Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a jack of all trades, with interests all across life’s spectrum. In addition to writing, I’m also an actor, a musician of many different hats and a world traveler. I’ve written three full-length novels, though I intend to combine the two parts of the Bridge Burner Hyperion series into one longer book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Undead King” was inspired by a night of frightful dreams and sweat-soaked sheets. The cause? My father had me sit and watch one of his favorite movies with him, “The Omega Man.” I was maybe ten years old, eleven tops, and the dark imagery and scenes of post-apocalyptic devastation wracked my brain. It gave me a lifelong interest in the fragility of civilization and how the human psyche would deal with it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t say I do. I like to write in the morning, right after waking up. It’s when I feel freshest and most productive. I like to go to a coffee shop down the street which doesn’t have internet, this way I have no distractions at all.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Certainly Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, George R.R. Martin and J.K. Rowling will be at the top of the list. They are all such heavyweights, how could they not have influenced me? I’m also a fan of John Crowley’s “Little,Big” and the works of Charles de Lint.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the second book in “The Saga of Jai Lin,” as well as re-formatting “Bridge Burner Hyperion” into one larger print book and three smaller e-books.

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?
It’s said time and time again, but just keep writing. That’s the most essential part of this job. You can market your brains out, but if you have nothing to sell, then what good is the effort? Also, the more you write, the more you realize your weaknesses, the better you become. It’s a natural form of evolution.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” While it’s great to have goals, life is always throwing new things your way. You have to keep active, though, so that opportunities open up. And what’s more exciting than opportunities opening up where you didn’t see them before?

What are you reading now?
I’m re-reading “The Gunslinger” by Stephen King.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to get back to working on some screenplays that my co-writer and I have been trying to sell.

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?
“100 Years of Solitude,” “American Gods” and “The Once and Future King.”

Author Websites and Profiles
Jared Rinaldi Website
Jared Rinaldi Amazon Profile

Jared Rinaldi’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I hail from the pacific northwest. Married for 19 years this year and we have two boys and 2 very spoiled dogs. I started reading romance…gosh, I don’t even remember. Somewhere around high school. Which means I’ve been reading them forever. lol Started writing them some 15 odd years ago.

I currently have 5 contemporary romances published, but just signed a contract for a 4-book erotic romance series, to be released next year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Her Soldier’s Touch is the name of my latest release. It started as a sequel to a previously published book then took on a life of its own. It was a hard book to write, though. As the characters developed, I realized we had a lot in common (difficult childhoods). So, I used a lot of my own personal experiences to give the emotion needed to the story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if this is considered a habit, but I like to talk to my characters. To me, these are real people, so when I get stuck in a story, often I’ll open up a blank document and have a chat.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I started out reading Harlequin romances. In fact, for the longest time, I was blind to the romance genre and just how many other authors were out there. So my writing is heavily influenced by category romance. I adore taking popular tropes and putting my own twist on them. But there really isn’t any one author who influenced me. More like every single author I’ve read has influenced my writing.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing a 3-book erotic romance series. 3 girlfriends sign up for a matchmaking service that pairs them with military veterans. So, all three heroes are former marines.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, I’m a try everything kind of person. I haven’t found any one thing that works. I have a small street team, a group of ladies who I adore, who help me promote. I’m also fond of Facebook. I’m far too wordy for Twitter. lol

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never forget why you’re doing this. This business can be a beast. It will push you beyond your boundaries. There have been times when I’ve reached the breaking point, when nothing I do seems to work, but there’s an underlying pressure that’s always there. We’re in a highly competitive market right now. But remembering why I do this keeps me going. Hold tight to that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Forget trends and write from the heart. I just contracted a 4-book erotic romance series with Forever Yours (which will release next year) that started out as something just for me. Just for fun. I had a blast writing it and in the process I kind of found myself. Turned out 2 big 5 publishers offered for it. I also know of another author who did the same thing and that series is one of her best sellers. There has to be something to that, writing from the heart, writing what you love. I think it shows on the page. Plus, it just makes your job a whole lot easier. 😉

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m muddling my way through Grey. Just finished Tempt the Night by Dixie Lee Brown (awesome romantic suspense).

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish the series I’m working on. I also have 4 books releasing next year, which I’ll eventually have to promote. The agent and I are trying to find a home for a 2 book small town romance series. After that…I’ll probably start thinking about the next series I’d like to write (which will no doubt be erotic).

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?
Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager, all by Diana Gabaldon. Hands down. The rest of the series doesn’t do much for me, but I’ve read these first three books dozens of times and never get tired of it.

Author Websites and Profiles
JM Stewart Website
JM Stewart Amazon Profile

JM Stewart’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I first started to write I thought I would write about fantastic creatures and strange galaxies but I found myself writing about the terrors in the dark maze of the Most Successful Bank in the Universe. I spent 5 years of my life writing this trilogy. I’ve also been interviewed in the London Guardian and written articles for business insider, open democracy, efinancialcareers and Mergers&Inquisitions that have been translated into German, French and Mandarin.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Graveyards of the Banks volume 1 ‘I did it for the money’ came out in March and volume 2 ‘Monsters Arising’ will come out in August 2015. Inspired by my experiences on the graveyard shift at the Most Successful Bank in the Universe.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual for whom? I mostly write at night, after midnight. Maybe that comes from working on the graveyard shift.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All 15,000 that I have read so far.

What are you working on now?
Volume 3 of Graveyards of the Banks ‘Slaughterhouse Morning’.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t found it yet. Love and dedication may not be enough…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from your passion. I do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t listen to advice, listen to yourself. (But that’s not so easy – it’s hard to hear your real self)

What are you reading now?
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing and writing and writing

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Can I bring my Kindle instead?

