Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a YA Fantasy Author. My first book, Blackthorn: Revenge of the Dragon Rider, a Dark Dystopian Urban Fantasy was published in October 2012. I’ve just released my new novel Everlong (Book One of the Everlong Trilogy) a YA Paranormal Urban Fantasy Romance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a YA Paranormal Urban Fantasy Romance, inspired by my favourite fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. Although one of my favourites, the ending had never seemed quite right to me, even a little unsatisfying, and I wanted to rectify that. Somehow the concept of the Angel of Death popped into my head and I thought what would make an Angel of Death go against everything that he stood for? The two concepts somehow merged together in my crazy brain and the Angel of Death suddenly became the mermaid in my mind. As the mermaid gave up her voice, her life for her prince, the Angel of Death, Josh Winters, gives up his life for love. I wanted to question the gender stereotyping of the mermaid, the damsel in distress, so although you might think Evie is the damsel in the beginning, by the end of the book that concept is turned on its head.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to mention!
I have so many books that have influenced me and I’m an eclectic reader – The Godfather by Mario Puzo, The Harry Potter novels, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly and all the classic fairy tales, but I couldn’t pick one, that would be like asking me to choose a favourite child. It just wouldn’t happen.

What are you working on now?
Everlong Two, Book Two of my trilogy. Haven’t come up with a title yet, that usually happens near the end of the process.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ignore all advice and follow your gut.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This is difficult because you get one bit of advice and you think it’s great then someone else comes along and contradicts it. The best advice is advice that fits with who you are as a writer and a person. Be you, because no one else can be you (was that Dr Seuss?)

What are you reading now?
The Key by Jennifer Anne Davis, it was recommended to me on Goodreads. I can’t comment yet though, as I’ve only just started it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book Three of the Trilogy and some short story ideas I want to work on, concerning the Devil returning to earth.

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 Trembling of a Leaf – W. Somerset Maugham (My Grandfather gave me the book, brings back some amazing memories :))
Sophie’s World – Jostein Gaarder
A big encyclopedia of fairy tales
The Odyssey – Homer

Author Websites and Profiles
Nikki Morgan Website
Nikki Morgan Amazon Profile
Nikki Morgan Author Profile on Smashwords

Nikki Morgan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a philosopher by training, and used to run a small software development business. But writing has become my passion and my life, and drowned out the possibility of any other professions. Putting words on paper (or text on a screen) is the only activity I’ve engaged in that makes my world feel full.

The Solace Pill is the first novel (split into three episodes) I’ve published. But I’ve written another Dystopian novel that will be released early next year. I’m excited to have people read my work.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Solace Pill is about a near-future world in which 3D printing entire humans is common-place, and the pace of life is impossibly fast. The idea came to me by watching the persistent, fascinating news on printing functional human organs. Sure, we can print individual organs, but what will happen to society when we can print whole people?

This question raises interesting questions around the philosophy of personal identity: who am I? When I make a copy of myself, and destroy the original, do I survive in the copy? If there is more than one of me, am I all of the copies? The Solace Pill seeks to answer these questions and more.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My muse sleeps during the day, and wakes after midnight. This has turned my life upside down, and has required a lot of patience from the special people in my life. But, really, all the magic happens in the quiet hours of the night, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Philip K. Dick is my favorite author. His plethora of original worlds is enough to make anyone want to write. Hugh Howey is a hero to me. The way he’s managed to launch the Wool books has been an inspiration, and enormously educational. And they’re great books too!

What are you working on now?
Exciting, exciting things! Watch this space for some bizarre, soul-twisting Dystopia.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
For The Solace Pill series I chose to promote the books through every method I could think of other than KDP Select. This involved publishing the books on multiple platforms in addition to Amazon, through Smashwords. I then set the first episode in the trilogy to perma-free on Amazon, and I’m intrigued to see the results.

Finally, thanks to Awesomegang for promoting the first episode.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write! There are so many ways to avoid writing, including reading this post. But really, what you need to be doing is finishing novels. That, and listen to audiobooks. LISTENING to books gives you practice in writing the spoken word, rather than the written word.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Rule 1. Show, don’t tell.

Rule 2. All rules should be broken.

What are you reading now?
Beyond the Blue Event Horizon, by Frederik Pohl – awesome tech;

The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood – read Atwood and you’ll feel the raindrops falling on the mulberry tree outside your window.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a third novel I’m about to start writing. It’s ambitious, and a little scary in scope. The start of every novel is scary – it’s a whole new world to build and polish. Characters are lovingly birthed and killed off; lots of emotional involvement requirement.

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. My diary

2. Gormenghast, by Mervyn Peake

3. A collection of Romantic era poetry

Author Websites and Profiles
Jason Werbeloff Amazon Profile
Jason Werbeloff Author Profile on Smashwords

