Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m David and I’m 29 years old. I live in Sunderland, England and I have written two books: The Wanderer, which is a full-length post-apocalyptic novel, and Wither, which is a collection of horror short stories. I like to read as much as possible in my spare time and I travel as much as possible.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is a collection of horror short stories. I get a lot of ideas that I think are interesting but won’t, I believe, stretch over a full-length novel. Over the last few years I have written numerous short stories and Wither is a collection of six of my favourites. There are a lot of different inspirations there, most of which pop into my head at the most mundane times of the day. I could be washing the dishes when a news story I read earlier in the day will pop into my mind. I’ll mull it over, look at it from a different angle, and from that thought process a story is born. Harsh Lessons, a story from Wither, came around exactly as I’ve just described. A lot of my ideas come in the dark, whilst I’m waiting to fall asleep. Some nights I’m constantly in and out of bed, flicking on the lights, jotting down ideas.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. My biggest problem is motivating myself to sit down and start writing. Often I’ll find a hundred different ways to put off starting a story: odd-jobs around the house, shopping, cleaning, making dinner, lying in the bath for an hour-and-a-half. I have a stack of notes sat before me now that include the basic idea for another novel and seedlings for another collection of short stories. When I do get myself down at my PC and get into the flow of things I find that I become absorbed by my task and I actually enjoy myself. Writing is one of my biggest passions, I’m just lazy, I guess!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I wish I could list a number of literary greats but, alas, I can’t. The writers who have influenced me the most have been Stephen King and Michael Crichton. I know they get panned from some quarters but I find their writing styles enjoyable and easy to digest. Reading doesn’t have to be a chore and with these two authors it never was for me. If I had to pick one book that has influenced me, I would have to say Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Some of its bleakness has undoubtedly found its way into my own novel The Wanderer.

What are you working on now?
At the moment I’m having a short sabbatical. I just finished Wither a short while ago and have decided to take a short break before I start my next project. When I create a book I spend an inordinate amount of time on it. I want it to be perfectly formatted, I want as few errors as humanly possible in there, I want the cover to look professional and fit the subject matter. Getting all of these things right takes me a hell of a lot of time. I’ll usually proofread everything I write at least six or seven times; even if I’m sure there are no more mistakes to spot I’ll always find at least one or two changes that need to be made. After all the writing, re-writing, formatting in inDesign, designing the cover and proofreading, I’m fairly burnt out, I’m going to put my feet up for a while and relax, read a few books in the bath and unwind!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think your writing does most of the talking. If you can shift a few copies and what you have produced is done to a good standard then the inevitable reviews will follow. I believe that positive reviews have the biggest impact on helping you become successful. I barely advertised my first novel The Wanderer, but it has still spent 180 days or so in the Amazon horror top 100. I got it listed on NovelSpot and gave a short interview to a local magazine yet I’ve regularly sold decent numbers of the book. I did give 50% of my profits for the first two months to a cancer charity in England. I eventually raised a decent sum of money for them. I’m not sure if this helped raise the profile of my book but the sensation I got when I handed them my donation made me feel great.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take pride in your work. Don’t rush your books out. Take your time and make sure there are as few errors in your spelling and grammar as possible. People are often reluctant to give indie authors a chance as a lot of the books that get uploaded to Amazon have had minimal proofreading and editing. Don’t give these doubters another stick to beat you with, get your book fully up to scratch and prove to them that independent authors can produce high quality, professionally presented work. It’s fine if they don’t like your story based on its actual merits but it must be disappointing when they give you a terrible review because the presentation and construction is a rushed mess.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Make sure everything you do is done to the best of your ability. My old English teacher at school told me that as she returned my creative writing essay back to me for the third time. I was furious at the time but this advice has proven to be true many times over since. That creative writing essay, when it was finally accepted at the fourth attempt, went on to earn me an almost perfect score. 51 marks out of 52, if I remember correctly. In a writing sense everything you produce represents you as a person and a writer. If you release something that you aren’t 100% happy with then the only person who will suffer as a result is yourself.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King. I’ve been on a bit of a short story binge recently, both in a reading and a writing sense. The last book I read was King’s Skeleton Crew which is another of his short story collections and my next read will be Dean Koontz’s Strange Highways.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I’ve already said, a short sabbatical and then get cracking on my next project. I’m not sure whether to start on the novel idea first or get some short stories penned to get me back into the swing of things. I’ll have to think about that as I take one of those long, relaxing soaks in the tub. I’m sure I’ll make my mind up eventually!

What is your favorite book of all time?
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. I’ve read it four or five times and will do again in the near future. I love the way he paints the demise of that small Maine town, it’s so realistic and affecting. Other favourites of mine include: Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, The Prestige by Christopher Priest and The Sisters Brothers by Patrick De Witt. I’d recommend all of the above to anyone.

Author Websites and Profiles
David Anderson Website
David Anderson Amazon Profile

David Anderson’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, lovely people!

I’m a Brit, living in Devon, England and by profession I’m a psychotherapist. I’ve always had the ‘itch’ to write and started my first novel, Dangerous Waters, about 7 years ago. It was finally published last year (2012). A romantic mystery, it’s set on the beautiful island of Guernsey, near the French coast, and where I spent many happy years. I even managed to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns:)

As a single mother of three, there was never any time to write as well as earn a living, but now my nest is empty I’ve taken to writing full-time and my second novel was published October 2013.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Finding Mother, a romance/family drama, is the second book I’ve set on Guernsey. It was inspired by reading an article about a man who traced his birth mother and the impact it had on everyone’s lives. I played around with this premise and came up with a young woman, Nicole, whose marriage hits the rocks, prompting the search for her natural mother with the aim of learning more about herself.

