Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Since I was young I’ve always wanted to write. Somehow, I ended up fixing trucks in the middle of the Australian desert instead. From there I switched to my current career as a marine engineer. This obviously requires spending extended periods away from home and that’s where I began to follow my dream. During the weeks away I studied creative writing and completed several distance learning courses. My novel was started during one of these courses. So far, it is the only one I have completed. I’m hoping I won’t be able to say that by the end of this month.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘King of the Mekong’ was written after a trip to Vietnam in 2011. Over the years I’ve spent quite a lot of time studying the Vietnam War and while there I visited a few places of historical significance. I never got to go on any chopper rides into the jungle but that’s where the story was born. As soon as I returned home and went back to work, that was how I spent my nights. Back in Vietnam but this time via a keyboard.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of. I do seem to be distracted easily and find it best if I can work in silence. With no internet connection. If I’m stuck for any reason I’ll throw in a random drama, just to see where the story goes. I’m unsure whether or not others have used this technique but I find it works well. Usually a lot of editing follows but at least things are moving again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Matthew Reilly, Clive Cussler and Andy McDermott are my favourites with Tony Park closing in fast. I love action, adventure and a cracking pace. Every time I head away to work, I get a new book to read on the flight. A few years ago I bought Andy McDermott’s ‘The Secret Of Excalibur’ and read the entire novel in two sittings. As soon as I put it down, I started writing ‘King of the Mekong’. I have no idea why as the two are entirely different. I think it was the fast pace and excitement that left me hungry for more. I didn’t own a Kindle then and had no other books, so I wrote my own.

What are you working on now?
I have two projects at the moment. One is just an outline and won’t be getting touched for a while. I had an idea and didn’t want to lose it so I spent a few days putting the basics on paper. It will require a lot more research and I’d already started writing my other project. This one will be a trilogy with book one nearing completion. I hope to write and release all three over the next eighteen months. Then I’ll go back to my outline!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning in that area but there’s a lot of information out there and it’s hard to know where to start. I think Goodreads could work well. I have a website which I’m trying to rank for certain keywords plus the Facebook & Twitter thing. And obviously awesomegang.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t stop writing. After my first book was finished, I stopped writing. I really, really wish I hadn’t. I would’ve had my entire next series finished by now but I was so nervous that nobody would like my book that I just stopped writing. Only two weeks after the release, I had my first review and it was five stars. Since then I’ve had a few more five star reviews and it’s given me back the confidence I had no reason to lose in the first place. It is a scary experience at first but very rewarding. Be proud of your work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. Turn off your internal editor and just get it out and onto paper. You can edit later, it’s only a rough draft. I lost count of my rewrites. When you think you’ve finished, get a professional editor. I thought my manuscript was ready but thankfully I listened and hired an editor. It wasn’t ready at all.

What are you reading now?
‘The Camelot Code’ by Sam Christer on paperback and ‘New Order Apocalypse’ by R. Mac Wheeler on Kindle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Completing my series is the next major for me. I’ve had it mapped out in my head for years and it will be great to see it all come together on paper. After that, there are many more ideas floating around. I’m part way through an Editing & Proofreading course which I’d also like to get finished.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d take the latest release at the time from my top three favourite authors & a book on survival at sea…

Author Websites and Profiles
Damian Magnay Website
Damian Magnay Amazon Profile
Damian Magnay Author Profile on Smashwords

Damian Magnay’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I trained as a scientist, worked at Johnson Space Center in Houston. While studying the Moon, I found evidence that the speed of light is slowing down. I am also a stage actress and member of Screen Actors Guild. THE SPEED OF LIGHT is my first science book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE SPEED OF LIGHT started with the prediction that all things slow with time, even light. From there it turned into a book of light, starting with a baby’s eyes first opening and ending with our biggest discoveries about the size and shape of the universe.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing on holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving. The home is so peaceful when one doesn’t have to hurry to work. There is still plenty of time for family in the evening!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Science fiction writers who also mastered science, like Clarke or Asimov, were an early inspiration.

What are you working on now?
I have written many scripts and am presently turning my attention to plays.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My blog “GM=tc^3” is rated one of the Top 50 science blogs! http://riofriospacetime.blogspot.com. The crowdfunding campaign for THE SPEED OF light attracted many smart readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write write write!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t panic!

What are you reading now?
Barbara Tuchman’s “The Guns of August” about 1914 and the beginning of the First World War. Very timely!

What’s next for you as a writer?
An even more controversial science book, A HOLE IN THE 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?
Complete Works of Shakespeare, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, History of the World

Author Websites and Profiles
Louise Riofrio Website

 

Louise Riofrio’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m the author of over 35 published books (and a few more that will never be published.) I’ve written two series: Rocky Bluff P.D. mysteries set in a small beach community in Southern California, and the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries, written under the name Marilyn Meredith, set in the Southern Sierra. I’m married, have five grown children and many grand and great-grandkids. I’m also on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association, and belong to Mystery Writers of America and three chapters of Sisters in Crime.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series is Murder in the Worst Degree. A friend gave me the title and I was nearly finished with the book before I knew how the title was going to fit. In all the books in the series, my goal has been to show how what happens in the family affects the job (being a law enforcement officer) and how what happens on the job affects the family. Having family members in law enforcement as well as many friends who in some form of LE has given me many incentives to write in this genre.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get up really early and do all my writing in the early morning hours. And I’ll probably be drinking a cup of Chai latte. Though I do write notes about the book in progress, I don’t do a formal outline.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, so very many. I started out reading Nancy Drew when I was a kid and progressed to all the famous mystery writers from Robert Parker to Mary Higgins Clark. I’m still an avid mystery fan and always have a large TBR pile.

What are you working on now?
The next Rocky Bluff P.D. I’m just now gathering my notes, figuring out who will be a victim and the suspects, what other crimes the members of the RBPD will face, and what crises they will face in their private lives.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve probably tried everything, but I’m fond of blog tours. They are a lot of work, but I enjoy doing them. My website has a lot of information about me and all my books. http://fictionforyou.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read the kind of books that you want to write. Learn as much as you can about the craft of writing. Go to writers conferences. And if you can, join a critique group. Always have someone edit your work before you publish yourself or send your manuscript off to a publisher.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, write, write and don’t ever give up.

What are you reading now?
Trickster’s Point by William Kent Krueger.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on my next book, planning promotion both online and in-person.

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 and any really thick books I haven’t read yet. Probably the latest Stephen King. Or better yet, a loaded Kindle as long as there was a way to recharge it.