Jason Werbeloff’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always been in love with words – even before I could read them. I first self-published a poetry when I was 13. I had two honorary mentions in contests promoted by a small press in my hometown – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Then, I decided to do some living. I did improv classes, I went college, I read a ton of books… and I wrote a couple of short films. I also moved from Rio to Toronto… and back again.
I wrote Showmance, the first book in a trilogy about a fake celebrity couple and their crazy fans, based on my work with the Twilight and Harry Potter fandoms. I majored in Film and I love marketing for film… so, getting to know the fandoms was something I had to do. It was just as crazy and amazing as it sounds.
I’m also creating a vast urban fantasy universe that will host several of my stories in different genres, from Paranormal Romance to action and adventure!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title is Love You to Death. It was inspired by talking my college girlfriends. We were always talking about the guys we were dating and how some of them, as we got to know them, turned out to be completely different people from what we had first imagined. So, I thought “there’s a great plot for a book there. What if the guy is not what the girl imagined at all?”
And the plot just took off from that.
Stories are everywhere… you just have to open your mind to them. You never know where a good story might be lurking, just waiting to be discovered.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. At least, I think I don’t have unusual writing habits. Maybe all my writing habits are crazy. Let’s see… I like to tape things to the wall in front of my desk… like the plot points of a novel. And I have a couple of go-to albums I use for soundtrack for writing. Regardless of the type of scene or plot – or even genre – I’ll listen to the same songs over and over again. Usually, I listen to Aloe Blacc or Panic! at the Disco or Christina Aguilera. But if I get really stuck, I’ll listen to Britney Spears’ Greatest Hits. It works like a charm every time!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is a really hard question to answer because I’ll read anything – which might explain why I love genre hopping so much as a writer. I love Oscar Wilde. I love Neil Gaiman. Gillian Flynn, JK Rowling, Mario Puzo and Agatha Christie. And I know they’re not authors, but I’m a huge fan of Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock. They were master storytellers.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on Darkness Falls, which is one of the stories I’m developing in the urban fantasy universe I’m building. It’s Paranormal Romance with tons intrigue and action. It’s a story of unlikely heroes, damsels who refuse to be in distress, pro-Humanity terrorists and political conflicts solved by fights to the death.
I’m also working on the second book in the Showmance trilogy, Smoke and Mirrors.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is will sound like a cliché (and I hate clichés), but writing the best book you can write is still the best strategy I can think of. And write a lot. Then, you can start promoting your work little by little, build from there. But without good books, you can invest a ton in marketing and nothing will happen.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Know what you want from your writing. It’s OK to write for a hobby – if that’s what you want. If you want to be a professional writer, an author, focus on that. Take it as seriously as a day job. Respect your colleagues. And have fun.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It was something my screenwriting Professor said in college: you’re asking people to devote their time to you, in a way. They’ll give you time and money in exchange for a story. So, make it worth their while. Tell a good story and tell it well.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading three books. I always read three books at a time.
01: A book on self-publishing written by the great Joanna Penn,
02: Lock In, by John Scalzi and
03: A Storm of Swords, by George RR Martin

What’s next for you as a writer?
The release of Love You to Death on November 17th.
And the release of Darkness Falls in January.

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?
Three books? Easy!
One: A survival guide. (Does Bear Grylls write survival guides?); two: A book on how to build rafts ans escape islands; and three: The complete works of Arthur Conan Doyle – because if I get stuck on the island, at least I’ll have good reading material.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vivian Wolkoff Amazon Profile

Vivian Wolkoff’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I believe in living a passionate life – I’ve pursued dreams all my life and have enjoyed achieving many goals. Writing has been a part of my life since standing as a small child at the blackboard in school, clutching a piece of chalk in my fingers. That vast expanse, along with pen and paper and later a word processor and finally my trusty laptop opened up infinite worlds to me.

I’ve written two thrillers in a trilogy and am working on the third. After that, I’m considering a prequel.

When I’m not at my keyboard, you might find me at the shooting range with one of my three Glock pistols or in a shooting match somewhere around the country. Or I might be chatting with a sniper friend over a bottle of wine, or Secret Service Agent who loves his Starbucks coffee or my favorite counter-terrorism expert. My thrillers take a tremendous amount of research for accuracy.

Otherwise, I’m probably going to be burning up the pavement, leaving tire tracks with my 2007 Mustang convertible.

My husband and I raised two sons, one of whom has seen fit to become a happily married guy. He and his lovely wife have recently gifted us with our first granddaughter…a whole new experience in love. Our other son is happily single and successfully pursuing his career.

Our household has been managed over the years by a variety of dogs. The current queen in residence is a twelve pound Rat Terrier named Lucy. We live in eastern South Dakota, with definite plans for becoming Key West snowbirds within the next five years. We love the vast upper Midwest prairie, but well and truly despise winter.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled Unholy Retribution and is the sequel to the first thriller I wrote, titled Consummate Betrayal.

These books were inspired by a variety of disparate things. During 9/11 I was working for United Airlines. While in college, I met and became friends with a number of Iranian students. In 2008 I was fortunate enough to be invited on an Alaskan cruise. For the first time in years I had uninterrupted time to think. That is when I realized that writing thrillers was a goal I was unwilling to ignore. Because of working in the airline industry, the security of our country was paramount in my mind and I kept thinking, what if this happened? And then, what if this happened? Also, I wanted to portray a Middle Eastern hero instead of a villain. Thus, the Rowan Milani Chronicles were born. My hero is an Iranian-American FBI special agent who is betrayed by the very terrorists he hunts on behalf of our country.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmm…I think all writers have writing habits that are unique to their personalities. My favorite way to write is at my favorite Starbucks, back in a corner with my headphones on, listening to anything from the Rolling Stones to Loverboy, Chris Issak, Gold Frappe or maybe Third Day. Music plays a huge role in my writing. I have different songs that seem to define each book.

Other times, inspiration comes while I’m at the wheel of the Mustang, tearing up the countryside at 80+ mph.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well…many great thriller writers have inspired me – Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Tami Hoag, David Baldacci in particular…The Camel Club is one of my most favorite books. Dick Francis books have enthralled me for many years, I have collected most of them in hardback editions. From way back, Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart were among my most treasured early reads.

What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on the third book in the Rowan Milani Chronicles, tentatively titled Almighty Redemption.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are many venues that have been helpful to me in promoting my books. My website is especially helpful, but the online promotions via Kindle and sites like Awesomegang are great as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn from everything you encounter. Even when it’s devastating, unfair, unjust criticism, find something positive to take away. And trust that it might take awhile!

Never, ever give up or quit. Just keep moving forward and leave the past in your rearview mirror. I wrote a blog on my website about that recently. 🙂

Be true to your own voice in writing your stories. You are unique and special and it’s OK for your writing to reflect that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One Saturday evening I watched the show Cedar Cove. One of the characters said to another – “If you don’t believe in yourself, neither will anyone else.” That’s my paraphrase, but I think it was pretty close to that. It hit me squarely between the eyes. Don’t waste time on self-doubts, just forge ahead and pursue your goals and dreams – believe in yourself.

What are you reading now?
There are so many books on my reading list…Murder Comes in Threes; The Brotherhood, America’s Next Great Enemy; Thirteen Hours in Benghazi; My Utmost For His Highest.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My current project is the third book in the Rowan Milani Chronicles, which will complete the trilogy. It’s working title is Almighty Redemption and I’m about 25,000 words into it, after approximately 40,000 words worth of character interviews.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Utmost For His Highest, the Bible, the draft of Almighty Redemption, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series, and probably all of Brad Thor’s books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Yungeberg Website
Mary Yungeberg Amazon Profile

Mary Yungeberg’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi. I am a born and raised resident of Detroit Michigan USA. The second of seven siblings. The father of three, two sons and a daughter. A retired auto worker after 30 years of service with General Motors Corp. I’m also a former active member of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC 9+ Degrees. I’ve written two books and I’m presently working on a third.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Maximum Meditation. The book was inspired by the need that I see for consciousness to be raised. Collective consciousness has sank into a delusion of material illusion and it needs to pull back a bit to keep experiences from going hellish.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I’m left handed but that’s pretty common. I generally print when “writing”.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I AM THAT, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. The KYBALION, Hermetic Philosophy by THREE INITIATES. Talks with Ramana Maharshi by Ramana Maharshi. The Bible, KJAV has had a certain influence on my thoughts, life and direction. An influence that was hard to kick. The list of books and authors that have influenced me is long and varied but the ones listed above are major.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a book of questions and answers related to my first two books. I’ve been receiving questions from readers that have been impacted by the information they have come into in my writings and they want to know more and have clarity about issues that the information raises with them.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself so I’ll save that advice for a little later after I’ve had a few more writing successes.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Know Thyself.

What are you reading now?
Well I’m writing right now so I’m not reading anything in particular. I may get stretched out on the writing and put it down for a while, pick up something I already have in my library and read a little to break the routine. I’m thinking about getting into the Personal Memoirs, ULYSSES S. GRANT, Caleb Carr, series editor.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Time will 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 AM THAT, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. The KYBALION, Hermetic Philosophy by THREE INITIATES. Talks with Ramana Maharshi by Ramana Maharshi. Maximum Meditation by One Iam.

Author Websites and Profiles
One Iam Website
One Iam Amazon Profile

One Iam’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 a South African Author of horror fiction who currently resides in Lichtenburg, North-West. I have just published my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book is called “Level 14”.
I think different elements brought the story together, but in a way, what really got me writing was an article I read. I was sitting one day, reading a newspaper article when my eye caught an issue about water scarcity. Like any writer with a good imagination I started visualising a scenario with dried up underwater cave systems and the mining industry all put together. For weeks I played with the idea. I even did some research and the more I learned, the more I wanted to write the story. So after months of research I picked up my pen and started writing “Level 14”.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I do. I start writing precisely at midnight each day and I must have a HB Staedler pencil at hand at all times.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King – The Dark Half and Graham Masterton – The house that Jack build

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a story about a drifter who suddenly is dealt the responsibility of saving two kids from a psychotic killer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I interact with readers on most platforms but I would have to say wordpress.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, believe in yourself and do a lot of research.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do research and then throw it away.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Descendant by Graham Masterton

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing my current book I am working on.

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 house that Jack build-Graham Masterton
Mercy- Stephen King
Dracula-Bram Stoker
The long walk- Stephen King aka Richard Bachman

Author Websites and Profiles
Al Slippers Website
Al Slippers Amazon Profile
Al Slippers Author Profile on Smashwords

Al Slippers’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born and raised in New York City, I was always a California girl at heart, obsessed with sports cars in a town with no parking. I couldn’t wait to leave. So I did.

After graduating from Vassar College where I studied Psychology and Economics, I headed to Los Angeles. Then, after a brief stint in Washington, D.C., to earn my MBA, I headed back to the beach, and became a film production accountant, working on movies you’ve probably never heard of.

I wrote my first novel at the age of six, and didn’t write another until Hollywood Princess, my debut. I’m a political news junkie and a baseball addict who loves a good love story. There are too many tragedies in the world. Why not provide an escape?

Now living in Connecticut, I’m married to a New York-based film producer. We have three children, two are not yet old enough to read Hollywood Princess, though one keeps trying to peek.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the New Adult Contemporary Romance, Hollywood Princess. I am inspired by this genre. It’s such a great age to explore. The protagonists are recently out of high school. They’re either in college or at first jobs. Everyday presents them with new challenges. Every decision impacts the life path they will ultimately find themselves on. How will they embrace their new freedoms?

More specifically, Hollywood Princess has allowed me to take fictional characters living in the industry I’ve spent my adult life in, and have them experience the joys and pitfalls of falling in love in a small college environment.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write any and all the time. I write everywhere. Unusual writing habits? You betcha. The original plots points for Hollywood Princess sprang into my head while on a Walt Disney World vacation. While riding the resort buses, and standing in ride lines, my mind freely wandered. Each night, I would go back to our hotel to jot my thoughts down on yellow pads; old-fashioned, but effective. Nothing is more portable. Later, when we returned home, I typed everything into my computer.

Composing dialogue is the best! I love when I am writing a scene, I have it mapped out in my head where I want it to go, and then my characters take over. My fingers may be flying over the keyboard, but it is their words that are coming out. Before I know it, the scene has gone in a direction far from the one I had originally imagined. That’s when I sit back and grin. I’ve nailed it! It’s totally organic. I take pride in knowing my characters so well that they can speak for themselves.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
E.L. James, though not for the obvious. I admire her research skills and attention to detail in setting up locations, as well as her not letting being over 30 stop her.
Tammara Webber whose books introduced me to the genre I now call home, New Adult, and also for her well-developed character arcs. By the time you reach the last pages of her series, Reid, Jacqueline, and Landon’s stories make perfect sense. With the Hollywood Princess series, I try to achieve similar results.
Jamie McGuire for furthering my exposure to New Adult, and introducing me to a different college experience than the one I was familiar with, and depicted in Hollywood Princess.
Stephenie Meyers; I don’t write about vampires, werewolves, or any other fantastical beings, but something about reading Twilight sparked my creativity and my writing journey began.
Finally, and this author is not in my genre but I read all his books, David Baldacci. I love the realistic banter between his characters, especially King and Maxwell. I only hope Elizabeth and Daniel sound as natural.
As a reader, I have eclectic tastes. I can be found reading New Adult romances, but I equally enjoy Steinbeck, detective/lawyer mysteries, and nonfiction, including politics, sports, and economics.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the three sequels in the Hollywood Princess series. Editing is well underway on the still untitled Book 2, slated for release in late April or early May, 2015. I am having a very difficult time coming up with a title. A good portion of Book 3 has been written, and I continue developing the story lines. Book 4 is still in its early stages, but I have formulated the major plot points.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have my website, DanaAynnLevin.com, my Dana Aynn Levin author Facebook page, and my Twitter @OfficialDLevin. I try to post at least several times each week. I have a mailing list that I have sent announcements to. I have recently begun participating in GoodReads groups, and I have been using Bookarma. It is too early to tell what will be the most effective method.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from the heart. If you’re not passionate about your project, nobody else will be.

Every author has their own methods. You have to know yourself, and do what works for YOU. Many authors swear by outlining. Conversely, I have never written an outline. Early on, my husband scolded me for not having one; he insisted that all writers had to have an outline. I knew that was not me, and I didn’t listen. Today I can be working on Chapter 3, and tomorrow I could be composing what will ultimately become Chapter 27. Whatever enters my mind is what I write. Then I go back and fill in the gaps.

Know your characters. I learned when I studied screenwriting, to write character biographies. Like real people you are meeting for the first time, your characters had lives before page one of your project. Do your prep work and first write these short biographies for your main characters. You will be amazed by how this improves your story flow, and how dialogue comes out sounding so much more natural, when you know your characters this in-depth.

Finally, now that I am marketing Hollywood Princess, I remind myself every day that this process is a marathon, not a sprint. Do a little something each day, and hopefully in the long run it will pay off with success.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Hugh Howey discussing how he published seven novels before he found success as an author. This helped me focus on the big picture and develop a long-term plan.

What are you reading now?
You Were Meant for Me by Yona Zeldis McDonough. This is an excellent book about finding love in a very unusual place, and were falling in love has multiple meaning. I highly recommend it.

My library is an interesting mix of classics, detective/cop/spy intrigues, YA dystopia, and new adult romances. Next up, I will probably re-read some favorites while I wait for the latest David Baldacci novel that is due out in November.

What’s next for you as a writer?
See “What are you working on now?”

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?
This is an incredibly difficult question because a desert island by definition means no electricity, and thus no iPad and its limitless stream of books.

So many of my favorites belong to series, but I think if I were stranded, I would want more variety. Then again, if I were stranded for more than a month, and I had to keep reading the same books over and over, I would soon catch every flaw in the stories, and my favorites might cease being my favorites.

Hmmmm. I might be over thinking this.

Ultimately, I think I would pick books from different genres to fulfill different needs, and appeal to a variety of moods. Of course, I would start with a good NA Romance, probably Easy and its sequel Breakable by Tammara Webber. Then, I would take John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, my all-time favorite – I haven’t read it in years, so not only would it’s length use up a lot of my time, it would be fresh to me. Finally, I would take a non-fiction book, An Empire of Their Own by Neal Gabler, because I love history, and found this story on the birth and growth of the movie industry to be a fascinating read.

Author Websites and Profiles
Dana Aynn Levin Website
Dana Aynn Levin Amazon Profile

Dana Aynn Levin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a new, independent author and I just released my first novel, Taken By The Huntsman, in September 2014. As for my vital statistics, I’m a thirty-something gal who has lived on both coasts of the US, but never in the middle. My “real job” (it’s not really, but don’t tell my boss. ;-)) is as a hospital drudge and I also attend graduate school.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Well, the inspiration for my first book, Taken By The Huntsman, came from a dream I had after a rather spirited debate with an online friend about the nature of consent (and some other political issues I won’t bore you with). When I woke up I thought about the dream and realized it might make an interesting story (as well as provide me with a soap box ;-)). I texted a friend and asked her if she thought the idea had merit. She said she did and so I wrote the first couple of chapters and emailed them to her asking her to read them and tell me if she was bored yet. She was kind enough to say that she wasn’t bored and that she’d like to read the rest of the story, so I wrote it. The ideas for the next few books and short stories came from characters who came to me and told me that they deserved a story too, and it was my job to write them. So I will! 🙂

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmmm….I don’t know if I’m the best person to evaluate what would constitute an “unusual writing habit” since I’m so new at it. 😉 My stories have, so far, pretty much presented themselves fully formed and I’ve just had to smooth out the rough bits and fill in the details. Is that unusual?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m dyslexic and I had a really hard time learning how to read when I was a kid. Timothy Zahn’s continuation of the Star Wars series is probably the reason I’m literate today. If my imagination hadn’t been captured by the characters and universe that George Lucas created and Timothy Zahn expanded on it’s possible I wouldn’t have had the motivation to expend the effort it took for me to learn to read. So thank you to both of those gentlemen. 🙂 Since learning to read at the age of 8, I could usually be found with my nose stuck in Sci-Fi or Fantasy novel. My interest in romance came a bit later. 😉

What are you working on now?
I hope to have my next book out by the beginning of 2015 (no promises). It’s the second book in the series that begins with Taken By the Huntsman and will be the story of Uaine, Fairie’s Summer Court prince, and Veronica (Roni), a human petty thief and con artist, who are united by a magical bond created by Fairie’s great mother goddess. I’ve only just started writing it, but you can read the first chapter on my Facebook page and I’ll try to post updates as I write it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I’m just starting out I haven’t developed a best method yet. If anyone would like to offer suggestions I’d love to hear them. 🙂

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author myself, I don’t really feel qualified to give other new authors advice. I can tell you that I have spent a large portion of my life reading the work of other authors and I feel that helped immensely in writing my novel, so maybe that would help others as well. 🙂

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Read what you like, write what you love.” 🙂

What are you reading now?
At the moment I’m reading textbooks. Once this school term is over I have quite a few books lined up that I’ve been waiting to read, starting with Warlord’s Honor: Krystile Warriors Series by L.W. Browning

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a short story planned for after my second novel that I intend to invite readers to help develop characters for. At some point (in the next few months, hopefully) I will post an invitation on my Facebook page for readers to contribute ideas for characters to be included in that story. At this point I don’t know how many of these characters I’ll be able to incorporate, but if I get enough suggestions I’ll ask readers to vote on each other’s ideas and use the characters with the most votes. Details about the story and the parameters I’ll need for the suggestions will be forth coming, so stay tuned! 😉

I also have third and fourth novels in the series planned, as well as a couple of more short stories. After that? Who knows, but I bet it’ll be fun! 🙂

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh no fair!! I can’t narrow it down that much, there are too many great books out there. I’d take my kindle (we’ll just pretend there’s electricity and internet access, hey, I write fantasy novels! ;-)) and that way I could keep them all! 😉

Author Websites and Profiles
Mistral Dawn Website
Mistral Dawn Amazon Profile
Mistral Dawn Author Profile on Smashwords

Mistral Dawn’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 a college student studying English, Creative Writing, and Industrial Design. I also have two minors, so I’m pretty busy. Last December I started Aviator Owl Books Inc. with a friend of mine, and that’s what I do in my free time: write and illustrate the books. Every book we sell donates half of the profits to a specific cause or charity (much to the dismay of our CPA). I have 3 current books available for purchase, with 2 more on the way in the very near future!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The one I am currently working on is called The Boy Who Played with Stars, about a boy who journeys into the night sky and interacts with constellations. I came up with this book a long time ago, in the back of one of my English lectures. I was thinking about a different story idea (that may or may not become a reality so I won’t disclose it quite yet) and I had this image of a child playing with starlight. Wouldn’t it be amazing, I thought, to be able to climb into the sky and dance with constellations? I decided it would be, so that’s what I did.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think my notes would drive people absolutely crazy. When I get one idea, I often get several more and all of the characters, plots, illustrations and everything else comes spilling out onto any paper surface. It can make for a difficult business meeting later when Chris (my business partner) asks me, “so what are some new ideas?” and I can only stare at the page of chicken scratch and think, “well I would love to know the same thing.”

Another somewhat bizarre trait I have is to listen to Celtic music while I write. Sometimes I listen to music to fit the mood of the book I’m writing (Christmas music for our Christmas book, etc) but often it’s Celtic.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JK Rowling was probably the biggest influence. For children’s books I am inspired by Dr. Seuss’s writing and his liberties with what can be done. His imagination drove his work and that’s what I want to do.

What are you working on now?
Two books: The Boy Who Played with Stars and an Aviator Owl Christmas book (title unknown). The Boy Who Played with Stars was actually released a long time ago but we pulled it back in to add text because the original was published as illustration only. While I love the illustration only edition, it’s fun to write a character as he travels through the sky at night.

I’m SO excited about the Christmas book because it is my absolute favorite time of year (perhaps because I was born on Christmas…) and I finally have an excuse to do all sorts of Christmas-related things well before the season even starts. I call this “market research.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am not so good at the promotional things. I write under a pen name and for years I steadfastly refused to include a picture of myself anywhere near the books. I didn’t want people to know who I was because I wanted the work to speak for itself. I have since realized that I won’t sell any books that way, so I’ve slowly started reaching out through Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook. Those are definitely my top three websites for book promotions currently.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t ever be afraid to experiment. I found that in the beginning of my writing “career” I really struggled to do anything that I hadn’t seen before. I always thought, “well, if (enter famous author name) didn’t do that, then I can’t either or people will hate it.” Finally I learned that as long as I publish the best story I possibly can, and I’m happy with it, then it was worth the time. If no one buys it, then no one buys it, but I’m doing what makes me happy.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t ever stop dreaming. And you will never go wrong if you remember to be kind and be brave.

What are you reading now?
Water for Elephants (for fun), The Book of Unknown Americans, Beautiful Ruins and the KJV Bible (for school).

What’s next for you as a writer?
To write. I guess that answer is too easy. First, I’d like to graduate. Then I’ll continue writing in my favorite genres (kid lit, picture books, memoir, fantasy, YA fiction) and expanding Aviator Owl as a company.

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?
Is there a book about surviving on a desert island? I’d like that one. I’d also need a joke book because I’d die without something to make me laugh. And a Harry Potter book, probably The Half-Blood Prince.

Author Websites and Profiles
S. A. Porcher Website

S. A. Porcher’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As an author, I am new to this game, having published my first book in early Oct, 2014. I’ve always enjoyed writing, even back when I was a teen, and writing assignments were always an easy “A” for me. Although Winter Fall is my first book, its early success has inspired me to keep writing, and I plan on releasing several books over the course of the next year.

I was born and raised in North Carolina, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) I then moved to Florida for approximately a dozen years, where I held a job as an urban planner before going the self-employed route as a home inspector in the early 2000’s. In 2005, I moved to Atlanta, GA, where I continue to reside.

My favorite activities include travel, photography and woodworking, as well as mountain hiking, and of course, reading and writing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Winter Fall, an apocalyptic tale of the Yellowstone Supervolcano and its aftermath. My biggest inspiration for this novel is Lucifier’s Hammer, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I absolutely loved this novel, and I read it several times as a teen, and I’ve always wanted to write a book along those lines. Coupled with my long-held fascination with supervolcanos and their capacity to wreck destruction on our all-too-fragile civilization, the idea for Winter Fall was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in short, quick bursts, usually in the morning. I may spit out five or six thousand words in a few short hours, but once I stop, I usually have to wait until the next day to pick it up again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of authors, here’s just a few: Larry Niven (of course,) Steven King, Author C, Clarke, Robert Heilein, Ken Follet (particularly Pillars of the Earth, another book I’ve read several times,) Dean Koontz, Michael Chrichton – I could go on and on, but you get the idea. 🙂

What are you working on now?
My next book is titled Martian Contagion, a sci-fi thriller dealing with a deadly viral outbreak on a science base on the surface of Mars. I’ve always been fascinated with Mars, which is why my next book will be set on this fascinating world. I hope to have this released by Jan of 2015.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This site, for one. 🙂 I joined a number of pertinent forums where I shared my book, as well as a multitude of facebook groups, etc. A huge part of my book promotion is face-to-face sharing of my work, and I know I’ve sold quite a few books that way. I’ve even gotten business cards with my book cover on it to hand out to people – which is something I’d encourage fellow authors to do as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, and write some more. 🙂 But I’d never gotten to where I am today if it wasn’t for my willingness to listen to critical feedback and working to make my writing as good as it can be. And don’t be shy about getting your book out there once it’s been published. Sure, it’s many hours of hard work, but it does pay. Let your passion show – it really does make a difference.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Have a good “hook” for your book – if it doesn’t draw the reader in on Page 1, Paragraph 1, you’re probably not going to sell very many books.

What are you reading now?
Sector 64: Ambush, by Dean M Cole, a fellow indie author. It’s a good read so far. 🙂

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more books! And to keep promoting the one(s) I’ve written, however I can.

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?
Lucifer’s Hammer, the Stand, Pillars of the Earth – not only are they my faves, they’re long enough to keep me reading for quite a bit of time. 🙂

Author Websites and Profiles
Byron Tucker Amazon Profile

Byron Tucker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a full-time writer, first time author and life-long reader. I just published my debut science-fiction novel, Mindguard, back in September and am currently learning the business and just generally enjoying the “indie” lifestyle. I’m married to a lovely woman named Ioana and we share our home with Picky, our gorgeous Netherland dwarf bunny.

I studied Letters, pursued an American Studies MA and wrote my thesis on the music of Tom Waits. I run a jazz-themed blog called The Music and Myth, where I review records and live shows and publish interviews with the musicians. One of my greatest accomplishments in writing is getting an article published in Cracked, though it hasn’t done very well because it’s about pro-wrestling.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is called Mindguard and it was inspired by my impossible ambition to protect my loved ones from harm in every way.

My wife was upset over something one day and she was telling me about it. It was work-related, so there was really nothing I could do but try to cheer her up. But that is a process that takes time. I wished I could just instantly take make her sadness disappear or, better yet, somehow place an essence of myself between her mind and whatever was making her sad, like a bodyguard intercepting a physical threat. That’s when I came up with the concept of a Mindguard.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know about unusual but I generally prepare for highly emotional scenes by drinking lots of wine and listening to my favorite music. I often talk to myself (sometimes physically acting out the scenes – which, let me tell you, is a sight to behold) Even more often, I talk to the bunny. She doesn’t talk but I can generally get a sense of what she’s thinking from the way she wiggles her nose.

Whenever I’m stuck in a certain scene and can’t find my way out I work out to exhaustion. The solution usually pops up the second I finish the workout.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Garden of Rama by Arthur C Clarke and Gentry Lee was the first sci-fi book I ever read, so that was an enormous influence. My all-time favorite book is Frank Herbert’s Dune, which changed my life. I used to read a lot of Dean Koontz’s work. I always got a kick out of his novels and enjoyed his writing style, though I’m not crazy about the way he tends to moralize.

Robert L Stevenson’s Treasure Island was a great influence on me growing up, because of the way in which he portrayed the villain, John Silver. Hugh Howey’s Wool was a great influence because it introduced me to the concept of self-publishing. Frank Schätzing’s The Swarm made me love wine and since wine is such a great part of my writing process I guess you can say the book influenced me a lot.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a new sci-fi novel called Skyborn. I plan to release it in serial format, starting December. I’m also currently developing the sequel to Mindguard, which will be out sometime next year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s still too early to tell.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let it be just a dream. Make it a goal! Then work your ass off to attain it. Treat it like a career, not a hobby. Be in love with your characters, they are your story. Talk to them. More importantly: listen to them. They are smarter than you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You should marry that woman!” – my family.

But as far as writing is concerned, it’s something my former literature professor once said to me. It wasn’t so much a piece of advice as it was a prophetic “warning”. I had told him that I hadn’t written in over six years and had no interest in ever writing again. He said “Someday you will write again”, I said “No” and he said “Oh, yeah!”. I started writing again two years later.

What are you reading now?
A Game of Thrones, just to be in sync with the rest of the literate world. I love it, though. I also have this idea of giving a bit of a fantasy “vibe” to Skyborn, so I’m hoping to steal some trade. Thanks, George!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Success, fame and fortune. Mindguard in every airport bookstore. Mindguard, the movie, with young Edward Norton playing Sheldon Ayers. But I also have some big plans.

Nah, I’m kidding (sort of). What’s next is more writing and the hope that it will reach as many readers as possible. Every day that I’m able to keep doing this is a blessing, a cherished gift.

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?
“Ultrasimple Boat Building: 18 Plywood Boats Anyone Can Build” by Gavin Atkin

“Coconut Delights Cookbook: A Collection of Coconut Recipes” by Karen Jean Matsko Hood

“Surviving Sharks and Other Dangerous Creatures” by Allan Zullo

Author Websites and Profiles
Andrei Cherascu Website
Andrei Cherascu Amazon Profile

Andrei Cherascu’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! My name is Esmeralda. I’m a 28 year old, Puerto Rican, Indie Author; who’s addicted to chocolate and believes in the supernatural. I read Angel cards and can communicate with spirits. (I’m not crazy, I swear!) I married my high school sweetheart and we have three beautiful children. I’ve written one book and am half way through my second.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Wicked Love. It’s a Paranormal Romance that focuses on how far a person is willing to go for love. Life experiences inspired me to write this book. I for one have done some crazy/stupid things for love. Haven’t we all? lol I also got bored of reading the typical vampire story! When my daughters are old enough to read my book, I want them to feel empowered. My main character is a feisty Latina who stands up for what she believes in.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to wear comfy pajamas and fuzzy colorful socks. Don’t judge me!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Esmeralda Santiago, “A House On Mango Street.” That book is deep and touched on a lot of issues I faced growing up in Brooklyn, New York.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing the sequel to Wicked Love. This book goes a little more in depth on that feeling that drives us over the edge.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang.com of course! *wink*

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I saw a quote the other day that rang true for me, “Don’t let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big.” Believe in yourself no matter what. Do your research! Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Put yourself out there.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stop standing in your own way!

What are you reading now?
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep writing until my heart stops.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh, what a dirty question?! How to Survive on a Deserted Island! lol

Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan

The Secret Circle Series by L.J Smith

Sweep Series by Cate Tiernan

Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice

Author Websites and Profiles
Esmeralda Hernandez Amazon Profile

Esmeralda Hernandez’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Arizona with my husband, the old, bald guy and our two teenage sons. We enjoy camping (which we call kamping) and boating. I’m a new indie author of the children’s book Moore Zombies: The Search for Gargoy, illustrated by Brian Allen.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I was inspired to write Moore Zombies after playing video games with my children. The only reason I constantly lose is because there are way too many buttons on the controller, but my kids get a good laugh out of my futile attempts. Anyhow, I was thinking that zombies are mean and ugly, and felt it was time to turn the tables on humans and come up with a better looking, nice zombie family who were afraid of people. I like the contradiction and also went a step further in making contradictory characters: a baby (Baby Zom), a dirty little boy who likes to camp (Kamper), a preppy or nerd type (Broheimer), and a teenage girl fashionista who is into goth (Gothina). I also thought it would be fun to add a stay-at-home Mombie, and have the kids love tomato juice!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of – but then I don’t compare my writing habits to anyone else’s. I like to say I’m either disorganized in an organized way, or organized in a disorganized way. I write EVERYTHING down – any thought or idea, anything I think would be funny in the artwork and then start moving, organizing, rewriting, deleting and so on and so forth. I keep doing this until at some point I feel it is at its best. There are points in time where I like to take a break for a day or two so that I can come back and review the material with a fresh brain.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Hitckhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was an easy read yet full of fun!! I grew up reading a lot of detective stories as a child and loved those – Nancy Drew, The Hardy Brothers, The Three Detectives. Also I loved Judy Blume and at some point had an autographed copy of a book from her – wish I knew whatever happened to that. From about 4th to 6th grade we had no television as my parents felt we were watching tv too much (and this was in the early 80’s!), so I read a lot!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a second Moore Zombies book, however, I am heavily involved in marketing Moore Zombies: The Search for Gargoy. I’m sure everyone knows what that entails so I won’t bore you with the details.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best website for promoting is all of the above. I’m expanding my following on twitter, facebook pages, moorezombies.com, and youtube. I really appreciate goodreads, thebookmarketingnetwork, bookgoodies, and of course awesomegang and bookreadermagazine. I enjoy making youtube videos with my boys to help promote my moorezombies website, however finding time to do so is difficult with their busy schedules. But we do have a lot of fun when we get around to making a video!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Since I’m a new author, I believe I am in the position to accept advice more so than to give advice at this point. However, I can tell you that I think you’ll find there is more work to be done in marketing a children’s book than there is in actually writing the book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard came from my grandmother. She told me, “Don’t ever date a man you wouldn’t marry.” At the time it made no sense to me. Now it makes perfect sense; hence the old, bald guy.

What are you reading now?
I’d love to tell you about some fun books I am greatly enjoying. However, please review the part about marketing a children’s book. I read blogs, tips, techniques, how-to articles, etc.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am looking forward to sharing my book directly with children via presentations. I used to volunteer my time inside the classroom often when my children were young. I really miss how contagious the fun can be in just being silly.

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 always enjoyed Edgar Allan Poe but that might be too depressing for a deserted island. So, I’d have to say I’d take along a copy of Moore Zombies: The Search for Gargoy as in inspiration, and write the other 3 books while I was on the island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Wendy Knuth Website
Wendy Knuth Amazon Profile

Wendy Knuth’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I spend my days in the world of information technology, focusing on infrastructure and architecture, but evenings and weekends you’ll find me murdering and maiming. My creed? The only good character is a tortured one.

Through many years of disrupting lives and inflicting angst, I’ve written two books and published one of them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My suspense novel is titled TOURIST TRAPPED. I had worked on another manuscript for eight years and hit a wall. I needed to rewrite the first third of the novel, but couldn’t translate the ideas onto paper.

To clear my head, I decided to tackle NaNoWriMo and play around with a new story. The members of a master class I had participated in had fallen in love with one of my secondary characters, the spunky Amanda Sloane, so I designated her as my new protagonist. Infusing a little heartburn into her life, I gave Amanda a half-sister she resented, and then guilted Amanda into hunting for the despised sister who vanished in the Yucatan.

I spent the first half of November developing the backstory for the new cast of characters, so I didn’t make my 50k word count, but I made it to 25k and fell in love with the story. At that point, I knew I had to finish TOURIST TRAPPED.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes when I have a big scene I need to write, I don’t let myself think too much about it before I sit down and begin. I want to watch the scene unfold in my head as I write it. Sort of like watching a movie–except the popcorn leaves my keyboard greasy!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many, but I’ll mention a few that come to mind. The first scenes of THE HORSE WHISPERER and THE FIXER yanked me into those books. Stieg Larsson impressed me with his ability to make me cheer for a character as hopelessly flawed as Lisbeth Salander. J. K. Rowling’s deep backstory for the Harry Potter series is beyond amazing. I like Sandra Brown’s ability to create multidimensional characters, and Dean Koontz’s vivid descriptions.

What are you working on now?
On November 1, I join writers all over the world in taking on the NaNoWriMo challenge again! I’ll begin the first draft of the second book of the Trapped trilogy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to the world of promotion, but so far I’ve found my email lists to be the most effective method to share information about my novel. The most fun experience was seeing a front page article about me in my hometown paper!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find mentors you trust. They can be in the form of critique groups, writing partners, instructors, etc. You need feedback to determine your strengths, and where you have opportunities to improve–and don’t take constructive criticism personally. Learn from it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write that first draft. You can edit later. Get the story down on paper. NOW!

What are you reading now?
I’m rereading SCENT AND SHADOW by Mercy Loomis. I’m not usually one to read vampire novels, but hers is well written and the characters are multi-dimensional. Mercy builds a complicated, tumultuous relationship between the two main characters. I love it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a couple of short stories begging for my attention, a set of personal essays I’ve promised my editor, and, of course, books two and three of the Trapped trilogy.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My OXFORD DICTIONARY and THE SYNONYM FINDER because I can’t imagine writing without them. I’d also take THE BEST POEMS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, because I’d finally have the time to sit down and soak them in. Finally, I’d take the book I’ve carried with me for most of my life, my grandmother’s copy of SARA CREWE.

Author Websites and Profiles
Karlie Klemme Website
Karlie Klemme Amazon Profile

Karlie Klemme’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I used to be a small-town country girl, but now I live quite happily in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada with my family. I began writing in high school, but in my twenties real life hit and time for things like creative writing just kind of fell by the wayside. About three years ago I got inspired to start again and quickly realized how much I’d missed it, and how many stories were brewing inside of me, just fighting their way to get out. So far I have only completed one novel, but I am about two-thirds of the way through the first draft of my second book, and have ideas for several others in my head.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first novel is called “Promises and Other Broken Things”. I was inspired to try to write a story about a difficult and sensitive subject – adultery – from the dual points-of-view of the people involved, and how they eventually got to the places in their lives where they made the decisions they made. So many people feel the issue is very black and white, and I wanted to show how sometimes, in certain situations, these things aren’t so cut and dried, wrong and right, and that the people involved, although they do end up making some bad choices, are not always horrible, unforgivable jerks.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have some bad writing habits, but I don’t want to detail them here in case others are inspired to do the same things! haha No, nothing really unusual. I write in fits and bursts when I’m inspired, and can often go weeks without writing anything. During those times, I go back and edit existing writing, and that often gives me the inspiration to want to work on fresh stuff again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Christopher Moore, to name just three. While all three are *very* different, not only in terms of the types of books they write, but also their voice and style, I love reading each of them for different reasons and often find myself greatly inspired by their words and the feels they evoke in me.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my second novel, which is more of a Young Adult/New Adult romance. It’s very different from “Promises and Other Broken Things”, but that’s exactly why I wanted to write it. It’s a story about a teenage girl in a small town in the mountains who anonymously writes the love advice column for the local paper. She starts a private correspondence with a bitter and depressed young man whose lover had left him for him brother, and as they get to know each other, they help one another comes to grips with, and move past, some of the things that are holding them back from getting out and living their lives.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use GoodReads, Facebook and Twitter, mostly. Of the three, so far I feel Facebook is connecting me with my readers the easiest.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let self-doubt stop you. We all experience it, it’s normal, and you just have to keep writing anyway. And then write some more. Talk to other writers, make friends, create your own support group, and ask them for feedback. My ever-so-patient writer friends are the main reason “Promises and Other Broken Things” is the book it is today.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Use an editor/proofreader. No matter how many times you look at your own writing, no matter how many errors you correct, sneaky little mistakes will still always find their way through. So it’s a really smart idea to always ask someone else with fresh eyes to read it over for you.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading “Mr. Mercedes” by Stephen King. So far I’m quite liking it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing up my second book and then diving into the long editing process for 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?
“Lamb” by Christopher Moore. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. “The Thief of Time” by Terry Pratchett. “The Stand” by Stephen King.

Author Websites and Profiles
J.S. Eades Website
J.S. Eades Amazon Profile

J.S. Eades’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a three year old author. I live in England, East midlands with my family. I have written three books and I am a write in multiple genre.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is called Witch Crystal and it was inspired from a great YA author Ruth Warburton.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write when it is dark, when everything is quiet and still. And I write pen to paper first, and then transfer to screen.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Roald Dahl, C.S Lewis. I love the Twilight books and the Harry Potter books too!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on two books. One is another paranormal romance and the other is the second book to Witch Crystal.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is great but it has it’s limits. Twitter is good but you need to know how to work it. I think blogging is a good way to promote your books, you just need to find the followers

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and never give up, no matter what!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing and never give up!

What are you reading now?
I am searching for the great book!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to do a series of books for young children with my own illustrations, and start up a blog for budding young writers.

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 twilight books
The Harry Potter books
The Diary of a wimpy kid books

A title from each series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Malika Gandhii Website

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Oh….I don’t like talking about myself much and I do get stumped on this question most of the time, but alright. I’m in my early 20’s and live in Las Vegas. Born and raised. My mom who is my co-author had lived in Vegas for 33 years and was born and raised in New York City. I’ve won a few writing essay awards in school and decided 2 years ago, to make writing a full-time career. I love where writing takes me, into a place where I can create anything. I believe in the saying “Always believe in that, which you can not see. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.” so in our writing, I can create that which is not seen and make it believable for the readers. My mom is an accomplished water-color artist and over the years, has won several first place blue ribbons and is into poetry, which helps alot in creating some of the spells and riddles in our story. We’ve written so far, two books with a third coming out soon. It’s part of our KEEPER OF LA TECLA (The Key) series. We hope to create more stories in the future once we give our minds a break.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The names of our latest novels are SECRETS OF RAVENSTONE book one and ON THE EVIL SCALE book two. We grew the inspiration from a dream that I had and it was so vivid and realistic that my mom suggested in creating a full story from the idea. So, after putting it all together and filling in some of the blanks, our story was created into what it is now. Book two came from ideas that just continue the story. Book three which is the last of the our series will be release some time in 2015.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Oh, boy. Do we ever. During the day of course, it’s very noisy with neighbors coming and going upstairs, and traffic outside so we choose when to write. Let’s say, we have actually turned into nocturnal type-creatures of habit. Staying up late after midnight and sleeping til the late afternoon. During that time, we choose to do our writing when it’s perfectly quiet. Best time ever. I like listening to music while I write, but my mom on the other hand enjoys the silence more, so we compromise.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read a few books that I really enjoy but I don’t believe in copying anyone’s idea. Everyone should be a complete original and create your own work. But if I could truly answer this question, I’d have to say that I take a few bits and pieces of certain movies and shows and twist them around to be more realistic. But, I guess The Vampire Diaries sort of inspired us to create our vampires. And my favorite author would have to be J.K. Rowling, of course.

What are you working on now?
We’re currently piecing together ideas for our third novel of our series, BATTLE OF BLOODLINES.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter. And Facebook. But I don’t have much luck on Goodreads because some say they will help with an interview but then never come through. We currently have both books on Amazon.com as eBooks.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Don’t give up, no matter what people tell you and always persevere. Unfortunately alot of backlash and negative comments come from other authors, as well as literary agents.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Pretty much as the question above, from my mom. She’s very supportive of my career choice and is a very tenacious Taurus and won’t give up.

What are you reading now?
Nothing at the moment. Just doing research online. But when I do read, it’s SCIFI-FANTASY and YOUNG ADULT. My mom doesn’t read much books so I can’t speak for her.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just to keep on writing and coming up with more story plots and ideas.

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?
Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit series. And of course, Harry Potter series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Yzavela ( pen name: Yza-Dora) Narvaez Website
Yzavela ( pen name: Yza-Dora) Narvaez Amazon Profile

Yzavela ( pen name: Yza-Dora) Narvaez’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account