Awesome Author Interviews

Interview With Author Larada Horner-Miller

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired middle school English teacher who wrote two books while teaching but didn’t have the time then to revise and publish. After retiring, I have written seven books, one audiobook and three cookbooks.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir. I had written some of these as blog posts over the years, but after returning from a cruise last year in early December, I saw the universality of Christmas celebrations and truly enjoyed the different countries we were in. That encouraged me to publish my stories of Christmas.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have turned to writing haikus recently after my meditation group and it’s really fed my soul. Haiku’s economy of words has forced me to be thoughtful about word choice. There’s a poetry collection coming!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tony Hillerman influenced me. Also I love poetry and have fallen in love with Mary Oliver and Billy Collins.

What are you working on now?
My next book is the first of a three-four book series of my poetry.

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

Larada Horner-Miller’s Books

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I put my first two books away for over thirty years before publishing them. Don’t wait!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write two crappy pages per day—just write!

What are you reading now?
Mary Higgins Clark’s Mount Vernon Love Story

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

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Devotions by Mary Oliver, the Bible, Just This by Richard Rohr, and Alcoholics Anonymous’ Big Book

Author Websites and Profiles

Larada Horner-Miller Website

Larada Horner-Miller Amazon Profile

Larada Horner-Miller’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Mary Ellen Miller

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an accredited public relations professional. I just published my first book, “Fill the Dam Thing Up! Building Connections: Communicating Throughout the Lifecycle of Infrastructure Projects.” It is a book of communications tips with stories of a once-in-a-lifetime international project set in the heart of Appalachia.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
As I share on the title page, “Fill the Dam Thing Up!” was a phrase a local merchant used on tee-shirts and ball caps to describe our project which involved repairing a dam. The repair meant lowering water levels in a popular local lake. That phrase became a rallying cry of sorts with engineers and geologists.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wrote the book at 7 am daily and set a timer for 25 minutes. On the weekends I would write more…often setting a timer for 55 minutes. I went into my home office and closed the door to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I use gray “call out” boxes at the end of each chapter to summarize. I got that idea from Dave Ramsey’s “The Complete Guide to Money.” I used “Start Writing Your book Today” by Morgan Gist MacDonald as a guide to write my book. I just read “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. I highly recommend it to other writers as it helps us connect with our creative self.

What are you working on now?
Promoting my book! I am getting ready for both an invitation-only launch party and a public launch.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Public speaking! I started with Rotary Clubs and will be speaking at larger conferences in October.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Persistence pays off. It’s a lot of hard work on the front end to write a book, but sharing your creative work with others is fun and rewarding on the back end!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I quote my dad, a very wise man, in the book – he told me “the only thing constant is change.”

What are you reading now?
“They Ask You Answer” by Marcus Sheridan.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to listen to people at my live events and pay attention to what they ask for next.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible, “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver, “The Practice: Shipping Creative Work” by Seth Godin, “Start Writing Your book Today” by Morgan Gist MacDonald.

Author Websites and Profiles

Mary Ellen Miller Website

Mary Ellen Miller Amazon Profile

Mary Ellen Miller’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author Fiona Graham

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Chancer is my first novel, and I’m thrilled to say it’s already won an award – the Bronze Medal for Comedy Fiction at the Readers’ International Book Awards 2023. My writing background is in screenwriting, but I have always wanted to write a novel, and when I finally tackled the challenge, I loved writing the book! Before The Chancer, I wrote and produced the award-winning feature film ‘Songs for Amy’, starring Sean Maguire and set in Ireland and New York. ‘Songs for Amy’ was released in cinemas in 2014 and won the Jury Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking’ .

I live in county Galway, in the west of Ireland, with my husband and daughter and two dogs, Skye and Guinness. Originally from Glasgow, I moved to a place where it rains just as much as my hometown. I have now lived in Ireland for most of my adult life and draw inspiration from the people, culture and wild landscapes of the West, and I am lucky to have grown up with the humour of the Scots and the Irish.

When not writing, I enjoy live music, travelling (but not airports), the great outdoors, family life, the sea, socialising, most Gins, chatting (especially combined with Gin), observing peoples’ quirks, reading books and writing to-do lists and then losing them. I don’t enjoy clowns, the dark, cellophane or mental arithmetic, or dangling my toes in the water near sharks.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is called The Chancer and I have to confess that my husband thought of the title. Maybe he named it after himself? The book was inspired by the idea of following an unrealistic dream set against the backdrop of the film business. I was able to draw on my experiences in the film business and contrast that with the rural life of the west of Ireland. I set the book in 1989 because if a farmer’s son in the west of Ireland declared he wanted to be a Hollywood star, everyone would laugh, but if the story had been set in today’s world, most would probably encourage an ambitious dream. Also, it was lovely to take a nostalgic trip back to the late 80s.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When making the film, we were constantly having to rewrite for different reasons (schedules, locations etc) and so I got used to having to re-write scenes sitting in the boot of my car. However, I tend to be more of a binge writer when it comes to books – spending hours and hours on end and having to set alarms in case I forget to collect my daughter from school, then I’ll step away for days and go back in for the next binge with a fresh perspective.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a huge variety of authors but I’m a fan of Nick Hornby’s early books, David Nicholls, Roddy Doyle and Helen Fielding. I also really enjoy Noah Hawley, Emma Heatherington, Richard Osman and Gail Honeyman. Oh dear.. too many to mention I think.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the screenplay for my novel The Chancer, and then on to a sequel – I have a number of ideas but there seems to be demand for a sequel, so that will be up next.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first time using Awesome Gang and having read the testimonials, I’ve got high expectations! I use a mailing list and find Goodreads and Bookbub to be useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! I find it easier to write an outline first and then outline my characters before starting chapter one. The outline prevents writing into a brick wall.

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

What are you reading now?
I’m reading The Fenian by Mike Kernan and loving it. Funny and beautifully written.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on getting The Chancer into production as a film and then onto the sequel.

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?
Probably ‘Getting Off A Desert Island For Dummies’ !
Or Adventures in the Screentrade by William Goldman (funny and insightful), Windswept and Interesting by Billy Connolly, Confessions of Forty Something F&&K Up by Alexander Potter and ‘Why Mummy Drinks’ by Gill Sims… all these books would hopefully keep me laughing until I managed to build a raft and find a football called Wilson.

Author Websites and Profiles

Fiona Graham Website

Fiona Graham Amazon Profile

Fiona Graham’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Patricia Harrington-Duff

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Oh, let’s not dive into my secret stash of unpublished short stories and draft novels! You might never escape that labyrinth . . . I’m a software engineer specializing in space missions, and served as the Ground Software Lead for NASA’s DART mission through its successful asteroid impact. I love my job! Also I love writing, escape rooms, puzzles, and “borrowing” the latest book purchases from my husband and kids and starting to read from the middle, mainly to drive them crazy. I write what I like to read, often tales of adventure, misfits and magical mayhem. I live in Maryland with my husband, two college kids and an emotional support cat that needs his emotional support humans.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is The Rookie Spellslinger. I’m not a big fan of “chosen one” plots – I prefer a main character that chooses a path and has to work to earn it. My book has themes of ADHD, teen struggles with anxiety and social acceptance, humor, and strong sister bonds. All of those were inspired by my sisters and my own wonderfully wry children.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
After a day of designing software and leading a team, I’m ready to write – curled up on sofa, caffeine in mug, Feline Editor walking all over my laptop keyboard. Nothing unusual there. My fellow writers will relate. At least, those whose living rooms are overrun with cat toys.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a kid, I rotated my obsessive reading between genres – alternating binges of fantasy with science fiction and mystery. Sleep optional. Early influences, in fantasy: “The Hobbit,” Pawn of Prophecy,” “Dragonsong,” later “The Lightning Thief.” In science fiction: “I, Robot,” “The Left Hand of Darkness,” “The Martian Chronicles”; more recently, “Artemis.” In mystery: the collected Sherlock Holmes stories, and pretty much anything ever written by Agatha Christie or Rex Stout; more recently, “The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.”

What are you working on now?
My current work in progress is a different world and genre entirely – a near-future satire where fact and fiction mix like the dregs of a cocktail. It might take a liar to save the world. However, I’m also working on the outline of the sequel to Rookie Spellslinger.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still figuring this one out. Somebody tell me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a critique group! And yes, participate even with those of your peers that are presenting genres you don’t want to write or who have writing styles completely different from your own. You find out what works in your own writing (and what doesn’t) not by re-reading it 50 times, but from how others responded to your chapters. Even more, you learn from the example of others’ writing and ideas, and you take back what you liked or found useful to add as techniques to your own toolkit.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Use Save the Cat! Or more generally, choose one of the many author aids and plot organization tools – whichever speaks to you. Those tools won’t substitute for spending enough time writing, but they will help you turn a great character or scene into a complete story arc.

What are you reading now?
I often buy books by authors not familiar to me, or fairly recent releases to keep up with the current market. I’ll also buy books for unique hook or intriguing concept. Recent reads that I very much enjoyed include O’Malley’s “The Rook”, “Six of Crows”, “Truly Devious”, “A Deadly Education”, and “Four Dead Queens.” Currently, I’m reading “The Bullet That Missed” by Osman.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My focus now is on ramping up my writing schedule, and in parallel learning the project management side of self-publishing. That is a unique learning curve, independent of the act of story 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 ones on my bookshelf with dog-eared pages and busted spines. There are plenty of books I admired and learned something useful from but didn’t feel compelled to re-read. No idea which I’d end up grabbing, it’s impossible to choose in advance. But it would be a few of the old friends that I go back to time and again.

Author Websites and Profiles

Patricia Harrington-Duff Amazon Profile

Patricia Harrington-Duff’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Harvey Maxwell

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written to more than 25 books on finance business and self improvement

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Time Management for Mortals: 7 simple steps to financial freedom through time management.

I came from your home and environment where time management is cherished a lot. Though this make me to have a limited number of friends but it’s helping me a lot. I carry out my task faster and even easier more than the people around me and as a result of this I decided to make more research and put a book about this in my book collections. Book on how people can manage their time not just generally but how they can use it to achieve their financial goal.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
“Rich dad Poor dad” by Robert kiyosaki. “How to win and influence people” by Dale Carnegie.
“Think and grow rich” by Napoleon Hill.
And some few others

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Fiverr.com
Awesome gang
Amazon
Facebook
Book tube

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write, don’t wait till you are perfect. Make mistakes, those bad reviews you are avoiding,I will contribute to your growth don’t just procrastinate, write!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Money is a good servant and a bad master” from Tony Robbins

What are you reading now?
“How to win and influence people” by Dale Carnegie

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?
“Think and grow rich” by Napoleon Hill.
“Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert kiyosaki
48 laws of power
Richest man in Babylon

Interview With Author Saurabh Gupta

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an entrepreneur and technologist based in India. I have spent nearly two decades building high-performing teams, crafting data and AI strategies, and developing customer-centric, innovative, and scalable products.

In 2012, I authored my first book with Packt Publishing on PL/SQL programming in Oracle. The book enjoyed significant success, earning accolades from technologists worldwide.

In 2016, I published the second edition as an addendum to the first, also with Packt. This book became an Amazon bestseller with a 4.2+ rating and was recognized in “Top 20 Oracle Books of All Time” by BookAuthority, a book recommendation platform.

Following these achievements, I released my ambitious work on data lakes and engineering with Apress in 2018. This marked my debut as a lead co-author too. The book received favorable reviews throughout its run.

My most recent work on change leadership, titled “Leading Culture Change and Transformation,” was self-published via Amazon Publishing in July 2023. It serves as the first installment of a 3-part cookbook series on Change Leadership.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest work on change leadership and organizational transformation, titled “Leading Culture Change and Transformation,” was published by Amazon Publishing in July 2023.

As I ascended the leadership ladder, I came to realize that technology serves as a business enabler, while mindset acts as the driver. Nearly every organization I interacted with or examined from a transformational perspective confessed to struggling with the delicate balance between the pace of change and transformation. Change management is no longer solely the responsibility of a single person; instead, it represents a shift in the organization’s mindset. It’s not merely a milestone but a journey that can navigate successfully if well-planned, effectively communicated, and, if necessary, calibrated.

This realization motivated me to author my next book on Change Leadership. I’ve organized the topics to be covered into a 3-part cookbook series, which I’ll self-publish on Amazon.

The first installment of this series was released in July 2023. As I work on the next part of the series, I’m striving to incorporate industry-specific change and transformational journeys.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing as such. Just that over the time, I’ve realized that I take time to get into a zone where I can translate my thoughts into words.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am investing all my energy in completing the second part of the Change Leadership Cookbook series. This part will have quite a few industry specific insights on driving change management programs.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I have been promoting on social media myself but frankly, I can’t deny the power of promotion platforms to accelerate the reach.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t oversell. Let the work speak for itself and stay authentic.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
An author turns into a magician, when readers are able to see the world from their perspective.

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 Monk Who Sold His Ferrari – Robin Sharma
2. Think And Win Like Dhoni – Sfurti Sahare
3. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse – Charlie Mackesy

Author Websites and Profiles

Saurabh Gupta Amazon Profile

Saurabh Gupta’s Social Media Links

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Fran Fisher

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m the youngest of four children born to middle-class parents. I graduated from nursing school and became a legal nurse consultant and nurse paralegal for over 30 years until I became burned out from the stress and pressure of working with attorneys. My career as a commercial print model ended when multiple back surgeries intervened. My career as an author began in 2010 and my publications include: six short stories (2013—2016); I wrote a screenplay for one of my short stories, Mercy’s Legacy. And, in 2023 another short story, Earning My Wings, earned a Firebird Honorable Recognition Award. In 2016, my first novel was published by Cambron Publishing—an award-winning historical murder mystery titled Paradox Forged In Blood. I am a lifelong resident of Cleveland, Ohio. For my current novel, please refer to the next question.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Growing Up O’Malley, a work of historical fiction, will be released in the fall of 2023. It contains many of the same characters as my first book (Paradox Forged in Blood) although my current novel covers a century (1880s to 1980s). Interspersed within the O’Malley saga are stories of the children’s future spouses, each battling unique challenges as the world navigated the Great Depression and World War II. My mother, Ellen Grace (depicted as the infant on the Growing Up O’Malley 1920 cover) died in 2008. I needed to channel my grief and decided to write a novel (in addition to several short stories.) This allowed me to re-direct my energy into a positive outlet as I incorporated my mother as the main protagonist. But without any formal training, and despite positive reviews of my first draft by friends and family, I knew something felt off. I asked my son to review several chapters and he asked a poignant question: Is this a murder mystery or an homage to the O’Malleys? Stunned at his clarity, I realized the answer was both. My next step was separating my original draft into two books: Paradox Forged In Blood and Growing Up O’Malley. While working a full-time job as a legal nurse consultant, I completed the historical murder mystery, Paradox Forged In Blood, believing it would be more appealing for my intro as a novelist.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
For my current book, I didn’t have an established outline since the content was based on stories I heard growing up and legends passed down through the generations. For ex., Michael O’Malley’s lineage included the famous pirate queen, Grace O’Malley, who commandeered hundreds of men to pillage British ships in the sixteenth century. To update the book’s content, I interviewed my mother’s two sisters in addition to my oldest cousin for unique stories about life in the O’Malley household. With each source, new chapters were added but not chronologically. I then created a timeline table to organize chapters in sequential order. Computers became my next challenge. The manuscript on my Dell laptop became infected and overnight my book grew to 45,000 pages! Fortunately, I saved an earlier version of my book and was only behind for two days. I didn’t trust Windows and switched to a MacBook Air. In addition to learning a completely new operating system, I quickly discovered the Mac was averse to moving book chapters within my novel. Entire chapters were lost and new blank pages were inserted. With the help and patience of my editor (Lorraine Fico-White—owner of “Magnifico Manuscripts”), the mess was untangled.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a child, Nancy Drew books became a special treat as a reward for completing household chores. Each mystery, solved by a teenage detective, was devoured and treasured. I then became interested in stories by the Pulitzer Prize author, Pearl S. Buck, and her exotic tales focusing on Asia and China. But my all-time favorites were mysteries and thrillers with a dramatic flair which presented conundrums seemingly impossible to solve—for ex., books written by David Baldacci, Dan Brown, Vince Vaughn, and Harlan Coben. The ability to weave a complex plot with appealing characters became the goal for my first book.

What are you working on now?
I’m compiling prior short stories written and published early in my career. Fortunately, I still retained the rights and I’m using the skill set developed over the years to improve the stories for inclusion in a new book titled When I Grow Up: A Collection of Short Stories.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’d highly recommend four things:

1. Take a basic writing course before jumping into your first novel. If I had done this, my writing career would have been so much easier.

2. Create a basic outline to keep the story moving in chronological order.

3. If you include historical events in a work of fiction, they must be accurate; therefore, consult several sources to confirm facts (books, documentaries, and internet research.) I believe a book that nurtures the reader with historical content will not only draw them into the story but enrich their sense of adventure by chronicling little-known backstories surrounding poignant events. Examples from Growing Up O’Malley include: What was one of the most popular types of crimes during the Great Depression; Why was the Mafia crucial to FDR’s “Day of Infamy” speech after the Pearl Harbor attack; Who fired the first shot on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor; why was Pearl Harbor attacked; how did Germany create supermen to wage war at lightning speed (aka blitzkrieg attacks)?

4. Create tables of main and ancillary characters. The former should include physical attributes (ex., hair and eye color, birth year, unique characteristics—this will prevent a disproportionate number of people with blonde hair and blue eyes.) The latter is important to prevent duplication of names leaving the reader confused.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As an author: Write what you know. Everyday life: Always try to replace something negative with something positive and be grateful for the gift of another day.

What are you reading now?
The Sixth Man by David Baldacci

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve drafted an outline of a paranormal mystery titled You’re Never Truly Alone. This story is based on my own experience of living with two ghosts for over twenty-five years. Unfortunately, they were not friendly spirits—I sensed their presence confirmed by their hijinks. For example, my son woke up one morning with deep scratches on his back. More often than not, we began a new day in a freezing home. The thermostat usually dipped down to 55 degrees because the furnace switch turned itself off in the middle of the night. After an expert inspection, it was confirmed the lever was strong and couldn’t possibly disengage on its own. I called Mary Ann Winkowski—author of When Ghosts Speak and the inspiration for the TV series The Ghost Whisperer—fortunately a Cleveland native. She confirmed the presence of two ghosts in my home and assisted them in crossing over.

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. If You Build It by Dwier Brown
2. The Third Option by Vince Flynn
3. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
4. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Author Websites and Profiles

Fran Fisher Website

Fran Fisher Amazon Profile

Fran Fisher Author Profile on Smashwords

Fran Fisher’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author Terrence King

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
About 16 years after the gleam in my father’s eye, it started with poetry and then short stories and–in college–some ambitious student and independent films before turning to novel writing after my Uncle Gil was murdered. My first book, The Silent Partner, was originally a screenplay but I fleshed it out–quite ignorantly and boldly–into a novel as a coping mechanism because it was cheaper than therapy, including with the co-pays.

Critical Habitat is my second novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Critical Habitat. Simply, I need good stories. I come across many good stories and many more that are not so good. I write what I’m in the mood for.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I’ll be driving or working out and I’ll think of something . . . whether it’s characterization, a dynamic sequence, or a solution to a problem that came up. As soon as I get home I’ll write notes down if not write the entire daydream sequence so that the drivel can be properly edited.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Kennedy Toole and A Confederacy of Dunces, as well as the tragic story behind the author. I credit this book specifically for me having the gumption to write my first book. That and questionable genes and stubborness.

What are you working on now?
Books 2 and 3 of the series! Book 2 is currently in its fifth draft and I’m about twenty percent into Book 3. The second book may be ready for an editor by early 2024 but I want to be farther into Book 3 for story-arc reasons. What’s crazy is that Critical Habitat was supposed to be one book but the story got too sprawling. The worldbuilding is definitive but I lean in toward “lean” whenever possible and the characters all change. The book would have been too long. Ever come across a great book but you don’t start it because it’s a doorstop? I couldn’t let Book 1–particularly, the first one–be that daunting. So yes, I’ve got some work to do.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
(Laughs) I’m figuring that out right now!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for yourself, and not because you want to but because you need to. That will get you through the learning curves and harsh lessons. Also, the publishing world doesn’t care about you, and no one wants to steal your unpublished work, so don’t worry. Just do the work, and be authentic to yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just do it, don’t just talk about it, and don’t complain. I think “Just do it” is copyrighted though so please don’t quote me.

What are you reading now?
Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka. So far it is excellent. I love when authors can successfully fulfill their vision, do you know what I mean? It’s not whether I like or prefer a certain kind of storytelling, that’s not how I appreciate work. Rather, what was the author trying to do (in my estimation) and did they accomplish that? Isaka accomplishes it in my view. Amazing, truly.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book 2, unless I need to jump into Book 3 before I readdress marketing for Book 1. This is all unsettling, really.

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 Confederacy of Dunces
A Handmaid’s Tale
The Road
A Prayer for Owen Meany
Plus, I’d sneak a few of the original Star Wars comic books!

Author Websites and Profiles

Terrence King Website

Terrence King Amazon Profile

Terrence King Author Profile on Smashwords

Terrence King’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Twitter Account

Interview With Author Kit Mackenzie

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always been an artist, and writing came to me when my children were very young. I have written many anecdotal articles and had them published in local and national newspapers & magazines. I’ve written a trilogy. Alias Jeannie Delaney began after my children were born and has kept going on and off ever since. Thirty plus years later I had completed the life story of my female hero and the one novel turned into a trilogy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Alias Jeannie Delaney – Book 1 – Go West, Girl! is an epic western spanning forty five years of my protagonist’s life, beginning with her birth in New Orleans in 1865 and ending in Wyoming in 1910.

I’ve always been fascinated in the wild west, particularly by the women who took on male roles and thrived. I grew frustrated with TV westerns and western books because women were invariably portrayed as martyrs, wallflowers or victims. I wanted to write the novel I had always wanted to read, and I have! The first of the trilogy has been published on Amazon and has had good sales. I’m working on promoting it and I’ll soon be starting work on the second novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None that I can think of, but I have been called pleasantly eccentric and I’ll take that happily!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read many novels when I was younger, and Daphne Du Maurier was my favourite. I’ve since read and enjoyed many others, and have looked at their writing styles while writing Jeannie’s story.

What are you working on now?
Promoting my first novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As an artist, I’ve created my own promotional material on graphic apps such as Canva and BeFunky and I’m writing blog posts. Much of this goes onto Facebook, but I also share on most social media platforms. I post to my Facebook pages most days if I can, updating my readers on the work I’m doing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. If you really mean to publish a novel, just keep going. It’s hard but it could be worth it. Read, read, read. Anything and everything! The more you write, the better you will become.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
All the above.

What are you reading now?
Blogs galore. I’m subscribed to many, particularly creative art ones.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep promoting, work on the next two novels, and become rich and famous. Just kidding! But I seriously want to make as much of this as I can because I think I’m capable and know I have the perseverance and hug support of my family and friends.

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?
Non fiction. Paranormal (ghosts fascinate me), & art inspiration books.

Author Websites and Profiles

Kit Mackenzie Website

Kit Mackenzie Amazon Profile

Kit Mackenzie’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author August Niehaus

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up devouring fantastical tales of unlikely heroes, which heavily influence what I write today. I majored in journalism and minored in psychology, and now work (with words) in the technology industry. I decided to go indie when I was 14 and never looked back; it took me another 14 years to publish my first novel, but now I’ve got three of those under my belt (“A Mutiny of Pirates: Kinfolk”, “Daugment”, and “Gods of Atlantis: Boiling Point”) and four non-fiction titles (“Robotics for Writers”, “Promptly”, “Why Aren’t You Cooking?”, and “Short Story Boot Camp”).

I live on a small farm in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, husky dog, and a herd of goats (plus a sheep named Betty White). When I’m not writing, you can find me in the garden, in the kitchen, in the music studio, or trying to get the animals to talk back.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“A Mutiny of Pirates: Kinfolk” is a title I’ve been carrying around for the better part of seven years. “A Mutiny of Pirates” is the name of the series, which I pulled from the story’s loose plot inspiration, “Treasure Island.” I wanted it to sound kind of like a murder of crows or a kindness of ravens — like, a mutiny is what you’d call a ragtag crew. “Kinfolk” is both a play on the protagonist’s name (he’s Kinnon, Kin for short) and the theme (found/chosen family, something I always find myself writing about).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write every scene four times. The first time, it’s just an outline — action and reaction. I go in with the POV character’s goal and what will oppose that goal in mind, and unfurl the action from there. The next pass is just the dialog, following the outline. What do characters say aloud, or what *would* they say aloud if they were being truthful? The third pass is just the details, both emotional and sensory, following along with the outline and showing what the dialog is saying. And finally, the fourth pass weaves the second and third passes together into a scene that shows *and* tells where appropriate. I’ve started doing this for my last several fictional works, and it’s unlocked incredible productivity.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I mention Brian Jacques’s “Redwall” series a lot, because without the mice of Redwall, there would be no August the author. I devoured Orson Scott Card as a youngster, and although I vehemently disagree with his views as a human, I still hear the echoes of Ender and Bean in my stories today. I draw a lot of dialog inspiration from TV shows as varied as The Sopranos, The Office (U.S.), Peaky Blinders, Community, and Below Deck.

I can point to four Disney films that are engrained on my psyche: The Lion King (the first movie I saw in theaters; I have it memorized), Treasure Planet (which heavily inspired “Kinfolk”), The Emperor’s New Groove, and the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command movie. If I make a joke, chances are high that the sense of humor comes straight from Groove or Buzz, and my need for ensemble casts and brightly-colored worlds is all Treasure Planet’s fault. The talking animal trend started with Lion King and rolled right into “Redwall.”

What are you working on now?
Well, I’ve tossed two series starters into the world and am waiting to see which one audiences attach to more. In the meantime, I’m going to dip back closer to the world of “Daugment,” with a shorter work I’ll be releasing for free in the hopes that readers who enjoy it want to join me in a novel-length book about a cybernetic dog. It’s called “Seeker” and it should end up around 25k words.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll be honest, “Kinfolk” is my first foray into the world of promotion. I wanted to build up my practice, platform, and back catalog before I started putting too much money towards marketing, because if there isn’t anything else for y’all to purchase and enjoy, why lead your excited minds to a dead end? So far, word of mouth and a modest mailing list have been my best bets.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Unless you have an awful lot of money to spend for your first project, this is a long game. It’s also not a very profitable game without that big budget, so find other ways that you feel validated for doing the work and focus on those. Myself, I’ve found it’s best to really enjoy escaping into the worlds I’m writing about, and I’ve also found a couple of people who are my perfect readers and I get to fully enjoy their feedback on my work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My husband said something extremely simple yet profound to me when I was complaining, early in our relationship, about how I didn’t feel like a “real writer.” He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Writers write.” And it’s true. Authors are published, but that’s a whole different ball game (a business, rather than an art); writers are simply people who string words together. I’ve never felt like anything but a real writer since then, because I’ve written. A lot. All the time.

What are you reading now?
I’ve been following the work of Dr. Steven Greer, so I’ve been devouring his book, “Hidden Truth, Forbidden Knowledge.” I just finished Maggie Stiefvater’s Dreamer trilogy, and before I go to sleep I read a few pages of Juneau Black’s “Shady Hollow” — a cozy little woodland creature murder mystery.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m seriously considering going after direct-to-reader sales. I’ve never liked being shackled to other people’s platforms, be that social media or book sales, so I’m eager to dive into what it would look like to take my work so seriously that I host and sell it myself.

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” by Richard Adams, “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card, and “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell. That’s probably all.

Author Websites and Profiles

August Niehaus Website

August Niehaus Amazon Profile

August Niehaus’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

 

Interview With Author Rachel Carrington

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an eclectic writer living close to Charleston, SC with my cat, Temperance who is as high maintenance as I am. I’ve been writing since I was sixteen which is close to #&*#! years now. I write a little bit of everything, but there’s always a little bit of romance in every book I write. I’ve written over fifty books and novellas now.

I’m a sci-fi/fantasy geek that absolutely loves Star Trek. I love it so much I even write about it at Red Shirts Always Die, and I’m one of the site’s editors.

I also love historical movies and series so it’s no surprise I’m addicted to Downton Abbey. That addiction is only slightly less than my addiction to one of the series stars, Matthew Goode, who is one of my all-time favorite actors. I may or may not have based one or two of the heroes in my books on him.

I love bingeing TV series, reading, learning new things, painting, coffee, creating videos, strawberry shortcake, laughing with my friends, and talking on the phone to my sister about all of our favorite movies and television.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Letters to Laura. It’s a novella set in the 1950s during the Korean War. I love reading about history, and one of my goals is to write a book set in every decade beginning with the 1800s. So Letters to Laura is one more step toward that goal.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say that I would call it unusual, but I prefer to write in bed on my laptop. Even if I’m staying at a friend’s house, I usually write in bed. I always seem to write better that way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lisa Renee Jones is a close friend of mine, and she has been one of my best inspirations. We’ve been friends for a long time and seeing how far she has come has thrilled me. I’m always inspired by her never give up attitude. Plus, she’s a whirlwind of energy!

What are you working on now?
A new series about half-blood wolf shapeshifters.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Because I enjoy writing so much, I like to write guest posts and articles, and I give talks at libraries and anywhere else I can. I like doing things in person if I can or even virtually.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’ve said this many times, and I won’t stop saying it to new authors. Get a mentor. I’m not talking about a mentor to help you learn to write but one who knows the business, who’s been writing a while. A mentor can guide you through the ups and downs of publishing, can advise you on things that might look too good to be true, and can help you make the best decisions for your career.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not everything is personal. That has helped me so much, especially with reviews. You can’t take things personally in this business, especially rejections or bad reviews.

What are you reading now?
I’m on a memoir kick right now and am currently reading Outcry: Holocaust Memoirs (Holocaust Survivor Memoirs World War II) by Manny Steinberg. I do tend to read historical/era romance novels, at least right now, along with biographies.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have this new series that I’m working on about half-blood wolf shapeshifters. I have a young adult manuscript under consideration, have four more completed YA books to send out, a completed women’s fiction novel, and I also have a completed novel in a new paranormal series. So I’m hoping to find homes for all of them if I don’t decide to indie publish. I

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 know this might be cheating, but could I take box sets? If so, it would be the Carpathian series by Christine Feehan, the Shadow Demons series by Sarra Cannon, and one single book, Everlastin’ by Mickee Madden. And, of course, the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles

Rachel Carrington Website

Rachel Carrington Amazon Profile

Rachel Carrington Author Profile on Smashwords

Rachel Carrington’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author Haley Anna Marie

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Due to childhood deafness, the writer inside created stories to match the pictures in the books being read to me. Once my hearing was corrected at the age of 7, I fell in love with storytelling.

My six-book dark fantasy series, Elementas, is my prized possession. I can’t wait to share my story with the world. Elementas: Yamay and Elementas: War of the Gods are out now. Book Three is in editing phase already!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the second in my Elementas series, War of the Gods. My inspiration for the second book, specifically, is that there isn’t always a “they lived happily ever after.” The general theme of my series are mortals defying the gods, and gods at odds.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I must have dead silence. It might not be unusual for many writers, but if there’s noise, I can’t zone in on my fantasy world since the real one is too loud.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I can’t say I’ve truly been influenced by other authors or their works. I do love fantasy and reading many stories, but all of our worlds are different, and that is what I love about fantasy.

What are you working on now?
I am currently editing book three of my series. It was in need of much doctoring, but it is coming along quite nicely. It might be the least dark of my series, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still a dark fantasy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve noticed that I do better networking for my book on Facebook. My website is getting hits as well, but that is mostly because of Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
PROMOTE EVERYTHING. Want to write a book? Promote it. Wrote a chapter? Promote it. It’s my biggest mistake, and I don’t want others to make it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The book market is not a zero-sum game. Someone else’s success doesn’t take away from your own.”

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading “Before They Are Hanged” by Joe Abercrombie.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My big focus is to work on book three so it can be out in two years. I’m unsure how realistic that is, but there will be six books total in my series, and I’m too excited to keep it all to myself.

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?
Patrick Rothfuss’s Chronicler series. The third book isn’t out yet, but perhaps I could snag a rough draft of it to keep me company.

Author Websites and Profiles

Haley Anna Marie Website

Haley Anna Marie Amazon Profile

Haley Anna Marie’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author Kat Hausler

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Northern Virginia, studied in New York and have now lived in Berlin for most of my adult life. I’ve written two novels, What I Know About July (coming out this Halloween) and Retrograde. While Retrograde is a tense relationship drama, What I Know About July is voice and character-driven literary suspense.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
What I Know About July is about an angsty indie musician trying to get it together and lead a good life, but plagued by a stalkery fan. He tries everything to get rid of her… until she disappears on his tour.
The initial idea came from my interest in the relationship between fans and celebrities, especially those who perform live and actually interact with their fans. On the one hand, you have the fan’s sense of personal connection to something like song lyrics, maybe also combined with a crush or following the celebrity’s personal life. On the other, you have the celebrity who knows almost nothing about the other person.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to listen to a recorded thunderstorm while working. It’s always the same thunderstorm, and I notice right away if YouTube tries to switch it up with a different one.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In terms of mysteries, I grew up on Nancy Drew books and Agathie Christie, and then later got more into literary thrillers like Gillian Flynn’s. One of my favorite books is Laughter in the Dark. I think Nabokov was great at making you so invested in the things the characters are pursuing, even if you know they’re terrible ideas. I’m also a sucker for anything with quiet poignancy, like works by Colette, Max Frisch, Raymond Carver, Judith Hermann, Flannery O’Connor… I also love books with a consistent, unique voice, like Special Topics in Calamity Physics. But this is a topic I could go on forever about.
Tl;dr: lots!

What are you working on now?
A new novel, but who knows when it will ever be done.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As far as I can tell, the best method is lots of methods combined: book sites like this one, partnering with a local bookstore, events, word-of-mouth, physical advertising like flyers and posters, social media. Since my last book launch a few years ago, Twitter has become less relevant as a place where people are interested in discussing books, while Instagram has more book fans.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying and perfecting your writing, and don’t despair if your early work isn’t great yet or doesn’t get an offer of publication. Never submit the second you finish something. Always go back and read it again. And again.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This is a tough one because I’ve heard so much helpful advice (and also a lot of bad advice) over the years! Sadly, I can’t remember where I read this, but a super helpful tip is to end each writing session by setting up the next one so it’s easier to get started again. Either by being somewhere in the story where you know what comes next, or by outlining what you need for the next time.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Concerning My Daughter and am now reading some old Stefan Zweig novellas.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What I Know About July will be released this Halloween. I’ll be holding a launch party with ivallan’s Second-Hand & Exceptional Books in Berlin, as well as some other online and in-person events, and doing all the promotion that goes along with that. And always working on new writing in the background, of course.

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?
Probably some long ones with lots of stories to make the most of it… Arabian Nights, my Riverside Shakespeare. And then maybe a hefty novel by George Eliot or Dostoevsky. You know, for the first couple weeks of being stranded.

Author Websites and Profiles

Kat Hausler Website

Kat Hausler Amazon Profile

Kat Hausler’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Interview With Author Jason Hare

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve only written one book. I’m a finance consultant and over almost a decade I have noticed a huge grey area in peoples understanding of what Equity is, how to calculate it, how to get access to it and how to use it to quickly scale a property portfolio.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Equity Advantage- This honestly took me a long time to figure out. I needed something catchy but also that would highlight how incredible Equity really is in creating wealth.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than having poor grammar and punctuation not really. lol

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Normally I lover thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy and horror but when it comes to finance and economics its normally people that have lived the experience and reached a goal that I like to read about.

What are you working on now?
No more books. I’m a one and done when it comes to publishing. I’m currently study mergers and acquisitions. But don’t tell my wife.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I usually just sue the Amazon AU link. Though i am promoting a free book sale from the 4thSep to 8thSep next week.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
To read every “edited file” with great detail before approving it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t let Perfect be the barrier to Good Enough.

What are you reading now?
Yes. Warren Buffett’s accounting, Dean Koontz Hideaway and Buy then Build by Walker Deibel

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully get a number 1 best seller tag and continue towards my goal of financial freedom.(which will involve lots of fishing and playing with the kids)

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?
Shantaram, the wheel of time series (does that count as 1 book) and the soon to be completed (sic) George R Martin book the Winds of Winter.

Author Websites and Profiles

Jason Hare Website

Jason Hare Amazon Profile

Jason Hare’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

 

Interview With Author Angela Guajardo

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As of this interview, I’ve written 15 books and am a few chapters away from completing my 16th.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Mia Evers and the Promised Bargain. It’s the fourth book in what I project to be a nine-book series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I still handwrite my initial notes? I don’t know what’s considered unusual. Us writers are an unusual bunch.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson, Fablehaving, Holly Black, Ilona Andrews, Douglas Adams, Tamora Pierce, Stephen R. Donaldson, David Eddings, and more.

What are you working on now?
Mia Evers and the Numen Toils, the fifth book in the series.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
This is a gritty industry full of fragile egos and gluttonous scammers. 20Bookto50K is a great group to join on Facebook. It’s full of inspiration, success stories, failures, hard truths, and people who’ll help steer you away from the bad and towards the good.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This is a marathon and not a sprint. Be in it for the long haul and have a business plan.

What are you reading now?
I’m trying to get through the Witcher series, but I think I’m struggling with the translation from Polish to English.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more books. Read more 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?
George R.R. Martin books since they’re so darn huge and that’d be a lot of kindling to get fires going (please don’t hate me, sir!).

Author Websites and Profiles

Angela Guajardo Website

Angela Guajardo Amazon Profile

Angela Guajardo’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Hannah Rowen Fry

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Hannah, and I’m fairly new to the world of writing! I just released my first devotional book, “The Way of Gratitude” and was an active blogger for about six months before that. My background is a unique combination of church ministry and restaurant management; I have been able to study the Bible professionally but also worked outside of a local church context. As a result, God has positioned me with a unique perspective on faith and spiritual growth in both worlds. Aside from who I am as a writer and speaker, I love all things Disney, Taylor Swift, and being outside in God’s beautiful creation.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Way of Gratitude: 21 Devotions on Goodness, Gratitude, and Wonder” was inspired by my time on Sabbatical, taking a break from all work to just seek Jesus and abide in him. Gratitude comes from a place deep within us, and this book is designed to help the reader interact with Scripture in a new way to think beyond thankfulness and develop a lifestyle of gratitude.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing after going for a walk or moving my body in some way. Physical activity gets my creative juices flowing! Well, that or caffeine!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The most influential book I read this year was “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. His breakdown of the resistance we face when creating helped me articulate feelings and thought patterns I didn’t know I had and work through what hinders my progress. Other than this, “Ruthless Trust” by Brennan Manning has impacted my life in many seasons as a believer, writer, and person. I continually go back to it every few years as a reminder of who I am and who God has created me to be.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my next devotional book and learning more ins and outs of the industry.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Having an email list of supporters has been critical in promoting my book. They have given me helpful feedback all throughout the writing process and provided a clearly defined audience for me to write to.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just sit down and write. You don’t have to have an agenda or a goal when you’re beginning; just get in the practice of writing regularly and see what happens! My “Today I” blog series came out of this open-ended writing time and has become of my favorite, most consistent places of creativity.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Imperfect progress is better than perfect procrastination” by author and coach Amy Kemp.

What are you reading now?
Currently I’m in four books – “Overcoming Underearning” by Barbara Stanny, “Deep & Wide” by Andy Stanley, “Emotionally Healthy Discipleship” by Peter Scazzero, and “Behind Her Eyes” by Sarah Pinborough. The first three are for learning and growing, the last is just for fun!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to work toward publishing with a big name publisher in the next few years. The next step there is to pitch a proposal to a literary agent and see what we can work together to bring into the world.

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?
Aside from any of the books I’ve already mentioned in other questions, I would bring a copy of the Bible, one of the Harry Potter books, and something with a lot of pictures… I’d have to think about that one for a bit!

Author Websites and Profiles

Hannah Rowen Fry Website

Hannah Rowen Fry Amazon Profile

Hannah Rowen Fry’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile