Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Atlanta, GA with my wife and two little girls. By day I’m a marketing executive for a software company, and by night I write novels.

I’m an avid runner, and just ran my fifth marathon this November in Philadelphia. Running provides me with the alone time I need to develop my stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Battle for the Afterlife Saga, Blue Courage

Why I Chose to Write a Fantasy Action Novel that Takes Place in the Afterlife

Regardless of your current belief, I think it is safe to assume that most of us have put some serious thought into what the Afterlife is like. There are so many questions without answers, relating to where we go when we die. What does the Afterlife look like? How many souls are there? How big is the Afterlife? Is there a society and culture? Are our pets in the Afterlife?

The great Afterlife mystery is truly baffling.

I of course, being the author of the Afterlife fantasy action book, Blue Courage, have thought about the Afterlife at great lengths, but prior to 2012 I would have considered myself someone who casually thought about it.

2012 A Year Overwhelmed with Afterlife Thoughts

2012 was a very intense year for me personally. Early in the year, out of the blue, I recieved a call from my Dad informing me that my aunt passed away. Within a week of attending my aunt’s funeral my grampa passed away. It was a crazy time, and my family was overwhelmed.

In a month’s period I had attended two funerals, for two family members, and as if that was not enough, within a couple of month’s my Dad had learned that 90% of one of his main arteries was blocked in his heart. I was in disbelief.

After a few excruciating weeks of uncertainty, a succesful surgery, and a healthy lifestyle, my Dad is doing great today. Needless to say, I was constantly thinking about the Afterlife during this time.

What is the Afterlife Really Like?

I was surrounded by death in 2012, and my mind naturally wondered where my loved ones were. Just saying ‘they were in heaven’ was too vauge for me. I wanted to know what they were doing and if they were happy.

Regardless, of what the Afterlife is actually like, I found it to be cathartic to imagine different Afterlife scenarios. After several months, I collected my thoughts and started to seriously consider writing an afterlife book. I aspired for this story to have the all the answers to the many Afterlife questions, and most importantly make it an interesting scenario for all souls.

An Afterlife Book I would Like to Read

As a huge fan of action adventure stories, fantasy and science fiction, I could not think of a story that has combined the elements I most appreciate in my favorite books and movies, in an Afterlife setting. I love the idea of characters with superhuman abilities, and really apreciate realistic worlds. The Afterlife is the perfect setting to have adventure, science fiction, superhuman abilities, and a believable premise that could all actually be possible.

Who is going to tell me my made up world is not true? Unless you are dead, you do not know “for sure” what the Afterlife is actually like.

A Fascinating Afterlife World

In summation I wrote a book about the Afterlife to create a world that would be amazing to “live” in, but mostly to have a fascinating place to be transported to when I write and read my Battle for the Afterlife Saga books.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a runner and typically run 16 miles per week. During my alone time on the greenways I run on I think through my stories and characters. It has been tremendously helpful in fleshing out what I’m working on.

I also listen to soundtrack music when I’m writing. Some of my favorite soundtracks I listened to when writing Battle for the Afterlife Saga, Blue Courage were Oblivion and Tron 2.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My artistic influences include: J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, George Romero, George Lucas, Billy Corgan, Max Brooks, and of course Tolkien, Koontz and King.

What are you working on now?
The follow-up to Blue Courage in the Battle for the Afterlife Saga book series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still figuring this out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Listen to the Rocking Self Publishing Podcast. They have great interviews with well-known authors. I learned a lot from this show. It has a new episode every Thursday.

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

What are you reading now?
The follow-up to a zombie novel called 900 Miles.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m a big history buff and aspire to write a period piece. I have a passion for Ancient Rome and Egypt.

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 first four Harry Potter books.

Author Websites and Profiles
CJ Davis Website
CJ Davis Amazon Profile
CJ Davis Author Profile on Smashwords

CJ Davis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! My name is Sergio. I am a 28-year-old writer from Johannesburg, South Africa. I watch too much football, swear at Candy Crush, and enjoy the finer things in life, such as Ghost Pops and Cherry Coke. I have written 3 novels, 1 novella, 4 short stories, and half a dozen one pagers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest project is titled “Don’t Steal from the Devil.” It’s a paranormal horror story that deals with the theme of demonic possession, but throws another horror into the mix: housebreaking.

I’ve been keen to tackle a paranormal horror story for a while now, and this one just popped into my head one day. I know – it is such a boring inspirational story…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I generally can’t write more than 300 words in one sitting. I will need to get up, drink a glass of Coke, and then come back to write the next 300. I’m certain that I cursed by the spirit of 300.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Roald Dahl is the sole reason I decided to become a writer. He just knew how to paint a picture in a child’s mind that would last a lifetime. I’m thinking of changing my name to Roald in tribute. Okay, I’m just kidding. Or maybe not…

What are you working on now?
Recently, I completed two short stories, and I’m now delving into a children’s story, which I hope to complete by April. I’m about 4 chapters into the story, with the rest outlined, so I reckon I should achieve my goal.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The word of mouth is still the strongest marketing technique, but I’m also comfortable approaching sites and magazines for press opportunities. Plus, there’s also media. I find that a combination of all these techniques work for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, I do.

It’s a rat race out there, with everyone trying to promote their own work, but ignoring everyone else’s. Ultimately, it just turns into a glorious spam-fest with no absolutely soul.

My advice is: Take an interest in other writers’ books and aim to build a community. Be more personable and supportive of each other. We all have dreams, and it isn’t too difficult to just offer a kind work, or help out another author by purchasing his/her book. In other words, don’t be a self-entitled idiot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be humble and never stop learning.

What are you reading now?
At the moment, I’m reading Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim. Great book!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Survival. Isn’t that the most important thing?

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?
“Matilda” by Roald Dahl

“Good Omens” by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson

“Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk

Author Websites and Profiles
Sergio Pereira Website
Sergio Pereira Amazon Profile

Sergio Pereira’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Purple Girl is my debut book. This is a story about a purple-skinned girl whose purple spreads to everything she touches. As a writer, and also a designer of tapestries with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, it’s only natural for me to weave visual stories. Between carpools and design work, I am plotting, scheming, writing, and revising. I live in North Carolina with my husband, our three children, and my unruly dog, Rascals.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Purple Girl was born from a writers block exercise. A fellow writer suggested I try an exercise that would force me to take off my editing hat. My job was to write for twenty-five minutes without stopping. And there were rules. I wasn’t allowed to erase a word, revise a sentence, or pause to collect my thoughts. The Purple Girl came to me . . . and I fell in love with her story.

