Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
John Gregory Hancock, Born in 1958 near St. Louis, Missouri, spent over 25 years as a newspaper graphic artist, winning multiple national and international design awards. He also draws celebrities who tweet him on twitter, and his illustrations can be found on artsprocket.com.

His first book, A Plague of Dreams, Dreamwood Tales Vol. 1. is a collection of cross-genre short stories, and debuted at the beginning of 2013. It includes two stories previously published in Bewildering Stories.

He lives with his dear wife and son in the Midwest. He writes in whatever free time he finds between his 9 to 5 job, his drawings, and his family.

I’ve written two of my own anthologies, just released vol. 2, had my stories appear in three other anthologies, and a web magazine.

A Plague of Dreams (Dreamwood Tales, Vol. 1)

Splintered Dreams (Dreamwood Tales, Vol. 2) (just released)

A story, Prism, in the DeadPixel anthology “Flying Toasters” (recently released)

2 stories, Cerberus, and True Dragon appear in two separate installments of the Off the KUF anthologies.

2 stories, Pepe The Club-footed Elephant and Cerberus, appear on the Bewildering Tales website magazine.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Latest book is “Splintered Dreams” and its the second in my series of Dreamwood Tales, so named because many stories are inspired by dreams I actually experience, whether a mood, an event, or sometimes an entire plot. I have very vivid dreams, and being a visual artist as well as a writer, I illustrate my stories.

Splintered dreams contains 9 very diverse tales:

A WINTER CROSSING:

Magic comes at a price, and the price is too dear. (told as if an old nordic storyteller were relating the tale)

— This was in part a story I used to tell a very young niece that I made up on the spot. I made it a more adult version for my book.

YELLOW FOG:

The simplest of us comes to a crossroads with the destiny of our species

(comes from a dream image of dense yellow fog blanketing the earth)

PRISM:

The things that make us different not only define us, but defines our fate, and the fate of the entire kingdom.
THE INTERPRETER:

Not all is lost in translation.

MAGRITTE THE THIEF:

When Angels don’t act like angels

THE WELL:

Be careful what you wish for.

(an author friend suggested simply the term “wishing well” and then I was off to write this.)

SUBWAY ZERO:

An incident in the underground.

THE STORY ROOM:

Time. Travel. Will. Kick. Your.

(a humorous version of what I imagine it would be like to be in a gang of tv writers for a schlocky network)

DANGER IN THE NIGHT:

When a prowler with a knife spouts poetry, beware.

(a haunting tale)

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a germ of an idea, a feeling, a mood, perhaps a string of a tale. At night, before I go to sleep, I worry at it like a huge knot. I sleep. Then I wake and start writing. I write until I have something, then I upload it to my kindle, and read before going to bed. I allow my unconscious and conscious minds to attack it from both sides.

Also, many times my characters will force me to go in different directions. I allow them, because who knows better than they what the tale is they want to tell. So I may start with a rough plot, but I don’t always stick to it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to mention, but they include Robin Hobb, Clive Barker, Phillip K. Dick, Theodore Sturgeon, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Zöe Sharp, Harlen Coben, Lee Child, Poe, Grisham, L’engle… ok, I guess I can stop there, but that’s a knife’s edge beginning

What are you working on now?
Just finished working on my second book of short tales and will start on a Novel next, as well as a relationship primer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, all seem to work well

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it. The only one stopping you is you. Make sure its the best product you can produce, and have other eyes you trust look it over.

Use whatever writing method works best for you. Don’t take advice that doesn’t fit your personality. If you need to meet with other writers in person, do that, if you prefer to lock yourself in a closet, do that. Find your own muse.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never pet a burning dog.

What are you reading now?
Robert Brumm’s “Windigo Soul”

What’s next for you as a writer?
a Novel about a couple, the husband of which is a TV psychic and… wait, I don’t want to give it all away yet.

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?
Edible books.

Author Websites and Profiles
John Gregory Hancock Website
John Gregory Hancock Amazon Profile

John Gregory Hancock’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an American writer from the heart of the West and I’d much rather be alone out in the desert than in a shopping mall. I enjoy exploring places off the beaten path and discovering little-known treasures. I’ve been learning and honing the writing craft for over forty years and have three published novels to my credit so far: two coming-of-age historical fantasies, “Hope Flies on Broken Wings” and its sequel, “Hope Rises from the Ashes.” I also have a dark, adult, psychological horror/thriller called “Exit Strategy” as well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Hope Rises from the Ashes” is my most recent novel. So many readers of “Hope Flies on Broken Wings” asked me “what happens next?” so…I had to give them an answer. I believe the story holds a nice surprise for the readers of my first book, but even though it is a sequel, “Hope Rises from the Ashes” can well stand on its own.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it’s unusual or not, but my first rough draft of anything must be hand-written–pen to paper. My first and usually second and third rewrites and editing is done on that hand-written draft as well. Only then can I begin to transcribe the manuscript into the computer for further modifications. I find it extremely difficult to “create” on the computer. The trouble is, my hand writing is atrocious and sometimes I cannot decipher it!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I cannot say that any particular books or authors have had undue influence over me. I enjoy a wide variety of books and authors, and do believe I take a little something away with me from each and every one of them. I try not to mimic anyone’s personal style, but I do find myself studying certain interesting aspects of most of the stories I read–an occupational hazard, I must admit, for it often distracts me from merely enjoying the story. I always seem to have to dissect it.

What are you working on now?
For years I have been tweaking and honing an epic, three-volume fantasy saga which is finally coming close to meeting my satisfaction. Also, I hope to release a collection of my short horror stories in the spring of 2014.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have yet to hit upon any one method or place that works extraordinary promotional magic, so for me, good old-fashioned word of mouth recommendations by my satisfied readers still works the best.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice I can give to new writers is this: Don’t get discouraged; don’t rush; don’t underestimate the value of good editing; never stop learning your craft; and never be afraid to push the boundaries. It’s okay to think outside the box. Writing is a thankless, lonely pursuit, and it takes perseverance, passion, and patience. A good support system can help, even it’s just another family member.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever received was something I learned from my father many years ago–if there is no road from here to there then make your own. In other words, don’t ever let anything stand in the way of your dreams; there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome.

What are you reading now?
At this very moment, I am currently reading a zombie horror novel titled, “The Hand that Feeds,” by Michael Garza, and also working my way through a non-fiction look into the world of autism in “The Reason I Jump,” by Naoki Higashida.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next is to become a New York Times bestselling author! No, really, a girl can dream can’t she? Actually, I hope to begin writing soon upon a nonfiction work about the most interesting woman I’ve ever known–my mother. Her childhood spent in an isolated mining camp during the Great Depression, I believe, would make a fascinating tale. There is also still another book that might follow in my “Hope” series. An idea is smoldering in the back of my brain, should the demand arise.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first book I would have on hand is my copy of “Outdoor Survival Skills,” by Larry Dean Olsen. For entertainment purposes, I’d bring Larry McMurtry’s “Lonesome Dove,” and a single-volume edition of Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” And for inspiration, I would include “The Worst Journey in the World,” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard to remind me my situation could be much worse.

Author Websites and Profiles
L.F. Falconer Website
L.F. Falconer Amazon Profile

L.F. Falconer’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi everyone, my name is Tara Ross, and I have just published my first book on Kindle, “Daily Actions for Social Media Mastery: 75 Daily Challenges to Help you Expand your Reach, Build your Platform, and Establish your Online Authority.”

I am an educator who teaches about how to maximize your potential on social media, empower your goal setting, and develop strategies to achieve location independence. I write about traveling, social media, and location independence. I write at EdJourneys.com, and travel globally to demonstrate that location independence is not only viable but also necessary to your happiness.

I am also a college professor of Political Science and Education, and have taught in the online environment since 2000. I hold a PhD in Educational Leadership, and an MA in International Affairs. I enjoy traveling with my husband, Stan, bringing her laptop, and teaching while exploring.

Together with her husband, Stan, and her two sons, I own Ross and Sons Publishing, an independent book publishing company dedicated to working with authors to help them share their words with the world.

For more information about me, please join me over at http://edjourneys.com/

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Daily Actions for Social Media Mastery: 75 Daily Challenges to Help you Expand your Reach, Build your Platform, and Establish your Online Authority” was inspired by my role as the social media director for ExclusiveEDU, a private membership group of online professors seeking to expand their network for more jobs, connections, and opportunities. I write daily, actionable, social media challenges for this group, and I realized that my content would make a helpful book, so here we go!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nope, it’s more like I don’t have any one specific habit. I love to write; unlike many authors my challenge with publishing is not in the actual writing but in deciding about what to write and then the publishing/marketing aspect of it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have trade books that have influenced me, and then there is my research in refugee education with many books that have inspired me. With regard to social media, probably Andrew Macarthy’s 500 Social Media Marketing Tips just because he is very creative with cross promoting content across social media, and working in ways to promote one social media channel with another.

What are you working on now?
For trade publication, I’m writing a book on social networking – creative ways to use social media groups and web broadcasts to develop connections with others for job opportunities, entrepreneurial endeavors, etc.

For my academic research, I’m contributing to a book for K-12 teachers on country profiles of where their refugee students have come from. Teachers benefit enormously when they understand something of the situation their students have come from. In turn, students benefit when they have empathetic teachers.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Jeff Goins gave an interview (actually 2) with Pat Flynn about how to promote a book, and he had a golden nugget in that interview: ask people to become book ambassadors. Reach out to your friends, your connections on social media, your connections on email, and your connections in real life and invite them to be ambassadors for promoting your book. Do a soft launch, let them know the date, and ask them to download, read, and give an honest review. Then, by the time you have your main launch, the book will have had some ranking in the Amazon system and hopefully many reviews.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Think of yourself as a writer. I don’t think there is anything more damaging than to think of yourself as “an aspiring author”. Claim it: you are a writer. So, fulfill that mission and start writing. I started on my blog, in the networking group, and in online magazine articles.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Inspiration exists but it must find your working.” Pablo Picasso

Why is that the best advice? Because I get my best ideas when I’m taking action toward my goals. Sitting around and reading about how to take action doesn’t do it, although it is an important part of the process. Actually taking action is so important because that is how we learn, that is how we are inspired, and that is how we know what to do better the next time.

What are you reading now?
“The $100 Startup” by Chris Guillebeau. Very motivating!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m taking a Kindle bootcamp with Kristen Eckstein on January 2. I’m very excited about it, and yet nervous at the same time. I like action, though, and this seems right up my alley.

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?
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen – nothing…nothing compares to Jane when it comes to 18/19th century satire combined with period drama (and romance!).

“Century of the Wind: Memory of Fire” by Eduardo Galeano – absolutely stunning historical poetry. I don’t know what else to call it. I’m a Latin Americanist from my graduate training, and his book reduces the clutter of what happened in Latin America in the 20th century to beautiful and heartbreaking glimpses.

The Bible – not only a good piece of literature but many lessons about serving the least among us.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tara Ross Website

Tara Ross’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Thank you letting me join you! I am a 23 year old homeschool graduate. I love playing piano, singing, crafting, and spending time with my family. I live with my family on a small hobby farm in Wisconsin. I also enjoy serving my church. This year my sister and I are directing the Christmas play. And obviously, I love reading and writing. “A Mighty Fortress” is the first book that I have written and published. I have written a few others, but none of them are ready to be published yet.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest novel is called “A Mighty Fortress”. It is the first book in a series called “Hymns of the West”. Four or five years ago, Vision Forum had a writing contest based on the picture on their magazine. I was too old to enter the contest, but I wrote a story about the picture anyway. It also ended up being too long for the contest since it was about 25,000 words when I finished the rough draft. The story also changed from the picture in subsequent drafts. The picture was of a brother and sister dangling from a rope off a cliff with a cougar staring at them and the sister is aiming a small pistol at the cougar. The cougar changed to a timber wolf and the pistol changed to a rifle.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I suppose that would mean on your definition of usual. Is listening to music while writing usual? What about writing in my bedroom so I don’t have the distractions of my siblings? I guess, maybe the most unusual writing habit I have is that I use a lot of word wars to get my writing done. At least for the first couple of drafts.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Peter’s Angel by Aubrey Hansen influenced much of the voice in “A Mighty Fortress”. Aubrey Hansen, J. Grace Pennington, Louis L’Amour, Karen Witemeyer, and Brock Thoene all influenced my writing in one way or another.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the rough draft of the sequel to “A Mighty Fortress”. The title of the sequel is “Be Thou My Vision”. Since I am still working on the rough draft, the storyline will likely change slightly as I go along. That being said, I will have updates on the progress on my blog: http://FaithBlum.wordpress.com, and on my website: http://HymnsoftheWest.tk.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I just started promoting my book, I don’t know for sure yet. Right now, I think my blog and facebook have been the most productive. That and word of mouth.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep plugging away at it. Also, make sure you get someone who is not family or a friend to read your book to give you an honest opinion of it. And, please, please, please, make sure you have somebody proofread your book for typos. Especially if you are going to publish independently, there is nothing that screams Indie author like a poorly edited book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Basically everything I just said in the last answer, edit, proofread, and get constructive feedback on your writing.

What are you reading now?
“The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien, “One Perfect Life” by John MacArthur, “The Gospel of Matthew” by God, and “Forager” by Peter Stone.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Lord willing, publishing “Be Thou My Vision” in the next year or so.

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 Holy Bible”, “The Complete Works of Shakespeare”, “Little Women”, and a hymn book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Faith Blum Website
Faith Blum Amazon Profile

Faith Blum’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Berkeley, California and, yes, this is the place I feel most comfortable living in. I have graduate degrees in psychology, did research and program development for a living, do art, am married, and have a son. I have traveled, probably more than average, and I stay a little while to soak in the life and culture of a place, a month at least; the longest, six months (in Paris). I have published three books: two novels (Hello, My Love and Margaret of the North) and a book of travel essays (Mindful Journeys: Paris and Other Illusions).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In Hello, My Love!, my latest, I wanted to write a modern version of the type of stories Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell wrote in the 1800s. I imagined what a character like Elizabeth Bennet or Margaret Hale would have been like transported to the age of the internet, greater choices for women, and sexual freedom.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I never stop tweaking. Is that unusual? That means, for me, that a book is never really finished.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Obviously, Jane Austen. I also find valuable insights in Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer. I love the way Evelyn Waugh (Brideshead Revisited) and Robert Hughes (Shock of the New) string their words together.

What are you working on now?
I intended Hello, My Love as a standalone book. But after I finished it, I saw possibilities in the heroine’s mother. So, I’m writing a prequel to the book. I also have a nonfiction book I’m mulling over. I’ve written about half of it but I’m not sure, right now, how to get it to where I want to take it–something like “from the first illuminated manuscripts to comic books or graphic novels.” I guess I wanted, in this nonfiction book, to marry my art with my writing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I can’t tell what the best method is because I can’t usually tell what the results are. For Hello, My Love, I did engage BookBozo. While it’s early yet in our “campaign,” I’d say they have been quite effective in boosting my free downloads, bringing my ranking up in certain amazon categories. I had a book tour with another company which most likely did nothing for sales. But I got a few quotable reviews from that which, for some reason, could not be posted on amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
No. Different strokes for different folks.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Target your market. Narrow your niche (to that target).

What are you reading now?
I’m several pages into each of these books: Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook, Elizabeth Bowen’s House of Paris, and Jayne Krentz’s Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women. I like to go from one book to another. But I’m slow because reading competes with my writing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t honestly know. I have ideas for a fourth novel but that’s as far as I have right now.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Geez! I’ll take an ebook reader and have way more than 3 or 4. I’ll download all the classics I can get, starting with Shakespeare and Jane Austen.

Author Websites and Profiles
E Journey Website

E Journey’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Indie author, originally from Leeds, England, who is living in New Jersey USA, by way of Los Angeles, California; Tampa, Florida; and Las Vegas, Nevada. It was always my dream to live in America and I like the New Jersey area because it has everything – lakes, mountains, quaint villages, beaches and New York City is very close. Breakup Cocktail is the only book I have written so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest, most current, first, last and current book is called Breakup Cocktail: 5 Parts Laughter, 1 Part Healing and a Twist of Revenge! It’s a humorous book and a book to dip in and out of if you need a smile. It initially began as a semi-autobiographical serious self-help book, but the more I started writing about my relationships, breakups and subsequent healing, the book evolved into one of humor. I never realized how many strange and humorous events and people influenced my life. Turning something so sad and poignant into humor was something that just happened. So I decided that I wanted to help people who were sad and who had suffered loss, so hopefully making them laugh when they are down will help.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write in the mornings, because if I write in the afternoon or evening, I always seem to be looking for chocolate to eat to inspire me. I always have a small notepad with me wherever I go to jot down ideas which can come to me while I’m at the gym, or out to dinner, etc. I also have a drawer with sentences or ideas written down on all kinds of scrap paper where I’ll go for inspiration or just to have a laugh at some funny things that came to me in the past.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Years ago I used to read heavy and difficult novels but now I read lighter work. I tend to go through phases, like my Mount Everest phase, where I started reading Jon Krakauer – he is a really good author and all his stuff is good, not just the Everest books. After my divorce I read a lot of serial killer books (it’s true! My ex-husband told me that he started to get worried), so I think my mood at the time influences my reading. Being mostly a humor author I like humor, the Bridget Jones books, I loved the Nanny Diaries and I like Bill Bryson and the James Herriott books too.

What are you working on now?
I still have my drawer with funny stories on scraps of paper for my next humorous book, but I have started writing some serious short stories and poetry for contests.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s very hard to say. I have a blogspot blog, a website, I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, I have an Amazon Author’s page and I even have a song on You Tube called the Breakup Cocktail Calypso, so I’ve tried it all. I think you really need to be social media savvy, but I don’t know what works best. Of course word of mouth from your family and friends, but that dries up after a while. The best thing that worked for me so far, was putting the out book on Kindle and giving it away for free for two days. Awesome Gang and other wonderfully helpful websites helped me promote it by listing it and I can’t thank them enough. On the third day I was getting paid downloads! That was really surprising to me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I used to write on the train on the commute to and from work and that way I forced myself to write twice a day, every day. Now that I lost my job, even though I have lots more time, I find it hard to stick to a writing schedule. I think that having a set time to write is a good idea – it doesn’t matter if what you write doesn’t read well, you can always revise, but getting those ideas and sentences down on paper is where everything grows from. I also took a creative writing class at the local community college and the encouragement from other students and the teacher was what made me determined to write a complete book. It’s inspiring to read other people’s work who are on the same level as you and not best-selling authors. (Yet!)

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.

What are you reading now?
“Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia,” by Jean Sasson.

It’s a very interesting book and gives enormous insight into how women are forced to live in Saudi Arabia, compared to men and how they are treated by them. It will break your heart but is also light-hearted in parts.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just keep writing and get myself in a frame of mind to write humor again. Meanwhile, I’m doing some serious stuff.

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?
Any James Herriott book

“The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck

“Steppenwolf” by Hermann Hesse, and

“How to Build a Raft on a Desert Island for Dummies.”

Author Websites and Profiles
Barbara Kingsley Singer Website
Barbara Kingsley Singer Amazon Profile

Barbara Kingsley Singer’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an obstetrician-gynecologist, practicing in the Houston area for over 12 years. I have written one (awesome) book, but I hope to add a sequel, someday.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Nameless, Blameless Reproduction was inspired by a dream. I have vivid dreams, and I was lucky to remember this particular dream which stayed with me and inspired this book. Some of the dream changed a bit while writing the book, and I incorporated many vignettes of patients and professional experiences. No one particular patient or experience was used, but a mixture of interesting scenarios.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I am busy, I am at my best. I may be in the middle of surgery when a thought to write will hit me, so right after the case, I scramble to write it down–on what ever I can find and tuck into my pocket.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jean M Auel, Bram Stoker, Ayn Rand, George Orwell are some of my favorite authors.

What are you working on now?
A sequel, I think. Though right now I just have a group of different stories that I intend to mesh into a story within the sequel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I knew.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There are many books on how to e-publish. I’d “borrow” one from Amazon, or purchase one with good reviews. I wish I had read one before publishing. They have tips on creating covers and titles; and promotional sites.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
E-books aren’t stagnant. If you don’t like something–reboot it. Change the cover, edit…

What are you reading now?
I am reading a nonfictional book about the plague that killed millions during the middle ages. It was interesting to read that the same gene for the receptor that if lacking protects individuals from HIV, is theorized to have protected individuals from the plague. The lack of the CCR5 receptor was a genetic advantage during the plague and continued along genetic lineages of Europeans. about 1% of European descendants lack the CCR5 receptor, whereas no other worldly lineages lack this receptor.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m trying to promote Nameless, Blameless Reproduction. I think it’s very pertinent to current life and trends in medicine.

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 love 1984, but then I also love to read new books. I am not sure I could easily choose the other three books.

Author Websites and Profiles
jachmd JACHMD Amazon Profile

jachmd JACHMD’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Lynda D. Brown. I founded Spoken Word Press in 2010. After I published my first book, Once I Was Lost, a non-fiction book through a traditional publisher, I decided to self-publish my first novel, Invisible Enemies. I soon discovered a passion for publishing. I conduct workshops and seminars at the local library for writers interested in self publishing and I’ve also assisted several writers self publish their books.

Another passion is assisting authors in promoting their books, and I have a podcast, The Author Chat Show with Lynda D. Brown on blogtalkradio.com and a member website and Facebook Fan page for Author Chat

I currently have five (5) books available in print, eBooks and audiobooks and I’m working on book 6, which should be available in early 2014.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Damien’s New Bike is my first children’s fiction book. It was inspired by my five year old grandson, Damien. As an only child, Damien is at the age where we are teaching him about sharing and being a blessing to others and this is what the book is about.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I still work a full time job, so I usually write late at night into the early morning hours. I also try to work on my books on my off days and weekends.

Before writing my books, I usually visualize my books in my mind, from beginning to end, and tweaking my vision once the characters are formed.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge Stephen King,Dean Koontz and Ted Dekker fan. I also enjoy Frank Perretti’s book, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness and fans of his books will his influence in my Invisible Enemies supernatural thriller series.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on book 3 for the Invisible Enemies Series. I also just released two eBooks for authors, The Author Chat Guide to Promoting Your Book on a Shoestring Budget, which is for sale on my website for authors and also the JVZoo affiliate website, and How to Convert Your Published Book into an Audiobook.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a podcast, The Author Chat Show with Lynda D. Brown that I started in 2010 to promote my books, then I expanded the show in 2011 and began promoting other authors. I also use Fiverr gigs and sites like the Awesome Gang to promote my free Kindle book promotions. I use Facebook and create a fan page for each book and I also use Twitter extensively to ‘tweet’ information about my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, do your homework if you want to self publish and don’t try to invent the wheel. Find an author or authors that you admire or write in the same genre that you’re in and follow what they do. I also recommend finding a good support group for authors to join. I found some great groups on Facebook and some horrible groups on LinkedIn, so again, you just have to do your research.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what you love and the money will follow! I’ve always had a deep passion for reading and writing and now I’m doing it and actually making money with it!

What are you reading now?
Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages: The secret to love that last. One of my Facebook friends, that I’ve never met discussed how the book has been a lifeline in her marriage, and since remarrying is my next goal, I immediately picked up a copy at the library!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on another children’s book, this time we will discuss the topic of bullying and I also will be working on my first thriller.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible

Immanuel’s Veins by Ted Dekker

Zoo by James Patterson

Dr. Sleep by Stephen King

Author Websites and Profiles
Lynda D. Brown Website
Lynda D. Brown Amazon Profile
Lynda D. Brown Author Profile on Smashwords

Lynda D. Brown’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello Everyone! I am the proud author of one novel, “Red, White & Blues”. It is a 760 page story and took me many years to complete. The book combines many of my passions and interests such as the hippie lifestyle, outlaw motorcycle club life, the Vietnam War and those veterans and creates a rich & detailed story populated by many diverse and detailed characters.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is called “Red, White & Blues”. The title incorporates several meanings: the United States flag, patriotism and warfare, bloodshed and also the integration of Native American and Caucasian (as well as others) characters. There are plenty of good times in the story, but lots of “blues”, too.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure! I usually just sit down and start writing, but I use astrology books as reference material when creating characters. occasionally, I play music from the era that I am writing about while I’m typing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors, and those whose styles I admire, are James Salter, Wallace Stegner, Charles Bukowski and Henry Miller.

What are you working on now?
I’m actually working on a sequel to “Red, White & Blues” which picks up a couple of years after the that book ends in 1977. I am focusing more on the children of most of the main characters as the era I am writing about is the one that I grew up in, the 1970’s and 80’s.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’d have to say that since I do all of my own promotions, it’s my Facebook page(s), my Twitter account and my webpage.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! Edit later-don’t search for that perfect word or phrase, just write! Also-definitely consider self-publication. It’s the only way to go these days and make your book available as an electronic download of some sort.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up on your dream. Even if my book never sells a million copies, I’m so proud to say that I have written a book! And the joy that you get when someone you don’t know reads and loves your book is beyond anything that money can buy.

What are you reading now?
“Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West” by Stephen Ambrose.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing my sequel, editing it and then scraping together the money to get it published. After that, I really don’t know.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
This is the hardest question because my tastes are so varied, but I think I’d like to have these:

1. Light Years by James Salter

2. Women by Charles Bukowski

3. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

4. Red, White & Blues by L.V. Sage

Yep! I’d definitely want my own book with me!

Author Websites and Profiles
L.V. Sage Amazon Profile

L.V. Sage’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Mary Rincon is Married with Six Children of her own and Three by her Marriage She resides in Southern California . She is a Prolific Author Loves to write Children Books . Mary Rincon was born near Las Angelas ,California . In A Hospital . she was premature and sick .Mary stayed a few nights in the Hospital. After That Mom and Dad Dedicated her as a Baby at a Baptist Church where they were also Baptised as Baptist. Mary went to Madison Elementry School Mountain Empire High School , and Gateway Community College for a Nursing Career , She has recieved her Certified Nursing Liscence . Mary’s favorite subjects were psychology ,German,English, and Art . Mary had a favorite teacher, That was her German Teacher .Mary always practiced extra hard for her grades She would get A’s . Mary Rincons favorite Sport is Fishing She remembers best of times fishing with her dad .First they would get Sugar Cones from the back woods .Sugar Cones made the best fishing Pools . When Mary was a YoungTeenager she enjoyed scavenger hunts at The Boys and Girls Club . Mary had a after school Summer Job Book Keeping at Jacumba Hot Springs Restaurant . Mary Loved her Summer Job . She would buy School Clothes with her hard earned Money She made Ten Dollars an Hour, Back In The Day…. Although ,Mary Moved around alot Her Favorite Child Hood Memories with her family would be Near Ocotillo,Ca. Getting her Certified Nursing Aide Certificate was Mary’s most exciting Moments of her life. She has spent most of her time working in Nursing Homes as a Nursing Assistant ,She has a heart an compassion and passion for people . Mary Rincon is an Author of Books in many Genre’s Mary stays up late some nights and writes her heart desires in Children Books Biography Memoirs,Teen,young adults , and some fiction,and Christian. Mary’s Books are as follows ,Forces of Doom will be forgotten,Dead Or Alive Agent Orange, Saved and Set Free ,and Prayers that break evil forces ,Publisher , Publish America . Mary also has written books by Createspace Runaway Carolina(also in Spanish),Christmas Bear ,A Woman’s calling to Ministry ,(in French,English,German . The Easter Bunny Talks To God ,Maresa’s Day ,The Panda and The Puppy, Oh How I Love You ,Love And Innocence,Dear God,Pregnancy ups and downs ,Love and Innocence ,My Marriage Journal,Innocence ,and Simply Delicious

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Maresa’s Day is a book series about a little girl as she goes through changes and learning life is precious .

My daughter Maresa inspired me to write this book watching her learning experiences .

Maresa my daughter is the idea for the Title.I choose this cover because it best represents my daughter Maresa .

I have learned that for a child it is hard to grow up going through so many changes that life has for you .

The artwork in Maresa’s Series has been donated for Maresa’s Series by Susan Haught an Artist that also donates her work to Make A Wish foundation in Arizona,USA

These pictures come to life in this special series .

This is truly a special Childrens book series.

My research for this book was entirely about my daughter Maresa she is such a trooper

I believe you and your child will become closer as you read along the stories .

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Pictures Inspire me to write

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible ,Beverly Clearly ,I love the stories and how reading brings the Characters to life .

What are you working on now?
Promoting my books

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter,Facebook,Social Sites

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up Follow your passion,Dreams

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Two wrongs don’t make a right from my Mother

What are you reading now?
The Bible Verses in NIV>

What’s next for you as a writer?
More stories and books to create, My work passion is a never ending story .

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,Dictionary,Medical Books ,

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Rincon Website
Mary Rincon Amazon Profile

Mary Rincon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I like to think I’m a pretty prolific writer. I have been writing since I was ten. But really, seriously, since the late 90’s. Writing is my passion and my dream. So far to date, I have penned (Since the 90s) over 100 books, twenty screenplays and too many songs to count. I have published over 40 books and have to movies on Amazon.

On a personal level, I’m a complete failure at relationships, marriage if not my forte,. I am a mother of four and gave three grandkids that are my world and new inspiration.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest Release is When the Ashes Fall. Its a story of a mother trying to protect her children and get them home following a global event. It centers more on the family relationship. I was inspired by sitting in traffic one day in the Liberty Tunnels.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Pickles perk me up.

I write everyday, seven days a week. Mornings are my primary promoting time. Afternoons are my edit and review time (3-6) and I write from midnight to 6 AM, every day. When I get tired I eat pickles to energize me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Pat Frank, Stephen King, and Mitch Album

What are you working on now?
Right now I am editing book 12 of my Beginnings Series, and working on Felix and the Sasquatch, a comedy sequel to my book, 49 Shades of Pink. I am also ghostwriting a young reader book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are so many, but I have found Facebook is the best because it gives me leads to free and/or affordable advertising.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. You can call yourself a writer all you want, but if you are writing or working on a story, you are only a thinker. If it is your dream then do it. No excuses. Not enough time? Give up an hour of sleep or TV.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know. That is awesome advice.

What are you reading now?
The Apparition by Dominic Bianco. Awesome super hero story. I’m reading a review copy but it should be out soon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
While my forte and main readership is with Apocalypse novels, I really want to write another romantic comedy. I really want readers to notice what I can do other than destroy the world.

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 Stand – Stephen King

The Freedom Fight (Sorry it’s my favorite Beginnings Book)

The Bible

How to Survive on a Desert Island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jacqueline Druga Website
Jacqueline Druga Amazon Profile

Jacqueline Druga’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Independence, MO right around the corner from Harry Truman’s house. But, then, at the time everything there was right around the corner from Harry Truman’s house. Right now I live in Sandpoint, Idaho with my wife. With her I share a love for Golden Retrievers and maintain a healthy friendship with a neighborhood Belgian Shepherd. Every Fall I lose an argument with a local black bear over the meaning of the phrase “fair share of the apples on the backyard tree.”

I’m a freelance writer, educated in philosophy at UCLA and in physics at UC Irvine. The lure of writing soon outweighed science, though. My work has appeared on dozens of websites around the world, covering subjects as diverse as travel to London and the latest innovations in currency exchange. I have had short stories published at the award-winning sites Apollo’s Lyre and Mystericale.

My first and final love remains writing fiction. My debut novel is Cossacks In Paris, an historical adventure set in Napoleonic Europe.

I’ve written 10 novels so far, and have a few more in various stages of preparation.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent publication is “Death Is Overrated,” a mystery set in the UK. There were several influences but one of the chief ones was an old film called DOA. The protagonist is poisoned and has 48 hours before dying to discover who gave him the fatal dose. (Yes, implausible that it should be so slow-acting, but that’s Hollywood!)

I spun that idea into a scientist on a caving vacation who is accused – through mistaken identity – of killing himself. He has to prove he’s neither the victim nor the murderer. That combined with my insatiable travel bug led to the characters and plot of this romantic mystery.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The word “unusual” is just ambiguous enough that any of several answers might serve. I’m pretty workman like — I get up, breakfast, and write all day like a thousand others. I don’t do it anyplace special or in a unique way, so I’d have to say “No, not really.”

Sorry, I’d like to offer an individual eccentricity as an interesting anecdote but I haven’t a thing to offer here. 🙂

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve enjoyed a variety from E. M. Forster to Ayn Rand, from Dumas to R. F. Delderfield. Those are all, clearly, starkly different writers. I do tend to prefer British writers mostly.

Of authors of more ‛popular fiction’ I used to read a fair amount of Ian Fleming, Alistair MacLean, Ken Follett, and the like. I’ve switched to reading mostly historical fiction these days. More recently, I’ve discovered a wonderful fellow named David Bruce, who writes WWII-era military fiction.

I’m not sure I could identify just what ‛strikes me’ about any of these. I like books that have a story with admirable characters and that moves along. I generally get impatient with ‛serious’ authors who, as the saying goes, muddy their waters to make them appear deep. At the same time, superficial ‛heroic’ characters can get boring very quickly.

In popular fiction these days, at least among the successful ones, the emphasis often seems to be more on either the grim or the goofy, and neither is really my taste. For good or ill, I’m a fairly old-fashioned fellow in most of my interests.

What are you working on now?
I have a third novel in the final editing stages: “Clonmac’s Bridge.”

It’s a blend of history and mystery based on a real-life discovery.

“A maritime archaeologist raises a medieval monastery span from the mud of the River Shannon, sunken for 1200 years… and finds it perfectly preserved.

What could account for this astounding longevity? And why are his colleagues, the Irish government, the media, and the Church conspiring to prevent him learning the secret?

Griffin Clonmac will go through hell to find out.”

It should be published in a few months.

Next up, I have a 19th century medical drama of a young Irish woman who emigrates to America to become a physician, something very difficult to do at the time.

I also have a trilogy planned which is set in the Age of Discovery – that period when seafaring European explorers were just learning how to navigate to India, South America, and elsewhere. It will cover first the Venetians, then the Portuguese, and finally the Dutch — all through the adventures of the distaff half of three generations of merchants.

And I have a half-dozen others already written that need some editing work before being released — a mixture of mysteries, dramatic love stories, and others.

I plan to put out a new novel about every six months for at least the next 10 years. By then I’ll no doubt have other stories on tap.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m afraid I have no good method, much less a best one. Maybe your readers could recommend one. 🙂

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well there is the trite but true: write every day, as many hours as you can. As importantly, I’d say: try to lead an interesting life and be a careful observer as you go. I’ve had many adventures over the years and it has helped shaped my mind and values. That can’t help but bleed into your writing.

It’s not enough to be a good writer. You must write something interesting, and to do that you have to make good selections of what to write and how. Any novel is made up of dozens of such choices. Good novels are made of good choices.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I can’t honestly say I’ve ever heard any really good advice about writing beyond the staples found in Strunk and White. That’s not arrogance; it’s just such an individual craft and no one seems to have any good guidance, such as you find in engineering, for example.

I do remember advice about film acting attributed to Spencer Tracy: Learn your lines and hit your marks. I’m not sure exactly how that would apply to writing but it’s suggestive.

What are you reading now?
Now that’s a tougher question than it might sound at first blush. Like most writers I’m a voracious reader and I’ve always got a half-dozen things in progress with bookmarks placed at various points.

I’ve been reading Thomas Madden’s Venice (a straight history). I’m also plowing through a lot of Delderfield still, having recently finished his Swann saga. The first volume of “A Horseman Riding By” is next on the list. I take ‛breaks’ by reading a chapter of Thomas Costain’s “The Black Rose” from time to time, along with a few others.

Sadly, I limit my pleasure reading these days. Most of my non-writing time is focused on research for my future novels. That runs the gamut from the relations between 14th-century Venice and the Levantine to 16th century Portuguese sailing technology to late 19th century medical practices.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m not sure I understand this question, apart from the question listed above about upcoming projects. If you mean more generally, I plan to spend as much time with my divine wife as possible and enjoy life with her.

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, now that is a tough one. Only a few?

Well, I guess the first book should be advice on how to build and provision a good raft from materials found on a desert island.

Beyond that, I’d probably take a book on Quantum Mechanics, which I never finished learning properly. For whiling away the hours there’s a massive omnibus of Agatha Christie novels – seven in all – called Seven Deadly Sins, but that might be considered cheating, eh?

Author Websites and Profiles
Jeffrey Perren Website
Jeffrey Perren Amazon Profile
Jeffrey Perren Author Profile on Smashwords

Jeffrey Perren’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born in Ireland 1950, I left home in 1966 to go to sea for fourteen years and then transferred to the oil and gas industry. The past 32 years has led me to onshore and offshore energy installations all over the world, UK waters, Shetland, Middle East and the South China seas. I am happily married with two children, now grown up and both working in the oil and gas industry. My interests run to Rugby as an amateur player over 27 years, flying, sailing and writing. For the past 11 years my wife and I have been living on our sailing yacht ‘Grey Glider’ in the Mediterranean travelling through Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey where the yacht is now based. At one point I owned a six seat twin engine plane and qualified as a multi-engine pilot and certified to fly on instruments. I took up writing after being less than impressed and frankly disappointed with books bought in airports. I like to include some humour in my writing and prefer adventure thriller story lines. My work and my travels have provided wide and varied access to some remarkable and interesting places and situations. This has been one of the main sources for the ideas in my writing.

I have written one book published on Kindle and I am presently writing a sequel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is titled ‘Until the Fat Man Sings’ and the inspiration has been going round in my head for many years as I mentally wrote and rewrote the story dependent on what country I was in and what I was doing at the time> The final version is the culmination of many years of travel and experience.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not really. I have a very good memory and having fixed the section of a story in my head I type straight into Word then refine the outcome before passing on to my excellent editor and proof reader

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wilbur Smith, Hammond Innes, Alastair Maclean and P.J O’Rourke. All classic adventure writers such as Ryder Haggard, Robert Louis Stevenson and Herman Melville. I was very lucky as a child in primary school where, in my final year, the headmaster left me to my own devices and a large chest of books while he concentrated on the other four boys in the class. The small number in the class in provincial Ireland permitted this to happen without the education being diluted.

What are you working on now?
When I wrote ‘Until the Fat Man Sings’ I had no intention of writing a sequel but apparently I left the door open for that. The majority of the reviews I have received were of the lines ‘We want more of the hero, Mike Balmayne’, ‘When will the next one be published?’

Therefore during the past six months as I sailed out of Turkey, crossed through the Greek Islands in the Aegean and on to Sicily, Italy the ideas have been defined and re-defined in my head and will now be captured to the computer and the editing process started.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As the majority of self-published authors know, the writing is the easy bit and by far the most difficult and frustrating part of the process is the marketing. I have tried social networks, Twitter, a dedicated Facebook page as an author, an author blog on WordPress and of course Awesomegang! The most effective so far has been business cards I had printed for the book with links to the book website, the author blog and my email address. As I travel into various ports, I pass these out to other yachtsmen, leave them on Marina notice boards or even to complete strangers who happen to reading something on e-reader.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t write one book and sit back waiting for the world to come to you, it won’t happen. The quote to become a genius as being 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration is mostly true. Be prepared to put in considerable effort into marketing but keep writing. The more books you have on the market the greater your chance of success.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Quote from a recently discovered letter from Oscar Wilde to an aspiring author. ‘Do not expect to make a living out of writing but don’t let that stop you!’

What are you reading now?
‘No Room for Secrets’ by Joanna Lumley

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing the sequel to ‘Until the Fat Man Sings’ the title of which I have yet to decide, that does not normally crystalise until I get halfway through writing. The rest of the time will be stepping up the marketing

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?
‘Catch 22’ – Joseph Heller

‘Puckoon’ – Spike Milligan

‘Holidays in Hell’ – PJ O’Rourke

The Complete Works of Shakespeare

Author Websites and Profiles
William V Kelly Website
William V Kelly Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been voted most likely to survive a zombie uprising, but i’m also most likely to die during the first act of any modern romantic comedy. If you ask me to select a nice, light movie for your evening entertainment, don’t be surprised if I pull out my thoroughly deranged Sam Peckinpah box set. I’ll catch your dinner and cook it, too. I have sea water in my ears and dog hair on my shirt.

My writing partner and I enjoyed small successes in the screenplay circuit, but The Long Way is our first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my first and latest book is The Long Way. Originally it was to be written as a screenplay but we decided to write a novel instead. The story was inspired by my love of Asian cinema and Cowboy movies. I wanted to write a won-ton western and we did!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My chores need to be done before I can write otherwise they just sit there and taunt me. The chores are really quite vocal (especially the dishes). They make me lose my concentration. You do understand?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a science girl (marine biology) so non-fiction books have always been my favorite. My nose was always stuck between the pages of National Geographic magazines when I was a pup. Those far away places, people and things captivated me and I wanted to be part of their colorful and exotic worlds.

The Long Way is historical fantasy set during the Chinese Opium Wars. It was important for us to understand the facts so we could tell an accurate tale. The diaries, books, journals, sketches and old-timey photos were all helpful in creating our seedy world. The extensive research helped us discover the voice of our main character.

I also enjoy reading Jared Diamond’s books and odd grim things like Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. I’m an avid birder so books about birds are quite fabulous. We mention several birds in The Long Way. It felt good to be able to put birds in our story. Screenplays don’t let you call out details like that.

What are you working on now?
At the moment I’m working on an author interview for Awesomegang. I understand the readers are damn awesome.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The Long Way has only been out for a month so it’s a process of navigation. Goodreads seems to be helpful. Several forums thread readers with authors together so it’s fun to see what other folks enjoy.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author so my experience is limited at the moment. Writers are a nurturing lot. Perhaps surround yourself with other writers. These artists take many forms (singer/songwriters, screenwriters, and poets). If an author really wants to step out of the comfort zone, I suggest taking an improv class. Yes, really!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A friend once told me, “in order to be a good writer, you must be a good observer.” I was also told as a writer to take improv classes. My writing partner and I followed this advice and took classes for about a year.

What are you reading now?
Right now I am reading directions for tonight’s dinner. I have it scribbled out on a piece of paper and my dog tipped water on it so it’s wet and the ink is runny. I’ve made this recipe before though so I think I can remember how I made it.

As far as a book is concerned, I am reading The Black Box (Michael Connelly). I’ve read all the Harry Bosch novels and enjoy Connelly’s attention to detail. He tells a good detective story and I have trouble putting his books down. Littered with Los Angeles street grime and grit, the Black Box is no doubt one of my favorites. A murder takes place during the Los Angeles Riots and it feels so real. I was at a Laker’s game in Inglewood at the Great Western Forum at the time so I remember it well. Connelly’s book is a lively read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The Long Way is the first in a series of seven. We are working on numero dos at the moment. In addition, we are adapting one of our award-winning screenplays into a novella which will be released soon.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Toughie. I guess it depends on the island. Does this island have birds? Fish? If so, I’ll take along Sibley’s Guide to Birds of Deserted Islands, a Regional Fish Guide, and How to Survive Being Stranded on a Deserted Island – A Practical Guide. I told you I was a science girl.

Author Websites and Profiles
Therese Vannier Website
Therese Vannier Amazon Profile

Therese Vannier’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My first Indie published YA novel, Molly finalist, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, came out in 2011, followed by FAB Five finalist, ON THIN ICE. My third book, SAVAGE CINDERELLA, is a 2013 HOLT Medallion and National Excellence for Romance Fiction Award (NERFA) winner and has over 1.2 million reads on Wattpad! I shifted away from contemporary YA romance when I had the idea for a dystopian trilogy, the Chronicles of Lily Carmichael. The first book in the trilogy, WANING MOON, won a place in the NERFA contest right behind SAVAGE CINDERELLA, a place in the Colorado Romance Writers Award for Excellence, and was a Merit recipient for the HOLT Medallion Awards. WESTERN DESERT, book two in the trilogy has some catching up to do, but it was just released in June of 2013 to great reviews. Hopefully, the reviews and awards keep rolling in! Book three is slated for fall 2014.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
WESTERN DESERT takes off where WANING MOON ended, sending genetically enhanced teens, Lily and Will, on a cross-country journey that leads them into action and adventure on their way to the Western Desert on a dangerous rescue mission. I wanted to take readers across a post-apocalyptic, sun-ravaged US in the year 2057 so they could see the possible outcome of a world gone astray. My hope is that YA readers will gain an appreciation for life as it is and understand that they are the hope for the future. Only if we all work together to take care of this planet can we heal it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My office is in my living room. Since I spend so much time at my desk, I want to be able to stay involved with what’s happening. My husband is always amazed that I can write and watch TV at the same time. I make very good use of the commercial breaks.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read all of the Nancy Drew series when I was in grade school, loving the mystery, suspense, action and camaraderie of the characters. Then I went through a short Stephen King phase, but couldn’t handle the horror elements for long. My teenage life was scary enough! As a young woman, I turned more toward literary fiction and enjoyed the romance and artistry in books by Jane Austen and later, Barbara Kingsolver. My go to author for fantastic story telling and beautifully written prose is Diana Gabaldon and her Outlander series…brilliant!

What are you working on now?
I just completed the first draft of a new contemporary YA romance called PIECES OF LOVE. a story about a troubled teenage girl who is forced to stay with her grandmother for the summer. But when Ali gets into trouble one too many times, her grandmother decides a change of scenery is in order and takes her on a Mediterranean cruise. Where, of course, she meets a boy! I’m going to try to pitch this one to traditional agents and publishers as I believe this one fits the current market of what the industry is looking for. If I don’t get any bites between now and February, you will probably see it on the Amazon and BN e-book shelves by March!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Tough question! It has been different for each book because of how quickly the industry is changing. What worked for the first book ( a successful blog tour) didn’t work as well for my next books. Paid advertising on sites like Book Bub, Pixel of Ink and Kindle Nation Daily were excellent ways to get books onto top 100 lists, but are much harder to get now, and more expensive as well. It’s hard to justify the expense when it’s not a sure bet as to whether you’ll make back the investment or gain anything for your efforts. The same can be said for free runs. They aren’t working nearly as well as they did a year ago.

My go-to plan is always to blast out to Facebook and Twitter and do a Goodreads giveaway to spark interest. Word of mouth is still the best advertising.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient and don’t burn yourself out! overnight success is rare in this business and if you love to write, you have to keep that as your focus. Don’t get too caught up in trying to “sell” your books. Do what you can, when you can and always come back to what is most important–creating the best book you can for your readers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life is too short to waste time and too long not to have any fun, so live every day to the fullest. To a writer, that translates to “write what you love”.

What are you reading now?
I just finished WARNING SIGNS, by Katy Lee, and I’m starting into Kristan Higgins’ latest, THE PERFECT MATCH.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be jumping into the third book in my Lily Carmichael trilogy and submitting PIECES OF LOVE to agents and editors to see if I can break into the hybrid model of publishing that is becoming so popular. The best of both worlds–maybe.

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 (NIV), the complete works of Jane Austen (I’d bring the condensed version which comes in one brick sized book). and the Marine Corps Survival Manual.

Author Websites and Profiles
PJ Sharon Website
PJ Sharon Amazon Profile
PJ Sharon Author Profile on Smashwords

PJ Sharon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As a child, I was always fascinated by history and the stories of people who lived in different places and times. Who were they? Where and when did they live? What was the political atmosphere in which they lived? What kinds of experiences did they have and who did they know? What drove them to make the decisions they made? I love exploring these types of questions and allowing the characters to reveal themselves to me as I learn about them. I believe that my background in anthropology gave me a tremendous vantage point for seeing the world and a greater understanding of how it works. I also feel that my experience as a screenwriter has honed my skills and conditioned me to be a better storyteller than if I had only worked in the traditional book narrative.

I’ve written two or three books, depending upon whether or not you count the screenplay version of Unbound that’s also available on Amazon Kindle. The first book, Heretic: The Life And Death of Akhenaten, is about the controversial 18th Dynasty Pharaoh, Akhenaten, who was father to King Tut, and husband to Nefertiti. The second, Unbound, is a trippy time-travel story about an anthropologist whose soul leaves her body and experiences the witch persecutions in Scotland after a suicide attempt.

I write in several different genres depending on my interests– supernatural and/or psychological thrillers, horror, comedy, (and horror/comedy)– but my true love is historic fiction and every variation within. I love getting an idea for a story and then doing the research that would give it some foundation of reality or credibility. I learn so much along the way!

I hope that readers find my stories enlightening as well as entertaining.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Unbound is my latest book. Believe it or not, it was inspired by a photograph in an archaeology magazine. In the picture, two bog bodies seemed to be embracing, and I thought, “What if this was a man and a woman? What if they were in love? What if they were somehow tied to the witch persecutions?” As far as I know, witches were never punished by being left in peat bogs, but the story centers around this anomaly. I used resources from three different universities around the country to understand the background of the witch persecutions in Scotland so that my storyline, in which the punishment is atypical, would still be credible.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I’m a typical writer. Most writers write every day. I write as often as I can, but my best writing comes when I’m feeling inspired and hearing my muse. For me, that doesn’t usually happen in routine situations. I’ve been known to find inspiration while driving, in the shower, listening to music, in dreams, from photographs… So many things can trigger an idea or my creativity. Often, an idea can be triggered by experiencing another form of art– like a painting or a song. My whole blog is dedicated to the creative muse.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love writers who can tell a good story with well-developed characters, intelligent plot, and clever dialogue. I’m especially impressed if they can do this in a concise, lean way, while still having a poetic quality in their narrative. Some of the contemporary writers I’ve enjoyed most recently are Yangsze Choo (The Ghost Bride), Carolyn Jess-Cooke (The Boy Who Could See Demons), Laura Moriarty (The Chaperone), Sarah Addison Allen (The Girl Who Chased the Moon), Lisa See (Peony in Love), and Mary Sharratt (The Daughters of Witching Hill).

I also really love Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) and a lot of classic writers like Edgar Allan Poe (I even have a great aunt named “Annabel Lee”), Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Emily Dickinson.

What are you working on now?
I often work on more than one project at a time. One of them is another novel version of a screenplay I wrote a few years ago called “Fortune Cookies”. It’s a horror story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It was originally written for adults, but I feel like it really should be told to twelve-year-olds, so I’m adapting it for that age group. The story revolves around siblings, Jack and Molly Chang, and their suspiciously superstitious grandmother, Li Ping, who practices a whole host of unusual rites and rituals that the children find both entertaining and alarming. Little do they know, she’s trying to protect them from a ghost only SHE knows about…

The other project is a story about my own great-great grandfather, James G. Crutcher, who was a Confederate soldier from Kentucky in the Civil War. It’s a bit of a morality tale in the vein of “here is my life and my story, these are my sins, my mistakes, and my lessons, and I hope that you will learn from them and choose wisely”. It is narrated by James himself to his own descendents from his perspective after his life has been long over. This project requires a lot more research and I’m planning to spend the next year in Kentucky to focus on uncovering the details I need for this story and putting it together into novel format.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Ask me in a year or two. I’m not very proficient at marketing. As a creative person, I find the business side of being a writer does not come naturally.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you’re self-publishing, get feedback from beta readers (and editors, if you can afford them!) on your work to make sure you’ve edited as thoroughly as possible. Even the best writers make typos and grammatical errors sometimes and it’s difficult to catch them all when you’re self-editing. You should release the most polished work possible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I once heard Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost, Jacob’s Ladder, Deep Impact) speak at a screenwriting conference. He was talking about how there are a lot of movies made that don’t have very many redeeming qualities. To paraphrase him, he said, “Writing a screenplay is your ninety or hundred and twenty minutes or so to talk to the world. What do you want to say to it?” I will never forget that. It really resonated with me and I find that it applies to writing books as well as screenplays. What do I want to say to the world? I want to say things that make readers want to learn something new, to move them emotionally, to inspire them, and to challenge them.

What are you reading now?
Speaks the Nightbird, by Robert McCammon. I’m also reading The Idiot, by Dostoevsky, as well as several books by independent authors.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Mastering the art of marketing and promotion. Hopefully.

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 my iPad. It’s LOADED with books on my Kindle app– many of which I have yet to read!

Author Websites and Profiles
Brijit Reed Website
Brijit Reed Amazon Profile
Brijit Reed Author Profile on Smashwords

Brijit Reed’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

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

I’m a science writer and author of the Takeshita Demons series, winner of the 2009 Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award.

I’ve also been editor of CSIRO’s Scientriffic magazine for kids, and a performer with the Shell Questacon Science Circus.

In 2006, I was selected for a Young and Emerging Writer’s Residency at Australia’s Varuna House, and in 2008 I won the Voices on the Coast Children’s Writing Competition.

I have four books in the Takeshita Demons series and regularly speak to schools and writing festivals in Australia and abroad.

Takeshita Demons: The Filth Licker was released in June 2011, and Book 3, Monster Matsuri, is scheduled for June 2012.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Book 4 in the Takeshita Demons series was inspired by all the mythical creatures in Japan that live under the water.

The first three books happen on land, so it was brilliant to venture to the bottom of the ocean for this adventure.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Green tea, by the gallon. Seriously.

It’s great for your health, forces you to take regular (bathroom) breaks and it’s a million times better than munching chocolate.

(Chocolate is my other writing habit, but I don’t think it’s unusual).

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I adore Roald Dahl and Margaret Mahy. Right now I’m reading a lot of Justin D’Ath.

What are you working on now?
A contracted non-fiction book for 6- to 8-year-olds. It’s Top-Secret and Super-Exciting.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Appearing at writer’s festivals…I love hyping the kids up and they love reading a book they feel they really know.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, a lot.

Read, a lot.

Get rejected by publishers and agents, a lot.

Drink green tea, a lot.

And enjoy…you’re creating something where there was nothing, and that’s AMAZING!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read, a lot.

Seriously. It works.

What are you reading now?
Duck for a Day, by Meg McKinlay.

It makes me want to hug ducks. Even muddy ducks.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on a new fiction series, but that’s a side project and on the backburner till my non-fiction project is sorted. It’s great, though, working on two things at once.

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?
Take The Long Path by Joan De Hamel

The Librarian and the Robber by Margaret Mahy

Under The Mountain by Maurice Gee

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Author Websites and Profiles
Cristy Burne Website
Cristy Burne Amazon Profile

Cristy Burne’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account