Awesome Author Interviews

Interview With Author Crissi McDonald

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I wrote my first book when I was eight years old, and illustrated it as well. It was (of course) about horses. Through school and college, I continued to write poetry and short stories, keeping them private because I didn’t feel as though I really had anything to say, nor could I say it well. This, despite great grades in all my English, philosophy, and writing courses.

I began publishing a blog through WordPress in 2012, and because of the positive feedback, began gaining confidence in my writing. This led to writing articles for magazines, as well as submitting photos to publications, and for my husband’s book covers. In 2019 I published my first non-fiction book, “Continuing The Ride,” followed by a second non-fiction book, “Getting Along with Horses.” Late in 2020, I began having dreams that caught my attention, and I began to write them down. These formed the backbone of my first fiction novel, “North to Home.” In May of 2023 I released the sequel to this book, called “The Clock in the Water.” I hope to release the third, and final book in this series later next year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Clock in the Water” arose from my first book, “North to Home.” I loved the characters and wanted to see what happened next!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Completely usual: I get up every morning early and write (on a good day) for three to four hours. On a busier day, I try to get 500-1000 words written.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon. Stephen King, JK Rowling/Robert Galbraith, Ian Rankin, Dana Stabenow, Hilary Mantel, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Walter Farley, Madeleine L’Engle.

What are you working on now?
The third book in the “North to Home” trilogy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Kindlepreneur to save myself time and money! As an Indie author/publisher, both are in short supply.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read everything, even genres you don’t think you’d like. Find a book you can’t put down and study what makes it attractive to you. Read any book about writing you can get your hands on. And write every. day.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The whole book of “The War of Art,” by Steven Pressfield.

What are you reading now?
“A Great Deliverance” by Elizabeth George.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have two more books knocking around in my brain, both in the magical realism genre.

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?
Jonathon Livingston Seagull – Richard Bach
A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
The Dark Tower (The Gunslinger) – Stephen King

Author Websites and Profiles

Crissi McDonald Website

Crissi McDonald Amazon Profile

Crissi McDonald Author Profile on Smashwords

Crissi McDonald’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Interview With Author Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of Mindvalley, a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, I dedicated the last 20 years of my career to the personal growth and transformation industry.
Becoming Flawesome is my first book but I do plan to write more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Becoming Flawesome: The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life
My book was inspired by my work and my life.
Despite it’s good intentions the personal development industry has a dark side as well, being in this industry for over 20 years I can definitely shed some light on it using my life story as an example.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
While writing this book I realized that I like to crate my own words and punctuation.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love fiction, my favorite authors would be J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, M. Bulgakov to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I am currently busy with my book launch which is on July 10, 2023 but I plant to start writing my second book by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As this is my first book I don’t really know much about promoting part, so I totally rely on my publisher, Hay House, to deal with this side of work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I can only give advice to people who write books because they’re writers and writing, is there a natural form of self-expression –
Ask yourself, why exactly you are doing it. It’s incredibly important. You really have to understand why you’re doing this. And depending on that, you will choose your weighting path.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life is too important to be taken seriously. O.Wilde

What are you reading now?
Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield”.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I already have an idea for my second book which I hope to start wrighting at the end of the year after I finish my book tour.

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 Ii said before, I love fiction, so it will be something by one of my favorite authors or probably a book on psychology, I love this topic as well.

Author Websites and Profiles

Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani Website

Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani Amazon Profile

Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

 

Interview With Author Quentin Eckman

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Dead Giveaway: A Ghost Story in the High Desert is my first published novel. My second novel is being edited as of June 2023, and should be ready for release soon. Currently, I am writing a serialized novel on Kindle Vella, titled “Triple Jack.” It is about a time traveler who links together several unsolved mysteries. ASIN: B0C5GZG6RM

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, “The Hybrids,” is about a gambler that gets beat senseless, an Alien from a planet 12 light years from Earth, and a genius young woman who isn’t named Ringo. It was inspired by a friend who asked if I might write a book about aliens. The Hybrids will be available from Amazon Books in the near future.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As far as writing habits go, I’m not sure what qualifies as unusual. I do my best writing late at night. I try to write the kind of stories that I would like to read if they had been written by someone else.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love to read! For fiction, my favorites are Kurt Vonnegut, Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen King, and Niel Gaiman. My favorite non-fiction authors are Jared Diamond, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Doris Kerns Goodwin, and Bob Woodward.

What are you working on now?
Besides my Kindle Vella serialized book, “Triple Jack,” I am writing a fictionalized anthology about a World War II veteran who is attempting to bring heating oil to his young snowed-in family before they freeze to death. The narrative is interspersed with flashbacks from his youth, his coming of age, his war experiences, and his struggles to raise a family while working two jobs. He quickly learns war decorations have little value once the conflict is over.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still testing the promotion waters. I’ve used Booksy, Written Word, and Amazon advertising with mixed results. Having only one book to promote limits my reach.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new writer myself, although I’m not a new person. At age 74, I can only offer advice that many years on the planet bring: 1. Write what you know. 2. Be fearless, and don’t be afraid to expose your vulnerabilities. 3. Find as many beta readers as you can. 4. Listen to criticism, but follow your instincts. 5. Don’t fear failure.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Jerry Jenkins advises, don’t tell your readers, show them.

