Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Adelaide, South Australia; I moved to Sydney, New South Wales when I was nineteen (for love, marriage, children and dogs).
For a long time, I just assumed my childhood was an average one (although … having a lamb as a domestic pet in an urban setting should have been a giveaway). My parents were not your average Aussies and I was not your average kid. They were born and raised in Egypt, Jewish and of Romanian descent. I was a misfit, caught in a cultural crossfire as they struggled to assimilate. Not an easy road, but, oh … what fabulous raw materials for a writer!
‘Odyssey in a Teacup’ is my first novel, but there’s still an anthology of dysfunction imprinted on my psyche and hankering for show-and-tell.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My whole life inspired ‘Odyssey in a Teacup’. I’d always thought my existence was … meh, you know, nothing special. And it was for quite some time because I’d conformed (conforming makes you dull and is utter damnation for a wild child). But when I started writing (first, in a personal journal after my parents passed away twenty-four years ago), memories of childhood, adolescence and early adulthood resurfaced. Seeing these through an increasingly clearer lens, I realised my existence hadn’t been mundane at all; it had been ridiculous! I was able to perceive the comedy in events and occurrences that were tragic in childhood. I also remembered that I’d had that ability as a child, but I had systematically shut it down because laughing at inappropriate times did not go over well back then, and I was often in sh*t! At home, at school … everywhere.
Although my book is a work of fiction, just like my life, it’s ‘The Ugly Duckling’ meets ‘The Odyssey’ in satire. It’s had a long incubation—I started it fourteen years ago! Hey, great things take time (and pay off)—I was chuffed when it became a bestseller on Amazon not long after its release, and after two months, a US Amazon #1 bestseller (humour & satire).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m usually saturated with ideas in the shower. When I’m done, I’ll just wrap a towel around myself, drip all over the carpet on the way to my study, just sit and pound away at the keyboard, and dry off naturally. Also, if I’m stuck on an idea, I’ll lie on the bed, but in the opposite direction (to the way I sleep) and with my feet up the wall. This 180° physical rotation usually elicits a turnaround in perspective. And I record my thoughts on paper, which is a much more organic way of writing than the computerised writing space (and it yields deeper insights).

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors and many books. I guess every one has in some way influenced me (sometimes that manifests as what not to do!). In terms of structure, since I’ve been writing, I’ve become mindful of writers’ techniques and what makes a book interesting, for example, fleshing out a character through dialogue (not just description), which engages the reader’s imagination and allows her/him to fill in the gaps.
In terms of content, the books that have most influenced and inspired me are ‘Women Who Run with the Wolves’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, and ‘Care of the Soul’ by Thomas Moore. These have been game-changers. Estés and Moore’s unusual take on the human psyche might seem like a new view, but it really just revamps a cobwebby old one, and demonstrates how ancient myths can help us understand what really drives our thoughts, impulses and behaviours. For me, this has breathed life into the tragicomical perspective that had been dormant in my psyche, and it’s resuscitated a sacred obscenity! It has also ignited a passion for a creative and multifaceted approach to the many great themes of the human condition (illness included. I applied this to my honours thesis, which addressed our collectively authored cancer story).

What are you working on now?
I’m having fun writing the sequel to ‘Odyssey in a Teacup’! And I’m also regularly blogging on the mythical approach to life.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t believe there is just ‘one’ best website to promote a book (all have something to offer: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and my own website—www.paulahouseman.com). The ‘one’ best method to promote is CREATIVITY! And that comprises myriad techniques: proactivity (participating, having a regular presence on a variety of sites); flexibility (if one way doesn’t work, try another), adaptability (if one way works and then stops working, rejig it); tenacity (don’t be discouraged by slumps. I’ve learned that ebb is as necessary a part of the creative process as flow. So I apply that to all aspects of life); self-belief (remembering that I have a marketable product. I’ve spent years writing a book that I’m proud of and believe can make a difference to my readers!)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If there’s nothing you’d rather be doing than writing, then just write! Don’t worry about censoring yourself, or plots, and don’t try to adhere to a formula. There isn’t one, and if you do have one, it’ll change! Don’t fret over self-doubt and other creative blocks. Don’t expend too much energy trying to find a solution to these. When you get that there’s purpose in them (not least that they keep you humble), you’ll see there is no solution because there is no problem! Write from the heart, believe that you have something to offer the world, and trust that everything else will follow (of course, you need to act on insights).

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Mainstream views have never sat well with me and I’ve struggled to find who I ‘belong’ with, who I can totally be myself with, who really gets me—all of me. ‘Women Who Run with the Wolves’ is filled with guidance. But the one (of many) that has made the most difference to me is Estés’s counsel that we must keep searching for our pack, and that our ‘true kin’ may not necessarily be a group of people! It may be an ‘art form’. I’d read this hundreds of times, and then recently it fell into place for me. I’ve found my ‘true kin’ in writing. When I write, I feel like I’ve found ‘home’.

What are you reading now?
I’m just finishing a Robert Crais novel (thriller/mystery), ‘Voodoo River’, and I have a Danielle Steel novel, ‘Undercover’, waiting in the wings.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully, releasing another bestseller (the sequel to ‘Odyssey in a Teacup’). And I’ll keep blogging.

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?
An eclectic combination: ‘Women Who Run with the Wolves’ to soothe and nourish my soul and strengthen my spirit in this confronting situation; a Danielle Steele novel to remind me that we’re all tested, and for a dash of romantic escapism; a book by Janet Evanovich and a Lee Child novel for their respective lead characters, the kick-arse Stephanie Plum—to help me see the humour—and the indomitable Jack Reacher—to give me courage, to inspire a creative way to survive my predicament and to help me find a way out of it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Paula Houseman Website
Paula Houseman Amazon Profile

Paula Houseman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in New York City to Irish parents. My family moved back to Ireland when I was three years old. I’ve lived there ever since.

I appeared to have a natural gift for writing. The first school report card I got when I was five had just one comment at the end: “Stewart writes very interesting stories.”

I listened to my grandmother’s tales of the Banshee in her kitchen and was enthralled and terrified. It was direct exposure to Ireland’s Celtic storytelling tradition and I was hooked. I love the folktales, traditions and superstitions of Ireland, the country that gave the world the festival of Halloween and Dracula author Bram Stoker. I went on to do an Irish Folklore course in University College Dublin. I also have qualifications in Theatre Studies, Criminology and Social Media for Business.

The Vorbing is my debut novel. I have a plan to write five novels; three in the Vorbing Dubhtayl saga and two crime books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Vorbing is my first book and a nightmare I had back in 1996 inspired it. I rushed to type it up before I forgot it (you always think you’ll remember these ideas later, but you never do. Get them down!) The short story that resulted became the first chapter of The Vorbing. 19 years later, it’s finally out there.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have a set wordcount goal that I must reach each day. I wait for inspiration to strike and write in feverish bursts. That way, what I’m writing is fresh and just sings off the page. Sometimes it can take weeks for ideas to start flowing, but I never panic and wait for it happen. Thankfully, it keeps happening. I don’t know how or where these ideas come from, I’m just grateful they appear.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Joseph Campbell’s work on mythic structure was a definite influence. James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential) is my favourite fiction writer and Antony Beevor (Stalingrad) is my favourite non-fiction writer. I also admire Richard Matheson’s daring take on vampire lore with I Am Legend.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the paperback version of The Vorbing and its sequel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is all new to me, so I’m still trying to figure that one out. Online sales are the Holy Grail for writers and you’ll come across a zillion people promising you the earth, moon and stars. Everyone likes and shares my book posts on social media and wishes me luck but somehow that doesn’t translate into actual sales. If I could crack that one, I’d be on to something. Everyone that has read The Vorbing raved about it, so it’s frustrating that people won’t take a chance on a new writer. I’m hoping this will change.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Finish your book no matter what. Don’t listen to negative people or your own doubts; keep going, get it done and get it out there. Never put something out that isn’t up to scratch. Get your work professionally edited. Believe me, there are mistakes in your writing that only others can spot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t listen to advice. Give yourself the freedom to make your own errors, it’s the only way you’ll learn.

