Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am currently writing The Chronicles of Elizabeth Blake series. My first book in the series, Wicka, was just released in spring of 2014. I was inspired by traveling across Europe solo at a very young age, and many travel adventures since. I live in Toronto, Ontario with my husband, three children and a fish named Cow.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I liked the thought of using a name that would immediately allow the reader to know what the story was about. I also didn’t want people to confuse it with Wiccanism, which is why I changed it from Wicca to Wicka.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am currently travelling France, looking for great scenes for my next book. I guess that is not unusual, but it sure beats writing from behind a desk!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hands down Jane Austen. I know that’s not overly original or hip in today’s world, but I love how smart and beautiful her writing is while tackling the issues of her day.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel to Wicka.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have used Amazon’s KDP program to promote my book for free, which did very well and placed me on the top 100 free Amazon books category and #1 in one genre. This month I am running a Kindle countdown where my book will be $.99, which, of course, I am promoting through Awesomegang!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always follow that voice inside of you that tells you something would make a great story. If you believe in it, chances are many others will as well.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am looking forward to completing the sequel to my first book. Also, I am launching a hard copy of WICKA later this year!

Author Websites and Profiles
Chirsty Deveaux Website
Chirsty Deveaux Amazon Profile

Chirsty Deveaux’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised a country girl and my books reflect my farming roots.

I have been writing since I was fifteen, my first book was published at age eighteen and I intend to have four books published before I turn twenty.

I currently have three published works. Two are part of a series, one is a stand alone novella with a sequel coming out spring 2016 and I have several more works in progress.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled Hidden Treasure and Wedding Bells, book #2 in The Christian Cowgirl Adventure Series.

It follows a young girl, Amy, as she and her friends attempt to solve a hidden treasure mystery and thwart the thieves who are trying to find it first. It is set in the 1920’s.

The series was inspired by my love of horses and western stories.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write best at night. I work full time, so I got in the habit of using the evening hours to write and now, even if I have time during the day, I find it hard to focus. So most of my books are written between the hours of 8 pm and 2 am.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Alicia A. Willis

Alicia G. Ruggieri

Jason McIntire

Faith Blum

J. Grace Pennington

What are you working on now?
My WIP is YA novella titled Be Still My Soul. It is due to release December 2015

Synopsis:

Adah’s world is turned upside down by the sudden death of her fiancée. After years of declaring that she will always be single, David broke down her walls and she fell hopelessly in love.

But just three weeks before their wedding, he is killed in a car accident. A happily-ever-after ending becomes a distant dream. Adah is lost without him and she tries to drown her grief in a crazy social life, but finds no peace.

In desperation, she heads off into the mountains, searching for a cure for her broken heart.

Her lack of wilderness experience gets her into many predicaments as she attempts to live life as the pioneers did. No running water, no electricity, a rock slide, an uncooperative wood stove and an unexpected late spring blizzard nearly overwhelm her.

As if that wasn’t adventure enough, a nearly frozen man appears on her doorstep in the middle of the raging blizzard. Adah is shocked to discover a young child cradled in his arms.

While the little girl, Sarah, seems unharmed, Adah works desperately to save the man’s life. With limited medical knowledge, she does the best she can, but a high fever and other injuries threaten his life.

The man, whose name is Ethan, regains consciousness and seems to be recovering just as the storm abates.

But flooding, mud slides and avalanches force the trio to remain in the cabin for the unforeseeable future.

Adah is disturbed by Ethan’s talk of God. Raised to be an Atheist, any talk of religion bothers her. But the more Ethan speaks of his God, the more curious Adah becomes. Something about the relationship Ethan has with his God calls to her. It is more than just a religion. Could God be the answer? Can He heal her broken heart?

Join Adah in her search for the truth. Will she finally find the love she has been searching for all her life?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found Goodreads giveaways to be a very effective marketing tool. Other giveaways and blog tours are also very helpful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. I well remember how discouraging and exhausting it was trying to write, re-write, edit and finally published my first novel. I was mentally exhausted by the time the process was finished, but I promise, it does get easier! Follow your dream.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t stop writing and write every day. These have both helped me immensely.

What are you reading now?
In Paths of Righteousness by Keri Aeschliman

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am not sure exactly what the Lord has planned for me. My goal is to reach as many people as possible through my stories and I intend to continue writing as many books as 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?
From the Dark to the Dawn by Alicia A. Willis

Never by J. Grace Pennington

A Might Fortress by Faith Blum

The Fragrance of Geraniums by Alicia Ruggieri

Author Websites and Profiles
Lauren K. Lotter Website
Lauren K. Lotter Amazon Profile

Lauren K. Lotter’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Maggie Adams. I live near St. Louis, MO with my high school sweetheart, Ned, and my wonderful kids, Katie (Kyle) and Ross (Valerie). My life is like a walking, talking sitcom from I Love Lucy, but I love it, although people do tend to keep their distance from me! Writing has always been my dream, with reading my favorite hobby.
To date, I’ve published three books in my Tempered Steel Series. I have a novella coming out at the end of September, Getting Lucky, and book four of the series, Love, Marriage and Mayhem will be released in November. I plan on completing the series with another novella about the Coalson brothers parents, a story for each of the remaining brothers, and a cookbook because all the boys love their momma’s cooking! After that, fans have asked for more on the friends and family within the Grafton community, so who knows if the series will ever end!

