Awesome Author Interviews

Interview With Author Naomi Latini Wolfe

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a sociology instructor and author. I am the sole author of Top Hat’s dynamic textbook “Social Problems & Silver Linings” and the co-author of “Implementing Success: Strategies for Effective Caregiving and Care Support.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I co-authored my latest book with my husband, Schieloh Wolfe, also a social science professor. This book is entitled, “Implementing Success: Strategies for Effective Caregiving and Care Support.” We were inspired to write it based on the growing global need for quality caregiving as populations age and chronic illnesses rise. Caregivers today face immense challenges and need evidence-based guidance and resources to support their crucial work.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When writing, I like to listen to relaxing instrumental music to get in a focused flow state. I also find taking walks outside between writing sessions helpful to refresh my mind. And, when I really need to produce, I use a Pomodoro timer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Books by Michael Schwalbe on sociological mindfulness have been influential to me. I’m also inspired by Ibram X. Kendi’s writings on anti-racism.

What are you working on now?
We are researching new strategies for assessing caregiver needs and connecting them to community-based resources for additional support. The goal is to update relevant chapters in future editions. Additionally, we will publish a book focusing on the intersection of AI and human creativity in the summer of 2025.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Author interviews and guest posts on blogs and websites about caregiving are effective ways to reach my target audience. I also use social media like Twitter and LinkedIn to discuss critical topics from my book and stay engaged with professionals in the field.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I advise thoroughly researching your topic and writing with your intended readers in mind. Developing relationships with experts can also make your writing more insightful and credible. Most of all, be passionate about the positive impact your work could have.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever received was, “Write every day, even if it’s just a little.” Keeping momentum and routine with writing is essential for staying motivated and progressing.

What are you reading now?
Currently, I’m reading the fiction book “Wrong Place Wrong Time” by Gillian McAllister. I read a lot of nonfiction, so I enjoy a good mystery or thriller every now and then.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Looking ahead, I plan to conduct more research and interview caregivers directly to understand their experiences on the ground. I plan to incorporate these valuable perspectives into future editions to make the guidance more applicable. I also aim to write about related topics like self-care and resilience training for caregivers. In addition, my focus on education technology and future studies has inspired specific research – coming soon!

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 books I would bring would include anything by Jodi Picoult, a fun read like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, and Implementing Success: Strategies for Effective Caregiving and Care Support of course! Being a caregiver is a part of who I am so I’d want guidance even in desert island survival mode.

Author Websites and Profiles

Naomi Latini Wolfe Website

Naomi Latini Wolfe Author Profile on Smashwords

Naomi Latini Wolfe’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author America 🇺🇸 King Kevin Lee King 👑 Kev Lloyd Been

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
4 free PDF in stores now
Reincarnegro 19 billion in sales #1Selling Book
1)Hip hop the last religion 1 & 2 Plus
2)Hip Hop the last religion Girls Rock
edition

Annotated text books and ENCYCLOPEDIA on
Brass ink “Police curropt” in U.S.government Administration
Silver ink “Politics Curropt”
Government curroption around the world even Commission of the Aquire in the westindies are reviewed in AIFMILITARY text book ENCYCLOPEDIA and Atlas free mail to a homes take ID to post office get your free box

Government

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lloyd Been Story The truth how society civilization and earth structure started and revamped now from heaven to computer age captured. A adempt and alterd history address the Top charges Congress fbi cia u.s. gov faced is Altering history facts in Abolishment hearing

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My phone e just notes for 9 months on a observation led to 800 pages to edit for a new age encyclopedia which will probably be formatted to 250 pages the most of a HAND written hand crafted encyclopedia by the first man reincarnated.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Daniel Steel
Promises From God For Men of Color

What are you working on now?
Art of War
And all Military Entertainment training guide

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Love…Live…Life
When you have a idea on the train get a note pad app and write when you have voice notes transcribe later Gather your book with notes During everyday life compile every year from hand written notes paying som one to Trace or Freelancer apps pay to Trace hand wittern Edit Grammer up compile a book and add pages when you see Paragraph that add up to a chapter a chapter can be 1 page 32 pages is the limit to abook so get your Book out take every shot .

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Love..Live..Life..

What are you reading now?
Promises From God For Men of color

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hip hop Atlanta Boxing 🥊
Books Lloyd Been story new book in weeks

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anything Daniel Steel
Hip hop the last religion
Reincarnegro

 

Interview With Author Allen Ewing

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Just one so far. However, I’m working on my next as I write this.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The ChatGPT Millionaire: Fast Wealth Creation So You Can Obliterate Your Debts, Retire Early, and Embark on a World Tour – Faster than You Ever Imagined!”

Honestly I saw a lot of other books on Amazon with similar titles and I just felt I could write about the topic in a more comprehensive, expanded way – and be more fun about it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I wish I were like James Patterson, getting up at 5:00 A.M. every morning but I just can’t do it. I tried. Instead, I tend to stay up super late. I write after I get a lot of other things done during the day and I steal a few hours for myself.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, wow. I’d say “Crush It!” by Gary Vaynerchuk, “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss, “DotCom Secrets” by Russell Brunson, and “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on another ChatGPT related book. It’ll be the second in my “ChatGPT Wealth Mastery Series.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promoting on Email lists are super awesome. Running ads on Facebook and Amazon are also good if you can get a good understanding of the “how-to.”

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well, since I AM a new author, I’d just say sticking with it and finishing the manuscript is a great first step. There are SO many distractions in our world. Personally, I think just finishing the dang thing puts a person above the countless many who begin but never complete their project.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be consistent.

What are you reading now?
Honestly, I’m digging in on some foundational stuff for marketing and copywriting with “Ogilvy on Advertising.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
Slogging through the writing process of 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?
Hands down:

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
3. The Holy Bible
4. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Author Websites and Profiles

Allen Ewing Amazon Profile

Allen Ewing’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Interview With Author Jo-Ann Triner

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Adult life for me began at the age of seventeen when I entered a Catholic Convent. This gave me a mission orientation and a spiritual grounding that equipped me to see today’s social issues from a different perspective. As I transitioned from this mission-driven culture to a money-driven culture 6 years later, I came away with a serious case of culture shock from which I have never quite recovered. A few years later I began my 30-year professional career in Educational Leadership. That career offered wisdom from the practical playing field of life that I have applied in my book.