What are you reading now?
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise by Chris Taylor

What’s next for you as a writer?
Vorbing II and III and then two crime books. That will be my five-novel plan completed. After that, there may be a Cold War black comedy or maybe I’ll give up writing, who knows. It depends on whether people want to read my work. Supply and demand.

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 Year in Ireland by Kevin Danaher
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez
Stalingrad by Antony Beevor
The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

Author Websites and Profiles
Stewart Stafford Website
Stewart Stafford Amazon Profile

Stewart Stafford’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
While I spent the majority of my adult life in telecommunications, (operations, software and hardware cognizant engineer, and systems implementation), I come from a family that, in hindsight, was an enterprise for arts and sports. My grandmother was a sob-sister, writing human interest pieces for a penny a column inch. Eventually she opened her own publishing company which remained in operation for several years prior to my birth. But she remained a strong influence on my reading and writing habits. Just as powerful, my mother was an actress in little theater productions. So, these two women had a tremendous impact.

Writing raised up its head when I was twelve. I had read William Golding’s “Pincher Martin,” and found it fascinating, and upon a visit to my uncle and his wife, (he was an Army hero and she was working at the Pentagon in the film relations department), I was invited to sit in on some screenings of films that involved the US Armed Forces. We would receive a copy of the script to follow the film and make notes about appropriateness. So, in my naivety, I launched into scripting “Pincher Martin.” But I never really discovered writing until I had performed in several stage plays, and had enlisted in the USAF. It was there that I realized how little I knew and how much I had to learn.

Along the way, I was fortunate enough to have written several story lines and a couple of teleplays — all dabblings while living my engineering life in NASA/JPL’s Deep Space Network.

These many years later, I have completed two novels. The character, Noah Chance began as an Homage to “those that went before,” including Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe, Mike Hammer, and a conglomeration of television gumshoes. But, I’d like to think, that with “Chance in Hell” and “Second Chance” that Noah has found his own voice, his own footing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is “Second Chance.” I have a great relationship with my publisher, Three Graces Press, and in particular, with Darren Westlund. I think we both came to the conclusion that “Second Chance” could set a standard by which a trilogy could be created — perhaps a series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Really. On a good day, I “gush.” On a poor day, I struggle to get one coherent sentence down. But I “worry” about it every day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many, many. But to pick a few: Sophocles, Chandler, Golding, Joseph Heller, Derek Swannson, James Michener, James Clavell, Lee Child, James Lee Burke. The list goes on.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the third book in the Noah Chance series. The working title is “Fat Chance.” It deals with the fall out from the 2008 banking disaster. The events that continue to unfold will give Chance an opportunity to get involved with whistle-blowers, crooks, spies, and agents of the NSA, all simmering in the Deep Net.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have what I would call a “best” method. I surf through the Internet looking for suggestions and opportunities for “site” postings. But I suspect most writers are doing that. Of course, find good, honest reviewers, build a support team of fans and writers, and keep plugging away. I work from a very small budget, mainly fishing around to see what works.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Don’t stop. But, up front, if you are chasing money, this is the wrong game. Eventually, your commitment to continued work will pay off. You hear that time and time again, and I believe it is true. We are at the beginning of the adventure — not the end. So keep on keeping on, as we used to say.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read. If you have difficulty reading take survey of literature courses at your local junior college. Force yourself to read.

And, write.

What are you reading now?
“The Mark and the Void” by Paul Murray is next up on my list.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Happy Thanksgiving with family. (I do take some time off.) And, then continued work on “Fat Chance.”

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. Well, the Bible — it has such a rich set of stories, villains, and heroes, and always with some moral conviction — always something there to learn. Probably The Grimm Brothers — scared me when I was a kid, scares me now. Something by Heller or Swannson to make me laugh. And anything by Joseph Campbell.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Seaver Amazon Profile

Michael Seaver’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I BROUGHT HOME A CHUPACABRA is my first Kindle book. Years ago I published a collection of plays simply called TWO PLAYS (AND SOME SKETCHES) BY BRAD McENTIRE, but it is now out of print. I also did a short ebook on thearical solo performance a while back called 7 CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SOLO PERFORMER. I have a paperback collection of comics available called I HATE HAWK SEASON as well. It can be found on Amazon. It is a collection of comics that originally appeared on the webcomic site Dribble Funk Comics. The series is named after the main charcater Donnie Rocket Toaster-Face.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I BROUGHT HOME A CHUPACABRA was inspired by my wife. She is a supreme dog person. I mean, she wanders straight up to dogs when she first meets them and gets all up in their faces. I am always worried that she will someday get bitten in the face.

She’s also the kind of person who when she hears about, say, traffic accidents that involve people and their pets, she cries because animals were hurt (nevermind those pesky humans who also might have suffered…)

I thought, what if she was this obsessive about something that was not a dog. What if it was a mythical beast of some kind? Thus was the seed of I BROUGHT HOME A CHUPACABRA born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The unsual thing is, I don’t have really any staedy habits. I get an idea, then let it percolate in my brain for a while. Then I lay it down on paper in a mad dash. Then rewrite as needed.

I wish I coul be one of those people who sits down every day and turns out so many hundreds of words like clockwork.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In the theatre, I am influenced by the works of Samuel Beckett, Mickle Maher and David Mogolov.

In a wider scope, I like Hemingway a lot. And William Gibson. And Elizabeth Gilbert.

Walt Disney has had a big effect on me, too.

What are you working on now?
My latest play is called THE YETI IN THE AIRPORT LOUNGE and will go up in Dallas in December 2015.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This one, maybe?

Actually, I have gotten a lot of traction with Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ignore that phrase “Write what you know.”

Ignore it because, seriously, what’s the alternative? Writing what you don’t know?

As an alternative I would offer “Write what you wanna see.” this one works if you are writing for the stage. If you are writing for readers, then phrase it like this… “Write the book you would want to read.”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Fight to stay excited

What are you reading now?
I am actually reading non-fiction at the moment. I am almost done with T. Harv Eker’s SECRETS OF THE MILLIONAIRE MIND.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on another one-person show about a man with one of the highest IQs in the world. He may have solved one of the biggest problems plaguing humanity, but because he has a heavy southern accent and no credentials he is overlooked by the academic system. The working title of that one is called BARTHOLOMEW CLADWELL COULD SAVE US ALL.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d bring a collection of Shakespeare, of course. I’d also probably take the collected short stories of Hemingway, MEDITATIONS by Marcus Aurelius, Peter Brooks’ THE EMPTY SPACE and a book called ZEN AND THE ART OF MAKING A LIVING by an author named Boldt. That last one is actually filled with way more than the title implies.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brad McEntire Website
Brad McEntire Amazon Profile
Brad McEntire Author Profile on Smashwords

Brad McEntire’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live and write in two worlds. He is the author of three social justice-themed novels (works for a Human Rights organization) and an award-winning series of Epic Fantasy. I try to convince myself and others that there is a connection.