I try to include a little bit of my life in everything I write, so when you read my books, keep your eyes wide open – I’m in there somewhere! Happy reading!
You can reach me at http://www.maggieadamsbooks.com,
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/maggieadamsbooks,
Twitter -@authrmaggieadms,
Good Reads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9867300.Maggie_Adams,
tsu – https://www.tsu.co/maggieadamsbooks
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/author/maggieadams

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Something’s Gotta Give is book three in my Tempered Steel series. It was released at the end of June, 2015, and continues the Coalson family saga with Chance Coalson, The Casanova of the County. Saved by shy firefighter Georgia Haines, from near death, he vows to make the quiet beauty his own. But Georgia’s wise to Chance’s romeo ways and it’s going to take more than a few pretty words to make her change her mind about love and marriage. So Chance decides to show her what she’s been missing by fighting fire with fire…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To work through a scene or if I have writer’s block, I put on the headphones and get lost in the music. Rock, Dance, country, Pop, it doesn’t matter. I hit shuffle on my Pandora and away I go! It clears my mind and helps me to focus on the feelings of the characters or the scene I need to write. When I’ve got it figured out in my head, more or less, I turn on classical and start typing. The characters sort of take over and I’m good to go.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
First romance novel was Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. It’s still one of my favorites. She mixed romance with suspense, family and humor. I was hooked at thirteen. Then came the Wolf and the Dove and I found the love of descriptive history mixed with romance. I’ve loved historical romance ever since.

I have discovered so many new indie authors that are truly gifted. Rosemary Rey has an erotic suspense trilogy that I think, is comparable to Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series. Lexi Blake and Shayla Black have pushed the erotic envelope, so to speak, and allowed all of us to enjoy a little peek into the D/s world. Charlaine Harris built an entire world of vampires, werewolves and fairies in her Sookie Stackhouse series. And Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle, has taken the reader through Regency, Present Day and Futuristic scenarios that all blended together in an ongoing mystery/romance series. And then there’s Nora Roberts, who has such a flare for storytelling that she simply looks at the paper and it’s a bestseller!

What are you working on now?
My newest release will be a Tempered Steel series novella about Coalson brother, Lucky, and his time in Vegas. Then it’s on to book four, Love, Marriage and Mayhem. Here’s a bit about these two – With only a small clue to the whereabouts of the arsonist, Lawrence “Lucky” Coalson heads to Las Vegas. While posing as a bouncer, Lucky finds himself ensnared by the lovely bartender, Claudia. But, like Lucky, she’s not what she appears to be and what happens in Vegas follows Lucky back home with unimaginable consequences.
While Lucky is away, Brandon and Nick foil an attempt to assassinate a pretty private eye and her sweet sister. Together with Sam and his best SEAL buddies, Jax and Noah, they vow to bring the ringleader to justice and rid their town of the criminals. But nothing goes according to plan, and the men must fight Mother Nature, a murderer, and the local law enforcement. Not to mention that the new secretary is definitely hiding something.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do a ton of Facebook promoting! Book groups, promotional groups, whatever I can find. It’s also helped me find great websites like Awesome Gang and others. I use twitter daily, but I’m not very good at it (according to my son, I don’t #hashtag properly). I also have two lovely promotion groups, Obsessed by Books and Stephanie’s Ingenious Indies Promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your homework before you even start to hit publish. Get on Facebook, twitter get a website going, join as many groups as you can and participate to get your name out there before you release. Learn all you can about how to use social media for promotion and marketing, because, if you are like many of us, money for a marketing firm is zero!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep the fights clean and the sex dirty and you’ll have a good marriage – from my grandmother on my wedding day.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Master No by Lexi Blake. As I stated earlier, she’s my one-click, no need to read the blurb, go to gal! Love all her stuff.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The voices are calling!! I’ve been putting down some ideas for a paranormal trilogy as well as a romantic erotica series involving older women and younger men.

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 Joy of Cooking because I would need to learn how to cook fish.
The Bible because the more you read it, the more you find within it.
The Boy Scouts Guide – because it has everything in it to survive and I’m a klutz
The Complete Works of Alexander Dumas because it’s awesome!
Their Virgin Hostage by Lexi Blake because I laugh every time I read it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Maggie Adams Website
Maggie Adams Amazon Profile

Maggie Adams’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an Iraqi American author, journalist, poet and filmmaker. I have written six books – three novels, one poetry book, and two nonfiction books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Earlier this year, I started the Iraqi Americans book series. I recently published the second book in the series, called Witnessing a Genocide, which is about Iraqi Americans’ reaction to the Islamic State.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing while multitasking.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gone with the Wind was the first novel I read in Arabic. I was nine years old and living in Amman, Jordan with my family. We were waiting for a Visa to the United States. Margaret Mitchell’s description of the South was my first impression of America. I was expecting to come here and find horse carriages and poofy dresses. Needless to say, I was in for a big surprise.

What are you working on now?
The third of the Iraqi Americans book series, which is called The Lives of Artists.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Research the people and places who would read your books and introduce yourself to them. My books, for instance, would appeal to academics in the Middle Eastern Studies.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
This career requires patience, patience, and more patience.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You are responsible for your own success.

What are you reading now?
Memoirs of a Babylonian Princess by Maria Theresa Asmar

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelo

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue with the Iraqi Americans book series. I also want to find a home for my first memoir, The Great American Family, which I spent nearly five years writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

The Bible

Daughter of Fire by Irina Tweedie

The Thousand Nights and One Night 4-book series

Author Websites and Profiles
Weam Namou Website
Weam Namou Amazon Profile

Weam Namou’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 one traditionally published novel (in hardcover) called ALICE IN WONDERLAND HIGH. It’s a YA contemporary retelling of Alice in Wonderland and came out in April 2015. My next YA is an indie pubbed contemporary romantic comedy titled KASEY SCREWS UP THE WORLD, which releases on September 8, 2015. Lastly, I will begin publishing a New Adult College Romance series. The first of which, PREMATURE EVACUATION, drops September 29, 2015. Books 2 and 3 release in October and November respectively.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called PREMATURE EVACUATION and it was inspired by boys who are so afraid of commitment, they break off a promising relationship before it gets good.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write during my two hour train commute to and from NYC each work day. I am a Project Manager by trade so my writing is highly organized, complete with schedules and risk management per project.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sarah for three dimensional sympathetic characters, Marget Atwood for gorgeous prose, and Chuck Palahniuk for adding quirks and twists.

