Awesome Author Interviews

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. My travels have led me to amazing cities — Raleigh, Atlanta, Miami, Virginia Beach, New York, Denver, Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Each city inspired a new book. As such, I have written nine novels thus far, and have collaborated on another 53 titles!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
LIVING SACRIFICES: BOOK TWO is my latest novel, and is the sequel to LIVING SACRIFICES: BOOK ONE. The series takes a peek at the teenage lives of budding celebrities. Before the Internet, word of mouth is how celebrity secrets graduated to gossip. Many celebrities, some from my own family, lived in the DC area during the sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties. The books were written to dispel the myth that every kid turned actor, politician, business leader, or religious icon lived an idyllic childhood. Some were the subject of ritual abuse with the goal of traumatizing them into celebrityhood.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I sleep from late afternoon until the wee hours of the morning. That is when my creative mind is at its peak, probably because my parents would argue when my father arrived home well after midnight. The threatening tone of their shouting would startle me awake. To keep up my grades in school, I learned to fall asleep early and set my clock to wake up before the fussing began.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mary B. Morrison, Karen E. Quinones Miller and K.L. Brady inspired me most. They took time from their busy schedules to create a checklist for aspiring self-publishers to follow. Without their help, I would not have known where to begin. These ladies write marvelous books that fly off the shelf, so I knew I could trust them. Terry McMillan, Omar Tyree and Eric Jerome Dickey paved the way for black Americans to write books about our daily middle class lives. I truly appreciate their innovation!

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on my multicultural novel, WHAT COLOR IS LOVE? Readers will meet Paul and Tara. He has a son. She has a daughter. She is a self-employed web designer. He holds a 9 to 5 and moonlights with a local band. Tara is black. Paul is white. Both are thirty-something. Together, with the help of friends, they will answer the question, “What color is love?” The book is a modern day romance that looks at interracial dating from eight very different viewpoints.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best way to promote my books is by listing them at sites like awesomegang.com, where readers and writers come together.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The advice I have for new authors is to learn about your self-publishing options. Become your own publisher, purchase your own ISBN, and maintain control of your copyright.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard is that writing will not make you rich. Write because you love writing, and success will follow.

What are you reading now?
I finally got up the courage to read INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL by Harriet Jacobs.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As editor in chief of Amroad Publishers, I collaborate with writers who want to remain anonymous due to their social status. An idea is pitched to me; I wade through the author’s notes, present an expanded outline, and co-write an entire novel or nonfiction book. Sort of like reverse ghostwriting.

What is your favorite book of all time?
DADDY WAS A NUMBER RUNNER by Louise Meriwether.

Author Websites and Profiles
Renee Alexander Website
Renee Alexander Amazon Profile
Renee Alexander Author Profile Other Bookseller

Renee Alexander’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Andy Rigley, a UK based author living on the Derby/Nottingham border. I’ve been writing for several years now and have an MA in Creative Writing. The Lost Dark is my first novel. Previously I’ve published over 20 short stories in magazines, anthologies, online, in regional newspapers and in America.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Lost Dark is my first novel and was actually inspired by a piece of homework set whilst on a creative writing course at Nottingham University. The idea was to write a piece of dialogue between a character and an ‘inanimate’ object. On the way home that evening, ideas circled through my head. Nothing really made sense, nothing gave me that hook I needed to write a compelling short. Until I noticed I had a second shadow, cast by the street lights. The story was very well received and it became the opening chapter for The Lost Dark. From there the story grew.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say ‘unusual’. I jot down interesting ideas, snippets of dialogue or plot-points on Post-it notes whenever I think of something. That way I can re-arrange them, or discard them as necessary, play about with narrative structure and ‘see’ them as a whole story potential. I even find some, weeks after I wrote them, that have fallen behind my desk. They’re great writing prompts.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a kid, I read graphic novels of classics such as Dracula or Frankenstein. Then I read Barker, King, Laymon and Koontz, as well as Tolkien, Lewis and Carol. More recently I’ve been influenced a lot by Chuck Palahniuk, Tom Spanbauer and Amy Hempell.

What are you working on now?
I’ve already completed a children’s steam-punk novel called Children of the Ash. I’m currently working on The Pattern of Birds, a dark, uncanny tale about a girl living in Ravenscar, The Town That Never Was. I’m also a huge fan of video games and am designing an ‘interactive’ story telling experience based around the world of The Lost Dark.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Get word out on promotional websites, but tie it in with your Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads announcements. Mix up the types of exposure (blurb, interviews, guest blogs) and write each one fresh. I think that adds interest to your social media feeds and gives more varied information about you and your work . I’ve also created a lot of physical marketing material such as postcards and badges that I can hand out which create a talking point. And don’t forget the importance of word of mouth.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I recently hosted a ‘How I got Published’ talk at a writing group. I’m sure we all know to ‘write what you know’, but my main point was to ‘write what you would want to read’. Write something that excites you. A guy came up to me afterwards and said it was really inspiring – that he sometimes worried too much about who he was writing for.

If you spend hours, months, years writing something you love, then you can be sure others will love it too.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I remember Stephen Booth doing a talk, and someone asked him if he ever got writer’s block. He said, “You should have more ideas than you have time to write them down.” Okay that’s not advice as such, but it goes back to the Post-its idea. Write everything down. Don’t get hung up a single project and think that everything you do has to be for that piece. Take ideas that don’t ‘fit’ into other projects, maybe a short story or a poem. I find that having multiple projects on the go gives each of the others breathing space.

What are you reading now?
The Assassin Princess by Blake Rivers. It’s a beautiful, sometimes dark, exciting, fantasy adventure. I’m also reading Into Thin Air A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer. Reading non-fiction and biographies is fantastic for character insight.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting and supporting The Lost Dark with both online and ‘live’ events. As I mentioned earlier, I love the idea of storytelling across media formats, so video game story scripts is something I’m looking at. I also went on a ‘traditional storytelling’ workshop- standing in front of an audience telling stories from memory – it’s great for confidence building. It was wonderful and I’d like to get out and do that more.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Weaveworld by Clive Barker. There’s something about that book that never let me go.

Author Websites and Profiles
Andy Rigley Website
Andy Rigley Amazon Profile
Andy Rigley Author Profile Other Bookseller

Andy Rigley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I’m not writing, I’m the creator and evil Overlord of an awesome site called Mookychick Online (mookychick.co.uk). It’s especially awesome if you’re a young adult, or a woman with an alternative lifestyle and a brave spirit. That’s kind of what we do. We’re pretty well-known as a feminist site in the UK. We love everyone and hate no-one, because I think we all agree that hating isn’t any way to make the world run right.

