Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write mystery/thrillers and romantic suspense. All my books include helpings of humor and romance as well as thrills.

DEAR KILLER is the first book in my Marley Clark Mystery Series. It features a 52-year-old retired military intelligence officer, and, as coincidence would have it, my best friend from kindergarten on is a retired military intelligence officer, who provided me great background for my character. Marley lives on Dear Island (fictional) on the SC Coast near Beaufort, SC, and I was privileged to live in this beautiful area for a dozen years. In NO WAKE ZONE, the second book in the series, Marley visits Lake Okoboji/Spirit Lake, Iowa, where my aunt, uncle and cousins lived and where I worked summers as a teen. In the next book in the series, Marley will be back in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Harlequin has purchased the mass market rights to both DEAR KILLER and NO WAKE ZONE.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest title is a romantic suspense novel, FINAL ACCOUNTING. It’s a bit steamier than the books in my Marley Clark Series. FINAL ACCOUNTING is set in Atlanta and Jamaica. My sister and brother-in-law lived in Jamaica for seven years, giving me an insider’s view of the island. The title has a couple of different meanings. My heroine is a forensic accountant, who uses her brains to go after white-collar crooks.

I recently finished a romantic suspense novel, MISDIRECTION, that’s set in Upstate SC (my current home). It currently resides with a publisher/editor who’s asked for a few revisions.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I was a journalism major and have always made my living as a writer. So, I know the value of putting my fanny in the chair and writing. You can edit dreck and finetune until you’re happy. You can’t do much with a blank page.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always been a reader–and my tastes are pretty eclectic. Some of my favorite authors include Susan Isaacs, Nelson DeMille, Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton, and Carl Hiaasen.

What are you working on now?
My next Marley Clark book is titled WITH NEIGHBORS LIKE THESE. It’s a murder mystery, of course, but it also has some fun looking at the dramas and personalities that can make home owner associations (HOAs) a nightmare.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The most fun has been visiting with book clubs, speaking to groups, and teaching classes. I’m not sure how much of this effort translates into sales, but it’s such a treat to spend time one-on-one with readers and other authors.

Of course, I also have a website (www.lindalovely.com) and I’m on Facebook (lindalovelyauthor) and on Twitter (@lovelyauthor).

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love to read. Don’t try to chase the market.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen to your critique partners, but always remember it’s your story/your voice.

What are you reading now?
The Light Between the Oceans, this month’s pick for the book club I belong to.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on a romantic suspense novel set in 1938 in Keokuk, Iowa, my hometown. The historical research is great fun.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Too tough to pick one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Linda Lovely Website
Linda Lovely Amazon Profile

Linda Lovely’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

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

~~The White School

~~The Leader of the Lost People

~~The Drinking Man’s Guide to Women (and Divorce)

~~The Thinking Man’s Guide to Women

I have five short stories featured in The Author’s Gift.

My latest novel is The White School: Racism Sneaks into the 21st Century.

The wave of events that ushered in the 21st century overwhelmed Americans. The attacks of September 11, unrestricted dependence on technology, and a shattered economy drove us into the future at breakneck speed. But what have we ignored along the way? Have we turned a blind eye to our social ills? Has the specter of racism tiptoed in to the 21st century while we were texting our friends and checking our email? This collection of vignettes reveals 21st century racism from many perspectives, and it delves into the most basic tenet of human behavior: Some people change, some people try, and some people do neither. Welcome to The White School.

Former Marine, former teacher and former school administrator and ever a student of humanity, Patrick O’Cahir brings a sharp wit and even sharper tongue to bear on society’s questions. Patrick writes with as much passion and knowledge in The White School as he did in his previously released, The Leader of the Lost People. Patrick excels at fictionalizing the realities that take place in the public schools today. Patrick is embarking on a thirty day ocean voyage in July 2013 to put the finishing touches on The Wind from the Sea, a novel about a dying man that sails into the adventure of a lifetime.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The White School: Racism sneaks into the 21st Century.

I have been a school administrator and classroom teacher for the last 27 years. The blatant segregation that is practiced by the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system inspired me to write this book. But the story expands on to the role that African Americans also play in the perpetuation of racial stereotypes. I wrote this novel using voice recognition software as I drove to and from The White School. It is a collection of short stories from a variety of voices- a seasoned teacher, a new student, a young teacher, and from the unique perspectives of African American students that chose to be bused in to The White School.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I write at 4:00 in the morning until the sun comes up.Then I go back to sleep until the normal people awaken. I like to write where my story is taking place. I leave Hawaii on June 29 for a thirty day excursion studying ocean temperatures. During my free time I will finish The Wind from the Sea. this novel is about a man that refuses to die in a hospital (like his wife did twelve years previous) and has decided to sail out to sea. What he encounters becomes the adventure of his life. Writing this while at sea will give me the realism that is needed.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, John Grisham, Clive Cussler, Dan Brown, Edgar Allen Poe, John Milton, and Mary Shelley to name a few.

What are you working on now?
The Wind from the Sea. A dying man sails into the adventure of a lifetime. The short story actually received an Honorable Mention in the Writer’s Digest Short Story contest.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know yet. I am hoping word of mouth will still be the best way to sell a great book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author I am still in the receiving advice category.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up. Never, ever- I mean never. If I have to be the oldest person ever to write a bestseller than so be it.

What are you reading now?
I just finished “Outliers” and am into read “Frankenstein” for the third time.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A book that influences and changes society. I think The White School is that book.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Stand by Stephen King.

Author Websites and Profiles
Patrick O’Cahir Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I currently work as Microbiology Laboratory Manager and write books. I like travelling and spending quality time with family and friends. I also like good food .

So far I have written three books, I am in the middle of my fourth book and have about four more books in my head waiting to be written.

List of books already written below:

Despite al odds: A Dream Fulfilled

Truths, Lies and Untold Secrets

Blood Borne Connections

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called ‘Blood Borne Connections’.

I was inspired to write it after watching a TV interview with the actress Emma Thompson one afternoon where she talked about human sex trafficking and I was horrified that it still went on in this day and age. I did a lot of research into sex trafficking and the people behind it before writing the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Sometimes when I am feeling a little tired I have the tendency to eat things to stay awake, which isn’t really good for my health. I tend to do a lot of research and have to get the story right in my head before I set about writing it down.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading Mills and Boons and Barbara Cartland because that was what my mother bought and read, our house was literally full of these books. I then went on to read some of the Harold Robbins, Sidney Sheldon and Agatha Christie books which I think influenced my style of mystery and suspense.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on my fourth book which is about suicide and looking at the people who kill themselves, the family they leave behind and the impact of the act of suicide. It is a fictional mystery story (a little bit scary) as some of the dead people get to see their lives play on as if they were still alive – to the extent that some of the dead don’t know they are dead.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest I think that ‘Word of Mouth’ is the best. People have read my books and told me how they enjoyed them and sent twits about them, which is good.

Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords etc are all good

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Follow your dream never give up on it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There are no limits in life – when you see it and believe it then you can achieve it.