What are you working on now?
I am working on Books 2 and 3 in the Premature Evacuation series. I revise Book 2, Master Probation, on my morning train commute and draft Book 3, A Bone to Pick, on the way home.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My first book was traditionally published and so far I’ve had great experience with book store events and speaking on writing conference panels. My first indie published book releases in a few weeks so I’ve been building a mailing list in anticipation.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always be improving. For each book I write, I like to challenge myself with something new, either a new POV or a new structure or a subject I want to learn more about. It keeps the writing interesting.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Chuck Palahniuk’s article on unpacking thought verbs is by far the best writing advice I’ve heard. It can be found here: https://litreactor.com/essays/chuck-palahniuk/nuts-and-bolts-%E2%80%9Cthought%E2%80%9D-verbs

What are you reading now?
I am reading Books 2 and 3 in the Bone Dry series by Cady Vance.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After my scheduled releases in 2015, I plan to release more contemporary YA romance and another NA series in 2016.

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?
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. And honestly, I’d take Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rachel Shane Website
Rachel Shane Amazon Profile

Rachel Shane’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Brit neo-noirist from the grim north who prefers to be beside the seaside whenever possible. I’ve written five books: two novels, two novelettes and an anthology of poetry.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s called “The Horseman’s Dream” and it was inspired by the transparent psychopathy of certain media corporations. Their brazen corporate propaganda and pillorying of the vulnerable for higher ratings/circulation has always seemed grotesque to me, made worse by the public’s appreciation of it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I had to research the effects of differing frequencies on the human brain for The Horseman’s Dream, leading me to experimentation whilst I was writing. I found Alpha waves very helpful in that they slowed down my thoughts enough for me to arrange them more easily, so I sometimes use those recordings if I am having trouble. If anyone would like to hear some examples they might use for their own writing, tweet me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Franz Kafka, J.G. Ballard, Dennis Lehane, Martin Amis, Will Self, H.G. Wells, T.S. Eliot, Aldous Huxley.

What are you working on now?
Redrafting The Horseman’s Dream, another novelette in the Grey Noise series and a TV pilot about 18th century smugglers.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This one: http://www.ajreid.org/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Think about how you’d tell a joke or a story to your mates before you think about your dazzling literary legacy. Readers want stories first; words second.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Two bits of advice, but they work better when juxtaposed, in my opinion.

1. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
2. Get the first punch in.

What are you reading now?
I have a lovely leather-bound Penguin Classics edition of The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler sitting next to me amongst a pile that includes:

Great Apes by Will Self
Eyeless in Gaza by Aldous Huxley
The War Poems by Siegfried Sassoon
The Psychology of Imagination by Jean-Paul Sartre
Anthology by Walt Whitman
Selected Poems by W.H. Auden
Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl
Orphans (screenplay) by Peter Mullan

What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t even know what’s next for me as a human being.

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?
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
SAS Survival Handbook by Lofty Wiseman
The Coconut Diet by Ivor Hairiwun
A blank notepad

Author Websites and Profiles
A.J. Reid Website
A.J. Reid Amazon Profile

A.J. Reid’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with my husband and two daughters. When I’m not writing, or posting recipes on my food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find me cooking for her family and friends.

My debut novel, EVANTHIA’S GIFT, is a multigenerational love story and family saga, influenced by my Greek heritage, and the many real life accounts that have been passed down. I continue to pick my father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. My recent interview with him was published in a nationally circulated magazine.

As an avid cook and baker, a skill I learned from watching my Athenian mother, I incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the book.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
EVANTHIA’S GIFT : BOOK ONE IN THE GIFT SAGA

Many of my ideas came from real life events, and stories I’ve heard all my life. I’ve also incorporated my own experiences and people I’ve met or observed into my stories, using them in different contexts, or combining the characteristics of several people to create a character.

The true inspiration for writing this book was my mother. Writing helped me through my grief after her death three years ago. The character of Anastacia is inspired by her and my mother’s Greek heritage.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than staying up until two or three in the morning, even when I have to be at work the next day, not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My tastes vary. You can catch me reading my favorite classics, East of Eden, or Pride and Pejudice or Nora Roberts latest books. My favorite contemporary Author is Sylvain Reynard, who wrote The Gabriel Trilogy. His use of language is breathtaking.

I love interesting characters where good and evil are at odds. East Of Eden is a perfect example. But I’m taken by the true romance of Austen’s characters. as a theater major in college, I’ve read plays from every era. from Medea to Moliere. From Shakespeare to Ibsen, and on to Williams and O’neil. each one has influenced me in some way.

What are you working on now?
Book Two in The Gift Saga

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am very new at this. My book was released days ago. I write a food blog and my book contains some greek recipes within the novel. I’ve been reposting those recipes with quotes from the book pertaining to that food. I use facebook, twitter, instagram and pinterest. I am also on Goodreads and I am a member of The Romance Writers of America.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I was lucky enough to have two mentors who were seasoned authors to help me with the technical aspects of publishing. It can be very overwhelming if you don’t have guidance.

Other than that, follow your dream. we only go around once.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t let anyone tell you something is impossible.

What are you reading now?
The Raven by Sylvain Reynard

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will concentrate on writing the second book in the trilogy, and promoting the first book.

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?
East Of Eden

The Bible(both testaments)

Gabriel’s Inferno

Romeo & Juliet

Author Websites and Profiles
Effie Kammenou Amazon Profile

Effie Kammenou’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 a total of 2 books, though only one is published at the moment. The other one will be out March of 2016

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is, “Musings of a Madman”. I was diagnosed with a mental illness in 2013 and was recommended that I start writing poetry for therapy purposes. I named my book, “Musings of a Madman” for that reason.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in the wee hours of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Laurel K. Hamilton, Anne Rice, J.K. Rowlng, Edgar Allan Poe

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my second poetry book, “One Artist, One Poet”, which is a collaboration between my poetry and the art of a friend of mine. I’m also working on a non-fiction politics book and a vampire novella.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
facebook, honestly.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Connect with as many people as you can on social media and sell yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write with your heart and soul.