Author Websites and Profiles
F. M. Meredith Website
F. M. Meredith Amazon Profile

F. M. Meredith’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a management consultant gone writer and publisher 🙂
I found out i like to write, it helps me galvanize my ideas and work through them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book was – six secrets of powerful teams – it has a lot to do with Gestalt and NLP in teams and how to increase your impact to better lead and manage the team. I am a true believer of Gestalt therapy approach and have witnessed its blessings in many situations.
I noticed a lot of issues, challenges and problems business teams; this motivated me to capture my experiences and understandings from consulting engagements into a book. I did that to assist people who were struggling with the daily grind and being unable to see the big picture of what they’re doing. I received many thank yous from people who had read that thes book, saying that it literarily opened their eyes. For me that was the greatest feedback and sense of accomplishment.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really…wait a minute – do you mean that singing and dancing as i am writing is unusual 🙂

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of popular science books have influenced me. I have read ‘stumbling upon happiness’ by Daniel Gilbert 3 times…
Otherwise i read many different Genres and I guess have been influenced by all

What are you working on now?
A new book – naturally it is new 🙂
D – side
Complex decisions – a practical business guide
A humoristic practical approach to understanding why decisions are so difficult and what can be done about it

In this book I describe complex problems and how it impacts are decisions, yielding less then optimal results. These problems, on top of being difficult are actually unsolvable in a reasonable amount of time. Many times we take shortcuts to handle them. Often these shortcuts provide adequate results…other times they don’t.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
No one best, I use many. For sure the most impacting is keynoting and presenting at various conferences – the books are mostly easily sold before during and after

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write on what is close to your heart, on topics in the region of your field of expertise, on things that you care about, on issues that upset you and that you like to mend and correct. Make a plan, accept that the plan changes and usually does. It seems that there is not much to invent in many Genres, rather innovative and contemporary writing is all about being able to synthesize data in a distinctive approach and present information clearly and in a structured manner to your readers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

I just love this advise, and quote it in my book silent influencing.

What are you reading now?
All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior

I find myself rolling laughing and crying as well reading the situations of parenting described in the book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another book up ahead 🙂

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?
Really really long ones
One would be:
Sophie’s World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy
Another
The Sword of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks (that is only considered as one – doesn’t it?)
Last would be
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage – to keep me sane on the island and show how men endure

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Nir Website
Michael Nir Amazon Profile
Michael Nir Author Profile on Smashwords

Michael Nir’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired teacher. I taught AP English, world history, US government & politics and AP US government & politics in a Memphis high school. I was born in Indiana and raised in Illinois. I now live in Tennessee. I’ve written two books and am working on two more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Drop Dead Killers: A David Graham Thriller.” Before becoming a teacher, I worked for lawyers for over twenty years. Some are seriously obnoxious with limited people skills. When they made me really angry, I’d go home after work and write scenes killing them off. Eventually some of these scenes turned into the most recent book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure what you consider unusual. I sometimes write and outline at the same time. That helps if I get stuck on something and don’t know what comes next. I also let ideas float around in my head until I can start to see them like movies. Sometimes that causes a problem because when I start writing I forget the reader can’t see the movie in my head and I forget to add some of the details.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like authors like Lee Child, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Grisham and Michael Connelly. I started writing short stories in grade school, so I’m not sure exactly what influenced me. I think I get a little influence and inspiration from every book I read.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a sequel to Drop Dead Killers. I’m also working on a fantasy in which a teacher acquired the ability to make the students in her class behave themselves by using just a word or a light touch on the shoulder. I think a lot of teachers would like to have that ability. And it’s a fantasy because it’s never going to happen.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure. I’m still trying out different things.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Two things: First, read everything you can get your hands on and pay attention to how the other guy does it. Second, own it. Don’t be afraid to let people know you have a book. You spend a lot of time and effort writing the book. Be proud of it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, write and write some more. The more you write, the better you get at it. Write everyday.

What are you reading now?
I just finished “Never Go Back” by Lee Child. I love Jack Reacher. I’m reading “Mr. Mercedes” by Stephen King and “Among Friends” by Jim Sichko. I rarely read only one book at a time. I’m always reading two and sometimes three books at a time. Depends on what I’m in the mood for.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to generate enough sales for “Drop Dead Killers” to get some sort of following so the promotion won’t be so time consuming when the next David Graham is ready to be published. I want to finish the two books I’m working on and then maybe write a non-fiction book about education in this country. Our educational system is totally screwed up and the politicians are only making it worse.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s a hard one. I’d like to take them all. That’s the really great thing about Kindle — you can take them all. I think it would have to be “The Stand” by Stephen King and “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. Then maybe Tolstoy or Mark Twain. Or maybe a biography of one of the kings and Queens of England — probably Henry VIII.

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been a professional writer for 30 years and the editor of The MOON magazine since December 2012. “Animal Intelligence” is the second book of excerpts I’ve published from The MOON; the first was “Overcoming Death.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I saw photographs of Charlie Russell walking and fishing with wild grizzly companions and immediately wanted to interview him. I’ve studied shamanism with Native American elders and learned how much I needed to “unlearn” to free my mind and see the world as it really is. I thought it would be wonderful to go “one step closer to the Source and learn directly from wild animals, from nature. The intermediate step was to talk to people who learned directly from animals.

That was the initial inspiration—and then I rounded out the issue by identifying and contacting other people who’ve done remarkable work with animals: Toni Frohoff, who studies wild dolphins and whales; Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist whose work I love. And then, the great thing about editing The MOON is that I announce a topic and people from all over the world send me articles–essays, memoirs, short stories, and poetry–about it. It’s quite a wonderful education. So, for example, I received an essay from a lifelong aquarist about the surprising “intellectual” abilities of fish. And the memoir from Petra Keese, who communicates with animals.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess I’m unusual in that I’m not “driven” to write. I write and read every day–but it’s more

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A great many authors and books have influenced me over time. As a teenager, Herman Hesse and Kurt Vonnegut; as a young adult, spiritual and religious books–“Zen Dawn in the West”; Bo Lozoff’s “We’re All Doing Time” and his other titles, plus I went through a Hemingway period. I’ve always loved Barbara Kingsolver–“Animal Dreams” and “The Poisonwood Bible” are two of my favorites. I love books about people making a difference: “Mountains Beyond Mountains” about Paul Farmer; “My Path Leads to Tibet” by Sabriye Tenberken; Julia Butterfly Hill’s “The Legacy of Luna.” Other, more recent books I’ve loved include “Orange Is the New Black,” “The Glass Castle,” and “Shantaram.”