What are you reading now?
Lead me Holy Spirit by Stormie Omartian

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue to write

What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t have a favourite book of all time. Rain Man is a book that I really enjoyed reading. I recently read The Great Gatsby and Gone Girl.

Author Websites and Profiles
Gladys Lawson Website
Gladys Lawson Amazon Profile

Gladys Lawson’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m 75 years old and when I gave up TV comedy scriptwriting some fifteen years ago I started writing books. I’ve published fourteen so far, most of which are available in paperback, all of which are available as ebooks on Kindle. My books are: Dear Air 2000 and Dear Coca-Cola, which are humorous correspondence with, respectively, airlines and food & drink companies; Football Crazy, Captain’s Day, James Blond-Stockport is too Much, Inflatable Hugh and I’m in Heaven, which are humorous novels; Stairlift to Heaven and Stairlift to Heaven 2 – Further up the Stairlift, which are autobiographical journals; Zephyr Zodiac, which is a volume of connected short stories; Good Old George and Call me a Taxi, which are novellas; Les Dawsons’s Cissie & Ada, which is a book of television scripts; and The Razzamatazz Fun eBook, which is a compendium of humorous stories and sketches.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Stairlift to Heaven 2 – Further up the Stairlift. I was driven to write it because its predecessor, Stairlift to Heaven, has sold over 80,000 copies thus far in addition to receiving 101 x 5 Star Amazon Customer Reviews in the UK plus 21 in the US.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Apart from swinging from the ceiling light fittings and writing in Swahili with my toes, no.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The books of David Lodge, Tom Sharpe, P G Wodehouse and John Steinbeck.

What are you working on now?
It’s Not Cricket, which is a book with a cricket background. However, as the title suggests, it is not so much about the game of cricket but about the characters in the book and how they behave.
I am also writing a blog, www.stairlifttoheaven.com which will eventually become the third volume of my autobiographical journal series Stairlift to Heaven, if I live long enough. Visitors welcome.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Twitter and facebook and a number of facebook author/reader websites including Awesome Gang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick at it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t piss into the wind. However the best advice I can give, especially to new writers, is – don’t waste time trying to find a publisher (which, by the way, is more often than not pissing into the wind) – but save yourself a lot of heartbeak and self publish, especially with Amazon.

What are you reading now?
Re-reading David Lodge’s ‘Nice Work’.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just to keep on writing.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Tom Sharpe’s ‘Wilt’.

Author Websites and Profiles
Terry Ravenscroft Website
Terry Ravenscroft Amazon Profile

Terry Ravenscroft’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Usui and Karuna Reiki Master and certified holistic therapy practitioner. I am also a licensed clinical social worker, working with a hospice agency in Asheville, NC. I grew up on a farm in rural Indiana and was stricken with polio at the age of three. I learned Reiki in 2001 to relieve fatigue from post-polio syndrome. This complementary technique led me to explore other alternative modalities, including shamanic intuitive healing, and other energy healing methods. I have written one book (so far)….

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book, published by John Hunt Publishing company, is titled “Believe and it is True: A Story of Healing and Life Lessons.” The inspiration was telling the story of my healing journey. Healing occurred almost 50 years after having had polio – I did not ever think I could get better physically, but I did! Along the way, I also experienced much emotional and spiritual healing. The mind/body/spirit connection became real to me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The best way I know to write is to schedule a few hours in my calendar, usually on Saturday mornings, since I also work fulltime. It is an appointment with my computer. My husband knows not to interrupt me, unless it is very important!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have read so many books, by so many wonderful authors. I am definitely attracted to anything metaphysical, or spiritual – whether it be a book by a psychic medium, a shamanic healer, a Reiki practitioner, or an ordinary person like me – anyone who has an intriguing story to tell. It seems I always learn several new things, from each book. I also love a really good novel – with rich characters, usually set in another historical time period.

What are you working on now?
My focus now is sharing the message of how energy healing modalities can truly heal a person – physically, emotionally and spiritually. This includes everything from training others in Reiki, to writing my blog, to connecting and networking with others in the world of social media.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found the best method is connecting to the individual person – whether it is on facebook, twitter, or doing a book signing in a bookstore. When I can engage with another person, mutually sharing thoughts and ideas, we both want to know more about each other!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My most important piece of advice is to believe that you are already a writer – because you have a story to tell. If you feel passionate about a specific topic and want to share your wisdom with others, just do it. If you need to build some confidence and develop your writing skills, find a writing workshop, or class – then sign up and go. I also think it is important to read, read, read – especially books of your same genre. Before you submit your book to a publisher, share it with several friends, especially those who may have some writing experience – and ask for honest feedback.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself – you are the expert in your story!

What are you reading now?
I am reading “Spiritwalker: Messages from the Future” by Hank Wesselman.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A second book is percolating in my mind. Perhaps, it will be case studies, or short stories, from my work experiences – both as a Reiki Master and a hospice social worker. There are many connections between those two worlds…

What is your favorite book of all time?
This is the hardest question ever! There are few books I have read more than once (since there are hundreds of books I want to read). One I have read more than once is “Gone with the Wind.” I love the fully developed characters, and the depiction of how the Civil War affected this country is incredible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Deborah Lloyd Website
Deborah Lloyd Amazon Profile
Deborah Lloyd Author Profile Other Bookseller

Deborah Lloyd’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written pretty much since I was old enough to hold a pencil. My poem about a potato being made into a chip, written when I was 8 years old, was well received by my school assembly!

At various points in my life I have tried my hand at writing a novel but never found the right inspiration but now I’ve managed to put that right. I started blogging while I lived in France, mainly just as a way to keep friends and family in touch with our new lives. I suddenly realized that the adventures I was writing about would make a great basis for a book.

I still blog but now its about my life back in England. I also blog for the Huffington Post and have written expat articles for the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
L’Amour Actually was inspired by the many adventures I had living in rural France. It is a fictionalized travel memoir. Some of it happened, some of it happened but not quite as I have written in and some of it didn’t happen at all. I leave it up to the reader to decide but sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any unusual writing habits but I am what I would call an organic writer. I know where my story starts and where it finishes, but the bit in the middle just grows as I write. I know many writers who storyboard every last sentence because it works for them but for me, seeing where my story takes me if much more fun

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the contemporary women’s fiction authors that are around at the moment, particularly those with a sharp wit, like Marian Keyes and Catherine Alliott. Kathy Lette has me laughing out loud.

What are you working on now?
My current project has the working title ‘Suddenly Single’ and it is the story of an older woman whose marriage breaks down unexpectedly. With the aid of a small inheritance, she takes off round the world to meet up with her old school friend and on the way discovers more about herself that she thought possible.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My first book only came out this month, published by Summersdale in the UK. At the moment all this book promotion business is new to me. I could probably answer this better in a few months time when I have had a chance to assess what works for me. I have high hopes for Our Awesome Gang though.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Get your story down. Don’t go back and constantly edit it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I was given was ‘You can do it.’ And I could!

What are you reading now?
The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne. A thriller.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing and hopefully more publishing success.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I honestly couldn’t say. There are so many wonderful books that I love for completely different reasons.

Author Websites and Profiles
Melanie Jones Website
Melanie Jones Amazon Profile

Melanie Jones’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write romance and erotica that ranges from sweet to steamy. I started publishing my work earlier this year, although it had been written quite some time ago. When I started, I was publishing short erotic stories which then were compiled into collections. I have also written two novellas – More than a Job and The Quiver of a Kiss. More than a Job is very steamy erotica, whereas The Quiver of a Kiss is an historical erotic romance about Helen of Troy.

The news for me is my recent novel, Bitter Fruits. It is a vampire paranormal/urban fantasy romance grounded very much in reality despite the mythic elements.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Bitter Fruits. The title comes from a quote by Lord Byron but if I said the name of the work, it might give something away about the story! The story was inspired by a variety of things – my own interest in mythology, a personal attraction to brothers, and a desire to write something a little different.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to be a binge writer, meaning that I will go an entire week without writing a word and then spend five straight hours writing. I feel like I should only write when inspired, although with deadlines, sometimes I force it. Readers can usually tell when your heart isn’t it, though, and I don’t want to write something I don’t feel.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As far as erotica, I am inspired by Anais Nin and the Marquis de Sade, mostly because they were the ones who made the genre possible. Personally, I am a big fan of the classics. I love the Brontes, Hemingway, Bradbury, Salinger, Stoker – all of these, of course, being nothing like my own writing!

What are you working on now?
I am currently writing Immortal Star, part two in the trilogy started in Bitter Fruits. It is scheduled to be released in September 2013.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still trying to figure out marketing, to be honest. I never know what works and what doesn’t. Word of mouth is so important, but it is hard to get the first few people excited enough to share.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let things get to you. It is really tough, because everyone is a critic. The internet is also full of people who are happy to make you feel bad about yourself. As a writer, it is natural to doubt yourself and it’s scary when you realize just how many other people are thrilled to help you confirm those doubts. You just need to remember that there are people who hate Harry Potter, who hate the classics, who think everything is beneath them. I think the more successful you are, too, the more people will rip you apart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To write every day. I don’t do it, but I think it is important to at least consider writing every day. Otherwise, life gets away from you.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading a few books – some paranormal, some romance, and some teen fiction. However, my writing has been keeping me from getting deep into anything recently which is sad.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The next two books to follow Bitter Fruits and an erotic novella. After that, I am not sure.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. It is beautiful and heartbreaking.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sarah Daltry Website
Sarah Daltry Amazon Profile
Sarah Daltry Author Profile Other Bookseller

Sarah Daltry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
You write one short story at the age of 10 about a pit on the moon laden with poisonous hamburgers, and suddenly you’re an author. That’s the way I saw it when “Murder on the Moon” became an instant hit with my fourth-grade classmates. I’d always been a voracious reader, but upon sharing my little yarn with my friends, I suddenly realized the freedom (and power!) of becoming the storyteller. Over the next few years, I would go on to write several short stories, mostly involving murder mysteries and my schoolmates.

The thrill of whodunits subsided when I discovered the long and (theoretically) rewarding payoffs of the soap operatic style of telling tales, which was followed quickly by my unearthing of the superhero fiction genre (which is just soap operas in spandex).Fast-forward to my last semester at Florida State University, where I was starting to regret my decision to pursue a business management degree instead of something more literary. I had big stories in my head. Instead of second-guessing my educational path, I used my free time to pursue my passion. A few months later, my first novel had arrived in the world—and it wasn’t pretty. Like all writers, though, I had to start somewhere.

I went back to the drawing board with my ideas for The Survivors—a contemporary fantasy story about what would happen if real people found themselves empowered with superhuman abilities. But The Survivors wasn’t so pretty either. The concept was fun but the execution was rough. It was temporarily shelved while I set out to learn how to be a better and publishable writer. And 10 years later, I think I may have learned a thing or two.

I wrote another novel in the interim years (more on that soon!), but The Survivors will always be my baby. In many ways, the work of an artist is like his or her child. Now my little one’s ready to play with the big kids. After the many years of edits and rewrites, I’m proud of the novel it’s grown into.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE SURVIVORS is my latest (and also first) published book. The plot revolves around seven strangers impossibly surviving a horrific airplane crash. Afterwards they find themselves changed in remarkable ways. The survivors are endowed with powers that defy explanation.

I’ve always been intrigued with the paranormal and the idea that human beings have untapped potential inside. I wanted to play with that idea, but not in the traditional “superhero” way. What would really happen if a person could suddenly read minds? How would a person behave if they had unstoppable power? These are the questions I address in THE SURVIVORS.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not particularly. I like to write my daily allotment all in one sitting, but I think that has more to do with my OCD than my writing habits. 🙂

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ray Bradbury, Sue Grafton, James Patterson, Dean Koontz, John Grisham, Patricia Cornwell, J.K. Rowling, Jan Karon, Tess Gerritsen, so many more.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently prepping a new YA contemporary fantasy. This book REALLY has me excited. It’s a fun concept with kooky characters. I don’t want to go into too many details, but I was inspired after watching (and then immediately reading) the first Harry Potter. I wanted to create a magical world too, but mine isn’t about witches and wizards – honestly, no one will ever top Rowling’s take on a wizarding world.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still feeling that out, but I think www.authormarketingclub.com has some wonderful resources. The forums at KBoards.com are very helpful too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be persistent.

Write every day.

Read every day.

See out critiques that aren’t from your mother.

Listen to your critics and learn from them.

Join a writing group or take a writing class at a community college.

Learn the business side to writing – marketing, social media, public relations, etc. are vital.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’re not a writer until you’ve written 1000 pages, so keep writing. The early stuff is usually pretty rough, but you have to get through all of it to uncover the gems. Keep plugging away.

What are you reading now?
Having only just published THE SURVIVORS, I haven’t had much time for reading. (I read it about 10 ten times in the last few weeks.) I’m a huge fan of the Game of Thrones TV show, so I’m considering diving into those massive beasts.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently focused on marketing for my current book, THE SURVIVORS. I have another book that is almost ready for publishing, so that’s in the pipeline. But I’m VERY eager to start on the second book in THE SURVIVORS series. – I have so many ideas that need to be on paper!

What is your favorite book of all time?
This is an impossible question (for me) to answer. I’ve had love affairs with so many books over the years. Bunnicula. Tuck Everlasting. Homecoming. To Kill a Mockingbird. A Tale of Two Cities. Fahrenheit 451. The Martian Chronicles. The Grapes of Wrath. Their Eyes were Watching God. Harry Potter series. Lord of the Rings trilogy. I guess I’ll have to say Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury was an absolute genius. His books gave me pause, particularly because they combined the fantastical with the very real.