Her arrival on Guernsey opens the proverbial Pandora’s box as long-buried family secrets are revealed. The stories of the other women involved are shown alongside that of Nicole and her search for truth and love. Although the story is contemporary, there’s also a reference to the Second World War and a character’s wartime experiences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
What counts as unusual?! I only know that I find it hard to write just anywhere and need to be comfortable and in a reasonably peaceful space. I’ve no idea how writers can write in noisy places like coffee shops. It’s probably down to my poor concentration these days – I’m easily distracted – and need to keep off the internet if I’m to get any work done.

Until a few months ago I always wrote first in longhand, but then I developed arthritis in my thumbs which made that very painful and had to undergo an operation. Typing was less of a problem so I’m now typing my first draft instead of handwriting it. A shame, because I enjoyed the process of holding a pen!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s hard to say as I’m sure a lot of what I’ve read over the years has had a subliminal influence. I have eclectic taste, veering from pure romance when I was, ahem, younger, to suspense, thriller, mystery and historical fiction. Authors I’ve enjoyed include Mary Higgins Clark, Robert Goddard, Joanna Trollope, Maeve Binchy and Erica James.

What are you working on now?
My third ‘Guernsey’ novel, called ‘The Retreat’, which is a romantic mystery like my first book, Dangerous Waters. The mystery involves the deaths of two people about 70 years apart but share a link. The action centres around a Natural Health Centre newly set up in Guernsey which offers the key to these deaths.

I hope to see it published in 2014.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve used a bit of a scatter-gun approach in the past and haven’t singled out one overriding method. Something I need to work on! All I can say is that the best results I had for a promotion on Dangerous Waters, when I reduced the price to 99c, was through using BookBub.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Although it now seems easier than ever to have a book ‘out there’, it’s extremely difficult to get noticed. We’re mostly minnows in an ocean of giants – big listers. Write because you enjoy it and want others to read your words, but allow for the fact that you may not become a bestseller. Or not with the first book or two! Promotion plays a key part for any new author and is essential, but time-consuming. But the pleasure a writer gets from seeing their work published cannot be underestimated. It’s a great feeling 🙂

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That in order to be a successful author you have to keep writing. In other words, the more books you have published, the better. So, I’m writing on . . . . .

What are you reading now?
Murder at The Maples, a lovely cozy mystery by a new British author, Joanne Phillips. I love her characters and that there’s little violence – makes a nice change these days.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, once I’ve finished my third book it will be onto my fourth! In the meantime, I’ll be spending a lot of time spreading myself around a bit, connecting up with fellow writers and readers and learning as much as I can about this wonderful process called writing. And having some fun along the way:)

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Quincunx by Charles Palliser. It’s set in late Victorian times and has shades of Trollope and Dickens. Very complex, full of intricate characters, and a fascinating read. I felt totally lost after I’d finished it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anne Allen Website
Anne Allen Amazon Profile

Anne Allen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi there – I’m Kim Brooks and I’ve been a published author for the last 9 years; so far I’ve written four books with my fifth novel to be released Simon & Schuster next May. I write Christian fiction and non-fiction books to inspire and encourage singles and I send out a free daily devotional for single women from my website. Besides writing I like playing in makeup, praying for others, ballroom dancing to my favorite contemporary gospel jams and my latest hobby – juicing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest physical book is, How To Date and Stay Saved: God’s Way of Christian Dating Revealed, and it was inspired by many comments and emails I’ve received from single Christians who sincerely love God but simply want to know how to successfully date when they’re hormones are raging!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
With fiction, I really get involved with my characters. They become real to me and whatever mood they’re in by the end of the chapter I am in the same mood and I have cried on sad scenes as well.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan and The Prodigal Husband by Jacquelin Thomas

What are you working on now?
I am working on another non-fiction book for Christian singles.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method of promoting my books is through social media such as Facebook and also YouTube. I also drive traffic to my blog at http://www.kimontheweb.com which helps promote them as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is know that the easiest part is over – which was writing the book and to not to be afraid to invest in learning about how to properly market and promote your book online without sounding like a used car salesman (i.e. every 5 minutes, “Buy my book…buy my book”) Stress the benefits and become an expert at whatever you speak about by consistently posting relevant content and adding value. Give more than you receive, have some personality and have fun. Be interestING and eventually people will become interestED in who you are, what you do and, ultimately, in reading your books.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard is to not take things personally. I’m very sensitive (llike most artists – yes, writers are artists, too lol) and I’ve learned to not take criticism to heart but instead be thankful that someone took the time to share their thoughts while realizing that writing is subjective and open to anyone’s opinion and that the main thing is to keep writing no matter what – keep producing.

What are you reading now?
I’ve taken a short reading break with the exception of magazines I subscribe to such as Writer’s Digest and O.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books, more speaking engagements, stage plays and music productions as I write songs as well.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – first book I ever cried on.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kim Brooks Website
Kim Brooks Amazon Profile

Kim Brooks ‘s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I spent most of my life trying not to be a writer. I was a symphony cellist, a software engineer, an engineering supervisor, an actor, a director, even a press director for a Presidential campaign and finally a homeschooling mother. But I always had little scraps of stories floating around in my computer, and I often had characters tugging on my apron insisting that they had something to tell me. If anyone had asked me what my passion was, I would have had to say writing. So why did it take me so long to figure out that that was what I should be doing? It’s a long story.

Anyway, I finally gave in and wrote some plays for family theatre (adult professional actors performing for families) and got such a kick out of seeing my characters come to life on stage that it convinced me to accept that writing was what I should be doing.

So now, I live in North Carolina with my partner and my cats, and I spend most of each day writing. When I’m not writing, I’m running or working out or practicing aikido or repairing something in my 100+ year old house.