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a Kindle version of “The Wonder of Boys” and another called “Talk is Deep: Interviews from The MOON.” And of course, every month a new issue of The MOON comes out, so I’m always thinking about that.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I knew what websites and social media outlets generated the most traffic and sales. At present, I promote my books through as many free promotion sites as possible when they’re free, with the strategy being to drive them to the first page of an Amazon search for the keywords–and then to let organic search do the rest. I’m hugely grateful to sites like Awesome Gang for helping promote independent authors and publishers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read, live, and write as much as you can–not necessarily in that order! Allow time for yourself because creativity takes down time to germinate and blossom. But also try to discipline yourself to write–or at least, sit at your desk and think about writing!–every day. The Muse honors faithful lovers…those who show up consistently.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen to your conscience over all other voices.

What are you reading now?
“The Reinvention of Work,” “The Coming of the Cosmic Christ,” and “Occupy Spirituality,” all by Matthew Fox.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on a Kindle version of “The Wonder of Boys” and another called “Talk is Deep: Interviews from The MOON.”

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?
Bo Lozoff’s “We’re All Doing Time” (for sure!), “The Life of Pi,” “Shantaram,” and…something about wilderness survival!

Author Websites and Profiles
Leslee Goodman Website
Leslee Goodman Amazon Profile

Leslee Goodman’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a wife to the best husband in the world, and a mom of three children who somehow have become adults in just a few short years! I have been an avid reader for most of my life, and have written off and on for most of my life. I only began publishing my work in the past few years. I have written 12 books and am working on my next one now. My first book, God’s Peace Pact, has received several 5 star reviews. My second book, Tracks of my Father, is based on the stories my dad used to tell us about his childhood. The new one, Clayton Girls: Laura Ann, is my debut into romance/suspense. It is based in Southern United States, in 1955. I have also written nine condensed genealogy books, that resulted from a lifetime of genealogy research on my family.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Clayton Girls: Laura Ann is the name of my work in progress. It is the first one in a series of three. It was inspired by my own childhood, being the youngest of three daughters, and growing up in the Southern U.S. I wanted to write, not so much about my own childhood, but, growing up in the South, during a more innocent era.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so, but, my family might disagree!!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Laura Ingalls Wilder, she was one of the first authors that I read as a child. Janette Oke, Max Lucado, there are many more.

What are you working on now?
My debut into romance/suspense. Several stories are always playing in my chaotic mind, but, I try to just concentrate on one at a time.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t found the best one, yet. I use Facebook, and Christian Indie Authors there. They are a wonderful support group. I also use Twitter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Never let others discourage you. Follow your dream, even while being realistic. Mountains were never climbed, nor cities built, in one day. Just never give up!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To never be afraid to go around the next corner. If you stay where you are, you may miss the best part of your life.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading some friends’ new books. Catching up on my Kindle reads.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, within the next few months, all of my books will be available at a small N.E. Arkansas library. That may be small steps, but, it’s exciting for me!! Writing, and publishing my next 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?
The Bible, because I would sure be praying!!!!

Author Websites and Profiles
Wanda Austin Nelson Website
Wanda Austin Nelson Amazon Profile

Wanda Austin Nelson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Not sure if it was out of boredom growing up or the fact that I live in Stephen King country, but I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of storytelling. I often spent my days and nights immersed in someone else’s story and I grew up on watching daytime soap operas. I swear I was hooked on ANOTHER WORLD while I was still in the womb. I enjoyed my little escape each weekday to a different town, hanging out with different “friends”, and following everyone else’s drama. This helped me to forget about my own.
I have always wanted to right my own fictional “Bay City” and be the director of its citizen’s lives. Finally, after reaching the age of forty, I have decided to just do it and self-publish my own continuing novel series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
MILLIKEN MILLS: BATTLE LINES DRAWN is my latest novel and is the third installment of my MILLIKEN MILLS series set on the Maine coast. It centers around the powerful newspaper publishing family, The Nolans as they battle a dying newspaper industry as well as themselves.
I often refer to the series as my “DALLAS in a book”.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say I have unusual habits. I do tend to write in quick, ferocious sessions at times and then it can be months before I write another word. I think a lot of writers do that. I wish I were disciplined enough to write a certain number of pages each day. My “real job” requires me to look at a computer screen all day so usually the last thing I want to do in the evening is look at a computer screen even more.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It is hard not to be influenced by Stephen King when you grow up in the shadow of his hometown. I do enjoy John Saul and Harlan Coben. For my MILLIKEN MILLS series though, I was more inspired by television shows: MELROSE PLACE, DALLAS, and these days SCANDAL.

What are you working on now?
I am now working on a full-length horror novel set in Millinocket, Maine. I am hoping to have it self-published with a release in the fall. The book will be titled, THE LAST SUNRISE.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have used as many “free services” as I can with online sources to promote my books. I have a website, a Facebook Author’s page, and I even use Twitter though I have yet to get a lot of followers. As I am self-publishing it can be hard to get attention but one just needs to keep spreading the word about their works in as many places as they can.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I know it sounds cliche but the main thing is to write and have manuscripts ready. The goal and hope of every writer is to get “discovered” and the last thing that you want is for that to happen without any quality material ready to go when your chance is upon you. Keep writing, editing, and improving your work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in your own voice. Always write the story the way that you intend for it to be written. If you start changing your work to please others than you won’t be pleased with yourself at the end. This doesn’t mean to ignore all advice about sentence structure or pacing etc., but don’t change the heart of the story just to please someone else.

What are you reading now?
I have started reading Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. I know, I’m so late to the game! But I’ve never been one to read/watch the latest fad just because it IS a fad.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have started the hard process of looking for an agent but until then I will keep self-publishing, spreading the word online about my works. I hope to work on another installment or two of MILLIKEN MILLS to have out next year.

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?
Jack Kerouac’s ON THE ROAD not only because I enjoy the simplicity of the book but also because I would wish that I could be hitchhiking somewhere off of the island. I’m not a hot weather, beach person so something to take my mind off of that like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air or Dean Koontz’s Icebound. Hey, I’m from Maine!

Author Websites and Profiles
Bruce A. Fleming Website

Bruce A. Fleming’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, thanks for the chance to speak with you. I am a professional journalist, working as sports editor at “Bulgaria Today” daily newspaper. My first article was written in 2000. Until then the duties send me around the world to cover some of the most interesting sports events. I’ve got a chance to be at the last two Summer Olympics and to feel something very special there.