What are you reading now?
I just finished re-reading George Orwell’s 1984. I have read it twice in the past, the first time while still in high school. I’ve just started reading “Everything On It” by Shel Silverstein.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve got a story brewing in the back of my brain that will involve a Rock hound who finds a body part, a farmer suspected of murder, and the disappearance of a young woman who has been the victim of an abusive husband that happens to have a perfect alibi.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I can only bring three or four books, I’m not going! OK, I’ll answer the question: 1. Guns Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond 2. Catch 22, by Joseph Heller 3. The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver 4. Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

Author Websites and Profiles

Quentin Eckman Website

Quentin Eckman Amazon Profile

Quentin Eckman’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Blaque Diamond

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I written six books and co-authored 3 and written a forward in another.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
1380 Prospect Avenue: Not Another Bronx Tale. Working with children and families fir vet 40 years inspired me to write about teens in foster care

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like sitting on the balcony overlooking NYC.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Are You There God It’s Me Margaret , by Judy Blume and A Time to Forgive, by Libby Edwards-Warner

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my Podcast, Basic Blaque After Dark on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month @8 pm. We have relaxed conversation  about family changes, cultural customs, and parenting styles. Now there will be other sensitive topics that arise based on the needs and expectations of the community, and from time to time we have guest and friends dropping by with other topics.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media works best for me as well as my website hoots://www.authorblaquediamond.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, write, write, and keep on writing until it makes sense to you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To get to know your writing style and be my authentic self.

What are you reading now?
Cicely Tyson ‘s As I Am

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m hoping to have my trailer for 1380 Prospect Avenue: Not Another Bronx Tale. turn into a movie. I am also working on a television 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?
Acts of Faith by Iyanla Vanzant,
Survival Guide by Chris McNab
Caged bird, Maya Angelou

Author Websites and Profiles

Blaque Diamond Website

Blaque Diamond’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Charlie Comparetto

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a filmmaker and author living in Florida and New York. My first book “Ghost in the Graveyard” was made into a motion picture in 2019. My second foray into writing is a collection of short stories include 2 excerpts from “Ghost”, thus the title: “Ghost in the Graveyard and other short stories.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Ghost and the Graveyard and other short stories” is a collection of short stories, mainly based on true events and reflections on major life events from my life. Some are experts from larger works being developed for film and other projects.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not particularly but when I do get on a roll it is hard for me to stop. I’ve been known to write through the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ken Follett is probably my favorite author from a pure enjoyment standpoint. But I’ve probably read as many scripts as I have books. Tarantinos scripts are a pure joy.

What are you working on now?
I working on several spec scripts, trying to figure what project to focus on next. On the book front I’m also working on a follow up to Ghost in the Graveyard tentatively titled “Martha Returns.” It will be a more horror version of the first, which was more of a sweet ghost story. This time Martha’s mad.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a relatively new author myself I’ll take all the advice I can get, and I’m probably not qualified to give much advise. Maybe: Follow you passion. Grind. Never give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Live in the moment. Don’t dwell in the past. Don’t fret about the future. One day at a time.

What are you reading now?
“Atlas Shrugged” – Ayn Rand

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing, we’ll see-

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?
Wind Sand and Stars-Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Pillars of the Earth- Ken Follett
Kill Bill 1&2
The Bible

Author Websites and Profiles

Charlie Comparetto Amazon Profile

Charlie Comparetto’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Interview With Author Latonya Littlejohn

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Latonya Michelle Littlejohn. I became an author in 2018. I’ve written two books and six anthologies.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is entitled Dear Deonte which I coauthored with my son Deonte Ray.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusual writing habits but I am guilty of procrastinating.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Terry McMillan has always been a favorite of mine.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up to my first book Delayed But Not Denied The Story Of Torie.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon has worked really well for me but I’d love to go further.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t procrastinate. Write the book and promote the book!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Share your story and don’t worry about what people think because it’s not their story,it’s yours.

What are you reading now?
I’m not currently reading anything because I’m in the lab writing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Sharing my story and pushing my books to their highest potential.

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?
Delayed But Not Denied written by me
Pretty Sad vol.3&4 I co authored in these.

Interview With Author Saborna Roychowdhury

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Calcutta, India, moved to the U.S. for undergraduate work in chemistry. I live in Houston, Texas, with my husband and twin daughters.

In 2004, I took a writing workshop at Grub Street, Boston. The teacher gave us a writing prompt and I wrote my first story, “Bengal Monsoon.” When it came to sharing the story with the class, I was shy. I was a chemistry teacher and this was my first attempt at writing a story. But the class liked my story and my teacher said, “You take what could be unsympathetic characters and make them sympathetic as the reader comes to understand their travails and daily pressure. It’s not easy to craft such characters with nuance and sensitivity, and you do so beautifully.” He asked me to submit my work to literary magazines.

To my great delight, “New York Stories” published the piece. At the end of 2004, I received a letter from the magazine– “Each year we receive 3,000 stories. We publish 25. We nominate 6, the best of the best, for Pushcart prize, and yours we are happy to say, was among them.”

It gradually dawned on me that I should take my writing seriously. I wrote two novels after that—THE DISTANCE (2013) and EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO YOU (2022). The novels were very well-received in many publications in the U.S. and elsewhere. THE DISTANCE received a starred review in the “Publisher Weekly”. “Kirkus Reviews” called EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO YOU, “…a heart-wrenching family drama, as powerful as it is delicate.”