As of right now, I have two novels published, both in the same dark fantasy series, the Lords of Syon Saga, but I have several others on the burners, as well as some short stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Guardian Last, and it’s actually the second book of what I expect to be a four book series. Both its title and the title of the first book come from a prophecy in the first book, Sword of Hemlock, in which a child’s toy wooden sword is a catalyst that puts the prophecy’s fulfillment in motion, a strange and not very well understood prophecy which begins with the end of a war.

Many things inspired the series, ranging from seeing the reactions of soldiers as they return from deployment to the difficulties of having gone from being a career woman (analogous to being a knight for my main character) to entering the different world of being a stay-at-home mother (analogous to my main character’s acceptance of her life in a world at peace). But at its heart, the series is about freedom and whether one’s virtue can be “prophesied” and thus taken away, or whether it is still subject to free will.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t really have any unusual writing habits, which may be unusual in itself. I tend to drink prodigious amounts of Vietnamese coffee (iced in the summer, hot in the winter), but other than that, not really.

I suppose one thing I do that may be different from other writers (and may not) is that I do not plot out my entire book or series in advance. I create my characters as completely as I can, bringing my acting and directing expertise into the mix as well as my literary background, and then I see what they will do on their own. It’s a more “Deistic” approach, I suppose, than some might take. But I killed a few stories early on by plotting them out completely, only to discover that my interest died as soon as I knew the ending. So I suppose it’s a little game I play with myself that no one gets to know the ending until it’s written, even me.

In a few instances, this has proven … interesting. A heretofore minor character in Guardian showed up and made simply told me she needed to go to a place. I asked her why in the world she needed to do that, and her answer was so surprising that it changed the face of everything going forward,

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always been a sucker for adventure, heroism, virtue triumphing over evil. I love stories that go beyond just what we can see before us, even if only by implication. I could claim influence from everything from La Chanson de Roland forward, and that would not be an exaggeration, but my primary influences are William Shakespeare, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Frank Herbert, Gene Wolfe and Roger Zelazny. If it seems a bit horror and science fiction heavy for a fantasy author, that could explain why my series is rather dark.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a few short stories requested by my publisher for an anthology they’re putting together which should come out early next year. I’m also working on book 3 of the Lords of Syon Saga, as well as a novel based on the basic outline of Sleeping Beauty and a more mainstream piece of fiction set in the ranchland of southern New Mexico where I grew up.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Because I already had an established presence on Facebook, I still rely on my pages there to get a new release some immediate visibility. I recently got on goodreads, and I’ve had some success there, as well. The reality is that for small press and indie writers, we’re just not going to get the visibility with readers that the big houses can pay for. If they don’t see us, they can’t possibly know if they like our books or not. So we must take advantage of every possible avenue to get the word out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Before you commit yourself to a story, have in mind the “why” behind the story. What is it that is making you want to tell THIS story right now? Then don’t lose sight of that “why” while you write. If the answer is “I want to be a writer,” or “I want to be rich and famous,” that intention will come through.

Write the story you want to write, not the story you think will sell into the marketplace right now, because by the time you finish, the marketplace will have changed. Remember that if you want to write it, you can bet there’s someone who wants to read it.

Beyond that, the best advice I can give is a paraphrase of the advice my sensei used to give whenever people would start bogging down in philosophical hoohah or pedantic nitpicking and overthinking about martial arts. He’d say, “shut up and train.” Well, I would tell new authors, “shut up and write.” 🙂

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t show your work to anyone other than your editor or publisher, especially family or friends, until you consider it finished. Painters and sculptors keep a drop cloth over their work until it’s “ready,” and I think as a writer, I find it works best if I keep that metaphorical drop cloth over my work, too. This probably runs counter to what other people say about getting input early on and so forth, but I find that input too early can be very discouraging even when it’s meant in the kindest possible way.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading an old Irish epic, the Battle of Magh Rath, but I’ve also picked up Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land again, after discussions on goodreads touching on the sexist aspects of it. I hadn’t read it in years and years and had driven that part of it out of my mind, remembering the basic story “with advantages,” as Shakespeare would say. It’ been eye-opening. 🙂

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m always trying to improve my skills as a writer, and I’m always looking for those things I shy away from, not because they’re ‘bad theatre” but because I don’t feel comfortable writing about them. When I find something like that, I set to work to clear out that weakness. I think Aurora, the book based loosely on Sleeping Beauty, and the novel I’m setting in New Mexico which is tentatively titled “Windmills,’ will push me in some directions that will test my boundaries. And I’m really looking forward to it.

But first I need to get these short stories out and finish Lords of Syon.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I agonized over this one. I even asked my partner if he ever remembered me choosing a favorite book. It’s really a toss-up between “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas and “Notre Dame de Paris” (The Hunchback of Notre Dame”) by Victor Hugo. Both have a depth and intricacy that I love. That’s not to say that I don’t love many works of modern fiction, as well. I absolutely do. But my all-time favorites are those two.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jordan MacLean Website

Jordan MacLean’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.
Hello everyone –

My name is Matthew Alan and I just finished publishing my first novel entitled One Degree. One Degree is a work of fiction that I started writing about seven years ago. I’ve worked on three other books during that time period (including a published short story called “The Hero” and my second novel, Cristman, which will be coming out next week).

I am a college swimming coach/teacher living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

As a coach and educator, I have been fascinated in teaching and balancing learning with humor. These goals have sparked the passion in my writing for some time, and I hope to share that passion with other readers as much as possible.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Cristman is my newest release. It’s inspired by dealing with life changes and is set in Portland, OR. This “struggle” motif is in a great deal of my writing, and I hope to entertain while also get the reader to think.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love Hemingway’s idea. Write drunk, edit sober.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
David Sedaris, Stephen King, Dan Brown….Life of Pi, The Help, The Kite Runner, The Time Traveler’s Wife and The Te of Piglet are some of my all time favorite reads.