My first book “The white prisoner: Galabin Boevski’s secret story” was published in Bulgaria in December 2013. The English edition was released on Amazon as e-book and on CreateSpace as print on 30 May 2014.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The white prisoner: Galabin Boevski’s secret story” is a real life non fiction novel. The events in the book happened during the amazing life of the main character, who was Olympic, World and European weightlifting champion. He was considered as one of the best in the history of the sport, but in 2011 was sentenced for nice years in Brazil prison for cocaine traffic.

All of a sudden, one day in October 2013, Galabin Boevski landed in Sofia airport. Nobody knows how he was able to get out of the prison just two years after he was put in.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write at the evening after the end of my work. When the silence started to rule around me I’ve got a chance to enter into my book’s world. As my novel is non fiction the research was connected with a lot of interviews. So first i need to script down the interviews and then to organize how the book will look.

I may write for hours, but when my eyes start to hurt I stop.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Karl May and Emilio Salgari were my favorites when I was a kid. Then I found the world of fantasy authors like Raymond Feist, George Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay. From the crime genre Michael Connelly is the person who makes me feel great pleasure when reading. I am big fan of history books, because of my University specialty – Archaeology.

What are you working on now?
I am trying to do the best possible marketing for my book. For now it gives nice results, but I am learning a lot every day. For every indie author it’s very important to find the right way to introduce his book the the readers and always to respect them.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am spending a lot of my time updating the facebook page of the book (https://www.facebook.com/galabin.boevsky) with some nice stories and pictures. Recently I find as well twitter to be very nice way to show the audience your book. Goodreads is great place for finding some new friends and to receive any kind of help or advice as author or reader!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am new author as well, so my impressions are quite fresh. The most important thing is to follow their own style and not to become slaves of well written guide “How to become best-selling author”. Yeah, you may receive some hints, considering the writing, editing and marketing, but it’s up to you to do the best possible to prepare the next big hit in literature.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To consider myself publishing my book on English. The language is not my strong part. This was the reason that I used professional translator, English editor and a strong army of test readers.

What are you reading now?
Sergey Lukyanenko’s Night watch series. He is very good writer. I love the way he developed his ideas.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I started to make the research and pre-marketing of my next book. It will be a real life story for two of the most successful sportsmen in the world. Their careers changed in very interesting way after they clashed in Atlanta Olympics.

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?
For sure it will be books that I never read and they will be big ones. Probably the only one that I would take from those that were read will be Theodor Momsen’s Roman history. This is a peace of brilliance. It’s so reach, that you may build your very own world in such a desert island. Mika Waltari and his Sinuhe The Egyptian will also be in my list. Probably the other two will be the last John Grisham novel and the latest sports biography that is on the market.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ognian Georgiev Website
Ognian Georgiev Amazon Profile

Ognian Georgiev’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a coffeeholic and a cat-lover. I live in a fun and beautiful ocean-side town in Maine that is an endless provider of inspiration. I’m the author of three books. My first two (“Vox” and “Aequitas”) are from my horror/mystery/thriller series “The Monstrum Chronicles” and the third is an indie travel comedy titled “Night Time, Dotted Line”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My upcoming novel, “Memento Mori”, due out in December, is the third book in my Monstrum Chronicles series. This was a book that I had started writing about six years ago. The entire plot revolves around a mysterious house on the outskirts of the city and a room in its basement with no doors. All of the characters are propelled, for various reasons, to get into the room and the book follows their efforts and interactions to do so. I was inspired by many different things while writing it, most notably music. I listen to anything and everything, particularly lots of instrumental ambient, in order to fully immerse myself in the story. Other notable influences have been H.P. Lovecraft, Silent Hill, Mark Danielewski’s “House of Leaves”, and Jeff Lindsay’s “Dexter” series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When working on a scene, I’ll usually listen to the same song on repeat for a long time. While writing “Vox”, I listened to “Il Dolce Suono” for 11 hours straight one day (don’t judge me!). For one scene in “Memento Mori”, I listened to Gyorgy Ligeti’s “Requiem” for several hours at a time while writing it. It’s a very unsettling piece of music and it helped me really feel immersed in the scene and the terror that the character was feeling.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Michael Crichton is probably my biggest influence and my favorite author. I’d also count Richard Matheson, Anne Rice, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Anthony Bourdain, Joss Whedon, and Arthur Conan Doyle into that mix.

What are you working on now?
I’ve got a couple of books in play right now, namely the sequel to “Night Time, Dotted Line” which will hopefully be done by next summer. I’m also working on an apocalyptic thriller novel called “Cold Walls”, which is about an ex-cop dealing with a miscarriage who has to survive a catastrophe with the help of her ex-partner’s ghost. And to top it all off, I’ll begin work on Book 4 of the Monstrum Chronicles as well.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve personally found that my blog is one of the best places to post things. Twitter and Facebook can be helpful in certain situations but where my blog doesn’t have specific targeting and doesn’t limit who can see specific posts, it reaches a broader audience and has more of a chance of being seen.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing is cathartic. It’s something that is always there and something you can do no matter how turbulent things are in your life. Writing can be as much of an escape and a release as it can be work. It’s good to stay busy and have fun doing it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke.” -Joss Whedon

What are you reading now?
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy
The Call of Cthulu and Other Stories by H.P. Lovecraft
Monster of God by David Quammen

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m really working on broadening my events schedule. I’ve done a lot of readings and signings in my home state and I’d like to stretch that a little more. I have several out of state events this fall that I’m really looking forward to. I’m also keeping my mind open when it comes to new ways to market and write (in terms of style). I don’t ever want to stop learning from the successes of other 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?
Jaws by Peter Benchley
Demon In My View by Amelia Atwater Rhodes
Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter by Josh Gates
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Author Websites and Profiles
Katherine Silva Website
Katherine Silva Amazon Profile
Katherine Silva Author Profile on Smashwords

Katherine Silva’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 an author and illustrator. I have illustrated two children books’, Pick Me Pick Me and Monte’s Lost Colony. I have written two dark fantasy novels Wicked Tides and Wrathful Echoes.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My lastest book is called Wicked Tides. After reading and watching countless typical fantasy stories I decided to write something that brought fantasy to reality.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write a lot of gory actions scenes to bands like Backstreet Boys and One Direction.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Michael Crichton was my largest positive influence.

What are you working on now?
I am currently in the publishing process of the sequel to Wicked Tides entitled Wrathful Echoes

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s hasn’t been a single one. It takes everything you can find to promote your work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Finish that book you’re writing. Ideas are a dime a dozen, but a finished work is far more rare.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ideas are a dime a dozen. Everyone has ideas, so very few people actually bring them to life.