In 2009, while on a family camping trip in Northern California, I began writing an epic fantasy novel to read to my sons around the campfire. Every year since, both my sons and the ancient redwood forests bear witness to the summoning of the Wycaan Masters, as each new manuscript is read on the annual camping trip to these diligently tough young editors.

My first epic fantasy novel, At The Walls Of Galbrieth, won the 2013 Eric Hoffer Book Award – YA Category and was a Grand Prize Finalist. The fifth book in the series is From Ashes They Rose was released in October 2015. All books are published by Tourmaline Books who will release Book 6 in early 2016.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
From Ashes They Rose – I wanted to explore the idea that the so-called ‘bad guys’ were motivated by a deeply felt injustice, and this justified their actions. They have an acute awareness of what they are doing and show great intelligence. It is not always so easy to hate your enemy.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My first draft spews out in 100 days (average of 1,000 words a day). I have no outline, and let the story take me. I have been seen crying at my keyboard and once alarmed a woman on a plane when I gasped and told her I had just killed someone.

I rise early and get to my office by 7.30am and write for at least an hour. I might stay an hour after work, and once the kids are in bed…well I think sleeping is overrated.

Editing takes much longer and I am blessed with a wonderful editor and critical but supportive writing friends … oh, and a long-suffering wife and children!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Patrick Rothfuss. I would give his books 6 stars if allowed. I grew up on Tolkien and Terry Brooks, greatly admire R.A. Salvatore and Daniel Arenson, and secretly dream to write like George R.R. Martin and Terry Goodkind.

What are you working on now?
Editing Book 6. I would tell you the title, but my publishers always change it! And wondering what will come after Book 6. I so love these characters, it is hard to imagine leaving them.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There is no magic bullet. I love communicating with readers. It blows my mind that someone in Japan or India read one my books and cares enough to reach out. I always try and respond. Great believer in twitter – @elfwriter – if you are interested – love when people comment on my blog posts (elfwriter.com). It is all about building friendships.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write your next book. There are few one book wonders and, if your book is good, even fewer readers who will finish your book and not immediately look for the next one.

Read everything you can.

Be a great human being.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
R. A. Salvatore – if you can quit do so. If you can’t, you’re a writer.

What are you reading now?
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson

What’s next for you as a writer?
After Book 6, I am exploring a more edgy magical realism book. Okay, I have already written it and am reading it now to my writer’s group. There is a lot of work to do, but no one has thrown their coffee on me…yet.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Patrick Rothfuss – his three novels would be an omnibus (is that cheating?) – and yes, the third would be published by then.
Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth.
The final Game of Thrones book – just so that I don’t have too much fun there but the time passes! Nice to know there are people (even fictional suffering like me on the island).

Author Websites and Profiles
Alon Shalev Website
Alon Shalev Amazon Profile

Alon Shalev’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I spent my early years in Waco and graduated from Belton High School and Texas A&M back in the 70’s. This Central Texas boy married a West Texas girl, Ann Becker, in 1977. We moved to Midland, her hometown, in 1980 after I received my Master’s degree. I went to work for Gulf Oil as a landman and was just happy to have a job. I’ve been a landman ever since. Sometimes with a company and sometimes independently. Our four children grew up in Midland. We now have five grandchildren with one on the way. I’ve always enjoyed books, words and letters. My writing, until recently, has been for family, friends and church. A couple of years ago, about the time our grandchildren started coming along, my muse took off and I started writing books and songs for children and young people. I’ve completed two books and am now working on two others.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest and first published book is titled SHAKY MAN. It was inspired by the man in the mirror and the boy he used to be. He had a story to tell his grandchildren. They are my muse.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write mostly in my head. I’m not one of those who sit down to meet a writing quota every day. When I write, it is in furious spurts. I wrote what I think are the two best chapters of SHAKY MAN in one day. I wrote several chapters of my first, unpublished, book NATIVITY TALES in a cabin at Pagosa Springs, Colorado over one weekend. I’m not what you would call disciplined.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD has always been my favorite book. I’m also mindful of the characters, dialogue and plots of Larry McMurtry’s good books. I still love Dr. Seuss and his messages. Other important books include OLD YELLER, WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS AND SOUNDER.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a sequel to SHAKY MAN titled SKINNY BOY. I won’t give to much away since I don’t know yet how it’s going to end. I didn’t know how SHAKY MAN was going to end until I wrote it. I’ve also started a book based on the early life of my wife’s grandmother. She grew up in China and Burma in the late 1800’s as the daughter of a Baptist missionary during the Boxer Rebellion. It is titled BESSIE GRAY. That one is going to take some time. It needs a lot of research.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
First and foremost is my website, http://marksparker.com/. Then I take full advantage of GoodReads, Texas Association of Authors, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Lone Star Literary Life and, of course, Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find what works for you. Seminars and conferences are great. Writing classes give wonderful suggestions. In the end you have to work within yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know.

What are you reading now?
LOST IN THE SUN by Lisa Graff.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m lucky that I enjoy the marketing side of the business a lot. Selling books has kept me pretty occupied lately. I’m speaking at a seminar in Odessa next week.

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?
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, LONESOME DOVE, CATCHER IN THE RYE and THE BIBLE.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mark Parker Website

Mark Parker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
THE AUTHOR, Mark Fine was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has made the United States his home since 1979, living in New York, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. For well over a decade he headed an award-winning record label that he founded, called Hammer & Lace, that united non-profit organizations with world-class celebrity and music talent to create benefit albums and entertainment events to raise awareness and funds in aid of breast cancer research, at-risk children, the blind, freedom of speech, and wildlife conservation. For these philanthropic initiatives Mark was voted by Variety magazine as the “Music Executive with 20/20 Vision.” He has also contributed articles to entertainment industry publications, and conducted public speaking engagements at media and charity events.

The oncology community has honored Mark for his innovative, entertainment-based approach to health education. But he is especially proud of his “Paws of Fame” award he received from The Wildlife Waystation for support and commitment of animals worldwide. As such, animals always make an appearance in Mark Fine’s writings. Now he resides in the South Bay, where he lives with his two sons, his “significant other” and Charlie, a neighborhood dog that drops in from time to time. There he wrote the historic romance novel, The Zebra Affaire. Set in apartheid South Africa, Mark brings an insider’s perspective to the gripping account of a bi-racial couple’s forbidden love.

When asked to compare his career in the music industry to his new endeavor as an author, Mark Fine replied, “This is a wonderful new adventure for me. I’ve always been an integral part of the creative process, and had the privilege of working hand-in-hand with remarkably talented individuals. But my role was to enable, nurture and provide support to others, and it had plenty of rewards. However in writing this novel, for the first time I was the sole creator and it’s given me a true appreciation of the solitary challenges of the creative process–and I’ve found it to be immensely satisfying.”

A story worth telling is the inspiration for his work, usually based on moments in history that both entertain and inform the reader, such as the gritty period of apartheid South Africa and elsewhere in sub-Sahara Africa. As a storyteller, Mark enjoys the notion of using fictional characters to lead the reader through periods of our past that are interesting, challenging, and instructive.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Zebra Affaire” quite well sums up my romantic-suspense, historical drama novel. We who are born in Africa speak in terms of having the “dust of Africa within our veins”—this extends to the way Africa’s wildlife inspires us. Well, my favorite childhood memories are going on safari with my father, and watching how the beautifully striped zebra and ugly wildebeest teamed up together, grazing the veld so contently. This lack of awareness of skin/hide differences displayed by these creatures made a marked impression on a young lad in segregated South Africa. I can’t claim that this notion was all my own, I was too young for that, but my dad wisely pointed out this evolved behavior. Thus the image of the zebra, with its discrete black and white stripes, remained indelible to me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Inspiration manifests itself at the most inconvenient times, so I’m constantly emailing and texting myself. Makes sense to preserve those nuggets of wisdom, but somewhat odd to find oneself constantly electronically communicating with oneself.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Herman Wouk and Leon Uris awoke me to the merits of historical fiction. I learned that I could read big tomes like “Winds of War” and “Exodus” and be thoroughly entertained—and at the same time acquire stacks of knowledge, painlessly.

What are you working on now?
Believe me I want to begin writing the next book, and I’ve begun plotting the story. But Zebra Affaire is keeping me preoccupied. A filmmaker, I’m pleased to say a woman, has just hired a screenwriter to do a movie adaptation of the novel. I’m immersed in discussions of what to include, the motivations of the characters, where and how to build plot tension within the two hours running time, and create a compelling device to preserve the historical context of my original story—a cinematic analog as it were of the “anywhere notes” I created in the book in lieu of footnotes.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Nothing beats email as a tool to effectively market and promote my book, The Zebra Affaire. I’m dedicated to growing my email list of prospective readers, in fact I’d be delighted if Awesomegang readers contacted me at mark@finebooks.co directly.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the end of your book first! I know this seems odd, but I see the conclusion of a book like the closing argument in a court case; everything going before it terminates with that closing presentation. With the conclusion clearly defined, the writer has a clear destination–a sign post as it were–to aim for, and reduce the chance of straying into the weeds. That said, please go back and tweak the ending as often as needed.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t exhaust all your creative ideas in a one sitting; leave something wonderful in reserve to use the next time you face a blank page. Almost a guaranteed solution to writers block.

What are you reading now?
Important characters in my book are women, and it’s important to me that they are fully-fleshed three dimensional personalities. To achieve this I began reading books by woman authors. Shamefully, I hadn’t made a habit of this before. What a revelation it has been! For example, I’m reading “View from the Sixth Floor” by Elizabeth Newton. It is an intriguing alternate history about the Oswald assassination of President Kennedy. Now this isn’t a typical conspiracy theory tome, but a fascinating human study.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m polishing my writer’s chops and working on a few short stories to satisfy requests from some Anthologies. In the meantime I’ve begun the research for my next novel based in sub-Sahara Africa in the late ’70s.

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?
“Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton
Sherlock Holmes Anthology by Arthur Conan Doyle
“Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens

Author Websites and Profiles
Mark Fine Website
Mark Fine Amazon Profile

Mark Fine’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Africa on a diet of unconventional parents, theatre and Georgette Heyer. Eventually I went into acting and trod the boards in England until the writing bug got me, when I changed to teaching and directing while penning historical romances and edgy women’s fiction. My 8 year apprenticeship ended with publication by Mills & Boon, and 18 historicals. Latterly I had two historical mysteries published by Berkley and I’m hoping to release more Lady Fan novels. Meanwhile, it’s wonderful to be able to return to my first love and put out new and old releases in ebook where I now have 16 books for sale.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a contribution to the Regency Quintet Christmas Edition anthology. My story is called His Lordship’s Christmas Bride and it’s the first of my series about Cinderella or convenient brides. I really love the idea of creating happy endings for women whose position in life means they are unlikely to contract any kind of marriage, let alone an eligible one. So it is pretty much the Cinderella or fairytale theme.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
At the moment I do, because I’ve started writing first thing in the morning! I used to write about 3 or 4 afternoons a week, but lately I’m so busy with “life” that I don’t get the chance. So I’ve got into the habit of writing before I get out of bed. A cup of tea and then I’m ready to roll. I use an Alphasmart battery-operated basic computer for my first drafts, and I use that balanced on my knee. It seems to be a successful way to work because I get something down every single day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I began reading Georgette Heyer at the age of 11, and fell completely in love with the genre. But I’m also very into sci-fi fantasy like Harry Potter and Terry Pratchett, and I’ve lately become addicted to Jodi Taylor’s Chronicles of St Mary’s – a crazy time-travel series. Agatha Christie turned me on to mysteries and The Hunger Games got me into apocalyptic fiction. I’m thinking of writing one of those myself.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m writing the second Brides story, and I’ve got another Lady Fan novel in the making as well.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use AskDavid and Fiverr mostly, and like the email lists that a lot of websites have now.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get the story down. You can’t edit something that isn’t there. Once it’s there, you can work on it to make it better. I think Nanowrimo is excellent for doing this.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t think – write!

What are you reading now?
Georgette Heyer for the umpteenth time! But I’ve got a load of different styles of book waiting on my Kindle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting more books written, and getting my short stories out on ebook.

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 Works of Shakespeare. Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. A Georgette Heyer anthology (if I can find one). Halliwell’s Film Guide.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Bailey Website
Elizabeth Bailey Amazon Profile
Elizabeth Bailey Author Profile on Smashwords

Elizabeth Bailey’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am not naturally a word girl. Numbers were my thing and always came easy to me. However, as I found myself a stay at home mom for the first time, I found writing to be a great outlet. I knew nothing about writing at the time. Since then, I’ve spent 10 years writing and learning about writing. I think I’ve almost spent as much time reading about writing and attending writer’s conferences as writing. Of course if you factor in editing….

To date, I’ve written (and published) 5 books and co-written two. I also have my first novel in the editing process with a traditional publisher

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book is Living Stress Free. It’s a Bible study that I wrote in conjunction with a talk I did for the 2015 Abundant Life Conference for Women. Stress seems to be a big issue in lives today, yet there is a way to live without letting stressors control us. My goal is to write things that not only entertain, but also encourage people to live better, more fruitful, more joyful lives. Living Stress Free is aims to guide people to life-long habits that reduce stress and can even have eternal consequences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I do. As any author, I sometimes write at really odd hours. As a homeschooling mom, people often ask me when I find the time. I don’t find it, but make it. Sometimes it’s at the school table, sometimes holed up in my bedroom as they do “computer school” or watch educational videos, sometimes it’s in the middle of the night as everyone’s sleeping.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gone with the Wind is the first great book that had a major influence on me. Although I saw the movie dozens of time before I ever read it. Margaret Mitchell’s ability to weave characters and story lines is very inspiring. More contemporary authors that have influenced me are Karen Kingsbury, Dee Henderson, and Terri Blackstock.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a handful of projects. The first is a non-fiction book called A Closer Walk: Exposing Deceptions that Hinder Your Walk with God & Revealing Truths that will Set You Free and Bring You Closer to Him. The is serious, while the second main project I have going on right now is a lot of fun. It’s called Broccoli for President and is about a very shy 6th grade who gets bamboozled into running for class president by her very outgoing friend. I also have about half a dozen other projects that are in some stage of progress, from outlined to 1st draft completed and in need of revising.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think consistency is the best book promoting method. Also, I try to do several events a year where I’m able to sell my books directly. Online, I haven’t found the magic sweet spot yet, but have found free book promotions to help boost sales, and Twitter very helpful in reaching the most people.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! Don’t give up if it’s your calling. Also, keep learning. I often tell people that learning everything about writing well and the world of publishing is like studying for/earning a Master’s Degree. It’s a lot of work! And it’s never as good as it could be on the first go round.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, revise, and rewrite. Then revise again. A good idea only becomes a great work of literature by hard work, a little blood, a lot of sweat, and some tears. To make a book feel seamless, an author must pour over every page, line, and word.