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Harvell Website
Daniel Harvell Amazon Profile

Daniel Harvell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written the first two novels in a three-book series. The first one in the series, “The Chaos Protocol”, is a techno-thriller about a team of computer programmers trying to disable a worm in the banking system – and it’s set in Columbus, where I live, and it was a finalist for the 2000 Ohioana Book Award for Fiction. The second one, “Blood on Ice”, is about a young Russian hockey star who is trying to find a way to resist the Mafiya without endangering the people he loves.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is “Blood on Ice.” I studied Russian in college and have spent time there and have met and worked with a number of Russian immigrants. I was interested in the problem of facing evil: how do you maintain your integrity in the face of evil if those you love are threatened? That’s the theme, but the book also contains professional hockey, the Russian Mafiya, art students, Russian orphans, the FBI, a brilliant, disgraced programmer, and lots of other goodies.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When the children were small, I would get up at five a.m. in order to have writing time. Now that they’re grown, I tend to just write whenever I can. I think that most writers are solitary, at least when they write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Laurie Colwin: Happy All The Time as well as her others

Michael Chabon: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and his others

Ruth Ozeki: My Year of Meats

Dorothy L. Sayer: The Peter Wimsey mysteries (Strong Poison, etc.)

Margaret Mitchell: Gone With the Wind

Ken Follett: Eye of the Needle

Wallace Stegner: Angle of Repose

Ann Patchett: Bel Canto

Barbara Kingsolver: The Poisonwood Bible

I have a lot of book reviews at my web site, and at Goodreads, if you’re interested in further recommendations.

What are you working on now?
Presently I’m writing the last book of The Millennium series. Too early for details, but the it’s the continuing story of a character who’s intrigued me since Book One.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still experimenting. Amazon is very helpful, especially with ebooks for Kindle.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Spend most of your time writing, and a proportionately smaller, but consistent amount of time on promotion.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“There are a hundred ways to write a book, many of them right.” Jeff Dunn, author of “Days of Cain” and “Full Tide of Night.”

This advice helped me realize that I didn’t need to get stuck with writing a scene just one way – there were many ways that might be successful. It freed me to experiment.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Ruth Ozeki’s latest book, A Tale for the Time Being. Magical!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll keep writing novels. And I’ve done a good bit of food writing (see my web site), which I like and will continue. I’m also a lyricist, and I would love to make a recording of the songs I wrote for my children when they were little. Not with me singing, however! And maybe a children’s book? And something humorous – the possibilities go on and on.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Sorry, too hard to choose! Please see the very partial list above. I’m always finding new books to love.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nancy McKibben Website
Nancy McKibben Amazon Profile

Nancy McKibben’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Nancy Segovia is many things to many people. To her husband she is friend and prize winning cook. To her five daughters she is mom a sometimes inspiration and an all the time pain in the neck. To her grandchildren she is “Totally awesome!” -their words, not hers. And, to her students she is a hard task master who encourages them to excel and browbeats them into mastering the concepts of proper paragraph construction.

Nancy, herself, returned to college at the tender, young age of 49 and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Religion. She then continued on with her education and pursued and achieved two master’s degrees – the first from Northwest Nazarene University is a Masters of Arts in Religion and the second from the University of Denver is a Master of Liberal Studies in Creative Writing. She drew from this advanced education the skills and knowledge she used to write Shine: How To Walk the Talk which is scheduled was released in May, 2013.

Prior to returning to college, Nancy achieved publishing success in many areas with successful publishing credits in poetry, children’s literature, short stories and full length novels. She has worked as a newspaper journalist, a managing magazine editor and currently teaches English Composition for several universities.

Of herself she says, ” When not writing or teaching, I like to take online classes in a variety of areas including history, education, religion and philosophy. I also read and watch TV. Much to my shame, I really enjoy reality TV shows like “The Bachelor” and “Survivor.” When not doing any of those things, I play with my three dogs and five cats as I love animals. In the past, I have raised and cared for horses – quarter horses and Thoroughbreds – geese, chickens, fish, birds, roosters, hamsters and once a pot-bellied pig.”

Nancy believes that creation and all its beauty, grandeur and diversity is a direct reflection of God’s majesty and power. One of her favorite quotes reflects this philosophy. It is:

“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.”

John Calvin

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Shine: How to Walk the Talk, and it was inspired by my own personal search to become holy and perfected, and the realization that it not only was it impossible, but that giving up was unacceptable. This book describes that search and it is my hope it will inspire others to seek their own perfection and holiness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I simply cannot listen to music while I am writing. I love, love, love music and I know many writers receive inspiration from listening to music while writing. I simply cannot do that because I get too distracted by it. My mind starts to drift away with each melody and I completely lose the train of thought I was riding/writing.

Also, when I am in the middle of writing a novel, it is like having a baby in the house. The novel calls to me at 3 a.m. demanding attention, demanding to be released from my thoughts and given a place of permanence on the written page (computer file – nowadays).

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Aldous Huxley, Anne McCaffrey and Frank Peretti, and a couple of writers who are fairly new to the publishing scene: Elizabeth Hunter and J.R. Rain.

What are you working on now?
A young adult fantasy novel titled: Dragon Tears

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You know, I honestly don’t know yet. I’ll tell you that in a few more years when I have it figured out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write and then write some more, and when you are not writing read about writing, and then write some more. Never give up on yourself or your dreams. If you can conceive it, then you can accomplish it. However, don’t let your ego get in the way. Be willing to learn, to take advice, to get help and critiques, and to start over as many times as necessary to get the job done correctly. Remember, there is always a better word, a better phrase, a better sentence, so don’t fall in love with your “babies” because sometimes they have to be sacrificed for the better good of the finished work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To Thine Own Self Be True – Hamlet

What are you reading now?
J.R. Rain – Vampire Games; Elizabeth Hunter – Blood and Sand; A Contrarians Guide to Christianity; Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul; More Glimpses of Heaven

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing and more publishing

What is your favorite book of all time?
That is impossible to answer but…my standard answer to this question is: Exodus by Leon Uris

Author Websites and Profiles
Nancy Segovia Website
Nancy Segovia Amazon Profile
Nancy Segovia Author Profile Other Bookseller

Nancy Segovia’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am from Scotch Plains, NJ where I learned at an early age to enjoy all that the night sky had to offer and often dreamt of its secrets. Having a mother who was an English teacher writing and reading just seemed a normal joy and although I have written all along, eventually the two collided: Science and Fiction.

My first book which is available now is Sanacion: The Black Hole Mission. Sanacion II: We Are The Aliens is due out this Fall. But don’t look for the adventure to stop there. I am working on the third book now and the characters are telling me the want to continue!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sanacion II: We Are The Aliens is fun to read – for anyone! I keep re-reading it and love it! In the first book we followed mankind as they were forced to leave a dying Earth on three ships – the book follows just one. We get to know the characters and what they are made of and the two groups the military and the civilians. The second book picks up where the first left off. Now on the new planet Steve & Lenora spy some footprints, not human. Three sets of prints indicating something with six legs or four legs, two hands. The back four have toes that seem to be claw-like. From their discovery we find the new inhabitants to be separated by fear and in two groups of thought as to how to proceed on a world that bears the name of the ship, Sanacion.