Want me to dig deeper? The Purple Girl took root from a thousand pieces of life. As a child, I always had a book in hand; I loved fantastical escapes and stepping into new and different worlds. My art background definitely inspired me. Somehow, color or art always seems to wriggle its way into my writing. Children and adults that overcome obstacles inspire me daily. And always lingering in the back of my mind are amazing kids that feel lonely or different.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My favorite time to write is in the early morning while my family sleeps. It’s the only time my household is quiet! But that may or may not be so unusual.

What may be more unusual? Sometimes a word wakes me up in the middle of the night. A sentence I’ve been seeking suddenly pulls me out of a dream. Other times, dialogue or random ideas come to me when I’m in the middle of a luncheon or meeting—even driving the car. The best thoughts always come to me at the most inopportune times. My family finds little scraps of paper with words, odd notes, and descriptions written on them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a young child, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Secret Garden kept me up late at night. They gave me a deep passion for reading. Other books? There are far too many for me to name, and I get overwhelmed when I try to narrow the list.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a fiction book for eight to twelve year olds. I can’t tell you more than that! The cat will get out of the bag soon . . . but not yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a rookie at this, so I’m still learning the ropes of the author world. So far, I’m experimenting with Amazon, Facebook, and blog-tours. Goodreads is also on my list. And did I mention the Awesome Gang—where awesome readers meet awesome writers? I’m happy to be here.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep rowing! Enjoy the journey and the people you meet along the way. Readers, editors, bloggers, book designers, illustrators, fellow writers . . . they are an incredibly generous group of talented people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself. If you don’t, who will?

What are you reading now?
I picked up Pocahontas by Gunn Allen. “A fascinating study of the life and times of one of the famous and at the same time least-known American women,” according to Robert J. Conley. Now, I just have to find the time to curl up in a cozy chair and open it up! A crackling fire and a cup of hot chocolate would complete the experience.

To further complicate things, I just received two books as birthday gifts: Princesses Behaving Badly and Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker. They both look fabulous. Now, I have a real dilemma on my hands.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m still learning so much. Who knows what is really next?

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My nose would be in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I would definitely need an absurd and whimsical escape. I would pair it with some very thick novels; hopefully one entitled something like: How to Escape from a Desert Island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Audrey Kane Website
Audrey Kane Amazon Profile

Audrey Kane’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Collin K. Francis is an internationally acclaimed Motivational Speaker, born in Grenada and now lives in Bronx, New York. He is a Radio Host, Personal Life Coach, Trainer, Politician, Former Classroom Teacher, a Re-Evaluation Co-Counselor, Nero Linguistic Programmer (NLP), Hypnotherapist, Bible Teacher, Union Activist, Sales Trainer (King Teleservices-Sprint Communications in New York City), and Managed/Owned, a Training and Employment Agency.

Collin holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma and has completed a Master’s Degree in International Business at St. George’s University. His work has been centered on helping young people prepare for the workplace, helping them find and keep jobs. He has shaped many lives and empowered young people to succeed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Job seeker’s and worker’s guides:

Exceptional Customer Service
Professional sales
Job ready Guide
Front office management
Effective leadership

How to start your own business?
How to make money online

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write as I am moved by my inner being to impact the world.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
William Shakespeare
Charles Dickens

What are you working on now?
Empowering Women to Lead ” Creating the Relationship and Lifestyle you want
The Power to Break-free
The Secret to Infinite Wisdom

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://awesomegang.com/
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be passionate , stick to what you love and write from your heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up, how would you want the world remember you, Les Brown.

What are you reading now?
Researching books

What’s next for you as a writer?
motivational speaking, workshops

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?
William Shakespeare
Charles Dickens

Author Websites and Profiles
Collins Francis Website
Collins Francis Amazon Profile

Collins Francis’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was a financial corporate type who followed the plan and took an early retirement, but within a year, the thought, “Is this it. Is this all there is?” was rolling around in my head. In search of an answer, I came out of retirement and went to live in a remote location in Canada’s far north with a small First Nations band of Chipewyans The experience was life changing and resulted in a paradigm shift in my spirituality, philosophy and aspirations for the future.

My first writing, an autobiography: Awakening in the Northwest territories, spans sixty years and covers childhood years in England, emigration to Canada by myself at 19, etc., but the core of the story takes place over a two year period in the N.W.T.

It is an engrossing, thought provoking read, full of humor, intrigue and adventure with richly detailed accounts of the dene culture and their traditions, life-views and challenges.

The story is particularly pertinent today because Neil Young (Canadian rock star) has recently raised awareness in the media about Aboriginal Treaty rights, the Alberta tar Sands and the Chipewyan people. There is much material in the book about the Dene culture and traditions, and even a sub-chapter – As Long As This Land Shall Last- that recaps what the Chipewyan people agreed to (through oral testimonies from people who were there) when they signed Treaty 8.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My autobiography, “Awakening in the Northwest Territories” began as a compilation of my N.W.T. journals into a story, explicitly written for my direct family. Close friends read and enjoyed the ms. and commented that other readers, who did not know me, would need to know who exactly was this guy who went to the N.W.T., and what did he do after his “awakenings.” The resulting memoir, Awakening in the Northwest Territories, spans sixty years ”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am fortunate in that I have been retired for a number of years and have been able to travel (backpack ) to warm locations in the world to find idyllic settings in which to write. In 2010 I went to Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua and found self catering rooms by the ocean. I’d get up around six, go for a swim and a long walk up the beach, and after a light breakfast – egg and a smoothie – get into the writing until two or three in the afternoon. I found that I could get into the “zone” easily and the subsequent writing just flowed, effortlessly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I enjoy a broad range of genres, but the most influential one was Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth. I guess that at the time I was ready to absorb and digest what he had to say about the human condition and that reinforced my own learnings from the north.

What are you working on now?
I am writing a second autobiography about my more recent life (last ten years) as an International Development volunteer with local NGOS in Asia (Bangladesh), Africa (Nigeria), South America (Guyana) and the Caribbean (Jamaica).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I refer people, whom I come into contact with online, to my web site: http://awakeninginthenorth.com

I’ve also done a Goodreads book giveaway and am looking for legitimate reviewers to do honest reviews.

Because of the unusual nature of my autobiography -plot and settings in a land unfamiliar to most people – there is a great interest in my book readings, which I present as an audio/visual package to Seniors Centers, Seniors Residences, Tea shops, Libraries etc.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you passionately believe in what you have to say you will eventually find the right words, but it can be a long slow, process. You will know when you are finished because that’s when you are happy with it, and no revisions come to mind.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Show me-don’t tell me

What are you reading now?
Chris Hadfield’s “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life On Earth.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have found that I enjoy writing. I might write a non-fiction work once I am finished with auto-biographies.

Author Websites and Profiles

Alastair Henry Website
Alastair Henry Amazon Profile

Alastair Henry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Brazilian full-time writer and editor. With a gypsy lifestyle, I’ve been moving from country to country in the past 8 years. I’ve lived in New York City, Argentina, Italy, Spain, and I’m currently living in Portugal. Many of my books reflect this passion for traveling and the experience of being an expat.

In Portuguese, I’ve published three novels, one short-story collection, three travel guides and a photography course book. Recently, I’ve translated and published my first novel in English, “The Innocent Thugs”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book and not published yet is titled “The Blind Dog of Guardia Vieja Street”. It was inspired in the awful experience I had of living in Buenos Aires.

It’s about a foreign writer-to-be who moves to Argentina to work on a novel. This writer is a fan of Borges and other Argentinean authors, but quickly realizes the clash between the fictional and the real Buenos Aires.

Isolated from his family and friends, the character adopts a street dog that becomes his sole companion at first.

It is a very introspective and philosophical book, digging into some profound human inquiries.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually write many books at the same time.

Nowadays, I’m writing one YA novel, two novellas, one memoir book, one literary fiction novel, and two short-stories books.

Somehow, I always manage to finish most of the books I’m writing. Some of them just take longer to get written than the others though.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a very avid reader, at least used to be before my first son was born last year.

Most of the writers I admire have a very different writing style than my own, which is even more stimulating to me, teaching me new techniques and ways of expression.

I’m a great fan of Jorge Luis Borges, James Joyce, Milan Kundera, Henry Miller, Kurt Vonnegut, Franz Kafka, Fernando Pessoa, Albert Camus, and many others.

In the intellectual ground, I owe much to Nietzsche, Bataille, Foucault, Lyotard and some post-modern thinkers.

What are you working on now?
As I said, I’m working on my books at the same time, but I’m devoting more time to two of them.

One is a YA novel about a dragon hunter apprentice in a setting that resembles medieval Spain, the other is a novella “celebrating” the World Cup of soccer in Brazil this year. The funny part is that I hate soccer with all my heart…

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a satisfactory platform for my books in Portuguese, and one of my blogs has almost a million reader per year.

In English, I’m still trying to pave my way publishing one book after the other. I’m planning to release another novel in the next few months.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think the only two essential advises are:
1 – you’re not a writer unless you write. You must always write, in each day of your life, about everything under the Sun.
2 – you must have patience. Nothing happens overnight, at least not for the majority of artists. Work hard one day after the other, seducing one reader after the other. Someday, you’ll look back and see that you have walked a long road already, even if you have the impression of being stuck on the same place all the time.

Writing is a long, perhaps endless, journey.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do not quit.

Being a writer has nothing to do with talent or with being a genious. It’s about fighting relentlessly for what you believe to be your destiny.

And I always took this advice seriously.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading W. B. Sebald’s “Austerlitz”, and I’m loving it. This novel has a very different approach to fiction and to writing in general.

I’m also reading Juan Rulfo’s “Pedro Páramo”, considered to be one of the best novels written in Spanish. It’s a quite extraordinary piece of fiction.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal is to translate most of my work to English and Spanish to reach a broader audience. The American book market is the last frontier for any foreign writer, it’s like climbing the Mount Everest.

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 probably pick some books I could read again hundred of time and not be bored. My choice would be Fernando Pessoa’s “The Book of Disquiet,” Joyce’s “Ulysses,” Borges’ “Fictions” and Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”.

But if I could choose, I’d rather have my wife, my son and my dog with me. No book should substitute the company of your loved ones. Never!

Author Websites and Profiles
Henry Alfred Bugalho Website
Henry Alfred Bugalho Amazon Profile
Henry Alfred Bugalho Author Profile on Smashwords

Henry Alfred Bugalho’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Elyse Salpeter is the author of seven novels and a host of short stories. What she loves doing is mixing “the real with the fantastic” in her books. She loves taking different scenarios and suddenly creating worlds where things just aren’t what they appear to be.

Her YA Dark Fantasy Series, THE WORLD OF KAROV and THE RUBY AMULET take us to other realms filled with magic and evil. Her adult contemporary fantasy thriller, THE HUNT FOR XANADU, is about a young girl on a mission to avenge her parents, murdered in their quest to find the mystical land of Xanadu. It is steeped in Tibetan spiritual mysteries, romance and international intrigue.

Her two YA novels, FLYING TO THE LIGHT and FLYING TO THE FIRE are represented by Peter Riva from International Transactions. These books are about a young deaf boy who knows what happens to you when you die and now people are after him for the answers. The books are fast paced thrillers that keeps the reader on their toes, never quite knowing who, and who not, to trust.

When she’s not writing, she’s cooking, eating crazy food in her Gastronaut club (think brains, bugs and other unedibles) working out, running after her twins and crazy ferret and gardening – or trying to, that is.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Hunt for Xanadu is my latest novel. I wanted to write a really smart thriller that made people think. I wanted a strong female protagonist who really isn’t what she appears to be. I did a lot of research for this novel and I think it’s something that everyone will enjoy.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, just silence, please.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of authors have influenced me, most recently Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. They create characters and scenarios that are so compelling I think about them long after the books are done. Stephen King is another fantastic author.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on THE QUEST OF THE EMPTY TOMB which is the sequel to THE HUNT FOR XANADU.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Good question and I wish I could answer this better. I use FB, twitter, goodreads, linkedin – all the sites to promote the books. I’ve advertised and done sweepstakes. I won’t lie, it’s tough getting the word out there, but I try.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is to just keep writing and getting your books out there. They will eventually find their market. I’ve been told that I shouldn’t fret until I have 4-5 books out there and hopefully at that point you’ll have more exposure in market and it will be easier for folks to find your books.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To write MY book and not what I think will sell.

What are you reading now?
I am about to start Rebekah Lyn’s Winters End – I just won it in a Goodreads reader contest.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing, keep trying this dream. I have a few book signings coming up. One is in March at a tea shop as this novel has an Asian flavor. We thought it would be fun to do.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodson Burnett, Still Life with Crows by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child and I know this is silly, but Happy Birthday to You by Dr. Seuss. It was one of my favorite books to read as a child – the illustrations were so fantastical and I adored them.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elyse Salpeter Website
Elyse Salpeter Amazon Profile

Elyse Salpeter’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in a very small town in the midwest and have lived with my husband and two boys in New York, London and Melbourne, Australia. For several years I was a travel writer specializing in articles with historical background, but now devote all my time to novel writing. Previously, I have written four novels, but did not try to publish them.

At present, I have completed two books of a Russian Trilogy of historical thrillers under my pen name, Minerva Taylor: The Blood Stiller, on Amazon and other booksellers, and The Blood Archive, soon to be published. I am working on the third, The Devil’s Tears.

I have also published two children’s books, James and the Mini and The Mole Brothers’ Magnificent Mission, both on Amazon and am finishing the draft of a Mole Brothers’ sequel.

I live in London, but spend the summers on Long Island catching up with family and friends.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Blood Stiller, book one of the Russian Trilogy, was inspired by meeting an elderly Russian emigre in New York. She

was charming, had an intriguing past and many stories to tell, true or not. I never found out.

I became fascinated by the upheaval of society in the Russian Revolution and the turmoil it created in people’s lives and read extensively about the period. I decided to write the series of thrillers because much had already been written about the period, and I wanted to build a plot around an original view. I also like the idea of using a modern setting and intermingling the plot with the past.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get up at six, have two cups of coffee and begin writing. I quit around noon and try to have lunch with a friend, shop or visit a museum. My best ideas to solve writing problems come when I am out walking through London. This is probably not unusual or eccentic.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Le Carre’s spy novels I love his intricate plotting.

Shakespeare’s works

Tolstoy’s Hadji Murat ,War and Peace

Philip Roth

Comic books (graphic novels) I learned to read with comic books.

What are you working on now?
I am working on The Devil’s Tears, the third book in The Russian Trilogy. Much of the action takes place in oil rich Baku, Azerbaijan which I have visited and found fascinating. I think my writing has improved since the first book. I also love my character Reuben Yoder, a half Amish country deputy sheriff who feels he is a failure,.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new to promoting my books and am hoping my website attracts readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
New authors should have confidence in their ability. Some time ago, I did present an unpublished novel to a prominent agency. One of the editors said the book didn’t pass their committee but that she would like to keep contact with me.

I had so little confidence at the time that I didn’t call her and regret that lost opportunity to this day.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To stop staying your novel isn’t that good.

What are you reading now?
Life and Fate, Vassily Grossman’s novel about the WWII siege of Leningrad. Grossman was a Bolshevik journalist who coverered the Eastern Front for Red Star, the Red Army newspaper, after Germany invaded Russia. His novel was confiscsted by the KGB in 1960.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to complete the Russian Trilogy and perhaps to continue the character of Reuben Yoder, the redneck deputy sheriff in another thriller.

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?
Tolstoy’s War and Peace

Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past

Shakespeare’s Plays

Robert Frost’s poems

Author Websites and Profiles
Judith Windeler Website

Judith Windeler’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am p.d. workman and I am a writing addict!

I write riveting young adult/suspense fiction about mental illness, addiction, and violence.

For as long as I can remember, the blank page has held an incredible allure for me. I have samples of stories and booklets that go back to my early childhood. I collected notebooks of all shapes and sizes with plans to fill them with words and stories. By grade four I found that inventing a story in my head could rival the joy of reading one from a book. I wrote and bound a series stories about a rabbit, painstakingly typed on my dad’s Selectric typewriter and illustrated by tracing pictures.

In grade five, I spent a lot of leisure time creating a Narnia-like world of my own. I drew pictures of it… unicorns, rainbows, forests, mountains in the distance. There were six meals a day, with names like nibble and munch. I didn’t write a word of the story, though I imagined the plot line, which included my arrival in the land via a pair of magical red tennis shoes.

In grade six I had a language arts teacher who had a box full of pictures to use as story prompts, and we would write a creative writing story every Friday. I loved it. I wrote a number of stories about a pair of magical black dogs with glowing eyes. In grade seven I continued to enjoy creative writing at school, much of it about horses, my new obsession as I read every book in the Black Stallion series. I started to write my first full-length novel, a classic plot line about a class of school children who get marooned on a deserted tropical island. No, no Lord of the Flies here. It was all about survival. I went to a young writer’s conference and talked about it. I read it to the kids I babysat. I never finished it.

Then at the age of twelve, I finally did it, I wrote my first complete novel. It was full of fantastic ideas. It was the spring board for many stories over the next few years.

So, 44 novels or so later, I finally decided to publish. Over the years, family and friends have encouraged me to. But I love to write so much. I write for myself, for the joy of creating characters and living through them. Some have been shared with a friend or family member, but even that has been rare. Most people didn’t even have any idea that I write. I’ve kept my addiction a secret. Several times I have taken up the pen and dabbled with contacting publishers, submitting to contests, etc. And each time, the joy has disappeared and the creative juices have dried up. And I’ve gone back to my hermit-like writing existence, proclaiming that my estate can publish my work after I’m dead.

So here I am, almost three decades after writing my first book, finally taking the plunge. My writing has matured and improved a lot the last couple of years. I have been writing for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and other one-month challenges for a few years now, and each new novel that I finish, I think: “This is the best book that I have ever written! And I want to share it with others!” And even after the initial thrill of having produced another book passes and I go back to it to edit and polish, I still think: “This is really very good! It’s ready to share.” So here I am, biting the bullet and self-publishing (what they call an “indie” author.

Who am I when I’m not writing? I’m a devout wife and a mother of one. Born and raised in Alberta, Canada. I’m a homeschooler. I’m an executive assistant. I have a passion for art and nature, creative cooking for special diets, and running. I love to read, to listen to audio books, and to share books out loud with my family. I’m a technology geek with a love for all kinds of gadgets and tools to make my writing and work easier and more fun. In person, I am far less well-spoken than on the written page. I tend to be shy and reserved with all but those closest to me, and I prefer communicating by e-mail and text rather than phone calls or face-to-face visits. My sociable husband and son help keep me from becoming a complete recluse!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The one that I finished writing a couple of weeks ago (now on the shelf to season for a few weeks before taking a run at editing,) is “Tattooed Teardrops”. I wanted to tell the story of a convicted murderer trying to reintegrate into society.
“I don’t plan on getting in any trouble.”

Tamara had thought that when she got out of juvie, things would be easier. But before long, it seems like her life is spiraling into chaos. If she can’t prove to her probation officer that she is innocent of the allegations against, she’s going back to prison, and she just can’t let that happen.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Certainly not. Other than that I want to write all the time. When I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing. When I’m at work. Driving the car. Going for a run or walk. Making supper. All the time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My writing style/subject matter has probably been most influenced by S.E. Hinton and Jay Bennett.

I am a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, to the point of creating poster-sized charts of his alphabets in order to translate the Tengwar script on the title pages of his books when I was a teenager. Dick Francis has been one of my favourite authors as an adult. I enjoy reading Harry Potter and other fantasy books with my son. I enjoy a wide variety of books in my reading diet, both fiction and non-fiction, and have thousands of books in my Kindle account. Only about 10% are cookbooks…

What are you working on now?
I am waiting for final comments back from my beta readers on “Ruby”, the first book in my “Through the Cracks” series.

When everyone is finished with that one, I will be sending out “Stand Alone” to them for their review. I wrote that one in July last year, modeled on a short story I wrote years ago.

At the beginning of January, I just finished “Tattooed Teardrops”, which I mentioned above, so that one is just seasoning for a little while.

I am currently working on the sequel to “Ruby”, expanding the back story about Ruby’s twin siblings into a novel. That’s about half done. Still need a title and cover concept.

I am also converting some information on food families into a usable ebook format. That will be my first pubished non-fiction book, a resource for those with multiple allergies/intolerances who need to be on elimination or rotation diets or figure out what else in their diet is bothering them.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Having just published my first book in November, I’m still figuring that out. I did a freebie promotion on Amazon that got a good number of downloads and boosted my visibility for a while. I am active on Twitter, Facebook, and my blog. I have just scheduled a giveaway on Goodreads and another freebie promotion on Amazon.

But mostly, I prefer to follow the advice of those who say “keep writing and get the next book out there”!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing! Don’t get too caught up in everybody’s advice on how you should approach or structure your book. Just keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
FAIL

First

Attempt

In

Learning

What are you reading now?
The Faithful One, Michele Chynoweth

Physik (Septimus Heap, Book Three,) Angie Sage

The Vegan Table, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Sell More Books! J. Steve Miller

Psalms

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more books (currently writing 3-5 per year). Get more of them out there. Maybe go to a local writer’s conference. Get my name out there so people recognize it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Silmarillion, JRR Tolkien

Something by Dick Francis

Scriptures

A really good island cookbook

Author Websites and Profiles
P.D. Workman Website
P.D. Workman Amazon Profile
P.D. Workman Author Profile on Smashwords

P.D. Workman’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 from Houston, Texas. It is not the weather that keeps me here (Hot & Humid 360 days a year), but family and the yummy TexMex food. I am a wife and a mom to three kids: two boys and a girl. I enjoy reading and writing fantasy, paranormal and historical romance. Even though I have never taken a dance class, I love Zumba. I am addicted to several SciFi/Fantasy TV shows and would have a meltdown if my DVR broke.

I have written nine novels and half a dozen others in various stages of completion. However, I only two of my novels are published at this time. I didn’t aggressively seek publication until last year. Now I have a fantasy / paranormal romance and a Viking historical romance published with Crimson Romance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Viking Fire is my historical romance with a touch of magic.

The inspiration came to me while reading that the name Lauchlin was Gaelic for Viking and some historians believe Vikings married Irish women to gain land, etc. And since my grandmother’s maiden was McLauchlin, I couldn’t resist.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Since I have two kids under the age of five with me during the day, I wait until they are in bed to write. Then I stay up until midnight and wake up at 6am to start another day.

I also like to have music or something playing in the background since the house is too quiet late at night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind – because it was the first fantasy series I ever read. It opened up the world of fantasy to me that I was denied growing up. I couldn’t even watch Disney.

The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop – I love her twists.

House of Night series by Kirsten & P.C. Cast – Even though YA, I’m addicted.

The Hollows series by Kim Harrison – I’m amazed at how much the main character has gone through, but remained true to herself throughout.

What are you working on now?
I am working on revisions to Son of Dragons, Book 2 in The Garnet Dagger series. This is a fantasy / paranormal romance that continues the story started by Brock and Celeste. However, the focus of this story is Brock’s Elvin sister, Mirhana and her love interest Landon.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth. I’ve sold more novels by merely talking to people I meet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying. Learn your strengths – so you can polish them, and learn your weaknesses – so you can grow. Read what you love and read what you hate – so you know why you do on both. Join a writers’ group.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read the story aloud.

What are you reading now?
Casey’s Courage by Neva Brown

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to have Son of Dragons, Book 2 in the Garnet series published by this spring. I want to have War of Darkness, Book 3 re-writes complete by summer and published in the fall. And I want to finish edits on some of my other novels.

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 first 4 books in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (The Game of Thrones series). Why? Because I haven’t had the chance to read his novels yet. I love the HBO series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Andrea Cooper Website
Andrea Cooper Amazon Profile

Andrea Cooper’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 19-year-old author and I live in Boston. I’ve self-published three novels; “Masterpiece” under the Romance genre and “A Melody in Harmony” and “New Melody, Same Harmony,” both under the GLBT genre.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled “New Melody, Same Harmony” and is the sequel to “A Melody in Harmony.” After writing and publishing “A Melody in Harmony,” my first GLBT novel, I just fell in love with my characters and their story and wanted to continue it. In the first book, it ends one year later and my characters are married. In this new book, it starts right after their wedding and the story rewinds as the characters think back on their last year together. This allows the readers to see what happened during that year that was skipped in the first book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say unusual. I like to create a brainstorm page first with ideas and thoughts and character descriptions. Then I begin to write my story based off of my notes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’d say soap operas have influenced me more than anything. I think I’ve gained a lot of writing knowledge from watching soaps.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on releasing and promoting “New Melody, Same Harmony,” as well as working on a third book in my Noah and Ronan Series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’d say Twitter. I use a lot of social media, but Twitter has been really helpful. I think it’s important to remember to tweet just the right amount and also always communicate with your followers. Always retweet and favorite people’s tweets to you, that’s a big thing I’ve learned. it shows that you’re there and you care about what people have to say. Following your follows back is a big thing as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find a way to get your writing out there. Whether you submit your work to a million different publishers or go the self-publishing route like I did, someone will notice you and be interested in your writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nothing is ever perfect and imperfections make something real, and just because something isn’t perfect, that doesn’t mean you give up on it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on writing and editing the third book in my Noah and Ronan Series! I can’t wait for people to see where these characters go in “New Melody, Same Harmony” and then in the book that follows.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ashley Chunell Website
Ashley Chunell Amazon Profile

Ashley Chunell’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 contemporary MM romance author from the Pacific Northwest. I’m a big fan of minor league hockey, coffee and am a vocal LGBT rights activist. I currently have two books out: Changing Tide and Dancer’s Heart with plans for a new series scheduled for release this spring.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Dancer’s Heart and it was inspired by research I did for a paper in school about domestic violence in the gay community.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusual writing habits. I make it a point to write every day but I’m not sure that’s very unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The biggest influences on my writing have been authors like Stephen King, David Baldacci and Daniel Silva. They know how to write a page-turner that keeps the tension flowing from the first paragraph to the last.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a a series due out this spring called Saving Liam.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method is using websites like Awesome Gang where readers gather to learn about new books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Work! Writing the best book you can possibly write is just as important as how and where you market it. Go to writing seminars and conferences. Join a critique group. Take classes. The best feeling you will ever have is looking back at something you wrote a year ago and realizing you can do it better today. Don’t be so eager to get it to press that you neglect the roadwork.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Buy low, sell high! Oh, you mean about writing. The best advice I ever heard was not to take criticism personally when it comes to writing. As good as you are, there is always room for improvement so don’t let your ego get in the way. When people point out something wrong with your work don’t get angry. Use it to make your book better because as much as you might not want to hear it, they’re probably right. If they can see the issue then readers will, too. Writing is an extremely competitive career. A book that’s “good enough” isn’t going to compete well in the market and your sales will go to someone willing to put in the extra effort you didn’t.

What are you reading now?
I’m in the middle of a paranormal series by Rob Thurman (Cal and Niko).

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books! I plan to do a few more series, most likely in the same gay romance genre.

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 pick a handful off my to be read pile!

Author Websites and Profiles
DP Denman Website
DP Denman Amazon Profile

DP Denman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a former nurse with a massive number of certifications behind my name. I’d been gathering information to apply for a PhD program, and I realized my heart wasn’t in it. I left hospital nursing to follow my lifelong dream of being a writer. First, I tested the water with a cozy mystery that I entered in a national contest. It was a finalist out of over ten thousand submissions, so I thought I could make the dream work. I renamed the contest entry, BODY WAVE (A-TEXT-A-NURSE MYSTERY), and published it at the end of 2012.

In 2013, I published THE POET, a short story, SWARMERS, a dark fantasy thriller, and DOUBLE BLIND, a medical thriller. On January 14, I published THE WAR NURSE. So, I’ve published four novels and one short story.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE WAR NURSE is my latest book. I wanted to write historical fiction about a civilian nurse who makes a tragic mistake while caught up in the chaos of the first moments of war. A mistake that can’t be corrected or acknowledged, but has far reaching consequences to herself, the man she loves, and her family thousands of miles away.

The inspiration came from various puzzle pieces fitting together such as: Having a patient who was a Bataan survivor earlier in my career and he mentioned nurses served on the front lines, hurricanes up-rooting pecan orchards and a news story that they were planted by German POWs, reading a book about the civilian internment camps in America, and realizing that some of the biggest jumps in nursing practice came after major wars.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I do surf the news feeds while sipping coffee with a timer ticking down. If I didn’t have the buzzer warning, I’d get lost in all the news out there.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many to list. I thank every author for every book I’ve read because they turned me into an unapologetic bookworm.

What are you working on now?
I’m putting the finishing touches on a contemporary romance about a disabled marine veteran which I haven’t named yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve had a hard time learning book promotion because I’ve never felt comfortable with the concept of advertising. I have noticed that writers who have backgrounds in PR or advertising do better in the digital age. I’m picking it up at a slower pace, but hey, I’m improving every day.

I’ve learned a lot from Melissa Foster’s marketing class at World Literary Café, and I’ve picked up great tips in the Writer’s Café on the kindle boards. I’m also more aware of sites like this one who reach out a helping hand. Thank you.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Build your platform while you’re writing that first book. Take a book marketing class from someone who is a proven success.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day even if it’s just a blog post.

What are you reading now?
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally

An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Come Back To Me by Melissa Foster

Too Quiet in Brooklyn by Susan R. Anderson

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be putting out the sequels to my cozy mystery series and dark fantasy series soon.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
This is a hard question to answer but I’d have to take 1)Jane Austin’s books in one big compilation 2) Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes because his book tied me up in knots and would keep my mind off the lack of air conditioning 3)Any book by Carl Hiaasen because he’d keep me laughing and hoping something would float up on the beach to distract me.

Author Websites and Profiles
R.V. Doon Website
R.V. Doon Amazon Profile

R.V. Doon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a published author I have written four books so far. Each of these books is of a different genre.

they are:

Miedo “Afraid” which is a horror/psychological thriller.

The Devil’s Apology which is a short story satire giving the devil his due.

Reflections is a collection of poems, songs and muses

The Wizard, The Girl and The Unicorn’s Horn is my epic fantasy novella.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Wizard, The Girl and The Unicorn’s Horn is my latest book

I’ve always wanted to write fantasy. I am a big fan of CS Lewis and Narnia as well as JRR Tolkien’s Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I believe that they are my biggest influence.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t plot and build or outline…I just get stuck in with what’s going on in my mind and sort it all out later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Terry Brookes to mention a few. As an English major in university, I read many different authors any of which have influenced me in one way or another.

What are you working on now?
I have several projects swimming around in my head. I have started a memoir of my life in America. I also have another fantasy novel started and I have idea for a couple more and a documentary on Lost River Cave.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have three blogs at different sites that link to each other: WordPress, Webnode, and Blogger. I use google+, Twitter, Facebook, and of course Awesome Gang!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take your time. Don’t rush your work and DO edit, edit edit before you publish.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, write and write. I can’t remember who said it though.

What are you reading now?
African Me and Satellite TV by Jo Robinson.

I’ve just finished reading The Hunger Games Trilogy. You can see my reviews on goodreads.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep on 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?
I would take The Hunger Games trilogy…I really loved reading them

And I would take a survival book. 😉

Author Websites and Profiles
Kevin Cooper Website
Kevin Cooper Amazon Profile

Kevin Cooper’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written 3 now, however the third combines the first two.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Bard from Ballarat: International Version. It combines the two I published last year as limited edition high quality individually hand numbered copies. I wanted to make another version that might have a greater appeal further afield. The original one I published was a step in the right direction of a new life after an accident changed all my goals, hopes and dreams.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I light a candle stuck in an empty port bottle and sit it in the middle of the table and I wear a black and red jester hat with bells on it. I also have to alternate between sitting, kneeling, standing and laying due to nerve damage in my butt.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Autobiographies have been a huge influence in my life, any story of someone overcoming the odds. also authors who have been determined enough to find success when everyone keeps telling them no.

What are you working on now?
A collection of short stories to be released in the first half of this year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far in person has worked the best, once someone sees the photos and reads the poems they want copies.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have a go, and don’t give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It only takes $5 a day to retire a millionaire

What are you reading now?
The questions on this webpage

What’s next for you as a writer?
A collection of short stories, got a novel in the works and then maybe my autobiography

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 fortunate life, A B Facey

The bible

which ever has the most pages to use as kindling

Author Websites and Profiles
Neville Hiatt Website
Neville Hiatt Amazon Profile

Neville Hiatt’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer from Pittsburgh, PA. I write mainly poetry for adults and novels for children. I’ve written two books which are both for sale on Amazon, and I have another one in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My second book is titled, “Saving Hascal’s Horrors”. It originally started as an adult novel from the sister’s point of view and turned into a kids book based on the movies I watched growing up and a dream I had about a family business of grave diggers which turned into a family who owned a horror-themed store.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually have movies on in the background while I write or edit. That’s my downtime at night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I loved Laura Ingalls, Ann M. Martin, Roald Dahl, R.L. Stein and Beverly Cleary growing up. I never was into fantasy books. I liked books about real kids doing real things. If a fantasy element was thrown in, I didn’t mind as long as the plot was grounded in reality.

What are you working on now?
My third book is going to be based on the summer adventures I would have with my friends and family growing up. It’s a love letter to my childhood.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do a lot of free promoting, submitting to dozens of websites and sending several email queries. The free promotion was very successful with my first book. I hope that this current book receives as many downloads during its free promotion. I also plan to pay for some promoting this time around as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would have them submit to traditional publishers first. If they grow antsy or think that self-publishing is the way to go, I would have them look into the Amazon and Nook services. They also need to build a strong following on social media. That’s really important when promoting your work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’m usually the one giving the advice so I couldn’t say.

What are you reading now?
I like superheroes so I’m reading some comic books that I got for Christmas.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After I’m done promoting this book, I want to submit some more poems for possible publication. Then, I want to continue working on 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?
I’d bring at least one “Little House” book, the Kurt Cobain biography “Cobain Unseen” and a classic like “To Kill a Mockingbird” or “East of Eden”.

Author Websites and Profiles
Laura Smith Website
Laura Smith Amazon Profile

Laura Smith’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Writing love stories is a passion, and when I hit the USA Today list doing what I love best I was very grateful! I love bringing a smile to a reader’s face at the end of my books.

Whether it’s romantic suspense, romantic comedy or chick lit, I write feel-good stories with hot alpha heroes and strong women. I’ve written eight books and I’m currently working on Heart Tamer, the novella sequel to Heart Melter, my latest romantic suspense.

In addition to writing novels, I write screenplays. Going to the movies and live theatre are my favorite things besides reading and traveling. I also love good food, parties and experiencing new things.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
HEART MELTER (Heartthrob Series, Book Two) is my latest book, a contemporary romantic suspense. I wanted to write a novel set in Scotland ever since I visited and fell in love with the gorgeous countryside, the awe-inspiring castles, the friendly people and their volatile and stoic history. I was inspired to write this romantic suspense about a Broadway star on the run because of my love of going to see live theatre, especially Broadway shows when I’m in NYC.

Blurb for HEART MELTER:

He was her fiercest protector…and her heart’s captor.

Scottish surgeon, Dr. Ian MacGregor, has no desire to see his ex-fiancée again. But when the dazzling Broadway star lands in his office wounded, the healer in Ian can’t turn her away.

Natasha White has no idea why anyone would knife her on a crowded street in Times Square. At first she thinks the cut on her thigh is an accident, but as frightening events unravel, she learns the mob is after an incriminating flash drive they think she has. She’s grateful when Ian whisks her away to his castle in the Highlands, far from the mob.

Irresistibly drawn to her, Ian tries to deny the sexy sparks that ignite as he becomes her fierce protector. Their hot chemistry deepens into strong feelings as they dodge impending danger and he fights to keep her safe. Ian will do anything to guard Natasha, but will their love be strong enough to survive the shocking secrets revealed?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not too unusual, but when I’m writing I take daily morning walks to sort the plot in my mind before writing. And I usually have two crisp, chocolate chip cookies with a cup of green tea in the afternoon to keep me alert and happy as I write!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Some of my favorite authors are Lisa Kleypas, Diana Gabaldon, Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz, Julie Garwood and Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

What are you working on now?
I am working on HEART TAMER, a novella sequel to HEART MELTER, set in Edinburgh. HEART TAMER is Alec MacLeod’s story. Alec is a secondary character in HEART MELTER. When he burst on the scene, his personality was so bold and vibrant I had to write his story too!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love interacting with readers through Facebook. I host many parties and enjoy doing giveaways with cool swag and signed print books. To join in the fun “like” my Facebook Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sophia-Knightly/147151025379583

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write…and read a lot too. Stay current in the market because things change every day. Be flexible and always challenge yourself. Have fun trying new artistic venues and creative ways to express yourself. And be generous with other writers and readers.

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

What are you reading now?
I am re-reading The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and looking forward to the mini-series on Starz.

What’s next for you as a writer?
For 2014, I hope to bring you more stories that will make you smile. So far I have planned:

1 – HEART TAMER, a novella sequel to HEART MELTER

2 – LUCKY SEVEN box set with six other fabulous authors

3 – HEART TEMPTER, the third novel in my Heartthrob series

4 – Book 3 of my Tropical Heat Series (a prequel)

5 – Lots of parties and fabulous giveaways!

I hope you’ll join me in the fun. If you would like to stay in touch for new releases and giveaway parties, sign up for my newsletter!

http://www.sophiaknightly.net/newsletter-sign-up.html

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 tough question. There are too many books I’d want to bring with me!

Author Websites and Profiles
Sophia Knightly Website
Sophia Knightly Amazon Profile

Sophia Knightly’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a musician by trade, with a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory/Composition. I am a jazz pianist/composer, and am working with a talented singer, Paul Valerio, on an album of standards, which will be out later this month.

I have written one book so far, but hope to write many more.

I am a “jack-of-all-trades” sort, having done a stint in the US Marine Corps, and studied at a seminary while I discerned the life of a Catholic priest.

I’ve always enjoyed writing, especially whimsical stuff, though this book is not of that variety. When we were young, my brother and I started up a “service” called “Junk Mail For You,” which we sent to friends and family. It was anything we felt like writing, poems, silly stories with oddball repeating characters, stuff like that. The catch was that you couldn’t unsubscribe from the service. Well, at the end of each issue would be a notification which would offer the possibility to unsubscribe, but it always required a near-impossible feat to do so. Such as…

“To unsubscribe from Junk Mail For You simply place a shaved rabbit outside my parents’ bedroom tomorrow morning, with a note stating that the shaved rabbit is to be set free as a token offering for release from the Junk Mail For You Service. $50 would also be nice. For me, though, not for my parents.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I was inspired to write Manor of Corruption after watching the movie “Saw.” No, the book is not a horror story, but I always liked the idea of an intelligent villain, someone that you knew was messed up in the head, but you could see his point of view. He wasn’t straight evil, but rather did evil through some confused sense of justice. That’s much closer to reality than the “James Bond villain.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I really don’t just sit and write for an appointed allotment of time, though that would probably be a good idea. Unfortunately, I always tend to have a lot going on. I tend to just chew on the story and characters and ideas for a long time in my head, and then I will quickly jot it down at some point to remember it. I write stories the same way I write songs, they usually come out very quickly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
G. K. Chesterton is a huge influence. Manor of Corruption is essentially an explication of the first chapter of Chesterton’s, “Orthodoxy,” which I do reference in the book.

For writing style, I like Palahniuk–or however you spell that–the quick, to the point, no non-sense, style. There’s a word for that, I just can’t remember it at the moment. He’s like the modern Hemingway, in that way, in my opinion.

What are you working on now?
I am starting to spin out the follow-up to Manor of Corruption. This book is just an introduction of the characters, and the 2nd book will really blast the story out in a bunch of new ways. I’m pretty excited about it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, I’m pretty new at this, so I’m still trying to figure that out. I’m hoping that this website does the trick. 😉

So far, I would have to say that Facebook has done the most, just promoting the book within my friends and family. I have been active on Goodreads, which is always highly recommended.

When it comes right down to it, getting loud mouth friends to speak out for you is best. You can’t beat word of mouth.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I really shouldn’t, since I’m so new myself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know. No, I don’t know mobsters and criminals (though I am from New Jersey…), but I do know some philosophy, and my book is about packaging my message for the world in a fun way that someone would actually want to listen to.

For writing, as I said… get to the point. Forget all the flowery descriptions. If it doesn’t move the story forward, or develop a character, leave it out. Don’t write about the color of the wallpaper unless you’re using that to reflect some deeper message; “the wallpaper was as dark as his outlook,” or something cheesy like that.

Also, don’t spell everything out. Readers are smart. If you have to say “Paul was sad,” you haven’t doen enough to paint the scene, or you’re being redundant. Try to avoid describing the feelings of characters, unless you feel you have to. Their words and actions should do that without you having to say it out loud.

What are you reading now?
I jsut finished “A Killer in the Wind,” by Andrew Klavan, which I enjoyed. I was given “Tuxedo Park” for Christmas, which I am just starting to get into. Very different books, but I enjoy that.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Fame? Wild riches? Haha! My dream is to be able to live as an author and composer, and so my next step toward achieving that end is to publicize this book as much as possible. I’m searching out every avenue and paying off anyone I have to to get that done. 🙂

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 US Army Survival Manual…

No, ok…

I would bring Thomas a Kempis’ “The Imitation of Christ,” the Bible, of course, the collected works of CS Lewis (is that cheating?), and Grisham’s “The Chamber.”

Author Websites and Profiles
James Partlow Website
James Partlow Amazon Profile

James Partlow’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an author and Recovery Coach who works in areas of Intervention and Addiction Recovery. I work mostly involving Family, Group, Individual, Face to Face and Online based Counseling.

So far I have published one book and I am still writing two more concurrently. My first book is the one “Unbreak Your Marriage: Reconnect Your Marriage In 31 Days- Workbook”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book “Unbreak Your Marriage: Reconnect Your Marriage In 31 Days- Workbook is inspired by some interactions that I had with people that needed help. The book is about helping distressed couples to reconnect, rekindle and elevate their love life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I am an anxiety junkie. I am always nail biting.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Change Your Brain, Change your life, a book by Daniel G. Amen was a big influence. I read it over and over again.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a book that seeks to help victims of infidelity. This book again is influenced by the need to help those that are struggling with the after effects of a partners infidelity.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is my number one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Write and write and don’t take too long breaks.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always remember who you are and where you are going. (I got this from my dad)

What are you reading now?
Addictive Personality by Craig Nakken.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I will keep writing and clicking the publish button.

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?
Well, I would take:

1. Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel Amen

2. The book of Proverbs

3. Faithful and true

4. My book: Unbreak Your Marriage. haha!

Author Websites and Profiles
Brian M. Website
Brian M. Amazon Profile
Brian M. Author Profile on Smashwords

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