Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my real name is Emanuel Lira and my pen name is Seth Clay. I have written 4 books so far, but only one has been published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My very first Children’s Book is called “The Careless Kitty”. It’s a tribute to my family cat “Calvin”, but due to Calvin and Hobbes copyrights, I changed his name to Rascal. It’s a beautiful tribute book and it was launched last July.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually write after midnight ( I’m a night owl) when my writing flows better.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S. Lewis, J.K.Rowling, Brazilian comic book artist Mauricio de Sousa, among many others.

What are you working on now?
Nothing specific, just promoting my first book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media works fine, but I have been looking at blogs and websites to find better strategies to make my book more visible to other audiences.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up on your book. If you believe it will work out, keep working hard and it will eventually get the deserved credit.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Silence is true wisdom’s best reply” – Euripedes

What are you reading now?
I read a lot of Children’s books. The last one I read was “Why is Grandma wearing a mask?”. A very interesting one about the coronavirus situation.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to build a good audience and a good number of readers before I launch my next book, titled “Joshuaaaa!”

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, Batman Comic Books and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Author Websites and Profiles
Seth Clay Amazon Profile

Seth Clay’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I`ve written the following books: “The City of Masks”, “The Gordian Knot”, “Saraburi”, “Crime Won`t Happen Again”, “Where is the Letter from My Friend”, “Main Colors”, “The Road to nowhere…”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is: “The Road to nowhere”. It`s an adventurous story based on true events.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like walking alone because it gives you more opportunity to think. Muses and ideas come up unexpectedly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many. Often I can`t single out who is my favorite author, I love the authors who express the depths of human nature, both bad and good sides. Fedor Dostoyevsky, Emil Zola, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and many Georgian writers.

What are you working on now?
I`m translating my detective stories from Georgian into English.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think the best method is to spread the info about the book and author.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Life is full of obstacles, you`ll bump into many difficulties but never give up, believe in your dreams and future and work!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself and work. Every single day will bring something new.

What are you reading now?
For the fourth and fifth time “The Ladies Paradise” by Emile Zola.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I`m going to write a new science fiction 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?
First the Bible, then it`s difficult to say, there are so many. I think the book which would help me to survive on the island, books about wildlife. And definitely a lot of paper to write.

Author Websites and Profiles
Maka Sepashvili Amazon Profile

Maka Sepashvili’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a medical doctor who works to help people through continuous quality improvement initiatives. I received his master’s degree in public health from the Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal. I have worked as a medical doctor, consultant, public health specialist, professor, and researcher. His work has taken him to Africa and Haiti. I also nurture my spiritual side and helps others on their spiritual journeys. I believe in social justice, health care for all, and solidarity for a better world. I like to travel the world, discover new cultures, meet new people, and expand awareness and light around the globe.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
COVID-19. UN ROMAN GLOBAL DANS UN MONDE GLOBAL.
The Title in English:
COVID-19. A Global Novel in A Global Village

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I slip with a pen, a notepad and a flashlight under my pillow so that I could write any idea that pop up in my mind while i am in my bed.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A purpose-driven life (Rick Warren).
Claude Sicotte (University of Montreal).
Francois Champagne (University of Montreal)
Lambert Farand (University of Montreal).

What are you working on now?
Now I am focusing on finalizing my Ph.D. dissertation (Ph.D. research) with the University of Montreal, Canada.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Definitely, Awesome Gang is the best. I really fall in love with this site. I really appreciate their professionalism and dedication to help the author.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Perseverance. Perseverance. Don’t give up. Keep moving. Keep believing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Love you God and love your neighbors.

What are you reading now?
A New Earth. Ekkart Tolle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am focusing now on promoting my new novel.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A purpose-drive life.
A New Earth.
How to improve the quality of your life.
COVID-19. UN ROMAN GLOBAL DANS UN MONDE GLOBAL.

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello there, my name is Jessi Brooklyn!

I have been writing since I can remember. That sounds cliche but it’s true. As a child, I loved reading encyclopedias and history books. During my teen years, I wrote fanfiction for the Bonanza show running from 1959-1973. When I had practiced sufficiently for five years, my attention was turned to becoming a novelist. I am a romantic so when my first book was in question, the romance genre seemed the best place to start. I’ve written two books so far but have three more in the works. Still early days but I have faith that my break will happen soon. I’ve worked hard and received good reviews for my work.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book, “White Fir Lodge: A Holiday Tale”, is a novella I wrote to research a novel. Adam and Victoria, the two main characters worked very well together and I was pleased. Their colorful pasts will be explained in the longer prequel novel. Their mountain horse ranch, White Fir, is based outside Carson City, Nevada. Adam built a great lodge to host horsebreeders from around the world and then his wife some time later.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say unusual exactly but I do love a bowl of ice cream while I’m writing throughout the night. Not a healthy habit but it helps my brain think up better scenes. At times, I’ll drive to a park and sit for a few hours, writing in a journal. I find the physical act of writing is a historic and ancient form of communication. I’m a history buff so the activity gives me a nerdy thrill.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing up, I adore Janette Oke’s work along with Jane Austen. “Pride and Prejudice” is my favorite still. Of course, I must confess a guilty pleasure in The Hunger Games, Twilight and Divergent series.