What are you reading now?
Laurel K. Hamilton- Cerulean Sins

What’s next for you as a writer?
Publishing my second and third books.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Only one book needed, The complete works of Edgar Allan Poe

Author Websites and Profiles
Adam Brown Website
Adam Brown Amazon Profile

Adam Brown’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My sister Loretta and I have written over 40 books together! Most of them are in the mystery genre. We are the authors of the Jeff McQuede High Country Mystery Series (Murder in Black and White, Whispers of the Stones, and Stealer of Horses). We have also written the the Ardis Cole Mystery Series (The Curse of Senmut, Unmarked Grave, and The Crimson Masquerade). These are archaeological mysteries set in exotic locations around the world. We also have several single title suspense books and short story collections.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Our latest book is Crying Woman Bridge. Right now, it is part of the Kindle Scout competition. We feel it is one of our strongest books to date. It was inspired by legends we have read such as La Llorona and tales of haunted bridges. In this story, set in Wyoming, the sheriff and his friend come across a weeping woman who may have thrown her baby over the bridge in a fit of despair. The woman, however, claims the baby was taken by a phantom she calls Mirabella, who is part of the local legend.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Neither of us can write without coffee! We do most of our writing in the morning. Not early morning–but after we’ve both had several cups to get us thinking straight.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
We have both read many of the classics and we enjoy Somerset Maugham, John Steinbeck, and many others. As for more modern-day writers, Tony Hillerman was a big influence on both of us.

We also enjoy books by Margaret Coel, Ruth Rendell, Craig Johnson, C. J. Box and many other mystery writers. Since one of our series is set in the west, we especially enjoy series from this part of the United States.

What are you working on now?
We are working on a new Jeff McQuede mystery. We’re only three chapters in so we haven’t titled it yet. We are also editing as new Ardis Cole title Killer of Eagles for publication in the fall. So we are keeping pretty busy!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We have an active Twitter account. We also have an author’s page on Facebook, several blogs, and an author’s website. We also ike Goodreads, Awesomegang, and Bookgoodies.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the book that is in your heart. Don’t try to follow the trends. But if it’s in your heart to write a book, then you will find readers, for what interests you personally will also interest them. Readers can always tell whether or not a writer was behind a book a hundred percent. On motto we have is don’t think about publishing and marketing while writing the book. Don’t think about writing while marketing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Virginia Coffman gave us some good advice starting out. She said don’t just write one book. Keep on writing so that you have a backlist. Another good bit of advice we got from an agent was to make every chapter and scene fit the book in some way, if it’s extra baggage either make it work or throw it out.

What are you reading now?
Loretta is reading Ancient Blood by R. Allen Chappell, which is set on the Navajo reservation, and

I am reading a thriller called Follow You Home by Mark Edwards.

What’s next for you as a writer?
We’re going to keep writing series and also have some single titles planned. There are so many ideas that would make good books. We keep a file of them.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible, War and Peace, and The Complete Works of Henry James. That would give us enough reading material until we were rescued. If possible, we’d tuck in a little Tony Hillerman and Ruth Rendell for entertainment, as well.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vickie Britton Website
Vickie Britton Amazon Profile
Vickie Britton Author Profile on Smashwords

Vickie Britton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“Books” would be a bit misleading in my case. I’ve published four books of fiction (novelettes), one graphic novel, about 30 short stories (in magazines around the world), a couple of textbooks, a dozen academic papers, and I’ve worked on around 30 published video games in one capacity or another. I also wrote the script for a movie which is currently in pre-production.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I recently launched The Elephant and Macaw Banner novelettes, a series which has been making waves around the world. The first story in the series was a finalist for the Nebula Award and winner of the Realms of Fantasy Award in 2011.

I moved from the U.S. to Brazil in 2001, and became very interested in the history and culture here. This series is based on sixteenth-century Brazil and mixes folkloric creatures as a fantastic element. It was inspired by stories of adventurers who visited the country at that time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing unusual, although my research is sometimes a bit extreme. I have over 200 books on Brazilian history and folklore that I refer to while writing The Elephant and Macaw Banner stories.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Fritz Leiber, Kurt Vonnegut, Jorge Luis Borges, John Kennedy Toole, Arthur Conan Doyle, James Clavell, Alexandre Dumas

What are you working on now?
Here in Brazil, The Elephant and Macaw Banner stories are doing extremely well, so I’ve had the opportunity to work on several spin-off products in partnership with Devir Livraria, a comic book and gaming company. A graphic novel came out last year, and this year we’ll be launching a board game. I’m currently writing a pen-and-paper RPG for 2016 and working with a production company on a pitch for an animated series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Go to events, meet people, get on panels, have fun.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot. Write a lot. Publish a lot. I’ve been publishing for ten years, and it’s taken me that long to really develop my style and gather a following. These days, I teach 20 hours at a university and spend the rest of my time writing, and earn about the same between the two.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Have patience. I’ve never found any shortcuts. The “overnight success” stories almost always take about ten years of hard work to get there.

What are you reading now?
Two books in Portuguese: “Go” by Nick Farewell and a scriptwriting book by Doc Comparato. Both are excellent.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep learning and keep writing. I hope to get some children’s picture books out next year, and the first book in a YA series based on one of my published short stories, but for the moment, I need to wrap up the projects I have going.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Shogun by James Clavell

Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Wilderness Survival – I used to be a boy scout and later an avid backpacker, and this book came in handy many times. It would be useful on a desert island, right? 🙂

Author Websites and Profiles
Christopher Kastensmidt Website
Christopher Kastensmidt Amazon Profile

Christopher Kastensmidt’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m in grad school, I work at my alma mater, I have a dog named Rebel, I have a cat named Mr. Creepy and I live in the mountains. I’ve written several books and have four published on Amazon. Two are with my publisher Beau Coup and two are self-published. I also have horror shorts up on Amazon and other platforms.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a novella called The Shift, it is going to be coming out in September in an anthology called Shifted with ten other amazing authors. I watch a lot of police type shows, think NCIS and The Killing, so I thought it would be fun to write a police type story with shifters and humors. It’s been a lot of fun to write.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write a lot of different things at once, and I get most of my ideas in the shower.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Heinlein is a huge influence on me. I love science fiction and I am finally venturing into writing it myself with my series Spacetress.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the Prequel to Julie’s Ascent called The Reluctant Succubus and The Shift for the anthology.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook has been the best way to promo, just interacting with people.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you want, it’s the only way to do what you love and say what you want to say.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write for anyone else but yourself.

What are you reading now?
Eve The Awakening by Jenna Moreci

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just keep going, it’s all I can do.

Author Websites and Profiles
Emily Walker Website
Emily Walker Amazon Profile

Emily Walker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After attending the Rhode Island School of Design and Art Center College of Design, Mary Ogle emerged with a solid grounding in the traditional techniques of oil painting. Not satisfied with the inherent limitations of brush and canvas, she stumbled upon the fascinating world of computer graphics. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book layout and cover design, event posters and magazine illustration. Mary’s love for writing is more recent but no less heart-felt. She is the author of “Orangeroof Zoo” a story based in fantasy / magical realism combined with intricately drawn coloring book pages. Her tv show reviews and articles on geek culture can be found at esopodcast.com and whataculture.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Orangeroof Zoo is a hybrid fantasy. That’s my made-up term for an adult coloring book that is also a fantasy story. I was looking for information about self publishing and read an article about how popular adult coloring books were. Which surprised me but when I thought about it for a while it made sense. Coloring is the best part of making art at least for me. It’s soothing and liberating and puts you into a whole other headspace. I liked the collaborative aspect of other people taking my drawings and creating something else from them. I did the illustrations first but the story was born as I worked on the pictures. These two characters came to life and started talking to each other. So I wrote down what they said.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I have writer’s block I take a walk. For some reason just getting out of the house and changing my environment gives me the freedom to think past the barriers. I sometimes go sit in the local cemetery. It’s a good walk to get there and I like steeping in the history of the old stones and making up stories in my head about the lives people may have led.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Octavia Butler and Alice Walker are two of my heroines. I know that my love of complicated characters comes from the many hours I spent mesmerized by their novels. Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five introduced me to non-linear story telling. Lewis Carroll gave me my love for the absurd. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale showed me how important world building is.

What are you working on now?
I’m always working on many things – podcasts, web and merchandise designs, book design and covers, fine art and illustrations for various projects. I’m in the planning stages for the sequel to Orangeroof Zoo. I recently wrote my first flash fiction (about 300 words) which turned out to be a valuable exercise in cutting out everything in a story that isn’t absolutely necessary. There is a character in my head right now who is begging to be born. He will probably end up in a short story I’m submitting to an anthology but I’m still working out the details of his life at the moment.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve had some success with posting on social media and with press releases. I tailor the release to the specific outlet I’m pursuing. I approach media that I have some kind of connection with – college alumni magazine, local weekly and daily papers, or anything that ties in with the subject of my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. Perseverance is key. Everything else can be learned but only by doing. And then doing again and again.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Make good art. – Neil Gaiman

What are you reading now?
Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have several short stories in the works. My next book will most likely be the sequel to Orangeroof Zoo. I keep my mind and options open in case any new opportunities arise.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle

Neverwhere – Neil Gaiman

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis

Alice Through the Looking Glass – Lewis Carroll

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Ogle Website
Mary Ogle Amazon Profile

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Munmun Gupta is presently working as an English Language Lecturer in Binus International University in Indonesia. She has also worked as a Kindergarten Teacher in India and Indonesia. She holds a Master’s Degree in English Literature and has always been fascinated by the world of Literature.

She loves to write and deliberately tries to encourage young readers through her work. Her books ‘More Carrots for me’ and ‘The Mighty Banana’ were loved by both mothers and children as they beautifully describe the benefits of eating healthy foods.Her current book ‘The Boy who loved his Caterpillar ‘makes for an excellent read .When not writing, she spends a lot of time running after her boys Dev and Neil who inspire her to write . She continues to write more Picture Books and hopes to uplift and bring smiles to her readers through her joyful stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Boy who loved his Caterpillar is a true story and my elder son was the inspiration behind it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I would call myself an impulse writer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dr.Seuss is my hero.

What are you working on now?
I have just published The Boy who loved his Caterpillar.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook and Twitter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Follow your writing impulse.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can always forgive yourself for mistakes you make,but you can’t ever work through things you wish you had done and you didn’t.

What are you reading now?
The Boys in the Boat-by Daniel James

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books for children.

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?
What Pet should I get- Dr.Seuss
Blasphemy-Jhumpa Lahiri
The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini

Author Websites and Profiles
Munmun Gupta Amazon Profile
Munmun Gupta Author Profile on Smashwords

Munmun Gupta’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Derek Ailes and I am one half of the Ailes Brothers of Terror. I have written four horror anthologies: “Journey Into the Unknown: Deluxe Horror Edition” (with Mark Cusco Ailes), “Zombie Command: A Horror Anthology”, “Catfurnado, Zombies and One Killer Doll” (with Mark Cusco Ailes) and “Musings From A Demented Mind” (with James Coon). I am also a contributor for shortfictionbreak.com.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Musings From A Demented Mind will be released on September 7, 2015. It is a collection of horror and science fiction short stories written by James Coon and I. In March of this year my friend James Coon passed away leaving behind a stack of unpublished short stories. I finished several of the stories and also wrote several short stories based on the conversations I’ve had with him over the past fifteen years. Also included are several stories I wrote on little or no sleep along with all the stories I posted on shortfctionbreak.com since December 2014.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can sit and write 5,000 words or more a night and then go a couple of weeks without writing anything. When I do write, it is pure horror madness. I lay on my bed and write everything on my laptop. I haven’t used a desk in a few years now.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I know it is cliche to mention his name, but reading Stephen King as a young child inspired me to be a horror writer. Like most authors, I love to read and I enjoy reading books that give me that “I can’t believe that just happened” experience.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on “The Day It Rained Candy” a young adult fantasy based on a short story I wrote thirty years ago in elementary school. Since it is its thirtieth anniversary, I thought it was time to write a novel out of it. I’m hoping to have it out by February or sooner.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I embrace all forms of advertising from Facebook, twitter and book promoting sites. If the website is going to bring me readers, then I’ll use it. If there is something another author suggest doing to promote my work, then I will give it a try. Public appearances at horror conventions and bookfairs also are great for promoting my work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write and don’t publish until you get it right.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, write, write and don’t publish until you get it right. Also write what you are passionate about. If you are doing it just to become rich, then I suggest quitting and buying lottery tickets instead.

What are you reading now?
The After-Life Story of Pork Knuckles Malone by MP Johnson. He writes in the bizarro fiction genre. I met him a year ago at a horror convention and was impressed by how he described his work. I’ve been on a reading kick lately and have read multiple novels and his work in anthologies recently. I stopped by and visited him yesterday at the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention in Chicago yesterday.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Besides “The Day It Rained Candy”, I’m working on a Conan style fantasy novel “Beast Within” and Mark Cusco Ailes and I are working on a new horror project. 2016 is going to be a big year for us.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (I can barely lift the book)
Idiots Guide to Being Stranded on A Desert Island
Cattle Cult Kill! Kill! by MP Johnson
Under The Dome by Stephen King (I would finally have time to read it)

Author Websites and Profiles
Derek Ailes Website
Derek Ailes Amazon Profile

Derek Ailes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always loved writing and perhaps that comes from having an over active imagination. My first attempt at fiction was introducing a trilogy entitled, A Life Awakening. The first book under that title was Whispers From Within, which came out in August of 2014. The second book in the Ethan Elliot series, was entitled Moving On From Memories Past. I just released the last book in the series which is entitled, Living My Life On My Terms.

I’m currently completing a psychological thriller that takes place during the Great Depression and is brought into our current time period though a series of events that the reader will never see coming.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Living My Life On My Terms was inspired by a close friend’s struggle in recognizing and then accepting the fact that he is bisexual. I developed the character of Ethan Elliot to portray the obstacles one meets in learning to deal with such life situations, and having to make difficult decisions that will affect the rest of his life.

In the first book, Whispers From Within (12,380 words), Ethan is devastated over the breakup with a girl friend, Jennifer. Ethan’s spirit guide, William, tells the story in the fist book. William coaxes Ethan to change the scenery and leave his home in New York to take a job as a waiter in San Antonio, where Ethan meets new friends, and gains new insights. In the second book, Moving On from Memories Past (38,376 words), Ethan begins telling his own story in first person, and goes into his entire two-year relationship with Jennifer, trying to understand what went wrong. The third book, Living My Life on My Terms (136,736 words), begins at a turning point in Ethan’s life, when he is offered a job as a photographer for a new travel magazine being launched by his best friend, Mark, back in New York. Of course he takes the job, and the two friends set off on journeys to distant parts of the world, gathering stories and photos for the new magazine. Meanwhile, Ethan begins investigating the possibility that souls choose the lives they want to live before entering this world, and learns that one can find true happiness only when he follows the path his own soul has chosen. Ethan’s ego often has led him down a wrong path, but William is always present, speaking to him in quiet times and in dreams, nudging him back onto the path of true happiness. In the end, both Ethan and Mark begin to understand that their lives were meant to be lived together.

This trilogy, my first attempt at fiction, was written to offer a new perspective to people who are confused and striving to find happiness rather than molding themselves to the whims of society. I hope they will be inspired to ignore the opinions of others, and to listen to that still small voice inside us all, that knows the correct path our souls have chosen that will bring each of us true happiness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The only one that comes to mind is writing a maximum of 5,000 words per day and I usually do my best thinking at night. I then spend the following day going over what was written the day before and make any changes that I feel will enhance the story line.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Far too many to name, but have always enjoyed reading John Grisham, Steven King as well as many authors of poetry.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently completing a psychological thriller that takes place during the Great Depression in the deep south during 1933. After a series of murders a young girl and her mother are thrown into a whirlwind after a local man they know is murdered. The story then advances to the current year 2015 where a psychiatrist tries aiding a patient who has developed a fear of singing and after a series of past life regressions, comes to understand just how interconnected our lives really are.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
sites like Awesomegang are excellent outlets, but there are also other options to explore. One such option is finding an agent and the second is working with a great P.R. firm that will create a killer press release for you. You can have the best product in the world, but if they don’t know about it, it simply doesn’t sell.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep at it. If you are as passionate about writing, be prepared for failure even though you believe your story is great. Never take no for an answer and keep writing until you find the right combination of promotional tools that work best for you. Above all, you’ll need a good professional editor working with you.

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

What are you reading now?
The only thing I’m concentrating on at the moment is completing the psychological thriller I’m currently working on.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After completing a current story I have half finished, I will be working on a book of poetry.

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 guess if I were stranded on a desert island, I might want to have a copy of How To Survive In The Wild by John Weisman.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ryan Stevenson Website
Ryan Stevenson Author Profile on Smashwords

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a trilingual author. I have published 9 books so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is ” An Encounter with Yeshua”. It is the true story of my Salvation that happened a year ago. Yeshua Himself inspired this book. He directed it from the beginning to the end.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually like having a coffee to be sitting in a Cafe that must be silent enough for inspiration. I have done that in London where I used to write in the wine cellar of a Cafe named Le Parc Delicatessen and I am still doing the same at a coffee and tea shop named Coffea in Paris. I need to sit close to people, but the place has to be clear of heavy noise, otherwise it kills my inspiration.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Marcel Pagnol is one French author who inspired me a lot. Balzac as well. I love German poets such as Friedrich Schiller and Goethe.

What are you working on now?
For the moment I am keeping my future projects secret. I will let you know in time.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do use all social media. Ask David.com is a nice place that offers free promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourselves. Keep writing. Never ever give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One becomes a writer by writing.

What are you reading now?
I am writing more than I am reading. I am not reading at the moment, I am too busy with book marketing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to become a full time writer.

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 Tanakh ( hebraic Ancient Testament), the Bible and Mika Waltari, The Secrets of the Kingdom (loved it)

Author Websites and Profiles
Isabelle Esling Website
Isabelle Esling Amazon Profile

Isabelle Esling’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, and thanks for having me!

One of my first memories is of sitting with a book in my hand and discovering I could read it by myself. It was Hop on Pop from Dr. Seuss (I’m still a fan of all things Seuss!) and I quickly progressed from the I Can Read books to vintage children’s books I found wandering the stacks of large used bookstores my parents took me to. Honey Bunch and norman, The Happy Hollisters and The Bobbsey Twins were quickly followed by Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Dana Girls, and Cherry Ames.

Then one day as I was browsing the stacks, I discovered The Phantom Tollbooth. That led me to a lifelong love of genre fiction as I began to explore further afield. Then one day a teacher spent the year reading from The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. The entire class was enthralled and we began to make up scenarios as to what we thought would happen next, so she sat us down in class one day with something that changed my life. She told us to write our own story.

Wow! Kids could grow up to be real writers too! This was a huge revelation to my child self. Thirty years later, here I am. I’ve been a translator, an editor, a short story author, and now, a novelist. Under my Leona Windwalker pen name, I currently have two novels and a short story in The New Beginnings Series, a free short for the Goodreads MMRomance Group’s Love is an Open Road event, a short story in a charity anthology, and have three works in progress. My muse is relentless, I tell you.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest completed book is Ben’s Beginning, book 2 of the New Beginnings Series. I was inspired by the idea of redemption. In Book 1, Sol’s Solstice, Ben’s thoughtlessness led to dire consequences for his twin brother Sol. Readers hated him with a passion for what happened to Sol, even though he too suffered and eventually acted at great personal risk to save his brother and himself. Sol didn’t blame Ben though. Well, not entirely.

Ben blamed himself though, as much as the readers did, and I wanted to focus on how guilt can drive a person. Ben works hard to redeem himself, and I’m happy that fans not only forgave him, but fell in love with him as much as they have his brother Sol. I’m a sucker for happy ever afters, so Ben’s redemption kept me up late at nights until I had it all down. Until it was all written out, it hadn’t happened, and my characters feel quite real to me as I write them.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do playlists for each book and listen as I type away. the music actually spurs me on and I hear the Muse more loudly. For example, with my next upcoming book, the words simply refused to flow without Petula Clark and Motown hits from the ’60’s playing in the background. I also go through food phases. With Sol’s Solstice, I had to have sour dummies, raisins, salted peanuts to munch as I wrote, along with marshmallow mochacinos. With Ben, it was sesame seed bagels, Oreos, and hot milky Caro to drink.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wow. That’s a LOOOOOOOONG list. I’d have to say my biggest influences would have to be Mary Calmes, Andrew Grey, Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert Heinlein, Anne Rice, and Anne McCaffery.

What are you working on now?
I’m on the home stretch of finishing up a romance featuring humans shifters, fae, and vampires. It’s been a lot of fun to write. It’s also been one of the hardest as the words came in fits and starts. I’m also working on a sci fi. It’s pure space opera with a romantic subplot.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s tough. I’ve tried blog tours and those do fairly well, but to really do well, I’ve found nothing beats connecting with readers on a more personal level as a fellow reader. Being unafraid to talk about books I’ve loved and not hesitating to recommend the works of other authors I think they might like has actually led to readers checking my own work out. In return, I’ve not only gained new readers and social media followers, but gained recommendations in turn for books that would have otherwise flown under my radar. I think it’s a win/win.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research. Make sure you have your facts right, whether it’s current law or local customs, nothing is a substitute for quality research. But don’t let yourself get bogged down in it though. Above all, stop thinking about writing your story- you need to sit down and actually do it. Don’t worry about wether it is any good or not. Get your story written, then off to a few reputable beta readers. Don’t use friends or family for this as you need a completely biased eye. Do your revisions, then get it edited. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on using professionals for editing and cover design. Nothing sinks a book worse than poor editing and an awful cover, though a poorly written blurb comes a close third.

Also, don’t wait to engage readers, putting efforts of self promotion off until the book is published. nice you’re in the final third of your rough draft, start networking. Review blogs book promo up to month in advance, so have your cover and blurb ready before release and don’t be afraid to use a blog tour organiser.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The way to sell even more books is to write more books. It’s very, very true. With each release, I sold more as readers not only bought my newest release, or borrowed it on KU, but also my backlist. So, write, write, and write some more.

What are you reading now?
Against the Grain, Charlie Cochet’s fifth book in her THIRDS series. I’m a huge fan!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve got plans for another sci fi romance, a young adult contemporary novel, and the third book in the New Beginnings series. I’ve already got readers asking me for that one, so I best get my skates 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?
Nooooo! I can’t possibly choose only three or four! I’m afraid I’d have to go all professor and build a coconut radio to effect a rescue for myself, or build one of those boats like the ancient Polynesians sailed used to sail from Tahiti to Hawaii. I’d no doubt end up lost at sea. It’s not as horrible a prospect though as only having three or four books ever!

Author Websites and Profiles
Leona Windwalker Website
Leona Windwalker Amazon Profile

Leona Windwalker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m BUSY! haha. Being a mom, wife, student, photographer and author keeps my schedule extremely full. I have written two novels. Both are apart of The Sapphire Star Saga. I am also working on a continuous story called Unity Commanded, on Wattpad.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Thy Daughter’s Enemies is currently available for FREE at most major ebook retailers. I am currently finishing up the second novel in The Sapphire Star Saga. Gilded Moon will be released on October 1st, 2015 and is currently available for pre-order at a special price.

I started Thy Daughter’s Enemies when I was sixteen. I liked the idea of creating strong female characters that I could relate to. The story changed and evolved over the years of course, but I would still like to think I created strong female character that young girls can relate to. Although the series is set in a fictional world, I believe that the character’s thoughts and emotions are transferable to everyday life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Haha I wouldn’t say unusual. I am the mother of two special needs children. They require a tremendous amount of time and care. So I don’t have set times or places that I write. Whenever and wherever I have a few moments to set down my computer, is when I get my time in. Occasionally I will have a whole day to myself. On those days I spend the majority of my time writing. I don’t really have a process either. There are pages and pages of handwritten backstory and character development strewn about my house. You could say i’m a tad unorganized ha. Creating a solid outline before starting a new project, to reference and ensure I am achieving the flow I originally envisioned, is about the only habit I stick to pretty regularly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This question, along with who is your favorite author or what is your favorite book, are my least favorite questions to answer. I have been an avid reader since a very young age. My reading list varies, much like my music playlist, depending on my mood. I gravitate toward fantasy novels, but I will read ANYTHING! I enjoy everything from biographies to classics to thrillers. And anything in between.

What are you working on now?
I am putting the final touches on Gilded Moon, then I will get to work right away on the third book in the series. Also I update Unity Commanded on Wattpad, with a new chapter each week.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Oh gosh, I have to admit I am horrible at marketing. I have had some good success with a few paid and unpaid sites. I feel like marketing is something you are either really great or really bad at. I try. And i’m getting there, but I hate being pushy. Even if I know someone will enjoy my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be Patient! Success as an author doesn’t happen over night. There are very few exceptions, people who have had break out books that sky rocket up the charts. But they really are exceptions. It can take months, years even, to really start seeing results. Just keep at it and have faith in your work!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let it go, Let it go! Haha. No, really. Before Disney ever coined the phrase, I heard it from someone close to me. Holding on to things that you have no control over, or that don’t really matter at the end of the day, can be toxic. To you and the people around you. Finding a way to communicate effectively, forgive someone and move past the issue will make you a more positive and happier person.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Witch Song by Amber Argyle. I found it incredibly unique and entertaining. I read it almost entirely in one sitting.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep promoting the books currently available in my series and writing new ones. It is my plan, if my characters cooperate, to complete the series with five books. I have several ideas for novels after The Sapphire Star Saga ends. But for now I am enjoying every moment!

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?
Hmmm. Ideally I would have something titled How To Escape A Deserted Island, or How to Survive Being Stranded on a Deserted Island. But for the sake of the question, I would have to say The Stand by Stephen King, Little Women by Louisa M Alcott, To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. Each of these books I can/have read over and over.

Author Websites and Profiles
A.L. Meinhold Website
A.L. Meinhold Author Profile on Smashwords

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
‘Margot krijgt onverwacht bezoek’ (dutch, my mothertongue) and the french translation ‘Margot reçoit une visite inattendue’ was my very first book.
So first of all I want to appologize my english is not correct. But I hope you can understand me.

I was a documentair, journalist, social photographer, but once arrived in Quebec (in 2008), where I spent 4 a 5 months a year Nature there is so beautiful that my focus came on nature photograhie.

We had many cute animals in the back yard, and for easy speaking I had given them all a first name:
Margot is the groundhog, who I saw wake up every springfor the last 8 years.
Eufrazie is a small American Red Squirrel. Small but brave, I saw one day how she, on her own, ove away four large crows from her garden (yes for her our garden really is “her” garden).
Philomene, a Grey Squirrel, is the lady of rank, who like walking as in Victorian times, with her tail umbrella in rain and sun, she is sure of royal blood.
Germaine is a black Gray Squirrel. She is the heroine of the working class, she is strong and determined.
And finally we have Fiston, the chipmunk, or ‘suisse’ as they say in Quebec.

During all these years I observed and photographed them for hours and hours, week after week.
And then about three years ago I saw Margot the groundhog waking up again after her wintersleep. Somehow she made clear to me that she wanted to be the main character in my first photo book. It would be a children’s book, edited with photos and an imaginary story about the journey of Lowieske and Marie to Quebec. About the friendship between a solitary woodchuck and two girls.

The book was born after many trials and errors, step by step. Fortunately I had good proofreaders and test readers who did not spare me their criticism. The original story was too confusing. I unraveled it in two parts. One is a children’s story of two little girls who become friends with a groundhog. The other is maybe for a bit elder children and will be a book with all the possible facts to know about the groundhog. The original tittle (dutch) is ‘Het Grote Weetjesboek over de bosmarmot’ and in French translation is it ‘Les Petits Savoirs sur la marmotte commune’. These will be published as ebook on September 14.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Het Grote Weetjesboek over de bosmarmot’ and in French translation is it ‘Les Petits Savoirs sur la marmotte commune’. These will be published as ebook on September 14.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I have made this book on a extra-ordinary way. As a photographer, I started with selecting my photos, watching them, living them… and then page by page, image by image, the girls (who are my gotchild’s daughters) inspired on the road.
So as normaly a writer start writing and then adding grafics, I started with the photos and the grafics came together with the story words, page by page…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The absolute start of my book is the books of Rien Poortvliet ‘leven en werken van de KABOUTER’. His fantasy made me dream…

What are you working on now?
Now I’m still working of the second book, the ‘WEETJESBOEK’.
When this book also will be published in dutch and french, I hope to work on the english translation.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use facebook and twitter. For the first book I have sent many emails to all my friends and contacts.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am just new myself. The advice I can give is : don’t give up ! Use difficulties and critics to get better, keep going…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advise for me on this book was when an 11 year old child told me after reading the original book: well it is a bit double, one part, whith the girls, that is more for children who are younger than me. But another part, about all the facts, about all you can know about a groundhog, well that interest me, but I’m sure it will interest my sister (who is 2 years older) also… She made on a simple way clear I had to unravel the book in two different books. A fiction (for younger children), and a non fiction for a bit older, till 99+

What are you reading now?
Now I am reading Griet Op De Beeck ‘Vele hemels boven de zevende’

What’s next for you as a writer?
the english translation…

And something is borreling on trees…
but also so many birds and animals in the Quebec backyard…

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) Leven en werken van de kabouter by Rien Poortvliet
2) de boekendief by Markus Zuzak
3) het geheim van de vreugde by Alice Walker
4) Zami by Audre Lorde

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