What are you working on now?
A novel about losing love, What We Leave Behind, and the second novel in the Cristman triology.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, Goodreads Giveaway, KDP promotions for free downloads and blogs, blogs, blogs!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am new still – but I would say, keep working at it, focus on the process, and make it fun!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See Hemingway…:)

What are you reading now?
Junkie Love…by Joe Clifford

What’s next for you as a writer?
Ideally, finding an agent/publisher and taking my marketing to another level, but regardless – I’m going to try and put out great stories that will interest and challenge readers.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Me Talk Pretty One Day – makes me laugh every time!

Author Websites and Profiles
Matthew Alan Website
Matthew Alan Amazon Profile

Matthew Alan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am very interested in the field of creativity, their are so many platforms of knowledge. But I feel as if Storytelling, is the strongest, storytelling form. Is definetly, the catalyst of how civilizations have learned to communicate.

I started writing around age six, when my first grade teacher asked us to make a picture book. I remember it, at this point of my life is like a memory.

But I have been in the process of writing ever since, I started getting more serious as a writer by age 16. When i was in high school in ten grade. I learned some very valuable lessons then, I asked the teacher what was the age of the youngest author. He didn’t know.

My curiosity led me to begin going to the library, and learn how to write screenplays. Ever since that day, I have read thousands of books on screenwriting, book writing, story, characters, success, hollywood, directing actors, cinematography, and in recent years crowdfunding and more contemporary stuff. I have written four books so far.

1. CrowdFunding Explosion

2. How to stop smoking today

3. How to Sell your art Not sell out

4. How to make money online in 24 hours

All of which are available on Amazon, one How to Make money online in 24 hours is available in all major distribution networks, B&N, Itunes store, KOBO, NOOK, Sony and many others.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
How to make money online in 24 hours, the reasons why I decided to make this book. Was because I used to be a financial analyst, and I noticed that their are alot of people who wanted to make money online. An spend money on different programs, visited websites, learned tutorials. But still were unable to make money online, so my thought process was how can i teach them Some of the basics of me being a financial advisor, How can i teach someone how to make money without charging $300 dollars an hour.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually write late at night, like around 1 am or later while everyone is sleeping or while am in the bathroom.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Definetly J.K. Rowlings, stephen king, tom clancy. j.r. tolkien

What are you working on now?
The secret society, is a fiction book. I originally wrote this book at age 16, and so this book is more than 10 years in the making. I am of really proud of this book, the only reason. Why this book has taken me so long to actually publish it, is because i wrote it when i was 16 years old.

It’s a science fiction story and it has a secret society also. So i think that the combinations of those two worlds, is very interesting to think about and to read. In my opinion, I don’t think a book like this has been out in the last decade, so am looking forward to continue editing it. Until november 20th, and release it two weeks before december, so it can take advantage of the holidays and sell.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just getting started with promotimg my book, am a newbie when it comes to promotion and advertising. I still have to find more effective ways to show people my work, Right now. The only tool I have used is Social media, and i think I need to expand beyond my current reach.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would say to think of the potential audience before you write a book, because sometimes you get over excited before you wrote something you think is good. An you just want to show people what you can do, I think is best to wait until you say. This the best I can ever do, and then show people. Cause people are exposed to so many things, you have to bring your A game.

On top of that, just have a marketing plan. Don’t expect people to just find your novel, plan ahead. An put a budget aside just for the marketing and promotion, have people get to know you as an author. Beyond that, you have to keep connecting and building a fan base.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
market, market, market. Edit, Edit, Edit.

What are you reading now?
Am actually reading my own novels, to find ways to make the second edition or to write better the next time I have another book published.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Improvement, continuos improvement. Writing maybe an app, or creating entertainment devises such as game stories or something as equally complex, As a writer, maybe writing a Japanese story about clans, or even martial arts films. Which are my favorite.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Harry Potter

Richard Encarnacion’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written too much. Seriously. And I’m nowhere near stopping.
I’ve got seven novels completed so far and a horde of short stories, but over the years I’ve never really stopped for long enough to commit properly to submitting work to agents and publishers. I try for a bit, but a few rejections with no feedback leave me uninterested and by that point the next story is crying out to be written. With a nice big push from my love, I’ve decided it’s time to do things myself, get on Kindle, and with this resolve has come an amount of energy I didn’t realise I had. Now that there’s only myself to rely on, I’m happy to do plenty of work to get my stories out there.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, which I’ve recently published on Kindle, is a YA paranormal horror entitled Macadamian Pliers, about an unpleasant man who makes haunted houses and fills them with unwitting innocent families. Cherry Raine is the daughter of one such family, a girl who must find within herself the bravery to face down insurmountable supernatural odds.

It’s inspired tonally by a whole slew of great 80’s movies. Think of The ‘Burbs, Gremlins, Lost Boys, and Super 8 (which is definitely 80s even though it was made only a couple of years ago), and you’ll start to get the flavour of it. From a personal point of view, I was keen to write a heroine with emotional restrictions and physical difficulties who would be forced to dig deep for whatever kind of person she really is. Plus, after spending so much energy moaning about how awful modern horror is, I wanted to have a go myself.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can write anywhere and under any circumstances. Really. Any noise, any chaos, it makes no difference. My partner thinks that it’s impossible, that I must surely end up writing total gibberish. She could very well be right. Any reviews I get for my novels should provide a definite answer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s a classic answer, almost a cliche for my generation, but Stephen King is at the top of the list. There’s only one reason why so many people admire and imitate him: the characterisation. Whatever weirdness may be going on, his characters draw you in and make the whole thing believable. There’s also Clive Barker, who shows just how far imagination can go when it’s allowed to fly, and Terry Pratchett for his joyous sense of humour and his great sci-fi notions.

What are you working on now?
I’m halfway through a children’s novel at the moment. It’s about a girl who wants to become the world’s greatest mad scientist, and the variety of events in her life that lead her down this crazy path. It’s turning out to be a little bit loopy, and I love it for that. Madison is one of the biggest characters that’s come to me yet, and she’s got one hell of a story to tell.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Keep an eye on Twitter. It’s great. Once you get a network of indie authors going, there’s all kinds of advice to take and blogs to be inspired by and suggestions for new places to promote yourself, and it really is indispensable in the digital self-publishing world. There’s always something new to learn and someone willing to teach you.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yeah. Get on with it!
Seriously, just write. It’s all got to be fun, so enjoy it. Don’t be scared of putting your work out there. Write a blog, post chapters and short stories, take the feedback, don’t be hurt by it. Give back to others too. Promote other indies and they WILL promote you. Do favours to get favours. You’ll rapidly see that there’s a great community on Twitter, and everyone’s out for each other as well as themselves. And keep reading. After all, that’s what we’re all here for.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stephen King’s On Writing has got all kinds of great stuff to say. It’s like a goldmine, and leaves you feeling really inspired. But the most important part for me was this equation: 1st draft = 2nd draft – 20%. I resisted that for years. I thought that every word I wrote was vital to the story, there was nothing going spare. It wasn’t possible that I could cut anything! Then I gave it a try on Macadamian Pliers, cut nearly 20,000 words over the course of a week and a half (and it was a brutal time). The result? A tighter, leaner story with a much better pace. That equation transformed the novel.

What are you reading now?
Michael Grant’s Gone series, which are fast-paced, tough, and have those vital believable characters in place.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More! More of everything.
Now that I’ve dipped my toe into KDP and got a decent idea of how that all works, I want to give Smashwords a try, see if that does anything to extend my reach. I intend to explore more promo options, and keep on blogging, and get stuck into the work of all those indie authors on twitter. There’s always plenty to do.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Um…
Is it The Stand? It? Salem’s Lot? His Dark Materials? Imajica? Abarat? Life of Pi?
I think it’s one of these. I think.
I’ll get back to you on that one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Steve Conoboy Website
Steve Conoboy Amazon Profile
Steve Conoboy Author Profile on Smashwords

Steve Conoboy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Linda Kovic-Skow grew up in Washington state, but currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona. She earned an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting in 1978 from North Seattle Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Seattle University in 1985. She has been married for 28 years and has two daughters. An enthusiastic traveler, Linda also enjoys boating, hiking, gardening and socializing with friends. “French Illusions”, her debut memoir, is the culmination of a three-year project. She is working on her sequel, “French Encore,” due out in fall of 2014.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
About four years ago, after my husband and I dropped our youngest daughter off at college, I went through a sort of mid-life crisis. I missed being a mom and I wondered how I would fill the void. Sure I had my part-time bookkeeping business, but it consumed only a few hours a day and it wasn’t interesting any more. Something was missing, but what?

This prompted me to review what I like to call my “mid-life list.” This is similar to a “bucket list,” with an important twist. The idea was to refocus myself and figure out the things I wanted to do with my life in my fifties – while I could still do them. My list was short.

-Learn to play the piano
-Travel to Africa to see the elephants
-Travel to Tahiti and see the island of Bora Bora
-Travel back to France (with my family this time)
-Write a book

At the time, I didn’t own a piano and, with two daughters in college, I couldn’t afford a trip to Africa or Tahiti. I had already traveled back to France in 2001 with my family, so that left me to examine the fifth item on my list more closely. If I did write a book, would it be fiction or non-fiction? What genre would I choose?

The answers to my questions came to me in the shower (which is where many of my ideas seem to materialize, strangely enough). I decided to hunt down my diary from my au pair adventure in France and compose a memoir. It took me three years and countless hours to write “French Illusions,” but now I can scratch another item off my mid-life list.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I start my day about 8:30 in the morning with a generous cup of coffee. After I check emails, I attend to book business for a few hours – promotions, research, Facebook, my blog or twitter. In the afternoon, after lunch, I walk the dog, run errands, attend an exercise class or work on my sequel, “French Encore.” I can’t sit for long or my neck hurts, so I switch back and forth between my desk and a standing computer station. Late in the day, my husband signals a break for dinner. After a few more hours writing at the computer, I finally shut things down at around nine o’clock. Ahhh, a glass of wine usually helps me unwind.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
“Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden. It’s such an incredible story filled with vivid descriptions and well-developed characters. The first time I read it, we were on a vacation cruise to Mexico and I just couldn’t put the darn thing down. My husband kept scolding me for missing out on events because all I wanted to do was read in our stateroom.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing my sequel, “French Encore.” This will be the second of two books, based on my diaries, detailing my adventures in Tours and Paris in 1979 and 1980.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Initially, I contracted with Steve Bennett at Authorbytes to construct a modern interactive website which includes a link to Amazon to purchase “French Illusions.” My website allows visitors to click on widgets linking my Twitter account, my Facebook Fan page and Pinterest page. I stay active on all of these sites, posting to my blog every two weeks, Facebook once a day and Twitter every few hours. The best promotion sites I’ve used are BookBub and eReader News Today. Both of these sites propelled me up the sales ranks at Amazon where I’ve reached best-seller status.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hire a professional editor. I mean it. You can’t edit your own book. You won’t see the mistakes because you are too close to the writing. It will cost you a few hundred dollars for a line editor, a bit more if you need some in-depth editing, but it’s the best money you will ever spend. I cringe every time I read a negative review where the main complaint is editing. You want readers to judge you on the content of your story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This is actually my own advice.

It’s never too late to create your own memories, no matter how small. Go out and explore the world. Life’s for living, after all.

What are you reading now?
I’m enjoying the memoir, “Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools” by Victoria Twead.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I complete my sequel, I’ll concentrate on marketing and promotions for my two memoirs.

What is your favorite book of all time?
“Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden.

Author Websites and Profiles
Linda Kovic-Skow Website
Linda Kovic-Skow Amazon Profile

Linda Kovic-Skow’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Los Angeles, California and raised the city of Lancaster, which sits at the northern-most end of Los Angeles County. The son of a second generation deputy sheriff, I spent several hours each week after school (both grade and middle) at the local library, where I’d wait for my dad to get off work and drive me home. During those hours I would immerse myself in archived copies of Starlog Magazine (nearly every issue published between 1976 thru 1990), where I’d read the behind the scenes exploits of my favorite science fiction movies and television series. In high school I was highly active in art, sometimes taking as many as three art classes per year. My junior year I enrolled in journalism, where I produced a great many articles for the Opinion page. That’s when I really got bitten by the writers bug.

After high school I joined the US Navy as a computer technology specialist, working on the west coast with an anti-submarine and scouting squadron, and later on the east coast onboard a guided missile cruiser as part of the Enterprise battle group. During deployment to the Persian Gulf in 1998, I was offered given a Star Trek book to read (to help fill my addiction to science fiction). It was, in my opinion, a very poorly written work. Telling my friend this, he challenged me with “Well, then write your own and I’ll let you know.” That’s was all it took. I punched out a 70k word fanfic novel in less than three months, which I had to print out on an old LaserJet to give back to my friend. The novel made its way around the boat, and I was soon heralded as an “up and coming writer with lots of potential.” Needless to say, for it being my first work written in excess of 5,000 words, I was stoked,

Afterwards, life got busy—as it usually does—and I didn’t pick up the pen for another five years. I started dabbling in 2009, then decided to produce a few more fanfic novels to get back into the habit of writing. Although largely unedited, they received high praise from the Star Trek fanfic community.

I took the skills leaned in those exploits and produced my first published novel, The Army of Light, in June of 2013. The second, Icarus, was published on September 15th, 2013.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is Icarus, which is the continuation of the Kestrel Saga: as set up in my first novel, The Army of Light (both of which are available on Amazon.com, provided through my own publishing company, JRP). Icarus continues the story of the ex-Unified Sector Command fighter pilot Shawn Kestrel, and the beautiful and enigmatic Office of Special Investigations Agent Melissa Graves, as the two search for Melissa’s father, Admiral William Graves, Shawn’s friend and former commanding officer. While investigating a possible government conspiracy on a war-torn world in the far reaches of Unified space, the Admiral disappeared without a trace. Due to the precarious proximity of the world to Kafaran territory, home to the former blood enemy of the Unified Collaboration of Systems, a Sector Command battle fleet was dispatched to ascertain his status. The fleet, including the heavy cruiser Icarus, likewise went missing.

In the course of Shawn and Melissa’s search, and with the sometimes reluctant help of the Sector Command fleet carrier Rhea, they discover the ravaged wreck of the cruiser Icarus. Expecting to find answers, Shawn and Melissa board the ship, only to be confronted with an even deeper mystery that threatens the safety of the galaxy once again

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love a good banter between opposing (and sometimes cooperating) characters. In fact, I’ve gotten so caught up in word play that my first-draft readers often forget which of the characters are speaking at the moment. I’ve since learned how to differentiate, but I still get caught up in it every once in a while. What is most difficult for me is pacing. I can sometimes use more words than necessary to describe a scene, and cutting it down to a manageable level makes me feel like I’m taking something away from the reader’s experience. That being said, I’m learning balance, and I think it will shine through in successive works.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I don’t know…maybe not an author. Does that sound bad? What I’d really love to do is spend time with a storyteller, and by that I mean someone in the motion picture industry…someone who condenses what could be a 500 page novel into a 2 ½ hour experience that completely blows your mind. Those are the kind of people who understand content, pacing, action, dialogue, scenery, etc. Stephen Spielberg or George Lucas pop instantly into my mind. If I, as an author, could capture the ‘essence’ of Star Wars, Indian Jones, or Shindler’s List into a well written book, I’d have pure gold.

What are you working on now?
I’m nearing the final editing phase of the third book in the Kestrel Saga, Second Earth, which will be released on Amazon on December 15th (the 6 month anniversary of my release of The Army of Light). It will continue the established story, wrapping up many of the loose ends while simultaneously putting my characters on a new adventure. I’m also working on a new series that will fall under the Origins: umbrella. This saga, set a decade or so before the events of The Army of Light, will chronicle adventures in various factions of the entities I’ve created for the Kestrel Saga. While there will be characters and settings from the Kestrel Saga involved for continuity’s sake, 90% will be all new (including plot and lead characters). The first book, OSI: Traitor Winds, will be released on March 15th, 2014. A successive novel underscoring the exploits of a Sector Command cruiser, and another based on the Unified Sector Commands Marine Corps, will follow later in 2014. There is also a fourth book in the Kestrel Saga outlined, but I’m not sure when that would be released.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still searching that one out. I’ve had a lot of positive experience with Goodreads.com, and my own website gets a pretty fair amount of traffic.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love, and tell the story you want to tell, not one that you think readers want to buy. If you are passionate about your topic, your readers will see it, and you’ll have earned a fan.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s not about what others think of you, it’s about what you think of yourself.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Cyrano de Bergerac, written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand.

Author Websites and Profiles
Stephen Fender Website
Stephen Fender Amazon Profile

Stephen Fender’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book! I am transformational speaker and relationship coach. I spent 3.5 yrs writing this book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called Yoga & Love. I was inspired to write as there was a newspaper article about how I met my wife through meditation. A lot of people asked me about how to use yoga meditation to find your soulmate. This is my offering of love to the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Haha yes, I am an expert @ staring at a blank word doc for hours and keeping it squeaky clean without defiling it with my thoughts. I did end up writing almost 15 hrs a day for many years.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

What are you working on now?
I am working on a screen play for my big Hollywood movie.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a marketing team that works on facebook ads plus I am on TV a lot.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes make sure to write everday even if it is for 15 min. And from time to time, get your friends to read it and ask for honest feedback. Other option is to write blogs every week, that is how I started.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take out the word “can’t” from your vocabulary.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Steve Jobs’s biography

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am planning six more books after my screenplay.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Autobiography of a Yogi

Author Websites and Profiles
Vish Iyer Website
Vish Iyer Amazon Profile

Vish Iyer’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! My name is Judith A. Yates and I am a criminologist who has written, studied, and lectured on crime for over 20 years. I was also employed as a private investigator, with the Sheriff’s department, with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, in loss prevention, and as an instructor. Currently I am a true crime author who recently wrote and self published my first “official” book. it is receiving good reviews and I worked three years on the project.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Devil You Know.” A friend of mine who operated a nonprofit missing/murdered children’s group notified me of a man who was petitioning for clemency for the murder of a young boy. I write for examiner.com and she wanted me to write an article on this man’s crime and why he does not deserve clemency. One article led to another and I was so moved by the story. The victim was not out selling dope or carrying a gun; he was not a beauty queen or famous person’s child. he was a GOOD kid who – like so many child victims – trusted the wrong person.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Ha Ha writing IS unusual. I am at my most creative late, late at night. My Great Dane is always asleep at my feet. Is that unusual?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh my gosh, that is so hard to answer. Mara Leveritt is a master at research. Cathy Scott gave me friendly advice and I am proud to call them both “friend.” Lowell Cauffiel is someone to emulate – he gave me the best advice on doing my research and taking my time rather than churn out “stuff.” He’s awesome! And he makes me laugh. Burl Baer is such a good person, as is Michael Tabman. They all taught me something different.

What are you working on now?
I looked hard for my next project and some years ago my students had worked on the Dennis Reid case. He is a serial killer here in Nashville who has been given celebrity status of sorts. Being a victim’s advocate and wanting to teach something in my work, I am focusing on the case from the victim’s standpoint; I am researching victim’s dynamics and talking to everyone I can to tell the victim’s stories.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I stopped reading what is good and not good (Facebook versus Goodreads versus..). I use everything. I created business cards about the book. I got the gift of gab from my grandfather, so I strike up conversations with strangers and sometimes give them my card. I leave cards everywhere. I love meeting readers so do presentations. I do public speaking on crime. I donate books as door prizes. Everything is a potential advertisement.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Listen to professionals. This is why I am having the True Crime Workshop in February: authors, law enforcement, publishers, etc. will be discussing best practices. When it comes to true crime, remember the victims. Don’t write just to see your name on a book; write to teach. Most important: don’t let anyone tell you “no”…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Research, and research your research” from Lowell. And my mother read to me at night and thus began my love of books.

What are you reading now?
I have an eclectic interest in books. I am reading the life story of Rasputin and just finnished Eric Larson’s newest. But when I am writing it is hard to read anything else except research and interview notes.

What’s next for you as a writer?
the Nashville, TN. True Crime Workshop. I am SO excited. Our focus is gathering authors, fans, and future authors with law enforcment for the purpose of maintaining the quality of true crime. Truecrimeworkshop.com

What is your favorite book of all time?
Again, that is a hard one. Who wrote this! LOL. I have memorized most of J.D. Salinger’s stuff and “The Great Gatsby.” Lowell’s “Forever & 5 Days” I have read several times because “did they or didn’t they?” And of course, “The Devil You Know” because of the people I have met in the project.

Author Websites and Profiles
Judith A. Yates Website
Judith A. Yates Amazon Profile

Judith A. Yates’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a California native who has enjoyed traveling around the world. Up until six years ago, I worked as director for a fine art gallery, where I helped foster the careers of various artists before feeling the urge to satisfy my own creative impulses.

Since launching my writing career, I’ve earned more than a dozen literary awards in addition to a finalist spot in the 2008 RWA Golden Heart Contest. Besides being a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Willamette Writers, I lend my support to various charitable and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest and currently live with my husband in Oregon. I have two 3-year-old companions – a black and white Malti-poo and Laso-poo and absolutely cherish the time I can spend with my three grown daughters and two grandsons.

As of this month, I’m proud to say I have three books published and am currently working on a fourth book that I hope to have available in the spring.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my latest release is Buried Threads – the second book in my Threads series. As far as inspiration goes, for more than forty years, I’ve been fascinated with the arts and culture of Japan and have been fortunate in being able to travel across Asian with my family. Due to my husband’s business interests and roots stemming from Japan, I’ve had the remarkable opportunity to develop personal relationships with Japanese shipping agents, politicians, company executives, religious leaders and talented Geikos and Maikos who reside and perform in Kyoto’s Gion District.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a bit of a “panster” as well as a perfectionist – writing what comes to mind and editing as I go. Plotting just seems to come naturally as I literally dream up my stories from beginning to end. At one time, I tried the story board approach but it didn’t work for me. It simply felt to confining since I like the idea of letting my characters lead the way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sue Grafton, Nora Roberts, Robert Galbraith, James Patterson, Gillian Flynn and many more.

What are you working on now?
The last installment in the Threads series – Banished Threads, taking my treasure-hunting duo on another adventure. This time, while enjoying a much-earned vacation in England, Rachel Lyons and Chase Cohen are introduced to a secret mystical society by her jet-setting uncle and shortly after, a collection of priceless Morris Graves’ paintings turns up missing. Drawn into the mystery, this combative pair and their salvage crew take up residence at the Lyons’ stately manor. However, acquiring the cooperation of locals and trust of the maligning brotherhood seems improvable, convincing Rachel to end their involvement – until she discovers the secret her uncle has been harboring for years.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve tried it all and can honestly say, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads have been the best marketing outlets for me. Facebook and Twitter have become a bit of a social outlet and include a friendship base of over 5,000 individuals….many of whom are authors themselves. I love Goodreads because this site is dedicated to books and people who love to read. There are a number of blogs where I occasionally post and I have my own blog as well, but an author’s current website and occasional newsletter is the best way to represent yourself and keep the interest of your followers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself and in your own voice, because there will be times in this business when you’ll be the only one who does.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Know your characters and develop your story through their eyes! Too many books are written with cardboard personalities – individuals with no depth, imagination, emotions or anything to make them unique or interesting.

What are you reading now?
Dean Koontz’s False Memory and Lisa Jackson’s Absolute Fear…along with a few more.

What’s next for you as a writer?
When I finish the last book in the Threads series, I’d like to try my hand at a paranormal mystery, which would be a very different genre for me.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Shogun by James Clavell. I was captivated by his writing and the brutal period in history he revealed. I was thrilled when it was turned into a television series, but unfortunately, as with many novels, Hollywood failed to do it justice.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kaylin McFarren Website
Kaylin McFarren Amazon Profile

Kaylin McFarren’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing when I was in middle school, as a way to escape the boredom of growing up in a small town. After the local bowling alley finally closed its doors one summer, I decided to start using my imagination coupled with a pen or pencil to relieve my desire to explore beyond home. To date, I have one published book on the market and I am working on another one that I hope to release soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my latest paperback is Pyramid Rising: Planetary Acupuncture to Combat Climate Change, and it was inspired by a correlation I found between earthquakes, natural disasters and places of power such as Stonehenge, Giza and many dozen other locations that are assembled on what is known as the World Grid.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I am aware of, but I have a habit of writing about unusual things.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many authors and books out there that are worth mention, it’s tough to determine which books or which authors have had more of an influence on how I write or what I write about. Graham Hancock and David Hatcher Childress are two authors that are big influences, both whom are still active writers and world explorers in search of Truth.

What are you working on now?
The title of my latest book is not set in stone quite yet, but so far I’m calling it “Island Files: Big Island, Big Mystery”, and it was inspired by my experiences in Hawaii as an anomalous researcher.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best methods I’ve found for promoting my books is by word of mouth and by sharing them on Facebook with my friends and family. Of course my publisher; http://www.ShantiPublishing.com has a few tricks up their sleeves that I might be unaware of!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for any new author is something I keep in mind and try to do as much as possible, and that is to write at least one page of new material every day. If you think you’re going to write an entire book in one sitting, think again. When I began my second book I felt completely overwhelmed but once I started accumulating page after page day after day, everything fell right in to plac

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve heard is called the Golden Rule, and it consists of doing to others what you want done to you.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I suppose what’s next for me is I finish my new book and get it on the market.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t necessarily have a favorite book of all time, it’s really hard to pick just one. If I had to it would most likely be any book by David Hatcher-Childress, something about ancient mysteries or ancient civilizations.

Author Websites and Profiles
Zach Royer Website
Zach Royer Amazon Profile
Zach Royer Author Profile on Smashwords

Zach Royer’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Author of several self-help books, Rebecca Richmond has enjoyed a highly successful career within global organisations, later going on to become a qualified coach. Having triumphed over adversity, fibromyalgia/CFS and cancer, as a coach and master practitioner of NLP, hypnosis and Time Line Therapy™, she is ideally equipped to help people achieve the wellness they deserve.

Book titles currently in circulation:

My Guide: Manage Fibromyalgia/CFS

My Guide: Overcome Insomnia

My Guide: Manage Chronic Pain

Coming soon:

My Guide: Manage Stress Levels

My Guide: Improving Self-Esteem

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My Guide: Manage Fibromyalgia/CFS

I was motivated to write this book as a result of the desperation and hopelessness of a group of sufferers and their families who firmly believed that there was no hope of them recovering. They felt that anyone who claimed to have recovered had either never been ill in the first place or worse, was a charlatan who was intending to prey on their vulnerability. Even if you believe that you will never recover from fibromyalgia/CFS, you can still learn how to manage and reduce the symptoms, and live a full and happy life. I sincerely hope that this book will inspire you to make changes in your own thinking so you can begin your own journey to recovery.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, but for the first draft I like music or the TV on in the background. For drafts two and three I work in silence. Once the first draft is complete, I go through it twice more before it goes to my editor, who always comes back with lots of questions.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
‘Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway’ by Susan Jeffers was the first book that made me realise you can change your life by using the information you read in a book if you act on it.

What are you working on now?
I’m just finishing My Guide: Manage Stress Levels and starting a book on My Guide: Improving Self-Esteem.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Blogging through our own sites, including http://www.writershouse.co.uk. We also have a website for each book title, giving free help and advice to sufferers of a particular condition.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stay focused and finish your book, get it professionally edited and once published, make sure you promote it, whatever publishing avenue you choose.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Quote by Henry Ford: ‘Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.’

What are you reading now?
Non-fiction – How To Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life by Pat Williams and Jim Denney

Fiction – The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I always read one fiction and one non-fiction at the same time.

What’s next for you as a writer?
While I have knowledge that can help others, my goal is to keep writing and also helping other coaches, trainers and professionals, etc., to write and publish their work.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I love so many books I simply don’t have a favourite. Books, both fiction and non-fiction, have changed my life – there is no way I can choose just one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rebecca Richmond Website
Rebecca Richmond Amazon Profile

Rebecca Richmond’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account