Wisdom from the Practical Playing Field

Throughout my 30-year administrative career, I was privileged to work with the brightest
and the best. They were people of immense giftedness and goodness. Beyond having impeccable credentials, they were the premier candidates, fired up and determined to make a difference. That is why I hired them. Professional in every sense of the word, they brought to their jobs a fervor and flair that impressed people. Despite their high ability and strong work ethic, however, the quality of their lives was often curiously low.

In just a few short years, many of these public servants were suffering from a soul-deep
fatigue from which there is no recovery. The signs were obvious: They worked longer and harder with little to show for it. Out of touch and out of tune, they had no time to talk and no time to listen. Grossly overworked, they created a dissonance akin to an off-tempo orchestra. Had each of them represented an audio wave, they would surely resound in a cacophony of screams and screeches. They would make no music, contributing only to the chaos and confusion. To make matters worse, I could count myself among them.

This functional familiarity with work in the zone of burnout was not my only teacher. My
dissertation work, done years earlier, sensitized me to the same brutal truth. Written about
quality of life in the workplace (QLW), it made me an informed observer. I saw the drama of the workplace with a second pair of eyes that penetrated the surface issues.

Now immersed in an instructional environment of my very own, I was getting a
privileged look into the soul-deep distress of working people from all walks of life. My work
community was indeed a microcosm of the whole. Over time and with a compassionate
connection to each of them, I came to an over-arching conclusion: Trying to motivate maxed-out employees is far from a solution. It is just one more imposition. Burnout is not the bedrock problem. It merely points to the soul-deep needs that employers and employees alike fail to address.

At times, the job distress was difficult to behold, but it allowed me to see the profound
impact of work on dedicated people trying to make a difference. It also forced me to look outside the zone of manager-initiated motivation and to ask why the fire goes out in the first place. Little did I know decades earlier just how valuable my education and experience would become as my second career unfolded. At that time, I knew only that I had jumped through the last hoop and had my degree in hand. I could not know then how this research was going to guide my perception. Now face to face with employees from a broad spectrum of society, lessons came at me from every side as I listened to their plight and analyzed their predicaments. However diverse their occupations, their soul deficits seemed eerily the same. This I recognized only because my doctoral research had given me a special lens through which to make sense of all the nonsense. As a result, I was able to see where contemporary management theory ended and where my own thinking emerged. Breaking the age-old mindset about employment and getting beyond it marked the birthday of my soulful work initiatives and the eventual writing of this book: Soulful Work 2.0

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Soulful Work 2.0

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a long-time quote collector and often begin a chapter with a quote that condenses deep wisdom into a single expression. 99% of my writing could be thought of as pre-writing. This involves selecting a topic, creating an outline, catching up with the current literature on a topic, gathering my own thoughts and reflections on that topic, and then creating my own concepts to advance the knowledge base. I develop vocabulary around this topic and usually gather quotes that illuminate the topic. These serve to inspire me, keep me focused, and help my readers resonate with the material. All of this happens before I ever sit down at the keyboard to compose. When, at long last, I do start typing, I begin with segments as opposed to full chapters. It’s like stringing beads to create a necklace.

While at the keyboard writing, I am surrounded by numerous lucky paperweights that
have been given to me as gifts or that I have collected over the years. This includes an array of heart shapes, a pair of bluebirds, an ancient deck prism with a fascinating history, an IR-100 Award paperweight referred to as “The Oscar of Innovation”, and many others including some natural stones thought to bring good energy to the work.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Close to my heart are the great Russian writers: Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor
Dostoyevsky, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Ivan Turgenev. I love their work because they wrote about political corruption, spiritual enlightenment via suffering, societal predicaments, and man’s inhumanity to man. They wrote with meaning and purpose about people, the state of society, and the moral imperative of their time.

Among other favorites are these:
◼ The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho because he depicts the journey of life in esoteric terms.
◼ The Rural Life by Verlyn Klinkenborg because he literally paints pictures with his words. He is a model of painting with words. On every page, the reader’s mind lights up like a
Christmas tree with images that transport, inspire, inform and call forth feelings, including
nostalgia for a slower, more eco-friendly time gone by.
◼ The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran because it speaks to the heart directly.
◼ Hard Times by Charles Dickens because it details the working conditions of the first
industrial age that are not far different from what we have seen throughout history.
◼ The War of Art by Steven Pressfield because he is a powerful model for economy of words.
◼ The Kingdom of God Is Within You by Leo Tolstoy because it explains how power corrupts.
◼ Great Expectations by Leo Tolstoy because of its moral themes and human insight.
I also adore poets through the ages from Christina Rossetti to Rumi, including Emily Dickinson, Rabindranath Tagore, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and contemporary poet, David Whyte, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
Having just published my first book, I am busy promoting my Book: Soulful Work 2.0.
This book arose organically at the confluence of 4 distinct life experiences, each like a tributary feeding into one great river current:

• Life inside a Catholic Convent gave me an inner-person orientation and a spiritual grounding. Immersion in the spiritual domain helped me to relate to the soul-deep issues that hold people back from enjoying life and self-actualizing.

• In transitioning from a mission-driven culture to a money-driven culture, I experienced
enormous cultural shock. In the first few months, I witnessed ruthless competition, people
working at a frenzied pitch, one-upmanship, winning at any expense, betrayals, bullying, and
rapid occupational burnout. I entered a culture of product over people, self-importance over
the common good, and public victory at the price of personal defeat. The humanizing culture of my past was displaced by the dehumanizing culture that destroyed many from the inside out. Still, now, it is painful to witness all of the self-destructive, soul-stultifying behaviors that are part of the workplace equation – and all this in the name of so-called progress.

• My educational leadership experiences offered a window into the lives of working people
from all walks of life: teachers, students, support staff, and parents in the wider educational
community, all struggling with quality-of-life issues relevant to their work. With doctoral
studies underway mid-career, this was more than a job. It became a qualitative study of the
working masses still leading lives of quiet desperation while working double duty to merely
keep up appearances.

• My doctoral dissertation research on the quality of work-life was followed by decades of
research and development focused on the nature of work, the history of work, the hazards of work, and the future of work in the coming Age of Artificial Intelligence. I studied from a
spiritual perspective, a practical perspective, and an academic perspective.

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with work: how we work, why we work, and how we can engage in a radical rethink of an employment model that is reducing interest in work altogether. All four dimensions of my life come together nicely to educate, inspire, lighten the heart, and help us envision a way forward. They represent a multi-faceted approach to the problem of an oppressed workforce that could be ascertained in no other way.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You can learn more about my book at https://unlimitedloveinstitute.org/directors.php

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1) Write for the right reason.
2) Give voice to the voiceless. – Martin Luther Kind
3) Write one true sentence. – Hemingway
4) Wield your word power in constructive ways.
5) If you can dream it, you can do it. – Walt Disney
6) A goal is a dream with a deadline. – Napoleon
7) They can conquer those who believe they can. — Virgil

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
◼ Know Thyself. – The Temple at Apollo at Delphi
◼ In the spiritual realm, great pressure is a great power.
◼ A loving heart is the truest wisdom. – Charles Dickens
◼ There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen. – Rumi
◼ It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is truly essential is invisible to the
eye. – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
◼ Every wall is a doorway. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are you reading now?
I continue a deep dive into the work of Dickens and of Tolstoy, who both wrote about the social predicaments of their time. I am also reading portions of the international bestseller: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.

What’s next for you as a writer?
In the Hopper is another book on Why We Suffer and How to Suffer Properly. All of us suffer but very few of us know the transformational value of suffering and how to benefit from the pain so that it is endured in service to us and for us.

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 Odyssey by Homer – the life story of one man and all men (and women)
2) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – the story of how the universe conspires to help the seeker.
3) The New Testament – a lesson in brotherly love and a source of spiritual comfort.
4) Soulful Work 2.0 – my own book, so as to reflect further on its larger significance

Author Websites and Profiles

Jo-Ann Triner Website

Jo-Ann Triner Amazon Profile

Jo-Ann Triner Author Profile on Smashwords

Jo-Ann Triner’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author McKinley Aspen

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written many books. My current focus is on my trilogy “Shadows in the Wind” of which book one came out in 2022 (July 7th launch date – book title: PRAESIDIUM) and book two came out in 2023 (August 8th launch date – book title: COGITATIO).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Cogitatio: Shadows in the Wind – Book Two

The word COGITATIO means REFLECTION in Latin. The original cover artwork showcases this as well.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write everything down that comes bubbling out of me, and then go back and try and make sense of where the starting point might be. It allows me to be more creative with the story, and sometimes I find that where I start is even a surprise to me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I absolutely love Phyllis Green (Nantucket Summer) and writers such as Brian Panowich (Like Lions), Jane Enright (Butter Side Up) and Amy S. Peele (Cut/Match/Hold Medical Mysteries). I am also a huge fan of Iain S. Thomas and Sophie Hannah.

What are you working on now?
A spy novel and a few nonfiction things

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a very personal promotion style. Those on my mailing list experience ability to communicate directly with me. I love to promote through author events – book signings and conferences, etc. It is always better to stand in front of people and discuss your book!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying. Everybody gets told “it’s not right for my list” and that is very well true. But, there is a place for you and your writing. You are not defined by people saying “it’s not right for my list”, rather remember how unique your writing is and keep pushing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There is no right or wrong, there just is.

What are you reading now?
George Weinstein – Return to Hardscrabble Road
Jenn Henry – Resilience: A different kind of strong
Maggie Paredes – On a Rooftop in Beijing

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m not sure. My dog, Otis, is getting very busy with his own book reviews so who knows – I might be helping him out someday soon!

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?
Black Beauty
Wishtress by Nadine Brandes
I wrote this for you by Iain S. Thomas

Author Websites and Profiles

McKinley Aspen Website

McKinley Aspen Amazon Profile

McKinley Aspen’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

 

Interview With Author Dyson Russell

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My names Dyson – I’m a Masters of Counselling student from Melbourne, Australia, and I currently work as a supermarket manager.

My newly released poetry book Marching with a Broken Shadow was the first book I have written, and I am currently working on a second book entitled Stories Heard from the Hearts Whisper.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Marching with a Broken Shadow was written basically as a consequence of years of writing poetry for self-expression and emotional rationalization… It got to a point where I had all this content – most of it terrible – but I thought, maybe I can actually turn this into something that is conceptually realized and thematically linked. I centred on trying to tap into the idea of collective human existence and the binding realities of human life; once I understood what I was aiming for, I essentially filled in the gaps in terms of content, writing through the cycles of emotion and experience that I hadn’t yet captured in my writing. It also took a lot of heavy editing to lift it up from something that was originally very personal and very insular, into something with more depth and quality.

In terms of the title, there was one night I was going through a particularly rough time caring for my sick mother, and we had huge financial burdens and pressures, and the very real threat of homelessness… and I wrote two poems, both of them terrible, but both just filled with raw emotion and anguish. One was called Walking Against a Tidal Wave, and the other was Marching with a Broken Shadow… I guess for whatever reason I liked Marching with a Broken Shadow and it took on a life of its own.

It’s like Billy Corgan’s song ‘Today’ where he sings ‘today is the greatest day’ in response to a period in his life where he was suicidal… but he makes the choice to persist and so the day is great… I guess ‘Marching with a Broken Shadow’ carries similar sentiments, similar ironies… We all have parts of us that are broken or hurt, maybe like our shadows they’re hidden, or maybe they’re in plain sight… but we’re going to march on anyway!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if this is unusual but everything I write creatively is handwritten first.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say I am probably more inspired by music if I’m honest… I think music has probably had more of an impact on my poetry and my writing more broadly in a creative sense. Maybe it’s because of the conveyance of a story in such a truncated mode and the similarity with a song or lyrics, but there’s definitely more songs I’ve heard that make me go ‘wow I want to write now!’.