What are you working on now?
Two books are currently in progress. A Western historical prequel novel for “White Fir Lodge: A Holiday Tale”. This one will be entitled “White Fir Lodge: The Origin Story”.

The second book will be entitled “Praetorian Angel”. This historical fantasy book’s main character is an ex-prostitute making a new life in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the 1860s.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I am still finding my way and constantly learning. I have a website, www.jessibrooklyn.org, which I think is vital for my books to have a home. The greatest marketing tool in my arsenal so far would be business cards. I hand out those often and they have provided sales.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Not that I’m qualified enough but I would say that if one is serious about writing, don’t push your career. Do things in your own time. Don’t be pushed or discouraged by family, friends, etc. Life and writing a book are both marathons, not sprint races. When in doubt, make sure that you’re taking a step forward for your career at all times, not backwards.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best I have heard was the advice I gave for new authors. Honestly, I can’t remember where I heard those tidbits but they stuck with me. A main realization I have come across throughout the writing community is that authors are a highstrung lot. We are prone to mood swings, drama and tears. Every blog post has confirmed my worst fears. Creative, imaginative people do have their drawbacks.

What are you reading now?
Unfortunately, I don’t have the time for heavy fiction reading but I keep up with historical and medical texts for new book ideas. I love researching!

What’s next for you as a writer?
For starters, I’d love my work to be known nationwide and not just local though I appreciate every sale. I would like to quit my full-time job eventually and devote my time to cranking out books. And if one of my books were turned into a movie eventually, I wouldn’t object!

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?
Off the top of my head?

Book 1: The Preppers Survival Handbook: The Essential Long Term Step-By-Step Survival Guide to the Worst Case Scenario for Surviving Anywhere—by Buck Collins

Book 2: The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is Not on the Way—by Joseph and Amy Alton

Book 3: Outdoor Survival: The Ultimate Outdoor Survival Guide for Staying Alive and Surviving In The Wilderness—by Gavin Williams

Book 4: Pride and Prejudice—by Jane Austen

Author Websites and Profiles
Jessi Brooklyn Website
Jessi Brooklyn Amazon Profile

Jessi Brooklyn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a lifelong reader and a writer for nearly as long, but it took me until 50+ to finally work up the nerve to put myself and my work out there to be read. My first book, Songbird, was published in November, 2019, and I’m embarrassed to tell how long I worked on it. (Off and on, but still… if it were a child, it would be accruing college debt by now). Historical fiction has been my favorite genre since childhood, and while I might someday write something outside the genre, there are a long list of ideas to get through before that happens.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Songbird is my first book, and it was inspired by a fact I ran across in a biography of Henry VIII – that he once bought a child, off the street, to sing in the royal choir. Since “real” historical people have a distressing tendency to pop up again, I took that fact and built a new story around it, just in case, and created Bess, a girl sold to the King at the age of 10, who builds a life at court as a valued member of the King’s Music, the royal company musicians and entertainers.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My most unusual habit is probably one I’ve acquired recently. Writing, and my other frequent activity, sewing, are sedentary, and I wanted to get more exercise. I started walking, and listening to writing podcasts, but then my characters started to talk to me, and I’ve since learned to dictate into my phone while walking. It needs cleaning up, of course (sometimes a lot), but it’s great for getting down ideas and especially dialogue while they’re fresh in my mind.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Even as a child, I loved historical fiction: Anne of Green Gables, Betsy-Tacy, Little House. I understood from an early age that books not only made the world go away, they could actually transport you to another time. That was a huge influence on my writing life.

Currently, my favorite historical author is Dorothy Dunnett, whose Lymond Chronicles are everything I would like to lay credit to as a writer. I also loved Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall series.

What are you working on now?
My current WIP is centered on Robin Lewis, a secondary character from Songbird. I thought I was done with the character and the period, but a few weeks after turning in my book, Robin spoke up and wanted to set a few things straight. I’m on the second draft of his story now, and it takes in a wider period of Tudor history, from early in Henry VIII’s reign up to the accession of Elizabeth I.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a big fan of Twitter, which I never thought I’d say, but I’ve made a lot of author friends, and learned a lot, not to mention having sold a few books there. A lot of promotion to me is karma – if I buy, review, or promote another author’s book, it will come around.

