Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written three romantic suspense books and live in South Carolina on Lake Murray. I’m a foster and volunteer for service dogs in training. I get to take home and care for the most adorable, sweet puppies and dogs on earth. I love living on the lake and seeing the turtles sunning on the shores. My husband is a retired Navy Captain and one of my best critiquers. He’s my go-to for slang. We spend our spare time boating and biking. I have two grown children who live as far from us as is physically possible in one country. Maine and San Diego. I’m famous with their friends for the amazing stone-baked chocolate chip bars and healthy protein balls that I mail to them!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Love on the Line. It was actually the first book I wrote, but the way things worked out for me, the second book was picked up by a publisher, so this one needed some reworking and I turned it into book 3. I always liked the villain in this book the best. I can’t say what inspired me to write him because that might be too scary for me to think about. I can’t help it, I like to write in evil villains. I do love the hero in this story, though. He has every right to be a rich, famous jerk, but he’s just the opposite. And my editor said she saw a lot of me in the heroine. That came as a surprise.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have my desk in the kitchen area so that it overlooks the lake. I can’t stand to be holed up in an office. I do get distracted by the turtles, herons, bufflehead diving ducks and osprey, but otherwise I’m 100% focused.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read all the Nancy Drew books, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Little Women over and over and over.

What are you working on now?
I’m starting a new contemporary series, Love on the Lakes. It’s inspired by Lake Murray and will take place on a fictional island that is based on one that exists here.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I take out ads with various promoters like AwesomeGang and I’m on facebook and instagram.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let the industry get to you. There’s so much of what you “should be doing” to be successful. It’s easy to get caught up in all of it. Keep balance in your life and write from the heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let go of expectations. Everything is exactly as it’s supposed to be.

What are you reading now?
One of Jessie Gussman’s books. She writes sweet romances and has a cowboy series that I love.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My contemporary series about the lakes.

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?
Watchers by Dean Koontz. Little Women. Conversations with God, by Neale Donald Walsch.

Author Websites and Profiles
Diane Holiday Website
Diane Holiday Amazon Profile

Diane Holiday’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a business school teacher and a management consultant. I am also a certified manager(CM) from ICPM and am a senior business professional with over 25 years experience in High Technology Fortune 100 companies and related Professional Services businesses. My expertise is in the areas of New Ventures, Business Model and Value Innovation, the effective use of technology/IT, Business Transformation and Professional Services Business Management. I have written 2 books so far, the first one is a self help book titled “All It Takes Is A Minute” while the second one is titled “The Top 60 Decision Making Tools For Startups: An Illustrated Guidebook”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled “The Top 60 Decision Making Tools For Startups: An Illustrated Guidebook” and the content is largely based on my experience of running not for profit startup and SME networks for the last 5 years where we helped many a SME and a startup fine tune their business model or pitch and helped them overcome challenges which they encountered running their businesses.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write during early morning and typically start by 4 am when the ambience is largely quiet and provides scope for introspection and fast forward thinking.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Peter Drucker has been a huge influence on me while Marshall Goldsmith, Steven Covey, Ken Blanchard have all had huge impact on my ability to think and analyze.

What are you working on now?
I am working on my next book which is in the area of smart phone based medical devices and regulatory frameworks. I foresee that basic healthcare screening maybe addressed more and more by mobile enabled technology.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe that a schedule towards reaching out and sharing knowledge with the intended audience is key towards promoting your books as once the audience understands your intent and your competence, then your books will sell themselves.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be watchful on what areas you choose to explore writing in as there is a lot of clutter and clearly differentiate.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Pursue your passion is what my headmaster at the catholic school I studied in advised me and I am currently doing that. Writing and sharing is something I love doing.

What are you reading now?
I am reading a book titled “Factfullness”, what we may consider as facts may not be so.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am writing a mix of subject matter stuff (medical devices and such) and also making it easier for small businesses and startups to tap into large company talent by distilling knowledge and making it easier.

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?
Man’s search for Meaning
7 Habits of highly effective people
Sherlock Holmes

Author Websites and Profiles
Anand Kumar Website
Anand Kumar Amazon Profile

Anand Kumar’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey hey! Nicholas here, or Nick if you aren’t my mother or aunt. I was born and raised in the mitten state. That’s Michigan to the uninitiated. After studying English at Central Michigan University, I made my way south and spent a year living in Central Florida. Fun, but hot. It wasn’t for me, so I headed back to the frozen north. I eventually settled in the Motor City, met and married my lovely wife, and have been here ever since. And all that time, I’ve been writing.

