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Elric Shaw Amazon Profile

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Elric Shaw

Interview With Author Elric Shaw

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a kid, scribbling Jurassic Park fan fiction in a notebook during long car rides. But it’s only within the past couple years that isolation due to the pandemic encouraged me to take a leap and follow my dreams.

Since then, I’ve written a total of eight books, and am hard at work on #9. I started off with GameLit/LitRPG fantasy under a different name before switching to my current focus on Gay Romance. My hope is to continue writing both fantasy and contemporary novels about guys finding their happy endings for many more years to come.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Necromancer’s Prisoner. It’s the first standalone novel in my M/M fantasy romance series Hearts of Allaria. The series was inspired by my years as a DM writing and running Dungeons & Dragons games, as well as my time spent playing RPGs such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV. Each story tries to capture that same sense of magic and adventure…while also chronicling an emotional love story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My boyfriend would tell you that it’s weird just how many different drinks I like to have around me while I’m writing. At any given time, I’ll keep a mug of hot vanilla caramel tea, a glass of black currant iced tea, and a bottle of water close at hand, with random other cups occasionally mixed in. What can I say, I appreciate variety…and hydration is important!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Far too many to count, I’m sure. These days, I find myself studying everything I read, looking for certain phrases I like or stylistic choices that stand out to me (for good or ill).

But if I had to pick just a couple of my favorites, here they are, in no particular order:

– Brandon Sanderson: Easily my favorite all-time fantasy author. Stories such as his Mistborn series have inspired my own style and voice, as well as how I think about constructing intricate magic systems with clearly defined rules. Plus, his insane work ethic is something I think every author can aspire to match.

– Will Wight: His incredible Cradle series was one of the main reasons I started out attempting to write GameLit/LitRPG, and while I ultimately decided that genre wasn’t a good fit for me, I still draw heavy influence from his approach to compelling fantasy.

– Jay Bell: While I didn’t love all the books in his Something Like M/M romance series equally, there were definitely several such as Something Like Autumn that made me ugly cry. I really resonated with his characters and appreciated his pared-down writing style.

– TJ Klune: I love his evocative style of writing in books like Wolfsong or House on the Cerulean Sea.

– Tal Bauer: I love books like You & Me that really pack an emotional punch. While I wouldn’t describe my own stories as high angst, I do tend to prefer romances featuring some combination of action, suspense, and/or drama, which his books tend to deliver in spades.

– Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert: One of my favorite contemporary M/M romances and a fun ride from start to finish. It also really scratched by repressed Magic card addiction.

What are you working on now?
Now that I’ve finished The Necromancer’s Prisoner, my next project is See You in Your Dreams, the second book in my A Dash of Modern Magic series that follows a high schooler with the power to control other people’s dreams.

I’m also working on an outline for the second book in my Hearts of Allaria series The Prince’s Curse, about two mages whose idyllic life is brutally interrupted when the royal guard turns up claiming that one of them is a kidnapped prince…and the other the sorcerer who kidnapped him.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I’ve had the most success signing up for promotions on BookFunnel, especially for my free reader magnet, The Immortal Covenant. I’ve also had pretty good success so far with the service Gay Romance Reviews. As a new romance author still trying to build up a fan base, they’ve helped a lot with securing some early attention.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You see it all over the place when you look up advice on writing, but I’d say that perseverance and persistence really are crucial. When I was starting out, I wasted far too much time agonizing over my first novel’s relative lack of success and trying a plethora of strategies to re-release it or spruce it up…instead of doing what I’d do now and just moving on to write the next novel.

Unless you’re fortunate enough to have your first book blow up, most likely it will take time to build up a reader base and a body of work. And that means continuing to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is to be kind to yourself and not obsess over your minor failures. It’s easy to be hard on yourself if you don’t hit your writing goal for the day or if something doesn’t turn out the way that you hoped. But dwelling on it won’t help (and will often just make you even less motivated to keep working). It’s good to have goals, but it’s also important to remember that you’re human and that it’s okay to let yourself off the hook. Because you can always do better next time…so long as you don’t give up.

What are you reading now?
I find that I tend not to want to read books in the same genre I’m currently working on, so I’ve been avoiding fantasy while completing The Necromancer’s Prisoner. Now that I’m done, the next two books on my list are Heir to Throne and Flame by Ben Alderson, and Prince in Disguise by Tavia Lark. I also have my eye on How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Currently, I intend to keep releasing more books in my contemporary M/M romance series A Dash of Modern Magic as well as my fantasy M/M romance series Hearts of Allaria. Once I’ve got a couple books out in each, I’ll reassess how they’re doing and decide where to go from there.

I also have my eyes set on a more involved project in the near future: a trilogy about bonding and battling with magical creatures that puts my own spin on something like Pokémon. I just need to find the time to squeeze it in alongside my other projects.

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?
Hmm, that’s a tough one. I’ll stick with mostly the same answer I had as a kid, but with the first M/M romance I ever read tacked on for good measure:

– Sphere by Michael Crichton
– The Long Walk by Stephen King
– Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
– Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Author Websites and Profiles

Elric Shaw Website

Elric Shaw’s Social Media Links

Frank Paolino Amazon Profile

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Melissa Hudson

Interview With Author Melissa Hudson

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I obtained an MFA degree in English and creative, a Masters degree in education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. I have appeared on two national television talk shows, and spoken on various radio channels across the country. I was featured in an International women magazine, and became an international woman of Faith for my extraordinary passion to spread the name and fame of Jesus Christ.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Desiree’s Prize: Trouble Don’t Last Always.” I spent a number of years crafting this unique love story to show readers that “Trouble Don’t Last Always”. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and it seems like all hope is gone, but when we put our trust in God, he can do the unthinkable. God’s timing is always right on time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I enjoy writing something everyday, whether it’s browsing the thesaurus and writing and learning new words to increase my vocabulary.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many to name, but I do enjoy, Christian fiction, African American and women’s chick literatures.

What are you working on now?
I am working on another beautiful, Christian, Christmas love story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote where I think my book would be a great fit.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up, keep striving and perfecting your work so that it would make a difference to many who seek after it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice that I have ever heard was, “Trust God in every area of my life and lean not to my own understanding.”

What are you reading now?
I read the Bible because it helps shape my life and keep me moving in the right direction.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Whatever God has for me to do. There’s no limit what God can do.

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, a Bible and my Bible.

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Melissa Hudson Website

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Frank Paolino

Interview With Author Frank Paolino

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write a lot. Just not books. I write about software, my own software, explaining difficult concepts in one sentence to sell it to customers. I must be good at that, as I have sold over two million copies of my software to customers over the last few decades.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“I Call Myself Iris”. I started writing a book on AI in 2018 and shelved it as I believed a novel about AI was too esoteric to be read widely. Then ChatGPT came along, and all my non-techie friends asked me “what’s next?” That drove me to resurrect the novel and finish it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I am engrossed in the plot, it is like binge watching a series. I can’t stop for hours, skipping meals while I find out what happened, and record it to share with others.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

What are you working on now?
Book 2 of the what is now a series called “The Adventures of Iris”. Book 2 is called “Iris Unleashed” where she helps her creator, Marco, fight back against the formidable forces arrayed against them.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wrote my own book website, https://oszero.ai which is “written” by my AI-bot, Iris. (I actually created it, but it fits the narrative of a super-powerful and egotistical AI).
It is a storyboard of sorts giving a flavor of the book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Finish the book. Nothing happens until it is finished and proofread.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It work was easy they would call it tennis. (Do the work.), from my dad.

What are you reading now?
Mostly my draft of the new novel. It is consuming, and doesn’t give me the luxury of indulging in other works.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A screenplay for the novel. I am learning that craft, which is vastly different than a 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?
Dante Alighieri’s “La Commedia” in Italian
An Italian dictionary to understand the words I don’t know.
Those 2 things will keep me busy for many years.

Author Websites and Profiles

Frank Paolino Website

Frank Paolino’s Social Media Links

David Pyke Amazon Profile

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David Pyke

Interview With Author David Pyke

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a native Texan related to one of the Alamo defenders. My great-great-great-great-great-granduncle, Isaac Millsaps, was one of the Immortal 32, the reinforcements from Gonzales who answered William Barret Travis’s call for help, rode to San Antonio, and died in the Alamo on March 6, 1836. So, yeah, I get misty eyed when I visit the Alamo. I use my heritage to fuel my writing: my Silas Grant novel series is set in the Republic of Texas, and many of my characters are veterans of the Texas Revolution.
I’ve published one book, but I’ve been writing professionally for 48 years, since I was fifteen years old. I’ve written for newspapers, magazines, and websites, writing everything from news stories and obituaries to long-form features.
In 1991, a mutual friend introduced me to Suzanne, an English literature teacher from Missouri. Our first date was on Friday the 13th. Suzanne later confessed that before that first date, she read some of my stories to see if I could write. Apparently, I received a passing grade. We were engaged five months later, married four months after that, and in 2022 celebrated our 30th anniversary.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Rescuing Crockett is my debut novel. I wanted to write a series taking place in the Republic of Texas, and I created a protagonist named Silas Grant who I would introduce at age sixteen and follow him through early Texas history. However, I needed a strong hook for the first book. I drew inspiration from some of the greatest what-if MacGuffins of fiction, like Raise the Titanic and The Da Vinci Code, and came up with what if Davy Crockett survived the Alamo?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think of my habits as unusual, but I hear of many writers who write at a particular time of day or place or atmosphere. Journalism, however, teaches – demands – that you write anywhere, anytime, and at a moment’s notice. I once dictated a story from a gas station payphone next to Interstate 35E in Dallas (this was long before mobile phones).

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My two biggest influences are Larry McMurtry, the greatest Texas author of all time, and Bernard Cornwell, the master of historical fiction adventure. Other influences are Battle Cry by Leon Uris, The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, and The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth, Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield, and To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy.

What are you working on now?
Promoting and marketing Rescuing Crockett and writing the second book in the Silas Grant series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Best resources: Dave Chesson’s Kindlepreneur, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Jane Friedman.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Every writing job will make you a better writer, whether it’s a short story or essay or covering a high school football game for a local newspaper. When it comes to self-publishing, be patient, organized, and give yourself time. There’s so much to do, and not every bit of advice from even the most respected voices will work for you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” –Stephen King

What are you reading now?
More Texas history research. It never ends.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing the second book of the Silas Grant series and planning future Silas Grant novels.

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?
SAS Survival Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere (first job is don’t die)
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Battle Cry by Leon Uris
and my novel, Rescuing Crockett (if you don’t want to read your book, why would anyone else want to read your book?)

Author Websites and Profiles

David Pyke Website

David Pyke’s Social Media Links

Kyle A. Stone Amazon Profile

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Miya Chisolm

Interview With Author Miya Chisolm

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an author in the Midwest who loves to read, write, game, and crochet. While I’ve written several books, I have one available for purchase.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My short story “Becoming Vengeance” is part of the sci-fi and fantasy anthology, Reality’s Lens by WriteTeam and is included in Lenses, an omnibus of sci-fi and fantasy short stories. Lenses is available for preorder now. “Becoming Vengeance” was inspired by a prompt from the Levar Burton Reads contest.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
One habit I’ve picked up is having to create playlists for WIPs and listening to them while I work on that specific WIP.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up with The Secret Garden and Pollyanna, so the need for a happy ending influences a lot of my writing.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m balancing three different projects. One is inspired by my favorite video game, Stardew Valley. The second is inspired by Bonanza, one of my late grandfather’s favorite shows. The third is a cozy mystery about a young woman who moves to a small town to escape her troubles, only to be met with new ones that just might be over her head.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method is word of mouth and social media campaigns. The Lenses omnibus is releasing on November 25, so I’m retweeting and sharing posts by the other authors involved and creating my own posts.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have fun! At the end of the day, we write because we love it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never lose sight of why you do what you do.

What are you reading now?
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin

What’s next for you as a writer?
After the Lenses release, I’ll be shifting gears to focus on

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin, and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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Kyle A. Stone

Interview With Author Kyle A. Stone

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The one I recently published is my first!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Values We Hold Dear: Inspiring Stories to Reconnect America. I listened to some of the recent narratives espoused by media and others that I questioned regarding American history. I researched a lot of primary sources to discover the narratives were false, and told a friend. My friend recommended I write a book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to get up early in the morning to write. I get more written that way. I don’t think that’s unusual though.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well…this is hard. My readings have been all over the place, from business, leadership, and technology to military history, biographies and spiritual/self-help.

Holy Scriptures, Embraced by the Light by Betty Eadie. I am a huge fan of the Tom Clancy series. I like self-help books like the Millionaire Mind by Dr. Thomas Stanley, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, the Power of the Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy. Various work on the brain. Various works on leadership like Leadership Lessons of the U.S. Navy Seals by the Cannon brothers. For fiction, I like The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Books by George Orwell like Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

What are you working on now?
I’m thinking about extending the Values We Hold Dear Brand to a series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new and learning. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be prepared. When they said there would be ups and downs emotionally while you’re writing a book, they meant it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Breathe, no one’s going to die.

What are you reading now?
Self-Publishing With Amazon Ads by Bryan Cohen.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Turning my work into a course, or a coaching platform. Working on the next work on Resilient Leadership for Youth.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Holy Scriptures, SAS Survival Handbook, Lord of the Rings (Series), The Power of the Subconscious Mind.

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Kyle A. Stone Website

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Peter Bousfield

Interview With Author Peter Bousfield

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So myself (Peter) and Victoria the two halves of P.V Bousfield were born in the UK in two completely different places. I was born in Stockton On Tees in the north east of England. The external reputation of Teesside is that it is smoggy and full of industry which isn’t completely true we do have beautiful parks and people but dont tell anymore as living is relatively cheap compared to the rest of the country. Victoria was born in Harrogate but grew up in the Yorkshire dales in one of the most beautiful places in the UK known as Hawes. Even though we came from completely different backgrounds one of the things we both dreamed of is writing our own book which is why we have wrote the first in a planned trilogy of books called – The Deadwood Chronicles: The Crimson Cage.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Deadwood Chronicles: The Crimson Cage is the name of our first book and it was inspired by a fever dream of Victoria being chased and falling into water something that may happen in the book. The Deadwood Chronicles: The Crimson Cage is a action adventure set in a post apocalyptic world with fantasy elements so I feel it appeals to a lot of genres. After talking about Victoria’s dream idea built on idea and before we knew it we had a large cast of characters we now love and a story we hope people love as much as we do.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Being erratic in our schedule as we both work other jobs to support ourselves so sometimes its hard to find time. As for unusual habits its a bit of a cliché but we drink tea being proud British citizens and everyone knows how much we love our tea (Yorkshire tea that is) .

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Suzanne Collins and Hungers Games are massive inspiration for us, Victoria’s favourite book of all time is called Dragon bound by Thea Harrison, she also loves the author Sherrilyn Kenyon who writes the series Born of night and W.J May – The Chronicles of Kerrigan. Whereas my favourite book is between City of the lost by Kelley Armstrong or Hunger Games.

What are you working on now?
Book two of The Deadwood Chronicles which is going to be more action packed than the first. We are also working on a detective book that has a few chapters which we think people who love crime and creepiness will enjoy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We both need to work on promoting ourselves as we are writers and not marketers so at the minute we have a Facebook page. We hope to get a website up and running soon but we are focusing on producing books people will enjoy first.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be shy and promote to your friends and family first as it can be hard to get a boost at the beginning we are still learning ourselves but promote to anyone who will listen.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t waste time as its the only resource you can never get back so spent it on things you love.

What are you reading now?
I am currently making my way through the Kelley Armstrong Rockton series Victoria is reading flames of lethe by Lexi Talonis.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more books the dream is to be able to write full time and quit the 9-5 and focus on writing but that is down to people buying the books we put out there hopefully people enjoy them and we can be as big as JK Rowling and get some movies made.

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 the Rockton series because I am really enjoying it and if I’m stuck on a island I need to know how it finishes. Victoria would take something very lengthy which she is not quite sure of just yet.

Author Websites and Profiles

Peter Bousfield Amazon Profile

Peter Bousfield’s Social Media Links

Hannah Silver Amazon Profile

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Hannah Silver

Interview With Author Hannah Silver

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a homemaker and author from England.I’ve published 3 books so far and have plans to publish many more in the coming year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called ‘Mr Christmas” and is inspired by my love for the festive season. It’s the happiest time of the year.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I never have a plan for what I write. I start typing, see where the story takes me, and come back to clean up the mess later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read so much that I can’t pin it to just one. Hope Ford is definitely a big inspiration though less because of her fiction work and more because of how inspiring I’ve found her non-fiction work. The first thing that got me writing was actually reading bad-quality romance books on kindle and thinking that I could do better!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my second series ‘Firehouse Rules’ which is about a group of firefighters in NC, USA. Its a bit more serious than my last series, but I’m really focusing on adding more depth to my characters.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is a great tool. And so is Amazon itself. Though I’m still figuring out everything else.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn all you can about marketing and publishing before you start doing it! Writing the story is the easy bit!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Turn your goal into a plan by breaking it down into steps. All you have to do then is turn up!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hoping to release one book every other month starting in April/May. Over winter I’m just spending as much time as I can 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?
The house witch 1, 2 and 3 by Dalmech! I first read this series on Kindle and it’s got everything I need! Romance, Magic, and a cozy feeling. I enjoyed it so much that I bought the paperback version. If I could add another it would be the toymakers by Robert Dinsdale.

Author Websites and Profiles

Hannah Silver’s Social Media Links

Beth Erwin Amazon Profile

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Beth Erwin

Interview With Author Beth Erwin

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am married with two rambunctious puppies and two beautiful granddaughters. I love playing games – cards, board games, electronic games, you name it, I love to play. My first love, however, is books. I still remember the thrill of my first visit to a bookstore along with the smell of the printed pages. I was six years old and nearly spontaneously combusted when I learned that I could get not just one book, but two!

From selling concrete forming accessories to commercial contractors and electronic devices used in factory automation systems, I landed a career in real estate to allow me the flexibility to minister healing to the brokenhearted. Healing is my passion. I love seeing the captives and the imprisoned set free to be the persons they were meant to be. My first book, which has just been released, leads its readers into a journey of being set free from past wounds and hurts.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Wander No More: Stepping Out of the Wilderness into Abundant Life is my first book. People would often say to me, “You should write a book!” I’d smile and say, “Someday, maybe I will.”

The truth is, although I have always loved to write, I did not think I had anything that say that merited a book. However, one evening, after an event I had held to encourage people to make a conscious decision to choose life, one of the attendees told me that I had to write what I had shared as a book. My heart leapt inside my chest. Finally, I had something to say.

This book has been birthed from my long journey of rejecting the life I had been given to embracing it and loving the wild ride! I had a painful past and felt that most of my life was a contest of survival. The pages within Wander No More not only chronical my journey but lead the readers into a journey of their own to embrace life and break free to experience joy.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
While I don’t have any unusual writing habits, per se, I ponder things in my heart before putting pen to paper. By the time I sit down to write, it is almost as if I am writing from memory, but the thoughts will continue to develop as the words appear on the screen.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by so many books and authors it is hard to limit it to just a few. The Cricket in Times Square, Charlotte’s Webb, and Little Women put the passion for reading in my heart. Ken Follet helped birth a love for history but I’d say The Supernatural Ways of Royalty really transformed my thinking. It helped me to understand that I am not a sum total of my worst moments.

What are you working on now?
I am about to get started on a companion workbook for Wander No More. After that, I have a book in mind to explore what happens to us when we pass from this world. I am very excited about it and feel it will foster hope.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Given this is my first book, I am not sure what my best method or website will be in promoting my book. I have joined a number of social media groups for readers and authors and am using as many online platforms as possible such as Goodreads, Bargain Booksy, and Bookbub.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Get started and do not try to edit as you go. Make an outline and jot down a quick paragraph of what you want to say. This will help you stay focused as you progress to keep the main points in focus.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard is to accept God’s grace and forgive myself. Hearing that I am the best me that ever existed but not a very good someone else is a close second.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Second Chair Leadership by C. Tracy Reynolds, a dear friend.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer, the next step is itinerant ministry and speaking on podcasts…. Just so ya know, I am open to invitations!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. The Bible. It never gets old, always new things to discover.
2. The Pillars of the Earth Trilogy. They are good and they are long! Also, I picked a trilogy because I am pretty good at pushing the edges of the envelope.
3. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I’d probably need some motivation and admonition to maintain effective habits.
4. A very large journal. Might as well write another book while I’m there!

Author Websites and Profiles

Beth Erwin Website

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A. J. Cameron

Interview With Author A. J. Cameron

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Self-published author of Nonfiction Kindle books, Children’s picture books, Activity books and Journals.

Author Websites and Profiles

A. J. Cameron Website

A. J. Cameron Amazon Profile

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Cliff Locks

Interview With Author Cliff Locks

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Cliff Locks is a seasoned Professional Coach, author of two books, and serial entrepreneur with decades of experience. He founded and sold three successful businesses, including his last company, sold to a Fortune 500 corporation. Cliff helps emerging leaders, executives, and business leaders achieve their goals and fulfill their potential in their professional and personal life. He provides one-on-one leadership, lifestyle, executive, business coaching services, and career planning that is practical, implementable, and tailored to his individual clients’ needs. Cliff will work with family members to help them build a solid foundation of goal-setting beginning at an early age. Cliff has been married for 35 years to a loving, supportive wife. As the father of three wonderfully independent young adults. Cliff takes clients through lessons learned over the years about how generational work ethics, values, and philanthropic endeavors create a legacy that should be shared with the younger generation.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, “How to Be a Self-Made Millionaire: What Are the Secrets of Success?” was written for those who dream of financial freedom and success and those who look at successful people and wonder what the secret of their success is. In my book, I unveil the secrets to obtaining and maintaining wealth as I give practical and direct steps that anyone can follow to achieve success and amass wealth.

There are many out there who feel as though they can never achieve their goals. I want them to understand that everyone has the potential to achieve financial success if they are willing to put in the hard work and commitment. I want them to stop allowing fear and insecurity to hold them back from their dreams. I want to encourage them to take control of their present circumstances and their future! They can do that by following the steps I lay out in the pages of my book. They are the master of their own destiny. They can set the course for their own bright future, and they are my inspiration for writing this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing outdoors with a fresh muffin and a cup of hot coffee. I am also hyper-focused on providing value to others!

What are you working on now?
My third book, “Guiding the Next Generation to Thrive and Build Continued Success for Your Family Legacy,” is at the editor and will be in formatting next. I’m currently writing “Key Strategies to Encourage Your Children to Succeed and Learn to Flourish Independently.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I trust Nishoni Harvey to promote my books. She can be reached at HerUniqueStylePrints@gmail.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up! You can succeed at anything you set your mind to if you put your all in it. Set SMART goals, and work toward those goals. If you need someone in your corner to push you or to cheer you on, make sure you find that person and tell them exactly what you need! Otherwise, they won’t know, and if they don’t know, they can’t help you. Share the experience. Experience the moment. And never give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat your writing like a job. Schedule it into your day. Schedule your doctor appointments, shopping trips, and everything else around that time. It’s a non-negotiable block of time that is not to be moved or interrupted. It is “Writing Time.”

During “Writing Time,” turn off all interruptions. You are at work. Your job doesn’t allow you to be on social media, check personal emails, fraternize, make phone calls, or text; neither does “Writing Time.” This time is sacred. Keep it that way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am turning my books into courses that will help others more.

Author Websites and Profiles

Cliff Locks Website

Cliff Locks Amazon Profile

Cliff Locks’s Social Media Links

Carl Parsons Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

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Carl Parsons

Interview With Author Carl Parsons

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a former manufacturing manager for TRW Automotive with a secondary career as a college instructor of rhetoric and literature. I have a BA and MA in English from West Virginia University; doctoral course work completed at the University of Pittsburgh, plus a MS in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute). Now retired from manufacturing, I serve as a Master Gardener for the University of Tennessee Extension Office in Sevier County, TN, and contribute essays on botanical subjects to “Hey, Smokies!,” an on-line travel magazine. I have published eleven short stories with a variety of journals and have a novel, “Locust Hill,” serialized with Spillwords Press. More recently (2023), I had a second novel, “Trios: Death, Deceit, and Politics,” published by Wordwooze Publishing and advertised with Awesome Gang. I have also served as associate editor for “Heater,” a crime fiction magazine, and have a membership in West Virginia Writers, Inc.
I was born in Parkersburg, WV, and now reside in Kodak, TN. My literary awards include Contributor of the Year (2023) from Spillwords Press for “Locust Hill” and Literary Titan Book Award (July 2023) for “Trios.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is “Shantyboat: American Dystopia.” This work was inspired by reading other dystopian novels for the Classics Book Club to which I belong. A common feature of dystopian literature is its focus on apocalyptic events. Instead of that, I wanted to show the impact of losing individual and economic freedom on ordinary people and explore how they might react–all done as plausibly as possible. Also, shantyboats were a common feature along the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers where I grew up. For many people they became a viable alternative to homelessness just as they do in my novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I utilize a recursive technique to overcome writer’s block, maintain smooth narrative flow, and consistency of voice and character. To do this, before each writing session, I drop back at least one chapter (or scene if still early in the writing process) and read that chapter aloud. This technique helps me re-establish the characters and their unique voices as well as providing plot continuity. Rereading, especially when done aloud, also helps with editing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My greatest influences are Flaubert and Faulkner–Flaubert for his insistence on showing instead of telling and Faulkner for his overlapping stories and plots. It was Faulkner who gave me the idea for my novel “Locust Hill” and the series of Locust Hill stories related to it, many of which are available online, free to read, from Spillwords Press.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on a Gothic novel that deals with possibilities of the spirits of the dead being able to continue experiencing life through their contacts with the living and being able to transfer knowledge to the living as well. Thus, a novel Gothic in its supernatural (but benign) elements but without reliance on horror. Working title: “The House of Coins.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is a matter I’m still exploring and finding perplexing because book sales data lag so far behind actual sales that it is difficult to correlate specific ads or promotions with effects on sales. But this is the second time that I have chosen Awesome Gang because of its reasonable pricing, variety of services, and the size of its readership.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be persistent and practice continuous improvement!
Writing and publishing have become so competitive in our digital era that it is easy to give up. But I trust that great writing will eventually be discovered if we persist both in the promotion of our completed works and in the improvement of our writing skills in future works.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Choose a compelling complication, build the characters who must solve the complication (problem), and then let the characters develop the plot.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Paul Horgan’s set of three novellas entitled “Humble Powers.” Horgan was a wonderful but now most forgotten American writer. He principally focused on the American Southwest for his fiction, despite being from Buffalo, NY, and twice won the Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction.
Read him for craftsmanship as well as content.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have started research on an historical novel set in the Mid-Ohio Valley. That area was the scene of an oil boom in the late nineteenth century, then attracted a great variety of industries before suddenly falling into economic decline.

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 and Shakespeare’s collected plays.

Author Websites and Profiles

Carl Parsons Website

Carl Parsons’s Social Media Links

Robert Messenger Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

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

Robert Messenger

Interview With Author Robert Messenger

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in County Durham and I spent 6 years on active service in the British Army before joining the British Police for 28 years. My roles included tactical firearms, response policing, covert operations, and detective investigations. I was a Detective at every rank up to and including Detective Inspector. I retired from the police in 2022. I am married with three children and living in the English Midlands. Ninety-Six is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Ninety- Six. The story is about Ryan Conner who is a Metropolitan Police officer and former soldier. He’s working undercover in the hedonistic playground that is the West End of London, risking his life in the mix of drug dealers, armed gangs, violent pimps, and their desperate and wretched victims. This month the city has an extra edge. The carnival of football that is the European Championships, Euro 96, is in town, bringing with it even more tourists, fans, and violence. In amongst it all is a Tall Man, stalking the streets of the London for one reason. Revenge.
Tall Man is also a former soldier. He doesn’t care about the football beyond it gives him cover to hunt his ultimate target and leaving a trail of bodies as he does so. Conner, and elite female police officer Amber Mills, are thrown into the murder investigation of the worst spate of serial killings the contemporary British police has seen. Matters are made worse when Conner discovers that a shadowy and lethal military crime syndicate has its own agenda with Tall Man and will stop at nothing to shut Conner down.

It was inspired by the author’s own experiences in the army and the police, namely an attempted murder investigation I was involved in whilst a young officer and my time as an Undercover officer.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I normally write in the mornings and aim to write 1000 words a day. I then start the next day with a quick edit and review before carrying on. Once written I will then go into a dedicated Edit phase which can consist of 4-5 edits before a proofread. Its along but enjoyable process.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like the warrior /poet writers. People who have walled then walk so can talk the talk. Authors like George Orwell, Ernest Hemingway, Matthew Dunn , Laurie Lee. There is a credibility to there writing and it is often quite simple in its structure because they have the confidence to know they are speaking from experience. They don’t need to guild the lily. The stories are enough.

What are you working on now?
I am taking a short break before I start my next Detective Ryan Conner novel. This book will be more fictional for me which will be a new challenge. Conner is working the Met’s flying squad when he is called to a high profile armed robbery. But is just so happens to fall on September 11th 2001. The are other factors at play. A military organised crime group, a missing Police firearms team and the hunt for a terrorist cell. I’m excited to get started!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am on Facebook, Goodreads and Amazon Author Central. But I also like the good old fashioned book signing events. For me this is the front line. I enjoy discussing my book or any book with readers. I think there is lots to learn in this type of environment.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You must commit to writing your book 100 %. I appreciate that people have work and family commitments so it can be difficult but it can be done. If you want to get the story out enough it will happen.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In terms of writing its from my friend and mentor the Best selling author Matthew Dunn. “Trust your instincts.”

In general its ” Don’t worry about the what If’s.”

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Neil Oliver’s Hauntings. A cosy winter book. I read lots of different genres but not too many crime fiction novels to be honest. I prefer to keep my own voice for my novels.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am planning to start my next Detective Ryan Conner novel in the new year. I hope to write six novels in total. Each novel is set five years after the last. They will relate to a phase in my life and investigations I have been part of. I am keen to have beginning , a middle and an end. Just like a life does.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh good question…

1) Sophie’s World by Jostien Gaarder, all human knowledge is there.
2) The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, yo can read it a hundred times and get something new each time.
3) The complete works of James Joyce, I’ve always meant to read them, now I will have the time.
4) The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, is just a cracking read !

Author Websites and Profiles

Robert Messenger’s Social Media Links

Raymond Mayberry Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

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Raymond Mayberry

Interview With Author Raymond Mayberry

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Father of two energetic boys who always are looking for their next adventure. We find some of those adventures in Children’s books. I have one one published and am working on my next one.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled “Don’t Stop Retrievin’ and is about our dog that was battling Lymphoma and all the things my 6 year old did to help him.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I keep a gratitude journal and write every morning.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Green Eggs and Ham

What are you working on now?
A Children’s Book titled “Farr Fetched”, about a dog that lost his ball and must travel the world to find it

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook, and Squarespace

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Patience is a virtue.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I am the universe experiencing itself.

What are you reading now?
Eckhart Tolle – A New Earth

What’s next for you as a writer?
Building my library along with my wife’s books.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Eckhart Tolle – A New Earth
Buddhism for Beginners – Thubten Chodron
Bible

Author Websites and Profiles

Raymond Mayberry Website

Raymond Mayberry’s Social Media Links

Joe Murtagh Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

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Joe Murtagh

Interview With Author Joe Murtagh

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a former British Army Commando and military technical specialist who served in Cold War Europe, the Far East and the Middle East on active service and in peacekeeping roles. I was the Communications Officer on the Trans America Expedition which took Range Rovers through the notorious Darien Gap in Panama and on to Columbia.
Post military service I entered the business world and worked my way to senior executive leadership roles in blue chip companies, in computer, manufacturing, soft drinks and food service retail industries. I rounded off my business career as an independent consultant specialising in Logistics, Supply Chain and I.T. arenas.
I am a Scot by birth, now living in Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire where I have now launched myself into a new career having just published my debut novel “Her Looking Glass.”
I’m a Mensan, who enjoys reading, travel, films and exploring historic sites.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is “Her Looking Glass” and was inspired by the details of a cold case murder here in Stratford in the 1950s, where a nurse was found dead in the river Avon after a night out in the town.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None that I would consider unusual, but others may disagree !
My writing ensues when I am in the zone, and is abandoned for a while when the flow peters out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hemingway- the old man and the sea.
J D Salinger- the catcher in the rye.
John Steinbeck-the grapes of wrath.
Terry Hayes-I am pilgrim.
John le Carre – the spy who came in from the cold.
Jeffrey Archer- kane and abel.
Joseph Heller – catch 22.
Aldous Huxley – brave new world.
James Joyce – ulysses.
George Orwell- animal farm.

What are you working on now?
A follow up to my debut novel involving a small, elite crew of lawmen working under cover to identify and bring down a group of anarchists and communists intent on destroying a US nuclear submarine on the west coast of Scotland.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook, Amazon Author Central and independent sites such as this one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Publishing your book is only half the battle. Getting it out there and bringing it to the reader’s attention needs planning and concerted effort. And most of all perseverance !

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If at first you don’t succeed, freefall parachuting is probably not for you.
Prior planning and preparation prevents poor performance.

What are you reading now?
The Future of Geography, by Tim Marshall.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To determine a successful path for promoting my debut novel, and using it for 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?
War and Peace Tolstoy
Long Walk to Freedom Mandela
Decline and Fall Gibbons
SAS Survival Guide. Wiseman.

Author Websites and Profiles

Author Interview Series

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Antonio Carlos Pinto

Interview With Author Antonio Carlos Pinto

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Antonio Carlos Pinto, I am a Brazilian and independent writer and I would like to present my writing style so that you can understand the uniqueness and authenticity of my literary works.

In a nutshell, they are a profound expression of love and passion, capable of captivating any audience with such fascinating books.

Since childhood, I have dreamed of publishing a book of poetry or science fiction or fantasy that would engage and touch the heart of any reader.

Over the years, I have created a wide variety of poems and stories, many of them never seen by other eyes.

I experimented with different writing styles until, one day, I decided to dare with an innovative fusion of different literary currents that I had already tested.

The result was a unique and intriguing narrative approach that inspired me to create my own style, applicable to poetry as well as science fiction and fantasy.

However, even though I was satisfied with the progress, I felt that something was missing to touch the hearts and souls of readers with even more intensity and passion.

My poetic and writing approach is based on the fusion of Gothic, Romantic, Modernist and Post-Modernist styles, giving rise to what I then called “Dark Neo-Romanticism”. This approach combines the emotional intensity of Romanticism with the dark atmosphere and supernatural elements of Gothic.

Furthermore, it incorporates fragmented narrative techniques, explores the subjectivity of Modernism and adopts elements of metafictionality and narrative deconstruction from Post-Modernism.

The result is a literary approach that manages to explore deep and emotional themes, challenging the reader’s expectations by evoking feelings through the structure and form of the narrative. It is a way of conveying complex and intense emotions, while at the same time inviting the reader to reflect on the nature of the narrative itself.

I emphasize that this style is truly unique, born from the fusion of other styles, and its application can become even more subtle and intricate in practice. As a writer who has mastered this style, I have the freedom to experiment and create approaches that resonate with artistic vision and intent, capturing the reader’s attention regardless of audience and country.

However, there is more to add…

In addition to “Dark Neo-Romanticism”, the result of the fusion of different writing styles, I decided to incorporate elements of the Shakespearean style, thus creating what I called “Sombroespério”. This word combines “dark”, to capture the emotional depth and intensity of Dark Neo-Romanticism, with “esperio”, a variation of “Shakesperio”, in homage to William Shakespeare’s signature style.

In fact, the “Sombroespério” style encapsulates the essence of this new literary expression, uniting the dramatic eloquence of Shakespeare’s style with the intense and dark emotions of Dark Neo-Romanticism.

Now, after this introduction to my writing style, I invite you to know a little about my profile:

Born in the municipality of Maranguape, Ceará, in 1983, Antonio Carlos Pinto is a notable figure who brings with him the roots and cultural heritage of the Pitaguarys, an indigenous people who inhabit the lands of Ceará.

From an early age, Antonio demonstrated a deep connection to his origins and a burning passion for creative expression. With a mind eager for knowledge and a heart full of stories to tell, Antonio soon found himself involved in the world of literature.

Over the years, Antonio has pioneered literary paths, giving life to more than 20 books that span different genres and themes. Each page is a testament to the richness of his imagination and the depth of his reflections.

It is in this literary universe that Antonio gave life to a new form of expression, creating the “Sombroespério” style. A masterful fusion of dark and spooky, this style enchants readers with the dramatic eloquence of Shakespeare and envelops them in the emotional intensity of Dark Neo-Romanticism.

In addition to his mastery with words, Antonio finds inspiration in colors and chronology. Painting has become a second language, allowing Antonio to translate complex emotions and visual narratives.

Antonio Carlos Pinto’s journey is a narrative of passion, perseverance and boundless creativity. Each book is a window into a new and captivating world, shaped by an author who puts his heart and soul into his art.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book written is called “Wastervale” it is a fantasy fiction story and my inspiration for writing it was medievalist stories, fantasy kingdoms and parallel universes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My unusual writing habit is to write at night and follow Aristotle’s act structure.
Additionally, I enjoy creating distinct worlds and stories from timeless eras, such as science fiction or fantasy.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephenie Meyer
Aristóteles
Shakespeare

What are you working on now?
Before, I worked as a painter.
Currently, I am dedicated to writing my books and series and I am looking to live this dream that is the life of a writer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Draft2Digital (D2D).

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never let someone demotivate you and turn your dream into something negative! Think positive and always be around genuine people, even if they are criticism or praise.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Remember that there are 5 dice in your hand and when you point a finger at someone’s mistake, know that there are also 4 fingers pointing at you!

Being a writer means making mistakes and trying again until you get it right. Read your story several times until you find possible critical fingers pointing out the defects in the plot.

Writing chapters brings the plot to life, it means making and remaking stories, being a God to create your world, scenarios, events and most importantly, living the character with emotion and passion.

What are you reading now?
Shakespeare and Stephenie Meyer.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Soon I will be launching a series called: “The Witch of Shadowthorn”.

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 certainly take not just 3 books, but I would add a few more authors: Stephenie Meyer, Aristotle and Shakespeare.

Author Websites and Profiles

Antonio Carlos Pinto Website

Antonio Carlos Pinto Amazon Profile

Antonio Carlos Pinto’s Social Media Links

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Katie Holtmeyer

Interview With Author Katie Holtmeyer

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live, write, and teach in a small town in Missouri. I have written about three books total, but debut published book, She Asked Me Where, will be out with Unsolicited Press in early 2024.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a poetry collection titled She Asked Me Where. It was inspired by the various ways in which darkness and pain, both of ourselves and of others, manifest in our lives, particularly by the binaries innate to our human experience: pain and triumph, fear and power, longing and overcoming, the perfect and the flawed.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I implement some play-based process strategies into my writing (with influence from Roseanne Bane’s Around the Writer’s Block). Setting aside a few minutes before a writing or revising session to tap into creative playful state, whether it’s through coloring, molding with clay, or painting, helps my writing and writing-related anxieties quite a bit.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Emily Dickinson, Mary Oliver, Olivia Gatwood, and Ada Limón are just a few of the authors that have influenced me.

What are you working on now?
I’m in the process of drafting a few new poems and revising a few other ones.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Having your own website and word of mouth have been most helpful for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read as much and as widely as you can, and carve out plenty of time to live life as fully as possible. Remember that writing, like life, has its own seasons.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be both a participant and an observer in life. This will help your life, and your writing.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading Fredrik Backman’s My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry and rereading Olivia Gatwood’s Life of the Party.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve got several half-finished poems and first drafts that I’m hoping to focus on more in the near 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?
Oh, that’s tough. I’d say Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers, Jodi Picoult’s Leaving Time, Ada Limón’s The Hurting Kind, and Donna Lynch’s Choking Back the Devil.

Author Websites and Profiles

Katie Holtmeyer Website

Katie Holtmeyer’s Social Media Links

Katie Bingham-Smith Website

Author Interview Series

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

Katie Bingham-Smith

Interview With Author Katie Bingham-Smith

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been reading and writing my entire life. I graduated from college with a BA in English and have always wanted to write romance novels. I didn’t take the plunge until I was 48, but I’m so glad that I did.
I’ve written three books and plan to write another two this year. All my books feature strong female characters, take place in a New England small town. I enjoy mixing struggles like divorce and a broken heart with comedy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
After She Left. It’s the second book in my falling Leaves Series. It was inspired by so many things–second chances, healing, my love for fall and home decor.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write every single day, but only in the morning. It takes me a lot longer to edit a book than it does to write one.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Lucy Score, Colleen Hoover, Judy Blume, Emily Henry, and so many more. It’s hard to pick a favorite.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing a steamy summer fake-identity romance that takes place in Maine. It will be out this spring.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My Facebook reader group is my happy place. I also love Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There’s a lot to learn and discover. Don’t get overwhelmed and don’t try to do all the things. I also highly recommend the SPA Girls Podcast. So much great information.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Consistency is the key to success. Even if you do a small thing each day to reach your goals, it really adds up and prevents burnout.

What are you reading now?
One Day In December by Josie Silver. I love her writing; it’s a hilarious book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal is to completely transition to be a full-time romance novel writer. Right now, I also freelance, which I love and have been doing for seven years. But writing romance is where my soul is.

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 bring the biggest blank notebook I could so I could write. Jen Sincero’s How To Be A Badass, a romance book I’ve never read before, so I’d have something new, and Bridges of Madison County; I read it thirty years ago and I keep saying that I’m going to read it again.

Author Websites and Profiles

Katie Bingham-Smith Amazon Profile

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