Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written one novel — so far. Time opened up for writing when I went into what I thought was semi-retirement a few years ago. But with two part-time jobs and working on another novel, retirement has been postponed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is Red Dot. I didn’t actually have a burning inspiration for the book. Basically I wanted to write a novel and I thought it would be interesting to portray space aliens as other than murderous monsters.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Occasionally I will get an idea while I’m jogging or just daydreaming for a bit of dialogue or a scene that I like. When I get to the point in the story for that dialogue or scene, I’ll make stuff up to go with it. With Red Dot I had bits ready for different parts of the novel, including the middle and the end, but I didn’t plan out the whole book. I must say that having two good editors to work on the draft was a huge help.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am definitely old school. In the last couple years I read, or re-read, novels by Dickens and Dostoevksy. I really like the short stories of Chekhov . The last two books I read certainly provided a look at different writing styles: The Aneid by Virgil and Frankenstein by Mary Shelly.

What are you working on now?
Now I’m working on a sequel to Red Dot, looking at life after the massive social and political upheavals caused by the first alien visit.

 

Author Websites and Profiles
Eugene Linn Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a recent graduate, artist and graphic designer. Big Bad Beautiful is my first book I have shared with the public, but I have one more being edited and there are several others that I have written in the past to help me better craft my style.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Big Bad Beautiful, a post apocalyptic, science fiction adventure. The story is a nightmarish combination of dystopian fiction and the classic Red Riding Hood fairytale.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It takes me months to come up with an idea and figure out how to write it, but once I put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard, I can usually push out an initial draft in a few months.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, Dave Eggers, Jonathan Stroud, JK Rowling, Dean Koontz.

What are you working on now?
A coming of age, horror novel called California Dark. The two houses featured are the ones I grew up in.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook allows you to connect with friends and contacts super easy.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just start writing 🙂

What are you reading now?
A novel a friend wrote.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Combine my latest text with my photography and move on to a kickstarted campaign.

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?
HARRY POTTER 4-7

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Garvin Website
Daniel Garvin Author Profile on Smashwords

Daniel Garvin’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started artistically late in life since my parents cautioned me to stay away from art related careers; and instead, pursue a serious occupation that would lead to a “real job and a stable career.” So I became a metrologist (No it’s not misspelled, nor can I forecast the weather. Metrology is the art and science of measurement.)

Thirty years later, when I was one of many caught in the economic downturn, I decided to turn my hand to writing. I published “The Science of Loving” in 2014, followed by the novella written under the psuedonym E.V. Iverson, “Dead Dwight: a dark comedy.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I started writing “The Science of Loving” shortly after the economy had tanked. A lot of folks were experiencing dark times, and I was one of them; just another face in a jobless mob. Every evening, network T.V. piled on more bad news. Employment was down and home foreclosure was at an all time high. We’d gone to war over a pack of lies, and there were mass shootings in our elementary schools.

The media’s daily bombardment of real-life murder and mayhem was exhausting and I needed a vacation. But book vacations were all I could afford, and after the nightly rehash of Capital Hill’s daily torture debates (seriously? Water-boarding’s torture, what’s there to debate?) I didn’t need to ingest any more dark crap.

Figuring I wasn’t unique, and having an abundance of time (jobless,) I thought just maybe my special brand of geeky humor could make the world lighter one smile at a time. So here we are and I hope you’re smiling.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Is wearing men’s boxers while I write considered unusual? Hey, don’t judge me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many… both good and bad. I wish I could say something profound and impressive, but I’m much better being profane and silly.

Stephen King is great when it comes to setting up a scene and creating mood. He’s great a master at crafting symbolism using every day objects.

Ray Bradbury, when it comes to descriptive writing… “Dark they were and golden eyed.” Six words was all he needed; the way their ordered is almost melodic. It’s a beautiful example of linguistic rhythm that makes the words stick in your mind (I read those words almost 40 years ago in middle school, and I’ve never forgotten them.)

Kalil Gibran’s “The Prophet” is a great example of using juxtaposition to enhance a point.

I learned just as much from authors and books I hated, but rather than naming names… I’ll just point out the lessons learned:

When you run out of new things to say you’re done, stop writing.

There will always be typos, if you can afford a copy-editor use one (God, I wish I could afford one.) If you are fortunate enough to have one, learn from them. They are specialized professional readers (and no matter how good you think you are, you cannot do their job as well as they can.)

What are you working on now?
I’m about midway through the first draft tentively titled, “It Only Takes Two.” It picks up where “The Science of Loving” ended; following a different pair of characters from the previous book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Probably GoodReads. Although, I’ve pulled back on my marketing and social media efforts in order to find time to write.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read all your reviews, listen to your readers, learn from your mistakes. Good or bad, be grateful they took the time to read.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Friends lie!!!! Just because they told you your book was great, doesn’t mean it’s ready for publication. Find a stranger who won’t shy away from pointing out your mistakes.” Max Branscomb, journalism professor and playwright at Southwestern Community College– Chula Vista, Ca.

What are you reading now?
Darynda Jones “Charlie Davidson” series, New York Times, The Washington Post and anything else I can get my hands on.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Probably Hell if I don’t change my ways.

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?
Survival Manuel, The Complete Foxfire Collection Set, Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe and Mark Twain

Author Websites and Profiles
Candace Vianna Website
Candace Vianna Amazon Profile

Candace Vianna’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I program computers for a living, and a few years ago I got involved in the One Laptop Per Child project, which aimed to put inexpensive laptops in the hands of the world’s children and give them educational software unlike anything else that came before. The idea was that the children would go on to develop their own software for that platform and share it with the world. Before they could do this, they needed a good manual on how to write programs for these laptops, and I ended up writing a manual that is still used: Make Your Own Sugar Activities!

Another goal of the project was to get free e-books into the hands of these children, and I sensed the need for a book that would explain how to get these books, how to create them, how to convert printed books that were in the public domain into e-books, how to know what was in the public domain, how to photograph book pages, and lots of other stuff. My research into these topics led me to write E-Book Enlightenment: Reading And Leading With One Laptop Per Child.

After this I took out a manuscript I had written thirty years before and used my book scanning knowledge to make a publishable book about it. Since this was a memoir of my wasted youth, I published it under a pseudonym to avoid embarrassing my family. I have since used that same pseudonym to publish a novel and I’m working on a second one.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Format Your Own Damned Book is my latest title under my own name. It was inspired by corresponding with a science fiction author in Canada who was spending a fortune getting her manuscripts formatted as e-books. I pointed out that she could save a lot of money by doing that kind of work herself, as I had been doing all along. She didn’t know how, so I attempted to teach her. That led to writing the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If you don’t count leaving a typewritten manuscript on a shelf for thirty years and then revising it for publication, no.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been going back to reread books that I’ve loved to see what it is about them that works. I like how Raymond Chandler describes things, Ron Goulart’s sense of humor, ditto for Mark Twain, Neal Stephenson’s ability to make exposition interesting, and many others. I’ve described my first novel as a Hermann Hesse novel written by Edward Elmer Smith.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a second novel in the world I set up for my first novel. It features minor characters from the first book and tells their story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a Google+ branding page for my memoir and my first novel. I put a lot of effort into them but it hasn’t helped.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read the books by Jack Woodford if you want to learn how to write a novel.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write drunk, edit sober. That was by Hemingway.

Write a short story every week for a year. That was by Ray Bradbury. He claimed that nobody could write 52 bad short stories.

Avoid using adverbs. Not sure who said it, but it seems to be true.

What are you reading now?
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to quit my day job in a few years.

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 Ganguli translation of The Mahabharata is fascinating and long enough to read until I either got rescued or died from malnutrition. Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder novels and anything by Clive Cussler are good for reading on airplanes, so should work on a desert island too. I have a big collection of Ray Bradbury short stories that would be welcome.

Author Websites and Profiles
James Simmons Amazon Profile

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Stuart Larner is a chartered psychologist. As Mental Health Expert, he ran an advice column for XL for Men Magazine. He has published international articles and poems in magazines and newspapers, as well as in scientific journals. He has been involved in scriptwriting and directing productions at the Edinburgh Fringe. Stuart published Scarborough Modern Sea Songs; an ebook in verse “Jack Daw and the Cat”; and an enovel about cricket entitled “Guile and Spin”. With Rosie Larner he co-wrote : “Hope: Stories from a Women’s Refuge.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Car: a sonnet sequence with illustrations Kindle Edition
this is a reworking of my original sonnet sequence first published in Envoi Magazine twenty years ago. This time with illustrations

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I sometimes like to write standing up.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Philip Larkin, William Shakespeare

What are you working on now?
A radio play based on a piece of music By Mussorgsky.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
i am examining digital marketing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
get as much feedback as you can.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
cut the first page

What are you reading now?
i am working along the shelves in my local public library, reading books written in the first voice in order A to Z .

What’s next for you as a writer?
to master digital marketing.

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?
chamber’s dictionary, walker’s rhyming dictionary, and roget’s thesaurus.

Author Websites and Profiles
Stuart Larner Website
Stuart Larner Amazon Profile

Stuart Larner’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Author, a reader, a music lover, and a movie enthusiast. Halfway is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Halfway, my latest novel, is book one of ‘Aspiration for Deliverance’ series.

Since my early childhood, I was somewhat different from my friends. There weren’t many readers in the city where I was born and raised. Almost all my friends were crazy about Cricket. I, on the other hand, was partial to reading comic books. I read my first novel when I was in fifth standard. By the time I was in tenth, I had read so many books that my mind had developed a habit of imagining things even when I wasn’t alone. My friends sometimes made fun of me when they caught me talking to myself.

In 2012, when people started talking about the impending “End of the World,” instead of being worried or scared, I was fascinated by the thought of it. I wanted to know what afterlife would be like. I mean, if there really is a place where we have to answer for our wrongdoings after death, it’s only fair to imagine that that place must be way more advanced in terms of technology than ours.

By the time I decided to write my debut novel, I had spent so many hours, days, years in that imaginary realm called Enigma that it was like I grew up there. The image of afterlife was so clear in my mind that I didn’t even have to jot the details down on a piece of paper.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None that I know of. I guess that’s the only thing that makes me feel like a normal person.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, George RR Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Brandon Sanderson.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel of Halfway. I also have a couple more ideas in mind, but I haven’t started working on them yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I just started promoting my debut novel, and this is the first place where I decided to promote it. I am glad that I am now a part of this Awesome Gang!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can’t control what others think of you, so stop worrying about it.

What are you reading now?
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

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 read almost all genres, fiction or nonfiction, and I have more than one favourite author in each genre. So it would be hard to say which books I would bring with me. But I would definitely bring the manuscript of whichever book I am working on at the time, because I’d hate to leave my manuscript unfinished in case I died there.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lokesh Sharma Amazon Profile

Lokesh Sharma’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My debut novel, ‘Lily’s Fire’, came out on the 12th of March. It was super exciting to see my first story in paperback and e-format on Amazon, B&N and Kobo. Soon it will be for sale as ibook too.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Lily’s Fire’, was inspired by my own coming out story. Just like Lily, the main character, i found out in my late twenties that I was attracted to women. I wanted to create characters with great chemistry in a tropical setting. I love travelling so to me, there’s nothing better than to write about my favourite places in the world. I’s a great book to take with you on holiday and relax with.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to drink wine when I’m writing in the evening. Not too much, just enough to for my writing to flow more natural. And I like to have candles. I’m a true romantic at heart.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first lesbian fiction I read was by Melissa Brayden. They were relaxing and entertaining.
My favourite author is David Sedaris though. he makes me laugh out loud.

What are you working on now?
I’m just starting on my second novel now. I don’t have a title yet but it will be set in Hong Kong. It’s a love story between two female colleagues.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
For me, it’s Facebook. The community of readers have been incredibly supportive and helpful. it’s always hard when you write your first book so it’s great when you have people around you that are willing to give you advise.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t think your book is ready until you’ve checked and edited it so many times that you’re completely sick of it. Never attempt to do your own initial editing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Show, don’t tell.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently not reading anything as I’m super busy with the launch of my new book but I have a whole list to start with next month. ‘Alice and Jean’ by Lily Hammond first.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My second novel! I can’t wait to start writing again.

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?
David Sedaris – Me talk pretty one day, Bill Bryson – The lost continent, Dorothy parker – Collected poems.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lise Gold Website
Lise Gold Amazon Profile

Lise Gold’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Bittersweet’ is my newly released novel, and I wrote it because I had something to say about this male attitude towards rape that so many young men seem to have. Back in 1872 there were indeed very hushed up reports of officers on leave who raped girls and only last year we h ad in our area a similar story of young men raping girls.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing the basic plots and ideas in beautiful notebooks with a fountain pen. Looks os much prettier than cold black type on the computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is so difficult to answer because every writer I read influences me. Every book I read teaches me about writing, particularly dialogue, character building and marketing. Even books I do not enjoy teach me.

Perhaps the lovely language of the King James Bible and the original Anglican prayer book, Shakespeare and the Elizabethan writers, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and other poets are an influence too.

What are you working on now?
Trying to find the story behind a young woman and her mother who are nagging at my creative mind. Judging by costume they are 17thC but that could change!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are too many to name.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Please read, read, read before you write. And then please edit and pay an editor to copy edit and proof read before publishing anything. This digital age means work is available forever and it is hard to remove writing which makes you squirm with embarrassment because you did not edit well!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write for yourself then edit for the market.

What are you reading now?
The Foriegner series by C.J. Cherryh and some 17th century diaries and a hefty set of research notes on silver making.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully another few novels, several short stories, and getting my Tizzie filmed by Yorkshire TV. (Aren’t I hopeful?)

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 complete Shakespeare, the Oxford Book of English Poetry, The Complete Elizabeth David cookbook and my favourite Terry Pratchett, ‘The Nightwatch’

Author Websites and Profiles
p.d.r lindsay-salmon Website
p.d.r lindsay-salmon Amazon Profile
p.d.r lindsay-salmon Author Profile on Smashwords

p.d.r lindsay-salmon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always loved English at school, and whilst I was studying the subject at university I thought I’d give novel writing a go – I’ve completed several books as well as some poetry and stage plays over the last twenty years or so, but it’s only now I’ve felt brave enough to offer them to potential readers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Champagne Jealousy – A Detective Investigates: A comedy community and its workplace romance. I suppose the gargantuan title speaks for itself, but in a nutshell it’s inspired by my many years working in the retail industry.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Great question! I don’t believe in inspiration, is that good enough!!? I reckon you’ve just got to write, and get on with it too, especially when you have a family and work full-time into the bargain! (Please see my Goodreads profile for more)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), Charles Maturin (Melmoth the Wanderer), Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s Guide), Arthur C. Clarke (Rama)

Please see my Goodreads list for more

What are you working on now?
I’m writing a 10,000 page poem! I started in 2007, I’m at 6,600 at the moment!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I hope this one will be the best yet

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for yourself, not for anyone else

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
What you put into life, you get out of life

What are you reading now?
This question!! Only joking, I’m reading a book about religions of the world

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write a thriller

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?
Those above who have influenced me – at this point, I apologise for my brevity in responses, but please do see my Goodreads profile for more.

Author Websites and Profiles
Christopher Griffith Amazon Profile

Christopher Griffith’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a stay at home mom of four and I am always on the lookout for clean reads to pass along to my kids. When my husband was in post-graduate training we had a limited income and I spent a couple days a week at the local library with my little kids because it was totally free. I have always been a voracious reader, but it was during those years I fell in love with young adult literature. I’d take the kids to story time and then spend another half an hour perusing the YA section and taking a stack of books home. Now that I’m a mom of teens my kids and I love recommending books to each other and I am trying to teach them to not just read anything that falls into their hands, but to be selective and learn from the best books that are out there. I believe strongly that books can be entertaining and teach us something about ourselves at the same time.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book Cecilly in Cinderland was published in October 2016. Two things shaped this book: my love for fairytales and childhood summer trips to Yellowstone National Park. Cecilly is at it’s heart a retelling of Cinderella with an emphasis on families coming together to support each other. The heroine and her sisters travel to a magical land where their wish is granted and the setting is based largely on the Old Faithful Geyser basin. After my third child was born, I stayed in the Old Faithful Inn and wandered the geysers and hot pots at night and read ghost stories about the park on the second floor mezzanine. The park took on a creepy feel viewing it on a cold night with steam all around, listening to the constant burbles and hisses of the fumaroles and geysers. After that trip I wanted to capture the park’s beauty and wild side and spent two more years attempting to get the feeling right in Cecilly in Cinderland.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do most of my writing in my head when I go to sleep. I had terrible insomnia as a kid and one night after crying about it to my mom she told me to just close my eyes and make up a dream and that would help me fall asleep. So I tried it and stopped caring if I didn’t sleep because I had discovered that I could make stories up and watch them in my head. I see everything before I write it down and I hear all the dialogue and run it over and over for a few nights before typing anything out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Is there enough space on here to list all the authors? As a young adult I loved Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, L. M. Montgomery, Robin McKinley, David Eddings, and Charlotte Bronte. As an adult: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Garth Nix, Robert Jordan, Shannon Hale, and Sarah Eden.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It has a sort of nod to the difficult years my husband and I spent getting him through medical school and residency.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am so new at this, I’m still learning.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you love it. It sounds weird, but since getting published it’s like I don’t write anymore just for the pure love of it. I’m so busy trying to figure out how to promote books, make visits to schools, figure out sales tax, etc. Block out specific times you’re going to forget everything else and just write a story that speaks to you and enjoy it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Participate in a critique group! I learned so much about writing from my peers.

What are you reading now?
An oldie, but goodie: And Both Were Young by Madeleine LeEngle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Some fellow authors from Fire and Ice and I are kicking off a month long author event in April celebrating strong heroines in literature. Check out my facebook page for more details.

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 Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Seeking Persephone by Sarah Eden, and (this is embarrassing to admit because I’m anti vampire) The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

Author Websites and Profiles
Emily S. Deibel Amazon Profile

Emily S. Deibel’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So far, I have published four standalone short stories, one novelette and a short Twitter guide. Instead of writing longer pieces. Instead, I craft shorter tales that are multi-layered and full of symbolisms. I also provide bonus materials with my stories, such as author’s notes, which gives additional insights, hints and perspectives about the story. I’ve had readers tell me that they’ve re-read my short stories and have found new gems with each read through.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Legend of Tanisha Biggers: a novelette” (“TLoTB”). There are many things that inspired the writing of this story. As a spinoff of the previously published short story “Swiggers,” TLoTB serves to flesh out Tanisha’s character while allowing the reader to explore the neighborhood in which the story takes place.

Another reason for penning “TLoTB” was to complete the circle of life for a reoccurring character named Theodore Roosevelt Washington aka Teddy. In “Cardinal Rule: a short story,” tries to woo his love interest, Earline, reminiscing over their neighborhood’s past glory. In “Swiggers: a short story,” Teddy is older, but in rare form. He posts up with his crew outside their favorite corner store and lets the jokes fly fast and furiously. “TLoTB” is a story about how rumors and gossip circulating around a small neighborhood can give the rambunctious Teddy a life beyond the grave. Albeit, one he did not choose…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Mountain Dew and chocolate (with almonds) are staples of “getting the words out.” When I have enough stuff figured so that I can write, that combination of caffeine and sweetness puts me in a zone. Once the buzz kicks in, the magic begins…

Walking while talking with my characters is another one of my writing habits. I tend to pace and converse with my characters while I’m trying to figure out where a story is going. Sometimes, the communication is one-way, and the characters give me tons of things to include in their story. All I have to do is sit back, listen and take notes.

This happened a lot with “TLoTB.” The main character Tanisha told me the history of her neighborhood and gave me its name – Black Haven. Tanisha’s best friend in the story, Vida, gave me the scoop on the present-day goings on of that same neighborhood. They gave me a lot of “creative clay” to work with.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I tend to watch authors as opposed to reading their works. I’ve always been interested in how different authors build these huge literary families around their personalities, their characters and their books. Authors like Stephen King, Treasure Blue, Azarel and K’Wan have intrigued me because of how loyal and support their readers are. I can only hope to build that type of rapport with my own family of readers.

I can’t name one particular book that has influenced me in terms of writing. There are many. I tend to buy books on literature and writing, but I seek and use parts that are relevant to whatever particular literary endeavor in which I’m indulging. To that effect, I search the Internet for articles directly related to solving the problem or giving me more insight on the issue I’m having at that moment.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m in the pre-outline stage for my next few publications. I have a few stories set in Black Haven that I want to complete.

I’m also doing a lot of the behind the scenes stuff to market “TLoTB” to give it some momentum. This includes social media, graphics, interview (like this), etc.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method has been to continually promote stories to my huge digital footprint. Instead of thinking of it as “the shameless plug,” my self-promotion comes with no shame. I actually think it’s shameful to publish your book and make little to no effort in promoting and marketing.

I make various tweets, graphics, blog posts, YouTube vlogs, etc. about my books in order to spark interest. It’s a slow grind, but persistence pays off.

My writing partner, Faydra D. Fields, owns BookTweeter.com. She does a tremendous job with getting the word out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Give yourself permission to succeed. Also, give yourself room to fail.

There is no “right way.” For every “right way,” there’s a naysayer. Find what’s right for you.

Take risks. You know when a story is going to a place that only you can take it. Go there, and make the best of it.

Don’t let being your worst critic get in the way of you being your best supporter.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do your research. It sounds simple, and it can be, but most of the time it’s not.

“Do” = action word = blood, sweat, tears and fears
“Your” = take personal ownership
“Research” = studying

Scary, scary, scary, but necessary…

What are you reading now?
I’ve been intent on writing, publishing and marketing lately. I’m not currently reading anything in particular in terms of fiction. I’ve reading writing guides and publishing guides. lately.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to continue to learn about the craft of writing and applying it to my creative output. The standalone novelette of “TLoTB” and the Deluxe Edition (which also includes “Cardinal Rule” and “Swiggers”)”TLoTB” are currently ebook only. I plan on publishing a paperback version of “TLoTB: Deluxe Edition.”

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 was stranded on a desert island, I would bring “The 48 Laws of Power,” a dictionary and a thesaurus.

Author Websites and Profiles
Joey Pinkney Website
Joey Pinkney Amazon Profile

Joey Pinkney’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for over three years and have managed to complete six books, four of which I have since self-published. Three of the published books are in the White Rose series, and the fourth, Seeing Red, is a New London book. I have another book coming out in May, which is also a part of the New London books. I like to write about the military and law enforcement, and tie it up with romance. It allows me to draw on my experiences in the Australian Army Reserve and the Royal Australian Air Force, and my love of love!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My upcoming book, Secrets Within, is the second of the New London books and follows on from Seeing Red. This series was inspired by my favourite movie – The Hunt for Red October. While I love the on-board action, I wondered about the families left behind and the other side of the Navy. That brought the characters of Nell and James to life and Seeing Red was the result.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know that I have an unusual writing habits, but I certainly like to drink lots of tea when I’m writing! I do like to have the window open when possible as I love fresh air.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always loved reading both romance and crime related books (thrillers, mysteries, etc.). When I started to write I didn’t have any particular genre in mind—I simply wrote what I wanted to. It wasn’t until I’d finished my first story that I realised I’d combined the two and written a romance suspense. The ‘Death in…’ books by MM Kaye have probably had the most influence on my writing as they are a great example of romance suspense stories.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the third of the New London books. I wasn’t going to write any more for the series, but when I got to the end of Secrets Within I knew I couldn’t leave it there! This will definitely be the last in the series, especially as I have several more books planned for the White Rose series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find that word of mouth is good. I’ve had many people tell me they want to buy my books because someone they know has read one and told them about it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. That is the most important thing to remember. The second most important thing is to allow yourself to write a terrible first draft. Get it down, fix it up later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Whatever you do, use a professional editor. Best advice by miles!

What are you reading now?
I’m current reading Night School by Lee Child and a Georgette Heyer regency romance (told you I liked to mix the two genres!).

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next up I need to finish the third New London book and then edit the fourth of the White Rose books. There’s not enough hours in the day!

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?
Death in the Andamans by MM Kaye, Precious Time by Erica James, The Hunt by James Phelan, and a book on building canoes from palm fronds which I would use when I wanted a new book to read!

Author Websites and Profiles
Alison Clifford Website
Alison Clifford Amazon Profile

Alison Clifford’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Libra,and a person who likes the old lifestyle of pre-1900s. And i am an African/Ugandan born, Uganda being the Pearl of the continent. However i have an international aspect of sharing my writings across Africa to the diaspora. I love reading everything that is interesting, from written plays to poetic novels. I have so far written two books in form of stage plays and they are available on Amazon ie Devils of Melidda & Enigma Of Scintella as well as other e-book platforms. I am soon finishing my third written stage play (The Witch Is Dead) and embark on marketing them timelessly as i work upon some two or three unfinished manuscripts. I look to creating more friends and authors via this space at Awesomegang. Thanks!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Devils of Melidda and it is what i submitted on this space. And what inspired it is simply one thing, i love reading about the ways of the past western lives especially the livelihood of outlaws. PS, the book is purely fictional when it came to crafting and writing it down on script

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am tamed with writing a brief summary (plot) of my book and then proceed to craft the flow or sequence of the story out of the brief summary.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, it was Homer and his biopic novel, The Iliad. Shakespeare’s works come in handy as well.

What are you working on now?
Right now i am still figuring out on the tremendous marketing opportunities available for me to promote my books online. And this platform is among my targets. Away from that, it is definitely writing more and more.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, i am still learning everything as a beginner especially when it comes to promotion of my books. But i am looking forward to using this space always to grow my audience.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Since i am getting away from being a new author, i would advise the newbies, do not rush, study the concept of your book and the field of authorship and know, everything to success does not come as a windfall.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Time and Patience, once mastered, you will always when you believe.

What are you reading now?
A lot of stuff, from Hidden Figures now to Broadway stories. Novels, not really. Maybe reading plays sent to me via my mail.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting my books and dream bigger about 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?
Books on camping, travelling, survival tactics, anything erotic and one book truly, the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Desmond Ronnie Amazon Profile

Desmond Ronnie’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So far, I have only written two books and published one. However, I have multiple manuscripts stored in notebooks and on hard drives that I’ve stored throughout the years. It wasn’t until recently that I mustered up the courage to forge ahead and start polishing and publishing these pieces.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novella ‘Show Her’ is set for release on April 1st, 2017. ‘Show Her’ is a psychological thriller that examines the social norms and gender roles that are prominent in the United States. As with all my work, it was inspired by stories I heard from other people and struggles I saw (and even helped) some people push through in order to find happiness, redemption, and a clear sense of self.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Since I’m not certain how the majority of my fellow authors complete their process, I can’t really say. It seems like a lengthy process to me, so it might be a little more involved than what some people do.

I generally outline the plot (even if the story is already complete, this can help me find holes), box specific scenes I want to make sure are included, get a first draft done, spend a few days doing something else, reread for edits, revise the first draft (and then complete that process again for the second draft), then I workshop parts of the piece with 2 different writing groups, then I make revisions based on their notes, then I reread this third draft after spending some time away from it, then I hand the fourth draft to my cartel for critique while I’m simultaneously giving it a last few passes, then I create the fifth draft to reread myself and revise as needed before publishing. Whew!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors: Dr. Seuss, Maya Angelou, The Stratemeyer Syndicate, Terry Goodkind, Toni Morrison, Alex Haley, J. K. Rowling, Stephen King, Sister Souljah, Michael Crichton,Nikki Giovanni, Edgar Allen Poe, and Ayn Rand.

Books (besides those the aforementioned authors wrote): The Miracle Strain (Michael Cordy); Oh, Kentucky! (Betty Receveur); Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden); Les Miserables (Victor Hugo); The Hundred Secret Senses (Amy Tan).

What are you working on now?
I will be putting together another collection of poetry after ‘Show Her’ is published. ‘Feign’ was published years ago and is a collection of work from my earliest writing years up until 2012. It’s time for me to publish some of my newer work.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m hoping Awesomegang will be, but I’ve only recently started using other websites to promote my work. Ask me again in six months and I can give you a solid answer!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go. Just keep moving forward at all times. If you can only get a page written a day, do that. Whatever it takes to not be on your death bed thinking ‘I wish I would have…’

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To not become paralyzed by other people’s opinions. Learning to accept the fact that everyone is not going to enjoy my work (and some will even hate it) has been key for me to have the courage and discipline it takes to turn what was a quiet love into a loud, openly-shared joy.

What are you reading now?
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want so badly to secure a booth at the Decatur Book Festival! I have a GoFundMe account set up and everything! So, hopefully, you’ll see me there before this year is 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?
You just couldn’t help but throw this one in there! ARGH! Well, I guess The Stand (Stephen King), Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand), And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street (Dr. Seuss); and…The Coldest Winter Ever (Sister Souljah).

Author Websites and Profiles
T. L. Curtis Website
T. L. Curtis Amazon Profile
T. L. Curtis Author Profile on Smashwords

T. L. Curtis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Chad Elliot – “The Confidence Doctor” – and I’m the owner of Seattle Improv Classes. I teach classes in improv, creativity, storytelling, and communication. I also do coaching calls in a way that’s very personalized. In fact, I’m the first person in the world to make one-on-one coaching an integral part of improv training. I have a rich and diverse background in teaching and coaching. What I really do is assist you in learning about yourself, the world, and how you can get a lot more of what you want in your life. And, I make sure we have a lot of fun doing it!

I had a rough childhood that was quite lonely, so I became incredibly devoted to learning how to improve myself, develop confidence, and become a strong communicator. I spent 3 years working at a small company that lead week-long intensive workshops in personal development, psychology, and communication. I’ve learned to combine the tools, strategies and techniques I’ve discovered with fun and playful games from improv.

I’m paid to make people uncomfortable by pushing them out of their comfort zone! For some reason they thank me! (Seems odd, huh?!?)

If you’re interested in taking my classes, coaching with me, or having me come into your organization to lead a powerful “funshop,” you can email me at chad(at)seattleimprovclasses.com Visit Or, call 425-270-1989.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Improv Manifesto: 7 Simple Steps to Unstoppable Confidence, Powerful People Skills, and Unlimited Creativity! (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XH8SYSS)

It’s my first book. I actually wrote a much longer book on personal development first. But, I realized I ought to get some experience publishing. So, I took a bunch of my writings I’ve used for my website and workbooks I give my students and brought them together. Then, I polished and structured them. Initially I just wanted to get something out there quickly. But, it took longer than I expected because I wanted it to be the best. (I’m a bit competitive in that regard.)

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t get writers block. With my background, I know too many tricks for that to ever happen. I don’t understand people who say they have writers block. Makes no sense to me. You sit. You write. You save the editing for later. (Most people try to edit in their mind before they write anything. Bad idea bears…)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was actually influenced a lot by marketers. Marketers have to write extremely well. Writing sales letters especially. They have to get their audience’s attention immediately or they lose. Very thoughtful. Very scientific. They can’t afford to try being artsy because people will ignore it. They have to grab people by throat. Boom!

I’ve also studied a famous hypnotist named Milton Erickson. His method of therapy often involved telling people stories. Stories are very powerful. They put the listener or reader into a trance. It’s worth understanding how that works.

What are you working on now?
Promoting Improv Manifesto right now. Working on my next book, it’s on how to create more passion, intimacy and love in your relationship.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Your secret weapon is the people you know. The people who know you, trust you and care about you will help you more than you can imagine possible.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Shut up and write. Sit your ass down and start typing. If you put it off until tomorrow, you’ll die before you do it. Get ON your ass and right. Don’t edit. If you’re stuck, write badly. That’s fine. Just start typing the word blah over and over again. Blah blah blah. Until you come up with something. But, don’t sit there waiting for inspiration or the right idea. It won’t come.

Practice telling stories to other people, orally. You get direct feedback. Have someone else read what you wrote, aloud, while you listen. Notice their responses. Read it aloud yourself. Find out where the flow doesn’t work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be a good person.

There’s no such thing as failure, only feedback. (Until you die, perhaps…)

 

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 complete collection of the works of: Anton Chekhov, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling and… Milton Erickson.

Oh, and a book to write in myself!

Author Websites and Profiles
Chad Elliot Website
Chad Elliot Amazon Profile

Chad Elliot’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Chad Elliot – “The Confidence Doctor” – and I’m the owner of Seattle Improv Classes. I teach classes in improv, creativity, storytelling, and communication. I also do coaching calls in a way that’s very personalized. In fact, I’m the first person in the world to make one-on-one coaching an integral part of improv training. I have a rich and diverse background in teaching and coaching. What I really do is assist you in learning about yourself, the world, and how you can get a lot more of what you want in your life. And, I make sure we have a lot of fun doing it!

I had a rough childhood that was quite lonely, so I became incredibly devoted to learning how to improve myself, develop confidence, and become a strong communicator. I spent 3 years working at a small company that lead week-long intensive workshops in personal development, psychology, and communication. I’ve learned to combine the tools, strategies and techniques I’ve discovered with fun and playful games from improv.

I’m paid to make people uncomfortable by pushing them out of their comfort zone! For some reason they thank me! (Seems odd, huh?!?)

If you’re interested in taking my classes, coaching with me, or having me come into your organization to lead a powerful “funshop,” you can email me at chad(at)seattleimprovclasses.com Visit Or, call 425-270-1989.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Improv Manifesto: 7 Simple Steps to Unstoppable Confidence, Powerful People Skills, and Unlimited Creativity! (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XH8SYSS)

It’s my first book. I actually wrote a much longer book on personal development first. But, I realized I ought to get some experience publishing. So, I took a bunch of my writings I’ve used for my website and workbooks I give my students and brought them together. Then, I polished and structured them. Initially I just wanted to get something out there quickly. But, it took longer than I expected because I wanted it to be the best. (I’m a bit competitive in that regard.)

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t get writers block. With my background, I know too many tricks for that to ever happen. I don’t understand people who say they have writers block. Makes no sense to me. You sit. You write. You save the editing for later. (Most people try to edit in their mind before they write anything. Bad idea bears…)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was actually influenced a lot by marketers. Marketers have to write extremely well. Writing sales letters especially. They have to get their audience’s attention immediately or they lose. Very thoughtful. Very scientific. They can’t afford to try being artsy because people will ignore it. They have to grab people by throat. Boom!

I’ve also studied a famous hypnotist named Milton Erickson. His method of therapy often involved telling people stories. Stories are very powerful. They put the listener or reader into a trance. It’s worth understanding how that works.

What are you working on now?
Promoting Improv Manifesto right now. Working on my next book, it’s on how to create more passion, intimacy and love in your relationship.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Your secret weapon is the people you know. The people who know you, trust you and care about you will help you more than you can imagine possible.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Shut up and write. Sit your ass down and start typing. If you put it off until tomorrow, you’ll die before you do it. Get ON your ass and right. Don’t edit. If you’re stuck, write badly. That’s fine. Just start typing the word blah over and over again. Blah blah blah. Until you come up with something. But, don’t sit there waiting for inspiration or the right idea. It won’t come.

Practice telling stories to other people, orally. You get direct feedback. Have someone else read what you wrote, aloud, while you listen. Notice their responses. Read it aloud yourself. Find out where the flow doesn’t work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be a good person.

There’s no such thing as failure, only feedback. (Until you die, perhaps…)

 

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 complete collection of the works of: Anton Chekhov, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling and… Milton Erickson.

Oh, and a book to write in myself!

Author Websites and Profiles
Chad Elliot Website

Chad Elliot’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I guess you could say I’m a woman who wears many hats. First and foremost, I am a mother. My family is the most important thing in my life, and the source of many of my strengths. I have also been a music teacher, have developed myself as a personal development expert, and I am building a business. So I tend to juggle a lot. But my passion is writing. started writing after I had my second baby. Although I loved my children, I felt like there was something more for my life so you could say I picked up the pen in search of fulfillment. And I found it. Reading has always been a source of great pleasure for me, but writing became almost an addiction. There is so much magic in finding worlds and characters that live inside your head, and then transporting them onto paper. It’s incredible to experience the story as it’s woven through me.

To date I’ve written two books (published one), am in the process of writing two more, and have written and published one novelette. My next book will be released later this year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is a romantic thriller titled Where Shadows Dwell and wasn’t inspired as much as it just flowed through me. It was a story that pulled me along with it. Writing it was a discovery. Ultimately the story wove itself around the themes of letting go of the past, discovering one’s value, and learning to love, which is a theme that often weaves itself in my life. So in a way my life inspired the story.

My next novel, The Dark of Letum, is a fantasy and was inspired by the power of the mind and what humans are capable of creating once they’ve tapped into the magic of the individual they are. I’ve seen so many beautiful things come to life once a person truly connects and begins to love who he or she is as a person. So I wrote The Dark of Letum to explore these themes. In addition, the book was inspired by my experiences with postpartum depression. Those were very dark days in my life, and ultimately I had to learn to rediscover myself to gain freedom from the depression. The Dark of Letum explores the contrast of dark and light, love and hate, and the power of creation. I’m very excited to release it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say I have any unusual writing habits. I will admit that I often eat when I write. I tend to get snacky when I do. And I put a lot of notes on sticky notes before sticking them to my computer or my monitor. My desk is a bit of a mess

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been greatly influenced by Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. That book changed my life. I hope somebody my books will provide something incredible for other’s the way Atlas Shrugged provided something incredible for me.

Richard Paul Evans is also a huge influence simply because of what he provides is readers. His books are more than an escape for people. They are something people can connect to, and when they finish the book it’s not uncommon for his readers to walk away entirely inspired to live beautiful lives. I love what he provides.

I have to say Stephenie Meyer inspired me for a couple of reasons. First, I started writing after I read Twilight. For some reason I decided that if she could write a novel, I could write a novel. Maybe it was the simplicity of the writing coupled with the powerful emotions she pulled out of people. I’m not sure, but she unlocked the magic in me. She’s also become an inspiration simply because of what she’s done since then. She’s used her talents to follow her passions, which appear to be in the production of film. I love that. I love that she’s out there doing what she loves and making her life incredible.

What are you working on now?
In addition to The Dark of Letum, I’m working on a second novel in my Shadows Universe. This book explores the life of different characters connected to the same family line as Lily in Where Shadows Dwell. I’m also working on a novel titled A Song of Hope. This book has some magical elements in that the main character has the ability to heal others. But she has to use her gift carefully because every time she loses it, she dies just a little bit more. I’m writing this story because I think there is something beautiful inside the concepts of selflessness and love, particularly when they’re confronted by fear and the knowledge that something will be lost. This character has been a joy to discover because, like most of my characters, she’s come to life in ways I didn’t quite anticipate.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method I’ve found so far was offering my book free for a limited time, and then promoting the free novel on 10-20 websites. I had to do some research to find lists of places willing to promote. However, I’m still trying to learn all the nuances of marketing and since then have started developing different strategies, and hired an expert to help me get myself established and promote my work beyond what I’ve been able to do up to this point.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start writing and don’t stop. Writing talent isn’t necessarily something you’re born with. Some may be, but for the most part it’s something you develop over time. So my advice is to keep writing and writing and writing until it becomes a part of who you are. And study. Research. Connect with other writers. Build a community for yourself of people that are passionate about the same thing you are.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day. I’ll own that I don’t actually follow this one, but when I have structured my life to allow for it, my writing improved dramatically. The quality improved, it became easier to get the words on paper, the characters became clear and solid in my head, and the words just started to flow. It’s as if you unlock creativity by writing daily. It’s much more fun!

What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Saving Lord Whitton’s Daughter by Susan Tietjen. I also recently read The Mistletoe Series by Richard Paul Evans, and have some non-fiction books I’m always chipping away at as well.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next for me is publishing my fantasy novel and completing the second novel in the Shadows Universe.

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?
Hmmmm…. this is a surprisingly hard question.

I think I would take Little House in the Big Woods because I’ve always felt she described how their life was in such great detail that I could use it as a survival guide if I ever got desperate.
I’d also take Atlas Shrugged for two reasons. First, because I love it. Second, because it’s so big that it would keep me entertained longer than the typical book.
I’d probably take The Davinci Code or Angels and Demons. I really do love Dan Browns work.
Last, I think I’d take Pride and Prejudice. or maybe one of the non-fiction works of Stephen Covey. Of course, limiting an author to four books is like asking them not to breathe. So in the end I’d probably just cry in misery at the lack of good books available.

Author Websites and Profiles
Julianne Kelsch Website
Julianne Kelsch Amazon Profile

Julianne Kelsch’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing since I could hold a pencil, just haven’t had the opportunity to publish much. I have primarily written short films and feature films but am now going back to long form fiction. I have also written and drawn my first graphic novel (“Wraith of Love”) which will be a three volume series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Shadow of the Knight” was inspired by a friend confessing to me one night that she would walk down dark alleys at night and hoped that Batman would come and rescue her. She was serious. Scared me a little but I’ve also never forgotten that conversation.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only that my weird cat, Indiana Jones, likes to get in the way and be as distracting as possible.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jim Butcher is a huge influence, as is Chelsea Cain, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Ed Brubaker.

What are you working on now?
Working on three projects right now – the second issue of my graphic novel, adapting a screenplay into a novel with artwork, and writing a self-discovery book about my year-long adventure in China and how it helped me get myself together.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Quit reading about doing it and just do it. Write. It may suck but don’t let that stop you. Write more. Write again. Get unbiased friends who are willing to give you harsh criticism to read your book, take their notes, and write more.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just write. Get out of your head and write.

What are you reading now?
Finishing Chelsea Cain’s series. Reading batches of comic books for inspiration.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next is to finish the three projects I’m working on and get them out into the world. Get busy at comic book conventions selling my comic books and my novels.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
“The Tao of Pooh”. Something by Jim Butcher. An art coffee table book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Susan Lee Website

Susan Lee’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island and a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Cat Writer’s Association. I have a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. My three published novels include Cloudy Rainbow, A Stone’s Throw, and Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Solstice Publishing, 2016) that has been on the Amazon bestseller list for cozy mysteries. My romantic comedy novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, was published in February 2017. I have also written articles and short stories for several anthologies of various genres. My third Cobble Cove mystery, Written in Stone, will be published in Spring 2017. I live on Long Island with my husband, daughter, and two cats.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Stone’s Throw, the first of my Cobble Cove mysteries, was released on March 8. It was originally published with another publisher in 2015. The new edition has an additional chapter and updated editing. The story was inspired by a combination of experience and imagination. The main character, Alicia, is a librarian like me, and she shares some of my personality traits. I also have quite a bit in common with her love interest, John, who is a newspaper publisher and also writes mysteries. I worked on my college newspaper and was always interested in writing. John’s father, Mac, is based on a man I worked with in college who ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day for lunch. I also based the Siamese library cat on my own Siamese, Oliver. As for the plot, that was more imagination than experience.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think they’re that unusual, but I write very early in the morning. I’m up before five sitting at the computer working. I also rarely outline my plots. I often surprise myself by my endings and twists because they come to me as I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a librarian, I’ve always been an avid reader so have been influenced by many books and authors. I was hooked on gothic romances and romantic suspense novels when I was a teenager and read almost all the books by Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and other authors of that genre. I later developed a love of cozy mysteries, which you might consider my series. I have a collection of cat fiction from authors such as Carole Nelson Douglas, Rita Mae Brown, Shirley Murphy, etc. I also enjoy some historical fiction and time travel novels. One of my favorite titles was The Eight by Katherine Neville. Currently, I enjoy books by Mary Higgins Clark and Nora Roberts, her standalone books as well as her JD Robb “In Death” series. I’ve also been sampling lesser known and debut authors of various genres.

What are you working on now?
I’m on the edits for my third Cobble Cove Mystery, Written in Stone, that I anticipate will be out in April. I also have a standalone psychological thriller, Sea Scope, that I’ve been querying to literary agents in the hope of landing a deal with a larger publisher, although I’m extremely pleased with my current publisher, Solstice Publishing. I have many other ideas and books/stories in different stages of completion.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m active on social media – FB, Twitter, Google+. I have a website/blog: https://debbiedelouise.com where visitors can also subscribe to my twice monthly newsletter that includes a monthly contest. My cat character, Sneaky, also has his own blog where he interviews other pet characters and pets of authors. It’s located at https://sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com. The Cobble Cove Chat Facebook group is hosted each month by a different character from my series and where readers can interact with them and also enter monthly contests.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. Write because you love it, and don’t try to change the way you write to satisfy anyone but yourself. Be proud of your work and strive to improve it to keep your vision of what you want to share with readers. Support other authors and learn from them.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The same as I just gave. Most important of all, to keep writing.

What are you reading now?
I’m judging a few contests at the moment so juggling a couple of books. I was asked, as a librarian, to judge the Romance Writer’s of America contest I’m also judging the Cat Writer’s Association contest that I judge and enter each year. For my own pleasure, I’m reading J.D. Robb’s “Echoes in Death” and Peter Swanson’s “Her Every Fear.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned above, I’m hoping to complete several projects and maybe start something new. I’d like to find a literary agent. I have an idea for another series and standalone novel. Lots of ideas but not enough time to devote to all of them. I’d also like to continue the Cobble Cove series, but I’m looking toward taking a break after my third and working on other projects.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s not an easy question. Because I have such a huge TBR pile, I would not bring something I’ve already read. I’d probably want to bring a few books that have been sitting on my home bookshelf gathering dust because I haven’t had time to read them yet. I also might like to bring a book or two on writing including marketing and social media promotion and maybe The Guide to Literary Agents, so I could research finding one while I wait for rescue.

Author Websites and Profiles
Debbie De Louise Website
Debbie De Louise Amazon Profile

Debbie De Louise’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was trained as an economist but I love books more. I read for entertainment and knowledge, not exams! So far I’ve published six books: Never say Never, Ask the Stars, Blame it on the Stars, All I Ever Wanted, The Lollipop Flew Away and Darling… I Need Your Corpse.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled All I Ever Wanted. The Young Adult novella was inspired by tribal conflict in Kenya and its impact on children.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I cannot write before eleven a.m. I must sleep for an hour hour to be able to concentrate.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Alistair MacLean’s Where the Eagles Dare, William Shakespeare’s Merchants of Venice. I love stories with a twist.

What are you working on now?
I am doing final touches on All I Ever Wanted.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I’ve been using Amazon’s free book promotion. I use Facebook, Twitter and promotional sites like Awesomegang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being a writer is a disease, writing is the cure.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.’ Chinese proverb.

What are you reading now?
The Battle of Jericho by Walter Marcs.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write, write and write.

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 tough one. The Girl on the Train. Honor Among Thieves by Jeffrey Archer. Animal Farm by George Orwell.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anthony Mugo Amazon Profile

Anthony Mugo’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account