I’ve written a total of six books so far, but as of this date, I’ve only published one. A couple of the unpublished books will remain that way forever. Others will see the world one day. Like most writers, I’ve got a million more ideas, so the writing never stops…

But when the writing stops, or I’m procrastinating it, I can usually be found somewhere comfortable reading, listening to Bob Seger’s Live Bullet on repeat, making pasta for my wife, re-watching Lost, or further exploring the true meaning of suffering via my unending loyalty to the Detroit Lions.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, which just so happens to be my debut novel, is titled APOTHEOSIS. It was inspired and influenced by a lot of things over the many years since I wrote the initial draft in 2010. But the main inspiration for the story came from a dream. I get a lot of great ideas from dreams. It’s remembering those ideas once I wake that’s the hard part. I don’t even really remember the dream that inspired this book, but I do recall waking up in the middle of the night, grabbing my notebook, and furiously scribbling down 4-5 pages of notes. I still have those pages, just in case the Smithsonian come calling for them some day.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a very sporadic writer. I know, I know, if I’m serious about the craft I should be planting my tuchus down in a chair and forcing myself to write every day. I do that. Honest. But it’s only when I get going on a project. I spend hours and days and months and years thinking about multiple story ideas, writing down character notes, and just figuring things out in my head. One I’ve reached the point where I think I have enough to start putting words down, then and only then, do I begin writing. And oh boy, do I write. It’s hard to pull myself away from the keyboard at that point.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like most writers, I’m sure, there are a lot of authors and books who have influenced me. Every book I read is some sort of influence, good or bad. But if I had to pick one, I’d say Michael Crichton. His books were the ones I was reading when I really started to get into reading and writing as a young adult, and they’ve stuck with me ever since.

What are you working on now?
Mainly promoting APOTHEOSIS, since it was only just released. But I’ve also got that niggling in the back of my mind about what I want to work on next. I’m trying to decide whether to go back to a previously written manuscript, or start something completely new. Decisions, decisions…

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t quite figured that out yet, but Social Media Land seems to be my best, free option at the moment. If you know your way around Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, you can reach a lot of people. I’m still learning, so it’s slow going right now, but I think I’m making headway. I’m realistic though. I don’t expect my book sales to suddenly skyrocket overnight. I’m just trying to build a base of readers, even if that means one at a time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t overthink your writing, especially the first draft. At least, if you’re writing fiction. Just have fun with what you’re writing. Let it take you to unexpected places. Writer yourself into a corner and figure a way out. Even if it doesn’t all make sense or even seem logical, just keep going. The first draft doesn’t have to be good. That’s what editing is for.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best writing advice: Just get it all out on the page. I’m all about the vomit draft–just keep writing until you have a complete novel. Then at least you have something to work with.

What are you reading now?
A book of poetry written by an old friend and Runner by Patrick Lee.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Balancing the ongoing promotion of my current book with the development and writing of the next. It’s writing. It. Never. Ends.

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?
Sphere by Michael Crichton, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nicholas Crivac Website
Nicholas Crivac Amazon Profile

Nicholas Crivac’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written six books, four of which are nonfiction. On the fiction side I have written a romance novel, I DREAM IN WHITE, and my most recent historical novel described below.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THREADS A Depression Era Tale. It’s set in 1934 and the readers hears the voices of three sisters who are 7, 11, and 17. When the young Nellie discovers the blue-black foot of a dead baby while she’s digging for pirate treasure, the girls band together to solve the mystery. The inspiration was my grandparents who were struggling on a Michigan farm during the Great Depression. They had three daughters who came of age during that time. The rest of the tale, however, is solely from my imagination.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing unusual, although I like to have a second computer nearby to fact check when I’m writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mark Twain, Elizabeth Berg, Daphne DuMarier, Liane Moriarty, the list goes on and on. Qute an eclectic group.

What are you working on now?
A historical novel set in the 1950’s. A farm wife/Sunday school teacher finds her husband dead under mysterious circumstances. Donna Reed meets Gone Girl.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m definitely not an expert on marketing. I plan on hiring a publicist.

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

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be patient! I’m not a patient person and I’d like my life to be less hurried.

What are you reading now?
EDUCATED A Memoir by Tara Westover.
It’s a great selection for book clubs.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a Book Launch Party coming up and some book fairs. I’d like to say I’ll have a first draft done in the next few weeks but I can safely say that’s not happening.

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?
Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.
A collection of the best poetry in English.
An anthology of Charles Dickens.