Where all this was inspired might come across as odd, but I now completely understand what “they” mean when they speak of the muses. The characters took on a life of their own and while I investigated the science they took me on a wild adventure. The last three words of the first book fueled

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The wall surrounding my writing area has large post-its covering every space where I have written the science or the things I want to be sure and cover laid out. Also at the end of the document I include my ideas. Sometimes the mind keeps going and I just can’t keep writing so I include a summary of what comes next. It is very organized as when I write I can’t have any questions or it won’t just flow.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
On the literature side I have always loved and been somewhat influenced by T. S. Elliott however on the Science Fiction side I am influenced by the work of Arthur C. Clarke. The easy way he takes you into a world where everything makes sense with all of its innovation and the characters are complete people with strengths and faults and so is society.

What are you working on now?
Sanacion 3.4. I have a title in mind but now 3/4’s through I think the scenes I am working on now might define it. I can’t go into too much detail for fear of letting too much slide about Sanacion II, but the adventure continues across space, and some bonds formed in the second book are expanded on and some great surprises hinted at become realities.

Also I have been doing my presentation at Star Trek events and SciFi day’s all around and have a convention coming up where I am a guest as are Amanda Tapping and the great William Shattner

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a web-site (http://sanaciontheblackholemission.blogspot.com/) where I give my upcoming events, but only I write about Science above the exosphere. Topics vary from “NASA & The 3-D Printer” to “Mars to join the internet” or “Dark Matter, a simple explanation & a simple theory” or talk about upcoming events in the night sky.

I also have a Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sanacion-sanaci%C3%B3n/251502074922394

And if you see me at an event, come over a chat! I have free mission patches for Sanacion: The Black Hole Mission (they’re great on a jacket or a hat!) or SAVE RUFUS bumper stickers for Sanacion II: We Are The Aliens – also free.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
People will say write every day and of course they are write, but make sure that sometimes you give yourself a block of time that is several hours long. It allows your writing to become something else and the muses to fully check in.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I had this professor at University of Maryland in a creative writing course that forced us to look hard at our writing and to be creative even in our expository writing. I had thought that was a just the facts type of writing and once I learned that the facts don’t have to be boring it all fell into place.

What are you reading now?
I try not to read while I am writing, but two books that I was reading before this book were Arthur C Clarke’s “3001 The Final Odyssey” and a book by Michael Jan Friedman which is the prequel to After Earth. I worked with him at several events and just knew it was good:I can’t wait to finish it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
To be honest I am really enjoying writing this whole series and so I want to just keep following what the characters are doing! I really enjoy getting out and being around people of a like mind whether giving my presentation or just having a signing. …When people ask you where do you want to be in five years, is it okay if you just want to continue doing the same thing?

There is a Biography I would like to write, someday on my father’s life & career as it was really interesting. (My dad was well known in the music industry) I think I will know when the time comes.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Can I name two books? In addition to the real science books and other non-fiction, I love “Sunstorm” by Arthur C. Clarke but there is one book that holds such fond memories for me. When ever I was sick when I was young my mother used to read to me “The Five Little Peppers & How They Grew”. My mother was very dramatic and as good books will this book and its characters came alive around me.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Louise Davie Website

Mary Louise Davie’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine. Through the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Syndicate, his news and feature stories have been published in over five-hundred newspapers and periodicals worldwide. His screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, were first published by Hilliard Harris in 2007 and 2008. Down and Out Books is reissuing those two, and will publish BIG MOJO late in 2013. His short stories have appeared in A Twist of Noir and Beat to a Pulp. He is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Over a woe-is-me, three-martini lunch twenty years ago, a pal and fellow disgruntled stockbroker told me a tale that became the basis for my debut novel, BIG NUMBERS.

A half-eaten olive spat from my mouth even before I heard the punchline. “Say that again?”

“Jim was a stock-jockey like the rest of us, living hand-to-mouth, until his richest client died,” my pal said. “One week after the client’s funeral, Jim started dating the rich new widow.”

I picked up my errant and twice-bitten green olive. “And Jim married her?”

“Yup,” my friend said.

Bottoms up on my third martini. “That sounds like a novel.”

“A noir tale of greed.”

Maybe it was the times. The mid-1980s celebrated renewed and sharp economic growth, even greed in my opinion. Or maybe it was just my own greed, my desire to escape the dismally frustrating and soulfully repugnant stock and bond trade. Dialing for dollars, we used to call it. Income based solely on commissions. Believe me, avarice gets nurtured daily when you watch your salary go back to zero every month.

“God, that really sounds like a novel,” I said again five minutes later. I imagined movies with famous redheads, a handsome young star as hero. Piles of cash. Boats. Stolen securities.

“You should write it,” my friend said.

Well, I did. In less than a year. I found an agent willing to shop it to publishers, too, but that first version written two decades ago failed to sell in three years of trying. The character was unlikeable, we heard over and over. Greed is not a quality Americans want for their heroes.

I started and finished four other manuscripts over the next two decades, none sold, and I’d reached the lowest spot in thirty-plus years of total disappointment writing fiction. I’d been working with a new agent for two years, on a thriller, and she’d just declared my latest draft completely awry.

“What were you thinking?” she said.

After she made me stop crying, my agent suggested I pull something old from a drawer and work on that for a while, give the thriller a rest. Crushed, I eventually recovered, did some thinking, and eventually called the agent back, told her about two or three old projects including the original version of Big Numbers.

“I like the one about the stockbroker,” she said.

In two weeks of writing, I knew I was onto something special. I couldn’t stop writing. I was making myself laugh in the wee small hours of darkness. I couldn’t wait to show the opening to my agent.

When she read the first thirty pages of the new Big Numbers, with its down-and-out protagonist trying to provide for his estranged children, my agent said, “This is funny. This is you. This is what I’ve been waiting for.”

Six months later I got the call I’d been waiting for. Someone wanted to publish my novel — the novel I began to write twenty years earlier over martinis and lurid gossip.

I know what you future mystery novelists are thinking: Holy weak manuscripts, Jack! It better not take me thirty-eight years and eleven freaking novels to break into print.

It won’t. For the first thirty of those thirty-eight years, understand I just wrote my stories. I didn’t read any books or magazines on writing fiction. I didn’t attend workshops or writing seminars. Craft? It wasn’t until I attended Writers Retreat Workshop in 1998 and began to network that I finally grasped writing fiction requires a set of skills needing study and practice.

You’re already way ahead of me. Aren’t you?

Originally published in Mystery Scene Magazine in February 2007

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I try to “write first” every day — stay off the internet and any marketing work until I’ve written my daily dose of fiction.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Great Gatsby is written in the first person and I’ve always liked that style myself. Besides F. Scott Fitzgerald, my favorite writers are Raymond Chandler, Dashell Hammitt, James M. Cain, and more currently, Elmore Leonard, Robert Crais, and Thomas Perry.

What are you working on now?
My agent is shopping a new series, so I’m both working on #2 n that series and the next Austin Carr — #4, probably called BIG SHOES.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://austincarrscrimediary.blogspot.com is the home of my character. He’s been blogging since 2006.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There is a craft to fiction. Learn it before you start trying to write and sell books.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day no matter what. Inspiration is for amateurs. That’s from Steven King.

What are you reading now?
EVERY BROKEN TRUST by Linda Rodriquez

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hoping the new agent can land me a new contract and a new editor and a new direction. I will continue the Austin Carr series because I love to write the character’s adventures, the humor, but New York Publishers might have been right when they told my old agent stockbrokers don’t. 🙂

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Great Gatsby.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jack Getze Website
Jack Getze Amazon Profile
Jack Getze Author Profile Barnes and Noble

Jack Getze’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I realize that I am one of those rare people in the world who gets to live a life full of passion, romance, suspense, angst, fulfillment, humor, and mystery. I am a writer. Every day when I sit down at my computer, I enter into a world of my own making. I am in the head of a panoply of characters ranging from a nineteen-year-old Austrian debutante (The Last Waltz) to a raging psychopath (The Arthurian Omen) and four women at once in The Only Way to Paradise. Then there are the feisty heroines of my Regency romances . . .

I am a traditionally published,award-winning, best-selling writer who has recently gone Indie. I enjoy genre-hopping, having published a genealogical mystery series, two women’s fiction novels, an historical epic, two suspense novels, four Regency romances, and a couple of non-fiction offerings. I am preparing to release my 17th novel

With a BA from Stanford and an MA from George Washington University in International Relations, I somehow stumbled into finance. But, once my husband was through law school, I never wanted to do anything but write and raise kids. Now the kids are gone, but (even better) there are four grandchildren who provide my rewards for finishing a manuscript.

Aside from the grandchildren, my favorite things include: Florence, Italy; snow storms; Oreos; real hot chocolate; sweaters; Sundance Resort; lilacs; and dachshunds.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Rescuing Rosalind. It was inspired by 1.) Patrick O’Brien’s series of historical novels about life at sea during the Napoleonic Wars. I decided I wanted a sea captain for a hero. 2.) Shakespeare’s As You Like It. I fell in love with the name Rosalind and decided that if I were named Fanny, I would definitely prefer to be called Rosalind. When the sea captain meets Fanny, she is playing the part of Rosalind, and so, to him, she is forever after “Rosalind.” That relationship spurred my imagination and I imagined endless entanglements.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often go to sleep and wake up in the small hours and write for a couple of hours and then go back to sleep. The odd thing is that this produces some of my best writing. It is a good way to burst through writer’s block.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In the Regency romance field, my biggest influences have been Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. Modern writers I love are Kate Harper and Candice Hern.

What are you working on now?
I am just waiting for my beta readers to get back to me with their takes on Lord Trowbridge’s Angel, which is the tale of Sophie (Rosalind’s sister) and Gorgeous Frank, Viscount Trowbridge. Sophie is an unusual heroine for she has a limp, which prevents dancing, long walks, and horseback riding. However, she is an extremely talented violinist, and her music is what captures Gorgeous Frank’s heart. They also share an interest in the Romantic poets, particularly Wordsworth. This book will launch in mid-July.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I offer my book for free and promote it on Bookbub and sites like these. I have had excellent results this way. I also use the standard social media connections, a newsletter and my website: http://ggvandaagriff.com. You can sign up for my newsletter there, which gives details of my writing projects, family news, and FUN. I love to travel, and share my travels with my readers at http://ggvandagriff/blog.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Treat your writing the way a musician treats learning a new instrument. Practice, practice, practice. And read really good books. Reading poorly written books will “bleed” into your own writing. The most important skill is to show not tell. Avoid adverbs and show the emotion you are trying to “tell” with the adverb. Instead of adjectives, use significant detail in your descriptions which gives the reason why something is “lovely,” etc. Of course, this does not apply to dialogue, especially in the Regency, where adverbs and adjectives pepper everyone’s speech.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Show not tell.

What are you reading now?
I am reading a women’s fiction novel, A Sea Change. I get most of my books through Bookbub, and have found some gems there.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am contributing to an Anthology by writing my first novella, which will feature Lord Trowbridge’s best friend, Lord Shrewsbury. It will be out in September–A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection. Next, I will write the third in this Regency trilogy–a novel about Sophie’s best friend Melissa’s hastily contracted marriage. I am rewriting a suspense book published five years ago, creating from it a Romantic suspense, set in Wales and revolving around a hunt for a relic of King Arthur’s day. That’s it for 2013. For 2014, I will be writing a time-travel romance going back to sixteenth century Florence (I go to Florence every year for medicinal purposes!), and a new mystery in my genealogical mystery series, set in Florence with roots in the day of Lorenzo il Magnifico, the Medici patron of Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo di Vinci, and most of the Renaissance greats.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy

Author Websites and Profiles
GG Vandagriff Website
GG Vandagriff Amazon Profile

GG Vandagriff’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Now this is an interesting question! LOL I’ve written many books — MANY! I would say among novels, novellas and children’s picture books I’ve written a dozen or so at least. I think what you want to know is how many I’ve had published, though. If that’s the case, then three picture books for children with Radiant Hen Publishing (www.RadiantHen.com). Those three are “Life is a Bowl of Cherry Pits”, “Fairy Feast” and “Ninny Nu’s Organic Farm”. I also published a how-to book on setting up and implementing reading dog programs in schools — “Can Dogs Read?” That one was with Cairn Terrier Publishing (no longer in business), but Radiant Hen carries it now.

Almost all of my writing, be it for magazines, literary anthologies or if it’s a book for children or adults, has to do with human interaction with nature and encouraging thoughtful living within our environment. It just so happens that I think these messages should be fun as well as hopefully thought-provoking.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book I finished writing (are they ever really finished? LOL) is a novel called “The Starling God”. I’m shopping it around right now and hoping it finds a home, since everything in the book is near and dear to my heart. You could call it my “life’s work”. If I died soon, I’d be happy knowing people were reading the words and thinking about them, and that perhaps not only would they enjoy the story, but they’d make a beneficial change in the way they think and act towards other living things on this planet.

The book is told from the perspective of birds, so it has a bit of “Watership Down” flavor in that regard. However a big difference is that in “The Starling God”, birds are observing humans from that very unique perspective and trying to make sense of our behaviors — how we control everything (or try to) and love certain species and then shoot or poison others. It was an amazing process to write this story, because I really researched bird behaviors and tried to think about our own ways of living and behaving from their almost alien perspective. It was transforming.

The crux of the tale is that a starling is raised by a wildlife rehabilitator from so young, he thinks of her as “Mother”. When she releases him as a fledgling, the other birds, who identify humans falsely as gods, believe he is the fulfillment of a long-held prophecy that will bring Bird and Gods together at last. The young Starling God learns what it is to be ‘bird’ as he also learns the horror and the beauty of these “gods” called Humans.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The possibly unusual thing is that there IS no habit. Every book comes to me in a different way. I picked and picked at the words for Ninny Nu’s Organic Farm, but Fairy Feast poured out of me almost as it was. I wrote “The Starling God” over the course of five years in spurts — 60 pages pouring out here, then I was hopelessly stuck, then off again with another 40, etc. I knew the concept I wanted to get across and some basics about the characters, but I had no idea how it would unfold. The story came along as I wrote. Sometimes I’d get wild unbidden inspirations for scenes in the shower and would have to stop everything to go write them down. Other times I had to tweeze them out more mechanically. That story took ME for the ride!

However, I was driving down the road the other day listening to a bit of music by Michael Nyman and suddenly found my head flooded with an idea for a novel. There were specifics that rolled in one after another — an ENTIRE NOVEL STRUCTURE complete with details of action, characters, you name it. By the time I got home I was practically twitching with urgency to get it all down, so I sat down (only after letting my little dog outside to pee) and feverishly wrote down all the ideas for almost two hours straight. I have the entire framework of the novel there already, and only have to fill in the blanks. There won’t be as much “where is this going?” with this project, clearly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I passionately loved C.S. Lewis and the Narnia series and Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. Both taught me a lot about building a culture through the sensual experiences the characters have — colors, sounds, textures, smells and especially FOODS and tastes. They also showed me that non human characters can be just as compelling and important as humans characters wether the book is for children or for adults. I STILL love the Narnia books and reread them often (especially when I’m home sick). I know many adults who do love them. Therefore there must be sometime special in that writing style and in the topic.

What are you working on now?
I just finished “The Starling God” and will begin work on my next novel soon. However, I am ghost writing a non-fiction book right now with a man who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and recovered beyond any of the doctors’ expectations. He did so thanks to specific conditions AND actions on his part over the years, and he outlines these in his story, “Surviving Well”. This project is a volunteer project. I’m doing it because his message is important. If it happens to be published and do well, then I’ll make some money with it. If it doesn’t, that’s okay. However, it’s another one of those projects that I’d love MANY people to read so they’d get the benefit from it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Radiant Hen sells my published books at www.RadiantHen.com, and they do sell better when I’m out there doing book signings, school presentations, and so forth. I’m only now dabbling in the Internet interviews and sites like Goodreads, so the success of that remains to be seen! Word of mouth and having people “see” me in person does seem to be the best marketing right now.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s probably hackneyed, but PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE and above all do NOT give up. If I let the first rejections crush me, I would have never published the books or articles I have. Now I have written for a number of magazines, have stories in quite a few anthologies, and have 4 books to my credit. It may be small potatoes, but darn it all, those are MY small potatoes and I’m loving them. 😉

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Read the submission guidelines”

“Show don’t tell”

“Make Connections”

What are you reading now?
I just finished “Proof of Heaven” by Eben Alexander. I read a lot of non-fiction as well as fiction. The last fiction I read was “The Scorpio Races” by Maggie Steifvater. Excellent book!!!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I think I covered the writing projects part, but I must say my “next” at this time is truly huge in my own world! I’ve given up my career as a K-8 School Counselor and am embarking on the road of professional author (or unprofessional author depending on my mood). I have always written prolifically even while working one full time and sometimes 2 jobs, but then when my children’s books came out I cut down to part time, and now, a few years after that, I’m ready to take the plunge. If I don’t make it, I don’t make it and can always go back to the “regular work world” again. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained. And I of course am quite certain I will make a go of it, since what other attitude is there to have?

What is your favorite book of all time?
It would have to be one of the C.S. Lewis Narnia books, although my brain is thrashing around trying to choose one as the favorite and not coming up with one. I loved them all for different reasons. Therefore, I’m just going to say that’s my favorite book SERIES of all time.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tanya Sousa Website
Tanya Sousa Author Profile Other Bookseller

Tanya Sousa’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Daniel Berenson — that’s me — knows kids. He is a long time educator (30 years in the middle grades in North Carolina and one year in England as Fulbright Exchange Teacher). He also knows writing. He is the founder and ruling knucklehead at FREAKY DUDE BOOKS, a website that provides “litterature, videoz, and mooschief” to “kids, teenagers, and maturity-challenged adults.” He also has a ranting, raving, and blogging middle schooler named Dr. Crankenfuss who lives in his head. He has written five books:

1) STORIES GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU SICK (a book that lives down to its name. Humor, horror, and craziness.

2) FIREBUG (an intense literary novel about boys, friendship, and burn survivors)

3) THE CLASSIC BOOK OF MOOSE JOKES FOR KIDS (the first moose joke book in history, every joke illustrated)

4) THE CLASSIC BOOK OF MOOSE JOKES FOR ADULTS (moose jokes that would go over the heads of kids)

5) LOVE THUG (a.k.a. Can’t I Do Anything Wrong?) (a romantic comedy aimed at kids aged 10-13)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
LOVE THUG (a.k.a. Can’t I Do Anything Wrong?) is a romantic comedy aimed at young adolescents, particularly guys. It is the book kids need after they outgrow the Wimpy Kid series. It’s about love and how stupid people can get when they fall in love with somebody. Anybody who’s ever been crazy in love will identify with this book. It was originally inspired by an incident in which a boy tried to get himself suspended from school but he gave up after failing at it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I write about almost everything in many genres. I write comedy and tragedy, I write prose and poetry. I write and I illustrate. I write from a boy’s point of view or a girl’s point of view. I’m picky as can be when it comes to language and spend forever editing my books.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Roald Dahl, Jean Craighead George, Jack London, Katherine Paterson, Lois Lowry, Lois Duncan, Edward Gorey

What are you working on now?
I’m getting ready to publish a book of poetry written by 35 hypothetical adolescents, all in the first person, about their lives. The subjects range from the comic to the tragic, from the silly to the serious. Just kids telling their stories.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find that the best way to promote my books is to have people read them. The more people who read them, the more people there are who will like them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If someone gives you some critical advice about your writing, they may or may not be right. If two people say it, start listening. If three people say it, do it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Make Way for Ducklings.

What are you reading now?
Enslaved by Ducks, The People’s History of the United States, Al Capone Does My Shirts, Twenty Twisted Tales, Albert of Adelaide

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will keep publishing books at the rate of two or three per year. I have many books already in the editing stages and many more in my head.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I cannot name one book. There are too many great books to pick just one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Berenson Website
Daniel Berenson Amazon Profile

Daniel Berenson’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. I followed that retirement after 27 years service by entering the civilian world of professional aviation, flying charter aircraft. After some ten years of that, I underwent quad-bypass surgery, which removed me from the medically acceptable category, and I now fly only under the Light Sport Aircraft category. Finding myself with a lot of free time, I began writing. I have published three books so far, all in different genres, and find writing an enjoyable, fulfilling experience.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is actually a group of three short stories, written with young people in mind. It is published on Kindle and is titled simply, “Children’s Stories”. Prior to that I wrote “The Pilot”, a highly fictionalized version of my aviation experiences, and “Arc of Justice”, a novel which includes time travel as a plot vehicle and Joan of Arc alive and well, moving through time to correct historical injustices. This novel was heavily researched for historical accuracy of all the events mentioned. All three are available on Kindle with “The Pilot” also available in other formats through Smashwords.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any writing habits that could be classified as ‘unusual’. A story idea presents itself and I just sit down at the computer and write. Most of what I write seems almost to write itself, but then I don’t push for subjects with which I’m not familiar. Writing is fun for me, and I want it to stay that way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I learned to read at the age of five, cutting my teeth on the Encyclopedia Britannica, Jr. That was followed by reading just about anything that came to hand, from the Hardy Boys to Stephen King’s works, and everything in between. I particularly enjoy Science-Fiction and of late, Fantasy. I think the works of Louis L’Amour influenced my writing style more than any other writer. I love his straight forward, simple style, but have certainly been influenced by the authors of the hundred upon hundreds of books I’ve read over the years.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on another book for younger readers, kind of a ghost story with an abandoned lighthouse on the coast of Maine as the backdrop. I well remember my love of adventure as a youngster and try to factor that into my work.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not much at marketing, having so little knowledge of the process. I rely on word of mouth and the social networks, as well as Amazon, Smashwords, Facebook, Awesomegang and Goodreads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write about the things you know or have experienced, get a good education, read lots of books and use the spell and grammar checking programs in your word processor. When writing dialogue, imagine yourself in the conversation and write the way people actually talk. Oh, and learn about marketing if you want to sell your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be as realistic as you can with your story components. For example, if you’re writing about an airplane that only flies one hundred miles per hour, don’t say it can fly five hundred. People that read books aren’t ignorant or stupid as a rule. They’ll catch your error and it will often leave a bad taste in their mouths.

What are you reading now?
Just finished a book called “The Salvagers” by John Michael Godier, a most enjoyable work, and just started “Enoch’s Device” by Joseph Finley. So far, it’s quite good.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing the work underway, and possibly writing a sequel to “The Pilot”. I’m not really sure, but something will rear its head and demand I put it on paper (or Kindle or Nook).

What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s a hard one, since I’ve read so very many excellent books. My latest favorite would have to be the “Game of Thrones” series by George R.R. Martin. I’m currently waiting for him to finish the next book in the series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Raymond Koonce Website
Raymond Koonce Amazon Profile
Raymond Koonce on Smashwords

Raymond Koonce’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I spent 24 years working as a defense attorney in Montreal, the city where I’ve lived most of my life. I used to write off and on, mostly for my own pleasure, but a few years ago I started to take t a little more seriously. I managed to sell two short stories, and recently published my first novel, The Guilty. I live with my wife and two sons and, when I’m not working or writing, I spend most of my time obsessing over the Montreal Canadiens hockey team.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called The Guilty. It is loosely based on a multiple murder case I worked on back in the 1990s. I was inspired to write the story by the desire to write a “warts and all” portrait of criminal lawyers, while at the same time grounding the story in a tense murder trial. I felt that too many fictional lawyers were too idealistic, or too heroic, and wanted to create a character who is not above bending the rules when it suits him, and who also doesn’t see himself as a crusader out to save an innocent man from an unjust conviction.

The Guilty is the story of a lawyer named Robert Bratt, a veteran defense attorney whose faith in the justice system, and the role he plays in it, wavers when his daughter’s best friend is raped and the rapist is acquitted. The rapist’s lawyer twisted the victim’s testimony around to make her look like she was the aggressor, and Bratt knows this is exactly what he would have done in his place. But his daughter hates all lawyers now, including him, and that causes him to question the way he has always practiced his chosen profession and the violent people he represents. Then, Jennifer Campbell, a devoutly religious woman, hires him to defend her son, Marlon Small, who is accused of a brutal double-murder. Small has an air-tight alibi but, despite Campbell’s protestations, Bratt’s instincts tell him it may be too good to be true. But Bratt’s drive to succeed, combined with his sympathy for the heartbroken mother, push him to defend the young man anyway. Can he continue to turn a blind eye to what his client might have done, and manipulate the truth as he so often has in the past, all in order to defend “The Guilty?”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have absolutely no discipline when it comes to writing. I write at all hours, day or night; sometimes I’ll write non-stop, and other times I’ll just leave it for weeks at a time. I guess my only writing habit is a bad habit.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read a wide range of books by all sorts of authors, living and dead. I don’t know which ones influenced me directly, but I’m sure some knowledge must have sunk through my thick skull while I wasn’t paying attention. For example, over the years I’ve loved Raymond Chandler, Joseph Conrad, Frank Herbert, Stephen King, Ian Rankin, Charles Dickens and John LeCarré, to name a few. I don’t know that I can do what any of them have done, whether in terms of style or substance, but I can only hope that I learned a bit from what each writer does best, and hopefully applied that knowledge in my own writing.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on another legal drama, which is also based in Montreal, that is tentatively titled “A Crooked Little Man.” Unlike The Guilty, which is about a very successful, high profile lawyer, my new book is about the polar opposite: a barely competent lawyer who is struggling to pay his rent, and who barely has any clients, and doesn’t represent the ones he has particularly well. One day he is hired to defend a homeless man who is charged with murder, but soon finds that he is in over his head.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I post news about my novel, The Guilty, as well as my other writing on several different sites. Of course, I have my own, at www.storiesbygabrielboutros.weebly.com, and I also have author pages on Goodreads and Author’s Den. Of course, the easiest place to find and buy my book is always Amazon.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m not sure if I’m in a position to give anyone advice on writing, so I’ll just repeat some very good advice that I received many years ago. Read. Simple as that. No matter how good you think you are, or how much natural ability you think you have, if you don’t read, a lot, you’ll struggle as a writer. Read great literature, read commercial fiction, read beautiful prose and read crap. You can learn just as much from what others do badly, as from what they do well.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read. (See above.)

What are you reading now?
I’m presently reading a non-fiction book about the colonization of Australia by convicts from England. It’s called The Fatal Shore. When I’m in the process of writing a story or a book, as I am now, I try not to read too much fiction because I found in the past that I would subconsciously imitate the voice or style of the writer I was reading.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m presently taking a two-pronged approach to my writing. I work on my new book, and I also spend a lot of time publicizing and marketing The Guilty. This has given me the chance to hear from lots of other writers as well as readers, which I enjoy since writing is really a very solitary act.

What is your favorite book of all time?
This is so hard because over the years that favorite book has changed so often, as I grew up, got an education, got a job, got a family, got older. My taste has broadened over the years too, so that I discovered genres or subjects that I might not have considered earlier in my life. I hate to bail out on any question, but I could give you a list of my favorite ten right now, and tomorrow I’ll think of a bunch more that I should have included. I will mention that the writers that I named above have all written books that I’ve absolutely loved for years after I read them. Feel free to go read anything by anyone of those, and you’ll certainly find a great book or two, whatever your taste.

Author Websites and Profiles
Gabriel Boutros Website
Gabriel Boutros Amazon Profile

Gabriel Boutros’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account