What are you reading now?
Love Takes Flight by Lee Carver and You and Me Forever by Francis & Lisa Chan

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing. As I browse my works in progress, hopefully lots of writing! I’m excited to be moving into the traditionally published world after self-pubbing several books and hope that will allow me more time to write and go to events.

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?
Definitely my Bible. It is the food of my soul and most thirst-quenching reading. Beyond that, it’s hard to decide. Maybe War and Peace, since I’ve never read it. Also, a couple of uplifting and encouraging biographies of people like Corrie Ten Boom and Billy Graham.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tracy Wainwright Website
Tracy Wainwright Amazon Profile

Tracy Wainwright’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, My name is Cindi Walton and I love life. I am a Northern Michigan native and love my neck of the woods even though I could do with a little less winter. I am married to a great guy Michael and have 2 grown daughters Candi and Kristy. I have the honor of being Nana to William Michael and Kaleigh Jean. Last but not least is my standard poodle, Maxwell House…I guess you have already figured out that I am a coffee lover. I believe that we all need a regular dose of nonsense and silliness in our lives…it helps to keep our inner child well fed. I am all about family and both of my books reflect that. I am also the founder of Sock Monkey Nation, a kindness and anti-bullying campaign where we believe “Bullies aren’t born, they are created. For more information please visit us at http://www.sockmonkeynation.com I am the author of 10 books and all book sales fund our cause.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book, “Friendly Fire” is a comedy romance. I am curious about those who have chosen to “life off the grid” and have often wondered “What if you were suddenly thrown into the lifestyle?” One day while drinking a cup of coffee and researching the various degrees of living off the grid, I suddenly knew that I wanted to take a city girl who was working in a coffee house and build a story around her, and so it began… A journey from a Chicago coffee shop to an off the grid community in Northern Wisconsin…throw in two handsome journalist and a standard poodle and a romantic comedy of errors was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write in my favorite fuzzy bathrobe with a cup of coffee at my side. I also keep a journal next to my bed where I jot down my thoughts and the beginnings of poems as they come to me throughout the night~

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am in love with Dr. Suess, Shel Silverstein, Debbie Macomber and last, but not least, anything that Charles Dickens has written. Since most of my books are written for children and often written in a poetic style , Suess and Silverstein have always tickled my “writing fancy.”

What are you working on now?
I just finished up “Friendly Fire” and I’m mulling over a serious novel and another children’s book of poetry. My brain is a little frazzled, so I need to step back, take a moment, reflect on where I have been, AND, then figure out where I want to go.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, as far as marketing my work, that is the hardest aspect of the entire process. I think it comes down to doing your research, being willing to roll up your sleeves and promote in whatever way you can, be it print, social media or word of mouth.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t write for the fame, recognition or money, but rather write for yourself. Life is too short and precious time is wasted when you wait for praise from others…My motto: “Dream it, try it, achieve it, baby steps along the way!”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up or give in…instead, give it your all!

What are you reading now?
Actually, I am reading the Harry Potter Book for the first time.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am thinking of writing something of a more personal and serious note. As a recovering bulimic, I am sickened by the body shaming of our culture today. I would like to write a novel that walks the reader through the life of a woman who struggles with her looks on a daily basis.

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?
Any of Dickens work, Where the sidewalk ends, My bible and a survival manual!

Author Websites and Profiles
Cindi Walton Website
Cindi Walton Amazon Profile

Cindi Walton’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have always loved writing but was always too embarrassed to show anyone. I started writing when I was eight but only in the last five years have I submitted any work anywhere. I just recently published my first novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
All The Colours. It’s a new adult romance with a little bit of mystery and self-discovery thrown in for an added something. It is actually pretty different to what I planned my first release to be. I was halfway through a first draft on a different story when I veered off course. It’s actually pretty funny, I love to write and read romance but I’m not massively big on it personally in my own life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am sort of all over the place with my writing.
Sometimes I need music. Other times complete silence.
I used to abandon my stories around the 10,000 word mark. I have lots of unfinished stories just waiting for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I loved the Goosebumps books when I was younger. Now I search for Indie authors mainly. I love the raw mostly undiscovered treasures.

What are you working on now?
I am halfway through a first draft for a character from All The Colours. I decided they deserved their own story.
I am also working on a short story collection with my sister. We love writing together.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still working on the promotion side of things. Probably shouldn’t admit that but I can’t bend the truth (except with my writing of course). I’ve found Twitter really useful in connecting with other authors and I’ve read some awesome books recently as a result.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write and worry about the rest later, and then write some more. Remember you can’t and won’t please everybody.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what is in your heart.

What are you reading now?
I just finished The Ghost of You by Kristen Darling. She had read mine and loved it so I decided to check out her book too, I’m so glad that I did! It was one of those books that really mess with you emotionally, making you feel everything. It was amazing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish this first draft and release it in 2016 as well as the short story collection. I’m really excited about both!

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?
Only 3 or 4? That’s impossible to answer.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lo-arna Green Website
Lo-arna Green Amazon Profile
Lo-arna Green Author Profile on Smashwords

Lo-arna Green’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written a number of short stories under other author names. My name of Amanda Rothman is real, however. Even if Smallville used it as a character name! I should watch that sometime.

I also write for a living, currently as a Technical Writer. This is my first non-fiction book that I’ve published on Amazon, but I’m planning to follow it up with a number of others in this series!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Bestselling book that I just published on Amazon is called “Climate Change Debates Don’t Matter: Generate Renewable Energy While Saving Earth from Floods and Drought”. It’s been thrilling to see how it has been received so far!

I’ve always loved nature, weather, and science, and have tracked it over time. When I noted a disturbing trend in severe weather and the increase in flooding and drought, I started to brainstorm!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I really really prefer quiet while I’m writing!

If there’s music on, I’m going to be listening to it.
A podcast? It has my rapt attention!
White noise? Distracting until I eventually drown it out with concentration.

Reading however? Distractions are no problem. If I’m reading I may (or may not) hear you if you’re talking to me! 😉

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh good heavens too many to name. There are some classic authors who taught me how to write descriptive prose. Lots of nonfiction authors that are helping with copy-writing, blog writing, book writing, marketing, finances, and of course information on climate change and related topics!

What are you working on now?
I’m trying to get my book into as many hands as I can to increase the chances that influential people will hear about it. I’m also contacting various climate change organizations, media outlets, and researchers/entrepreneurs who are working in the field to see if they’re interested in getting my system created.

Once I’ve finished this launch, I’ll be working on Book 2 of this ongoing series!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth and Facebook has been surprisingly helpful in getting support started from friends, family, and interested Facebook groups!

After that however, there are a large number of promotion services out there! I’m just getting started with them now.

Last is your blog. I’m working on adding more content to mine!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get frustrated and give up. You need to make a decision to write.

Every morning is best. Even if it’s just 15 minutes before going to work! The morning is when you have the most willpower after a good rest!

Sit down at your computer and write. If you’re staring at a blank screen, mindmap your ideas first so you know what you’re going to write. Then write it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Mindmapping ideas ON PAPER. Seriously. It works like you wouldn’t believe!

The same goes for the morning writing. The best way to develop a good habit!

What are you reading now?
I’m reading lots and lots of articles and books on marketing and improving one’s blog!

There is a lot of material to be found out there, but I find that with so many different points of view, everyone will have at least one little new nugget of wisdom not shared by the others!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking for speaking gigs, guest blog opportunities, podcast interviews- those sorts of things. I’ll be writing and releasing press releases once I work that out as well.

I’m hoping to leave a legacy of there being no more flooding and drought, no more deaths or people dying of thirst. Fewer wildfires. Glaciers that are more stable. Sea level rise averted.

It’s an enormous project.

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?
Difficult question!

The complete work of “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Dumas with all of the extras.
Albert Camus “The Fall”
A ginormous thesaurus/dictionary
A ginormous book of blank paper (hopefully some writing implements would be allowed!)

Author Websites and Profiles
Amanda Rothman Website
Amanda Rothman Amazon Profile

Amanda Rothman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello everyone! I’m Lisa Ann Verge, author of seventeen novels that have been translated into about fifteen languages. I started out writing historical, contemporary, and paranormal romances and then took up women’s fiction as Lisa Verge Higgins. Along the way I collected about a half-dozen RT Book Review Awards, a Bean Pot (from Boston, could you guess?), a Golden Leaf, and a RITA nomination. I’ve been doing this for over mumble-mumble years and loving every minute of it!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book (as Lisa Verge Higgins) came out in March 2015, SENSELESS ACTS OF BEAUTY. It was inspired by one of the main characters, a brilliant but smart-mouthed fourteen-year-old adoptee who just popped into my head one day. When her adoptive mother dies, Sadie loads up a backpack and goes on an odyssey to track down her biological mother . . . who will do *anything* to protect Sadie from the reasons she gave her away.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Alas, I’m boringly predictable in all my writing habits. I apply the seat of my pants to the seat of my chair, then eat chocolate and drink coffee.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I adore Kathryn Lynn Davis’s lush, historical romance novels–Too Deep For Tears, Child of Awe, etc. Her books inspired me to pick up my pen. It was such a thrill when I finally met her at a writer’s conference about a year ago. I confess, I went all fan-girl.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on several projects at the same time. First, I’m putting up my backlist historical romances as eBooks, which is such a thrill. I’m trying to put out 2-3 a year. I’m also working on the next book in The Celtic Legends Series, a story that I put aside years ago and now have an opportunity to revive. Finally, I have a super-secret side project that I can’t talk about because it’s different and exciting and challenging and a new direction for me.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t really ‘promote’ much, really. I’ll do an occasional price drop or freebie, but in general I just keep in touch with folks on Facebook and Twitter, building an ever-expanding community of really interesting people, and then when I’ve got something coming out I’ll let them know. If promotion isn’t organic, it doesn’t feel right.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Focus on your writing above all else. Traditional publishing is tough to break into, and there can be a lot of disappointments even if you do. Indie-publishing allows instant gratification, but discoverability is a challenge. If you focus on writing the best story you can, and constantly strive to improve your craft, then you’ll be prepared when opportunity strikes and at the same time protect yourself from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ernest Hemingway: “The first draft of anything is s**t.”

Don’t sweat it–just get the story on the page. Then rewrite!

What are you reading now?
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. It’s a fabulous thriller, I couldn’t put it down!

What’s next for you as a writer?
If I tell you, I may have to kill you. 😉

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?
How To Build A Fire. How To Skin A Lizard. How To Build A Raft. The King James Bible

Author Websites and Profiles
Lisa Ann Verge Website
Lisa Ann Verge Amazon Profile

Lisa Ann Verge’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After spending over 33 years in the computer and information technology industry, Richard decided to take an early retirement to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional writer and published author. Richard is a leader in the computer industry, serving as Vice President of Consulting at Software Techniques and Beck Computer Systems before settling down as Director of Computer Operations at Trader Joe’s. During his twenty-year tenure at that esteemed company, he focused on computer security and preparing for the possibility of disaster.

In addition to creating hundreds of articles for the web and blogs, Richard actively works as a professional ghostwriter. In that role, he has completed books on a wide variety of subjects including memoirs, business volumes, and novels. Because of his in-depth background in software management and computer security, Richard has ghostwritten a number of major books in those areas.

Additionally, Richard has published books of his own. His first two volumes, Safe Computing is Like Safe Sex and Real World Survival Tips and Survival Guide, respectively touch on the subjects of computer security and how to survive emergencies and disasters. Richard has also written and published a series of short eBooks on the aspects of freelance writing, including blogging and ghostwriting. Other published books include How to Plan a Party and How to Surround Yourself with Beautiful Women without Being a Sleazeball.

An avid adventurer, Richard has been a photographer for much of his life, with a focus on nature, scenic, performance and event photography. He has done everything from hiking in dozens of national parks throughout the country, to photographing various unique festivals and events, such as the Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball and the World Mermaid Awards Convention. He is well known in the Renaissance Festival and Belly Dance communities, having photographed over 1,200 dance events and 400 festivals. For several years, he photographed the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California.

Richard is currently working on a large number of short Kindle eBooks on a wide variety of subjects. Beginning in 2016, the first of a ten volume series of Science Fiction novels will be published.

One of Richard’s passions is to use the power of words to educate people on human rights. He believes the world will be a better place when human beings are treated with the full respect and dignity they are due.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Help! I’ve Lost My Job: Tips on What to do When You’re Unexpectedly Unemployed (Business Professional Series Book 5)

I wanted to help people who have recently lost their jobs. I went through that experience two years ago, and although I left voluntarily, there were many things I learned that others could find of benefit.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I set a timer for 45 minutes, write for that long, then take a 15 minute break. I do this 3 times before lunch, 3 times after, and 3 times after dinner.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
L Ron Hubbard was a huge influence because he could write on so many subjects. I also enjoyed Stranger and a Strange land and any book by Mike Resnick.

Shelley Hitz books on writing and marketing have been a fantastic influence and helped me get my writing career started.

What are you working on now?
My second novel, a space opera called “Peacekeeper”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been using LinkedIn very successfully to market my books and my ghostwriting services.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Write. Write. Don’t give up and don’t listen to the naysayers. Also, learn to market and sell.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in myself and my abilities.

What are you reading now?
Scam Proof your Life

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m writing a 10 volume novel series, a space opera set 1 million years in the future, another novel involving a cat from her point of view, and a long series of short Kindle eBooks on various subjects.

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?
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
Santiago by Mike Resnick
Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein

Author Websites and Profiles
Richard Lowe jr Website
Richard Lowe jr Amazon Profile

Richard Lowe jr’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Growing up in a small town on the plains of eastern Montana, I was anxious to see the world (i.e., move away). After college, I left for 8 years, living in Michigan and then Washington, eventually realizing there’s no place like home, happily returning to Montana in the 1980’s. I’m the mother of three grown children, and proud nana of seven grandsons and a granddaughter. My husband, Mini-Schnauzer and I live in south central Montana, where I enjoy writing, reading, photography, travel, long walks and the “Big Sky” of Montana.

For over 30 years, my passion was teaching, working with thousands of women and babies as a breastfeeding educator. During my career, I spoke at numerous Lactation Conferences, both nationally and internationally and co-wrote many lactation articles and case studies, which have appeared in different lactation journals, as well as being referenced in books.

I’ve written one full-length book, Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia and this past summer I was nominated as 2015 Best Woman Writer for the High Plains Book Awards, which encompassed over 200 entries from 7 western states and 3 Canadian provinces.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia is my first full-length work, inspired by my struggle to find practical and helpful information while I was the caregiver for my parents. After my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and my father with Parkinson’s-related dementia during the same year, I became the nearest family caregiver. Since journaling had been a part of my life since I was 16, it seemed only natural for me to keep a diary of our journey down what I call the “rabbit hole of dementia.” Writing became my therapy and a way to cope with the emotional ups and downs of our lives. Over time, my journal morphed its way into a memoir, filled with stories and lessons, insight and hope. I was inspired to publish it after sharing the manuscript with friends and friends of friends who were traveling the same difficult road and hearing them tell me how much reading this book helped them on their own journey.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I’m not sure what would be considered “usual” writing habits, so whether or not my writing habits are “unusual” is open to debate. My office is sitting on a stool at my computer at my kitchen counter breakfast bar. I write at all different times of the day or evening, whenever I can escape life’s persistent demands.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Escaping into the historical fiction and fantasy time-travel of a Diana Gabaldon novel is my idea of a great time. Her writing style is so engaging, I find myself saying (or thinking) “ken” and “dinna” weeks after finishing one of her novels. I’d love to have her talent for writing characters. She also has a knack for including interesting vocabulary. I enjoy Barbara Kingsolver and felt her book The Poisonwood Bible changed the way I look at life. Her books are thoughtful and remain in my mind long after I’ve finished the read.

What are you working on now?
Although this is still my working title, I recently finished the first draft of Overcoming Maggie. This biographical work of fiction was inspired by the life of my great-grandmother, a spunky and determined woman thrust into marriages of abuse, not once, but 3 times. I’ve the actual divorce transcript from the first marriage, which inspired much of the first half of the book. This story, which begins in Michigan and ends in Montana, is a testament to her determination, courage and spirit. It takes place around the turn of the 20th century, when women had few, if any, legal rights.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I engage with social media via Twitter and Facebook every day, maintain a website with a blog and seek out connection with others interested in all things dementia. I’ve spoken numerous times in my city for various organizations about Dementia Awareness and always bring along a stack of my books to sell.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s important to put together a good, professional-looking product that is well-written and professionally edited, with a classy, eye-catching cover. After that, it’s all about marketing, marketing, marketing. And, yes, I’d rather be writing…

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

What are you reading now?
I’m always reading other books related to Alzheimer’s/dementia, including Stars Go Blue by Laura Pritchett (High Plains Book Award winner), Jean Lee’s Alzheimer’s Daughter, Marianne Sciucco’s Blue Hydrangeas and Shannon Wiersbitzky’s What Flowers Remember. I recently finished both Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. Currently, I’m reading Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working with my editor on Overcoming Maggie, continuing to blog, participate in promos and market my book, Somebody Stole My Iron.

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. SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea by John Lofty Wiseman
2. First Aid Manual
3. The Complete Sonnets & Poems of William Shakespeare, as maybe I’d finally have enough time on my hands to contemplate their meaning.
4. Lastly, I’d probably take Diana’s Gabaldon’s Outlander, just for fun.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vicki Tapia Website
Vicki Tapia Amazon Profile

Vicki Tapia’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Brenda Thornlow is an author from Brooklyn, NY. She is the author of the first book in a time travel series entitled, My Life as I Knew It; The Revolving Door: A Short Story, and her latest novel is entitled A Godless Love. When she is not writing Brenda temps as an administrative assistant all around the Manhattan area. She currently lives in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge with her husband of five years, their dog Norman and cat Sophie.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is entitled A Godless Love. The inspiration for it comes from my background growing up in a religious cult and the control they have over their member’s lives including the sexual lives of married couples.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
While writing, I sometimes stop to take 3 or 4 mile walks while listening to RuPaul. I find his music inspiring.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A few of my favorite that have had an impact on my life are The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb; The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster and The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule.

What are you working on now?
The second installment to My Life as I Knew It, the first book in a time travel series. The second book is entitled Life, As Is.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Instagram and mass email.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Throughout my life, I’ve always loved writing but never shared my work with others until a couple of years ago because I was self conscious. When I finally did showcase my work it was such a freeing experience. If you want to write, don’t let what others think of you stop you. Just do it. Some will appreciate your writing, others won’t. Ignore the people that don’t appreciate it. Do it for yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you want to be a writer, then start writing!

What are you reading now?
It by Stephen King.

What’s next for you as a writer?
In a couple of weeks I am doing a radio interview on The Author’s Show.

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 three I mentioned above.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brenda Thornlow Website
Brenda Thornlow Amazon Profile
Brenda Thornlow Author Profile on Smashwords

Brenda Thornlow’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am proud to say that I grew up in Memphis, TN, yet now divide my time between Malibu and Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. I have written three books: two that were published by Vinspire Publishing and the third is a book I am putting the final touches to. My first book is a paranormal mystery written in two time periods, which fit together like pieces of a puzzle and take the reader on a suspenseful journey, and my second book is fiction set on the western coast of Ireland titled, “Dancing to an Irish Reel.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Dancing to an Irish Reel” was inspired from the year I spent living in rural Ireland. It was a pivotal, eye-opening year for me, and although I worked in Galway City, I lived in the region of Connemara, which is where Irish is spoken as a first language and the old ways are still kept. It was so vastly different from everything I knew in America, and I was so spell-bound by Ireland and its social mores and subtle culture, that I wanted to write about it, so that readers would gather a sense of the wonder of the place. Ireland’s people are their most salient characteristic. I found them humorous, soulful, respectful of nature and each other; they are a culture well worth writing about and hopefully readers will feel the same.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always write first thing in the morning, coffee in hand, which I keep coming. I treat it as a full-time job when I am immersed in the writing of a book. I also contribute to magazines and my trick is to follow the thread of inspiration when an idea comes to me, by this I mean I drop whatever else is going on and commit to sitting at my desk until the job is done. I’ve found if I don’t move when the inspiration to tell a story hits, then it’s hard to get it back.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All the books that have inspired me are fiction. “The Prince of Tides” and “South if Broad” by Pat Conroy come to mind because they are incredibly well crafted stories with lyrical language at their core. And both have a strong sense of place, which the story seems to revolve around the setting. I like the idea of culture and social mores as a defining characteristic of the characters. They explain much of a characters mind frame and motivation.

What are you working on now?
I’ve almost lost count, but I have just completed another run-through of my third novel, which is a Southern family saga set in 1970’s Memphis. It is a cause and effect story about how tragedy can play out in a dysfunctional family and effect everyone differently according to who they are. And it is about keeping up appearances along with a good dose of denial, although all that glitters is definitely not gold.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I rely heavily on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. I also like to keep writing and posting on magazine sites online. I like a site called Books go Social, and I am thrilled to come across you!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think it’s very important to continuously read, and if you are brave enough to go outside of the comfort zone of your favorite genre, more’s the better. Aiming to broaden your vocabulary is an endless pursuit, but one that gives you the keys to the kingdom. And when you tell a story, remember it is best told in your own voice according to who you are and how you see things. Readers love to learn of a different vantage point than their own, so it is an authors job to give it to them.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A writer’s career is a marathon, not a sprint. Dawn Carrington of Vinspire Publishing was the first to tell me this.

What are you reading now?
“Untying the Moon” by Ellen Malphrus. She is a poet and it shows in this, her first novel.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I think I’ll continue setting books in the American South for a while because there is so much to divulge about the region and its people. Many say the South is the last romantic place in America.

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 Secret History” by Donna Tarrt, “Pat Conroy’s “The Prince of Tides” and “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles.

Author Websites and Profiles
Claire Fullerton Website
Claire Fullerton Amazon Profile
Claire Fullerton Author Profile on Smashwords

Claire Fullerton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Writer has always been my dream job. It hasn’t been until recently that it makes sense to go after that dream.

I’ve written two novels so far, and have two more in the Guardians of Espen series planned. All the novels are stand alone, although they do feature some shared characters.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is ‘His Ghost to Bear’ and it was inspired by a challenge to write a Halloween romance. I really had a blast writing this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write very late at night, when the house is quiet and everyone is sleeping. The story just flows better in the wee hours of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read and loved every genre from horror to non-fiction. The authors that have influenced me the most have been the ones that write bold worlds that dare to challenge our social conventions and still tell a grand adventure story.

My favorite authors include, Marjorie M. Liu, Mercedes Lackey, Johanna Lindsey, Deborah Geary, David Weber. I read pretty widely though. It’s rare I meet a story I don’t like.

What are you working on now?
The follow up story to His Ghost to Bear.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth. Well, that, and Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Dare to write. Just put words on the page, even if you think they aren’t the best words. Get to the end, fix what you can and move on. The best way to learn is to do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The only way you can fail at writing is to quit writing. Pretty sure it was Dean Wesley Smith who wrote that and it made sense to me.

What are you reading now?
Research material on Roman Gods. Sometimes I take a break and read a light novel for fun. Last novel I read was a week ago, and it was ‘I See You’ by Holly Lisle, but that was a ‘read it again’ just because book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After the Guardians of Espen? I’ve got plans in work for future collaboration with Tia Moon. Also, looking forward to working with Alana after this series is done. The details still need to be hashed out as far as what’s after Guardians.

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 longest books I could find by one of my favorite authors. Wouldn’t matter which one. But one would have to be a survival guide, because desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sophia Barron Website
Sophia Barron Amazon Profile

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a daydreamer, and that is why I write. OCD runs in my family, rather than a handicap, for me it is a writing tool. I immerse myself in a subject, a location or time and then do my best to tell a good yarn from the place.
I have written eleven books, five of which take place in the 1920s and six that take place during the Roman Empire.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Murder Most Haunting: A Mrs. Xavier Stayton Mystery
I had a desire to tell a story of what appears to be a murder from beyond the grave. The plot twist came to me as I worked out how to tell a story with an eerie atmosphere without the an actual supernatural element. I think a good old fashion whodunit requires a flesh and blood killer at the end; as Mrs. Stayton said: “I have never met a ghost, but I have met a few murderers.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if this is unusual or not, but to start a book I first write out different occurrences that must happen on to note cards. Sometimes it is a clue, sometimes it is a statement that needs to be said, or a bit of physical action. Then I can arrange all of my plot points before I start to write, and I don’t miss some factor that moves the story forward.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Graves, Daphne du Maurier and Agatha Christie have all shape my writing style and interests. Graves is a great story teller, using little description he gets right to the point. Mrs. du Maurier’s novel Rebecca is just a marvel. I only wish I could match her talent. Agatha Christie was a master of her craft, she knew how to write a page turner!

What are you working on now?
Murder Most Plagiaristic: A Mrs. Xavier Stayton Mystery
Mrs. Stayton finally gets a book publisher, and then finds herself nearly sued for plagiarism. Of course, matters get worse when her publisher is killed. It is up to her to find out just whodunit.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think you have to mix it up, what worked last year, or last month may not work today. Product recognition is important. Someone needs to see the cover of your book multiple times before it becomes familiar to them and they think, oh, I should check this out. I think people tend to prefer what they know, what they recognize, so they need to notice your book cover in different places.
Find the people who like the subject and genera you write about, thanks to social media they are out there waving at you. Don’t spam them, get to know them, interact. I enjoy the relationships I have made by becoming part of the people who read the subject I write. It makes it all more worthwhile.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stop rewriting and rewriting your book and hire an author coach or some similar professional to critique your manuscript. I know I wasted a lot of time because I didn’t know what to do after I wrote my first story. Luckily, I made the next jump and stopped asking my friends to read it, because of course they all said it was a masterpiece, and I hired someone. He told me it was a good start, and then he told me everything wrong with the pacing and the conclusion. I listened, I rewrote, and rewrote and it was the best thing I could have done. Less than a year later, I was no longer saying that my hobby was writing, I was saying “I’m an author.”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
More of a statement, “Life is short.” I love a particular episode of Green Acres, where Lisa Douglas makes a head gasket out of pancakes. I turned on the TV countless times when the reruns were on to see if that was the episode playing, and even if it wasn’t, I watched the show. Don’t waste your time watching reruns, write – or whatever it is you love doing, do that because life is short.

What are you reading now?
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie
I have been on a kick of rereading all of the Queen of Crimes books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am just going to keep writing. I have a lot of stories to tell.

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, Claudius by Robert Graves; Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie and Murder Most Posh -by me!

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert Colton Website
Robert Colton Amazon Profile

Robert Colton’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
i am writer and have many bloggers . my books are three up till now and they are published at Kindle amazon and one at create space in paper. my books are”meeting with pharaoh” By (mohamad safan
ASIN: B013BV08YW ‘) & “(The thief challenges the impossible…
By mohamed safan
ASIN: B014YXGYA8
and ( the thief’s aim and the faith: the …
By mohamad safan
ASIN: B01640MSVS
i have several bloggers as “www.cocococoo.blogspot.com” &””www.loveforyouonly.blogspot.com”
i wrote for social and self improvement. i try to enhance the believe in God and his power.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
the thief’s aim and the faith: the …
By mohamad safan
ASIN: B01640MSVS
it is dealing with money getting suddenly at the land and found by dogs. they have great dreams to achieve. the wife of the hero’s dog refused take it especially when she knew the money for orphan children. they could disappear in human wear and imitate like him. they chased by the police. they knew how they hide. after the hero was caught and gone to by killed by the dogs’ hunters. his wife was courage and did impossible to save him.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
yes, i am mechanical engineering and work at site engineering in erection piping and steel structure. i am manager and have experience at that site. i love poems and write some of poems. i love traveling and see the nature. i love photo for nature. i love reading the the problems of the people and try to share to solve them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Shakespeare and his novels. , Voltaire and some of his books. some books of Agatha Christie

What are you working on now?
some books for adventures and hope catching

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
by announcing and review it.by making the book known by the browser.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
patient and make books for several publishers not at one publish. read and knew the several culture.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
do not loose your hope. try and you will success

What are you reading now?
Voltaire his book Zadig

What’s next for you as a writer?
publish books one ‘the funny ghosts” the other ” the free ant”

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 holy َََQuraan, Hamlet, Le Mondain of Voltaire, the silent witness of Agatha Christie

Author Websites and Profiles
mohamad safan Amazon Profile

mohamad safan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account