, or windows, into an organization, such that all its people and processes can be grouped into one or more quadrants. The 4Qs educate people about how their role and processes touch a customer.

Watch the making off run_frictionless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePwAXI-8eP0

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing at cafes. Run frictionless was written in 11 cafes spread across 5 cities.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
run_frictionless was inspired by Silicon Valley giants Steve Blank and Marc Andreessen.

Steve Blank, in his book The Four Steps to Epiphany. Marc Andreessen, Silicon Valley investor and co-founder of Netscape, coined the phrase, “product-market fit”

What are you working on now?
I’m launching a new version of a service called a friction test. I’m also writing content for several smaller, follow up books, for power users of the 4Qs.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not think selling books will make you money. It won’t. Unless you are a well-known author or have a well-known title (better still, both), you won’t make cash. There are more than 2 million books published each year in the English language.

Instead, consider writing a book for other merits such as influence, personal ambition, social giving, or just plain old fun.

What are you reading now?
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness
The Sales Development Playbook: Build Repeatable Pipeline and Accelerate Growth with Inside Sales Kindle Edition
Outbound Sales, No Fluff: Written by two millennials who have actually sold something this decade
Sales Differentiation: 19 Powerful Strategies to Win More Deals at the Prices You Want
Gap Selling: Getting the Customer to Yes: How Problem-Centric Selling Increases Sales by Changing Everything You Know About Relationships, Overcoming Objections, Closing and Price Kindle Edition

 

Author Websites and Profiles
Anthony Coundouris Website
Anthony Coundouris Amazon Profile

Anthony Coundouris’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am from San Jose CA and this is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Love, Schemes and Murder Scenes”. I was inspired to write this book for myself and others who are tired of reading far-fetched novels.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write with the TV on.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
James Patterson, Jackie Collins, Eric Jerome Dickey and Torri Woods.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to this book. The title is a secret lol

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know yet, this is my first one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust God.

What are you reading now?
Bible. 20 Laws of thinking.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Become #1 Best Seller.

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?
Any 3-4 books from the Alex Cross series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Darius Ollie Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve just recently written my first book, and have started my second. I was inspired by a dream I had last April, and despite my lack of experience with writing in the truest sense, I’ve always had a knack for worldbuilding and character development, which I attribute to my many years as Dungeon Master in several tabletop RPGs.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Project Manticore is my latest, and first, release. I had a dream in April of 2019 that was so interesting that I woke up at about 4:15am and immediately typed the synopsis into my cell phone so that I wouldn’t forget it. I talked it over with my wife, and she encouraged me to write it into a full-blown novel. I was excited and a little scared, but seeing it come to fruition has been rewarding and encouraging to write another.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it would qualify as unusual, but I listen to ambient music that fits the mood of the scene I’m writing. Throughout writing “Manticore”, I listened to tons of ambient space and sci-fi music, as well as suspenseful thriller music depending on the scene I was working on. It helped me put myself in the location I was writing about and building, and I think it was a huge help in making my descriptions that much more punchy and effective.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of Stephen King, and most recently, Adrzej Sapkowski, author of The Witcher series. The latter especially influenced my own writing style, as I appreciated the fact that he was descriptive without dawdling, and that the books moved at a great pace without leaving the reader behind. I mimicked that flow when writing my own stories while still incorporating my own voice and style.

What are you working on now?
My next book is tentatively titled “The Dark Cycle”, though I love that name and will likely use it for the final product. This story was also influenced by a dream that I had about half way through writing “Project Manticore”, and I’m very easily distracted, so it took all of my energy to put it on the backburner until I was finished! So far I’m a few thousand words into “The Dark Cycle” and can’t wait to write more.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a firm believer in word of mouth first and foremost. Getting verbal recommendations from a trusted source is always the best initial route to take. I’m currently looking at other marketing opportunities (like AwesomeGang!) that are more grass-roots, which is something I personally identify with.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Absolutely, especially new authors with no experience. Don’t be afraid to use Google. The internet is a bevy of useful information, and there were times where I found myself writing a sentence that made sense to my, but I wasn’t sure if it was syntactically correct. That, and just write. I know it sounds pretentious and obvious, but what stops most people from writing is fear of failure, or fear of judgment. Abandon your fears, open up your word processor, and start putting words on paper (er, digital paper at least).

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever received is succinct, but powerful, and one you’ve probably heard hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

Be yourself.

While writing “Project Manticore”, I was terrified that the vulgarity would drive people away, but I didn’t want to cheapen the dialog and make it sound campy. Humans aren’t polite in deadly situations, they’re often yelling and cursing. I made sure to keep those feelings in my book even when that worry crept in because I was being true to myself, my world, and my characters.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently wrapping up “The Witcher” series, in the latter half of “Lady of the Lake.” It’s spectacular so far, as have been the other books in the series, and it will continue to be an inspiration for me long after I’ve finished reading.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book two! As I mentioned before, I’m working now on “The Dark Cycle,” and this time I have an even clearer layout than I did with “Manticore,” which even that had a very clearly laid out plot (thanks, subconscious!). I’m excited to switch from hard sci-fi into more body horror, suspense, and mystery writing, as it presents a new challenge to myself and my potential readers.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I hate to be boring, but I’d bring a lot of non-fiction. The Machinery of Freedom by David D. Friedman would be in there, Human Action by Ludwig Von Mises, and then my favorite Witcher books, which would be impossible to determine right now.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ryan Bunting Website
Ryan Bunting Amazon Profile

Ryan Bunting’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Jeff was raised by his grandparents. They taught him that kindness is the most important virtue to make the world a better place. He has worked in many far-away places and knows that children are our future. He is inspired by his daughter, who is an imaginative story teller, wonderful artist, and fearless explorer. She collaborates daily with her mommy to create wondrous tales of kindness, forgiveness, and of course with many garden fairies.

Proceeds from the sale of Jeff’s fourth book, Maisha and the Rainbow Tree, will be donated to charitable causes supporting sustainable forest restoration and families in need.

While Jeff has published several textbooks with some of the most famous scientists on the planet while at Harvard and MIT, writing his latest book with his daughter is by far the pinnacle of his literary career.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Dr. Jeff Blander and his daughter are grateful to share a story of joy, kindness, and hope through their newly released children’s book, “Maisha and the Rainbow Tree.” Jeff explains, “my grandparents who raised me firmly believed that kindness is the most important virtue to make the world a better place. It is this lesson that has shaped me professionally as well as in my most important roles; as husband, father, friend, and neighbor.” This heartfelt book shares a powerful message of hope, friendship, and advocacy-a message that will always ring true, especially during this difficult time.”

“For me personally completing this project with my daughter provides some closure and a full circle with my own mom who went to heaven when I was a young boy. She had started, but never finished, a beloved children’s book project for me. I know this was something that was so very important to her as she would often tell friends and new acquaintances alike about the project. Thus, doing so many years later with my own daughter is truly an extraordinary and healing experience. We hope this project can bring some joy, kindness, and smiles to others during difficult times. All author proceeds will go to charity to heal our planet and support families in need.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Jeff often writes and creates his stories with his daughter using crayon, magic marker, and sidewalk chalk.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, Shel Silverstein, Wangari Maathai, Dr. Seuss, The Invisible Strings, The Giving Tree, Charlotte’s Web, The Lorax, Stranger in a Strange Land, The State of Africa, Death be not Proud, Cosmos, and Maisha and the Rainbow Tree.

What are you working on now?
We are currently producing the video and audio books for Maisha and the Rainbow Tree. Also the translation into Swahili. There is also an exciting project called “The Rainbow Slide Connection.” https://friendsofmaisha.com/rainbow-slide-connection.

Most excitedly, stay tuned for the next adventure with Maisha and friends…

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We have been fortunate to participate in virtual readings through public libraries, stories shared through alumni magazines, a widely publicly available/distributed podcast, as well as a TV Interview on the evening news;

TV Interview: https://wjla.com/news/local/new-hope-sprouts-one-year-after-neighborhood-tree-removed

Virtual readings: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/4324013

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/Angelbonnet%26Friendsstoryt/episodes/Maisha-and-the-Rainbow-Tree-written-by-Jeffrey-Blander-and-the-Save-Our-Tree-Team-eefbci

PENN Story: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior_1col.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=25502#Jeff%20Blander

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Your voice and story matter. Don’t ever give up. Follow your dreams and passion, never let the haters bring you down.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your bliss and you will never fail in life.

What are you reading now?
junie b jones (with my daughter), every indie children’s book I can get my hands on (they are all beautiful and tell a personal story of triumph), JAMA, and New England Journal of Medicine.

What’s next for you as a writer?
While my heart is so full right now with of current project, Maisha and friends have many exciting adventures ahead…

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 Invisible Strings, Maisha and the Rainbow Tree, and Cosmos.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jeffrey Blander Website
Jeffrey Blander Amazon Profile

Jeffrey Blander’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi – my name is Omar L. Harris. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and I have written 4 books – 3 non-fiction and 1 fiction title. I spent over twenty years working as part of the global pharmaceutical industry in the US, Middle East, Asia, and South America. I believe my life’s purpose is to help each person I touch to discover their unique strengths that they can use to create their best life.

My books are One Blood (fiction under the pseudonym Qwantu Amaru) – 2011
From Authors to Entrepreneurs – 2015
Leader Board: The DNA of High Performance Teams – 2019
The Servant Leader’s Manifesto – 2020

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Servant Leader’s Manifesto was born out of crisis. The global employee engagement crisis to be exact. Nearly every business book I read points inadvertently to the culprit for this crisis but unfortunately they haven’t moved the needle. And the people who do the good work keep suffering. Well, no more. With this manifesto, we declare that toxic, ego-driven leadership is dead. In its wake shall rise the era of Servant Leadership – where the people who create value for customers have more than a seat at the table, they are actively heard and leaders respond to their needs. All you have to do to join us is to read the manifesto and pass it on. This revolution is hand to hand and word of mouth driven.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As long as I have my music and my coffee I am ready to roll. I still do write freehand though most of the time and then type up the pages as I go,

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Jim Collin’s Good to Great and Great by Choice
Simon Sinek’s Start With Why and The Infinite Game

What are you working on now?
The sequel to Leader Board called Halo: The Mission of High Performance Teams

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promoting on LinkedIn, Instagram, and advertising on Amazon. Also, running giveaways on Amazon and Goodreads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes – use Reedsy to find qualified professionals to create your book cover, edit your work, and make it as professional as possible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write the first draft with the heart and the subsequent drafts with your head – Stephen King

What are you reading now?
If It Bleeds by Stephen King
Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
I Can’t Make This Up by Kevin Hart

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing Halo and then getting back into fiction with a book inspired by my recently deceased mother’s life.

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 – combined volume
The Dark Tower – combined volume
The Chronicles of Narnia – combined volume
The Alchemist

Author Websites and Profiles
Omar L. Harris Website
Omar L. Harris Amazon Profile

Omar L. Harris’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My first book- The wordy side
It’s a a beautiful collection of poems . Drifting through different life experience leaving every one nostalgic.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The wordy side is the only book I have achieved but I am looking forward to many projects

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Umm actually I first like to write to scribble on paper about script ,then I write edited one with different colours
Then finally I finalize it digitally

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well ,I go through many readers but Durjoy Dutta has inspired me a lot

What are you working on now?
Well right now focusing on studies, but afcourse I am working on my next project

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think it’s verbal,ie when people talk about it
Bcz personally I would surely read a book, when anyone comes to me, tells me yarrr you must read it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Guys never listen to people who drag you down they just can’t accept the fact that you are doing good.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Focus on your plate”

What are you reading now?
Umm I am reading various author and also Anthology

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to try other genres too!

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?
Hahahaha ! I would take all of Durjoy Dutta

Author Websites and Profiles
Shubhi Shrivastava Website
Shubhi Shrivastava Amazon Profile

Shubhi Shrivastava’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Caregiver to my husband and daughter and also a visionary artist.I have been a Caregiver for over 36 years and sit on the Carers Wales Advisory board. I have received a national recognition for my caring role.I have been described as highly intuitive.
I have written my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Soul Divining. It relates my true intuitional experiences throughout my life and hopefully gives an insight into this incredibly unvalued sense.
I felt the need to share my experiences in order to raise awareness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My life is extremely busy due to my caring role so the only way I could find time to write was to get up at 4am. This quiet time has helped me to be creative.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I don’t believe I have been influenced but I do very much appreciate some great authors like Margaret Atwood and Doris Lessing. I also love William Blake’s poetry.

What are you working on now?
I am hoping to do a follow up to my first book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I feel it’s it been varied.My book was featured in Soul and Spirit Magazine and Psychic News which was great. Awesome gang is fantastic , an instant audience, with great potential.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in what you are doing and it will work out.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take time to pause,be guided by your gut feeling.

What are you reading now?
Canyon Lands by Jerome Doolittle,it just takes me to such beautiful quiet places.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to write and illustrate a children’s book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring Blue Coffee by Adrian Mitchell as he wrote a poem for my daughter Amy which is in this book.
The Snow Geese by William Fiennes,A Sense of Community by my best friend and artist Therese James and You Can Change The World by Margaret Rooke.

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer ,blogger and a zoologist. May be one fine day I will be writing a book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
currently I am working on love is immortal . I am inspired by the love . Because I think that if a person whom we love is not with us .their love remain with us throughout our life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No such habit.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Khalid hussain book kite runner .
This book inspired me a lot to read his more work and to write.
Preeti shernoy is my favourite author .I read her every book .
Life is what you make it.
Rule breaker these are my favourites.

What are you working on now?
I am currently doing my masters in zoology from central university of jammu. Also active in writing and open mic events.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method would be social media . It is now part of our lives .
So it can be a great method

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes ,
Just write everyday and do journaling.your feelings are important too. They are the mirror of your writings.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Best advice I have heard , don’t think what others will think about you . Just be the way you are.

What are you reading now?
I am reading wake up life is calling by preeti shernoy

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
1. Old man and the sea
2. Rule breakers
3.Everyone has a story 1
4.The kite runner

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi there Dream Physics is my first book, but I am planning a follow up.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Dream Physics – I have been keeping a dream journal for nearly 20 years. When I looked back across all my dream journal entries I realised that I had documented a lot of lucid flying dreams and further that I could group them all together and perhaps publish a book about lucid dreaming environments and dream physics to help other dreamers.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Best writing in the morning for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Tao of Physics by fritjof capra
The Unknown reality by jane roberts/seth

What are you working on now?
My follow up book – Creative Science and Visualization

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
never give up

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Dont worry about length. Some good books are small. Your book is done when you say it is.

What are you reading now?
Ancient History

What’s next for you as a writer?
Juggling promotion with writing the next book

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wow, I would take a library with me. 3 or 4 books would not be enough.

Author Websites and Profiles
DAMIAN AMAMOO Website
DAMIAN AMAMOO Amazon Profile

DAMIAN AMAMOO’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an English Author, I started writing from I was 7, I released my first book when I was 12 and just turning 13. Now I am 13 and I am close to releasing my next book in my book series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is The Chosen Triphants: Red, I have not yet published it, but I am publishing it soon. It was inspired by the previous book, The Story of Margaret Mellow, and the continuation of the book. I wanted the readers to get more of a taste of the world I’m bringing them into and the events that may occur.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes when I get inspiration in the middle of the night I have to get up and hurry up to write it down before I forget.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say the authors that have inspired me are Jacqueline Wilson and J.K Rowling, I love how in her books she creates her own species in her world and that’s what I like to do with mine.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the sequel to the first book called The Story of Margaret Mellow: The Origins of the chosen. This book dives more into the world I have created and the many twists will take the readers by surprise.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method is spreading the word through sharing around my book on my social media pages and creating advertisements.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you want to get your book published but don’t want to pay, I would suggest Self-Publishing via Amazon KDP. It worked for me and I’m sure it will work for you.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m hoping to go more in-depth with the series I’m currently working on and then develop other novels I’m working 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?
I definitely would bring four of the books from the Elemental Magic series by Chandelle LaVaun.

 

Suraiya Matandara-Clarke’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account