I’ve built a decent following on my author Facebook page, and I have a longstanding blog, which has recently been turned into my author website, and I’ve just set up my newsletter signup there. I’d love more subscribers so I don’t feel like I’m screaming into the void.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Your first draft is never going to resemble the shiny idea in your head, but instead of beating yourself up over it, take a breath, let the project rest for a bit, and come back to it and make it better. Bad writing, or clumsy words, or creaky plots – they can all be fixed. Blank pages are just blank pages.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat yourself with the same patience and understanding you would give to a friend. Writing isn’t easy, but it’s worth the effort, and we’ll never stop learning how to do it. Don’t expect perfection out of the gate, but don’t try to get out of doing the work, either.

What are you reading now?
I just finished The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel, and followed it up with the Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker. The first is a book I’ve been anticipating since I finished reading Bring up the Bodies, and the second has been on my Kindle since 2017 and now I’m mad at myself for waiting so long to read it.
Currently I’m reading a bunch of Tudor-themed research books for my WIP, and waiting for a book called Empire’s Reckoning, by Marian Thorpe, which will release later this spring. I loved her previous trilogy, and I’m so happy there’s more to the story.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m continuing to work on my next Tudor novel, tentatively titled A Wider World, and I have a hazy idea for a third book stemming from a character introduced near the end of book two. I’ve also got a Great Depression novel drafted that was put aside for A Wider World. I think when I finish this latest draft, I’ll let it rest and go back to the 1930s for a while.
In addition to actual writing, I want to do more marketing (since my in-person events have all been canceled) and work on building up my social media and newsletter following.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s a tough one, but my four books would probably be Game of Kings (Dorothy Dunnett), Prodigal Summer (Barbara Kingsolver), The Sparrow (Mary Doria Russell) and A Big Storm Knocked it Over (Laurie Colwin).
Can I cut down a palm tree and build a bigger bookshelf?

Author Websites and Profiles
Karen Heenan Website
Karen Heenan Amazon Profile

Karen Heenan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Carina Alyce is a real-life medical doctor that worked in the ER, Labor and Delivery, radiology, pulmonology, sleep medicine, and outpatient medicine. That sounds very boring, but it is exciting that she practices her slow-mo running between patients and will do the ‘I told you so dance’ with her stethoscope too. It makes sense if you watched Scrubs which is the most realistic medical show ever.

Writing has been a passion since elementary school, and in the early 2000’s she was a very active fanfiction author in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She’d been tossing around a genre-bending medical romance and tried her hand at fanfic again last year. With enough positive feedback, she went back to her original works and what was old became new again.

While she is not schizophrenic, she writes under a couple of different pen names. This particular pen name has one book published on Amazon. She writes (more) serious non-fiction parenting advice books and has two of those out. She also writes erotica with a work in progress novella that she’ll publish this summer.

She has also decided to switch to ‘first-person’ for the next questions.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Flatline: Book 1 of MetroGeneral 216

I love medical drama TV, but I hate watching bad medicine and bad drama. For example, the only doctors in the hospital on Grey’s Anatomy are surgeons – no pediatricians, radiologists, cardiologists. Where are the nurses and the lab techs? Why are firefighters dating all the doctors? (As a medical student, I dated zero doctors, zero firefighters, one patient’s relative, and the ER clerk!) You can write a nice dramatic romance and still have a real plot and real emotions with real medicine.

There was also some particularly bad medicine where a patient escaped from the hospital, the doctors ignored HIPPA, so that we were forced to watch the love interest die from a treatable condition – maybe he’d have been fine if he’d been treated by a pulmonologist rather than a cardiac surgeon.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It’s not a secret that I’m married with a bunch of kids. I have to write at night when the kids are asleep, and it’s been a little harder since they learned to read on the sex scenes!

The kids have been listening to me tell the story of my main characters through walks (minus the sexy part) and they are great at pointing out plot holes or asking questions. It’s like in Denzel’s Philadelphia movie – explain it to me like a six-year-old.

In addition, I believe in copious research. Medical research is easier, but, for the firefighter stuff, I took the firefighter entrance practice exams eight times and have about 600 pages of research from the CDC and OSHA on my dining room table. I also went down to the firefighter station five times (pre-quarantine) with the kids to ask questions about protocols and their equipment.

I did stop at the end of a serious medical lecture that I WAS GIVING to discuss a (fake) pregnant patient’s end of life care options with a critical care doctor and an anesthesiologist. Doctor’s call that ‘curbsiding.’

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Romance wise – I loved Victoria Dahl, Karen Hawkins, Lisa Kleypas, Sarah MacLean, Miranda Neville

Strong female characters – Mercedes Lackey, Tamora Pierce, Timothy Zahn, and Rick Riordan

Books that I found so compelling recently – I read ‘When Breath Becomes Air,’ ‘Only Plane in the Sky,’ ‘Walk on Water,’ ‘ The Fire Line’ which are all medical or firefighter/disaster related. I’m waiting for the library to reopen for my copy of ‘All Available Boats.’

What are you working on now?
The MetroGeneral 216 series is part of the greater MetroGeneral Downtown Universe. There’s a ton of colorful characters getting themselves into sticky situations. It’s not only fun and games though because since its more real life, they deal with serious topics like PTSD, end of life decisions – all the stuff in those police/medical/firefighter TV shows with actual research and plot.

During the story Flatline, a bunch of firefighters come and go from the hospital. I’m writing a sister series called ‘FireHouse 15’ that deals with the romantic and professional lives of those firefighters. The first book is called Siren Song and should be out in July.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have been kicking around awesome gang, topless cowboy, and knights. I got my link to here from self-publishing school.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ask your (close) friends for special skills. One of my friends ended up being my copy editor and another family friend was a professional book cover designer.

Look up Pinterest early so you can start selling your ‘brand’ to people who are looking to buy.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Explain this to me like I’m a six-year-old.’ ie – if the six-year-old can’t follow the plot, it’s too complicated or you need to be hired to work on the next Marvel Universe movie.

What are you reading now?
Umm, Ocean City Hight-rise fire standard operating procedures and 18 CDC/NIOSH firefighter fatality reports. Very uplifting.

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski which is supposed to be the Bible of female sexual pleasure books – see – my kids shouldn’t read that sentence.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The Flatline book is 1 of 4 following my main characters Angela and Michael which takes at the same time as Siren Song which follows Erin and Noah so I plan on getting Siren Song done this summer and trying to put out the next book in the series every 2 months or so. It’s an eight-book series. Plus my other pen name series . . . so mysterious! 😉

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 Lord of the Rings, Winds of Fate by Mercedes Lackey, Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce, and any book by Victoria Dahl.

Author Websites and Profiles
Carina Alyce Website
Carina Alyce Amazon Profile

Carina Alyce’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am pretty new to all this, I published my first book Vegan diet and I also published mini vegan cookbook for now.. More is yet to come.. 🙂

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Vegan diet. Inspired by being diagnosed with an illness – not a life-threatening illness but doctors didn’t have a solution for me.
I spent hundreds of hours trying to find a way to manage or cure this illness.
And guess what happened – I found a solution in plant-based food! Now I want to help people though diet maybe they can be healed too.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so..?

What are you working on now?
Book about anxiety and fear..

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As I am new, I am still trying to learn.. For now I only started ams ads, it’s only been two days..

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well, it is not easy path.. But don’t give up!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always believe.

What are you reading now?
Like Jesus from Max Lucado

What’s next for you as a writer?
Publish more books, build fans and maybe finally earn some money out of it 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?
Bible

Author Websites and Profiles
Lucy Sidlo Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an author of both YA Urban Fantasy and Women’s Contemporary Fiction. I’m British but have lived in Portugal since I was ten years old (that’s hm…..34 years!). I’ve been writing since 2011 and have since published twelve novels! Some of them are published under my name Suzy Turner and others under my pen name, SG Turner.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is Aphrodite’s Closet. It’s about a woman who loses her job as a Greek Mythology librarian, inherits a corner shop and is convinced by her crazy best friend Coco to open an adults-only shop!
I was inspired to write it because many years ago my husband I considered opening a similar business (but then we saw sense lol!). It’s a really great book and was enormous fun to write. Despite the subject matter, it’s actually quite clean and could be read by teens as well as adults!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I’m deep in concentration I’ve got this horrible habit of chewing my tongue lol!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, and Twilight had quite an effect on me. As for my contemporary women’s fiction, I have been influenced by Jenny Colgan, Sophie Kinsella and the likes of Bridget Jones.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing another contemporary women’s novel called Flora and the Longbottoms (although the title may well change in the meantime!) about how a photo by the paparazzi changes the life of an ordinary woman in the fictional town of Frambleberry.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s not easy! But I’m currently doing the Amazon Ads for Authors course with Bryan Cohen which is proving particularly useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! If you’re really serious about being a successful author, you have to have faith in yourself and your work. If you believe you can do it, you can. It just takes time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best things in life take time!

What are you reading now?
I’ve just finished reading Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey. It’s very good.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be launching my next Frambleberry novel (as mentioned previously), and my next Raven Saga book (Paloma Black). And then it’s on to my newest series, The Winterbourne Witches, the first novella of which is out now and only available to email subscribers. This is probably my favourite series so far!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh no…. that’s a tough one! Only 3 or 4? Hm…. The Clan of the Cave Bear and Robinson Crusoe because they’d both teach me how to survive lol. And then perhaps the full Harry Potter collection (that counts as one, right?) and Memoirs of a Geisha because it’s just such a beautiful book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Suzy Turner Website
Suzy Turner Amazon Profile
Suzy Turner Author Profile on Smashwords

Suzy Turner’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Ivan Kuznietsov, an author of “The Mindful Thrift: How to Appreciate What We Have and Save What We Do Not Notice” book. My writing style is a combination of inspirational stories with instructive information. I am currently working on a new book, which is now not officially announced.

In addition to writing books, I am a certified World Class Manufacturing (Lean) Instructor. Together with the team, I reached the Silver Level Award for the introduction of the World Class Manufacturing system in 2017.

Besides the fact that I teach others, I continue my studies. I got the following certificates:
Time Mentor (ArcelorMittal University, 2018)
Master of Negotiations (ArcelorMittal University, 2017)
World Class Manufacturing Instructor (ArcelorMittal University, 2016)
Negotiations with Internal Clients (Training for Business, 2015)
Change Management (TMI, 2014)
Leader’s Way (Development Training & Consulting, 2014)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Mindful Thrift: How to Appreciate What We Have and Save What We Do Not Notice,” and I was inspired on it by my previous job.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write early in the morning.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jeffrey Liker and Marie Kondo.

What are you working on now?
It will be surprise!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I did not have experience of promotion yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Trust yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To be mindful of life.

What are you reading now?
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write, write, and write.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicombe.

2. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger.

3. And of course, my next book to finish it!

Author Websites and Profiles
Ivan Kuznietsov Amazon Profile

Ivan Kuznietsov’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve technically written 7 books, one of those being a novella, and another one being the first book I ever wrote which wasn’t so great and may never see the light of day. But everyone starts somewhere, right??

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Salvare’s Mountain. I once heard about legends of ancient cultures that could use sound to lift mountains, and I thought that’d be an amazing magic system to put in a story!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unlike most writers, I’m extremely extroverted. I’m rarely inspired when I’m alone. That’s why I almost always have to go to a coffee shop to write. It’s not that unusual to go to a coffee shop, but I do think it’s unusual that it’s almost impossible for me to write when I’m alone. I can cope if I’m in the right setting, like a vacation spot with beautiful scenery like the mountains or something, but 90% of the time I write best when people are around.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S Lewis is probably my favorite author, but my favorite book is The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. That book was what originally inspired me to write a book when I was about 16. Didn’t actually get around to it until I was 23, but the point is I eventually did get around to it! ;D

However, I will say that when I read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, it became a pretty close second!

What are you working on now?
Revisiting old books to improve them, as well as the final edits for Salvare’s Mountain.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon promotions have been the most helpful so far!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s easy to get caught up in getting book sales, but what will keep you sane is constantly reminding yourself that you write because you love it. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write books people want to read, because you should, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of losing your love for telling a great story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Figure out what journey you want to go on first, then find someone who wants to go there with you.

What are you reading now?
Just finished Scythe by Neal Shusterman, and it was pretty awesome. Probably gonna start on the second book in the series soon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After Salvare’s Mountain (a stand-alone fantasy), I’m going to start developing a new fantasy series!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Well I’m gonna go with 4 because I can.

Mere Christianity
The House of the Scorpion
The Magician’s Nephew
The Name of the Wind

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Rowell Website
Daniel Rowell Amazon Profile

Daniel Rowell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
An engineer by profession, a tutor by heart. Right
from the start of my graduation I have been
teaching part-time. Learning new things, listening
to the mind of a student, understanding their
needs, solving their problems.
All this knowledge allowed me to successfully
assemble my career as a tutor, manager,
businessman, life coach, writer and entrepreneur.

15 best tips to get good marks in exam , is my first book .
Currently i am working on 10 projects and they will be ready to come out in three to four months time.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest offering is : 15 best tips to get good marks in exam . Being a tutor , the problems of the students inspire me to write this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in very simple language . I have my upcoming projects in various genres like lifestyle, literature , health, business , etc

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J . K Rowling influenced me a lot .

What are you working on now?
Currently i am working on ten projects .

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it , don’t think about it otherwise any other will do it .

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Time and tide wait for none .

What are you reading now?
Harry potter and the cursed child.

Author Websites and Profiles
Deepank Pandey Amazon Profile

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’ve written two Christian non-fiction Bible-based resource books and love to inspire hope and encouragement for my readers 🙂
The first booklet is called Abide in Jesus: a NKJV study of John 15: 1-8 and the second new ebook is called Faith Over Fear: Finding Hope in the the Midst of a Pandemic

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Faith Over Fear: Finding Hope in the the Midst of a Pandemic, and I was inspired to write it when the global covid19 pandemic arose. When I saw that bad news reports were causing some much fear that was worse than the virus itself, my heart was spurred on to write a book filled with encouragement, and scriptures to inspire hope.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusual habits while writing, (except lots of coffee 🙂 ) but I did find a new love for listening to inspiring music during this time and put a playlist together specially for my new book.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Joseph Prince books have really impacted me.

What are you working on now?
I’m going to start working on an expanded paperback version of the Faith Over Fear ebook.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome gang, social media 🙂

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going, and don’t give up 🙂

What are you reading now?
Torn by James Owen

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to write some more resource Bible study booklets.

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?
One Wish by Kayette la Mane
The Eternity Stone by M. Marinan
You’re Special by Leitaya Macale

Author Websites and Profiles
Kate Macale Website
Kate Macale Amazon Profile

Kate Macale’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a multi- award winning writer who co-wrote the memoir, Madam, with Becky Adams. I live in Milton Keynes and I am an author and tutor with an MA(Distinction) in TV Scriptwriting from DeMontfort University, Leicester.

Madam won the Brit Awards Non Fiction Book of the year 2012

http://www.linda-dunscombe.co.uk

My latest offering is Jasmine Close
Follow the lives – Experience the drama!
A modern day soap, brought to you in a modern day way.
Available on Kindle, other tablets and smart phones.
Jasmine Close is a new soap opera, available to you in a new and unique way. There are twenty-five episodes. Each episode takes around 25 minutes to read and follows the lives and dramas of the residents moving into the newly built properties of Jasmine Close.
https://www.facebook.com/jasmineclosecrew

JASMINE CLOSE
by Linda Dunscombe
Jasmine Close is a soap opera to enjoy on your Kindle or eReader. Follow the lives and dramas of the residents of a brand new housing estate in episodes that take around twenty-five minutes to read. Perfect for your lunch break, short commute, or just to curl up with on the sofa or read in bed.
Victoria works in the show-home and she likes to know what’s going on. She’s nosy, bossy, and caring, with a husband who keeps going AWOL and a teenage daughter she’s struggling to connect with.
Jenny is suffering from post-traumatic stress and the move to the new house in the new city will, according to her husband, Miles, make everything better.
Barry is the building site Foreman who is working to a schedule that keeps being interrupted by the half-naked ladies in apartment two who keep diverting his men away from their work.
Steve severed his spine in a car accident and, fresh from the Spinal Injuries rehab unit, he’s trying to find his place in a world that is now much scarier in a wheelchair than it was when he could walk.
Sonia has a perfect family and a secret life while Belle just wants to keep her children safe and Natasha and Ed are adjusting to life with a new baby who cries all the time.
The American, Brett Anderson, is on a brief visit to see his sister, but he might have found a reason to make him stick around for a while longer.

Share the lives – Experience the drama
Jasmine Close Series One, Episodes 1-5 are available FREE HERE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F5BJT2E
– Like our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter for updates, gossip and reminders of future Episodes.

The Book of Revenge is my new Kindle Crime Novella https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DRJ2V76

‘I HAD NEVER KILLED ANYONE BEFORE’

Matt fights crime, but his real enemy is himself.
His marriage is in tatters, his best friend is a bottle of whisky and a killer is in his town.
Murders are making the headlines. Is it drugs, or a serial killer? Or is it something worse? Much worse. Matt knows the victims; he knows what links them all together.
Matt is forced to face the past head on. Does it always have to be accounted for? He is beginning to believe that it does and, if he doesn’t find the killer soon, then the killer will be finding him.

I also helped my brother, Peter Swann, write The Lost Engine, Renovation of a 1933 Fire Engine, which tells the story of how Peter found what he thought to be a rusty old lorry and restored it to its original state as a beautiful 1933 Fire Engine,

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I wrote Jasmine Close because i felt that there was a market for a series that could be read in short bites in a lunch break or journey to work. It is written in the same style as a TV soap with continuing story lines and characters. Each episode takes around 20-25 mins to read.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so, although I like to get a first draft down as quickly as possible. I work to the mantra – don’t get it right, get it written. Once the first draft is completed the new mantra becomes – writing is re-writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lee Child, Phillipa Gregory, Evelyn Anthony

What are you working on now?
I have just started writing a fantasy trilogy

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write and then write some more

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t get it right, get it written

What are you reading now?
Just finished Blue Moon – the latest Lee Child thriller

What’s next for you as a writer?
Looking forward to getting the first book in the new trilogy finished

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?
Too many to choose from!

Author Websites and Profiles
Linda Dunscombe Website

Linda Dunscombe’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Abby Gordon and I’m a storyteller. Family legend (my parents!) says that as soon as I was talking I was telling stories to my stuffed animals and the dog. I loved books of all types as soon as I could make out words. Then I picked up a pencil! I couldn’t draw – unless stick figures are ever considered masterpieces, so everything in my mind I wrote onto paper.
I breathe therefore I write.
My first published work was a decade ago. Life with all its twists and curveballs happened, but I’ve recently refocused on my passion.
I currently have two primary series that are very different. The Order of the Rose is an historical saga – well, right now, it’s only two books released, but the third, fourth and fifth are being worked on. Two secret societies formed during the Crusades and have been struggling for supremacy in Europe ever since. In the first two books, their focus turns to England as the last of two bloodlines claims her place. The next three turn to France while continuing the English arc. The series is outlined through the mid 1960s. I love history and research and when a reader tells me they felt like they were in the book and were disoriented by the 21st century – that warms my storytelling heart! Both of the first two books – The Hidden Rose and Justice of the Root – received Five Stars from Readers Favorite with the reviewers citing the details immersing the reader in the scene.
The second series is vastly different – Love in the Shadows is a contemporary romance series, veering into the erotic with the steamy details! The prequel, First Connection, starts Christmas 2000 – he looks across a crowded room, lust at first sight and she rolls her eyes at him! – naturally our hero doesn’t let that stand! The first full-length picks up right where it ends – opening with the attack on 9/11, exploring the reactions of the people in NYC and around the world. Actually, the first two – The Submissive’s Touch and Fall of Adonis – happen concurrently, referring to events in the other book but can be read independently. The theme of recovering from the attack continues in the first few books as others weave into the series – including one that became reality and had me questioning the entire idea – sex trafficking. But I realized that the topic was too serious, affecting too many – both victims and those in law enforcement – so it stayed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent published story is something totally different than either of my series! It’s a western as part of the anthology collection – Romances on the Range. The setting was inspired by my great-uncle’s home in north-central Texas and my imagination expanded from there. Rancher’s Refuge is my sweetest story so far, although there is definitely steam. Sam wants to get the last fifty acres his great-grandfather gambled away. Sally goes to her great-uncle’s house seeking safety in a childhood memory. Add in two rambunctious dogs, a matchmaking housekeeper, a tornado and a rodeo – there’s no way these two can deny what’s happening!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. At least, I don’t think another writer would call it unusual. When I get to writing, I hate to be disturbed. Outside noises, phone, text, email – I ignore everything when I get in the ‘zone’. Except my cats. I am a well-trained human staff member.
Sometimes I ‘pants’ it – writing as fast as my fingers will move. Other times – I spends hours plotting it out. While writing Justice of the Root, I found it was easier to write the story in York, then go back and write the story in London, THEN I wove the two together. I’m now doing that while writing The Lost Rose. The going back and forth drove me a bit crazier than even the cats could handle.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, goodness! I still remember crying while reading Black Beauty. Little Women and Little Men. I was the nerd who loved English and American Literature – Chaucer, Donne, Shakespeare, Hawthorne, Whitman, up to more ‘modern’ classics such as Tolkein, Lewis, Roberts, McCaffrey and Clancy. I try to pick up bits from everything than I can apply to my own writing – not styles or plots, but how to put in hints in the early books to play them out in latter ones.

What are you working on now?
The Lost Rose is vying for time with something that is coming to me in dreams. Perhaps that’s something for the unusal question? Mm. But going from Renaissance France to Philadelpia in 1934 is a bit jarring!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Networking, networking. I’m taking control of the business side of writing and finding amazing friends along the way who are helping me. One of them told me about AwesomeGang and here I am!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m old school and say carry a journal and writing implement with you at all times. Even one of those mini notebooks – something to jot down an idea when it comes to you, enough to jog your memory. I know, cell phones are more handy and I confess that if I’m out, I’ll tap something into notes. But I still prefer the journal.
But, always – write, write, write. Then, edit, edit, edit.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
quality over quantity. And always get at least another pair of eyes to go over your work.

What are you reading now?
I try to read in a genre I’m not writing in so my brain can take a break. That being said, I’m reading Colleen McCullough’s First Man in Rome – losing myself in time two millienia ago and realizing technology changed, but people haven’t.

What’s next for you as a writer?
In 2020, I want to finish two books in The Order of the Rose – The Lost Rose and The Heir’s Redemption, as well as three books in Love in the Shadows. As all five are in partial mode, it’s a matter of me explaining to the voices in my head – one at a time! You will all get your turn to tell me your story but not if you’re all yelling at me at once.
Sometimes that works. Sometimes it’s a matter of blocking the others out. Which doesn’t always work either.

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?
Could I just bring my kindle? That takes up less room! Lol. Well, Mmm, I’d say the series I’m reading now, or maybe some of McCaffrey’s Pern books. Something to lose myself in completely.

Author Websites and Profiles
Abby Gordon Amazon Profile

Abby Gordon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an occupational therapist and writer. I have always loved writing, but I never realized that I could combine it with my love of therapy and education until several years ago. Since then, I haven’t stopped writing! I am also a freelance writer for a variety of health publications that educate the public on their wellness.
I have written a therapy textbook called “Effective Occupational Therapy Documentation”, a children’s book called “Why is there a person in my computer?”, and my second textbook called “Complementary Health Approaches for OTs” is set to publish in the fall of 2020.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “Why is there a person in my computer?”. I am a teletherapy specialist who had the idea for this book last year. I realized that the idea of using technology and computer programs to receive therapy would likely be a tough concept for kids to grasp, especially kids with disabilities. It may be possible that therapy will only be provided through a computer someday, but — until then — kids may need some help understanding how teletherapy works.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I write with an outline, sometimes I don’t use any organization and just let the ideas flow to see where it takes me. It depends on the project!

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a health education book to educate kids on both minor and major or difficult health conditions that they may encounter in themselves or their loved ones.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have gotten good feedback and engagement from posting about my books on various subreddits.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always write what you are passionate about. Even if those aren’t your “big money” projects, find a way to get that knowledge and creativity out in some way, even if it is keeping a journal or starting a small, personal use blog.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be limited by the confines of a job posting. Stick up for yourself and your profession if you know you can do something.

What are you reading now?
My winter was filled with checking books off my reading list. I have currently put that aside to start my next writing project!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to continue writing both children’s books, paperback self-help books, and therapy textbooks. I love educating others on what I know.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brittany Ferri Website
Brittany Ferri Amazon Profile

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
In my science fiction world I’ve got seven books, two of which are in prepublished status. I’ve also written a couple of YA books that have been published traditionally under another name.

Storytelling is my passion and writing is my instrument for it. There’s few things I enjoy more than discussing a story with friends or my kids. I love story and have a semi-mystical view of its powers. I tell stories because I love them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have just completed the Unique Miranda Trilogy (and added a prequel novella to it titled Kill Ship). It all started with Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. I took names from it and from James Cameron’s 1986 film Aliens and started to weave characters. It grew from a simple premise: what happens in the future to all the people who freeze themselves now?

From that I created a story of one woman and then the cast kept growing and growing until I had this whole fun epic to write down.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to keep tabs on the weird writing habits of famous writers. I like orange peels by my writing desk. I make sure I take a walk throughout my longer writing sessions so my back doesn’t hurt (a painful lesson learned one summer). I allow my sons to interrupt me, that’s terrible for the writing, but great for the pleasures of fatherhood.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ray Bradbury is my godfather. Dante is my great-grandfather. Star Wars is in there too.

What are you working on now?
I was struck by an idea for a literary sci-fi military book. It’s wholly unlike anything I’ve ever read, but it is so entertaining to me that I couldn’t care less whether anyone else will want to read it. And yet, I’m certain this book will be loved. I admit to writers needing a certain amount of arrogance in which to operate and that I have a healthy dose of it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a lot of fun with other writers on Instagram.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read the books you love, break them down, chapter by chapter, and then write, write, write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Neil Gaiman: “Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”

What are you reading now?
Gnomon by Nick Harkaway is unbelievably good.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I love, love, generating new ideas, so I’m working on executing them now. I’ve got another trilogy rattling around in me, so that might be my next big project.

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?
Dante’s Commedia so that I can figure out what Paradisio is doing. Brothers Karamazov so that my soul will be blessed. Maybe something like Finnegan’s Wake so that I will have plenty of problems to ponder. I’d want something by Ray Bradbury to make me happy, but I don’t know what…

Author Websites and Profiles
H. W. Taylor Website
H. W. Taylor Amazon Profile

H. W. Taylor’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile