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Bruce Oliver Amazon Profile

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Bruce Oliver

Interview With Author Bruce Oliver

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
32 book across multiple genre

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Maya’s Marvelous Stories of Adventure: Illustrated Children’s Stories for kids ages 3-6

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I make notes on my online notebook if I wake up in the middle of the night with an inspiration.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Agatha Christie

What are you working on now?
More children’s books.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
None

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research and stick with it.

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

What are you reading now?
Information on book promotion.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Mysteries

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?
Power of Will
Think and Grow Rich
Think Big

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Bruce Oliver Website

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Jeanie Wolfe

Interview With Author Jeanie Wolfe

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the youngest of four children. My mother was a junior high school teacher and girl’s counselor. My father was a college professor who traditionally published many textbooks. We had an awesome family, not wealthy, but lots of books and lot of love. Books filled our home and when my dad began writing, which back then was on a typewriter, I always knew he’d found his bliss. His passion for books and writing greatly impacted me. Writing has been a part of my life since I was young. As a professional, I wrote mostly technical pieces. I decided to follow my dreams and start writing creatively in 2008. I’ve spent my entire life inventing character names and stories, and it’s been an absolute joy to watch them transform into real books. Thanks to Amazon, my paperbacks now sit on the shelf next to my dad’s and countless others.
I’ve written six novels and have self-published three of them. All are cozy mysteries: Murder After Hours, Twisted Fate, and Murder at the Christmas Wedding. The three are now available as an eBook box set.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Murder at the Christmas Wedding is the third in the Starry Hill Cozy Mystery series. The setting is a fictional town located east of the Cascade Range in Washington State. My mind always wanders back to the beautiful snowy mountains, where I lived for years, with their winding back roads, mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and streams. The series begins with the protagonist going through a painful divorce. Along the journey, she meets Mr. Right and they fall in love. In this third book, they have plans to get married at Christmas time, but there’s a blizzard and one cook turns up dead. It was fun to draw from real-life experiences of driving in blizzard conditions. I added the celebrity chefs, as I’ve enjoyed watching some of the cooking shows on TV.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Growing up with three active siblings and two busy parents, there was always a constant buzz of activity around me. Like my father, I became skilled at blocking out the happy chaos and immersing myself in my projects. I can escape into my own little world, where outside noise fades away. My best friend calls it going down the rabbit hole.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My father was a tremendous influence, as he had such a love of writing and books. My mother did too, and she read a lot of mysteries. She and I stayed up late at night watching scary movies, and I just always loved mysteries. Sherlock Holmes with Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone were favorite after school shows. Then I read Edgar Allan Poe, Lewis Carroll, Agatha Christie, and other books, such as The Pink Dress by Anne Alexander. Old Yeller and Savage Sam by Fred Gipson. In high school, I became interested in science fiction and read Ray Bradbury, Aldous Huxley, and was introduced to Kurt Vonnegut with the Sirens of Titan. I went on to read many other books by Vonnegut.

What are you working on now?
I have two major projects I’m working on now: The fourth in the Starry Hill Cozy Mystery series, Murder at Misty Creek, and a Prayer Journal.
I’ve plotted Murder at Misty Creek and have drafted a synopsis and the first five chapters. I’m hoping to have it ready to launch by mid April.
The idea of the Prayer Journal came to me while using one that I bought. Although there are many things I enjoy about the prayer journal I bought, as a writer, I find the provided spaces too cramped. So, I’m designing an 8.5 x 11 for my use and perhaps others will find it useful too. I’m planning to launch that around Easter.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m grateful for the plethora of websites out there to help us indie authors promote our books. My first book just came out in July 2023, and I’ve found the following to be invaluable: Critique Circle, Scrivener, Atticus, Book Sirens, GoDaddy, Awesome Gang, Crave Books, All Author, Kindlepreneur, Prowritingaid, Grammarly, Autocrit, and Anne R Allen’s super fantastic blog.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author, I’m still learning the ropes in a rapidly changing field. Many have provided me with valuable information through books and the internet, for which I am grateful. One of the most helpful resources for planning a book launch came from Kindlepreneur’s Book Launch Strategy https://kindlepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Book-Launch-Strategy.pdf. This includes steps for building an ARC team, and getting editorial reviews. For building an ARC team, Book Sirens has been extremely helpful. For editorial reviews, I’ve been delighted with Readers’ Favorite.
You can spend a lot of money promoting your books, so I recommend setting a monthly budget and sticking to it. When investing in promotions, focus on one at a time and assess their success by examining sales generated and Amazon sales rank. I set up an excel spreadsheet to help keep track of promos and results.
It was more than a little scary to push the launch button on my first book last year. I found solace in my Prayer Journal and discovered St. Francis de Sales, the Patron Saint of Journalists and Writers. “Be at peace,” he said. (I’m trying.)
I also particularly like Heinlein’s Rules:
“1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you start.
3. You must refrain from rewriting (except to editorial demand).
4. You must put it on the market.
5. You must keep it on the market until sold.“

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Only a small number of readers leave reviews, so don’t worry about it. Just keep writing.

What are you reading now?
During the day, I’m reading Murder at Hawthorn Cottage by Betty Rowlands and it’s very good. She’s an excellent writer. I love reading interesting stories that are well written as they help me learn to be a better writer.
Every night, I read aloud to my husband, a tradition we started years ago, just like my parents. It’s an interesting book, One More Day Everywhere: Crossing 50 Borders on the Road to Global Understanding by Glen Heggstad. The author is an interesting person from California who’s traveled around the world via motorcycle. I read his other book, Two Wheels Through Terror: Diary of a South American Motorcycle Odyssey, which included his capture by Colombia’s rebel ELN army.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have the next three Starry Hill books plotted and planned. I hope to launch them this year.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Hmmm. I once read Alex Sheshunoff’s delightful book, A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise: A True Story for Dreamers, Drifters, and Other Fugitives from the Ordinary, in which he tells of having a quarter-life crisis, quitting his job (which ironically was his own business) and packing up the 100 books he was most embarrassed not to have read and taking them to a small island in the Pacific to read. He got to pick 100 books. Which 3 or 4 would I take? Possibly Sheshunoff’s again. It was very fun.
I’d also need my Padre Pio’s Spiritual Direction for Every Day and of course The Bible. Then it would have to be either Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection.
But I’d really like a western too. How about A Million Ways to Die in the West by Seth MacFarlane? And a good history book…This is a scary question!! I hope I never have to face it for real. Honestly, if the tsunami alarm went off and I had to grab a book, I think I’d be under water still trying to decide.
I don’t think I’m doing this right. Do I get extra credit for listing more than 4 books?

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Jeanie Wolfe Website

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Trista Woojin

Interview With Author Trista Woojin

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Trista Woojin writes dark, sometimes provocative (and occasionally bizarre, stream-of-consciousness-style) poetry (yes, most of her works do rhyme) about cracked, fragmented, broken and twisted worlds, fictional killers, imaginary cannibalistic dinner parties, broken dreams, lullabies of the cosmos, sapient stars becoming black holes, drifting through fog, apocalyptic ponderings, abandoned places, questions that cannot be answered, fantasy creatures and much more. She currently resides in Texas, is fueled by copious amounts of coffee and owns a tuxedo cat named Twinkie. Though she started writing poetry decades ago, while she was in high-school, “Aeternitas” is her first published collection (she just never bothered to consider publication in the past) and “Cacaphony” is its indirect successor.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest collection is called Cacophony. I’m not really inspired by anything but random ideas that pop into my head, like “I wonder what a star would think about before it goes supernova and starts destroying worlds.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yeah, I suppose I do: I cannot write during the day, or without coffee.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say Lovecraft and TS Eliot are my two favorite poets, if nothing else.

What are you working on now?
I’m slowly working on my third collection.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://poet-trista.blog/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
No matter what anyone says, do not give up.

Author Websites and Profiles

Trista Woojin Website

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Finlay Beach Amazon Profile

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James Miller

Interview With Author James Miller

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a poet who lives in the small state of Delaware. I received my MFA in poetry from NYU. I have taught creative writing at the college level. My poems have been published widely both at home in the States and abroad. My first book of poetry, Shell Songs, was published in 2018. My second book, Walkways, has just been published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Walkways is the title of my recent book. It came about simply because I need to write poetry. However, as I wrote the book, I grew spiritually and much of the book reveals this awakening within my conscious. Walkways is similar to my second book in that it explores the infinite possibilities of nature and the beauty which can be found in nature. However, the poems in this book are built upon the idea that we were created and nourished by a loving God. Therefore, death is not the final destination of these poems. They dare to dream of something more.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often write by hand in the dark. In this case, the poems in my notebook will often look sort of goofy when I finally turn the lights on. But by that point, I have already memorized the poems, so it is easy to put them back together.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite poets of all time are John Keats and William Wordsworth. I am attracted to the Romantic era and draw inspiration from it. Their attention to nature and beauty are what I find most compelling. They also focus on the individual as he or she faces the paradox of death and eternity. That being said, I am also very fond of Yeats and have a fond admiration for Irish poetry. I love the musicality of Irish poets, and I try to make sure my writing is full of music. I identify myself as a lyric poet.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am working on my third book. So far, I haven’t noticed that much of a break from Walkways, which was just published. But that being said, it takes me four or five years to write a book of poetry. So, I imagine things will change over the course of that time. I am excited for it. I hope I continue to grow as a poet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I focus a lot on my website which is jamesmillerarts.com. I also write music, and people can listen to my music on the website. There are also sample poems and links to my two books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is mainly that I hope young poets love writing and that they love their poetry. They should feel proud of what they have accomplished. I think that they will find that the need to write becomes as necessary as food and air.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In graduate school, I studied under Philip Levine. He wrote in meter, and he encouraged us to master form before we could pretend to have mastered free verse. I took his advice, and I still write much of my poetry in meter. It has become a key ingredient to my poetry. I do also write in free verse. I go back and forth.

What are you reading now?
Because of the current difficulties in my life, I have tried to find spiritual strength by reading theology. In this case, I often read Christian writings. Right now, I am reading Michele Cushatt’s Relentless. The book is about a lot of things, but it is mainly about how she has managed to maintain her Christian faith after enduring the trauma of three caner diagnoses and irreparable damage to her body. It is an inspiring book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I am a little drained from my second book, Walkways. I am finding comfort now in my music and playing out. I still am writing poetry, but I am a bit burnt out. I will probably get back into gear in a month or so. Sometimes the brain just needs time to rejuvenate.

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, this is a touch question. For one, I would take the collected works of Shakespeare. I would also take the collected works of John Keats and William Wordsworth. I would also take the collected works of Pablo Neruda. It would also be important for me to have a Bible too.

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James Miller Website

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Finlay Beach

Interview With Author Finlay Beach

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Finlay Beach and I love combining stories about freedom and faith with adventures. I’ve worked as a lifeguard, an EMT, and a doctor, which makes my stories relatable. I’ve written a book series called “Managed Paranoia” and other novels, including “The Seventh Pawn” and a short story, “Rhodium Tycoon.” Altogether, I’ve published several books and stories that explore big questions about life, technology, and what it means to be free.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Seventh Pawn.” It was inspired by my fascination with the resilience of the human spirit. The story weaves together themes of freedom, faith, and the pursuit of meaning.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m part of Camano Writers. We all have unusual writing habits. It’s probably kind of a writers thing. Personally, I find writing the one thing I don’t need to discipline myself to do. I have to schedule; work, eating, showers, but writing is my muse… probably my therapy as well.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like most writers, I read a ton. If I read a book more than once, that says something about that book and what influences me. There is an unwritten rule that all Christians who are authors must include the Bible. All 66 books that is, actually I love the Apocrypha too. Political Sci-fi, “1984” is a classic for good reason. I used to read quite a bit of dystopian, but it’s not as enjoyable now that we are living it. David Gregory and C.S. Lewis are on my list of authors, but I also read secular stuff all the time… “Snow Crush” was fun and I loved “The Hunger Game” series. I’m always looking for books which strive for freedom and liberty for all. That’s why I write in a hopeful vain, I tend to write what I want to read. Suggestions?

What are you working on now?
As I write this “The Seventh Pawn” is done, but not published. It is the first novel I’ve written that my wife truly dislikes. I love it! We will see what readers think. Please rate and review. I’m moving on to completing “Managed Paranoia – Book Three.” It is the final book in the series and I have promised fans a satisfying ending.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I meet writers and writer-want-to-be’s all the time. I tell them to push through their doubts. We all have them, so keep writing and enjoy the process.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You are unique, just like everybody else.

What are you reading now?
I’m getting into Westerns again. The old timers like Zane Grey and Louis L’amour are standards, but the newer stuff about the Old West is holding my interest. They are not influencing my writing yet, but who knows.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Readers have offered directions they would like me to go, and we are of one accord. The “Managed” fictional universe has become my brand. You can find me there.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’ve been stranded on a desert island before and 3 or 4 books, just is not enough.

Author Websites and Profiles

Finlay Beach Website

Finlay Beach’s Social Media Links

Maggie Kirton Amazon Profile

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Maggie Kirton

Interview With Author Maggie Kirton

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written far too many books to count. Many of them sit silent and ignored in 3 tall filing cabinets. I’ve published a 2-book Memoir, a 4-Book Fantasy series, a disturbing Horror novella, many Short Stories, Poetry, etc. The list is endless. Not everything I’ve written has earned the right to be published. That’s a tidbit of wisdom every author should know and accept.

Regarding talking about myself, that’s difficult for me to do…

I’m a happy and content wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother, a daughter, and a friend. My immediate world is an 8×8 office with a desk, a computer, and far to many craft items which I use when I’m working out a plot or simply need a break. I enjoy painting, beading, sewing, working with leather, gardening, working with wood, and creating things with cement. I enjoy helping other authors achieve their dreams. I’m a child-abuse advocate.

However, I am a writer first and and foremost.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Sagaman Kessler 4-Book Fantasy Series, based on a single storyline. It was inspired buy a previous version of a children’s book I wrote whose narrator is ‘The Keeper of the Word’ and ‘Guardian of the White Forest’ — he is a turtle. I’m unsure how or when the switch was made, but obviously at some point Sagaman Kessler was born as a high fantasy novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I have writing habits! I like to write by candlelight and by hand with a ballpoint pen in a notebook. I’ve experienced writer’s cramp that worked its way clear up into my shoulder. In those early days, my writing was horrid, unreadable, and no publisher would touch it — but I was learning my craft at the time which made it all worth while. Today I use a keyboard and although the words come into my mind faster than I can type them out, I still burn a candle to stay grateful by remembering that it all began as a dream when I was only 3 years old.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In order of preference, Gibran, Twain, Dickens, Tolkien, Homer, Bronte, Tolstoy, Austen.

Fairytales written by the Brothers Grimm were the reason I write-their words were the seeds which fertilized the dream.

All the rest I’ve mentioned are those who kept the dream alive.

What are you working on now?
I enjoy writing in different genres. I’m currently working on two books, the original children’s book mentioned above, and a psychological thriller.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The Book Khaleesi.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to read the books written by those who created sharp corners and wild curves on the narrow and less-travelled path of Literary Excellence. Read the Masters’ works and then read them again. And again. Discover what they did to change the landscape of creative writing. They all have one thing in common which can easily be applied to any genre: they broke the rules.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard came from my Grandfather. I read a poem I’d written to him when I was seven or eight years old. He cried when I finished reading it. He pulled me onto his lap and he made me promise to never stop writing. I took his advice and here I am.

What are you reading now?
The Chronicles of Aveline by Ken Fry.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next? I don’t think it will be any different that what it is now. I’m a writer. I will continue writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I was stranded on a desert island I would bring 4 of the biggest, thickest, 100k-pages-per-notebook available on planet earth. If I’m not permitted to bring ink, I will improvise and find a way to fill every single empty space between the covers of those notebooks with the sound of my words. When I run out of empty pages, I will enjoy writing words in the sand along the beach.

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Nathan Gregory

Interview With Author Nathan Gregory

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Veteran Technologist & Networking Pioneer | Cybersecurity and Crypto Enthusiast | Digital Identity Self-Ownership | Motorcyclist | Ham Radio Operator | Author of Seven Published Books, Two on Networking and Computing History, four Sci-Fi

I have 4 Science fiction books published, one near to publishing, and two non-fiction works published. I have two more non-fiction works in development, and am considering beginning another.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is titled ‘Cicada Serenade’ and is due out in May 2024. It is book #5 in my Science Fiction series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I will confess in a public forum.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Largely, the classic golden age writers.

What are you working on now?
Right now, my primary focus is ‘Cicada Serenade’

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Don’t. There are too many authors competing for too few readers.
Okay, perhaps I don’t really mean that. But if you must, then be persistent.
Write regularly, seek feedback, and stay persistent—believing in yourself and your unique voice as a writer is key to success.

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

What are you reading now?
The Reapers, by M.J. Edington

What’s next for you as a writer?
Probably non-fiction. I have four, now almost five fiction works. Time for something more serious.

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?
Anything by Doc Smith, Burroughs, Clarke, Heinlein, Asimov, or Del Rey.

Author Websites and Profiles

Nathan Gregory Website

Nathan Gregory Amazon Profile

Nathan Gregory’s Social Media Links

John Steven Welch Website

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John Steven Welch

Interview With Author John Steven Welch

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and grew up in Washington, D.C. during the 1960s and 1970s. I attended parochial schools there and have lived primarily on the East Coast between Washington and New York most of my life. As a graduate student studying Art History, I was faced with the choice of either becoming an academic or working in art museums. After completing my M.A. and while pursuing my doctorate, I began working in art museums because I wanted to teach the public about art. I pursued a career as an art educator in museums for some 15+ years.

I always had a love of writing and suspect I harbored a repressed dream of someday writing novels while I was pursuing a career in museums. When I stepped away from full-time employment in 2012, I began focusing on writing. First, as a consultant working on arts-related projects, then later, more exclusively on creative writing. I began writing my first novel, The One Who’s Gonna See You Through in earnest around 2022. Fortunately, with my husband’s support, I was able to completely immerse myself in a passion that had been dormant for years.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In a word, The One Who’s Gonna See You Through, is about a young gay black boy raised by a loving illiterate father and it’s quite different from the usual coming of age story.

At ten years old GJ’s father killed a man who was trying to kill him and GJ. And GJ becomes the principal witness at a trial for his father who is then acquitted. Also, at age ten, GJ has no confusion about his sexual identity and he comes out to his father who loves, accepts, and supports him. Also, at ten, GJ has his first sexual experience with a tough older kid from the neighborhood. So, it was quite a year. But nothing to what came next. GJ’s life changed radically after that.

At 14, he began a seven-year relationship with a 37-year-old partner. He was a fly-on-the-wall of the black gay bar scene in DC during the late 1970s, and he also watched The Waltons, and he loved John Boy because John Boy wanted to write,

and it planted the seed in GJ that he too wanted to write. He also had a bigger dream of romance which changed his life.

At age 21, GJ ends his relationship with his first partner because GJ is intellectually curious, he wants a bigger life, and his partner wants to be comfortable. GJ is a romantic and he does not love his partner in the deeply romantic, idyllic understanding he has of romantic love and he decides its best to breakup. And that opens the door to events that will entirely change his life.

Also, by age 21, GJ has dropped out of college and he meets an intellectually ambitious, white, Yale educated, 26-year-old Congressional staffer who will become the great love of his life, and he begins to realize his dreams. He goes from being a college dropout to earning a Bachelors from Columbia University and a PhD from Princeton.

There were multiple aims which inspired me to write the book. I wanted to write a book that spoke to anyone who has or is now struggling with issues of identity, class, or race. I also wanted gay kids who know themselves from an early age, and who never deviate from that knowledge of self throughout their lives, to know its ok not to be fluid or confused about their sexuality. I wanted to explore atypical black family dynamics and explore Washington, DC in the 1960’s and 70’s through that lens. And, I wanted to explore a character with my audiences who is an anomaly, one who does not fit into any established boxes neatly but who nevertheless finds love and great happiness in life.

Two core messages to readers in my book are:

Whatever your dream in life keep it within your soul. If it remains in your soul, you will fulfill that dream;

Embrace the differences in yourself and others.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am not sure any of these are unusual writers’ habits. I like to write when I am fresh, well-rested, and mentally removed from other demands. I also enjoy integrating thought days into my writing process. Days are largely given over to rumination and revision of plots or scenes conceptually rather than on paper.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Three nineteenth-century authors who have influenced me are: Jane Austen, George Eliot, and Mrs. Gaskell.

Among my contemporary favorites are:

Hanya Yanagihara, Douglas Stuart, Edmund White, Hernan Diaz, Barbara Kingsolver, Bret Easton Ellis and Junot Diaz.

What are you working on now?
I am currently at work on a novel set in 2095. It is about a woman with a very human dilemma which drives the story. Though set in the future, it will be more akin to literary fiction than science fiction.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Please visit my website https://jswelchbooks.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Actively absorb knowledge and advice about all aspects of writing and publishing but always follow your gut in making decisions about your path as a writer. It’s an extremely subjective business, even when it intends otherwise.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen and observe far more than you speak.

What are you reading now?
What are you reading now?

The Bee Sting (Paul Murray)

Blackouts (Justin Torres)

What’s next for you as a writer?
To immerse myself in writing for the foreseeable future.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

Walden – Henry David Thoreau

The Sound and the Fury – William Faulkner

The Magic Mountain – Thomas Mann

Author Websites and Profiles

John Steven Welch Amazon Profile

John Steven Welch’s Social Media Links

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Matt Borne

Interview With Author Matt Borne

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Matt Borne. I’m 58 years old and of Swedish origin. I have, however, lived and worked in London, England, for over 20 years. I am married with three grown-up children.
Seven stories are currently published with my name on them. I also ghostwrite some stories. Right now, I’m working on the hard-boiled Luigi Ferro detective stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
For The Cipher of Eden, I had the idea that I wanted to write something like Dan Brown’s magnificent thrillers. One day, I came across the myth of The Testament of Solomon, and the story grew from there.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually do not get started until after lunch and can write till midnight. I start each day by reading what I wrote the day before, trying to find errors and anomalies.
I probably write as fast as the reader reads. That is how I like it. It is fast-paced, fun, engaging, and entertaining. I love to write!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Very hard to answer. Everything influence me as a writer, but my writing style is probably mainly influenced by the mystery and detective stories from the mid 20-th century.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m writing the last chapters of a new mystery series about Nicolas De Wever, an antiques dealer based in Brussels, Belgium. The first story should be published in March 2024 and has the title “The art of Murder in Brussels”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve so far focused most on promotions in social media, and the results are not always fab…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it! Write, write, and write. Skip the online courses and classes and write the way you want and the story you love. The only way to develop as a writer is to write and to write what is closest to your heart.

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

What are you reading now?
I mostly read non-fiction, currently: The Confession of an Economic Hit Man

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m researching for a follow up to The Cipher of Eden and there is always a new story to be written for hardboiled private investigator Luigi Ferro.

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 classic pulp by Ian Fleming and Leslie Charteris.
A collection of Conan stories by Robert E Howard.

Author Websites and Profiles

Matt Borne Website

Matt Borne Amazon Profile

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Kemone Francis

Interview With Author Kemone Francis

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a trained counsellor, empowerment speaker, webinar host, Award Winning Author of the book “Where Shame Ends, Grace Begins: Chronicles from the Redeemed”, Amazon Best Selling Author of the book “Recovering My Ring and My Robe: The Christian Recommitment Journal and Justice of the Peace.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is entitled “Recovering My Ring and My Robe: The Christian Recommitment Journal”.

This book is a successor to my first book which has helped hundreds of people understand that God does not see them as failures but purposeful, regardless of their sins. As such, my latest book helps readers to recommit their lives so they can serve in spirit and in truth.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits include writing in a peaceful environment while listening to soft music. It gives me the energy!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dear Insecurity by Crystal S. Daye. This book book has enable me to realize that I have limitless potentials and can do just about anything.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the second leg of my Book Tour, the first leg was a success; second leg downloading.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The method that has worked best for me with promoting my books is hosting/attending events.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in your message, sell your benefits purposefully and confidently.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Your message is someone else’s survival story.

What are you reading now?
Intentional Healing by Dr. Grace Kelly.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will be hosting some workshops and doing some collaborations.

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?
Pulling Down Strong Holds by Derek Prince
Moved to a New Mindset Devotional by Donna Morris
A puzzle book to help calm my brain 🙂

Kemone Francis’s Social Media Links

Christina Kyriss Amazon Profile

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Christina Kyriss

Interview With Author Christina Kyriss

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My background is in education and retail. Years ago, when I worked in the field of education, summer school was part of my job as an After-school Program Assistant. Then I moved on to retail, as a needed career pivot.

So far, I only wrote and had 1 book published. In my next work, I plan to self-publish. However, I also intend to publish more: combo activity books, color-by-numbers, memoirs.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is “Amazing Word Searches.” What inspired it was a solution to the student boredom with word study. I created word searches with the weekly word list. Those kids loved that, and their scores went up. When I moved on to retail, my start was with Walmart, then to plant nurseries. During my time there, I learned so many botanical names of plant, as well their categories. I love working with plants. You will see some of that, in this set of word searches. My husband, Loren, loves walking on trails, so there are a couple of them that feature his favorite nature spots. In addition, I watched YouTube, and discovered Sean Dollwet, and other channels, who really inspired me to make my next moves. Let’s not forget Dave, with his Kindlepreneur business.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write about cats, as well as my completed craft projects. When ideas come to me, I usually use a sticky note pad & pen, or a memo app on my iPhone.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The authors who influenced me, are James Herriot, and Kathy Tyers. I appreciate their style of writing and genres.

There is a piece that I remember reading in a literature class that I cannot recall, but won’t forget it for its content: about saving a cat that was cut open with surgery, and its recovery. I liked his British sensibilities and tone. It was relevant to me, since my grandfather was a veterinarian.

Kathy Tyers’ style of writing also resonates with me. I enjoyed the Star Wars books in particular, that she wrote (“Truce at Bakura” and “Balance Point”). I like her descriptions and character interactions.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I have two projects that are in the works: a second word search book, that may or may not include a coloring book element, and a memoir about the orange cats in my life. However, I’m debating on whether or not to include all of the cats in my life (to include trigger warnings about their times to cross the rainbow bridge, which is the hardest part to write). I essentially want to inherently encourage others to rescue / adopt, rather than shop.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use various social media and Kindle Countdown Deals often.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You don’t have to spend a lot, if any money, to self-publish, which I recommend, unless you have a trusted publisher who will give you the services paid for, and help promote. Use a good app/program, like MS Word or Grammarly. Also, use what free or low-cost book promotions are out there, unless you actually want to spend a bunch of money.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice are actually also quotes, with Winston Churchill’s famous quote: “Never, never, never give up.” Also, “if you want a thing done well, do it yourself, is so relevant in this age.

What are you reading now?
Currently, I’m reading “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyosaki.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What is next for me as a writer is to not keep publishing, but expand into other types of writing, like articles about things that I like, ultimately to be a freelance writer. I’m also exploring affiliate marketing.

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 a Bible, a James Herriot book, and a journal for marking days and ideas.

Author Websites and Profiles

Christina Kyriss’s Social Media Links

Linae Maston Amazon Profile

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Linae Maston

Interview With Author Linae Maston

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a stay at home mom living next to our farm. I have two bio teenage sons and an awesome 8 year old bonus daughter who are my world. When I’m not tending to the kids, animals or house work, I’m usually reading or writing. I also like to go for walks when the wether is nice.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My books title is Rewritten -A Werewolf Story. Another author has inspired me to write my book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Amy Patrick and her Hidden saga along with her Designed series.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my second book, which has not title yet.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just follow your dreams and write until your heart is content.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what comes to mind, don’t think too hard on it.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently re reading Amy Patrick’s ‘Designed’ book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue writing and publishing my work so others can read it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Honestly, I’d bring the ‘Designed’ series.

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Claire McCall

Interview With Author Claire McCall

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Kia ora. I am a freelance writer and author based in New Zealand (lucky me!) I usually get to spend my days visiting architecturally designed homes because I write for the shelter titles here in Aotearoa and in Australia. I’ve had two books published traditionally (by Penguin NZ and Chanel Publishers) but the third, a more personal book, I self published as I feel it will appeal to an international audience.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hiking the Hexa: Up, Down & (Almost) Over the Hill on France’s newest long-distance walk. After the pandemic (where we were locked down in NZ probably more than most of the world), I couldn’t wait to get out and travel again. Since I love to do multi-day hikes staying in rudimentary Department of Conservation huts overnight, and I was also learning French, when this new long-distance walk popped into my social media feeds, I thought: that’s me! (Only it wasn’t quite). I am no mountain woman so setting off on this adventure at the age of 55, was a HUGE challenge (there were tears and panic attacks). But also many many surprising rewards. I loved it! And, being a journalist, I had to write about it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nope. Don’t think so. I am a professional journo so am very good at scheduling my writing time. Deadlines are my friend! But also, I find, if I am struggling with a piece, if I change the font on my laptop, it makes a big difference. Somehow the visual look of the letters inspires me to continue. Calibri (body) which is the default is so boring – sends me to sleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well I love Bill Bryson. If I could write with his wit and charm and innate attention to the details that make up our lives and have his ability to research, I’d be content. His observational humour in Notes from A Small Island is superb.
Also, because I was born in South Africa, I love books set in that country. My Traitor’s Heart by Rian Malan encapsulates most of what I felt growing up in Johannesburg. It is tragic, haunting and so so true.

What are you working on now?
I’m a job-a-day journo so today I might be writing up website copy for a design-and-build company but tomorrow I may be off to interview an interior designer or an architect or a clever homeowner. I also proofread for a culinary magazine here. My latest book was published in December so is practically a ‘newborn’ – and takes up a lot of my time.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love sharing the story of the long-distance hike with friends – and have appeared on a couple of podcasts. That is fun! It gives me leeway to tell the funny stories that happened on the hike and I find people, especially women of a hmm certain age, can really relate.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Schedule writing time. Books don’t just happen. I put aside every Friday (around my other work) for working on the book. Get a good proofreader and editor. If you’re anything like me, words are my strength – not pictures. Hire a graphic designer to design your cover. Don’t think you can do it all yourself. I was lucky because I work in the magazine industry so had a good friend help out.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
On the walk through France, it was where to find a clean supply of water (in a village churchyard as the water is used to keep the flowers fresh).
In terms of writing – Haters gonna hate. Try to ignore them.

What are you reading now?
Te Araroa – One Man Walks His Dream by Geoff Chapple. It is about the creation of the long-distance thru hike in New Zealand.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Global success and a film option of the book of course!
In reality, probably another house design story.

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 Greatest Survival Stories of All Time: True Tales of People Cheating Death When Trapped in a Cave, Adrift at Sea, Lost in the Forest, Stranded on a Mountaintop, and More by Cara Tabachnick

50 Ways to Eat Coconuts: Culinary Adventures Unveiled by Lila Monroe

And my own – so much time to relive the memories of blessed freedom when Hiking the Hexa

Author Websites and Profiles

Claire McCall Website

Claire McCall Amazon Profile

Claire McCall’s Social Media Links

Décio Escobar Oliveira Ladislau Website

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Décio Escobar Oliveira Ladislau

Interview With Author Décio Escobar Oliveira Ladislau

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Professor of Biology, Botany and Phytotherapy, graduated in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Phytotherapy and a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences. He is currently the author of the HEALTHY LIFE collection where topics about medicinal plants, phytotherapy, phytopharmaceuticals, human health and ecology are addressed from a holistic and anthroposophic perspective.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Eco-Cuisine:Sustainable Recipes for Reusing Vegetables. My inspiration came from my career as an ecologist

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I don’t have any unusual writing habits.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors of books on ecology and environment.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my HEALTHY LIVING collection where I cover topics about medications plants, phytotherapy, phytopharmaceuticals, human health
and ecology from a holistic and anthroposophical view

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesone gang It’s a great option to promote my books

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Seek to do what you like, with commitment, because that way success comes naturally.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up on your dreams.

What are you reading now?
Books about the relationship between body and mind

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently working on a book about body and mind health

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,,Gabriela clove and cinnamon by Jorge Amado and Love in the time of cholera by Gabriel García Márquez.

Author Websites and Profiles

Décio Escobar Oliveira Ladislau Amazon Profile

Décio Escobar Oliveira Ladislau’s Social Media Links

Rebecca Doll Amazon Profile

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Rebecca Doll

Interview With Author Rebecca Doll

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written two books with my partner James Gordon

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
2033: The Year Things Fell Apart was inspired by the feelings of dread and confusion I’ve seen all around me with my friends, co-workers, and social circles. Every day I see articles in the mainstream press about the potential for Civil War. But I also felt that dread was distant and impersonal. I wanted to put a face on it, give a way for people to wrap their minds around what it means, and, hopefully, maybe be motivated to help avert it.

In some ways, I thought writing about the possibility of collapse and what it would look and feel like to be part of it was cathartic. We’re better equipped to face our fears if we can understand them.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
We have a process of talking through ideas and passing work back and forth that’s very collaborative.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In this case, obviously, George Orwell (Eric Blair), Margaret Atwood, William Gibson, and other serious dystopian writers who cared about the future we might experience. Most recently Paolo Bacigalupi.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel about my personal experiences growing up as a victim of physical and psychological abuse.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We’ve just worked on getting our books in front of people who appreciate the subject matter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you believe in.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write about what you know. With my partner, we’ve stuck very closely to things we know and understand.

What are you reading now?
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting this book out the door and working on my next project, which will be a solo effort.

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?
Windup Girl, Neuromancer, Burning Chrome…but maybe that’s just where I am coming off of this project.

Author Websites and Profiles

Rebecca Doll Website

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Michael Borodiansky

Interview With Author Michael Borodiansky

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Over the years, I’ve committed myself to delving into the intricacies of how our minds function and how such insights can enhance our lives, relationships, and careers. I’ve authored several books, each delving into different facets of psychology, with the goal of unraveling the complexities of human behavior and providing valuable insights into personal development and self-awareness.

Recently, the updated 9th edition of my book, “8 Colored Psychotypes,” has been released on Amazon. This international bestseller, now available in six languages, brings a novel and insightful perspective to understanding the psychology of both adults and children. It reveals how eight distinct bodily zones shape our inner harmony, personal growth, relationships, career paths, and even sexual preferences, offering readers an enhanced and enriched version with the latest research findings and updated content.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, “8 Colored Psychotypes,” stems from my ongoing exploration into the foundational elements shaping our personality and behavior. This inspiration arose from observing the diverse ways people engage with their surroundings, influenced by inherent psychological traits. The book represents years of research and practical experience, offering a fresh approach to comprehending and categorizing human behavior through eight distinct psychotypes. Each psychotype is linked to specific, sensitive areas on our body, underscoring their pivotal role in shaping character, relationships, health, career success, and overall well-being.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, when I finish working on each book, I always go to some island. For the book to come together as a whole, I want to be separated from the noisy world for several weeks, not just by the wall of my apartment, but by a significant amount of water.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
30 years ago I read the book by academician Viktor Tolkachev “The Luxury of Systems Thinking.” The moment I turned the last page, it was crystal clear to me what I would do with my life. Since then, I have created several psychological methods: each of them is based on a systemic approach to a person, life and the events around us.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the English version of my book “26 Tools for Creating the Future”. This is a tutorial on managing the events of your life, which consists of step-by-step algorithms for different life situations.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
When you don’t know how best to write a certain phrase, try saying it with different intonations and emotions. Let it sound like a statement, an exclamation, a question, with a tinge of delight, doubt, fear, and so on. After a minute, you suddenly realize how to change this phrase so that it fits perfectly into the text.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is “Take pauses”.
Take pauses in thoughts. And then you will hear the whisper of your Soul.
Take pauses from your activity. And then you will give Life time to fulfill your desires.
Take pauses in conversation. And then you will know what your companion is thinking about.
Take pauses while eating and making love. And then you will understand why God created pleasures.

What are you reading now?
Now I’m reading Daniel Kahneman’s book, co-authored with Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein, Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment. Over the past few years, this is the only book that, while reading it, I keep exclaiming, “Oh my God! Is this really true?”

What’s next for you as a writer?
Any author dreams of having his books published in many languages, and I am no exception. The book “8 Colored Psychotypes” is published in English, Spanish, Bulgarian, Estonian, Russian and Mongolian. I am currently in discussions with publishers in different countries to expand the audience and accessibility of the book to people who speak other languages.

In addition, I would like to write a continuation of this book, or rather a practical guide describing the details of the application of my methodology in different areas of 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?
To survive on a desert island, I would take The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. To start getting out of there, I’d like to have on hand Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. And for the weeks I live there to grow as a person, I need Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.

Author Websites and Profiles

Michael Borodiansky Website

Michael Borodiansky Amazon Profile

Michael Borodiansky’s Social Media Links

April Berry Amazon Profile

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April Berry

Interview With Author April Berry

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Georgia and still live there with my big, bearded, hubby and our two kids. I love to bake, cook, and eat. I also occasionally enjoy a margarita at my fav Mexican restaurant. I currently have a FT job on top of writing, as well as being a Band Mom which in itself can be a FT job! I didn’t start publishing until I was 39 years old and have twelve published as of 2/8/24 with one on preorder set to release on 3/25/24!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book about to release in March 2024, Blood of The Daughter, is a wolf shifter romance with a bit of suspense. I love reading shifter books, and the idea just popped in my head one day while I was driving to band practice and a song was on the radio. Which is the case for most of my ideas! I love RomComs and Contemporary as well but when the characters speak, I have to listen!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to listen to music, not just instrumental. And I always must have a piece a gum and a full tumbler of ice water. Also, even though I have a really nice desk, I always write on the couch. My hubby gets onto me about it being terrible for my back, but I just don’t feel as inspired unless I’m comfy and cozy!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gosh. That’s a tough one. Saam King played a huge role in my recent wolf shifter idea because I found her wolf shifter series and became obsessed! But PS Nail also has a lovely writing style that I really enjoy and find to be similar to mine, even though we write different genres. Also, I have been variations of Harlequin books since I was entirely too young to be reading them, but I love the emotional aspect of those stories. I do enjoy steamy, but I need to feel the emotion behind it as well.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a new small town romcom series but also book two of my wolf shifter series. I usually have multiple WIPs going!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still testing a lot, but recently found the paid newsletters to be very useful! Ads can be hit or miss and require a lot of research to know what’s hitting the best. Social media was great for me when I started over two years ago because I didn’t have money to throw at marketing, so I had to learn to build an audience. Over time, I added in author events which I love, and now dipping my toes into new things! We shall see!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the book. But edit the crap out of it, then find beta readers that are not your friends or hire good editors if you can afford it. Be willing to listen to the constructive criticism and learn to discard the ugly comments. Not everyone is trying to help, and a good editor will not cut you down but will help you better your craft. Also, research a ton! Don’t go with the first book designer/editor/formatter. I saved myself so much money and probably a lot of headaches by really digging in to find folks to work with that were a good fit.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t read your reviews. We are told to get a thick skin, but even the toughest of us can let one bad review outweigh 100 good ones. Just don’t do it! SAVE YOURSELF!

What are you reading now?
I’m between books because I’m writing pretty intensely in my downtime, but I was recently in a charity anthology and read each entry for it! It was XOXO: A Steamy Valentine’s Romance Anthology and 100% of the proceeds are going to NAMI. I love anthos because I always find new authors to love!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing, writing, more writing, and a couple of author events this year. I hope to have three releases in 2024!

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 End of Hatred by Rebecca Hefner, Violet Flames by PS Nail, Midnight Inferno by Saam King, and Hungry for Love by Liz Zerkel.

Author Websites and Profiles

April Berry Website

April Berry’s Social Media Links