What are you reading now?
Plato’s The Republic

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan on beginning my next fictional novel in just a couple of weeks.

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?
Island survival guide books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sean Kinsley Website

 

Sean Kinsley’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since I was in second grade when my teacher called my parents in for a conference because the ghost story I’d written had her a little concerned. By the time I was fourteen years old I was reading every Stephen King book I could find in the public library. I was hooked – I knew I had to be a writer.

Since then I’ve had several stories published and I’ve had four screenplays optioned by producers in Hollywood, one of which is being considered for production at a major studio. I’ve written three books so far and one collection of short stories (Ancient Enemy, The Summoning, Descendants of Magic, and A Dark Collection: 12 Scary Stories). Ancient Enemy was a bestseller on Amazon/Kindle. I’m a member of the Horror Writers Association.

I grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida but after many travels and adventures I settled down in Tampa, Florida with my wonderful and supportive wife, my son, and a stray cat we adopted.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a collection of short stories (A Dark Collection: 12 Scary Stories). I’ve always loved short stories, short story collections, and anthologies. Short stories have always been a way for me to discover new writers. Some of the stories in my collection were published previously, but most are new.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if this is unusual, but I outline a lot. Also, (and I know this is contrary to most advice writers might hear) I don’t write every day. There are days when I just let my mind wander, maybe jotting down notes here and there. But then the days I do sit down to write, I can accomplish a lot. I don’t really have a set schedule and I don’t put pressure on myself in that way, but I still get a lot done.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors through the years:
Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Larry McMurtry, Michael Crichton, Louis L’Amour, Ann Rice, Lee Child, Robert McCammon, Sue Grafton, Michael Marshall, Preston and Child, Shirley Jackson, Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Dan Brown, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Nancy Kress, and too many more to name.

What are you working on now?
I’ve got two books coming out on Amazon/Kindle within the next few weeks.

Night Terrors is a supernatural thriller about a woman with psychic abilities being pursued by a serial killer with psychic powers of his own.

Ghost Town is a novella about six strangers who wake up in a ghost town where someone begins picking them off one by one, but they need to figure out the rules of the “game” if any of them are going to survive.

I’m also just beginning the first book in a post-apocalyptic series called Blackout.

I’m always working on several projects at a time in varying stages of completion.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promoting books is one of the toughest things I’ve had to do since becoming an author, and I’m still in the learning stages.

I’ve found that Twitter works well, especially services that will tweet your book to their followers during a promotion. I’ve also frequented websites (like this one) to get the word out.

One thing I haven’t done yet is build a website or start a blog, but I plan on getting to that very soon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
One of my biggest pieces of advice is: I don’t believe writers should put too much pressure on themselves to write every day. Sometimes it just doesn’t work, and you can do other things such as promoting, jotting down notes, daydreaming, outlining, editing and re-reading your work, designing covers, etc.

Don’t be afraid to just write out the whole first draft, even if it isn’t coming out exactly like you want it to. You can always go back and edit and change things, but you can’t do anything unless the first draft is written down.

On Kindle, I believe it’s important to have a great description of your book and a great title and cover. And with Kindle, you can always change these at any time if you don’t think they’re working.

Like Stephen King said, and I still think it’s the best advice ever (probably should’ve been at the top of this page), read a lot and write a lot.

And to go along with reading, I would advise reading as many books on selling and marketing your book on Amazon/Kindle as you can. I read three books before putting my first book on Kindle and they helped me a lot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
From Stephen King’s On Writing: Read a lot and write a lot.

What are you reading now?
Several books:

Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon (paperback)
Crossing the Darkness by William Massa (Kindle)
The Final Winter by Iain Rob Wright (Kindle)

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working with two producers on two different scripts right now.

As for the books: I’ve got Night Terrors and Ghost Town coming out very soon. I’m in the middle of a book called Devil’s Island. And I’m just beginning Blackout and The Superhuman Gene.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d bring a book called: How to get off a desert island.

Just kidding.

I guess I’d bring the only two fiction books I’ve read more than once: Christine by Stephen King and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mark Lukens Amazon Profile

Mark Lukens’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a rather shy author, not cherishing a spotlight. Unfortunately, to promote their books, authors must step out of the shadows. But it’s so nice in the shadows, allowing quiet to create.

About creating: I’m also a painter, which has taken a backseat to writing for almost 28 years. I miss it, but the color flow is in my stories’ word descriptions, I think.

I’ve researched on location every book I’ve written, and that would be close to 70 now, I think, plus some novellas and short stories, no telling how many of those. You can find my book list at http://caitlondon.blogspot.com/p/books.html and I’ve written in various romance subgenres for Dell, Avon, Berkley and Harlequin, so across the board. (Everything but sci-fi/fantasy.)

While my books are available through Avon and Harlequin sellers, I am now putting my backlist up in epub. Quite the learning journey, a hard one that takes a lot of time/energy from writing, but well worth it, I think.

I drive cross country NW and sometimes up into Canada almost every year and one of my back list is Delilah (going to retitle that one) as yet still not in epub. For that, I drove up B.C. Canada and researched the Mounties, which is the only book I know of it’s kind. Also, I researched historical billiards in The Wedding Gamble http://amzn.to/1psU026 Romantic suspense is my latest trend, and you’ll find humor in that style, too. So I have a few national awards, but mostly I’m enjoying myself. 🙂

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
!!The Basket Maker’s Wife. http://amzn.to/1hB8uIk

I believe in people and their connections, good or bad. I read Sarah Allen Addison’s Garden Spells and was hooked on a woman’s fiction of real life, blended with hopes and dreams, and maybe intuition? Garden Spells really had an impact on me, enough to layout a series concerning Baskets–if I ever get the second one written. I think I’m about 1/2 way thru, with a lot of editing to do on that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m pretty regimented, unless some big disaster which everyone has. I call those Novel Interruptus. Placing my backlist back into Kindle/Nook, and more soon has taken an immense amount of time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krents/Castle, Sarah Allen Addison, and many more. I am struck by the kindness and sharing spirit of all authors–very few are selfish or what may be termed as “users”. Very few.

What are you working on now?
I have another Basket Book half way done, a novella series of humor detective, a sweet novella series, and a eerie psychic series started. My books sometimes contain psychic/intuitive flavor and an Avon trilogy, The Aislings of psychic triplets did/does well. Best read in order: At The Edge (dismiss the sexy cover), A Stranger’s Touch, For Her Eyes Only.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
At this writing, I am switching from a formal website to a blog, because of the ease of maintenance. I do most of my graphic work, Internet promotion, FB, Twitter etc., and it all takes time. I hope you’ll visit my new look blog, http://caitlondon.blogspot.com and sign up for my free newsletter, which is all about me, me, me. Stuff like my photography, art work, sewing, crocheting, travel. That’s at: http://mad.ly/signups/105014/join

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Plenty. Just visit my blog, http://caitlondon.blogspot.com and look for the labels, Writers, Writerly Stuff, etc. As of this writing, I have one up about Character Conflict. I hope to put all of many articles into book form at some time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nora Roberts’ (and forgive me if the quote is not exact, pls) “I can fix a bad page. I can’t fix a blank one.”

What are you reading now?
I’m reading some friends’ new books. I’m behind on that. I read across the board, and listen to audio books, especially on long drives.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m continuing to write, but I did just buy a super easel I’ve always wanted. I want to finish that next Basket book, and indie publish some novellas, short stories, books that have waited.

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?
Probably the Bible. My 1890s Vikings Vol 1 & 2 non-fiction, both as I love history. And a How to Survive on a Desert Island book. 🙂

Author Websites and Profiles
Cait London Website
Cait London Amazon Profile
Cait London Author Profile on Smashwords

Cait London’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a long-term resident of Chicago who has worked predominantly in university administration. Given my English and Theatre background, I didn’t expect to be involved with building databases, handling accounts payable, debriefing former gang members, or registering students for music lessons.

I started writing novels when I was in my teens, and knew this was what I wanted to do as a career. Some of my favorite times in life have been those in which I could devote full-time to writing. It’s exhilarating, relaxing, fun, agonizing, and the best, best way to spend my day.

How many novels have I written? Well, should I include all the ones I wrote in my teens before I knew what I was doing?

I’ve published one novel, Dead Hungry, and I’ve written a play, A Careful Wish, which was first produced in 2008. I am currently working on a novel entitled Reston Peace.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Dead Hungry is the story of Ghouls in modern-day Chicago. Unlike undead zombies, Ghouls are humans with a predilection for flesh.

I developed the premise after reading Stephen King’s Danse Macabre, his nonfiction examination of the horror genre from the 1950s-1970s. In particular, his critique of Romero’s Night of the Living Dead reminded me how scary a movie it was.

Zombies are a particularly popular subgenre right now, and I thought there were plenty of good writers tackling the topic. Ghouls fall into a similar category — flesh-eating — but I was intrigued by the notion of these being non-supernatural beings. It seemed more horrific to consider what the world would be like if this subset of individuals began moving into the mainstream, and how society might adapt.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
After sketching an outline, I write the first draft in short bursts. Then, when I see what I have, I take my time fashioning the story arc that has emerged. Revising subsequent drafts takes time, because my brain digs down into the details, exploring the options, jettisoning the parts that don’t work, and building the bridges that might be missing from the first draft.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Victorian-era fiction: Dickens, Eliot, Melville. More contemporary authors: John Irving, Jane Smiley, Kazuo Ishiguro.

More recently, I’ve been discovering indie authors and loving their enthusiasm. I love unusual nonfiction and novels that cross genres or bend the rules.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on Reston Peace, which focuses on the disparity between real life and fictional entertainment.

Kenny Reston’s life is used as a case-study for a book on young men who were sexually abused. The book proves enough of a bestseller to garner the attention of a filmmaker, who wants to adapt Kenny’s story into a movie.

Kenny watches as his life is translated into entertainment. It forces him to reconsider how the abuse has far-ranging consequences throughout his life, and how he has worked hard to heal.

The novel is told from Kenny’s perspective, interspersed with excerpts from the case-study and the screenplay.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads. I’m exploring more sites like Awesome Gang for a way to connect with readers and other indie writers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a messy first draft (thanks, Anne Lamott). To the best of your ability, turn off your censor, and blunderbuss all the words you can onto the page.

From there, step back to see what you’ve got, and that’s when you can start writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust your process. Consider the expression, “Write What You Know.” It doesn’t mean you have to write autobiography. There are a lot of things we know — love, heartache, loss, stress. It’s the emotions that draw us into a story. The careers or environments of the characters is the framework, and that you can learn about through research.

What are you reading now?
The Best American Non-Required Reading — one of my all-time favorite series.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Requiem for a Paper Bag: Celebrities and Civilians Tell Stories of the Best Lost, Tossed, and Found Items from Around the World, edited by Davy Rothbart

What’s next for you as a writer?
More book promotion. My next novel will use Thoreau’s Walden as its starting point.

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?
Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve read it, and it always wakes me up.

The entire collection of The Best American Non-Required Reading, edited by Dave Eggers. There’s so much there to enjoy — varied and different.

Author Websites and Profiles
Louis Arata Website
Louis Arata Amazon Profile
Louis Arata Author Profile on Smashwords

Louis Arata’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in England with my husband, bunny, cat, and assorted houseguests, and I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. My nana taught me to do joined up writing when I was five or six, and I got very confused and thought tat all the words needed to be joined together as well. It wasn’t until I asked what I was supposed to do at the end of the line/page that I found out it was only the letters that were supposed to be joined up.
Since then I have written three published novels, and eight or nine short stories, some of which are free in ebook format. The short stories are all horror, and my novels are paranormal and science fiction.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Stars Are Falling.
I’ve always had a thing for the stars, even though I could never get my head around astronomy. And one night I had this image in my head of a little girl running away as the stars fell from the sky. I jotted it down, as I was in the middle of writing a different book at the time, and a couple of years ago I finished writing it. It’s now due out on July 3rd, and is my fist science fiction novel, though I had no idea when I first imagined it that it would be sci-fi.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write with my eyes closed or whilst I’m watching the TV. It’s a great party trick, and has lead to a couple of job offers, especially when I m sat staring at the TV, writing at the same time, and paying full attention to both actions.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
L.J Smith is one of the first authors I consciously remember reading. I adored her world of the supernatural and things that go bump in the night. From there I progressed to Anne Rice and J.R Ward, as well as Richard Laymon for all my horror needs.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished working on my latest short stories, Playthings, and The Perfect Gift. They’re both short horror stories, and are both from the serial killer’s point of view. The Perfect Gift is a free short story, as it’s only a couple of thousand words long. Playthings, however, is something I have been working on for quite some time, and I am very excited to see it released into the world.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In person at events. For me, a lot of my readers are mainly paperback readers. I hold a couple of launch events for each novel and short story, and I talk at as many libraries as will have me, as well as taking a stall of my book to events all over England and as far as I can manage.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. Edit and edit, and then pay someone to edit. And be prepared, this is not a job for the faint of heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
People always talk about the negative more than they do the positive. So for every negative review, there are probably five people out there for love the book.

What are you reading now?
I am currently slogging my way through Possession by J.R Ward. Unfortunately it is slow going at the moment, as my mind is focused on my next releases.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More short stories, more books, and Texas! I am off to the Texas book festival in October in Austin. Never been out of the country on business before, so it is going to be very exciting. But there is a ten hour flight each way, so I will be writing on the plane.

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?
Dark Lover by J.R Ward.
The Complete Works of Shakespeare.
Affliction by Laurell K Hamilton.
The Lake by Richard Laymon

Author Websites and Profiles
Michelle Birbeck Website
Michelle Birbeck Amazon Profile
Michelle Birbeck Author Profile on Smashwords

Michelle Birbeck’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m living in New Delhi, India with my wife and 2 teenagers. I contributed 19 years of my life in building a world class company from scratch. I was Executive Director of Ansun Multitech (India) Ltd (www.ansun.com) till 2005. The company was promoted by me in 1986 and from 3 employees we went up employing 772 people. I handed over this company to my brother and re-invented myself for the love of following my passion. I participate in Real Estate, Stocks, and now latest being Writing.

My maiden book “Print Your Own Money- A Wellness Guide to Financial Freedom” was launched worldwide in March 2014. The book is about educating my Indian countrymen to explore online business oppurtunities and become Entrepreneurs instead of exchanging their time for money. I’ve explained the process of changing the mindset and have explained the elements of a journey of creating wealth.

I’m writing my second book and shall be launching in July 2014.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Print Your Own Money- A Wellness Guide to Financial Freedom, is the name of my book. The inspiration of writing this book came to me after seeing the youth of our country migrating from rural place to big cities to earn money. Back home they’re landlords, owning land, but when they migrate to cities they become slaves and exchange their whole time for money. In today’s world so many wonderful opputunities exist for online businesses which just needs a laptop and an internet connection, and a lot of money can be created with those businesses. My idea is to awaken the youth of our country to migrate back and deploy their energies in developing such businesses and enjoy their life living with their loved ones.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes many of them. Being a new writer I lack discipline and waste lot of time in unproductive things. Another unusual habit is writing quickly and mindlessly at times.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I generally like to read growth-oriented books. I do not have any author whom I follow but I like reading motivational books. I also like reading about future.

What are you working on now?
A book on passive money creation. That is living life on your own terms and own pace.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Being a new author I am yet to learn about book promotion. But I’ve started advertising, lecturing in schools and colleges, and using promotional websites like yours for example.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never be in a hurry. Complete your mind mapping and work on individual chapters with 100% dedication.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life is in your own hands so pave your life the way you want it. Never follow the crowd, rather follow your passions.

What are you reading now?
Lords of the Land by Dana L. Thomas. A very old publication of 1977 about how real estate developed in USA. I had bought this book in 1984 in New York, and lost it. I found the lost book recently so reading it thesedays. Times have changed but I’m enjoying it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to write half a dozen books in this year itself. The idea is to create passive money by way of royalty for my future.

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’ll see that time. I like good reading material so I’ll mooch around that time, but let me get deserted on an island first.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anil Monga Website
Anil Monga Amazon Profile

 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Christina Hoffman. I was raised mainly in the UK, but have lived several places since. For now, I am enjoying the cold, chocolate and seagulls of San Francisco (yes, I said cold. I thought California would be warmer!)

This is my first Contemporary Romance. It has take me about two and a half months to write, though there was a fair bit of thinking about it before I ever sat down at the computer.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel’s name is INVITATION. I was trying to find a word to convey that Madison was being offered a chance to try again, that if she was willing, she could have help bringing herself back to life. It’s a part of life that had been ruined for her, and she was being invited back in. I also liked it, because it’s my first romance book, and I’m inviting in new people to read it and hopefully really enjoy it.
For this book, the idea of having someone be healed by sexual intimacy came to me before anything else. Then the heroine formed herself out of that. It needed to be someone scarred, but someone who could still take a risk. After that, I started thinking it through, and the type of scenarios which would allow her to overcome these demons began to emerge. Liam himself was tough to figure out, but one morning he just popped onto the scene with his black hair and his playful grin, and there he was. Ready to go.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I’m writing, I can get quite anxious and stressed out (also very tired because i’m a Night Owl in an early bird world), so i tend to overdose on candy. And Diet Pepsi. My niece considers it a real problem and attempts interventions regularly. Sometimes I’m tempted to take up crack just to get everybody off my back. (The proceeding was a joke – don’t do drugs).

And, this is humiliating. You know, I procrastinated so long trying to set up this perfect little “office” area for myself — flea market desk, cute shelves, bulletin boards. You get the picture. But when I finally just kicked myself in the butt and got writing, it turned out that the only time there was really any peace was at night with everyone asleep. And it’s freezing where I am, so I write in bed with my little laptop on my knees! It’s giving me wicked backaches, though; so maybe if the book’s a success, I’ll be able to write in the daylight at my desk.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m in the mood for the classics lately — all the Jane Austens.

When I’m writing, I don’t read at all. Partly because it’s too easy to fritter away time, and also because I start to hear other other characters talking in my head.

When I write, I become completely immersed in the world — reading other things seems to dilute the power somehow.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on Songs of Summer. It’s another Contemporary Romance. This one is about a beautiful but hard and cold cellist who is used to using her beauty, and her body, and her talent to get what she wants. She is chosen to attend a summer musicians’ academy in Italy where she meets a handsome maestro.

She thinks he’ll be easy to wrap around her finger, but he seems immune to her charms. He tells her she isn’t particularly sexy or passionate, because she keeps her distance from everything. Then he takes her around Italy, and introduces her to beautiful sights, smells and food, as well as big loud families and, of course, love.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Not sure, yet. I would say that, though the experts say a presence on social media (all 24 arms of it!, or so it seems) is required, I truly believe that a lot of talented authors are wasting A LOT of precious time scrolling through Facebook and twitter and whatever else.

It’s very easy to believe you’re “laying the ground work” for sales — but I can tell you unequivocally that Facebook does not sell books. I even “boosted” some posts, spent $80, got about 6 likes, and ZERO, repeat ZERO sales. Make some friends, find some readers who will give yo honest reviews, and then get off of there!

The best, in terms of $, promotions for me have involved paid advertising. I don’t see any other way to do it. I have had to save up at times in order to buy an ad or promo.

when I first published the book, it was listed at #455,000. I nearly had a heart attack. The I nearly called the unemployment office. Last weekend I got up the #545, and it was through a social media and advertising blitz.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am really excited about Invitation now, but it was a process, for sure.

I was very worried when I started out, because I was being told I had to write about bondage and that I needed to tell interviewers that I was sitting in my lingerie. I was supposed to create this persona, but it felt so forced and insincere and awful that I almost gave up on writing romance at all.

I researched what was doing well in the romance genre and found mainly BDSM themed stories. Or topics that were darker, more violent. I, very briefly, tried to write one, but it was impossible for me. The story I wanted to tell was completely different. In some ways I feel like the Pollyanna of contemporary romance, because there’s a sweetness to my story that concerned me, because it is not in style right now AT ALL!

Eventually I realized that that was just who I was as a writer, and I’d better just embrace it. So, now I ask, “Who says Heat can’t be Sweet?” I’m trying to write really sexy books showing that regular people can have rockin’ sex lives.

So, my advice, which hopefully will save you weeks of angst and bad writing, is to ignore whatever is in or trendy and write the story that only you can tell.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just write the damn thing, already.

What are you reading now?
I’m writing, so no reading.

But I read “The Humans” a while ago and thought it was wonderfully sad and funny. Also, “Where’d You Go Bernadette” is comedy gold.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The next book, and the next book, and so on, and so 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?
Honestly, I’d dump out the books and fill the bag with fresh water.

Or, I’d want to take blank books, so that I could write (or play tic tac toe by myself).

Author Websites and Profiles
Christina Hoffman Website
Christina Hoffman Amazon Profile

Christina Hoffman’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, let’s start with my “official” bio (written third-person about myself — I always love that part):

David Pandolfe is the author of two novels, Jump When Ready and Streetlights Like Fireworks. Currently, he’s working on a sequel to Jump When Ready, to be published in 2014. His short fiction has also appeared in literary reviews.

While he’s still writing about himself in third-person, David should probably also mention that he lives outside Richmond, VA, with his wife, two kids and a dog who’s terrified of thunder (not the best situation since it thunders from spring until fall in Richmond).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My new release is Streetlights Like Fireworks. As for what inspired it, well, I’ve always enjoyed stories about ghosts and psychics but also wanted to put a new spin on things. I approached Jump When Ready the same way and was really glad to hear that people enjoyed that novel (by the way, there’s a follow-up coming out soon).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I don’t think I have any unusual writing habits. I’m not sure I could call any writing habits unusual, though. Am I constantly keeping one eye on my writing? Yes. Do I keep writing down notes throughout the day and shove them into my pocket to review later as possible ideas? Yes. Do I send myself texts and emails about edits or changes I should make later? Yes. Is that unusual? Hmmm, maybe I do have unusual writing habits.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, my God. All of them, each and every one, good or bad. I guess as a kid I really loved Ray Bradbury (and I can’t believe I haven’t written an science fiction yet—that is going to change). Later, I went on more of a literary fiction journey (started with John Irving and Anne Tyler – a weird pairing, I realize). Lately, I’m reading indie writers as much as possible since there’s so much brilliant stuff out there and I’m so proud of being part of the “publishing revolution.” Hugh Howey, for example, and Jason Gurley. On the traditionally published side, I really loved Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan and Nina LaCour’s The Disenchantments (a friend read my novel, Streetlights Like Fireworks, and pointed out some minor similarities between those two novels).

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m completing edits on Jump When Ready, part 2 (still knocking around titles). I think that one will be ready to go in about two months. I hope, sooner, but I know how it goes. Then, I want to wrap it up with the final third part. I’m thinking of writing a sequel to Streetlights Like Fireworks (I was thinking about it anyway, but then people started asking). I also have a few other novels that are more in the literary fiction genre that I may publish. I really love those novels but have been waiting to take a look at them again while working on my new YA projects.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still experimenting but thank you so much for creating the Awesome Gang for all of us!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, revise, collaborate and support each other. Have fun. Be original. Don’t give up. This is the best time ever (ever!!) to be a writer. Be indie, be trad, be hybrid. Doesn’t matter. No one is stopping you now. Just make it as wonderful as you can and your work will find its readership. Good luck!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t workshop this story, it sucks. What else do you have?” (from a friend while in a writing program). I was working on another story and I workshopped it. Then it got published in a literary review. The point? Honest writer friends are good to have (and she was right about the other story—it totally sucked).

Also, “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” We’re in this for the long game. Very rarely do writers make it big overnight. Keep writing, love writing, find your readership, write some more.

What are you reading now?
Just read David Levithan’s “Every Day.” Loved it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to wrap up the final, third part of Jump When Ready. I’m thinking of writing a sequel to Streetlights Like Fireworks too (I was thinking about it anyway, but then people started asking). I also have a few other novels that are more in the literary fiction genre that I may publish. I really love those novels but have been waiting to take a look at them again while working on my new YA projects.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Nope, can’t choose. Sorry. How about I have a ton of paper and a lifetime’s supply of pens. Maybe no one will read what I write on that island but at least I’ll keep myself entertained. Oh, and candles. Lots of candles.

Author Websites and Profiles
David Pandolfe Website
David Pandolfe Amazon Profile

David Pandolfe’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a thirty something flame haired chick who accidentally wrote a book and is now an author.

Life Lived Twice is my debut romantic fantasy novel.

I am a qualified Homeoeopath and Kinesiologist, and I live in country Victoria, Australia with my husband, and two teenage daughters.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Life Lived Twice is a romantic fantasy and was inspired by the dual phenomenon of love at first site and reincarnation.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a pantser rather than a plotter with my writing. I sit down at the computer each day, give my characters free will and wait to be surprised by what they will do.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

What are you working on now?
Here and Now, the sequel to Life Lived Twice.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads, and all the amazingly generous and wonderful book bloggers who have so willing agreed to read, review and promote Life Lived Twice.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Redraft, Redraft, Redraft!!! Then let it sit then REDRAFT!!

Less is always more- if you can say it 3 words instead of 5 say it 3.

Every word must count, there can be no fill.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Every single word must have a purpose.

What are you reading now?
Nothing. I find I can’t read while I am writing. I need my brain to completely in the writing zone.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working towards getting the sequel to Life Lived Twice finished, and then published.

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 Fulfilment- By Lavyrle Spencer

The Shadow of the Wind- Carlos Ruis Zafron

Author Websites and Profiles
Sherrie Wouters Website

 

Sherrie Wouters’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account