As a fiction writer, I see my novels as the chance to connect with a wider audience. I really enjoy the sacred bond with my readers; the amazing synergy that is created when readers live in the fictional space I created for them with my pen. Being South Asian, my stories introduce readers to a different culture, a different viewpoint. I often take a “macro” geopolitical situation and allow the readers to see it from the “micro” level where human lives play out.

And when I am not writing and chasing fictional characters, I am a very earnest Chemistry Instructor at various Community Colleges.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO YOU. In this book, I wanted to ask why religious extremism and violence are tearing apart communities in India. It was important for me to explore why people get involved in this religious extremism that encourages violence. I wanted to identify its leading causes.

In my book, I talk about poverty as a root cause, but also blame lack of employment, education, healthcare, lack of political power among Indian Muslims. In recent times there is increasing surveillance of Indian Muslims youth similar to the rise of Islamophobia in the U.S. after 9/11. Violent ideology can attract disaffected youth who face daily prejudice and discrimination.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always write in a coffee shop. I grab a snack and a beverage and open up my laptop to write. The hum of noises and smell of coffee takes away the pressure to perform. It is in the most crowded coffee shop that I find the peace and the inner quiet I need to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a big fan of Jhumpa Lahiri. I think she writes linguistically brilliant and
innovative prose. I sometimes find myself drooling over her sentences. But my favorite author is still Rohinton Mistry. I have rarely seen an author choose such unremarkable people and turn them into such extra-ordinary characters in a novel. Mistry’s honesty and empathy has the power to melt even the stoniest of hearts. He understands Indian politics and class/caste issues like no other author I have known.

What are you working on now?
I have not started a new project. I’m so busy marketing and promoting my book that I haven’t had the time to think about the next book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website, https://www.sabornaroychowdhury.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have seen perfectionism often holds new authors back from finishing a book. They cannot stop editing and re-writing. My advice to these new authors is—don’t take yourself too seriously. Writing should be fun. Your story is important and it needs to be told.

Always think of your work as a first draft that no one needs to see. You will have many chances to make changes later. Let the writing flow and let the story come out naturally. If you put too much pressure on yourself, you won’t enjoy writing anymore.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In my earlier drafts, my editor didn’t feel I had the chosen the right POV to tell the story. When we choose the right POV, the narration feels consistent and intentional. It is the overarching control we need to guide the reader through the story. When I wrote the first draft, some sections were in omniscient third person and others were in close third person.

My editor gave me very valuable advice. She said, “You know how it can be difficult to cook an elaborate meal when there are “too many cooks in the kitchen?” It’s difficult to orchestrate, to meld flavor, and generally organize structure, when too many people are running about with their own agendas (some of them wielding knives!). Well the same goes for crafting a story. If we allow too many characters to have narrative privilege, the story can become unwieldy, lose its flow, pacing, and center. You have created an ambitious story with many subplots and character lines. Now what we need to do is streamline and make some decisions. Covering too many points of view weakens the foundation of your novel. So a central question to ask is: Who do I think deserves narrative privilege?”

So when revising, I tried to limit between two central perspective, a toggle
between the two protagonists.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading, “Two Women” by Gemini Wahhaj. The author grew up in Bangladesh, but she left the country long ago and travelled far beyond its borders. So in her observation, I found both the intimacy of an insider and the distance and objectivity of an outsider. From her removed, abstract promontory she weaves her stories about lives in Bangladesh and USA—how immigrants belonging to different classes get treated differently in the USA, how meaning of development changes for a Bangladeshi man who experiences racism, how a woman who chooses the traditional path in life misses her freedom. Multiple themes come out beautifully on the page. All the characters are crafted with sensitivity and nuance. Their pain when faced with difficult life choices hit me right in the gut. I’ll wait for this author’s next book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope my book, EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO YOU, is made into a series and I can help with the script.

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) Brick Lane—by Monica Ali
(2) Shadow Lines— by Amitav Ghosh
(3) Lost in Translation: A Life in a New Language by Eva Hoffman
(4) Interpreter Of Maladies— A Pulitzer Prize Winner by Jhumpa Lahiri

Author Websites and Profiles

Saborna Roychowdhury Website

Saborna Roychowdhury’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author Geza Tatrallyay

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Geza was born in Budapest, Hungary, and escaped with his family in 1956, emigrating to Canada. He graduated with a BA in Human Ecology from Harvard University in 1972, and, as a Rhodes Scholar, next attended Oxford University, where he obtained a BA/MA in Human Sciences in 1974. He completed his studies with a MSc in Economics from London School of Economics and Politics and represented Canada as an épée fencer in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

Geza’s professional experience has included stints in government (Department of Finance, Canada), international organizations (Inter-American Development Bank), corporate and investment banking (Royal Bank of Canada), private equity (MAVA Capital in Hungary, Syntaxis Capital’s Origination / Investment Committee in Vienna) and environmental entrepreneurship (Vertis Environmental Finance in Budapest, GreenSource GmbH in Vienna and JCM Capital in Toronto). Since 2004, he has been semi-retired, managing a few investments mainly in the clean energy sector and devoting his time to the two great loves in his life, his family and his writing. Geza now has sixteen published books (six thrillers, three memoirs, five poetry collections, one short story collection and one children’s picture story book – see below). His poems, short stories and essays have been published in journals and anthologies in Canada and the USA. With dual Canadian and Hungarian nationality, and an American green card, Geza divides his time between San Francisco, California and Barnard, Vermont, with frequent trips to Europe, Kenya and Canada.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Arctic Inferno, the sequel to Arctic Meltdown, will be published on August 5th, and is now available for pre-purchase. Both these international environmental political thrillers were inspired by the drastically warming poles, and particularly the melting of the ice cap in the Arctic, and the ensuing militarization of the region especially by the Russians. There is huge potential for military conflict over resources and trade routes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write whenever I have free time and the inspiration.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
lee Childs. Ken Follett. Graham Greene. John LeCarré

What are you working on now?
I just finished the MS of a murder mystery set in Vermont, where I live.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Doing book talks in person and online.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing.