Author Websites and Profiles
Nyla Nox Website
Nyla Nox Amazon Profile

Nyla Nox’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Taneeka Bourgeois-daSilva is an award-winning author, credentialed teacher, blogger, and entrepreneur. She has over ten years’ experience as a teacher and is the author of the Little Kids, Big Voices book series. She has taken several creative writing courses through the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and has two Master’s degrees. She is CEO of Building Voices and TCD Kids Foundation, and is a member of SCBWI and IBPA. Her first book, Broccoli Chronicles won the 2015 National Indie Excellence Award in Children’s Fiction and Honorable Mention in Foreword Reviews’ 2014 ‪INDIEFAB‬ Book of the Year Award for Juvenile Fiction! Taneeka’s article’s, “Try, Try Again” and “Feedback That’s Fulfilling” were both published in the IBPA Independent Magazine.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, Little Kids, Big Voices Math Workbook, Grades 1-3 is a workbook that focuses on arithmetic, fractions, and decimals. It’s a really great tool for beginning learners.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I am aware of.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been inspired by the book series written by these three authors- Sara Pennypacker, Barbara Park, and Judy Blume. I remember the first day that I picked up a Junie B book and fell in love. I literally read the book right there in the store and didn’t want to leave.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my second chapter book about a young boy that loves to paint.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I advertise a lot on my blog, company website, facebook, twitter, googleplus, and on SCBWI.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
First of all, stay true to yourself, your vision, and your craft. Second, try to create characters that are unforgettable. There are certain characters that win you over right away and that’s what we need in order to sell books and get kids to fall in love with reading again. Last, spend time on details. Make sure that you proofread your work. Hire and editor and someone that formats books. Your image and repetition are on the line. Make sure that every book is polished.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you don’t see the book you want on the shelves, write it.”

― Beverly Cleary

What are you reading now?
I’m not consistently reading anything right now. I bounce back and forth between things. I mostly read baby books with my daughter.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m hoping to grow my company. Right now, I am the only author signed with Building Voices. My goal is to get at least five other authors by 2017.

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

Author Websites and Profiles
Taneeka Bourgeois-daSilva Website
Taneeka Bourgeois-daSilva Amazon Profile

Taneeka Bourgeois-daSilva’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 a writer and musician, living in Nacogdoches, Texas, which is between my two favorite places: Austin and New Orleans. I’ve written five novels, including three in the Dutch Curridge series. I was named one of the Top Five Texas Authors of 2014 for Spirit Trap, the third book in the series. It follows a Fort Worth detective in the mid to late 1950s and is set against the social and racial changes that were taking place, as well as the thriving live music scene that was so much a part of the town. Add in colorful places like downtown’s Hell’s Half Acre and the Jacksboro Highway, and, as a writer, there’s a lot to work with.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book CONSTELLATIONS came out in April of this year. Several things came together to inspire it. The small riverboat towns which flourished around East Texas in the early part of the twentieth century and then disappeared when the railroad came. Slave narratives and Civil War histories. My enduring fascination with early blues music and southern music of the early twentieth century in general. And, last but not least, a very intriguing and bizarre Rolling Stone interview with Bob Dylan, in which he dug into the idea of transfiguration, what it means and how it might work.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I’m working on a specific project, I try to create an environment that I can submerge myself in. I do a great deal of research, because most of my books are period pieces. By the time I’m actually writing, I probably have a corresponding music playlist that I’m listening to, and, if I’m reading or watching anything, that probably ties into it as well. Other than that, I have two kids, so I usually just look for time where they’re either occupied elsewhere or asleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The list is long, but I’ll name the two authors who had the greatest influence. Flannery O’Connor, whose poetic prose captivated me and showed me a world that was both strange and familiar to me. I read all of her work in my teenage years, and her influence remains all these years later.

Second of all, Joe Lansdale. My dad started gave me one or two of Joe’s books when I was a young adult, and, when I found out he lived in the same town as me, it focused my attention really quick that someone in Nacogdoches could not only write but write well and make a good living at it.

Years later, I’m good friends with Joe, and he continues to write, continues to inspire me and just keeps getting better at what he does. I can only hope I’m doing the same.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on two different novels, and I have a couple more tossing around in the back of my mind. First is a project I’ve been researching and working on for quite a while. It’s a story about a young Texas man who goes to the Philippines to serve in World War II, and it’s called Reconciliation. The second is a mystery set in Texarkana, Texas, which I believe might be the beginning of another book series. I also have a fourth Dutch Curridge book that I’m really looking forward to. I’ve got enough to keep me out of trouble, if I can just manage the time to complete them all.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve always been a better writer than I am a promoter, so I’m still feeling my way through that side of things. I do have a fan Facebook page and a Twitter account. I also have a author website (thetimbryant.com) as well as a blog (tim-blog.com), but beyond those things, I just continually experiment, looking for the sites that fit and get what I’m doing and also know how to find the readers who do.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Advice for new writers: 1.) Write and write often. There are a lot of people who talk about writing. If you follow through, you’re already ahead of half of the pack. 2.) Don’t write for markets. Write what you would like to read.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Joe Lansdale told me several years ago: Write like everybody you know is dead.

What are you reading now?
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem and a stack of Pacific World War II history books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep doing what I’m doing and work harder to get my name and my books out to readers.

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 such a hard question, and it would likely change from day to day. I’m sure I’ll forget something important, but, right now, it would probably be:
1. Paradise Sky by Joe Lansdale (his newest, and I’m dying to read it.)
2. A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories, by Flannery O’Connor
3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
4. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
That leaves off too many others like Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, by Raymond Carver. Can I please bring six?

Author Websites and Profiles
Tim Bryant Website
Tim Bryant Amazon Profile

Tim Bryant’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a wife to a wonderful military vet, mother to three beautiful children, and grandmother to two of the cutest granddaughters. I’ve loved writing and reading for as long as I can remember. Poetry is something I’ve always done as it was so easy to write and hide.

I currently only have one book published (2014), the second book is currently at the editors (7/16/15) and I am in the process of working on the third book in the series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Technically the latest book would be Deadly Cut. What inspired me to write it is kind of hard to explain but I’ll see if I can.

I was working on a movie set in 2014 taking still photos, when one night after a long day of filming I was driving the 2 1/2 hours back home it hit me. The idea for Deadly Cut. It was invigorating to say the least. Not sure how much sleep I got, cause as soon as I got home I wrote everything down.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not sure if it would be considered unusual, but I am extremely partial to listening to music while I write. It’s like my white noise. I have to use my head phones so as not to disturb anyone else in the house.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wow, there are so many authors out there that have influenced me it would be hard to name them all but there are three female authors and one male author that have had the most impact on me.

Jack London wrote Call of the Wild. This is my all time favorite book. I’m sure he wrote more but I didn’t read anything other than that one book. I think what drew me to it was the fact that here is this young person going out into the world and making it his.

Cassandra Clare, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Catherine Colter. These three women have the most unique writing style and story telling. I love them. I love to go back and re-read all their books. I love to get lost in their stories. They more than any other have truly inspired me to write.

What are you working on now?
Aside from doing the edits for the 2nd book, I am currently working on the layout of the 3rd book in the Cian McGrath Series. I am hoping that I’ll also be able to start working on the Western Steampunk novel I have been playing around with for the last few months.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I honestly couldn’t tell you. I have a horrible time promoting my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read everything you can get your hands on. If there is a certain genre you want to write in, read books from that genre. It helps you become a better writer.

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

What are you reading now?
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue to write. I want to write as much as I can and continue to improve my skills as a story teller.

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 Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Author Websites and Profiles
Alisa Stapelman Website

Alisa Stapelman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m the author of two books: Flexible Demons and Psalms for the Apocalypse. Both are currently available on Amazon and other fine retailers. I enjoy the lake, the forest, camping, bonfires, stargazing and stoop-sitting. I am a night owl and a paranormal junkie. I enjoy the stranger things in life. I think life requires equal parts focus and humor.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Flexible Demons, a novel, deals heavily with the pull of the demons that exist within each of us – some more than others. Tackling stigmas like drug abuse, mental illness, and the pull of fame, Flexible Demons is a darkly humorous look into our own reflection.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t really write when I want to – only when I need to.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influences vary wildly, but in no particular order: Stephen King, Douglas Adams, Kinky Friedman, Edgar Allan Poe, John Keel, Frank Herbert and Hunter S. Thompson.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a top secret project. Details to come…

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not much of salesman. I’ve always just taken to the notion that it would be pretty cool for someone to read one of my books and feel a little less alone. That’s all. Twitter and Facebook are definitely my main avenues.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t concern yourself with audience. Find your voice and never apologize. if it’s good, people will appreciate it. Still, never stop learning. Feeling vulnerable through quality criticism is incredibly valuable and cannot be overstated.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love will make it wag its tail.”

What are you reading now?
Strange things, mostly. Fascinating, inexplicable things.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Redemption Songs. I’m currently working on a new novel. I’m also piecing together another poetry collection. Next, I hope, is a bit of exposure. I can honestly say Flexible Demons deserves it.

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 Gunslinger by Stephen King (and I’d try to sneak the rest of the Dark Tower, too), The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and Dune by Frank Herbert.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kevin Gorman Website
Kevin Gorman Amazon Profile

Kevin Gorman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Mandy Rosko, I write in all sorts of romantic genres in a couple of different pen names, and in total, for this name, I’ve written about 17 books or so. 18 if you count the Wattpad story I’m posting now, with a couple more and a few short stories in the works as well 🙂

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is Sold To The Enemy, and I think I was just in the mood for angst. I love me some angsty stories where one character did something really bad and needs forgiveness by the other character.

I think the thing that influenced this a lot was after I read Slaves of Love by Opal Carew. That was another book set in the far future that required big time forgiveness after a terrible deed, set in a world that would be a space pirate’s dream of taking women and property. I love that stuff, and to this day, it’s still my favorite of her books, though I have yet to read them all 😉

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes and no. I write a lot, but usually under a different pen name. My bad habit is that I don’t tend to keep track of how many hours per day I write. I tend to want to shoot for 5 to 7 thousand words. If I can’t get that many words done in a day, I feel like I wasted the day, but that’s after I super procrastinated by watching Youtube videos or playing games. My Goodreads challenge could be in better shape as well …

What authors, or books have influenced you?
That’s a hard one to answer actually!

Hmm, I think a lot of my influence has actually come from reading and writing fanfiction. Anything goes in fanfiction. People wrote what they wanted, no matter how gruesome it was, and they never had to worry about what a publisher or editor would say to change it or tone it down. A lot of good stories came from that, as well as a lot of super angsty ones that would probably never get published. Also, in fanfiction, you were able to interact with the author a lot easier, or respond to readers more frequently since they commented on every chapter, instead of just after every book. I think that’s what helped me learn to be a writer, was being in that world, discovering what I liked, what I was comfortable writing, and learning how to interact with people on the Internet.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on several things at once. I’m trying to finish up As Cold As Ice, the third book in my Dangerous Creatures series. I’m also working on a Christmas story for a box set that will be out in November, so I need to hurry with that one. I recently finished another short story for a Monster Box set which will also be out in October, and then a book for a series with other authors that will be out at roughly the same time.

To top it all off, I’m also working on my first Billionaire romance contemporary, The Arrangement, Bad Boy Billionaire Brothers Book One, and I’ve been posting it on Wattpad as the chapters get finished. I think it’s my love for the fanfiction writing that’s drawing me back to this form of writing. I want the feedback, and to know what people think since this will be my first Billionaire story. So far people seem to really like it, so I also put it up for pre-order 🙂 Here’s the link if you want to check it out: https://www.wattpad.com/myworks

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m actually really terrible at promoting my own stuff. I’m kind of a hermit. I’d rather just write and read and play games, but I know that’s not how this works. Thankfully, I’ve now got people helping me with the promotion bits, which if how I got to be writing this interview :3

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There are two pieces of advice here, and they’re going to be something you’ve all heard before, but read as much as you can, and not just in the genre you write in. I know it sucks to hear the same advice all the time, but this is one of the few bits of universal advice that really does apply to everyone in the writing field. Everything else is pretty much subjective.

If you don’t have time to read, get some audiobooks and listen to them on the commute to work or while you’re at the gym. When you watch television and movies, analyze their stories, what they did right, and how they really grabbed your attention.

The only other thing I can think of is to not let your inner editor get in the way of your writing. This is another bit of advice that a lot of people hear, but again, this is gold, especially if you’re one of those writers who has to put it down, had to perfect it, has to make it shine before you can go on to the next sentence.

Don’t do that. Unless you’ve trained yourself to be able to do that while still finishing your 70,000 word book in less than 6 weeks, cut it out. I hear it too many times where people edit the crap out of their books and then put it down when they get bored just to move on to something else. I will promise you right now that my shitty, garbage, completed first draft manuscript will always be about a thousand times better than your unfinished for 5 years masterpiece.

You want to know why? Because it’s finished. It *exists.* If your book is incomplete then it doesn’t exist. That’s it. When my crappy manuscript exists in full, then I am leaps and bounds ahead of you because I am already at the rewriting stage whereas you’re still in the writing stage struggling to get to The End. Then I’m onto the editing stage, and so on and so forth. Then I can release it. You can’t do that.

So, seriously, unless you have trained yourself to be the sort of writer who actually can edit as you go, then don’t do it. If you need to ask yourself if you’re one of those people, count how many unfinished manuscripts you have in your drawer or hard drive. If the answer is more than one and they are all a year old or more, then you know you are one of these writers who editing on the spot does not work for.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See Above.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading a number of different things. I’ve got a couple of books that I promised to read for review, so they need to come soon, and I’m finishing up an erotic book right now to give myself some inspiration for my Bad Boy Billionaire romance. I’m also going through a novel on my 3DS, these seem to be getting popular. It’s basically a choose your adventure romance sort of thing, and I’ve got a lot of guys with swords to choose from 🙂

Also, Armada by Earnest Cline came in the mail today, and I listened to Ready Player One on audio, so I can’t wait to read this 😀

What’s next for you as a writer?
Not sure. Still trying to get through this year. My goal was to read more and write more, and so far on on track, even though it still feels like I’m constantly behind. Thank God I’ve got some help now to see me through this whole marketing thing. Makes me want to be sick from even thinking about figuring all this stuff out myself.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Haha! Suckers, you didn’t mention anthologies 😀 They’d all be big, thick anthologies of completed series I have yet to red, and this is assuming I’m stranded on an island *after* I’ve read Armada. But a quick example sitting on my desk would be Jill Kismet, the complete series by Lilith Saint Crow. This is a big ass book at 1390 pages. It’s got like five books inside of it, so that should tide me over nicely while I wait for rescue 🙂 I’m not even entirely sure what it’s about, other than it looks cool and was in the Fantasy section of the bookstore. As for the other two or three anthologies, I’m not sure. One of them would definitely be a space opera romance, the other would have to be a paranormal M/M series, and the third…maybe that would just be an empty journal (a thick one) So I could write and entertain myself while waiting for rescue.

Anyway, yeah, anthologies or omnibus’s, whatever you want to call them. I’d totally be bringing those to my island

Author Websites and Profiles
Mandy Rosko Website
Mandy Rosko Amazon Profile
Mandy Rosko Author Profile on Smashwords

Mandy Rosko’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 a 22 year old Mother of one from the Black Country, UK. Reading and writing are my absolute passion and finally being able write my own book is an absolute dream. ‘Forever Love’ is my first book, though i do have many more planned tat are coming soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Forever Love is the name of the book. Lots of things influenced me. I have read so many book sthis year and one of the things that stood out most for me is that despite how much i enjoyed them and i really did, i felt that they give an unrealistic view of women. Alot of romances are about blushing virgins with Alpha males, Liv, the main character is certainly not a blushing virgin. I like characters that have layers and i like peeling them back.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If i think of something i have to write it down other wise it would send me crazy. Also, my Mom basically reads through every few chapters, i need her stamp of approval for alot of things.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many amazing authors that i look up to. Different authors have given me different ideas and advice. Right this second, the authors that i love are Jordan Silver, Abigail Barnette, M. Leighton, Tamsyn Bester and J.J McAvoy.

What are you working on now?
Im working on my next book which is a little bit different and little bit spicier than Forever Love. Im actually really excited for this next one.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is the best way for me personally. Goodreads and KBoards.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The only advice that i would give to someone every time is Only write what you’d be willing to read. I really do believe that you have to enjoy writing it for your reader to. Dont worry or think about whether people will like it, that just takes away from the creativity.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Chase your dreams because they arent going to chase you!

What are you reading now?
Priceless by Raine Miller, its fab!

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next book is ‘The Princepessa’ which i’m hoping to get out later this year. After that, ‘Forever Together’ which will be the sequel/novella to forever love.

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?
Aaaaaah that is definitely a hard one. Could i count series as one book. If i could, i would definitely take J.J Mcavoys Ruthless people series. This Man series, By Jodi Ellen Malpas and probably The Spitfire series By Jordan Silver.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jade Whitfield Website
Jade Whitfield Amazon Profile

Jade Whitfield’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Although I have written over twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction, writing novels is really my second career. My first career was as a commercial artist in Dallas, Texas. However, back in those years when I thought of myself as an artist, I was also still writing. I served as University Editor for The University of Texas at Dallas, where I wrote and designed collateral material for the various colleges. Then, when I opened my own graphics and advertising company, I designed brochures and newspaper ads and also wrote the copy. I did fashion illustration for several high-fashion boutiques and on a free-lance basis, served as Creative Director for a fashion magazine and got to attend runway fashion shows at the Dallas Apparel Mart, which I especially enjoyed. During all this time, I was also tinkering with a historical novel, which I did finish and still lives in a box on a closet shelf. When I began to write seriously, I joined a local chapter of Romance Writers of America and quickly wrote and sold six Regency Romance Novels. I founded and for sixteen years published The Regency Plume Newsletter, which at once went international and eventually became my full-time job. Since then, I’ve written four more long novels, and about eleven non-fiction books, most of which focus on various aspects of the English Regency. My three Regency Period Furniture books, which only this year, 2015, I turned into e-books, at once attained Best Seller status on Amazon, which thrilled me!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have three “latest” books, Betsy Ross: Accidental Spy, Stalking A Killer, and my current WIP, The Wrong Miss Fairfax. However, to fully answer the question, I have to start with my novel set in the Colonial American colony of Jamestown in the early 1600s, titled Deceptions. I wrote that book several years ago when I was recovering from a long illness. In an effort to keep from losing my mind, I began to jot down, in longhand on a yellow pad, snippets of scenes as they began to float into my mind. As I began to feel better and could sit at the computer for short periods, I started to write the book and about two years, and tons of research later, I finished it. Then because I thought this is the best book I’ve ever written, I submitted it to a publisher and was overjoyed when it sold! I think the reason I like this book so much is because I wrote it to please me rather than to fit into a specific genre. Deceptions is not a romance but it has a love story; it’s not a mystery, but there is a murder and lots of suspense. It’s mainly just a good, solid story, with interesting and likeable characters, an unusual setting and lots of suspense. Readers have told me it’s the best book they’ve ever read! Others have said they stayed up all night to see what happened next. Nice comments about Deceptions always feel especially gratifying to me, given the awful circumstances under which I wrote that book. But, writing it kept me going at a time when I could have so easily given up. Soon after that, I wrote the sequel to Deceptions, titled Dangerous Secrets, about four young girls who travel to the New World on a Bride Ship. The girls meet some of the same characters who appear in Deceptions. Writing Dangerous Secrets went faster since I had already done all the research, and because the story is every bit as riveting as Deceptions, I also love that book a lot. I was very pleased when it sold it to the same publisher who published Deceptions.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write next, so I moved up in American history to the Revolutionary War and because I couldn’t find any novels that featured Betsy Ross as the lead character, I decided to write a mystery with Betsy Ross being drawn into the role of spying for the American colonies on the British military officers and ladies who frequented her shop in Philadelphia in 1776. I was pleased when that book sold as well, although to a different publisher. I soon began to write a sequel to my Betsy story, but got side-tracked when I began to wonder if I could actually write a modern-day mystery novel, since all I had ever written were historicals. And that is how Stalking A Killer came to be. I sold it to the same publisher, Mayfair Mysteries, who bought my Betsy Ross book, but sadly, soon after my contemporary murder mystery was released they went out of business. Feeling set adrift, I went back to a Regency romance novel that I had started writing after my first six Regency Romance novels were published. This one is titled The Wrong Miss Fairfax, and it’s the book I’m currently writing. However, when I finish it, I will probably return to the second novel in the Betsy Ross series. The thing that plagues so many writers also plagues me, having way too many story ideas and not enough time to tell them all. But, I’m trying.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, not sure how unusual this is, but I often get up in the middle of the night and without turning on a light (I don’t want to wake myself up) I write out scenes or dialogue between characters in longhand on my pink or purple pads. Even though I can’t see what color paper I’m writing on, I much prefer to write on pink or purple pages than the old-fashioned yellow ones. I’ve found that if I don’t write down what is floating through my mind right then, I won’t remember it the next day, so when my characters start talking in my head, I’d better write it down, no matter what time of day or night it is.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of authors have influenced me, but I mainly like to read biographical historical novels by Philippa Gregory, Jean Plaidy, and also Anya Seton novels, written half a century ago.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on The Wrong Miss Fairfax, a Regency Romance novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Right now, I don’t have a “best” method. Back when I first began to write, all an author had to do was write the book and when it appeared in bookstores, people bought it. These days, publishing is a whole new world, so authors have to keep trying to get the word out about their books and hope somebody is noticing. I’m still trying to figure out what works.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new or aspiring authors is to just keep writing. Keep working on improving your writing style, write the best book you can and always triple check your spelling and grammar. Nothing screams newbie louder than typos, misspelled words, poor grammar and wrong punctuation. And, of course, you also have to write a good book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I believe the best advice I ever heard came from Gary Provost, who when asked how to write a great novel, replied, “That’s easy, just leave out the boring parts.”

What are you reading now?
I always have four of five books going so when I sit down at night to read, I reach for whatever matches my mood at the time. I read non-fiction, as well as historical novels, but I also read books about Macintosh computers! I love messing with Macs. I have two antique Apple computers, and a newer one. I also have a PC, but I rarely use it. Just can’t figure those things out, but sit me down in front of a Mac and I’m happy!

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Stranded on an island doesn’t sound half bad. I’m sure I’d begin to think about writing a book, so I’d want to have something handy to help me with research, so I’d bring along Elizabethans At Home by Lu Emily Pearson. Then to keep myself sane, and my spirits up, I’d want The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Then because I’m sure I’d have a computer with me, I’d need Mac OS X Snow Leopard, The Missing Manual, by David Pogue; and just so I’d have something fun to read, I’d also bring along Dangerous Secrets by Marilyn Clay.

Author Websites and Profiles
Marilyn Clay Website
Marilyn Clay Amazon Profile
Marilyn Clay Author Profile on Smashwords

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Redemption is a debut novel of Jacklyn A. Lo.

A few years ago, walking in the secluded forest, Jacklyn set a new, ambitious goal for herself― to make a feature movie.

Inspired, she started to write a script, which eventually became a thick novel. The theme of the novel, provided by Higher Consciousness, has made the story unique and unforgettable.

Jacklyn has a Master’s Degree in Technology, an MBA in Finance, two years of High Astrology School, and years of self-study in New Age topics.

Currently Jacklyn lives in Europe.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Currently, I have only one completed book, which is called Redemption.

Raised in an atheistic environment, I was one of many who fell asleep at the first page of the Bible. I never had a hope to understand this Holy book until I experienced something in my life, which I have come to call my Spiritual Choice.

My Spiritual Choice…

Years ago I realized that the corporate luxury train, in which I was comfortably riding, was taking me in a direction that I did not want to go. Getting off of this train at my own risk and expense was very hard, but I jumped off. But nothing completely disappears, and in my case, the tangibles (prestige, security, wealth and social status) were replaced by an intangible: the ability to see a Spiritual Choice.

The realization first came to me from movies. The spiritual choices of Dracula, Scarface, and the story of Abraham and Jesus became transparent to me. This revelation led me to a fascinating conclusion: a spiritual choice is a shortcut to “upgrade” a human’s consciousness. My enlightening journey continued. I began to see things that I had never seen before. And I added a new word to my personal vocabulary—vision. I realized that vision is a direct product of Consciousness, and that Consciousness is a subject of both evolution and involution. However, the physical world was still calling for me. I was constantly looking for a new project in which to implement my skills and abilities; one that I had never done before.

One day, while walking in the forest, I suddenly had an awesome idea: I would make a feature movie. The idea was totally absurd; I had never had any interest in film production, but the idea stuck with me, and gave me the two things that I needed the most: hope, and a direction. But before I could make a movie I needed a complete story. This is why I decided to write the novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Can you further elaborate on spiritual choice and how it relates to your book?

My Spiritual Philosophy involves the concept of Spiritual Choice. I see Spiritual Choice as a powerful tool to upgrade our consciousness within a relatively short time period. During this transformation we absorb a different spectrum of vibrations than we do during merely theoretical spiritual exercises and practices.

In Redemption, the heroine experiences five Spiritual Choices in five different lives. Each time, she chooses a spiritual path towards LIGHT.

How was the main character created?

I knew I wanted my main character to be a woman because I greatly admire strong heroines. And I wanted her to be a powerful person, who had been raised to be independent, ambitious, and motivated for professional growth.

I gave her a ubiquitous name—Ann. I wanted her to be as free as possible from personal entanglements, so she is not only unmarried but has no attachment to any particular culture or nationality.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
What character do you most identify with?

Mostly I identify myself with the heroine, Ann. The qualities we share are independence, managerial and leadership skills, and a passion for high-tech solutions, especially robots. Also, like Ann, supernatural experiences have been a part of my own life journey.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on the Redemption Volume II and script play Horror romance Return of Melissa.

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

www.Amazon.com

Novel

www.facebook.com

www.twitter.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
What is the learning core of the Redemption novel?

From time to time, we all ask where we are going, what we are supposed to do, and wonder about our final destination.

Redemption reveals the awesome journey of woman who makes a succession of Spiritual Choices towards Light and is rewarded for it.

My hope is that my readers will begin to see their lives in a greater context, and make more thoughtful choices in their own lives.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Did you enjoy the writing experience?

Yes, it was an awesome experience.

The project was magic; the story — a piece of Art. It was as if I was guided through the writing process by some higher power.

What are you reading now?
I’VE NOTHING TO OFFER

BY

PETER A. PIAZZA

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue the Redemption series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to survive in desert-island?

The survival kit in desert-island for dummies.

Cooking book for desert-island inhabitant.

Alchemy. Sand transformation into the drinkable water.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jacklyn A. Lo Website
Jacklyn A. Lo Amazon Profile
Jacklyn A. Lo Author Profile on Smashwords

Jacklyn A. Lo’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Chinese medical doctor, eastern/western nutritionist, intuitive healer, author, and columnist. I frequently lecture in alternative health workshops and writes regularly for health magazines. I also lead meditation classes focusing on “how to activate our own divinity.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Title: The Seed of Christ/Buddha within You

I was inspired by many spiritual seekers, Hindu or Buddhism-based thinkers, but mostly by my spiritual teacher whose name is Simon Kim.

Since I was little, I’ve been thinking about weird questions such as why was I born, where do I go after I die, what’s the real purpose of my life, etc. I’ve had a pretty fulfilling life, yet deep down, I’ve felt lost and agonized for not knowing “why do I even exist.” To search for answers, I’ve meditated for decades, attended numerous spiritual workshops, read whatever spiritual books I could get. But nothing really gave me lasting effects.

Then, I’ve found a most incredible spiritual teacher who was entirely different from self-claimed gurus. He had answers for every single question I’ve been asking. In particular, I was mesmerized by one of his book, originally published in Korean in 2009. It was so powerful, deep, uplifting that I decided to rewrite his book in English. I was hoping the book would convey the main message: we do not need suffer (from external realities) as we are already divine creatures with infinite potential.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I tend to write as if they are in spoken languages.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Rumi, I am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, D.E.Harding, Ramana Mahrashi, Lama Surya Das, Thich Nhat Hanh, etc.

What are you working on now?
Another book on spiritual awakening focusing on how to apply spiritual wisdom in our daily lives. I am also writing a book on Chinese medicine, especially for emergency cases.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think amazon’s author central is pretty cool. Actually, I really do not know that much about book promotion. I am excited to have found Awesomegang–what an awesome name!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you have a compelling story to tell, just write it, with your heart, not with your brain.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Underneath your utterly small outer self, your immense real Self is shining through 24/7.

What are you reading now?
Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Art of Elevating Humanity

What’s next for you as a writer?
I haven’t thought about this topic. I will see how it goes.

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?
Simon Kim’s My Amazing Self.

Nisargatta’s I am That.

Herman Hesse’s Siddartha

Author Websites and Profiles
susanna eun Website
susanna eun Amazon Profile

susanna eun’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in a very small town, about 900 people. You don’t appreciate the country life until you live in a city. I currently live in Phoenix, AZ and am planning on moving back closer to home. I am a mother of two and hold down a full time job, using all of my “free” time to write and market. I love motorcycles, computers, video games and close friends.

I currently have two books written, one published and the other will be out on July 31st. They are both first books in series, planned out to be trilogies..but that could change. I have at least nine other book ideas on the back burner, and some of them are already started and just waiting for me to find the time to spend on them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My second book is called Hartman House. It is, as was my first book, based on a dream I had and the story didn’t go away when I woke up. Instead it built up and forced me to write characters, timelines, plot points etc before it let me go enough to be okay with waiting to write it out. I was in the middle of writing my first book when the story came to me so it was tough having to push it aside.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t believe so. I write at night mostly, when everyone is asleep and the house is quiet. I put on some good music and let the words flow.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Katherine Kerr was and still is my favorite author. Her way of intertwining stories within stories is amazing. My current fave author is Tim O’Rourke and not only because his stories are good, but because the man is a writing machine. I envy his ability to churn out one good story after another continuously. But his approach to fame is perfect. Just keep writing until someone sees you, then you have enough material out there to keep them interested. I’m trying to follow that approach.

What are you working on now?
Marketing. But that’s a constant. My next book will be the second in the Noble of Blood trilogy, currently titled Blood Ties. It’s already about halfway done. After that I think I have a story about gypsies that needs to get written.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Just keep swimming (writing). Do it often, do it daily. Promoting is hard, and you can tweet all you want but only having one book out doesn’t seem to help us Indie authors. So I will keep writing until I’m out of story ideas. That won’t happen any time soon!

But so far AuthorRise has been great for marketing tools, I advise other authors to check them out. And marketing check out booksgosocial.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As above, just keep writing. But please don’t hurt yourself by not investing in a good editor or having a very very critical friend read your work. Poor grammar, spelling and bad comma placement can kill a story for a lot of people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what feels right. For me I’m not about being famous or hitting it big-time. I enjoy what I do, and I want readers to enjoy it as well. So I am just going to write and enjoy it. If I end up with a top seller, then yay. If not, then I still did what I wanted to do and had a good time.

What are you reading now?
In the middle of a series by Barb and JC Hendee, the dhampir series. I’ve been reading them as they come out every January. Barb Hendee also has a series Mist Torn Witches that I’ve been reading.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more books. I have too many stories that are my demanding attention. Gotta keep writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Ooh only 3 or 4… I’d have to take the first four books of Katherine Kerr’s Deverry series with me. They are old friends.

Author Websites and Profiles
A L Wright Website
A L Wright Amazon Profile

A L Wright’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A Minnesota native (I was born in St. Mary’s Hospital, owned by the Mayo Clinic), I grew up in rural South Dakota, where I attended a one-room country school. I was the first member of my family to attend college, where I majored in journalism. Since then, I’ve gone back for a master’s degree in journalism and public relations, taken courses in creative writing, and had a long career as a writer, editor, educator and p.r. specialist. I now live in Broomfield, CO.

In addition to writing hundreds of news, sports and feature stories, both as a journalist and in public relations, I’ve authored seven books – including the just-released “And The Wind Whispered” – three songs and a one-act play, contributed to two anthologies, and serve as senior writer for “Broadlands Living” magazine.

And, since 1990 I’ve taught journalism and public relations at the collegiate level. I continue to do talks about “The Writing Life” and “Storytelling – From Journalism to Creative Writing.” When I’m not writing, I love all sports and have coached girls sports. I also love community theater and have acted in more than 30 plays and musicals. My wife Susan and I have two grown daughters, two amazing sons-in-law, and four terrific grandsons.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“And The Wind Whispered.” The genesis for this book grew out of my time as a newspaper editor in Hot Springs, SD, where I learned about all the luminaries who had traveled there in the 1890s, and about a long-missing gold shipment (still missing) and buried somewhere in the region. Combining those two facts with an imagined murder in nearby Wind Cave, I was inspired to write a murder mystery, adventure that brings together a virtual “Who’s Who” of the Old West to solve the crime and (sort of) solve the mystery of the missing gold.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not really. I like to write early in the morning because it’s quiet and peaceful. Otherwise, no.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love adventure, mystery and, of course, historic fiction and historic mysteries — all influences on me. I also love the Old West and the interesting characters who populated it. In that genre I’ve enjoyed McMurtry and L’amour. In western mysteries, I love the works of Tony Hillerman and Craig Johnson. I’m a big Nevada Barr fan, and for the vast scope of his works, I’ve devoured everything written by James Michener. For adventures, I enjoy Ken Follett, Michael Connelly and Harlan Coben.

What are you working on now?
Another murder mystery set in the Black Hills, but moved into the 1920s. A few of the characters in my current book will show up again — older and wiser — but will be joined by a new cast of locals and some luminaries from that era.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think Facebook connections are great, as are newsletters and interview sites like this one! Getting reviews of any type are good, especially from reputable reviewers and from the media. And my publisher, Bygone Era Books, does a nice job of marketing too. Check them out at www.bygoneerabooks.com. Otherwise, I think personal appearances, book signings whenever I can arrange for them, and word-of-mouth also work well for any author.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be so in love with your writing that you’re not willing to let it go to be published and then willing to let others offer words of advice to help you prepare it in final form. Readers and editors are there to help make your work better, so listen to their advice, be willing to do some “give and take” with them, and get your book ready for publication. You can only do so many drafts, and you’ll always wish you would’ve changed this word, or that phrase. That’s what gives you fodder for discussion groups and book clubs later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s an oldie, but I think a goodie: Write what you know. Write from your own experiences; about the people and places around you, or where you are most familiar.

What are you reading now?
“The Carving of Mount Rushmore” by Rex Allen Smith, and “Edge of Eternity”, Book three of he Century Trilogy by Ken Follett.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Now that I’ve found myself immersed in Historical Fiction with a twist, i.e., mystery, adventure and humor all rolled together with the historical setting, I want to continue to write in that genre’ and see where it takes me. I love this new challenge.

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?
“Centennial” by James Michener

“Staggerford” by Jon Hassler

“The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver

“The Letters of Hemingway” series (I’m cheating, but it’s all one big book just continuing over several volumes, right?).

Author Websites and Profiles
Dan Jorgensen Website

Dan Jorgensen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an author and screenwriter. ‘Trespassers’ is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I decided to name the book ‘Trespassers’ because it’s about what happens when people intrude where they don’t belong and the toll this takes on their personal lives as a result. This happens not only to the main protagonist, but to other characters in the novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to be a mostly night writer. I do my best work in the evenings. I also tend to rewrite the same paragraphs over and over again before moving on. Very time consuming, but I can’t help it!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think I’ve developed my own voice and style over a number of years, but I do admire, Irvine Welsh, Yann Martel and Toni Morrison, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently promoting my book like a madman, on social networking sites and the internet, in general. I’m also gathering ideas for a second novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m trying a number of outlets. This one, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, to name a few.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Firstly buy my How to guide: ‘Writing Fiction FFWD: How To Write a Novel…Fast!!’ because it’ll really be of help when you just want to know the basics without too much surplus information.

Secondly, PERSIST! Because it’s far too easy to give up when the going gets tough. Regardless of how successful or not you become, you will feel a tremendous sense of achievement on completion and publication whether you self-publish or are published through a major chain. The difference between finishing a novel and not has less to do with talent and everything to do with stamina: mental, emotional and physical. So go for it and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve been given was from my headmaster who said, “Read, read, read, read, read!” You will never hear a better piece of advice than that, whether or not you are a writer.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading the fabulous, ‘Elizabeth is missing’ by Emma Healy, all about an elderly woman who is losing her memory, but is convinced that something has happened to her friend. It’s funny, really well-written and incredibly sad. An excellent read!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to build a following for my blog, Rubbanecka.com, which will showcase my urban vignettes. I also fully intend to write another novel and another screenplay, maybe adapt ‘Trespassers’ for the screen. We’ll see.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. The Bible

2. ‘You’ll See it When You Believe It,’ by Dr. Wayne Dyer

3. ‘Life of Pi,’ by Yann Martell

4. ‘The Alchemist,’ by Paolo Coelho

Oh yeah, and, of course, ‘Trespassers!’

Author Websites and Profiles
Saul Delino Website
Saul Delino Amazon Profile

Saul Delino’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the Program Director at Aviation Academy which is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) magnet that focuses on Aviation maintenance, piloting, electronics, computers and engineering. In my four years there I have identified several things that make our program stand This is my first book and I hope that I will be able to write more in the future.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of the book is Awakening Your STEM School and it was inspired on many factors. I am an educator at heart and really care about our children and what they do in the future. As I have tried to research on what makes a good STEM magnet, I realized that we had a lot of the critical elements at our school already in place. However, many schools out there don’t really know how to get started or are very fragmented in their STEM development which is why I felt the need to wrote the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Some of my best writing takes place at 4:30am as soon as I wake up. I think about recent events that transpired in the work, do a little bit of research and think how we could optimize it for our program and for others.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have a few authors that have influenced me. John Maxwell and Jim Collins come to mind. Even though that focus on business, there are key components that can be captured and integrated into public schools. I am also a fan of James Hattie, an education statistician who has shown us proven ways to effectively plan, and deliver lessons in the classroom.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am reviewing John Hattie and looking at how it can be fused with STEM concepts. To me, I think it is the next level of STEM, one that is often forgotten and under-utilized.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I could say that there was a “best method” but truthfully, I am still learning how to promote a book. My co-author, Bud Ramey, advised me that I should go out and do something everyday to promote the book. Those words have sunk in my mind and I have continued to expand my network of readers.

One marketing tactic that I have done is to mail advanced copies out to a group of key STEM leaders in corporate America that have been recognized for their work. If you are going to do something similar, research the people you think could help promote your book by finding more info on them at linkedin.com and zoominfo.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient. It will not be done within one year. In fact, my book has been a three year process but the time spent in it is well worth it. As one can imagine, there are several aspects to writing and good things done take time to complete.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write in passive voice. I have a bad habit of doing this and it is something that I need to continue to focus on changing from passive to active voice.

What are you reading now?
I just started reading The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. I was a big fan of his other books and know that I will enjoy this one as well.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to continue my focus on marketing the book. While doing that I will be setting up presentations at conferences and book signings.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would say the Bible, Good To Great, Visible Learning For Teachers and Killing Patton.

Author Websites and Profiles
Aaron Smith Website
Aaron Smith Amazon Profile

Aaron Smith’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 written two books on Amazon Kindle as well as single poems $0.99!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Guardians of Xegarath is my first book and it was inspired by a near successful suicide attempt that taught me to value life. Not just mine but every life on this one earth for my belief is that we all hold a destiny of some sort no matter how major or minor the role.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I am aware of!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.K Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien and their works have always been my biggest inspiration too my writing.

What are you working on now?
I am working on book two of The “Xegarath” series and I am writing another book of poems as well!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use so many! It’s so hard to pin one down!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient and endure the hardships. Easier said then done though.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
NEVER GIVE UP!

What are you reading now?
I am rereading The Hobbit.

What’s next for you as a writer?
That question is like Pinky from Pinky and the Brain. Pinky: Gee Brain, what are we gonna do tonight? Brain: The same thing we do every night pinky, TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series!

Author Websites and Profiles
Jordan Zuniga Website

Jordan Zuniga’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account