What are you working on now?
Stories Heard from the Hearts Whisper is the next book I’m working on. It is also poetry, however I am attempting to write in completely different styles and using a fundamentally different structure for the overarching narrative. I think it’s always important to be breaking new ground, so this work will be my attempt to do that.

Marching with a Broken Shadow has an overarching narrative, read sequentially it follows a character’s passage from birth to death, and I hope that ultimately reader’s become the central character and absorb the experiences in a way that encourages them to ponder about their own. The poems are therefore very randomized in some ways, lots of different lengths, structures, tones etc. to reflect the capriciousness of life.

Stories Heard from the Hearts Whisper… it is completely different in terms of a structure. It’s broken into ten chapters, each chapter containing two epic poems – poems of significantly longer length, both of which are preceded by five short sharp punchy poems, where I’ve basically tried to reflect on the key takeaways from the epics and pack as much meaning into as few words/lines as I can… I’m definitely enjoying writing this work.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am hoping I am still yet to find this answer, but hopefully it’s just around the corner.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for enjoyment as the first priority.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This isn’t necessarily related to writing, but there’s a quote “everyone thinks we start at the same place… we don’t.”
I think it’s important to remember we don’t all have the same opportunities, the same resources, the same possibilities. Opening up to other people’s stories is a wonderful thing.

What are you reading now?
Honestly, mostly counselling textbooks and scholarly articles! Study is keeping me very busy, but the most recent book I read was Don’t Look Away by Danielle Laidley, which was beyond outstanding.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully the continual enjoyment of producing new material.

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?
Billy Corgan – Blinking with Fists

Any book by Chris Carter, though preferably An Evil Mind

My Two Centuries in Africa by Carl William Henn

Dyson Russell’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

 

Interview With Author Mahima Kaur

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Clinical Dietitian and I have just started writing books. This is my first book on kindle

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Beyond Reflections- Hacks for cultivating positive body image during weight loss

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
yes

What are you working on now?
working on few courses related to diet, disease management and writing 2 more books

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you want to be famous, you will never be best selling author

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
people aren’t inspired by the things you have done, they are inspired by how you make them feel

What are you reading now?
I am reading- Miracle Morning and Atomic habits

What’s next for you as a writer?
Women mindset

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?
Bhagvat Geeta, Gurbani, Universe has my back

 

Interview With Author Evelyn Hair

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Wife, Mother and Grandmother. As a homeschool mother and now a grandmother, I have always valued quality children’s books that present a healthy family life. Now I am writing such books herself.
Books that are family friendly, bright and attractive, truthful, encouraging and uplifting, interesting and engaging, cheerful, conservative, and not harmful to children’s innocent minds. Books that are able to be read and enjoyed by children and their parents, and grandparents.
My husband John and I have been married for over 30 years, and have four grown children, a son and three daughters, two sons in law, and four grandchildren.
You can contact me at evelynhairbooks@gmail.com

From the family of evelynhairbooks –

To Our Dear Parents, Grandparents and Carers.
We truly hope that you will spend time reading this book with your children and grandchildren,
interacting with them and building relationships that will last a lifetime.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
This first book is a true story about my family. I wrote it over 20 years ago when we lived in Central Australia working at the most remote roadhouse in Australia! As I had some time on my hands I illustrated the book myself. It is not until now that I have the opportunity to self publish it.
The book’s title is “ The BIG CHANGE – Emily moves to Outback Australia”. I have changed the names in the book, but basically it’s from the perspective of our youngest 5 year old daughter and how she perceived the BIG CHANGE of moving from a city suburb to remote Central Australia.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am overly expressive in my writing, as I tend to write like I speak. This often needs to be edited out, as it may be overwhelming for the reader and listener.
I am a homeschool mother, children’s club teacher and grandmother. I like to capture the attention of my children listeners and learners.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My mother greatly influenced me. She was my Sunday School Teacher and mother to my 7 siblings. She is an avid reader, writer and poet.
The Bible is my inspiration for life, learning and writing. It puts life in the right perspective.
My dear children have influenced my choice of book style. What captures their attention, catures mine.
As a mother and homeschool mum, I have always been frustrated with the lack of quality of children’s books in libraries, schools, and generally on the market. I have spent many hours on my knees in second hand shops hoping to find that elusive book that met my requirements for a good book for my children and grandchildren. But, alas, they are rare and when you find one you don’t let it go!
That’s the reason I knew that I had to start to write such books to help increase the general amount of good books for kids in the world and in my home for my own children and grandchildren.

My requirements for a good book for kids is :
Able to be read and enjoyed by children and their parents.
Interesting and engaging – a favorite book.
The content conforms to God’s design, creation and reality. It does not lie.
Pleases God and meets His standards of morality.
Encouraging and uplifting.
Bright and attractive.
Durable (a hard one to control)

What are you working on now?
I am learning a lot about self publishing and I am really cutting my teeth on this first book. I hope it will be a springboard for me as I publish many more books in the future. This book, however, will probably be the only one that I illustrate myself. =D

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Not sure. I am only new. =D

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This is my own quote but it is a truth related in the Bible,
” If you want to do anything well in this life, you need to study the character of God! “.

What are you reading now?
I read a lot of children’s books to my grandchildren, however I find it hard to find books that meet my standards.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will be starting a series about family, in a farm setting.

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 comprehensive book on herbs and natural medicine, a comprehensive book on edible plants.

Author Websites and Profiles

Evelyn Hair Website

Evelyn Hair Amazon Profile

 

Interview With Author Kerry E.B. Black

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Kerry E.B. Black, teller or tales fanciful and true, who has been called “chicken soup for the Gothic soul.” I’m a member of the Nomadic Wordsters, Wily Writers, and the Horror Writers Association, as well as a Rough Writer at Carrot Ranch Literary Society. I’ve worked many jobs, but most salient to this is my time as a correspondent for Gannet Publications and an editor of an historic newsletter. I’ve always loved the beauty and power of the written word, how it transcends time and unifies continents and generations.

To date, I’ve written two YA paranormal thrillers, three collections of short stories, and a horror poetry collection. I’ve also contributed pieces to many amazing zines and anthologies.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent publication through Tree Shadow Press is Poetic Nightmares, a collection of horror-inspired work.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I used to write at night, after my family slept, when quiet fell over our busy home and my thoughts could mingle with the stars. However, as I’ve aged and my unfortunate health issues have progressed, I cannot keep such strange hours. So now, I steal seconds between tasks and obligations to ply my craft. But as most writers know, our minds are always plotting, collecting characters and dialogue, and securing settings in our imaginations.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Such a question! We stand on the shoulders of giants, don’t we? I’ve been an avid writer since childhood, a skill nurtured by my mother. Thus, I’ve found inspiration in everything from childhood classics to modern masters. Some authors who have cast a spell on my imaginings, though, include Edgar A. Poe, C.S. Lewis, Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, Alice Hoffman, and Neil Gaiman.

What are you working on now?
My amazing publisher, Tree Shadow Press, is presently editing Nightmares on Holiday, my fourth collection of short scares. My editor there is also translating my YA thrillers into Spanish!

Otherwise, I’m writing a novella ostensibly about a witch trial, but in actuality, it’s the redemption of a main character.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Marketing. The bane of writers world over! I have a personal website: https://www.KerryEBBlack.com and I’ve curated followers on most social media to date, as advised. I also have an amazing company that creates stunning author merchandise from my book covers. (Chris Blickenderfer, the artist, hand-draws the covers for my collections, and they are stunning!) However, I’ve found my best promotions come from forging actual relationships with readers. Thus, this shy person must gird my loins to attend readings and signings,

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it! It may feel like you’re writing in a vacuum, but with persistence, you’ll find readers. Join a writers’ group. Nothing beats the value of constructive criticism, because we’re often too close to our own work to see it objectively. And along those lines, invest in a trusted editor. A good one keeps us from sounding like buffoons.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Make the most of every day, for time is fleeting.

What are you reading now?
I always have several books in my queue, because I read and review for many astounding authors. Presently, I’m enjoying an ARC (advanced readers’ copy) of The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen which releases in December, 2023. I always have an audiobook to help me through household chores and commutes, and at the present, that’s the thrilling The Last Child by John Hart. My daughter and I read together before her bedtime, and that story’s an ARC of The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf (releasing in October, 2023).

What’s next for you as a writer?
Remember that troublesome marketing question? Well, I’m trying to branch out into making videos to garner more attention for my books. Wish me good luck!

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?
It would behoove me to bring something like a scouting manual, with directions for survival. I’d bring a Bible for spiritual guidance, too, and for enjoyment, I’d bring Shakespeare’s collected works. It’s a sizable volume which covers just about every genre, and by virtue of its heft, it could be useful in killing invasive bugs and such.

Author Websites and Profiles

Kerry E.B. Black Website

Kerry E.B. Black Amazon Profile

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Interview With Author A. S. Mother

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an anonymous author. I am committed to hiding behind my pseudonym to protect myself and my child.

I have written one book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
TRAPPED was inspired by encountering as a parent how shockingly out of touch the UK system was in its handling of emotional abuse cases. When I noticed the sheer number of people encountering similar journeys, I realised that I couldn’t rest until my book had been published.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a single mother of a young child, all of my writing has been confined to time when my child was sleeping. Some of this time would be a mere daytime nap so I often found myself writing in my thoughts and storing up the content in my mind for after my child’s bedtime. This enforced stop-starting has marked a lot of shifts within the book which I found myself warming to as they add to TRAPPED’s mystery of whether it is actually a fiction or not.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
None, this is a very unique and revealing read.

What are you working on now?
I have been in discussion with a reader who has recommended a sequel. I have begun giving this some thought, along with potential for an ongoing blog.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am rather hoping that my readers will enable TRAPPED to fall into the hands which might benefit from it the most.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life will never stop while you are living, no matter how you behave.

What are you reading now?
Re-reading Bonjour Tristesse by F. Sagon – it’s my favourite Summer read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am focused on my career outside of writing fiction, but I am interested in continuing promoting awareness of the core issues which TRAPPED reveals over time.

Author Websites and Profiles

A. S. Mother Website

A. S. Mother Amazon Profile

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Interview With Author Ray Ray

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As a writer, I hold prominence, chuckles! But I take pride in considering myself an experienced individual in the realms of business, religion, cooking, teaching, and higher education. My repertoire encompasses a wide array of talents and fascinations, some of which are deemed unconventional by my spouse and companions. Likewise, I possess an unyielding commitment to pioneering, constantly searching for novel methodologies to transform the industry. During my moments of relaxation, I find solace in absorbing literature, composing prose, and luxuriating in harmonious tunes. My published works on Amazon exceed a count of 30. Feel free to conduct a search and discover them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It is titled Breaking the Stigma, my latest publication and it delves into the depths of my mental health journey, providing an insightful account of my personal battles and triumphant recovery. With the sincere hope that those facing comparable circumstances will find solace within its pages, I aspire to empower readers to conquer their own adversities, just as I have triumphed over mine.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, indeed, if considering writing in unconventional locations such as the restroom, the car park, or during the late hours of the night, then I do engage in such practices. Occasionally, I find myself awakening at approximately 3am to engage in writing endeavors, taking advantage of the serene atmosphere within the household, as the children are soundly asleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been profoundly influenced by various books, such as Mark Mason’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Eddie Jaku’s The Happiest Man on Earth, Adam Grant’s Think Again, and Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power.

What are you working on now?
“The Divine” is the title of my current literary work, it is a thought-provoking piece delving into the diverse perspectives on the perception of God among various religious beliefs, as well as exploring the enigmatic complexities that surround the multifaceted essence of the divine being.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Sometimes I use Bookbub and sometimes I use Booksy’s Bookbargain to promote my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well, I’m a new writer myself, so I need some advice (chuckles)! But seriously, writing in today’s world comes with a lot of challenges, but when you feel like giving up, get yourself a writing instrument and write whatever comes to your mind.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what makes you happy life is short my dad always say that to me growing up.

What are you reading now?
The monk who sold his ferrari by Robin Sharma.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Really, I can’t say precisely what’s next, but I plan on just working and releasing new books to the market to get that money up.

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?
My first will be “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” and then “48 Laws of Power”, “Think Straight” by Darius Foroux, and “Think Again” by Adam Grant.

Author Websites and Profiles

Ray Ray Amazon Profile

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Interview With Author Richard R. Becker

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an award-winning author. Two years ago, my short story collection, 50 States, landed on the Amazon bestsellers list for three consecutive months and went on to win the ABR Book Excellence Award, Spring 2022 BookFest Award, and 2023 Book Excellence Award, It was also a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards.

I also put out a ten-story companion to that collection, Ten Threads, last year. This year, I’m thrilled to release my debut novel, which has already received some 5-star reviews.

Aside from writing fiction, I’ve worked as a copywriter, journalist, and strategic communicator for over 30 years and taught marketing classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas between 2000 and 2020. I’ve also contributed to five nonfiction books, mostly related to marketing, public relations, and management.

I’m married with two children. My son recently graduated from college, and my daughter is a senior student-athlete in high school.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is Third Wheel. It’s a story about belonging, betrayal, and breaking away. It’s narrated by 14-year-old protagonist Brady Wilks, a Midwest transplant trying to find his way in Las Vegas in 1982. The odds aren’t in his favor. His family situation is strained. His closest friends are teenage criminals.

While the work is fiction, Brady and I share some life experiences. My family moved to Las Vegas in the 1980s. It was a difficult time for me because I had been raised by my grandparents before being reunited with my mother after she remarried and had my sister. When kids are thrust into difficult situations, they tend to turn toward anyone who will accept them, and passing around a bottle of alcohol is about as low of a bar for acceptance as you can get.

I don’t think I chose this story as my debut novel as much as it chose me. The first chapter was originally published as a short story in Ten Threads.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I was writing short stories, I was mostly a morning writer who liked to sit down at my computer in my home office with a cup of coffee and quiet. I still prefer it that way, but I’ve also found that outlines can be very important in pinning down a plot — even if you abandon the outline along the way. Right. I most certainly will abandon the outline along the way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My reading is as eclectic as my writing, but my standby influencers remain Earnest Hemingway and John Updike. I’ve always admired their ability to write straight, honest prose about people. Along with them, I’ve taken several online classes with Joyce Carol Oates, Walter Mosley, and David Mamet.

But there are so many other people I could mention. Most recently, I’ve enjoyed Pierce Brown, Fredrick Backman, S.A. Cosby, Joe R. Lansdale, Jandy Nelson, and Haruki Murakami, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just started a new novel. The working title is Time Capsule, which some of my readers might remember from 50 States. While most people won’t see it reading that short story, it’s a psychological thriller with a literary fiction bent.

I have a few short stories in progress. One of them will shed more light on the shortest short story that was included in 50 States. And although I see at least two more novels before tackling Brady Wilks again, I would be lying if I said there wasn’t more to that story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I learned so much from marketing 50 States, I would have to write a book to share it all. Overall, my approach marries a traditional marketing plan with grassroots outreach.

Books are unique in that you have to generate top-down interest like editorial reviews and bottom-up interest like reader reviews at the same time. Everything else works in support of reviews: banners, book trailers, interviews, social networks, book signings, advertising, etc. Many writers don’t know that marketing a book can be more exhausting than writing a book. But you have to do it, whether your book is traditionally published or not. If you only write it, they will not come.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find your own way. The best writers reinforce this idea repeatedly, and I agree with them. What works for one writer doesn’t work for another. So pass on the book-writing formulas, marketing analysis, and the false promises of AI.

The best inspirational sparks will come to you by living your best life. If you are attuned to them and invested enough time in developing some skills, turning them into a flame will be the most rewarding thing in the world.

And then, there is book marketing. Add another six months or a year after you’ve finished your book to plan it all out. You’ll need it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Put your project first. Seriously. Distractions and excuses are the reason most books are never written.

What are you reading now?
I have four books going at any given time: one on my phone, one audiobook, one that I read with my daughter, and one nonfiction I read at lunch. These books generally toggle back and forth between classics, literary fiction, thrillers, mysteries, history, science fiction, romance, fantasy, young adult, and speculative fiction.

Keeping that in mind, my list looks like this at the moment: “Down To A Sunless Sea” by David Graham, “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingslover, “The Winners” by Fredrick Backman, and “Life After Life” by Kate Atkinson.

“Life After Life” is a stand-in for what is normally my non-fiction slot. I was so disappointed in the last non-fiction I read that I needed a break, and “Life After Life” happened to be the book my alumni association was reading.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More and more of my time is spent writing fiction. So, while I still work with several commercial clients, I’m not looking to add any more. The ones I have are amazing, especially because some of my time is spent coaching a high school softball team.

Writing short stories and novels has been the best chapter in my career as a writer. It also allowed me to meet some wonderful people along the way, especially people who share a passion for books. What’s better than that?

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Last time I was featured with the Awesome Gang, I think I said “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown, “Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Stand” by Steven King, and “Dune” by Frank Herbert.

Let’s change it up this time. “Rabbit, Run” by John Updike, “I’ll Give You The Sun” by Jandy Nelson, and “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving. “Dune” by Frank Herbert stays on the list. My seventh-grade reading teacher encouraged me to read it and it changed everything.

Author Websites and Profiles

Richard R. Becker Website

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Richard R. Becker’s Social Media Links

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Facebook Profile

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Interview With Author Edward Farber

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a nonagenarian and still at it both writing and art. I used both as long as I can remember, especially as a copywriter and art director, and eventually advertising agency CEO. After retiring from the business world, I returned to my two loves, writing and art. As a writer, my short stories have appeared in various literary magazines. Two published books, Looking Back with a Smile, a humorous memoir, and Echoes of Clara Avenue, a collection of short stories, are available as ebooks at Amazon. My new novel, Baron & Brannigan, Book 1 Song and Dance, is now available as a paperback (ebook coming) at Amazon. I’m currently completing the second book in that series, Brannigan’s Quest, as well as a prequel, The Rover, a novella, both hopefully to be out in 2023.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Baron & Brannigan, Book 1 Song and Dance is my new novel set in the 1890s. As an advertising man in the 20th century, I was intrigued by the patent medicine industry and traveling medicine shows which flourished in the latter part of the 19th century and were the source of a lot of flim flam and ballyhoo (both terms of that time.) I did a lot of research on that era, especially the 1890s, and my novel is the result.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It may be a bit unusual that someone my age is still writing for publication, but while I can, I will. I began using the typewriter (remember those?) but now am quite comfortable with the computer. I split my time between writing and painting with no rigid time schedule for either.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many books and authors have influenced me especially those in the historical novel category, going all the way back to Sir Walter Scott, Dumas, Robert Louis Stevenson, Dickens, James Fenimore Cooper, and later authors including Wellman, Sabatini, Uris and John Jakes.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the second book in the Baron and Brannigan series, Brannigan’s Quest which takes up where the first novel in the series ends. Also I have completed a manuscript for a prequel to the series, The Rover, a novella which covers the early adventures of Doc Noble, one of the characters in the first book. Also coming a second collection of short stories.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promotion is an art in itself and probably more difficult than writing the book. Even as an old ad man, I’m still learning the various alternatives for promotion which are many and mind-boggling.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Many novice writers neglect the most important aspect of being a writer…re-writing over and over until you reach the best you can. Re-writing refines the raw, first attempt, but too many young novices are inclined to think their first attempt IS the best they can do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be a prolific reader before and while you practice writing.

What are you reading now?
I am currently re-reading Raymond Chandler’s books. Although he wrote detective novels, I find his handling of the language to be inspiring and quite literary.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing–another collection of short stories (in between painting.)

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 my, that’s tough. Too many books to choose from, and I am not prone to re-reading (although I have and do.) But I might bring a dictionary to check my spelling as I write, as well as tablets instead of books.

Author Websites and Profiles

Edward Farber Website

Edward Farber Amazon Profile

 

Interview With Author Suzanne Berget

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a bookseller and video game journalist from Oslo, Norway, who is actually a technical translator, but also dabbles in sewing, painting and the occasional guest lecture at the University of Oslo. I’m married, no kids, currently no pets, but I really want to get a dog and call him Peanut, alas my partner is allergic to both dogs and peanuts.

I’ve only written one book (or technically two, but we don’t talk about the other one), but I have plans for many more!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is called Let Slip the Beasts and the title is a play on “Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war” from Julius Ceasar by Shakespeare.

The book is inspired by my love for comic books and video games, specifically X-men, Lazarus and Resident Evil, but also movies and series like Ginger Snaps and Orphan Black. It ironically contains no other references to Shakespeare (that I know of), but a surprising amount of references to The Second Coming by W.B. Yeats.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wish I HAD writing habits, then I probably would have finished this book a lot sooner! Unfortunately, I am a master procrastinator and easily distracted, so any writing habit I do have is an exception and not the rule.

But, I tend to write in the evenings, usually accompanied by a glass of Writer’s Tears (that’s a whiskey, not my actual tears…well, maybe a few).

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Definitely Hemingway in a lot of ways. I like to be succint and to the point, which is why my book is “so short”. It’s not short, mom, it’s economical!

But also Nicole Kornher-Stace with her portrayals of feral women, capitalist hellscapes and tragic character arcs, as well as Tamsyn Muir, whose Locked Tomb series is just so weird and gory and wonderful! Reading Gideon the Ninth feels like playing a Metroidvania-type video game, it’s absolutely bonkers.

And Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield – that book gave me nightmares!

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a horror novel set on an abandoned oil rig off the coast of Norway inspired by the nightmares I had after reading Our Wives Under the Sea at bedtime. It’s in Norwegian and the first draft is finished. It’s very rough, though, so the pacing is all over the place and character motivations are non-existent, but I have a pretty solid beginning and an ending I quite like, so all in all it’s in pretty good shape.

I’m also working on the sequel to Let Slip the Beasts, which promises to be bigger, better and even more brutaler.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Method? No, it’s all madness tbh. My biggest platform is on Twitter, but that place is in its death throes so I’m kinda starting from scratch on Instagram and Bluesky. It’s a weird time to be an indie author trying to promote your book, let me tell you that!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write the damn thing! The first draft doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be. And also, make sure your book and your query letter is in the best shape they can be before you start querying agents. Pick 10, but not your dream agents, and query them first. If you don’t get a single nibble, then either your sample pages or your query letter needs work. I queried Let Slip the Beasts waaaay to early and it earned me a lot of rejections!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Get out of your characters’ way and just let them talk!” That was from my editor DJ after having read yet another dialogue section where the characters were doing an awful lot of different things with their eyes and hands in-between saying their lines.

What are you reading now?
I’ve recently read She Who became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach and now I’m reading Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse and alpha/beta reading a book for a friend.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more! Let Slip the Beasts is just the first book in a trilogy, and then there’s that Norwegian horror novel and I also have some ideas for a fantasy novel, so I’m just going to have to buckle up/down and get to writing. I’ve taken a long break after the release of LStB and focused on other hobbies, but now it’s time to get back into it. These books ain’t gonna write themselves (although I wish they would)!

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?
Aaaah, just 3 or 4?? Ehm, The Lord of the Rings, because I haven’t actually finished it (don’t come at me), The Wheel of Time Omnibus Edition, good for reading and for anchoring down my makeshift abode and maybe it works as a flotational device, who knows? The Bees by Laline Paull because I love it and finally, Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, so I can figure out what on Earth is going on in that book.

Author Websites and Profiles

Suzanne Berget Website

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Interview With Author Renee Bauer

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I'm a divorce attorney, motivational speaker, and podcast host, but I've been a writer for as long as I can remember. I wrote a divorce book and a law firm "how to" book. But, I'm most proud of my debut personal development book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
She Who Wins: Ditch Your Inner Good Girl, Overcome Uncertainty, and Win at Your Life. I see too many women playing too small. They are trying to be it all to everyone and are losing themselves along the way. This book is a love letter to all of the powerful women I've had the privilege to work with over the years.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write listening to really loud music. I usually pick a theme artist and that is who I'll listen to while I write the whole book.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite non-fiction book is Devil in the White City. Larson is a beautiful storyteller. I also love Jen Sincero for some inspiration and some laughs, too. Untamed lit my soul on fire and was the inspiration for She Who Wins.

What are you working on now?
I switched gears and am trying to finish up a witchy, historical fiction book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I launched a pre-order campaign by hosting a live event, pre-order giveaways, a book reader's club, and some fun giveaways.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just get your a$$ in the chair and write. Stop reading all the books on how to write and just write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There shouldn't be more than 1-2 exclamation points in an entire book! My agent hates exclamation points!!!

What are you reading now?
Yellowface – what a fun read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a book proposal that will make it's way into the world for another non-fiction book plus finishing up the fiction manuscript.

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 Course in Miracles (because I'd probably be rescued before I finished it).
the sun and her flowers by rupi kaur
Anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Author Websites and Profiles

Renee Bauer Website

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Interview With Author Paul Flanagan

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Paul Flanagan. I'm 45yrs old. I work as a professional ghostwriter (I have written numerous single books and book series). I'm a Christian. I'm married and have a daughter along with four dogs (my dogs drive me crazy…or maybe that's my wife…at my age it all blurs together). I began writing books at the age of sixteen. I love to write clean humor. 'Carving Up Riley' is my first clean humor series (after Riley I will write a clean comedy mafia series). I love JESUS and want to make sure my work something a family can sit down and read together (cuts down on the lawsuits, too). I live in North Georgia and I like Marvin the Martian and the Pink Panther.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book series is titled: Riley MacLeod Series: Carving Up Riley (Book 1).
The series will be between 4-6 books at 40K apiece.
My wife and daughter loved the first book in the series. I decided to publish the series for them. They are my greatest fans and that's enough for me. I hope other people can enjoy the series, too.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I'm a panster. I fly with the wind! Imagination can't be put into chapter outlines. When I write I let my imagination take full control and off I go (not to the mental ward by the way).

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a young man I liked Lewis Grizzard and Robert Fulghum. I read a lot of non-fictional books which some may see as odd because I write fictional books. That's one of those strange mysteries in the Twi-Light Zone.

What are you working on now?
When I'm not writing a book for a client I'm working on 'A Riley MacLeod Christmas Carol' Book 4 to the Riley MacLeod series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My wife handles all that for me. She's the social media whiz in the family. I still like my old VCR.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from your heart, not to sell books or become famous. A story must come to life and be able to live. You can't shove a story into a box and expect it to breath and live. If your book sells, great. If not, who cares. You have to write for yourself before you write for anyone. Never deny imagination the chance to soar above the clouds inside of your heart by being conformed to how the world thinks you should write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
'Believe in JESUS'. As a Christian my faith in JESUS is my strength and hope. JESUS allows me to be the writer I am today.

What are you reading now?
Charlie Brown comics

What’s next for you as a writer?
A new clean comedy series that's focused on a silly little mafia wise guy and his wife (they get into loads of trouble).

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?
My Bible.
Robert Fulghum books
Lewis Grizzard books
Charlie Brown comics
'Five People You Meet In Heaven"
And a pizza cook book

Author Websites and Profiles

Paul Flanagan Amazon Profile

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Interview With Author C.J.S. Hayward

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Eastern Orthodox author with a main contribution to the conversation being study of how we can live a human life in a technologized world.

A Pack of Cigarettes for the Mind represents a collection of my very best work and an introduction to the topic.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Pack of Cigarettes for the Mind was built to win a Pulitzer, and is no a Pulitzer nominee. After working on large collections, this was chosen to be simpler and cut straight towards the very best of a very large collection.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In my works, especially earlier works but including some recent entries, I try to work out what to say and what genre in which to say it. (I've written in a lot of genres.) The writing process is a sort of wrestling both to master the work and get myself out of the work's way so it can be processed as it should be.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S. Lewis, for starters, and G.K. Chesterton. I was much affected by Madeleine l'Engle in my youth but now I have been drawn through other authors. I am presently reading through the whole collection of St. John Chrysostom ("Chrysostom" is Greek for "Golden Mouth").

I haven't read all that's out there, but I have read most critiques of technology out there, with the exception of Ted Kazynski, because I don't want to read someone whose claim to fame is sensational murder. I wrote on one series description:

Have you read Amusing Ourselves to Death, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, The Plug-in Drug, The Shallows, etc.?

This book is different. It doesn't just analyze the problem; it works for strategies and solutions, and it draws on the full resources of a great spiritual tradition, that of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

What are you working on now?
Right now I'm working on reading through St. John's collection. He is a masterful writer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My main website at https://cjshayward.com has a very long reach. It has about five thousand unique visitors per day, and individual works have a link to be able to buy the collection it belongs to.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best works are nothing that I can summon by simply deciding to write. Instead something comes to me half-formed, and I try to sound out what it is and how to say it, as articulated above.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
For writers, probably that writing is an excellent second job. A very few authors have writing pay for itself; for the rest of us, you can be a great author with excellent impact without having writing work as a sole income.

What are you reading now?
One of St. John Chrysostom's commentaries.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Collecting all the newer works on my website into my C.J.S. Hayward: The Complete Works collection. My signal contribution to the conversation is writing about Orthodoxy, technology, and life, but that's only about 20% of what I've written.

The Best of Jonathan's Corner is a Swiss Army Knife of a collection that collects much of my best writing across the board.

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 New Testament and Septuagint, preferably in an English-Greek parallel version.

The Philokalia and the works St. Isaac the Syrian. I'm not reading them right now (I'm working on more basic reading), but stranded with a lot of time, they'd be invaluable.

Author Websites and Profiles

C.J.S. Hayward Website

C.J.S. Hayward Amazon Profile

C.J.S. Hayward’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

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