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

What are you reading now?
Murder at the Pont Chartrain by Kathleen Kaska

What’s next for you as a writer?
A 3rd edition for my first memoir For the Children, and getting a sixth poetry collection, “Beastie” Poems, published

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 Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Author Websites and Profiles

Geza Tatrallyay Website

Geza Tatrallyay Amazon Profile

Geza Tatrallyay’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author David Burrier

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written 12 children’s books and published 8 so far. All my books are teaching books and have a profound adult cross over message.

Each book includes a list of questions at the end of the story for the purpose of increasing comprehension.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled DID YOU KNOW? It introduces children to special features about themselves that are unique to only them and cannot be duplicated by any other person in the world.

The book expands on that concept by highlighting the uniqueness of various animals with specific features that can’t be duplicated by any similar animals in the world.

I want children to feel special and build up their confidence by emphasizing their uniqueness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
All my books have been written in a reserved booth at a local 50’s diner.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dr. Seuss and C. S. Lewis.

What are you working on now?
I’’m writing a second addition of a book titled JUST FOR YOU PET STORE.

This book introduces the phrase DIFFERENTLY-ABLED and encourages children and adults to use that instead of the word DISABLED when describing someone who is challenged physically or mentally.

It’s an inspiring story about a young differently-abled boy who adopts a differently-abled puppy at a local pet store.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As a motivational speaker and preacher I often incorporate my books with my message at churches, conferences, conventions, and civic organizations.

I utilize Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email, library story time readings and other social networking.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take your time, be patient with the process, focus on your dream, develop a network with other writers because when you learn from the experiences of others you compress time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let your life be a source of inspiration to others so that whoever you encounter will walk away with a renewed sense of mission and purpose in life.

What are you reading now?
The book titled Boundaries.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have many children’s book ideas circulating in my mind. My hope is to stay healthy long enough to continue my dream of leaving a legacy through my Burrie’ Children’s Book Collection.

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
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham
Fixing My Eyes on Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz
Awaken by Priscilla Shirer
Battle Field of the Mind by Joyce Meyer

Author Websites and Profiles

David Burrier Website

Interview With Author KAT MURDOCK

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Kat Murdock is an Australian mother of three, a business owner, a farmer, a horse whisperer, a sports coach, an entrepreneur, and now an author.
Behind all this, she has been sad lonely lost, invisible, burnt out, hurt, and at the bottom of a confusing dark hole for most of her life. Times were tough, and as most women do, we play many roles and rarely have the time or the knowledge to really get to know ourselves.
Kat couldn’t afford counselors or psychologists and living rurally would have put her on a country mile-long wait list anyway. At her lowest, she was quiet, without words to describe how she felt, especially to another person. Like many of us where do you start? Kat embarked on her own Self Improvement journey by educating herself by writing, listening, and moving her body.
She is now beautifully happy with her life and wants to show women how to really find a home in their own souls and be authentic. Kat Murdock has filtered the best of the information out there into a concise one-day workbook for powerful change and guidance. Even now she wouldn’t describe herself as depressed or anxious or menopausal. Kat suffered from lining up for things, being the “yes” girl, and accepting people in her team that had no right to be there.
Honest, powerful, kind, and with a lot of love to share this authentic woman has realized the need for a steppingstone between despair and professional services. She doesn’t want women to waste precious time like she did, for suicide rates to continue rising or for domestic violence to continue. Kats workbook is the tool that women need to identify if it’s a black dog day or just a black cat day where you can love and lift yourself out of the dark hole.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Self-Improvement and Self-Love One Day Workbook for Women

Learning how to parent myself out of a marriage that I should never have been in. Often being asked about how I have such a good life and how to get one from people I meet.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, just that I am just me, I’m never trying to be something or someone else.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oprah, Mel Robbins,

What are you working on now?
A journal for Women and a Prayer book

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be prepared for this to take a lot longer than you expect. I did a book writing course and marketing course and I worked on my first book full time for a year.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
No one is coming, you have to move yourself.

What are you reading now?
No room for secrets, Joanna Lumley

What’s next for you as a writer?
To complete the 40 books that I have planned! I am so eager to get them to the world and excited to start on them all. SO LITTLE TIME!!!!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Pride and Prejudice, Oprah, Bible, What native plants I can eat

Author Websites and Profiles

KAT MURDOCK Website

KAT MURDOCK Amazon Profile

KAT MURDOCK’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Lucas Alves

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of the novel is “Signatures”. It takes its name from the interweaving strands that binds the selected number of pages in a book. The story is about an up and coming author whose life starts to come upended with the surmounting pressure of his next novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write all my first drafts by hand in blue notebooks. Once the story is complete I write the second draft on my Olivetti Lettera. That’s when I do my heavy edits and write a third draft on the computer to be sent to an editor. I only write longhand with fountain pens or Blackwing pencils.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Cormac McCarthy, Ernest Hemingway, Joseph Conrad, Herman Melville, William Faulkner, Stephen King. I strive to write a story in the classical, minimalistic tradition.

What are you working on now?
A mosaic story about humanity’s obsession with pursuing their unknown desires. Tentatively titled “The Pursuer”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lucasalvesauthor?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t plan or plot. True writing comes from the unconscious.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing is an unconscious process – Cormac McCarthy.

What are you reading now?
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on my second draft of “The Pursuer”.

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?
Cormac McCarthy’s “The Crossing”, Melville’s “Moby Dick” and Faulkner’s “A Fable”.

Author Websites and Profiles

Lucas Alves Amazon Profile

Lucas Alves’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

 

Interview With Author Nancy Christie

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing my whole life—well, technically, since second grade—and to date have six books to my credit: one novel, two short story collections, two books for writers, and one inspirational book.
Not that I ever thought about being an author or writing a book. As a child, I just made up stories, and then eventually began writing them down. It wasn’t until later in life that I started submitting them, with my first one published when I was 40.
Eventually, these became my first collection and second book, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories, which came out in 2014. (My first book, The Gifts of Change, came out in 2004, and was the result of journal entries inspired by my mother’s cancer diagnosis.)
Since then, with the exception of the two books for writers—Rut-Busting Book for Writers and Rut-Busting Book for Authors—I have stuck with fiction. And with my latest book, Reinventing Rita, I have moved into novel-writing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel, Reinventing Rita, is the story of Rita Reynolds who has to decide if being fifty means she is too old to start over and reinvent herself. (Spoiler alert: she’s not.) It’s the first in my Midlife Moxie Novel Series, stories about women facing personal and career challenges at midlife, who find their inner moxie and ultimately pursue their dreams.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’d love to say something very unique or unusual or eccentric, but after years of writing professionally as a copywriter and magazine writer, I don’t require anything special to inspire or motivate me, except for the knowledge that the writing won’t happen unless I sit down and do it.
I’ve written at all times of day (although I prefer early morning) and in a variety of places, including a hotel bathroom which was the only place where I had a working outlet.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first is The Writer On Her Work—Vol 1, edited by Janet Sternburg. That book made such an impression on me that I bought a second copy just in case.
Next up is Writing a Woman’s Life by Carolyn Heilbrun—a slim yet powerful study about women as writers living the writing life, despite the inherent challenges and social expectations.
The third is Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh—an incredible collection of essays about the importance of women finding their center as well as a space for contemplation and creativity and self-fulfillment.
These are by no means all the books that have influenced me as a writer and as a woman but they are top of the list and the ones I turn to when I need encouragement and direction in my own writing life.

What are you working on now?
I am finishing up revisions to my next novel, Finding Fran, and writing my third novel, Moving Maggie. Both are for my Midlife Moxie Novel Series.
I’m also revising a few short stories that will be in my fourth collection, The Language of Love.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a combination of tools: interviews (such as this one), social media, in-person events, virtual events and blog tours, book review requests, and handouts such as bookmarks and lists of upcoming appearances that I give to everyone who wants them and even to people who didn’t ask for them but got them anyway!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Focus on the craft first. Constantly improve yourself as a writer. Don’t be in such a hurry to publish that you turn out a substandard product. Use beta readers and editors. And have a website!!

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

What are you reading now?
I just finished Ann Patchett’s This is the Story of a Happy Marriage and am now reading Seed to Dust by Marc Hamer.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More novels, more short stories, just more writing. I won’t stop writing until, well… I just won’t stop 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 Writer On Her Work—Vol 1, Writing a Woman’s Life, and Gift from the Sea. The fourth book would be a really big blank notebook that I could write in. Oh, and some pencils!

Author Websites and Profiles

Nancy Christie Website

Nancy Christie Amazon Profile

Nancy Christie’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Kevin O’Connor

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“Two Floors Above Grief” is my first published book. I wrote a dissertation published in 1999.

My career spans over fifty years as a writer, teacher, principal, curriculum designer, and university instructor. He authors content and provides training in areas including mathematics instruction, principal leadership, support for substitute teachers, LGBTQ advocacy, Sexual Health/Family Life, self-publishing, and marketing. He sings and performs in theaters. He is active with SMART Ride, a bicycling
group that raises funds for HIV awareness, treatment, and education. He resides in Ft. Lauderdale with his husband, Leon. Their family includes five sons and seven granddaughters.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Two Floors Above Grief: A Memoir of Two Families in the Unique Place We Called Home” was inspired by my stories about growing up as the son and nephew of two undertakers and their wives. The inspiration is extended and enriched by 700+ handwritten and typed letters from the 1930s-’70s by the family members. The authenticity of these letters provides first-hand characterizations of those individuals portrayed in the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write extensive drafts that are then culled into texts ready to read from a qualitative and reasonably quantifiable perspective.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hemingway, Salinger, Fitzgerald, Shakespeare, Steve Martin, Evan Fallenberg, Steven King, John Grisham, Steinbeck

What are you working on now?
I am working on a second book in a series started by the first book. The second book focused on trips, vacations, and excursions taken by the funeral directors’ families from the 1940s through the 70s.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. I published a weekly newsletter to 1600 recipients who have expressed an interest in or have read the book. My website also provides information. www.kevinoconnorauthor.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get started and continue. Develop a routine. Keep writing even when you think the words are coming from nowhere and going nowhere. These words will provide the drafts on which your book will evolve and be published. Allow only positive feedback to yourself. Keep affirming your writing and letting yourself know that there are few who, like you, accomplish the goal of writing and publishing a book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let your words flow.

What are you reading now?
I am reading the script and libretto for “Crazy for You.” I am in a production that will be presented in late August.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The second book. And then a third and more. I plan to write for Medium or another writing vehicle.

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?
Chicken Soup for the Soul Books
Night Fell by Evan Fallenberg
Classroom Lightbulbs by Perry Binder

Author Websites and Profiles

Kevin O’Connor Website

Kevin O’Connor Amazon Profile

Kevin O’Connor’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Interview With Author Duane L. Martin

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was a PC technician by profession, but when the work for PC techs dried up and they became undervalued, I sort of drifted for a while, trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

In October of 2013, I decided that I would try once again to write a book. I had tried many times in the past, but I always ended up hitting that dreaded roadblock we call writer’s block, and then I would take a break, intending to return once I was past it, but I never returned to any of them. This time, I just sat there staring blankly at my screen as an idea formed in my mind, and then I started writing, and I didn’t stop writing until I published 21 books in the series, then a standalone, non-series book, and then what I thought was going to be the final series book in 2016.

Jump forward in time, and I decided I was going to re-edit the entire series, as well as the standalone book into enhanced 2nd edition versions, and I would also create paperback versions of them as well. This project took me years for various reasons, but just recently I not only finished the project and got all the books republished, but as I re-edited the final book in the series, it inspired me to not only write and publish a 22nd series book, but now I’m working on a 23rd as well, which may or may not be the last one, but I want to write at least one more standalone book after this one before I think about whether or not to do another series book.

On a personal level, I’ve been a musician since 1987, though thanks to a recent bout of carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, not only can I no longer play bass or guitar, but I find it difficult to type without constantly having to fix typos. I’m really hoping to be able to get back to playing stringed instruments again at some point, but for now I’ve switched to hand percussion, since I can still play the djembe and other similar hand percussion instruments with my hands in the condition they’re currently in.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Aftermath is the name of the 22nd book in the Unseen Things series. Genesis, the 21st book, was originally written to be the final book, but once I did the 2nd edition re-edits on it, I felt inspired to write about what came next. As it turned out, I was more inspired than I thought, because Aftermath ended up becoming the longest book in the series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
All of my books have 16 chapters, each with a 6,500 minimum word limit. Once I reach that limit, I can continue on however long I need to after to finish the chapter, but this chapter / word count thing helps me to get to the final word count I’m looking for in my books.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
For many years I was obsessed with the Forgotten Realms novels, from various authors such as R. A. Salvatore and Ed Greenwood. I was also completely obsessed with the MythAdventures Series from Robert Asprin, and then Jody Lynn Nye following his death.

What are you working on now?
The 23rd book in the Unseen Things series, which I believe is going to be called Wanderers.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve posted ads on Twitter with various hashtags, and in Facebook groups, but unfortunately I’ve had no luck in gaining any traction. I’m afraid promotion is one of my biggest shortcomings.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get so excited about finishing your first book that you release it without making sure it’s properly edited. Your first book will be many people’s first impression of your work, so if it’s not properly edited, they probably won’t return for your subsequent books. Also, make sure you pay attention to the flow of your writing, so that it creates a comfortable flow for the reader. One particular thing I would recommend is to avoid breaking up dialog right in the middle of a sentence to insert some sort of action or expression. I see that frequently, and it just feels like you’re reading over speed bumps. Also, if your book is heavily dialog oriented I would highly suggest using block format rather than standard format, as it’s easier to read, and your pages won’t be full of constant indents.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When you’re creating characters, consider all the aspects of their life, their habits, their likes and dislikes, etc…, whether any of it is mentioned in the story or not, because those things are what help to shape the personality and motivations of the character.

What are you reading now?
The only thing I’ve read since I started writing my first book was the Complete Sherlock Holmes. I didn’t want any outside influences to affect my writing once I got started.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I need to figure out the whole promotion thing, because I need to start getting some sales. My whole focus up to now has been on the 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?
My standalone book, Cindy’s Story, just because it makes me laugh every time I read it. Aside from that, The Complete Sherlock Holmes, and The Complete Edgar Allan Poe.

Author Websites and Profiles

Duane L. Martin Website

Duane L. Martin Amazon Profile

Duane L. Martin Author Profile on Smashwords

Duane L. Martin’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

 

Interview With Author Leah Murray

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m originally from South Africa but I now live in New Zealand. I love animals and travelling, vegan cooking and all things British!

I’ve written and published two romantic suspense novels and I’m busy working on the third.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Cross Current. It was inspired by the huge amount of atmospheric British police procedurals and romantic suspense novels I read crossed with the small town vibe of Doc Martin and all set on the “Cornish Amazon”!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like dictating my novels while sitting in an old rocking chair with my cat on my lap as I stare out at the golf course outside my window.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nora Roberts, Tana French, Daphne du Maurier and many, many more.

What are you working on now?
Book 3 of my Cornish Heroes series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly I have no idea. I’m a total introvert so I just give book 1 away for free and hope people who like it will go on to read the rest!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was sitting in a cafe in Oxford with a friend when an old man came up to us, bent down and said “The secret to life is to be like a postage stamp. Stick to your envelope until you reach your destination”. He then smiled and walked away. I took that to be a message from the universe…

What are you reading now?
I have about 4 books on the go, mostly cookbooks but also the Carla Neggers novel Cold Ridge and The English Spy by Daniel Silva.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Trying to find a way to write faster … I’m busy working on Highwater, the third book in my series. I’m setting it in an old country house near Tintagel. It is an opposites attract-type romance with a spy theme.

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, the complete works of Shakespeare, Rebecca and an empty notebook for my own diary/thoughts.

Author Websites and Profiles

Leah Murray Website

Leah Murray Amazon Profile

Leah Murray Author Profile on Smashwords

 

Interview With Author Deb CarverOwens

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Here is a little bit of the history of my work. Being on the internet since 2000, there have been many websites that were created in those years.

As for the eBooks themselves, the first work that was written started in 1990 when the “Poems to the Lord Notebook” copyright was obtained. It was many years before any others were attempted. My dream is to be the absolute best author that I can be. I love to read books and have read them for many years. One day as I was reading, a thought formed in my mind that I would like to do this.

I started reading the books in a different frame of mind paying attention to the way the author told the story. The strengths of the plots and the depth of the characters came into vivid focus. She got in touch with one of my favorite authors who did a critique for me. They recommended that I get the book “How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method” by Randy Ingermanson. I immediately ordered the book and read it several times. I found a new perspective as I read about story-telling.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Experiences in Fishing. It is about fishing trips that we have taken at the lake where we lived years ago. I remembered some of the things that used to happen on those and wrote them down as a humorous story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have no unusual writing habits that I know of. Being organized with the characters and scenes is a recent development.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors I like to read are Hannah Howell, Amanda Scott, Catherine Coulter, and Michael Crichton

What are you working on now?
I am working on a memoir at the moment.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use an email list from made from the social networks.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Advice would be: keep writing and don’t quit. It sometimes becomes depressing, however, if you don’t quit, you will get more ideas on what to write and how to get it out there.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was told once to get the How To Write A Novel Using The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson. This was the best thing I could have done and I recommend it to anyone whether just starting or having written several novels.

What are you reading now?
The Design by G. Lloyd Helm

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have several ideas for new stories.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring Sphere by Michael Crichton,

Author Websites and Profiles

Deb CarverOwens Website

Deb CarverOwens Amazon Profile

Deb CarverOwens’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Interview With Author Angel Leigh McCoy

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m writing novels in a world of my own creation called Wyrdwood. So far, I’ve published four books and one novelette in the world.

Wyrdwood is, you see, a town on the Oregon Coast where people with magickal powers and supernatural ancestry are welcomed and protected. The first three books are a paranormal-suspense trilogy (The Wyrdwood Welcome trilogy) intended to give readers a solid introduction to the world and its inhabitants.

I used to write for tabletop RPGs such as White Wolf’s World of Darkness, and video games, including Guild Wars 2 and CONTROL. When I left that career behind, I turned to writing novels. I bring all the world-building skills I used for game design to my books.

I recently moved from the big city of Seattle to a small town in Central Illinois. I’m still getting over the culture shock, but I’m growing to love it. I have two cats of my own and a portal in my backyard that lets in all kinds of magickal creatures. They make me happy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “The Catsitter’s Conundrum” (book #1 in the Catsitter Mysteries series). I love cats! I started catsitting to make a little extra money and fell in love with every one of my charges. Then, it occurred to me that I was good at it too, and so I decided to leverage my cat-whispering talents to write a series about a woman–like me–who catsits and who–unlike me–solves mysteries.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Some folks might consider this unusual. I write completely nude. Um, no. I don’t. But I wish I did. I do write every weekday for 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, on Zoom, with my writing group. These coworking sessions keep me clothed and on target.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many authors and books have inspired me with their wordplay and/or storytelling. A few stand out including Phyllis A. Whitney, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Robert A. Heinlein, and (yes, it’s true) Barbara Cartland (whose prolificity and photogenicity were epic).

What are you working on now?
The second book in the Catsitter Mysteries series is in the holy revision phase at the time I’m writing this. I better have it done by the end of 2023, or else.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote through Facebook, Instagram, and my own newsletter. I’m still learning about promotion. I find it terrifyingly overwhelming. Like being in a Zoom chat, accidentally clicking on your camera, and realizing you’re naked. (Only happened to me once, in a nightmare.)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice…hmmm. Remember your audience. You’re not writing for yourself, you’re writing for them. And if you want them to love you, then you have to seduce them with the clarity, sincerity, and creativity in your words. You want them to see themselves in your book, or alternatively, see someone they wish they were. Good luck!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just keep writing. No matter what anyone says. No matter how difficult the process (or promotion). Just keep writing. That is the ONLY way you improve. It’s the only way you succeed.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a book called “Reveal Your Wings” by E.S. Magill. It describes the process of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for mental illness, including depression and anxiety. One of my characters is about to suffer a bout of depression. According to the author, KAT is a magickal and enlightening adventure that will make great story.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to write (at least) another four hundred books in the Catsitter Mysteries series. If people like them, then I’ll write even more. If not, then I’ll pull out one of the many ideas I’ve had to put aside for now. I have a few series brewing, including one about a reluctant undertaker and one about a dying detective. I may or may not ever write them.’

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?
Ooh. Interesting to think about.
Definitely “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” because it rebalances my psyche and has seagulls, which I would name and tame if I lived on a deserted island.

Also “The Official U.S. Army Survival Manual.” Great advice in it.

And “Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary” because there are so many interesting things in it. I could spend years learning new words.

And the film script of “The Princess Bride” for fun, so I can run around quoting it even if I’m all alone. “Life is pain, Highness!” Or, “As you wish.” Or, “It’s not that bad! Well, I’m not saying I’d like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely.”

Author Websites and Profiles

Angel Leigh McCoy Website

Angel Leigh McCoy Amazon Profile

Angel Leigh McCoy’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

 

Interview With Author Ali Majnoon

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Ali Majnoon is a passionate programmer, innovator, and writer with a deep interest in the world of technology and environmental

sustainability. His expertise spans Python programming, machine learning, clean energy innovation, and renewable energy solutions, with a focus on reducing air pollution and fostering a greener future for all.

Ali is not only proficient in technical skills but also well-versed in Agile management, business analysis, and project management.

He strongly believes in the Agile philosophy and its ability to streamline the programming process, particularly in data science and machine learning projects. By implementing the Scrum framework, Ali fosters open communication, seamless

collaboration, and efficient problem-solving in his work.

As a great teammate, Ali has a keen understanding of his client’s needs and is always ready to go the extra mile. His passion for

writing has led him to share his knowledge and experiences through his books, with the hope of inspiring others to explore the

fascinating realms of technology and sustainability.

Ali’s books are a testament to his dedication, expertise, and vision for a better world. His unique blend of technical and managerial prowess makes his work a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning and understanding the fast-paced world of programming, machine learning, and environmental conservation.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Wandering Vampire: Nomadic Vampire A Tale of Love and Immortality Vampire Horror Novel

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I am very disorganized

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Animal Farm
Novella by George Orwell

What are you working on now?
Freelancer

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
no

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

What are you reading now?
1984

What’s next for you as a writer?
about bonsai

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 Art of Being a Mother: A Comprehensive Guide to Congenital Heart Defects for Parents
Wandering Vampire: Nomadic Vampire A Tale of Love and Immortality Vampire Horror Novel
The Art of Origami: The Effects of Origami on Increasing Creativity and Mental Skills

Author Websites and Profiles

Ali Majnoon Website

Ali Majnoon Amazon Profile

Ali Majnoon’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

Interview With Author LAURI CRUVER CHERIAN

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, I am an educator and a writer, an actor, and a lover of travel and chocolate! I have recently published two books of poetry. Poems of the Point is a tribute to growing up on the beach in the Pacific Northwest. If a piece of your heart already lies in the Pacific Northwest, or you are open to having your heart captured by it, this book of poetry is for you! Brave As Thistles is my second book, a journey over the speed bumps and messiness of mid-life, learning to tap into my inner Viking. If your life journey has taken you to a place where bravery is required, may you be as brave as thistles and summon your inner Viking!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book of poetry is, Brave As Thistles, inspired by a trip to Norway and Scotland, accompanied by three little Tupperware containers full of the ashes of my mother, father, and grandfather. I hiked the Norwegian tundra, scattering their ashes on three ancient stones and continued the journey to the Highlands of Scotland where I was enthralled with the strength and vulnerability of the Scottish thistle. I decided then and there that I wanted to be as strong and fierce, yet as tender and vulnerable as the thistle when life throws the unexpected at me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often write in the middle of the night, as sleep more often than not illudes me! During the day, I write with my dog, Gracie, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Chihuahua mix who sits on a chair next to me, occasionally licking my hand for inspiration. I’ve even written with a wayward wren flitting about the house; they both have made a good muse.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh goodness, as a child, Maurice Sendak, Arnold Lobel, and Richard Scarry. As a romantic pre-teen, Louisa May Alcott, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen and T.R.R, Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. But as an adult, I like Abraham Varghese, Kristin Hannah, Ken Follett, and Mary Oliver.

What are you working on now?
Oh, so many things, I have been querying agents for a children’s book that is ready for publishing. I’m so excited about it. It’s called, Four Anxious Armadillos. Did you know that there are 20 species of armadillos, and one is called the Pink Fairy Armadillo, sounds like a fun character, right? I’ve also finished a memoir called, Isn’t This Fun? A Family’s Adventures Through Countries, Christmases and Cremations. It’s funny, poignant and 99% true!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Fb, Amazon Author Central, Goodreads

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write! Write when the muse hits and even if it doesn’t. If it hits during the middle of the night or at dinner, stop! Obey it! Sit and write!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Be brave! Tap into your inner Viking, Lauri!” (My sister and my kids)

What are you reading now?
I just finished The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese and loved it. As a spouse of a South Indian, and one who has traveled twice to the setting of Kerala, India, I can’t presume to say I got all of the author’s references, but I got enough to love the book!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently writing a historical fiction of the life of my grandmother and great grandparents who ran a boarding house for immigrant men in Tacoma, Washington in 1910. As an ESL teacher, I have a great love and affection for immigrants. I am enjoying piecing together the stories of the men from varied countries who stayed in my great grandparents’ boarding house.

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?
Wow, oh my. Life is short; be prepared. Well, to cover all the bases: The Bible, Robert Burns, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice and poetry by Robert Burns.

Author Websites and Profiles

LAURI CRUVER CHERIAN Website

LAURI CRUVER CHERIAN Amazon Profile

LAURI CRUVER CHERIAN’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile