Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada so of course I wanted to go into a field that kept me near the ocean. I went into biology, and moved to Hawaii for college where I studied dolphins. Talk about being near the ocean, right? But after graduation I ended up back in Vegas where I took care of sharks and snakes at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. From there, I moved to Germany with my family and then took myself off to Ireland for my Ph.D. in animal behavior. I studied deer in Ireland, which was fun but the fieldwork was cold and exhausting. I lived in a house with a bunch of other people, including the man that eventually became my husband.

After graduation, I stayed in Ireland working and concentrating on writing. Then my husband decided he wanted to live in the US for awhile and we moved to New York. We’re a little settled in here now, with two boys and a dog, but we figure we’ll eventually go back to Ireland. (And no, I don’t have an accent. Though when I first moved back to the States, I kept getting asked by Americans where I was from because I had adopted so many Irish-isms). I am currently a stay-at-home mom and a full time writer. I’ve written a number of science fiction and fantasy romance books under a different pseudonym, but this is my first paranormal romance series. And also my first foray into self-publishing my own work!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
ONCE UPON A TIGER is the first book in my Tiger Shifter series–technically. I actually wrote a short story about the tiger world that was published in an anthology a few years ago. The short story was supposed to be a once off but as soon as I started thinking about the world I’d created, I knew there were a lot more stories to be told. So I wrote a novel set in the world, utilizing an aspect of the tigers’ background that didn’t come up in the short story. Then I set the novel aside and did some other things. When I decided to self publish the tiger series, I realized I wanted to go back in history a few years and start the series with another couple. And that’s how Once Upon a Tiger got started.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if they’re unusual. I do a lot of thinking about my books in the shower–I get some of my best ideas there, solve plot problems, figure out whole scenes! I even came up with the tiger short story in the shower. I think it’s the peaceful time when I don’t have to do anything else but wash my hair. Given the chaos of my normal life, I’m not terribly surprised the shower is such a good thinking space for me. 🙂 I write pretty fast now and almost always have to do my first drafting (which I do quickly) on a computer because I can’t keep up with my imagination otherwise. Also, I write by the seat of my pants. At least the first draft. But I do tend to spend a lot of time mulling stories over before I ever sit down to the computer to start typing, so I start with an opening scene and a pretty good idea of the direction I’m heading. Then I let the story tell itself.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh so many! I think at the moment some of my biggest influences are Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Patricia Briggs, and Linnea Sinclair. Historically speaking, my biggest influences have been fantasy authors–Mercedes Lackey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, David Eddings, Ann McCaffery, Raymond Feist, Barbara Hambley… There are really too many to list. I try to take inspiration from every author I read.

What are you working on now?
The second Tiger book 🙂 I’m in the mulling stage as there’s a few details in the opening I’m working out. But I will be fast drafting the first draft in the next week. (I’m also in the middle of edits for two other books under my other name, so my schedule is a little crazy). I’m looking forward to this Tiger story. As a tease…well there’s a killer in the background and some stuff is set up here that will play out in later books. Is that too vague and mean teasing?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well the best method of promotion is to try and write a good book! I do make an effort to do that (sometimes more successfully than other times but I do try). Then I make an effort to at least get my cover art shown at as many Romance focused places as I can. Here, Goodreads, Facebook, (my other name uses Twitter), Night Owl Reviews, The Romance Reviews, etc…. Promotion is still a progressive learning curve on my part so I’m constantly reworking my marketing plan.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
A few bits I’ve learned over the years–that old yarn about perseverance is true. If you’re in this for the long haul, you will have ups and downs, good years and bad, successful books and ones that don’t quite find their audience. It’s a tough business because we love all our books, but sticking to it is the only way to move forward. You can always quit (I actually quit about once a year–then go back to writing an hour later), but if it’s in your blood to tell stories, don’t give up. Your readers are out there waiting for just the book you have to offer. The other bit of advice I’d give is to give yourself a break. Bad reviews happen. Rejections happen. Snark and scams and bad business all happen. Let it roll off you. Take a breather and some time to play with your writing and ignore the business occasionally. You’ll forget why you wanted to be a writer if you don’t occasionally remind yourself the process of producing a book can be fun.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve heard a lot of great advice over the years. The best depends entirely on the particular period of time in my career. But most recently, I was reminded to make the writing the thing I do most. All the other stuff–marketing, social media, conferences, the business–should come second to actually sitting down to write and edit my books. The books are what sell, create a readership, and feed your fans. Without those, you might as well get a job at a marketing firm and make a steady salary. It’s all about the books, so that needs to be the primary focus. I forget that sometimes, in the scramble to keep up with the changing business of publishing, so I need to be reminded every so often of this truth.

Also, a piece of advice that should be self-evident but apparently isn’t: Writers Read. A Lot. If you’re a writer, you should also be a reader. Reading is part of the job too. Read everything too, not just the genre you write in. Read as much as you can. It will only make you better at what you do.

What are you reading now?
Fiction is a Meljean Brook book: Demon Angel. It’s the first in her Guardian Series which she’s just wrapped up and I wanted to go back and read the first book. I somehow managed to miss reading it before in my zeal to read the rest of the series. On the non-fiction side, I’m about to start a book called The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin. My oldest son is on the spectrum, so books on Autism tend to catch my interest. My mom recommended this one after she read it as it focuses on the science and my scientist brain likes that.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I’m concentrating on the Tiger Shifter series for 2014 and 2015, to see how it goes. And under my other name I’m concentrating on a fantasy romance series going forward. A lot of what I do next will depend on how the next year goes. This ever changing industry means I find it difficult to plan more than two years out. Who knows what will happen in those years! So while I’m working on my current plan, I am also staying flexible to the changes.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh I hate this kind of question because I want to take ALL THE BOOKS! Especially since I rarely re-read books, so finding ones I want to keep reading over and over is tough. I’d have to say Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie would be on the list. I actually liked that one so much I did re-read it a couple of times. Then maybe Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters. Hmmmm….. Oh Meljean Broook’s The Iron Duke. I could definitely re-read that a few times! Finally, maybe a historical romance to round out the library. Probably Julia Quinn’s The Duke and I. Tough choice though!

Author Websites and Profiles
Kat Simons Website
Kat Simons Amazon Profile

Kat Simons’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Ashley Sauls and I have a passion for writing. At an early age, I found joy at my grandparent’s house on their typewriter. I would sit in the den typing away at short stories, poems, songs or anything else that came to mind. I’ve always loved getting to inspire people through my writing and it wasn’t until recently that I pursued this passion further. Morning Motivation is the first in a series of devotionals and my first official project. However, I have served as an editor for over 20 projects for other writers and professionals.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of the first devotional book is “Morning Motivation.” The name was derived from Psalm 30:5(a), which says that “Weeping may endure for a season, but joy comes in the morning.” The devotional was written at a time where I was asking, “Where is the good that you promised me Lord.” From internal challenges to facing challenging people and situations, my writing was a therapeutic way to shift my thinking from what was going wrong to what was going right. Through writing this project, I wanted to inspire those who needed to refocus their thinking also . I wanted this audience to know that the Word of God provides the answers to each of life’s challenges and that through application, they can see a brighter day ahead. I shared the project prior to publishing with my parents and according to them “mission accomplished.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When most people are trying to get sleep, I love to write in the early morning hours. My peak time is 3 AM! All is quiet and I can really focus on the message I am trying to convey to my readers. To make for the best writing, I find my favorite music that varies from gospel, to classical or instrumental music. I also have my favorite writing gear that I must have to work, such as my writing blanket, writing pen, and dedicated writing journal. When these items are in place, I’m good to go.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite devotional is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Every time I read the devotional it feels like the Lord is speaking directly to my experience for the day. In writing Morning Motivation, I wanted to give readers this same experience through a 31 day devotional.

I also find inspiration from authors, such as Joyce Meyers and Joel Osteen. People need to know that there is hope and how to access this hope through the Word of God. I love that their approach is very down to earth and is not overly complicated.

Other authors that inspire me are Dr. Myles Munroe, Dr. Cindy Trimm, Bishop T.D. Jakes and Bishop Tudor Bismark. I am an avid reader, so I have gleaned wisdom from many different avenues.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a new project that will be released between March/April 2014. This book will begin my training series for ministries. Once the project is available, I will be releasing more details about what can be expected from this project.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found the best way to engage readers is by using my personal and business Facebook page. I find it important as an author to nurture relationships, so this is where many of my readers are. For this project, I shared brief quotes I wanted to expound upon further in the book. Based on the reception, I knew what had been presented would resonate with my readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice for new authors is not to stop mid-stream, because you feel that your project is not “good enough.” Especially when God leads you to write a book, He has a specific purpose in mind. There is someone who needs to hear the wisdom and insight you have been given. However, they cannot receive it if you do not make the wisdom available. Be precise, be through in your review, make sure you put forth the best project you can, but make sure to leave the results to God.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I heard might come as a surprise to some, but that “there is no perfect book.” I am prone to perfectionism and have a difficult time releasing something until it is “perfect.” I finally found peace from this elusive concept by realizing that if I waited until “I” felt it was perfect, it would never be released. I believe “Morning Motivation” is the best first edition release. God will continue to perfect the project as I go along and I am receptive to this part of the process.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Approval Addiction by Joyce Meyer. It is freeing to know that you will never please everyone and that your focus should be on pleasing God. I am also finishing Don’t Miss Your Moment by Judy Jacobs. I am known for reading more than one book at once, but I love reading.

What’s next for you as a writer?
For 2014, I will unveil the Morning Motivation platinum package. It is my desire to go beyond writing a book to help people to understand “how” to apply the wisdom in this devotional. The Morning Motivation package will be available as a web based program, which will include personalized teleconferences, inspirational podcasts, an exclusive newsletter and much more. I am also in the process of finishing another publishing project, where I get to utilize my strategist cap. You will be hearing more about this project when it is released in March/April 2014.

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?
If I were stranded on a desert island, I would have to have my Bible with me. It reveals truth that is fresh every morning. I would also have to bring The Principles and Power of Vision by Dr. Myles Munroe, Commanding Your Morning by Dr. Cindy Trimm, and Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ashley Sauls Website
Ashley Sauls Amazon Profile

Ashley Sauls’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi everyone! I was born in Belgrade, Serbia. I have obtained a degree in Psychology in 2005. My life companions are my husband and my cat.

My first piece of writing was a silly poem about a walking cherry (I was seven years old). I’ve been writing in one way or another for more than twenty years. I have recently published my first novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book, ‘Just Like a Musical’, is a contemporary young adult novel about an offbeat teenage girl. It was inspired by everything that makes adolescence – beauty, pain, search for identity, finding one’s place in the world. It’s such a fruitful period of life. It’s not easy and it hurts like hell sometimes, but it’s also the time that makes us who we are more than any other time of life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure whether this is unusual, but I find it hard to write if I don’t have a cup of coffee, tea, orange juice, or just anything else by my side. It doesn’t really matter what’s inside the cup as long as it’s drinkable. Other than that, I would say I’m pretty uninteresting while I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The author who influenced me the most is Vladimir Nabokov. His words helped me develop both as a person and a writer. Some others are Milan Kundera, Stefan Zweig, Andreï Makine, Lorca, Prévert…

What are you working on now?
I am currently trying to promote the hell out of my first book. It takes up most of my time these days. I’m also thinking about my next novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I can’t really answer this question right now. It’s been only ten days since I published my book, so I am yet to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself, so I don’t think I’m in a position to give advice. I would like, however, to remind all authors to stay true to themselves and be honest and genuine in their writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Self published authors can be impatient when it comes to publishing their books. Fortunately, I’m very curious, so I’ve done a lot of research before I decided it was time to hit the ‘publish’ button. I’ve read hundreds of great blog posts on self publishing, and almost all of them stressed the importance of hiring a proofreader. No matter how good you are at grammar or punctuation, you need a professional proofreader to look over your manuscript.

What are you reading now?
‘The Language of Sparrows’ by Rachel Phifer.

It’s a heartfelt story about an unconventional relationship between a fifteen-year-old girl who’s trying to cope with her father’s death and a reclusive old man who had spent time in Romanian gulag when he was young.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to write and publish my second novel by the end of 2014. I haven’t started to write yet, but the characters are slowly forming in my head, and that’s a good sign. They even talk sometimes.

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?
‘Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle’ by Vladimir Nabokov

‘How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird’ by Jacques Prévert

‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Brontë

Author Websites and Profiles
Milena Veen Website
Milena Veen Amazon Profile

Milena Veen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
At my most basic level, I’m a big ole nerd. I love comic books, particularly Batman and Spider-Man, I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy and sci-fi movies and television shows, I have a soft spot for Greek and Roman mythology, I love all kinds of anime/manga, and I generally love the craft of writing. I’m most likely found buried under my Dashboard on Tumblr geeking out about silly things or engaging in heated discussions about the role of women in George Lucas films.

I’ve self-published one novel, The Black Parade, but I’ve written the sequel and am in the process of finishing the final installment as it will be a trilogy. I’m also working on an epic high fantasy novel that I’ve been describing to people as “Avatar: The Last Airbender meets the X-Men with a dash of Firefly.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Black Parade. It was actually inspired by two different things–Paradise Lost by John Milton and the 2005 ‘Constantine’, which was a loose adaptation of the Hellblazer series featuring John Constantine.

Paradise Lost is a magnificent story that is revered academically and critically, but so far has not ever had much attention drawn to it in modern times. For instance, there isn’t a recent film adaptation of the story and I really wanted to take its mythology, blend it with some of my own ideas, and give it new life. It’s an epic tale with all kinds of vibrant beauty and horror and wonder and I knew as soon as I read it again in college that I wanted to take a run at the subject matter.

Constantine, while not the best urban fantasy film of all time, ignited a spark in my head. I loved the idea of angels and demons having to blend in to the 21st century and beyond. I wanted to see the famous characters from the Bible and from Paradise Lost interacting in our world nowadays and having to adapt to what humanity is and has evolved from since the early days. I also wanted to write it from a sadly rarely seen perspective–that of a female minority. There are plenty of black female protagonists out there in the literary world, but so few of them are seen in mass media. There is a demographic for this particular type of character and The Black Parade became my opportunity to expose it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t outline until at least halfway through the first draft of a manuscript. It’s not because I don’t see the value in it–my brain just doesn’t work with bullet points when it comes to fiction. I have to have the momentum already there on the page before I can map things out. Even then, I usually write a synopsis style outline instead of the traditional kind for some reason.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My brother suggested the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher to me early this year and now that I’ve found them, I am completely addicted. His work has influenced the way that I focus on character development and having my protagonists/antagonists make difficult choices. It has also influenced the way that I handle my supporting characters. They don’t exist just to protect or advance the lives of the main characters. They have their own goals and desires that just happen to intersect with the main hero and heroine.

The late great Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series, was a huge hero of mine growing up. He mastered the art of writing multiple characters, multiple story arcs, and intertwining them across a timeline that only a genius could keep track of at once. I love that he never once talked down to his audience. The Redwall series is remarkably mature and grounded in the kinds of struggles that adults would certainly find intriguing, but the way it’s written makes it perfectly accessible to children as well. I could never hope to reach that achievement level, but I always meditate on the idea that world building is more than a setting, and there is never a reason to assume your readers are idiots.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the third and final installment of the Black Parade series. So far, the working title is The Holy Dark. I plan to have it finished by Dec. 30th. The second novel in the series, She Who Fights Monsters, is already finished and will debut in summer 2014 after it has been professionally edited.

After The Holy Dark is finished, though, I’ve got two more projects lined up. The first is finishing my epic high fantasy novel that I mentioned above. It is two-thirds of the way done, and has now reached the length of an early George R. R. Martin novel. I have no idea how it ended up becoming so long and involved, but I’m ecstatic about it anyhow. It’s a completely new genre to me that I’ve had brief dealings with before (such as the Redwall series and the Symphony of the Ages novels by Elizabeth Haydon) and it’s my own world to run wild in. While I’ve massively enjoyed writing The Black Parade, this project has a larger cast of characters and a much wider scope. I can’t wait to finish it and see where it leads me.

The other project is another urban fantasy novel about a widower and his daughter who hunt dragons. It’s still just in storyboard mode in my head, but I have tons of notes about the two main characters and some of the supporting cast. I think it’s going to be a blast to write as well, so I’m eager to finish the Black Parade series in order to explore that avenue.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Thus far, I’ve had the most success with my Facebook page. I try and try to breakthrough on Twitter, but it’s a lot like that Chappelle’s Show sketch with the old janitor yelling, “HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA!” So many people advertise on Twitter that it sometimes feels pointless to even try. People scroll right past, even though my book might be something they’d enjoy if they gave it a chance. Facebook has helped me create a ground level for people who enjoy reading my blog posts or who have enjoyed reading my book.

I’d also like to mention that I did a two week virtual blog tour with Bewitching Book Tours that went rather well. They got my book in front of plenty of new sets of eyes and it was a fun experience to meet bloggers of all types.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Plenty. First, read this blog post if you want a shortcut into the world of self-publishing: http://shewhowritesmonsters.com/the-top-8-self-publishing-myths/

Second, don’t give up. It’s so easy to give up when you’re a new author. No one listens to you. Everyone just nods their heads when you tell them you write books and breeze right past the thing that is supposed to someday make you money. It’s horrendously depressing and upsetting and if you don’t have your own publisher or following before you launch your book, life is going to suck. And suck hard. But you still can’t give in no matter what. Hang in there. Find awesome people and learn what made them awesome and absorb it into your body like some crazy Voltron thing.

Third, don’t fall into the Suck Zone. 50 Shades of Grey became the fastest selling book of all time recently. Crap sells. But that doesn’t mean it should. Write a good book. You owe it to yourself to do that. Integrity isn’t always profitable, but it’s how you become more than just a byline on a past generation’s summary. Longevity exists in quality writing. You should want that, not to make a quick buck by clenching out some terrible fiction.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Knock on the door until your knuckles bleed. Eventually, someone will open it.” -Michael Uslan, producer of nearly every single Batman film (live action and animated) to date.

To give you some backstory, I went to UGA in my college days and he gave a magnificent lecture on the history behind getting Batman to the big screen. If I recall the facts properly, it took him over ten years, nearly twenty, to get someone to back him up and make Tim Burton’s Batman film. The only reason it happened was because he refused to give up, even after every single movie studio told him that no one would ever watch a movie about the World’s Greatest Detective. He kept pounding on that door. He kept bleeding for what he loved, and eventually, it happened. I’ve been self published for almost half a year now and my knuckles are already bruised, but I’m still knocking away.

What are you reading now?
Hellboy: On Earth as It Is in Hell by Brian Hodge. I loved the Hellboy films to pieces and so my brother lent me one of the novels. I’m already a third of the way through it and I’m enthralled. Hellboy is one of the best paranormal/supernatural franchises out there, and I know it has tons to teach me about religious and otherworldly cultures. I’m soaking it all in and loving every minute. (And I keep secretly hoping Guillermo del Toro will do like he promised and finish the movie franchise off with a third film. Fingers crossed.)

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned above, I have two sets of stories I want to tackle after I finish the Black Parade series. However, I do have some ideas that go beyond 2015. I have another idea for a story that involves a world where there are self-aware fictional characters who go to school to be taught how to become awesome characters worthy of their own franchises, be it films, books, anime, or any other kind of fiction media. Once they become good enough characters, they “ascend” into a writer’s mind. The main character is a young, awkward boy who is the son of the most famous action hero of all time. It’s very complicated and hard to explain, but I think it would be a lot of fun to write.

I also sheepishly admit that I intend to turn The Black Parade into a screenplay and someday shop around Hollywood to see if it could ever become a movie. The current trend in Hollywood is turning YA fiction into film series (and we have both Twilight and The Hunger Games to thank for that) so if my books sell, I might have a shot someday. It’s a pipe dream at best, but that’s the future I want for myself. I adore films, and filmmaking in general, and I hope to someday be able to see Jordan Amador kicking ass on the silver screen.

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 Darkest Hours by Jim Butcher, Mr. Maybe by Jane Green, Inheritance by Devin Grayson, and at least one Harry Dresden novel (I love all of them so much I can’t choose.) I think each of those books I’ve read over two dozen times so I could keep myself entertained for quite some time.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kyoko M Website
Kyoko M Amazon Profile
Kyoko M Author Profile on Smashwords

Kyoko M’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an Indie Author in New York who spends his time writing and wrangling his 4-year-old son. I spent over a decade planning my fantasy series while working office and retail jobs. I decided that 2013 would be the year I take a risk and push for a career as an author. So far, I have published the first three volumes of my fantasy adventure series and I’m writing the sixth volume as we speak. I kept writing the series even when I wasn’t getting anywhere with query letters, so my writing progress is pretty far ahead of my publishing progress.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Legends of Windemere: Allure of the Gypsies. The entire series is based on a Dungeons & Dragons game that I was a part of in college. It’s been heavily changed to work with the writing medium. My books have been influenced by my love of comic books, fantasy novels, video games, and cartoons.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My most unusual writing habit is that I write in present tense third person. I’m not really sure when it started, but some of my high school friends remember that I did it back then. It was the style I used in college and nobody ever pointed it out to me. So, I was really surprised when I published my first book in February and people told me it was an uncommon writing style. The only other odd habit I have is that I need loud music while I’m writing. It helps me zone out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like many fantasy authors, I’m influenced by Tolkien. I feel obligated to say that because I’ve noticed people demand I say it if I don’t mention him. The biggest influence was Fred Saberhagen whose Books of Lost Swords series inspired me to become an author. To this day, I’m not sure why this series sparked my love of writing and the desire to share my stories. I remember the deep and realistic characters within the detailed world that never felt over the top.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on Legends of Windemere: Curse of the Dark Wind. This is the sixth book of my series. Books 4 and 5 are with my friend who does editing. We’re aiming to release the 4th book, Legends of Windemere: Family of the Tri-Rune, in later February/early March.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I couldn’t pick just one website because I use so many. I find new advertising websites every month, so I don’t think a single one is the best. It’s all of them combined. As an Indie Author, I need to gain as much exposure as I can. Using multiple websites at once creates a wider net of influence.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Stay true to your style. People will give advice and you should listen, but never alter the core of your style to please other people.

2. Use blogging to promote your book and yourself. Reveal yourself to be a human being instead of the name on the bottom of your book’s cover.

3. Connect with other Indie Authors because it’s a tighter community than you realize. You will find an amazing level of support from people who are in the same boat you’re trying to get into.

4. Keep writing what you love.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The success of one Indie Author is a success for all of us.”

A fellow author told me this when I had started and it rings very true. I try very hard to succeed and pass my experience on to other Indie Authors. There is a stigma on Indie Authors that we’re all of low quality and don’t take the trade seriously. When one of us succeeds, we break down that belief and open the door for those who are still trying to get into the business.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Ranger’s Apprentice: The Kings of Clonmel. I hate to admit that I’ve been reading this book for the last few months. I keep getting distracted by my own books and helping other Indie Authors with end of the year releases.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep on writing and stay the course. My plan is to make 2014 bigger than 2013 and prove that I can make a living as an Indie Author.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hobbit, Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Ender’s Game, and How to Build a Canoe from a Palm Tree.

Author Websites and Profiles
Charles E Yallowitz Website
Charles E Yallowitz Amazon Profile

Charles E Yallowitz’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Unlike most authors, I don’t have some campy story about how I started writing at a young age. As a kid, I thought writing was stupid.

Last February I had a change of heart. I was watching the Super Bowl with my wife. The power went out in the stadium and I was left sitting around with nothing to do. That was when I got the idea to write my first novel, Farmers and Cannibals. Since February I’ve written three books.

Writing isn’t my day job. I teach grades 9-12 at a rural high school.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In writing my latest novel, But the Angels Never Came, I was influenced by several classic texts. The plot of the story follows the chapters of Genesis that pertain to the figure of Abraham. In my version, however, there is no God. In this atheist retelling, the characters are influenced by the philosophies of Any Rand, Nietzsche, and Alexi de Tocqueville. When I first began writing this novel, I was reading The Antichrist, Atlas Shrugged, and Democracy in America. I’ve also been told that it is similar to The Road.

Technically, But the Angels Never Came is a prequel to my first novel Farmers and Cannibals. However, each book stands on its own.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m sure I’d be a lot cooler if I did. But, no, unfortunately my writing habits are fairly normal. I use a laptop and I write on my couch. Every so often, when I’m writing, I’ll get up to use the bathroom. I’ve been told that that is normal.

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

What are you working on now?
I just finished my third novel, Just After the Fall. I’m releasing it in April. For the next few months I plan on writing a series of short stories. Each will be published individually on Amazon.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang…duh.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Only take advice from those that are more successful than you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t put metal in the microwave… think about it.

What are you reading now?
As an English teacher I try to keep up with the novels I assign for my students to read. Right now I’m reading The Catcher in the Rye, In Cold Blood, Crime and Punishment, The Great Gatsby, and Animal Farm. For pleasure I’m reading World War Z.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be publishing a short story every month on Amazon through July. Then I’ll be working on my fourth novel, Whom Cain Slew.

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 easy. I’d like to be stranded with the following: Moby Dick, The Brothers Karamazov, Paradise Lost, and a complete guide on how to survive on a desert island.

Eric James-Olson’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I work as a construction professional, writing in my spare time. I enjoy keeping fit, reading and writing.

Originally, after leaving school, I wanted to become a journalist, but things happen, focus changes . . . But I never lost sight of my dream of writing a novel. I worked my way through several hundred thousand words of idea development and over the years, although several projects began taking shape; they never got off the ground. I had working titles such as ‘The Road to Redemption’, the tale of a crusader knight in the twelfth century who stayed behind in The Holy Land long after the first crusade was over, serving a self-imposed penance for his part in the massacre that followed the siege of Jerusalem. At the same time, I was working on another project I called, ‘Finding Her’.

To date, those novels, while substantially developed, remain incomplete, casualties of writing in one’s spare time and the emergence of a more ambitious idea, which is covered in the answer to the next question.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Just before Easter in 2009, I had a conversation with a friend on the subject of writing, and it led me to summarise for her each of the stories I’d written so far. As I was recounting them, I was struck by a blizzard of new ideas that streamed from my mouth so spontaneously, I worried I wouldn’t be able to recall them afterwards.

Over the next few days, I wrote like a mad thing, just to record all the ideas. The Sister was born. The inspiration, looking back was the culmination of a series of ‘what if’ scenarios – What if I told you about a guy who was so successful at murdering young women, so devious and cunning, he’d remained undetected for over forty years? What if I told you a cold case reconstruction in late 2006, brought him onto the radar for the first time with the emergence of a new witness to the disappearance of a young nurse, in 1983? What if the detective assigned to the case had dark secrets of his own? Without giving away too much, I also wanted to explore the role that chance plays in all of our lives, and how fate governs us, and perhaps ultimately, the possibility that there is a life after death.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I often sit writing with a set of headphones on, but not listening to anything. Although I can edit whilst playing music, I can’t actually write. As for anything else, I’m not sure if any of these things really qualify as unusual. I keep an iPhone by my bed and use it to make notes, typically at around three o’clock in the morning. I’ll wake up with a strong idea of how to resolve a scene that’s been bothering me, or sometimes a completely new section will take shape. After an hour or two, I generally manage to go back to sleep and get up for work in the morning.

I’m sure others use calendars and charts, but in the middle of 2011, I blew up the months of a 2006/2007 calendar into several table cloth sized charts and began organising the scenes I’d written to ensure they were in some kind of order.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I count authors like Harold Robbins and Stephen King among early influences, but really, too many to mention here and books by either of them from their earlier years, up to The Betsy in Robbins’ case. I drifted away from King for a while. I guess you can read too much by the same author sometimes. Influential books? Black Elk Speaks, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, The Adventurers, Mountain Interval, but again, too many to cover here.

What are you working on now?
The Sister is an epic length novel that stands alone, but some of my beta readers convinced me to write a spin-off book following the lives of some of the characters from the story and I am half a dozen chapters into this latest venture. This second novel is expected to be complete by March 2014, and I’m very excited at the prospect of delivering a third novel, another spin-off, by the end of 2014. Once I have those out of my system, I will return to the original ideas I mentioned in the first question.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s a little bit early for me to know for sure, but I have found personal networking and face to face meetings with various people very effective in achieving a few sales, and then those people recommend to others. I use facebook and twitter, plus I’ve started registering with a number of sites such as goodreads, wattpad and librarything. All these things take time to gestate. My next book is tentatively booked to feature in a London magazine publication on the strength of The Sister.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
In hindsight, I’d have created a buzz before I published. I think it’s important to hit the ground running.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you always do what you always done, then you always get what you always got. Someone said it to me in a pub once. I know its a cannibalisation of an Anthony Robbins quote, but that’s how I’ll always remember it now.

What are you reading now?
Atrament Speaks by C. McDonald an author I much admire.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a developing and ambitious theme for a future novel, it will be of an epic length, just like The Sister. For now, it must wait while everything else comes together.

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 Sphalerite of Almandine, the next part of the trilogy by C McDonald. The Stand by Stephen King, I always intended to re read it at some point, what else? Choices, desert island eh? Perhaps Robinson Crusoe . . . although seriously, while I’m fond of the classics i think I’d try The Hunger Games.

Author Websites and Profiles
Max China Website
Max China Amazon Profile

Max China’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi All!

I’m Janette Harjo and I am a debut author with a trilogy as my first release/s. CONNECTIONS is a love story which continues for the length of the entire trilogy. The first novella in the series, FATED, is already out to RAVE reviews on Amazon!

The second in the series, CONNED, is expected to be released in January 2014.

INFORMED, the story’s conclusion, does not have an expected release date, as of yet. But I’m hoping for February 2014!

I have amy other stories on my cyber shelves soon to be released for your reading enjoyment!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’ve already told you about CONNECTIONS, but I don’t know what inspired it. it just appeared on the doorstep of my brain. 🙂

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I suppose the only unusual writing habit I have is that I stand while I’m working, whilst most writers sit in front of their keyboard.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible, The Hobbit, all things of love and fantasy…

What are you working on now?
I’ve been working on a Vampire Romance which I plan to release next Halloween.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I utilize a lot of social networks: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus, my blogspot at http://www.authorjanetteharjo.blogspot.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
PERSEVERE! NEVER GIVE UP!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Hang in There”

What are you reading now?
I just finished “The Lady of Luxembourg” which I LOVED!,

and am currently reading “The Riddle” which though is not of a genre I read, I am finidng most interesting and is a real page turner!

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing. What else! 🙂

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 romance.

Author Websites and Profiles
Janette Harjo Website
Janette Harjo Amazon Profile
Janette Harjo Author Profile on Smashwords

Janette Harjo’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Rita Chapman, writing as Rita Lee Chapman because there was someone writing vampire books under Rita Chapman.

I live in Australia and started to write when I retired to Queensland. I have a wonderful lifestyle here, swimming, playing tennis and socialising. On rainy days I write and my first book was a romantic travel mystery, Missing in Egypt and my second is one for horse lovers from teenagers upwards, Winston – A Horse’s Tale.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Winston – A Horse’s Tale was inspired by a lifelong love of horses. It was much easier to write than my first book and I am now in the process of promoting it – the hardest part!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I wouldn’t say I have been influenced by anyone but I do love Bryce Courtney and Kate Morton, both Australian authors. If only I could write like them!

What are you working on now?
I’ve started a crime thriller but I haven’t been working on it for the last couple of months as I edited and formatted Winston – A Horse’s Tale.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have my own website www.ritaleechapman.com and I really enjoy Goodreads. I opened a Facebook page but I’m struggling with it. I’m also on Savvy Authors, Library Thing, Booktalk.org plus a few others. My local bookshops have been very supportive too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
With Amazon everyone can now publish their work and their CreateSpace division means you can hold a copy of your book in your hand s0- an amazing feeling. My advice is always edit, edit, edit then edit some more (and you will probably still find errors!).

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat other people as you would like to be treated yourself – not book related but still a great piece of advice for life.

What are you reading now?
The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to publish my next book by the end of the year and continue hosting other authors on my website.

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?
Kate Morton’s Shifting Fog, Bryce Courtney’s The Persimmon Tree, Fiona Walker’s Tongue in Cheek.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rita Chapman Website
Rita Chapman Amazon Profile
Rita Chapman Author Profile on Smashwords

Rita Chapman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Z. R. Moore is a life and relationship coach, freelance writer, and author. The purpose of my books is to lo help as many people the problems that hold them back in life. I really enjoys writing articles and books that teach people new skills that they can use to make things better for themselves.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Best Damn Advice Ever: 10 Real Signs that He’s Cheating on You

What inspired this book is the number of women that I know who are in long term relationships where this is happening to them. I was inspired to find effective information that can help a person who may be going through this painful experience.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not really

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors like Iyanla Vanzant and Gary Zukov really have influenced me. Their works really can make a difference in someone’s life. I know that they have helped me a lot.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on book right now that will help people to get raises and promotions on their jobs.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promoting on facebook and article marketing

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep trying and never give up

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It is what it is and that’s all it will ever be. Nothing you do or say will change it. This is the reality of the situation. Start dealing with it.

What are you reading now?
I’m not reading any books right now. Currently, I am focused on getting my third book finished.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just to keep writing more books and hopefully I will be able to be a bestseller one day.

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 by Joey Vitale

In the Meantime by Iyanla Vanzant

The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukov

Author Websites and Profiles
Zandra Moore Amazon Profile

Zandra Moore’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a twenty year old student attending Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Usually, I am a shy person, but publishing a book and moving to the city has helped me to get out there a little more. I love being around people who share my passion of reading, writing, and video games. So far, I have written two incomplete manuscripts and published one book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first and latest book, Abiding Heart, is set in the mid twenty-first century after the third World War. The Hunger Games and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door were important inspirations for this story. I enjoyed the dystopian theme in The Hunger Games and used a similar theme for Abiding Heart. The psychological issues that my main character Selena often deals with are also inspired by the panic attacks that I used to frequently get in high school.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think any of my habits are unusual. To write something good, I usually have to put myself in a bubble by wearing headphones with music that fit the mood of the passage I am writing. Even little distractions will result in a writer’s block.

I try to write every day (unless I am too busy with school or other things) for a minimum of a thousand words. This is usually how I gage a successful writing day; over 1,500 words is a good writing day, whereas less than a thousand is a poor day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Terry Goodkind’s writing style as well as the dark themes in his books is often on my mind when I try to weave a good story. I also enjoy the inspiration that heavily psychological horror stories, such as books from Patrick Senecal, bring to my creativity. Contemporary teen books such as The Hunger Games and the Divergent series are a great influence on the way to build a strong feminine protagonist.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the first book of a trilogy called Shark Academy. So far, the title of this first book will be “Demons Below Us”. In this story, readers will discover the dark magical universe in which gifted kids learn to control their bodily energy in order to fight demons and defend the Earth. When fourteen year old Elyssa Stone and her best friend Theo learn that they hold these magical abilities, she is thrilled to be able to break the mold and make a difference in the world. But her strong powers and enthusiasm may get the best of her.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far Goodreads has reached the biggest number of people, but I have not been doing this for a long time. I have a WordPress blog and try to gain a bigger audience by engaging with my other interests and go beyond reading and writing. My blog is at charleneboutin.wordpress.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every day. I am a newly published author, so I do not have a lot of experience on that side of things, but I have been writing fiction ever since I learned to write. The more you write, the better it will get. I wrote my first manuscript at the age of eleven, and that book was far from publishable, but by writing for several years I have evolved from that state.

Also, write what you know. I usually like to stick with universes that I have made up myself (or a modified version of our own world) because I have a lot of imagination, and also because I have never travelled that much. I know of the world, but I feel like I don’t know enough to write about it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Review, edit, revise. That is the thing I have the most trouble with, and so it is the advice I have to keep repeating to myself all the time. Any author will tell you that a book isn’t written; it is re-written. Several times.

What are you reading now?
I have just finished The Third Kingdom by Terry Goodkind, and I am about to read Insurgent, the third book in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write the Shark Academy trilogy while completing my Bachelor’s degree at Concordia. I hope to have Demons Below Us (Shark Academy Book 1) published by the end of 2014.

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 is a difficult question. I would have to say Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind for sure, then Inkheart for nostalgia. I think I would also take Aliss by Patrick Senecal. But for the fourth one, I just can’t seem to make up my mind…

Author Websites and Profiles
Charlene Boutin Website

Charlene Boutin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
To say that I am a shy guy would be as accurate as any other description. I am a very private person, but at the same time, I try to be as open as I can about who I am as a person, without giving away every little dirty secret or tidbit about my quiet, yet blessed life. To be honest, I don’t like talking about myself unless someone asks me a specific question, and even then, I may politely refuse to answer if it is far too personal. Heck, talking about my work is even a chore for me… I don’t like to gloat or seem pushy (which is why I hate the marketing side of the business, but alas, it is a necessity, so I must grit my teeth and bear it).

What I can say is that I’m a good guy with two degrees in Creative Writing and Computer Graphic Design. I write as much as I can, when I can (and when I’m feeling it) and want to be able to do so as a profession… that’s not to say I care to be rich and/or famous, it simply means, if I can make a good living and pay the bills with my writing, that would be a dream come true (anything more would be icing on the cake!) Until then, I work diligently as a graphic designer.

I’ve written four novels, three of which are published (“Year of the Songbird”; “Jaxxa Rakala: The Search”; “In the Light of the Eclipse”) and one that I will be editing soon (after I finish my next book, the sequel to Jaxxa Rakala) for a release in late 2014. Aside from that, I have also written several screenplays (both short and feature length), some of which I have produced myself, still many others that continue to sit “on the shelf” (and still others that I need to go back in and re-edit).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a young adult novel called, “In the Light of the Eclipse.” It was inspired by a conversation I had with a group of kids at the annual Christmas Eve party that my aunt throws for our family. One year, I was discussing books and how much these kids read (all of whom are listed in the acknowledgments of the book, and include my niece and nephew), and I mentioned that I was a writer. They didn’t believe me and started razzing me about it, so I challenged them to come up with a story that I would then write for them. They didn’t miss a beat—by the time I left that night, I had characters and some possible plot points. I wrote it all down, added my own two cents to make the story coherent and viola—”In the Light of the Eclipse” was born (though it did take several years to actually start writing!).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess my most unusual would be that I like to write with the television on. I can write without it, but it doesn’t feel the same. I like the noise and the distraction of the television. At times it gives me inspiration, at others it slows my mind down (and still others, as I’m trying to come up with the next piece of dialogue, or where to take the characters next, it serves as a nice break). Other than that, you can check out a guest blog I did at Book Loving Hippo, where I discuss my full writing process. Is any of it odd? Maybe, but that’s my way in a nutshell.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influences would be the works of Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe and Dean Koontz (with a little bit of Michael Crichton thrown in for good measure). On the film side, Christopher Columbus and Christopher Nolan have influenced my writing. They all have a unique voices and a way of spinning a yarn that captivates my brain. Any of their writings have seeped into my work (including “The Stand,” “The Mask”, “A Tell-Tale Heart” and “Jurassic Park”… not to mention “The Goonies!”), but other works, such as “How To Eat Fried Worms,” “The Princess Bride” and “The BFG” have all infused a bit of their styles and voices into my soul and were instrumental in sparking in me the desire to write and create new worlds and characters. Oh, and Shel Silverstein as well—brilliant!

What are you working on now?
Right now I am on a bit of a break (though there really isn’t such a thing in the world of writing, is there?), but as the new year breaks, I will begin work on the second book in the “Jaxxa Rakala” saga, “Memoirs of Keladrayia: Jaxxa Rakala,” which I will be publishing sometime next summer. I will also be working to raise funding for a screenplay I am looking to produce next year through a Kickstarter Campaign that will begin in late January or sometime in February.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a tough one, since I haven’t had much luck promoting my books as of yet. I’m still feeling my way through this whole marketing thing (as I said before, I’m not good at it at all), but I am building a fan base on GoodReads and have been writing on and developing my blog, Chaos breeds Chaos (which is linked to my Facebook Author page). Right now, those are my two biggest promotion avenues (except for the publications official website, http://publications.divinetrinityfilms.com). I did have a blog tour for “In the Light of the Eclipse” and am always looking for new (and fresh) ways to find my audience. And then, of course, there is Awesome Gang, which I have my books listed on!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick to it, don’t give up and make sure you do everything you can to make sure the novel is at its absolute best (meaning, don’t rush) before publishing (or seeking a publisher). Also, don’t get so desperate to publish that you become susceptible to a possible scam. Always look over the fine print and do your research before accepting any contract or deal from anyone who claims they can sell your book. I found that out the hard way.

But whatever you do (and whatever happens), keep writing, no matter if it makes you a single dollar or a million of them, because if you are a writer, that’s what you do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When I was going to film school (long story), I was in an editing class and the teacher said (and I’m paraphrasing), “If you’ve ever been watching a bad movie and you catch yourself reediting and watching for the editing style, then you are an editor.” He went on to say that it worked for cinematographers and other professionals in the business. And that’s when it hit me that I was a writer, since when I watch a movie and television show that’s just outright horrible, I always catch myself “reading” the script as I watch and making mental notes about what I would have done different. Hearing those words all but solidified what road I needed to be walking.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Stephen King’s “Under the Dome.” I wanted to try and read it before the show started on CBS last summer, but I got busy with some other things; and then I wanted to read it in alongside the adaptation, but again, life got in the way. I’m halfway through it now… but it’s been a long while. I’m also beta reading a friends new novel and giving my notes on that.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Other than writing “Memoirs of Keladrayia: Jaxxa Rakala” and editing my other novel, I am looking to begin a series of young adult adventures (with a planned twenty books), doing some more short stories, and writing some additional screenplays. I am also planning another story that I can’t divulge right now, since it involves something that I don’t think anyone’s attempted (though it’s always possible it has)… we’ll see if that goes anywhere, and even if it doesn’t, it’ll be fun to try.

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 first demand to bring my dream girl with me, but if that turned out to be a waste of time, the books I would bring with me would be “Year of the Songbird,” “Jaxxa Rakala: The Search” and “In the Light of the Eclipse”… because if the world ended while I was on the island and someone came along to find me long after I was dead, at least then they would be some rare commodities.

If I was disallowed to bring my own work, then I would choose The Stand, The Princess Bride, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Peter Pan, as all of them embody, in some way, my personality, whether as an author or a person. I’ll leave it to you to figure out which parts of them are part of me!

Author Websites and Profiles
Bryan Caron Website
Bryan Caron Amazon Profile

Bryan Caron’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Michael J Synnott and I’m a sci-fi/fantasy writer from Ireland. I’ve been writing technical articles for IT industry magazines on and off for twenty years, but I published my first novel, The Magus Conspiracy, Book I of the Tír Saga, in 2013.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In May 2013 I published my first novel, The Magus Conspiracy (CreateSpace; ISBN:1470080842.) It centres around three teenagers who get embroiled in a 12,000 year old conspiracy when their parents disappear in mysterious circumstances. It was inspired by the places I hung out in and comics I used to read as a child in Wicklow, Ireland in the 1970s.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Here’s a strange one: I do most of my writing on public transport. I still work in IT and I have about fifteen hours a week where I have to sit on my arse on a coach. I used to listen to music or doze in that time but I found out accidentally that if I find a quiet seat and crack open my laptop, I can be amazingly prolific during those fifteen hours.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m hugely influenced by fantasy or sci-fi books that involve alternate universes or realities. I’m also blown away by epic sci-fi with really clever extrapolations of what will be possible with physics and mathematics in the future; stuff like EON by Greg Bear, the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons and almost anything by Iain M. Banks. I also love hard-boiled thrillers with edge of the seat action, detective novels and stuff with ancient puzzles which get uncovered and must be solved. There are elements of all those things in my first book.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working hard on the sequel to The Magus Conspiracy, ‘The Lebor Stara’ which is slated for publication in March 2014. I’m also preparing for the final book in the trilogy, as yet unnamed, which will be published in December 2014.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am pretty clueless about how best to market my books, I’ll be honest. I have been using Facebook fairly extensively but probably not in the most effective way. I recently engaged an Irish marketing company called STOMP to help me out with this. They have got me using FB more effectively and have finally gotten me on to Twitter, although they tweet far more in my name than I do. They’re also helping me to sort out my frankly hideous website – the state of which is a disgrace, given that I’m a software developer with thirty years experience under my belt!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid; jump right in. Even if you think your spelling and grammar isn’t up to scratch, get your first draft down then show it to someone you trust to help you with sharpening it up.

Also, I recently wrote the following short blog post about coping with writer’s block:

1. Re-read one of the books that inspired you to write in the first place. My go-to sci-fi novels are Eon by Greg Bear and The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. The Talisman by King and Straub is another favourite. After a chapter or two I’m generally raring to go again!

2. Do something tangential to the writing of the book like drawing a family tree, drawing a map, designing a building or a town. Imagine how you would describe it on paper as you’re doing it. This puts your head into the right space to be creative about your theme, but takes away the pressure of having to write word-after word. If you’re good at art and graphics you might even be able to use the resultant illustration in your book! The cube on the cover of my book The Magus Conspiracy was the result of one of those ‘avoiding writing’ sessions. http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Magus-Conspiracy/book-KeNuw-VqmUuRI1wr5EGObg/page1.html

3. Drink a small amount of something alcoholic before you sit down to write. When I go out to socialise I’m a beer and whisky drinker (c’mon, I’m Irish!) – and I like an occasional glass of red with dinner – but what works for me to loosen the gears when I’m blocked is a chilled glass of white wine. Only white wine; all the rest just make me drowsy and distracted. And I’d almost never drink white wine otherwise. Strange, huh?

4. When all else fails, grind the words out one by one. Even if it’s horrid, turgid gunk that no-one in their right mind would read, even if it’s written in kindergarten English (or whatever your chosen language is), you’re writing and being productive. You can always go back and fix it later.

5. Above all, never worry about it if you’re blocked. Worry is pointless and it only exacerbates the problem.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Kill every adverb and almost every adjective from your writing. Treat every such embellishment with the utmost distrust and only leave it in if its pulling its weight.

What are you reading now?
The Istanbul Puzzle by Laurence O’Bryan

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Slant by Greg Bear

The January Flower by Orla Broderick

Pelican Bay by Jesse Giles Christiansen

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting an agent, getting a decent publishing deal and getting the hell out of IT so I can write full time.

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 two books. One; a large plastic inflatable book about three metres long, and two; a tutorial book entitled ‘How to make oars out of sand.’

(I wish I could lay claim to that as my own, but that’s from the stand-up of an Irish comedian called Ardal O’Hanlon who played Fr. Dougal on the Channel Four show Fr. Ted.)

In all seriousness, I would bring EON by Greg Bear, The Lord of the Rings, The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons and The Stand by Stephen King.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael J Synnott Website
Michael J Synnott Amazon Profile

Michael J Synnott’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Fantasy junkie and have been so since I was around seven or eight years of age. I played every fantasy and science fiction based game i could get my hands on before I began reading Fantasy novels. Once that began, it could not be stopped.
I loved tension in a book, great battle scenes and a believable magic system that held relevance to the story. So often, much of the setting, magic and hierarchy of the land is taken for granted, leaving the reader let down at the climax of the book. I never liked that. I love reading a story that promises a big ending and delivers. So now, that’s what I write.
I’ve written and published three fantasy novels (No Gods of Conscience, Pilgrimage of the Dead and The Vision of Men) with two more due out in 2014 (Shadows of Cass Vale and Dread of Spirit). All of my books are interrelated, occurring in the same setting, some characters moving through the various books interacting. My work thus far has been hailed by fans as “the best battle in fantasy.” I aim to forward that cause and stress character depth. I think those two things, plus magic and undead, make for great tension and story.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published work is The Vision of Men and it is inspired by mankind’s response to the feeling that they are being pressured by fate, or in this case, the gods. It is the idea that if you caught fate moving you, you could make a strategy to use that against destiny and redirect your ultimate purpose. This is a sequel to No Gods of Conscience and Pilgrimage of the Dead.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I typically have to have music in the background and a silent television playing, but only if it is playing a movie I’ve seen already. I’ll tune in for the parts i enjoy and then ignore it the rest of the time. I also write almost exclusively between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S.Friedman, Steve Perry, Elizabeth Moon, L.E. Modesitt

What are you working on now?
Two things: Being a good father to my daughter and letting people know I’m here. I’ve written 19 manuscripts but the real trick is finding new readers. Marketing is an area I where I lack skill and understanding, so i labor along with those trying to guide me in order to let people know about my work.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Face to face always conveys the enthusiasm and passion and which website? Why, this one of course!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, and keep writing. One book means you can do it. Ten means your dedicated. Never stop. It’s like growing a Redwood. It goes slow and it takes time, but eventually you’ve created something that will outlast you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stop talking about your story and write it down.

What are you reading now?
I have a few books, depending on where I am. I’m reading historical work on Pearl Harbor, Shadows of Cass Vale (my own work) and The Deed of Paksenarrion

What’s next for you as a writer?
A Forest Beseiged, a novel about the Nemian people, a race created of human spirit magic, that tends to the great crystalline Gulphorns — these are trees — that recycle human souls. The forest is attacked by power hungry enemies and the Nemians must defend it to save Reman ( the continent on which they live) and balance all of Oerhe (the planet).

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 Deed of Paksenarrion, Pilgrimage of the Dead, Dark Sun Rising and Red Storm Rising

Author Websites and Profiles
Jason Bilicic Website
Jason Bilicic Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Rick Chiantaretto. I’ve often been accused of having done more in my life than the average person my age but if I were completely honest, I’d have to tell you my secret: I’m really 392.

So after all this time, I’m a pretty crappy writer.

I have two books published and a bunch half written (when you have eternity, where’s the reason to rush?). I’ve been favorably reviewed by horror greats like Nancy Kilpatrick, and my how-to-write-horror articles have been quoted in scholarly (aka community college freshmen’s) papers.

I enjoy the occasional Bloody Mary, although a Bloody Kathy or Susan will suffice.

Mostly, I just try to keep a low profile so people don’t figure out who I REALLY am.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest project is the Crossing Death series, and I just published Death of the Body (Crossing Death #1) on Friday, the 13th of December 2013 🙂

The entire series was actually inspired by a dream. Granted I had to take some liberal license and plug a whole lot of holes. From the human invasion of Orenda, to the dog Max, to the escape from Madam Lucacious’ test on the hillside, to the surprise at the very end of the book (and even to the very last page of the series that has yet to be written), I dreamt it all. The dream was so vivid that when I woke up, I was devastated that I had misplaced my father’s ring, and spent half an hour looking for it.

You know those dreams within a dream that are so vivid it takes you a while to convince yourself you’ve woken up?

I kept telling myself it was only a dream, but I had died and awoken so many times I couldn’t be sure. When I saw my friend for the first time that morning, I was so completely convinced I was dead that I sheepishly asked her if she could see me. She laughed and assured me I was alive, but it still took 3 hours to feel semi-normal again.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I suppose I don’t write every day, and that’s unusual for a writer. I have to be in the right frame of mind, and usually that ends up being pretty late at night. Since I write dark fantasy and horror, I tend to huddle myself in a blanket with my favorite cookie (or other snack), turn out all the lights, dim my monitor, and let the ghosts speak to me while I write.

Most of the time, I end up catching my own reflection in a mirror or window, illuminated by the glow of the monitor. The scariest thing in the room, of course, is me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
LJ Smith’s “The Forbidden Game” was a huge trilogy for me when I was a kid. That book made me fall in love with reading. Nancy Kilpatrick has always been an inspiration–she was one of the first “real” authors to support me and my work.

What are you working on now?
Death of the Spirit, book two in the Crossing Death series, of course!

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

I think it’s all about social media. You have to get to know the book bloggers, and make them fans. Book bloggers have their own little underground society, and I love it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I hear people, all the time, say “Oh, I’m writing a book.” Usually, when I hear that, I get a little sad. Don’t get me wrong–I think EVERYONE has a book inside of them, and CAN write a book.

But what makes a writer is someone who finishes.

There comes a point when you have to decide you’re an author. That’s it. That’s the moment. That’s when you commit and you finish. If you’re “writing a book” you’re not an author yet. You’re an author when you dedicate to being an author.

And that dedication is what most writers lack.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t wait. Publish now. I can’t believe how many authors I know who sit on their work, waiting for one of the big publishers to pick them up, querying agents every day and plastering their walls with rejection letters. That’s because they don’t really have much else to put in the query letter other than “I finished this manuscript, and my mom likes it.”

Publish. Become the author you’re supposed to be. Then you can write in your query letter that you have 15,000 Facebook followers and are selling 10,000 books a month. That makes your chances much better, and you get to make money while you “wait.”

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Rebecca Ethington’s series (both Through Glass and Imdalid), and anything by Sheena Boekweg is great. Nancy Kilpatrick has a new short story coming out in an anthology, and I’m excited for that, and I’m about to one click Stephen King’s Dr. Sleep :).

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to finish up the Crossing Death series, and then start working on a couple of other books I have in my head. I’m very excited for a “fairytale mystery” I have planned, and my quintessential haunted house novel.

My husband and I hope to move to Costa Rica soon… so if I can find a way to write horror novels on the beach, that would be ideal.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Can I take 3 or 4 Kindles instead? They’re smaller, and hold lots more books ;).

Author Websites and Profiles
Rick Chiantaretto Website
Rick Chiantaretto Amazon Profile
Rick Chiantaretto Author Profile on Smashwords

Rick Chiantaretto’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I don’t like talking about myself unless we’re sitting in a coffee shop, but I’ll give it a go.

I create and destroy worlds. I’m a freelance editor, an author, and have discovered I’m quite good at the romance thing—writing it, that is—along with vampires, werewolves, zombies, angels and demons. I’m the CEO and Founder of Just Ink Press, and review books in my spare time, of which I rarely have any. I’ve completed about six or seven books with several more in various stages of completion. I have four books published; three novels and an anthology. I’m currently working on three other books–one novel and two novellas–in the little spare time I have between my IT help desk job, the freelance copy edits, and the publishing company I run.

I was born on Friday the 13th, hence the name “Jinxie.” Currently, I live in Tempe, Arizona with Umi (my mother), whom I care for. I do enjoy riding my beach cruiser “The Betty” around downtown Tempe when it doesn’t have a flat tire, love a good pub crawl, and I’ve had the pleasure and the heartache of experiencing a love far greater than I could have ever imagined.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have a short story in the anthology “Into the Darkness” titled, “The Token.” Inspiration came one day when I worked at a local college and one of the professors handed me a “Token of Appreciation,” which I thought was kind of neat, but then started thinking about the “what ifs” as the paranormal part of my brain kicked into overdrive. And I birthed “The Token.” It’s really not a good thing to keep.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It changes from time to time. I have phases I go through. One book, I’ll need music. Another book, I’ll need complete silence around me in order to write. Sometimes I need chocolate. But I always need caffeine.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Shakespeare, Poe, Patricia Briggs, Stephen King, JR Ward. They’re all exceptional writers and three inspired me in my teens.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working on the next book in the Kick-Ass Girls Club series titled, “Assassin.” Teagan’s being a real bitch about telling me her story, so it’s taking a while. My schedule has drastically changed as well, so I’m no longer writing in the middle of the night. In fact, I should be writing right now, but instead, I’m filling out this interview. Ah, procrastination. Thou art an evil bitch.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try different things, and have been discovering quite a bit these past few months, so the answer to that is kind of up in the air, as in I’m not sure which is the best yet aside from word of mouth. In January 2014, my website justinkpress.com will offer direct buy, so I’m hoping that will help sales. Aside from that, I try to promote using Author Marketing Club, etc.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. And then write some more. Read a lot. Read everything you can before you write. Different genres, style guides, grammar books if you didn’t learn that in high school. Just read. And then write. And don’t allow anyone to snuff out your dreams. Don’t be afraid to put your writing out there. Fear is the one constant that kills dreams. Don’t allow it to stop you from doing what you love to do, what you’re passionate about, regardless of what that is.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you’re going through Hell, keep going.” ~Winston Churchill

No, seriously. My life has been a roller coaster to Hell and back several times, and you have to keep going when you’re knee-deep in the worst bit or you’ll never get out.

What are you reading now?
Gnash by Brian Parker. He asked me to review it for the Zombie Survival Crew website. In case it isn’t obvious, it’s a zombie book. Did I mention how restricted I am on time? Yeah. It’s taking me a while because of that.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Oh my God, so much! I see a lot of novels in my future, and they’re not all mine.

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?
Poe’s complete works, Shakespeare’s complete works, any one of the Mercy Thompson novels, and a graphic novel Witch Doctor. *grins*

Author Websites and Profiles
N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio Website
N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio Amazon Profile
N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio Author Profile on Smashwords

N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a comedy writer from England and so far have written one novel. But I’m writing another one so there will be more, argh!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my debut novel is ‘The Day My School Fell Down’. The book is about a decrepit, disastrous school in England that is full of hopeless teachers, and even worse children.

I’m not sure what inspired the novel specifically, I have so many ideas and I think you can make comedy out of any situation. My main ambition was to create an entirely new world from my imagination, but a world that people can relate to – and ideally laugh at!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t drink coffee and I never stay up late to write. This is unusual because I think many people believe that writers are twitching, bleary-eyed Dracula lookalikes, staring into the abyss of their computer screen and throwing cigarette butts out the window at 2am. I am a stereotypical writer in other ways though, I sometimes go for a jog and am on the run from the bank manager. I was last seen in Timbuktu.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
None. When asked this question I often pretend I am influenced by Dickens. Although he’s one of my favourite writers, I’m not actually influenced by him. I very rarely read other writers’ books because I’m constantly writing myself. I try to create my own, original voice. That doesn’t mean I don’t greatly admire other writers though, because I do.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing a sequel to ‘The Day My School Fell Down’ and also a lot of very silly poetry that I’ll publish in some form. I very much hope new readers, and current ones, will enjoy it all!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
All the websites I’ve used so far for book promotion have been fantastic! The worst website has been my own, as my choice of coloured fonts has been spontaneous and ill-judged. I give my own website nil points.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stay true to yourself and don’t listen to unprofessional critics with bushy eyebrows!

Unless the majority of the population truly despise your writing, chances are you are on the right track by getting published. Believe in your stupendous ideas, after all, you are the author. Be prepared for a few ‘oh, you should have written a book about fairies instead’ or ‘I didn’t understand your book what does it all mean’ types, as long as they are few, just politely listen, ignore, and cross them off your Christmas list. It’s a small, but very brilliant, revenge.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.

– G. K. Chesterton

What are you reading now?
My own writing, as I tend to go over every sentence at least a hundred times, and even then, often it isn’t good enough! Unfortunately, this magnificent process doesn’t leave much time to read other books. I do hope to re-read The Hobbit one day, as I first encountered it as a very young child, so it will bring back beautiful memories.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Lots of promotion, which may include standing in the street and waving my book around. I may also resort to skipping down pathways whilst reading character descriptions and as a last resort, put my book in the sea, and hope it washes up on an island where mysterious tribes read it, and it enhances their whole outlook on life. And all this has to be done by next week. I need to come up with some similarly brainy ideas for the week after…!

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 Oxford Dictionary, a notepad (to do my own writing), and a puzzle book. Never dismiss a good puzzle, particularly a word game! I’m getting excited just thinking about it – when am I going to be stranded? I can’t wait!

Author Websites and Profiles
Gemma Ramji Website
Gemma Ramji Amazon Profile
Gemma Ramji Author Profile on Smashwords

Gemma Ramji’s Social Media Links
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Facebook Profile
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have always loved writing, but it came second to earning a living. As I am a musician I have spent many years working in music education. I have written and composed music as well as books, but these days I tend to focus more on the book side rather than the music education side.

I have three poetry collections out now and one in the pipeline. I love poetry because it is clean and there is the challenge of choosing the right words and avoiding redundancy. This really appeals to me in all my writing. I am not a fan of wordy writing full of redundancy – I think that is why I like hemingway particularly – every word and idea counts. My favourite poets seem to write in a musical way and I particularly love Dylan Thomas. I also write about musical analysis as this is of major interest to me.

Now I have more time on my hands, I am writing more seriously.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Cougar. I adore British Columbia and its scenery and I have always been fascinated by vampires and the supernatural. In the Western Hemlock Forest you get the feeling that anything could happen and this book arose out of a dream I had one night. In my mind’s eye I was walking to the Lower Falls in Golden Ears (a place I know well) and Berenice turned up and struck up a conversation with me. She turned out to be a shape shifter and vampire. Berenice (originally a Renaissance lady) spoke to me in that dream and insisted “Tell my story”. I ran with it, and The Cougar was the result. It is more of an old style Gothic romance than a horror story, although it has some horror elements. There is also quite an LGBT angle, so it is different in some ways from the average paranormal romance.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
With poetry I tend to scribble on bits of paper – bus tickets, shopping receipts, envelopes. Writing a poem is all in the moment and I don’t always have a notebook. Otherwise I tend to curl up with the cats on the sofa and type into my laptop. I drink endless cups of Earl Grey tea when writing and coffee when editing!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many! Wilfred Owen, Keats, Shakespeare, Dylan Thomas, Robert Frost, Josephine Austen, Shelley (both Percy and Mary), D.H.Lawrence, H.P.Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Steinbeck, Kafka, Hardy, Hemingway, Anne Rice, David Michie, Eckhart Tolle, Richard Bach…. I read and enjoy a lot of modern fiction books, but the older writers were read in my formative years so I count them as stronger influences.

What are you working on now?
I just finished writing my novel, The Cougar, and editing a picture book on Kindle for a friend – The Cat the Bat and the Burglar by Colin Edward Mason. My next project may well be a “prequel” for The Cougar, dealing with Raffaelo’s tale – and Berenice of course. I also have a book about Persian cats in floating about in my head. We will see who emerges first!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am not very good at promotion. I come from a generation unschooled in computers, so much of what I have learned is self-taught and concerned with production and creativity rather than promotion and selling. That makes life a little difficult. I don’t much enjoy Facebook, although I have a page and friends there. Twitter works well for me because I can time tweets or interact if I choose. I use Tweetdeck. I am phone phobic, so life in the smart-phone lane is not for me. I am currently running a couple of Goodreads Giveaways and contemplating printing bookmarks to “bookbomb” libraries and bookstores. I do have a couple of websites and blogs but I genuinely suck at SEO! I don’t know, I hope if I help others they might be nice to me in my dotage. 🙂

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write…. don’t let anyone discourage you. (Particularly not other writers because writers can be real trolls!) Up to a certain point, if you are young and energetic, try the traditional route because agents can offer good, sound advice about improving your work. If you are a lot older and you know you can write well it might be less frustrating to go down the self publishing route, but be prepared to slog hard at promotion. Whatever your age, don’t ever pay to publish your work! Pay to promote if you can afford it, but don’t pay to publish.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Focus on what you really want to do. Don’t procrastinate. You might not make money writing, but being true to yourself is what counts most in the long run.

What are you reading now?
I am currently re-reading The Lost World by Conan Doyle. It is strangely old fashioned which I love! The last two I read (and reviewed) were The Art of Purring by David Michie and Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. Quite a contrast I know, but both were amazing books. I also have about half a dozen ebooks by indie authors downloaded to my Kindle and I have to choose one yet!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully The Cougar will take off, then it will have kittens (cubs?) 😀 If all that happens to plan, perhaps I might even sell a poetry 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 Dalai Lama’s Cat, Conversations with God, Jonathan Livingston Seagull and the Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe

Author Websites and Profiles
Lisa Marie Gabriel Website
Lisa Marie Gabriel Amazon Profile

Lisa Marie Gabriel’s Social Media Links
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