Author Websites and Profiles
Charlotte Whitney Website
Charlotte Whitney Amazon Profile

Charlotte Whitney’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am just an amateur who enjoys writing stories, drawing pictures and fanart, and making up my own languages.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is “Unicorn Farmhand”. It was based on an IGCSE English assignment about writing a fantasy animal, which I developed into an account about a sentient horse’s experiences with technology and communication.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Perhaps it could be something to do with getting anything as my inspiration, no matter how weird or insignificant. Or it could be that I’m not always consistent …

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tolkien and G. R. R. Martin.

It’s actually more of “what media inspired me”: science fiction, Idiocracy, Friendship is Magic, the animations of Raxxo and his Dispenser Collab, and history. My favourite parts of history are the Hittites, the Siamese, Majapahit Indonesia, and the Han Dynasty.

What are you working on now?
I am working on several novels and smaller stories. My upcoming novels are about a comic convention and a governor of a sci-fi-esque colony; and my smaller stories circle around the governor’s setting.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
For now, it is my Amazon page, my DeviantArt (HorsesPlease), and my own wikia (https://rabydosverse.fandom.com/wiki/Rabydosverse_Wiki).

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing about whatever that inspires you! And try to expand on the experiences of your characters, the lifeblood of your tales.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Many people have taken valuable ideas to the grave.” I try to make sure my ideas won’t join them.

What are you reading now?
I am not exactly reading any books, but it could be a novelisation of Episode V of Star Wars and the first book of Game of Thrones.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Now, I am finding ways to promote my book, find an online job, and earn money.

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 large scrapbook of 200 pages to write and draw; the Holy Bible; an encyclopaedia about horses; and a Russian dictionary.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jian Fong Samuel Yaw Website
Jian Fong Samuel Yaw Amazon Profile

Jian Fong Samuel Yaw’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’ve been an author and playwright for a couple of decades. My parents met on the set of “Arsenic and Old Lace” at the Redlands Footlighters Theater in Southern California, and I was raised at the theater; both on stage as well as behind the scenes. I started writing plays for my theater arts class at the private school where I was teaching so that everyone who wanted to be in a show could! When I was confronted with a divorce in my own life, I turned to writing to help me heal. Well, that turned into “Take Another Chance.” Since the first draft of that was completed, I started cranking out more books, as well as more plays. I so happy to state that 12 of my 14 plays have been produced at various theatres from California to NYC!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Take Another Chance was first published with the working title of To Protect and Serve. I received some awesome feedback from readers and I went back to the book and made some changes, additions, and subtractions. I then gave the revised version to some of the readers and they loved the changes. The first draft of this book came out of me when I went through a divorce myself. Writing the book helped me heal.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
We have a 140 pound Great Pyrenees, Apollo, who seems to intuitive know when I’m in the middle of a great writing idea! That’s when he needs to go outdoors, or have a treat, or bark at the falling leaves, or wants to be petted, etc. So, I’ve learned how to scratch him behind the ear with one hand while writing with the other. I’ve actually gotten pretty dexterous with it! I can hold him off for a couple of paragraphs doing that.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King’s “On Writing” has been phenomenal for understanding the craft. Kathleen Woodiwiss was my first romance author where I devoured everything they wrote. I was introduced to Michael Connelly by the detective who side-checked my police procedure writing. I love the way his characters tell parts of the story through inside thoughts.

What are you working on now?
A few things! I’m just putting the finishing touches on Mahi-Mahi Matrimony as the 2nd book in the Second-Chances-DO-Happen series. I’ve already started Doctor’s Orders as well as The Princess and the PC as the next books to round out the series. I’ve also been commissioned to write a play for a theatre group in Lake Arrowhead, California. And finally, my husband and I recently moved to New York to get our new musical onto Broadway! www.talent-anewmusical.com

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been following Dave Chesson’s Kindlepreneur’s series of training. He really understands the way it works and the training is easy to follow.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write! When you’re writing, don’t edit. Just write. Let the story pour out of you. Don’t have any attention on its correctness or grammar or anything else. Just write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I attended a great seminar at the Writers’ of the Future in Los Angeles. They stated: “Regardless of the unique voice and vision, the first – and most important- thing that will make a writer different is actually finishing the story! It doesn’t matter how ragged, battered and pathetic that story is when it crosses the finish line. It doesn’t matter whether it is flash fiction or novel length…finishing is what will separate you from 90% of the writers who start to tell a story.”

What are you reading now?
The Sibylline Oracle by Delia J Colvin. Just outstanding!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Get Mahi-Mahi Matrimony published. Finish the new play for the theatre in California. Finish writing the workshop script for our new musical.

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?
Jude Deveraux’s Wishes.
Kathleen Woodiwiss’ The Wolf and the Dove.
Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game.
Stephen King’s The Stand.

Author Websites and Profiles
Pat Fifield Website
Pat Fifield Amazon Profile

Pat Fifield’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an independent scholar/historian here in Lubbock, Texas, and I specialize in oil and agricultural/ranching history. I’ve published three books (in digital and paperback form) since moving back to Lubbock in June 2018. Much of the work I do is based on research conducted at the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University here in Lubbock. I enjoy studying the interplay between oil and ranching, especially as the oil industry began to branch out into petrochemicals–stuff like plastics and natural gas that help store and heat our homes.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest one is titled Fueling Victory at Home. 2020 marks 75 years since the end of World War II. A forgotten aspect of how America won the war from the homefront involves the role of oil. The less onerous government regulations were in limiting oil production, the more robust economic growth was at the local, state, and federal level. In our modern lexicon, “Drill, baby, drill!” is a succinct way of stating this concept. But that phrase has, unfortunately, been taken; so, I can’t take credit for it.

This book originally started as a series of article drafts I submitted to academic journals at various times between 2017-9. This one, in particular, grew out of an article I started working on in April 2018. But, last February, i’m sitting at home after getting a rejection letter from the Journal of American History and thought, “I could continue pursuing this as an article for the next two or three years, or… I could pursue this as a book.” So, I put aside all of my article drafts and, after publishing my first two books, put this one together.

The timing for the book is really, really good. As mentioned, there’s the 75th anniversary of World War II. The Mallet Ranch, which is located southwest of Lubbock (so about halfway between Albuquerque and the D/FW Metroplex), has been in operation in some capacity for 125 years (as of 2020).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know about unusual, but I’ll say this: You have to put in the time and the work when researching books like this. Once you sit down and write it, you find out that writing a book isn’t some out-of-body, mystical experience. Writing a book is a collection of a bunch of times where you might think, “OK, I’ve got 30 minutes,” or, “I’ve got 45 minutes, and I need to see what I can accomplish in this limited amount of time.” You might have 500-800 words at the end of that half-hour. String together a bunch of these 500-to-800-word increments, and you have a couple of chapters (or more) at the end of the month. I guess the best way to describe it is, chip away at the book and keep moving!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gary Libecap influences a lot of my thinking on the relationship between business and government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He’s an economic historian who’s published quite a few articles. In terms of oil history, I’d say Roger Olien and Diana Hinton, who have written quite a few works on Texas oil history. Agricultural history: I like David Wheelock. Again, another scholar who’s published works on how government intervention actually hurt banking.

What are you working on now?
I’m drafting a book on the railroads in West Texas after the 1920s. I won’t give away details at this time, but check for something about mid-2020. I can see, at this time, me publishing one more book late this or early next year as well as two more in 2021.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I’m still learning. I’ve been interviewed by a guy named Robert Pratt, who used to serve as the county GOP chairman here in Lubbock. That was back in the summer of 2019 when I published my first book, Frank Isett: and the Myth of the Wealthy Oilamn.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Put in the work in the archives. Chip away at the writing. Love what you do.

Be humble. I was interviewed by Pratt on a radio show broadcasting from Lubbock. I didn’t know I’d get to be interviewed until two days prior. And I thought I’d have no chance of being interviewed. So, new authors: Work hard. You’re not special. Opportunities are not frequent in most cases; no one has to promote your book. Don’t feel like you’re entitled to anything. When opportunities to promote your work come along, do a great job. Say “please” and “thank you.”

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

What are you reading now?
I’ve really not read much of anything related to my research. In fact, I’ve put much of my energy (when not at my day job, unrelated to my writing) into drafting these books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Look for a new book, as I’ve said, later on this year and 1-2 more in 2021. I’d like to see about putting 10 in print by 2023.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d take the Bible, I’d take That Noble Dream by Peter Novick, and a to-be-determined oil history book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Matthew Day Website
Matthew Day Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi all. I’ve been an animator for 16 years, and a wanna-be writer since I was 11. I thought it would be cool to write an epic story about my Dungeons and Dragons character when I was a kid, never got it off the ground (probably a good thing), but I’ve had the bug ever since. I’ve published 1 book, written an additional trilogy which is in final edit, and have several others in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The published book is called, “A Vampyre’s Daughter.” I’m not exactly sure what inspired it, but the story goes…
I had shelved my trilogy after completing it because I couldn’t find an agent. I thought, I better write something else in the meantime. I had an odd thought, what happens if a vampire has a kid? The title came first, then I designed a story. It ended up very different than it began, but I love where it ended up, and I could definitely write a series out of it if anyone was interested. I love the characters and have a 1st draft of a sequel waiting to see if anyone wants me to proceed.
I like the juxtaposition of survivor’s guilt versus the quest for immortality. Yin and yang combatants.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Don’t all writers? All habits are unique to some degree.
I write everywhere I can, on lunch breaks, after hours, in airports, at my daughter’s softball games. I’m a plantser, as best I can figure. I do a vague outline, write fluidly, plot/characters liquid, then fine tune the outline as I go. Sloppy 1st draft, then mold and rework the next few drafts until it feels right.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All of them.
Tolkein got me started, then so many others filter through.

What are you working on now?
A YA portal fantasy called “MystikQuest.” It’s about 6 nerdy, outcast teens who get caught up in the crossfire of a real-life wizard war, and get magically transported into their favorite tabletop role-playing game. Kind of like Goonies meets Jumanji, toss in some Stranger Things.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Haven’t found one yet. Did an ad on Facebook which wasn’t terrible, but hasn’t made me JK Rowling either. Amazon’s promos are very confusing, and haven’t worked for me. Honestly, I’d love some advice/help in that area. I just want traffic and eyes on the book, not expecting riches.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Appearance counts. Check your spelling, grammar, book standards. And don’t make a cheesy cover (unless you’re going for cheesy). Nothing turns off a reader (at least, in my case) like an author who doesn’t look like they took time to make a quality product.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you can afford one, get an editor.
If you can’t, get ones’ advice. Figure out how to really self-edit. Editing is seriously important.

What are you reading now?
Several things from different author friends. I’m on Kindle Unlimited and I like to browse fellow associates and see if anything clicks for me to really get into. I like to support fellow indie authors when I can.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing “MystikQuest.” Querying it. Also, trying to decide what to do with my shelved trilogy.

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?
Watership Down, Lord of the Rings. I’d try to sneak the Harry Potter series on the raft, too.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jeff Schanz Website
Jeff Schanz Amazon Profile

Jeff Schanz’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born on the 2nd of July in 1972. Loner, deviant, ex-homeless, who returned only to get a one-year contract, and go unemployed again. All-Time-Low was my normalcy for 47 years.

Author and storyteller of at least 3 ebooks, and several short story stand-alones. Also maker and editor of the first, experimental audiobook adaptations.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE EAGER DETECTIVE, as it became expired-copyright, but i loved the original story and worked through grammar issues and made a first audiobook version at: https://awesound.com/AristoBum

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yeah, bad ones. I am addicted to nicotine, and no love it sermon fooled me, when it comes to the dangers and my need to overcome the addiction, or learn handling it better.

Talking and cursing, aloud, while home alone writing and translating.

Missing my cat, even though she is dead for more than 10 years. Cat, not wife. Mourning is over, but her role in my life remained unfilled.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many of the struggling ones, those of us, who try to make sufficient money to fund the production of movies and video games. Some of the established ones, who taught us that “writing” is an ordeal, not a one-shot and Hollywood is ours kinda ego-trip!

What are you working on now?
Knowing I can’t escape poverty I wrote short stories & audio-stories, which I wanted to be written, but knew they wouldn’t sell. Latest example is a cost-free one, which turns my sexism into an anti-racism project. Not, for long dead history, but for one of my readers, who had a LONG need of therapy due to being a victim of racist violence and sexual abuse:

https://www.spreaker.com/user/11246871/late-vengeance-for-harley-warren-an-opti

Technically it is my own extension of H. P. Lovecraft’s “The Statement of Randolph Carter”, as my training and study in crime fiction made me reinvestigate it with a less “occult-crazed fandom mindeset”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still a failure of that, even with a lot of marketing 101 done properly. Prolific Works is a giveaway site all of us can join, but I left it after 14 days, as SLOW is exactly what I don’t look for.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Meditation exercise: Contemplate thoroughly, if the hints you receive will work for your own life, or if they were just what made somebody else get by, as an exception.

You will need donors, sponsors, and social networking in high doses. The work is NEVER done, just because we write a “THE END” under a story, or novel.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If it keeps you from being yourself, then get rid of it, or avoid it.

What are you reading now?
Jeff Schanz: The Vampyre’s Daughter, see: http://www.jeffschanz.com/author/

What’s next for you as a writer?
Audio scripting and self-training in first animation movie techniques. More important: A better balance of workouts, wandering, and writing. Living life, instead of merely observing and writing, to recite a cliche about us authors.

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?
Hollowed Book I hid my survival set in, hollowed book I hid my suicide-capsules in, and hollowed book I hid my cigarettes in! “Book 4: Vinny rulez! The Final Farewell”, written by A. M. Pietroschek ??? 😉

Author Websites and Profiles
Andre Michael Pietroschek Website
Andre Michael Pietroschek Amazon Profile

Andre Michael Pietroschek’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write humorous novels, inspired by writers such as P.G. Wodehouse, Evelyn Waugh, Douglas Adams and others too numerous to mention.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book “Bottomless Cups” is scheduled for publication on February 27, 2020 by Black Rose Writing. It was inspired by my imagining being old guys with a childhood friend, and meeting daily over bottomless cups of coffee.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I still like to write with pen and paper. If I’m ever one of those guys you see hanging around malls and coffee shops all day with my lap top, please shoot me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wodehouse, Waugh, Douglas Adams, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Woody Allen – the list is extensive, since there have been so many great, funny writers. Especially British ones.

What are you working on now?
I have a few pages of another novel, still somewhat humorous only quieter.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I prefer other people’s websites – bloggers, for instance. I like it when folks other than me tell the world about my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
See this article:

5 Helpful Tips for Indie Authors – Guest Post by Joel Bresler…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing more books.

What are you reading now?
About to start Nelson DeMille’s “The Deserter”.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Fame, fortune or at least a few good reviews of Bottomless Cups.

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 Hitchhiker’s Guide trilogy; The Most of P.G. Wodehouse; The Sun Also Rises

Author Websites and Profiles
Joel Bresler Amazon Profile

Joel Bresler’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Raimo Strangis, I am a YA Fiction author from Toronto, Canada. When I am not writing, I work as a certified professional chef. In my youth, I was a touring musician and songwriter. I currently have one book, The Kingdom of Grape, released and working on my second novel titled, With Little Means.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled, The Kingdom of Grape. This book actually began as a song. I was tired of writing songs about my person struggles, and decided to write something completely fictional. I enjoyed it so much that I turned it into a play script and now a novel!!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to walk away from a project for long periods of time. I find If I walk away for awhile I come back with more inspiration and life experience, which really helps the story. Writing for me is a marathon, not a sprint.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
William Goldman is a big one for me. His novel, The Princess Bride, is what inspired me to begin my writing journey.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a novel titled, With little means. It’s about having an opportunity to go back in time, re-live your life, and follow your dreams. We all have dreams when we are young. For some of us it’s being a rock star, or movie star or famous athlete, but for most of us, that doesn’t happen. What if you had a chance to go back and do it? Would you give up your current life? Just know that fame comes with consequences.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think it’s important to diversify. The more sites you promote on, the more opportunity you have to find readers. There is no quick way to promote, you have to put in the time to find success. I find book blogs are great and reading community websites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take your time!! Writing is filled with ups and downs. Some days the words come flowing out like a river, and other days it’s as dry as a desert, be patient.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish your story!! This is a tough one for me. I find I am never satisfied and always want to improve my story. At some point to have to stop, finish and don’t look back. No regrets.

What are you reading now?
I find myself going back to the classics. I get a different view of a story every time i read it. Currently reading, 1984.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I wan’t to advance in my genre. My first book is YA/Children’s. I would like to move up to YA Fantasy.

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 Princess Bride
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Outsiders

Author Websites and Profiles
Raimo Strangis Amazon Profile

Raimo Strangis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Growing up in Finland, I found plenty of time to read during long, dark winters. I sat under a blanket, enraptured by love stories. Today, I have come full circle, and am writing them.
I only started writing romance in 2019 but found it so much fun. More fun than I expected.
Christmas Cookie is my first clean and wholesome romance, but I hope there will be many more under 2020.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Christmas Cookie was inspired by Christmas. I wanted to write a feel-good story in a cozy, but slightly quirky, small-town (think Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls) with lots of interesting characters.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, I write on a desktop, in the morning and usually have sparkling water next to me. When I take a moment to think I often take my hair down and put it back up again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything from Jane Austen and Margret Mitchell to Harlequin-books.

What are you working on now?
I just finished a short story to give away to everyone who signs up to my newsletter (which you can do at https://www.subscribepage.com/bellrom). I am also editing book number two in the Bellfrey Romance series which will come out in February.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think the best method is to keep trying new things, but don’t let it distract from your writing. Awesomegang offers a great opportunity for writers to get their books out there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write and read and don’t listen to ALL the advice, learn who you can trust by being skeptical of everything.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Time will pass whether you are working towards your goal or not. Five years from now, do you want to be five years closer to your goal?

What are you reading now?
I read varied and out of my genre, so the Witcher books are on my desk at the moment.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The next book, and then the next one, and the one after that…

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?
Tricky question. Maybe an anthology of short stories and some classics, Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sophie Kaye Website
Sophie Kaye Amazon Profile

Sophie Kaye’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an independent author and publisher from Las Vegas, Nevada. I run a blog called, “The Boss Revolution,” which covers topics pertaining to earning money on the Internet. Currently, I have one book published, but more are coming soon!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Ultimate Business Toolbox. I wanted to create the ultimate resource for independent business professionals.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Laptop Millionaire, Outwitting The Devil, Think And Grow Rich

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a go to resource for bloggers.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t found it yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Promote, promote and promote some more. When your done doing that, promote.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t sweat the small stuff.

What are you reading now?
The Impersonal Life by Joseph Benner

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Holy Bible, a book about desert survival, and a book about how to make boats out of anything.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sean Pancirov Website
Sean Pancirov Amazon Profile

Sean Pancirov’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an entrepreneur, a recruiter and a Career Coach by profession. Since 2003, serving small & large organizations across multiple industries and job sectors.
After becoming an employer in 2010 (setting up my own search firm), I was able to study the topic of job search from multiple angles. In 2014, I’ve established Name Your Career (www.nameyourcareer.com), a training & coaching practice helping job seekers and professionals achieve their career goals.
Since then, my job search formula has helped thousands of job seekers worldwide (in over 150 countries) through my video programs and seminars. Today, I continue to serve companies and professionals globally, as a recruiter, trainer, speaker, and career coach.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
When I was 17 years old, my parents signed my brother and I up for math tutoring to help us with our studies. An unemployed engineer by the name of Salvatore Cali became our math tutor for several months. I remember the conversations he had with my father after our sessions, where he was complaining about being unemployed. At the time, I could not understand how this could be bad… in France, you get a social allowance when you’re unemployed, and so for me, that was great! One day, Mr. Salvatore Cali did not come. And when my father enquired about what happened, he told us that he committed suicide…
The title of my book is “The Job Seeker & The Coach”, and it is the fruit of a 16-year career in recruitment and coaching job seekers… My entire career was ignited by the passing of Mr. Salvatore Cali. The topic of unemployment and job search has never stopped obsessing me since.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write, even if I do not know where the story is going. I write and find out what happens at the same time as the characters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Patrick Lencioni. The idea that anything can be taught through stories.

What are you working on now?
Building a job search academy to help people become job search coaches.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a seeker of knowledge on this part, I would not be able to advise anyone, unfortunately.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
DO NOT GIVE UP. WRITE WHETHER YOU FEEL LIKE IT OR NOT. WRITE WHETHER YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR STORY IS GOING OR NOT. JUST WRITE.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I grew up with the notion that there is always a price to pay. The more something is going to be worth it for you, the higher the sacrifice. So make sure it is really worth it.

What are you reading now?
Your first 1000 copies by Tim Grahl.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next novel. A story-based formula on how to be successful at work, no matter what sector or industry you’re in.

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 Holy Quran and maybe 2 or 3 survival books. 🙂

Author Websites and Profiles
Hamza Zaouali Website
Hamza Zaouali Amazon Profile

Hamza Zaouali’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey there, thanks for reading this, so what to say about myself?
I guess we should start with the basics then.
I’m originally from the United Kingdom, but have lived and worked in India for many years, primarily in Kolkata (Calcutta).
I used to be a paid up member of the rat race and worked for several multi-national banks over the years, but got fed up of the straitjacket of the nine to five existence, monthly one to ones, and meaningless annual personal development plans.
I’ve been an avid reader since the age of five and would literally read anything and everything. I used to be criticised when young for having an ‘over active imagination’ but somewhere along the line I realised this was quite the boon for a writer.
I’ve literally consumed so much literature over the years that I realised I should put something back into the World, hence I’ve decided to become a full time creator.
This is my first novel but I hope to build this into a series and to create a full blown alternative history World for people to enjoy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Durga Noir’ – I fell in love with Calcutta and Bengali culture whilst working there in the first half of the 2010s and often wondered what it would have been like to live there in the days of the Raj. This inspired me to dig deeper into the history of the British Empire, what I found was a lot darker than I’d been brought up to believe in the UK where we still cling to the notion of a benign and enlightening past.
From this I began to develop an idea of an alternate World where the Indians were actually in charge of the Raj, and I wondered how would that World have progressed with that key difference.
I wrote ‘Durga Noir’ to be a fairly light introduction into that World and also because I’m a great fan old Noir movies, a detective thriller naturally seemed to be the place to start.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m terribly inefficient when it comes to writing, I usually get up around 8am with good intentions to crack on with the current project, then find myself procrastinating until around Midday at which point I start panicking that I won’t achieve anything that day. The panic usually subsides after lunch and finally get into a groove around 2pm and will actually write until about 8pm (which I think drives my partner mad!).
So I’m usually at the laptop for around twelve hours a day, but will only actually produce quality output for half of that time!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh gosh, there’s so many! Tolkein, Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, Heinlein, William Gibson, James Michener, Stephen King, C.S. Lewis, Ian Fleming, Dashiell Hammett, Iain Banks, James Ellroy, Elmore Leonard, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen…….and enough now there’s just too many.

What are you working on now?
A short story collection based on the loose theme of ‘the nature of reality’ – how do we know what’s real and what isn’t? Are we all living in a simulation? Lab rats in someone else’s experiment? Are there really alternative realities out there? Other dimensions? Who bloody knows? I certainly don’t but it’s fun to speculate!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Mostly Twitter and Amazon, but I’m hoping to reach a wider audience through this site.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself. Enjoy the writing, it’s your baby and you can pretty much do what you like with it.
Give it a go as and when you can, we all have a story in us.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always bet on black?
Nah, probably, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”.
Or just throw in anything from Groucho Marx.

What are you reading now?
‘Lisey’s Story’ by that nice Mr King, I’ve been meaning to read it for years, but I always have several books on the go (reading wise) and the poor thing always got put to the bottom of the pile. Now I understand one of the streaming services is about to televise it, so I’d better get my skates on and finish it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Develop the ‘Bharat Empire’ World and series.
Finish the short story collection I mentioned above.
Plus an idea for a film script which in my head is a mash up of the films Blade Runner and Bowfinger. Hopefully that’s better than it sounds right now!

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?
‘Restoree’ by Anne McCaffrey, one of the first Sci-Fi novels I fell in love with – it gets a lot of criticism these days, particularly regarding the characterisations, but it’s a fun romp and a great effort for a debut novel – not to mention its female centric viewpoint was light years ahead for the era it was first published in.

Anything by Stephen King. Wait not anything, I’m taking Pet Semetary out of the list as that still scares the wits out of me.

‘L.A. Confidential’ by James Ellroy, an amazingly rich and complex crime novel, and so evocative of the era it is set in.

Anything by James A Michener – his historical novels are so detailed with well drawn characters, weaving plots, and heart rending drama.

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert Owen Website

Robert Owen’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Isaac Rubio is a writer, animator, illustrator and storyboard artist with many years working in the animation, advertising and entertainment industry around the world. Together with Michelle Giraldo, he created the book series “My Little Piggy” in 2015.

Mr. Rubio has excelled in different fields of audiovisual productions, being a key piece in winning projects at prestigious festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, Bentonville International Film Festival and San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival.

His work as an Illustrator has recently been recognized by the book Pictoria3: The best contemporary illustrators worldwide.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My picture book, My Little Piggy. What I love most about my work is creating stories and convey emotions to people. My wife is a talented writer, passionate about educational stories for children and I have extensive experience in storytelling for movies and TV. The idea was born 7 years ago when we bought a piggy bank at a local fair and decided to work together in these children’s books to teach children the importance of money, its origins and how to handle it healthily while preserving the most important human values such as love, friendship, family, solidarity and teamwork.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually draw some sketches on my computer before I start writing some lines, especially for the most complex situations. In this way, I can visualize the situations clearly and blow my imagination.

As an artist, this process is very inspiring when creating stories for TV too.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on some animation productions in Los Angeles, CA as lead animator and concept artist.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Patience is the mother of all virtues, especially in the habit of writing.
Ideas must be fertilized, conceived. They come with natural discomforts, migraines, dizziness, weaknesses, insomnia, nausea, etc.
Care must be taken not to fall into mental blocks, and then the expected time comes, when you finally give birth and you can start writing your book. A new job starts, and you must continue working to make it grow.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Discipline is the bridge between goals and achievements.

Author Websites and Profiles
Isaac Rubio Website
Isaac Rubio Amazon Profile