Being an evil Overlord is FUN. The hours are good and the perks are fantastic. Life got SO much better when I filled my underground lair with flying monkey butlers, although they’re poorly house-trained and make an impossible mess.

But writing is more fun. Yes, more fun than being an Overlord, even. I write for adults and young adults and other assorted changelings. I cross genres and mix it up a bit. Unlike promises, cliches are there to be broken.

I write steampunk and mystery and horror and pure adventure fantasy joy. I’ve written for the fabled British comic 2000AD, home of Judge Dredd (I co-wrote a Judge Janus story with famous comics writer Grant Morrison). I’ve contributed to a bunch of wonderful anthologies, and can’t pick a favourite because I love them all.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent publication is a feisty modern YA tale called SEAL GIRL, and people are saying nice things about it. It’s had some pretty cool reviews.

I’ve always been into the more quirky myths, so ‘Seal Girl’ is heavily influenced by celtic myth. You’ve heard of mermaids, right? What about selkies, the seal girls of the cold Atlantic sea? Mermaids are pretty; sure they are. Selkies are TOUGH.

There’s also no shame in saying SEAL GIRL was influenced in part by ‘Mean Girls’. How could there be any shame in bowing to the comedy genius of Tina Fey?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My secret superhero power is this: I can write a book in a week.

Yes. Really. I’ve done it three times.

Okay, stop twisting my arm. I admit it. Just the first drafts, but still…

A BOOK? IN A WEEK? THREE TIMES IN A *ROW*?

The way I do it is this…

1) I book a holiday cottage. I make sure I have no idea how to access the internet, because I know it would be my downfall. I can’t afford to be having FUN when I’m doing this. I make sure that good restaurants lie nearby and pretty surroundings exist somewhere outside the cottage (not that I’ll ever see them).

2) When I arrive, I make sure I have the first three chapters planned out. They’re my safety net. Also, the book’s been cooking in my brain for a few months so I’ve got a fairly strong handle on things.

3) I unpack my writing totem and set it on my writing desk. It is a beautiful blue butterfly in a bell jar. Morpho Aurora. Beautiful. It helps, I think. I wouldn’t feel right if it wasn’t there.

4) I write from 9 am until 10pm. I WRITE LIKE THE WIND. I can’t stop the words coming. I stop only for delicious takeaways and to catch an episode of my guilty secret… the TV reality show ‘Come Dine With Me’. Unlike the blue butterfly, Morpho Aurora, I am not convinced that watching re-runs of ‘Come Dine With Me’ helps.

5) I return home 7 days later (6 if you count being kicked out at noon on a sunday so the cleaner can do their thing) having written the first draft of a book. I’ve done it three times. It’s worked every time. Just a shockingly messy first draft, obviously, but the first one always is. I’ve had a fair bit of interest from agents in the full manuscripts.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In the world of YA fiction, I’m all over ‘Gone’, ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘Divergent’ like a rash. Great writing. Big themes. Inspiring.

Of the adult writers who move me, I immediately think of Philip Pullman, Terry Pratchett, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill and Joanne Harris. They are very fine writers. I like how they bend things into shape.

Comics have heavily influenced me, though I’d be hard-pushed to say exactly how. I’ve read comics since Judge Dredd had a wobot called Walter and an Italian cleaning lady. I’ve grown up with comics. I’ve seen comics writers move into fiction, and now I’m seeing fiction writers move into comics. I’d feel enormously satisfied doing both. There is a beautiful level of synergy going on here. Comics are in my blood, and I’d love to see more people read them.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently readying two YA novels for querying:

JABBERWACK: A dystopian steampunk YA set entirely underground, with a ridiculous number of shovels and an amputation in chapter 3. I KNOW, right? This one takes a chapter to chug up to speed, but it’s had beta readers overflowing their baths and missing their train stops, and while I don’t want anyone to be late for work or have a cold bath… okay, yeah, I do. That makes me HAPPY. Thank you for your suffering, dear friends. I am glad you liked the book. I owe you a hot bath and a cab ride home.

HOUSE OF SIGHS. This is a YA set in an Orphanage, and I can’t tell you what it’s about because that would spoil it. Jane is an orphan. That’s all she remembers. Welcome to the Orphanage, Jane. And all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well, for the Orphanage is the safest place in the world…

Suffice to say that HOUSE OF SIGHS is me wishing to tap into the unnerving British eccentricity of shows like The Prisoner, and the TV series The Avengers when it featured Steed and Mrs. Peel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Hunt out people who love to read, who are addicted to it, and ask them nicely (and succinctly) if they would consider reading and reviewing your work.

If you can help them in return, suggest ways you’d be pleased to help them in return. NOT money. I’m not talking about money changing hands, that wouldn’t feel right. It’s honest reviews I’m looking for.

I’m lucky to have a website that has a large following and community. I try to help others in terms of promotion and am very grateful if they can help me in return.

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

And book that writing holiday in a beautiful cottage somewhere. Just make sure you can’t get on the internet or it’ll be the worse for you.

Believe me, having spent money you can ill afford on a mere 7 short days in which to write a book is an AWESOME incentive to cure that looming writer’s block.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
List every reason why you can’t and shouldn’t. And, to every reason, reply… SO WHAT?

So what. It’s tough love, but it’s a powerful mantra that can get you out of a rut.

What are you reading now?
‘NOS4R2’ by Joe Hill.

Oh, man. It’s heaven to read and hell to spell.

What’s next for you as a writer?
GEEK GIRL and GLEE GIRL are the forthcoming stories due to be published in my Mythology High trilogy for Buzz Books USA.

I will continue to write like my pants are on fire.

What is your favorite book of all time?
This question is a little mean. But I think it’s probably any book by Alan Garner. Also, whichever book weighs the most. If you’re stuck on a desert island, don’t worry about the quality of words. Go for quantity. It’ll keep your fire going longer if nothing else.

Author Websites and Profiles
Magda Knight Website
Magda Knight Amazon Profile

Magda Knight’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Let me give you a kind of snapshot of my writing career, which is a hobby by the way. I had my first book (NORTH SLOPE) published by Macmillan in 1980. I thought that was it: I’d made it with a top publishing house. They rejected my next book (HELL’S GATE) and it was four years before SHADOW OF THE WOLF was published by Robert Hale of London. From that moment I was floundering, trying to get my work published but no-one was interested. I gave up, left manuscripts gathering dust on the shelf, became inspired and continued to write. Got fed up and let it all drift. Then in 2006, Robert Hale, who I had had no contact with for years, agreed to publish HELL’S GATE. This was 23 years after it had been rejected by Macmillan. Hale then published four more of my novels. Suddenly I was on a roll and now I have eight novels to my credit, the latest of which, THE BOY FROM BERLIN (December 2011) has been taken up by Harlequin Books. It has now been published in paperback in North America and Canada, January 2013. They have also agreed to publish another of my Hale books, THE EAGLE’S COVENANT. I launched myself on Kindle when the feeding frenzy happened earlier last year (2012) and managed to sell over 6000 eBooks. 40,000 of my books were downloaded during the ‘free’ promotion. I was up there with the best-selling talent and I enjoyed every minute of it. Now the dust has settled and the frenzy is over. My book sales have slowed to a low level, but I am at least selling more than I was this time last year.

What makes an author? And why so many? When I look at other writers, they always seem to be successful, cool, best sellers, prolific. They have that confidence about them that says how easy it is for them to turn out novel after novel; no sweat. But the reality is so different, and you can only get to understand this by experience, by sitting down and suffering writer’s block, knowing that you need another three or four thousand words for that day, and then just another seventy or eighty thousand to finish the book. How many times have I heard someone say they are writing a book and have written about ten thousand words? And you know that they are never going to finish it because of the hard work involved. All writers suffer this problem to some degree, although there are others who manage to find a way round it. Ian Fleming once said that it takes about six weeks to write a thriller; the editing and grammar corrections can be left to the professionals. Jack Higgins admitted that he wrote a thriller in the space of one weekend. He went into his room on the Friday and came out on the Monday with a best seller. Hard work though. Rejections are as familiar to most writers as sunrise and sunset, and I suspect that almost all writers have suffered this to some degree. I used to find my cynicism creeping in when I read of an author who was surprised that his/her first novel had been accepted with no problem at all, and then you learn that he/she was already connected in some way to the publishing world. It’s all about the market and what sells. Some of the most prolific best sellers over the years have been pure dross, but they served the market’s hunger for depravity, celebrity or whatever else had nothing to do with talent. I asked the question; what makes an author? I believe they are born with the talent. They are like musicians, artists, surgeons, scientists etc. They have something that cannot be manufactured: the ability to do something that comes almost naturally. I was described as a “gifted narrator” in the Financial Times (London, 1980). What happened with my gift? What happened with my talent? It didn’t go away; it’s still there, but probably too late now for me to become that runaway, best-selling, globe-trotting writer of blockbuster novels. Now I’m getting carried away (but it’s good to dream). I know how to write, but I probably have no idea how to market myself. And that’s the rub; not knowing how to market your work, or not being able to afford the services of a professional publicist. So now I can say, thank goodness for Amazon and Kindle. But finally things are looking up, and getting back to the subject of marketing; what is it I’m doing wrong, or not doing? I was advised to use Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google, Stumble, Goodreads and all those web sites that are supposed to be a gift for writers to get advancement. Oh yes, and I needed a blog. So I blog on my website and copy it to all those places. In three years of blogging I have had no more than about four contacts. My statistics are pretty painful. I know people are looking in, but I never get the kind of reaction I see when looking in on other writers’ sites. I suspect that it is probably the same for most of us. But I keep on writing. I must write. I enjoy it. And I believe I am good at it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE BOY FROM BERLIN, published by Robert Hale of London, and by Harlequin Books (paperback). Also available as an eBook. Like all my books, nothing inspired this novel: it simply came from an idea running around inside my head.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I make up excuses for not beginning a session. I always find some little job to do before knuckling down and getting on with the main reason I’m sitting in front of my computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a youngster in the forties and fifties I enjoyed the classic writers like Enid Blyton, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain etc. Mickey Spillane had the biggest impact on me, I think, but my favourite writer was Hammond Innes.

What are you working on now?
I have resurrected two stories that have been collecting dust on the bookshelf on my memory. They were written but never saw the light of day. I am in the process of moulding them together into a family saga with a difference. It will contain romance separated by some years in the lives of more than two characters. It will also contain some harrowing periods of isolation for one of the main characters. There will be threats of violence, actual violence, blackmail and redemption. All I have to do now is put together a decent story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I have had success with the Amazon KDP proramme, which is diminishing now, and also a big help from promotion with ENT (eReader News Today)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up!

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

What are you reading now?
The Book Of Books by Melvyn Bragg.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Impossible to say, but hopefully it will be completing my next project and seeing it in print. I am still under contract with my London publisher, so they will get first refusal on the book.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Difficult to say. I’ve read so many. The Bible is absolutely fascinating and takes a lot to understand. I enjoyed Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series as a kid. Dennis Wheatley’s satanic novels scared the pants off me. But maybe it’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Scrooge) by Charles Dickens. I was given that to read by my mother when I was ill in bed as a young boy recovering from pneumonia. I absolutely loved it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Parker Website
Michael Parker Amazon Profile
Michael Parker Author Profile Other Bookseller

Michael Parker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Lifeboat is my debut novel, but I have another work in progress titled The Beacon which I expect to release in time for Christmas 2013.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is called Lifeboat – It is a story of a young woman who is in a bad place in her life. She lost her husband and son in a car crash a few years ago and she’s had trouble moving forward with her life. She lives in a rural area and walks at night when she can’t sleep. One night while out walking she sees a UFO, that UFO becomes an obsession for her. She meets up with a couple of Ufologists and starts to feel a sense of hope that there is something to live for, but then the Earth is destroyed by natural disaster and she is abducted – or rescued – by the UFO she’d seen before, and taken to a new world where she and other survivors can start over. But things start to go wrong and survivors start disappearing without a trace. Cass, the young woman, has to try to figure out what is happening before it is too late.

Have you ever seen the TV show UFO Chasers? Its not a very good show, but Cass was inspired by it – she was originally going to be a woman who runs all over the world having adventures chasing information on UFO sightings. But once I sat down and started writing Cass took over and told her own story. It was less fun-filled adventure, and a bit more mysterious and maybe a little bit sinister.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really – I tend to be a procrastinator. My husband has to nag me with reminders of, “Shouldn’t you be writing?”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m an avid reader and have been for many years, probably since before you were born. I have so many favorite authors that I can’t name just a few and even more whose books I loved but I couldn’t tell you their name. If a book touches me emotionally, or makes me think about something in a different way, it has influenced me. There are soooooo many of those out there I couldn’t begin to name them all.

What are you working on now?
My work in progress is called The Beacon. It is a suspense novel without a science fiction element, so it is a bit different from Lifeboat.

In The Beacon a young woman has shipped-wrecked on a tiny island and wakes up in a primitive lighthouse being cared for by the keeper’s wife. The keeper is abusive and during an incident of domestic violence the young woman steps in to defend the keeper’s wife, accidentally killing the keeper. She is unable to call the police or an ambulance for help, so she drags the body outside and does her best to tend the wife’s injuries, but when she wakes up in the morning, the body, the wife and all signs of habitation are gone.

You can read the first three (unedited) chapters on my website.

http://www.abshepherd.net/p/coming-soon-beacon.html

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not really sure yet. My book has only been available for about six weeks now. I’m just trying to get the word out there. I’ve gotten a few wonderful reviews and I’m hoping for more reviews whether people love it or hate it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Just write. Don’t worry about whether it is good or bad. Don’t edit as you go along. Don’t worry about whether it is good enough to publish. All of that can come later. Get your story on paper from start to finish. If you’ve got a story to tell write it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
For aspiring authors? I saw something on Facebook the other day. It said the worst thing you write is better than the best thing you never write. That made a whole lot of sense to me.

What are you reading now?
I’m in between books at the moment, having just finished one of J.C. Andrijewski’s novels. I have so many books on my to-read list that I’m having trouble picking what is next.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now Lifeboat is only available as an ebook. I’m working on making it available in paperback via Amazon. I hope to have that accomplished by July 2013. I write book reviews on my website of books that I read. I’ve written a fairly entertaining bio of myself for Girl Who Reads. Also working on The Beacon.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Oh boy – so tough. The Tomorrow series by James Marsden, The Hunger Games series. Sooooo many. Too many to name.

Author Websites and Profiles
A.B. Shepherd Website
A.B. Shepherd Amazon Profile
A.B. Shepherd Author Profile on Smashwords

A.B. Shepherd’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 originally from Austria, and have lived in several European countries before being transferred to the States where I lived in Chicago, Boston, New Hampshire (too cold), and San Diego. I am now retired and live in a diversified lake community in Arkansas (the countryside, lakes and beautiful woods remind me a little of Austria). Besides, I am not the only one here with an accent–between me and native Arkansans, we have had some hilarious misunderstandings.

So far, I have published six books:

Khamsin, the Devil Wind of The Nile

(Book 1-Legends of the Winged Scarab–Historical Fiction)

Sirocco, Storm over Land and Sea

(Book 2-Legends of the Winged Scarab–Contemporary Thriller)

Edward, Con Extraordinaire

(Contemporary Novella—Edward later plays a pivotal role in SIROCCO)

Shadow Sanctuary

(Contemporary Romance—about one of Edward’s victims)

Pasha, From Animal Shelter to A Sheltered Life

(Non-Fiction; Cats, Dogs, Pets)

Moments of the Heart, A Book of Poems and Short Prose

(Poems-Assorted Short Stories)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Shadow Sanctuary (Contemporary Woman’s Fiction/Romance)

The theme for this novella has rattled around in my head for years. Its title morphed from Mountain Meadows to Mountain Shadows (both used by too many other authors) to Shadow Sanctuary—inspired by the cover taken from a photograph my father took in the fifties of one of Austria’s highest peaks.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always read a lot (first in German, then less so in French, and finally most of my adult life in English. And I always loved big books where you could completely lose yourself in the story, and if the setting was exotic, the better…James A. Mitchener, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Thomas Mann come to mind with their wonderful family sagas.

What are you working on now?
Southern Trades (Book 3 of my “Legends of the Winged Scarab”-Series that takes place in South America (too bad that “Mistral” was a wind used too often). It would have been a completely different book.

If you are wondering what I am talking about, Book 1 is entitled “Khamsin, The Devil Wind of The Nile,” (Ancient Egypt), Book 2: “Sirocco, Storm over Land and Sea,” takes place in modern Egypt, and Cyprus and Crete.

So you see, I needed another windy title–and the southern trade winds came to mind–thus, I took the action to an island off Venezuela.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I actively participate in discussion groups on Goodreads and try to list my books on other sites such as this one.

I have not managed to get into and onto FB or Twitter; but I do have two blogs.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
For what it is worth:

If they have a finished—and by that I mean polished and edited—manuscript, read all the instructions on the various self-publishing sites, especially the formatting tips. Check out community threads where other authors offer excellent advice. Today’s ability to find writing/publishing tips is endless. Most of all, keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t let the bastards get you down.” Actually, a rather elegant man told me that once (I was shocked). But I had had a bad day and now, that I am less prissy, I remind myself of it when things don’t go my way. Other than that: Just keep writing.

What are you reading now?
I have several excellent Indie books on my list; however, since I am doing research for my work-in-progress, there is little time to read for enjoyment.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully, a few more stars (not only in my eyes), but next to my book listings.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Off the top of my head: “Hawaii.” But then, I think of “Memoirs of a Geisha,” and—since I am interested in animals—the delightful James Herriot series of a Yorkshire veterinarian. Oh, don’t get me started—there are just too many I love and reread.

Author Websites and Profiles
Inge H. Borg Website
Inge H. Borg Amazon Profile
Inge H. Borg Author Profile on Smashwords

Inge H. Borg’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born an raised in New Jersey. I still love to skateboard, even though I am not nearly as good as I was as a teenager. Otherwise I enjoy playing Call of Duty and reading and studying philosophy. I have written two books, the first is an epic fantasy novel called ‘The Punishment of the Gods’, which I self-published on Amazon. The other book is a philosophy book, but I have yet to publish it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first novel (also my most recent book) is called ‘The Punishment of the Gods. I have always wanted to create a world and fill it with fantastic creatures. In a sense I started working on this book when I was in middle school. Some of the character names and themes have stayed with me since I was in seventh grade. While my fantasy novel was certainly inspired by books like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, I drew as much inspiration from my reading of philosophy. Many of the ideas that are held by my characters are directly inspired by philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, Friedrich Nietzsche, George Berkeley and more. I know how ideas shape history, and I wanted to include that in my work.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write when I have time, which is not as often as I would like. A little here and a little there; that is about as much as I can do. I once wrote through the entire night when a toothache prevented me from sleeping. It hurt too much for me to sleep, but not too much for me to work on my book.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien have been big influences; when I was young I devoured everything that I could find of their writings. I mainly read C.S. Lewis’ theological works, however – I didn’t read The Chronicles of Narnia until I was an adult. I purposefully avoided reading fantasy works while I wrote my book because I didn’t want to ‘steal’ ideas from any other popular works. I didn’t read Harry Potter, for instance, until after my book was completed. I’ve mostly been reading philosophy, and I think most of the inspiration for my characters is related to this or that philosopher’s teachings. Mostly I would say that The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes, and George Berkeley’s writings influenced my writing.

What are you working on now?
At the moment I am working on perfecting my philosophy book and I am about half-way through a prequel to The Punishment of the Gods. I am also in the planning stages of a sequel, and I am just beginning to think of what will come after that.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I have been using goodreads.com for most of my promotion. I’ve had some good experiences there so far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would say, figure out what you want to do. If you want to get rich, then do everything in your power to please the big publishers and write what they want to sell. But if you have something unique to say, then say it – write it, do your best, but try to find your satisfaction in the process without hoping to get rich or to become famous. For my part I have decided that I would write what I think I should write, and see what happens…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The German mystic Meister Eckhardt wrote: ‘Those who accept all that the Lord send, as the very best, remain always in perfect peace, for in them God’s will has become their will. This is incomparably better than for our will to become God’s will.’

What are you reading now?
Right now I am enjoying an indie fantasy novel called ‘Darkin: A Journey East’ by Joseph Turkot. I am also making my way through Soren Kierkegaard’s wonderfully confusing, but brilliant ‘Unscientific Postscript to the Philosophical Fragments’.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently working on a prequel to my fantasy novel, and I am hoping to publish my philosophy book, as its subject matter is, I think, extremely important and timely. But I must wait for some feedback before I take the plunge and start making it public.

What is your favorite book of all time?
That is a tough question. It is either Arthur Schopenhauer’s ‘The World as Will and Representation’ or the ‘Theologia Germanica’, an anonymous work originally published by Marin Luther. Both teach, I believe, the same thing, but from a different perspective. In the end, I think the nameless author had the better understanding, however, so I must side with the ‘Theologia Germanica’. To me it meant the world to discover a writer from a completely different time and culture who seemed to see the world exactly in the same way that I have come to understand it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jake Yaniak Website
Jake Yaniak Amazon Profile
Jake Yaniak Author Profile on Smashwords

Jake Yaniak’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve ‘hidden’ in books for as long as I can remember. As a child, you could always find me with my nose in something – reading. I’d read the breakfast cereal packet if there was nothing else around!

Words have always fascinated me and I love how a book can transport me anywhere.

I live in New Zealand with my partner and our two dogs and my goldfish! My son just left home recently and took the cat – I’m still not sure who I miss the most 😉

I work as a Registered Legal Executive during the day and sing in a band at night. In between, I write books.

I have three releases out at present:

– Private Love in a Public Place

– Catch

– The Fan

I’m currently completing final edits on my fourth book which I hope to release in the next few weeks.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
RETURN TO ALA MOANA BEACH was a book inspired by a competition. The only two requirements were that the story had to include Memorial Day and a returned serviceman.

I live in New Zealand, so I had little clue what Memorial Day was about, but I thought it might be similar to our ANZAC Day, which is a day when we honor our returned servicemen and those who have fallen defending our freedom. I quick check of google and I was right.

I found images of the Lantern Festival at Ala Moana Beach while I was doing my research and I instantly fell in love with the romantic images of the flickering lanterns on the water. I was hooked!

I enjoy writing about the ‘darker’ side of human nature, so I began to wonder how a man would feel if he had returned home, but not quite the hero he hoped to be. Ty Carter was born… Ty basically just sat me down and told me his story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing in bed. Sunday’s are my favorite days for writing, because I don’t get out of bed (except to grab breakfast and lunch) until 4 or 5pm. Absolute bliss and I get so much writing done.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think my interest in the dark side of human nature stems from reading Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews. I read a number of her other books, post Flowers, in my early to late teens and all dealt with dysfunction of some nature or another.

Steven King has always terrified me: Carrie, Cujo, Christine and The Shining are works that will always be with me. Having said that, I’m an eternal optimist and I do believe in the power of love. I think that’s why I am still drawn to love stories and romance novels.

More recently, I have discovered Jodi Picoult and I’m quietly devouring her back list.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on book two of the Private Love series: “Public Love in a Private Place” which follows the love affair between my rock star, Julian MacAvoy and his PA/manager/babysitter, Mags. I love these two characters and I’m really looking forward to sharing more of their journey with the fans of Private Love.

Music (like words) is a huge part of my life and I love having the opportunity to combine these two passions.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love my website – not only because it was created especially for me by my partner and his sons, but also because I think it expresses my brand beautifully.

I’m also a fan of Facebook – I love the way it brings so many people and so many ideas together in one place.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write. And if you don’t want to write, give up now! Truly, this is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it’s also one of the most worthwhile.

You also need to find yourself a great support group who believe in you and understand what you’re talking about. Relatives and other friends start to ‘glaze over’ when you talk story arc and character development. Some even want to have you certified as insane when you tell them your characters talk to you…. 😉

Find a tribe who understand – that’s been one of the most important things for me.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Butt on chair and fingers on keyboard – just write – every day.

What are you reading now?
Share Me by Olivia Cunning

Sing you Home by Jodi Picoult

Resisting Nick by Kris Pearson

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just building my list of completed works. I’m enjoying the freedom of indie publishing and the challenge of making each book better than the last.

What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s too hard… *pouts*

I always think that there are too many to choose from so I’m not even going to try to answer that question.

Author Websites and Profiles
Toni Kenyon Website
Toni Kenyon Amazon Profile
Toni Kenyon Author Profile on Smashwords

Toni Kenyon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Ryan, and I’ve never known how to talk about myself. I’m an author and a musician living in Jeffersonville, Indiana with my wife, Lisa. People and social situations make me nervous; I don’t party, and I don’t have many friends. I’ve battled severe behavioral inhibition all my life. It’s a very misunderstood struggle.

I finished my first book when I was about 15, and I’ve written four more since then, along with many short stories, poems, and songs. I’ve always liked making up stories, and I’ve never felt lost for inspiration, but I focused heavily on music for the first 20 or so years of my life. Almost all of my energy went into writing songs, though stories were always slipping out. When I reached a point of deep frustration with my attempts to make a career in music happen, I started to think more about making a real try at publishing a novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The King’s Eagle, and it was inspired by all kinds of things. After writing and reading a lot of heavy, philosophical stuff, I wanted to take a break and write something light and fluffy. The King’s Eagle didn’t turn out to be light and fluffy because – apparently – I don’t have that in my repertoire, but that was my original intent. It all started when I got heavily into roleplaying online. After a difficult period, I was jobless and spending a lot of time playing video games and reading. I love Transformers, and I developed an itch to find a Transformers game I could play online. Thus, I discovered MUs – MUDS and MUSHes and the like – and I got involved in text roleplaying in these MU communities and in creating my own games. This really got my creative engines working, and I started thinking about all these story ideas I has baking in my head and which one would be the most fun to try and tackle first. Originally, I was going to write a generic fantasy story about dragon riders, but I decided against dragons because so many other people have written about them. I chose giant birds instead, because I love birds, and the story just started to fall into place. It outgrew my desire to write something simple, and I quickly found myself deeply engaged. I even created a language for my story – Imnura, the language of Emnor – and that has been a whole endeavor of its own – and a wonderful one. So online roleplaying was a big inspiration. Also, I was reading The Book of Lost Tales Vol. 1 by J.R.R. Tolkien (as compiled by Christopher, his son) while I was writing The King’s Eagle, and that strongly influenced my voice in the story. I was also feeling very cooped up and unwell, and focusing on writing was a way to expand beyond that. Lastly, I was taking daily walks back then, and there were frequently rabbits feeding and playing in the area where I walked, and I found that peace very inspiring, too.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure what a usual writing habit would be. I don’t type with my feet or anything. I like to write in total silence, and I write best very early in the morning. Insomnia is a big motivator for me, I guess. I like to act out parts of my stories while I’m writing; maybe that’s unusual. A lot of that happens in the shower. In fact, I think almost all my story ideas are born in the bathroom. Is that unusual?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tolkien has got to be number one on my list of influences. He was the first author I really remember loving. I love the way he describes landscapesaz. He liked to take walks, too, but he had much more interesting terrain to explore than I have behind my apartment complex. He went all over, and you can really tell. You can feel how much he loved the uncultivated world through his writing, I think. Frank Herbert has also been very influential not just on the way I write but on my whole personal philosophy in general. The Dune series and Fight Club are two books that really made me think about the way I understood the world – and how I wrote about it as well. I also love Joseph Conrad, Dante, Milton, Sylvia Plath, Nabokov, and Petrarch. And Neil Gaiman, too; his Sandman series is amazing.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m writing a book called Graveworld. The next book I publish, however, will be Melidora, which is in my editor’s hands. I’m also translating Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland into my conlang, Imnura, for a large project honoring Lewis Carroll and Alice. That has been a very time-consuming task, as it’s the longest translation I’ve ever done, but I’m really enjoying it. And, of course, I’m still writing and recording music.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m terrible at self-promotion. I mention The King’s Eagle on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr all the time. I also have a TKE Facebook page and an Imnura blog. That’s all I’ve got going to spread the word at the moment – with the exception of this interview.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read. Read all the time. Read everything; don’t just read one genre. Read everything you can. Read Harry Potter, Animal Farm, The Silmarillion, Greek myths, the Bible, Hellboy comics – everything. Read things that you don’t understand so you’ll be forced to look things up. A lot of people say that they don’t have time to read, and I find this ridiculous. I just don’t accept it. Lots of people who are really busy find time to read. You can do it, too. In fact, you have to read if you seriously want to write. Trying to write when you don’t read is like trying to learn to speak without ever hearing anyone say anything. It’s not impossible, but, when it does happen, we call it a miracle. Also, keep a dictionary of interesting words. I found that very helpful.

This might be good to say, too, though it’s going to sound a little bitter: writing a story is the easy part. Making a career out of writing involves 5% writing and 95% whoring yourself out to promote Brand You. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably find that process demeaning, but you have to do it. When it comes to marketing, there is just no place for people with scruples or dignity. You have to sell your soul.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I don’t know that I can narrow the list down to a single quote! I’ll offer a few.

“One of the greatest gifts you can give anybody is the gift of your honest self.” – Fred Rogers

“This is your world. You’re the creator.” – Bob Ross

“Never be complete. Stop being perfect.” – Tyler Durden in Fight Club, paraphrased

“The universe is quite big, and almost none of it has anything to do with humans.” This is from the book Atheism Explained by David Ramsay Steele. I’m an atheist, and I see this quote in a theological context as well as a broader, social one. One of the things I love about going for walks is the feeling of being part of something that is larger than myself. I don’t want to be wrapped up in myself all the time: I find myself boring. I like knowing that, in comparison to the billion-year history of life on Earth, my life has amounted to practically nothing. I know that seems depressing, but it calms me. It helps me realize that I put a lot of pressure on myself, and that, if I put it there, I can take it off, too. Seneca said, “Our fears are more numerous than our dangers, and we suffer more in our imagination than in reality.”

What are you reading now?
The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller. I picked it up because it seemed to tell a story that is similar to the one I am telling in Graveworld. I’m also looking forward to reading The Lightcap by my friend Dan Marshal, and Sisyphus Shrugged by Robert Peate, whom I’ve known for many years. They are next on my list once I’m finished doing a million things at once.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan on publishing Melidora this year. I’m also going to be releasing a corrected edition of The King’s Eagle on August 31, the year anniversary of the first edition’s publishing. I’ve written a sequel to Melidora, but I’m going to sit on it for a bit. I’m not sure about it. I’m not really a serial writer, I don’t think – at least not yet. I would love to tell more stories set in and around Emnor some day, though.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I can only pick one? Oh, man. The Lord of the Rings is my go-to answer. I also love Heart of Darkness. It’s hard not to say The Divine Comedy, though. You know? And Paradise Lost. I guess I can’t name just one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ryan Z. Dawson Amazon Profile

Ryan Z. Dawson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

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

I’m C.M.J. Wallace, and I’ve been reading books since about the time I learned to talk. Somewhere along the line, I realized that I wanted to write, and after taking a few stabs at it throughout the years I buckled down and began scribbling the Rift series in 2008, using rudiments I’d penned in 1992. To date, I’ve completed four books in the series (Sing the Midnight Stars, Flight of Shadows, This Darkling Magic, and This Strange Magic).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
This Strange Magic is my latest book, and it flowed from the first three. I’d originally planned for Rift to be a single book, but it burgeoned into an entire series without my permission.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have no unusual writing habits, but I do find that it goes better when I have coffee-flavored Nips at my side as a panacea. (They’re a hard candy that I highly recommend to anyone with even a modicum of tendency toward a sweet tooth.)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen R. Donaldson is hands-down my greatest influence, closely followed by Pat Conroy. Their prose is beautiful, rich, and evocative, filled with language that creates wonderful imagery.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing the fifth book in the Rift series and am outlining the sixth, and I’ve started writing an unrelated fantasy novel that’s intended to be a stand-alone book…but you saw how that went.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t found a good method for promoting my books. People tout Facebook and Twitter as wonderful tools, but unless you already have a huge friend base–at least in my experience–those sites aren’t much good, nor is Kindle Boards. I’d be happy to hear from anyone who can gainsay me and has made a success of their books by using those sites. Please tell me how! Goodreads has actually been the most lucrative site so far, allowing me to give away my books for greater exposure.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I advise new authors to develop a thick skin and not give up. Self-publishing and -marketing are tough, uphill battles, and it’s easy to get discouraged.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t pay attention to bad reviews of your books; everyone, even J. K. Rowling, receives them. Believe in yourself and keep writing!

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Bronze Gods by A. A. Aguirre and Once Bitten by Stephen Leather.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I’m finished with the Rift series, I’m going to revisit the unrelated book I mentioned above and start plotting the book after that, which will be ???

What is your favorite book of all time?
Hmm…favorite book of all time… I’m probably in the same boat with a lot of other people on answering this one. It’s too hard to choose. For sheer laughs, I’d have to say William Goldman’s The Princess Bride.

Author Websites and Profiles
C.M.J. Wallace Website
C.M.J. Wallace Amazon Profile
C.M.J. Wallace Author Profile Other Bookseller

C.M.J. Wallace’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

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

My first novel was published a few months ago by HarperCollins – amazing. It spent 7 days on the kindle uk free bestseller list at no.2 in erotica and around the no. 50 mark in kindle store overall. My mind shorts out when I think of all the people who must have downloaded it. Many reviews on Goodreads in a very short time. Some wonderful, others not so much…

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness’ by Senta Holland, published by HarperCollins. It is the story of Senta, a thirty something Londoner, who travels round the world to find the lover of her dreams. this is made more difficult and more exciting by the fact that Senta lives and loves in the dark and sometimes heart breaking world of BDSM, and the man she’s looking for is her dream Dom.

This book is very real, authentic, raw. It is also written in a literary style that goes beyond the usual ‘romance’ books (and indeed many reveiwers have said that it should be classed as ‘literature’).

‘It’s not a novel, it’s an experience…’

The book was inspired by love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it is unusual but I’ve written almost all my books mostly in coffee shops. I feel inspired by sitting among other people who are also writing something. My ideas flow more smoothly and easily than when I am alone. I do edit alone though, that’s a more left brain activity and much much easier than getting out the original material.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to list.

What are you working on now?
My next big novel – with a cast of thousands, 4 different perspectives and at least 4 huge volumes. Diversity!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads is the best website for me. Best method is to be on it all the time (if you can…)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
No. I can tell you what I do: I write at least 5 days a week. And I allow myself to write ‘badly’. No idea if that works for you, though.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t listen to other people’s advice. When people give advice, they don’t talk about you, they talk about themselves. Don’t let yourself be held back by other people’s fear. Go as you far as you can go. What are you waiting for?

What are you reading now?
‘The Bride Stripped Bare’ by Nikki Gemmell

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am writing a completely different book now – about the big public issues in society rather than a love story about two people . But ultimately, the same themes come up: freedom, dreaming, identity.

What is your favorite book of all time?
‘The Waves’ by Virginia Woolf

Author Websites and Profiles
Senta Holland Website
Senta Holland Amazon Profile

Senta Holland’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

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

I am an English horror author. I have so far written two books, a novel called ‘Beneath’ and a collection of short stories. I live in the English countryside with my wife and little boy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called ‘Dark County’ it is a collection of short horror stories all set in the countryside, or as I prefer to call them ‘Ten Tales of Rural terror’. The inspiration for this book was two fold, the fact that it is a collection of short stories came from the fact that I had just finished and published my first novel and wanted to do something different, doing a short story collection gave me the opportunity to write stories of many kinds and styles.

The second inspiration was living, and having lived all but the first seven years of my life, in Lincolnshire. For those who don’t know it it is a large, mainly agricultural county on the east coast of England. It is a beautiful, but bleak place. The county itself inspired the stories.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I suppose the most unusual thing is my lack of habits. I don’t write everyday, I don’t write in the same place each time, I write at any time of day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are many authors who have influenced me. Stephen King is a big influence on the genre as a whole I feel, and me personally to a degree. Also the late James Herbert was a big influence on me. I am also a fan of Clive Barker and H.P. Lovecraft.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on my second novel, it is called ‘The Wilds’ and it is a change of direction from my first novel, which was about the supernatural, this is about a very real threat. I don’t wan’t to go into to too much detail yet, but the inspiration for the story is the reports of big cats living in the English countryside.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use social media a lot to promote my work, in particular Facebook and Twitter, these two seem to have got the best results for me so far. Also my own website is very helpful, though I need the social media to get people there in the first place.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
patience, do not rush things, or pressure yourself into doing things to quickly. Take your time and enjoy what you are doing, that is the main thing. Also get your books professionally edited, that is a big one, I didn’t do it with my first edition of my debut novel and got a lot of comments about my spelling and grammar. Since then I have had the book edited and my latest one too, and those negative comments have stopped.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know- I don’t take it to mean that you should only write about things within your life, I take it to mean that you should research as much as possible.

What are you reading now?
I am reading ‘The Twelve’ by Justin Cronin, the second part of his Passage trilogy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After finishing my next novel, I will be starting on my third, I already have the story as I wrote it as a screenplay a few years ago. Then I would like to try and get the film made. I would love to direct.

What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s a tough one, there are so many books that I love, but I suppose I would have to say ‘The Stand’ by Stephen King, just for it’s epic scale.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kit Tinsley Website
Kit Tinsley Amazon Profile

Kit Tinsley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I am a budding UK novelist, studying towards and B.A in English Language and Literature, when I am not writing, editing or reading. I currently five book in a series out now on Amazon, called The Forever series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book out on Amazon is called The Ties That Bind. It is the fifth book in The Forever Series. A major book in pushing the series forward to where I want it to go.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My little netbook in bed on one of those fold up trays with legs? Far more comfortable then sitting at my desk with the laptop!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love most Paranormal Romance books – both Adult and YA. I love Kim Harrison and J. R. Ward.

What are you working on now?
The latest book I am working on is the eight installment of The Forever Series and the working title is called “Secrets”. It is a different perspective than the previous seven, as it follows the thoughts of all the characters now, not just the female lead. It’s shocking!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter and Goodreads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Fulfill your dream! Whether you self publish or find a publisher to represent your work, it is worth it to see your books out there being read!

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

What are you reading now?
Shadow Rising by Yasmine Galenorn.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to start a new YA series over the summer, now that I have a break from University. It will be a totally new direction for me so looking forward to the challenge.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I adore this book and have a well thumbed paperback copy of it, as well an updated eBook. I love Scotland and I their history and this is a fantastic story.

Author Websites and Profiles
Eve Newton Website

Eve Newton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

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

My name is Roxanna Rose and I am a California native with a deep connection to my Ulster heritage. Fascinated by myths and legends from cultures around the world, I enjoy creating young adult, fantasy & paranormal novels steeped in their mysteries. “Desires (A Legacy Novel)” is my first published book. Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and my home library has far exceeded its shelf capacity. I am a lover of nature and keep my home a safe haven for my “other species neighbors.” Living in the country has allowed me to keep the land a pesticide free “safe zone.” They seem to know this because during the last dove hunting season I had approx. 40 doves sitting on the ground in my backyard (I live on 17 acres) and they stayed there until the season was over. I divide most of my time between my writing, my career as a veterinary technician and wildlife rehabilitator, and socializing feral cats.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current work is called Desires (A Legacy Novel) and it is based on Celtic legends. My cover art is by fantasy artist Julie Fain and the interior Celtic artwork is by Celtic artist Jen Delyth. My love of storytelling based on Myths & Legends has inspired the writing of nearly all of my books. When I read the legends full stories begin to form in my mind.

You can find out more about me and my book and links to all the various reviews, as well as, any other sites with which I am associated at my website:

http://www.take2creativestorywriters.com

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Since my best writing is done when the weather is stormy, but I live in sunny California I have to trick my imagination. I darken the room, put a fireplace DVD on my office TV, and I put a rain storm CD in my computer. Instant winter, even when the temperature is 100 degrees outside. Add a Starbucks latte and I am in full on imagination mode.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by so many writers. Here is just a short list:

Jeaniene Frost Sherrilyn Kenyon

Maria V. Snyder Nalini Singh

Melissa Marr Becca Fitzpatrick

P.C. & Kristin Cast Veronica Roth

Gillian Summers Lynsay Sands

Richelle Mead Cassandra Clare

Kami Garcia Margaret Stohl

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on “Malevolence (A Legacy Novel), which is the second book in the series. The final book in that series will be Sacrifices (A Legacy Novel), although there may be a couple of novellas thrown in because readers are asking for them. I am also working on a fantasy titled “She Who Watches” that is based off of a Native American legend from the Pacific Northwest.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have had a lot of success with Goodreads and my own personal website is really starting to take off, as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never stop writing! If it is truly in your blood you really won’t be able to stop yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never stop writing! If it is truly in your blood you really won’t be able to stop yourself. (I believe in recycling.)

What are you reading now?
I am currently read “Beautiful Darkness” by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I can’t believe it took me so long to find out about these books, they are fantastic.

What’s next for you as a writer?
This year it is all about the writing, but by next year I plan to be on the road doing promotions, conventions, and book fairs.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I can’t possibly answer this question because if I did it would mean I was…dead. Since I am obviously still alive (at least I was the last time I looked in the mirror) the “of all time” hasn’t come yet. I still have plenty of time to read a lot more books. Ask me this question again later, you know…when I’m dead.

Author Websites and Profiles
Roxanna Rose Website
Roxanna Rose Amazon Profile
Roxanna Rose Barnes and Noble

Roxanna Rose’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Dan. I’m an author and musician living in Portland, Oregon. I also have a career in IT, in which I resolve escalated technical issues for a non-profit in the education sector. I just wrote my first book, a dystopian cyberpunk novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest and first book is titled *The Lightcap*. One of the plotlines in the book involves a device (the Lightcap) that is touted as a way for employees to experience less stress from their workdays. You put on the Lightcap when you come to work, then take if off when you leave for the day. You remember nothing that happened while you were wearing it, so there’s no way a bad workday can cause anxiety. The idea was inspired by a really bad day at work, fittingly enough.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I typically sit at the kitchen table and write. Sometimes I’ll go to a coffee shop, but the cost of doing that can add up.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
L’Engle, Asimov, Clarke. Those were huge influences on me as a kid. Later in life, Stephenson, Gibson, Kafka, PK Dick. Outside of scifi, I loved the Harry Potter books. Even though they’re YA, I found the character development to be rich and the world building very thorough. I am in awe of Rowling’s ability to create thousands and thousands of pages of enthralling material.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on marketing *The Lightcap*. I’ve never done this before, so I’m learning as I go. I’m also working on my next book, a zombie apocalypse novel told from the perspective of a preacher’s kid.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I hang out on Facebook, Goodreads, and Kboards quite a bit.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Your book won’t write itself. Write even when you don’t feel like it. You’ll thank yourself later. Take pride in your work and don’t let people read it until you’ve had *someone else* edit it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Even if you are the worst writer in the world, at least you’ll have the evidence.” -Padgett Powell

What are you reading now?
Sisyphus Shrugged, by my friend and editor Robert Peate. (http://www.sisyphusshruggedbook.com)

What’s next for you as a writer?
A zombie book and then a sequel to *The Lightcap*. I don’t have anything set in stone after that, though I’ve got a number of ideas written down that have some potential.

What is your favorite book of all time?
This is always such a hard question to answer! I’m going to go with *1984*. I’ve read at least 20 times and it never gets old.

Author Websites and Profiles
Dan Marshall Website
Dan Marshall Amazon Profile

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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have published two books, A CHILD IS TORN: INNOCENCE LOST and FACELESS which is due out next week in EBOOK and Paperback about 3 months later. I presently am in the process of writing my third novel STOLEN.

I had my first book published at age 59 finally achieving a dream of mine since childhood.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
FACELESS is my second novel . It is a murder mystery which is the continuation of the lives of characters from my first novel. It is about a serial killer that has rendered two teenagers mutilated and everyone in town seems to be under suspicion even the town’s favorite clergy. A PRIEST.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I WRITE FROM BED; I suffer from Chronic pain and spend a lot of time laying down.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
NORA ROBERTS, DEMILLE, GARDNER, FOLLETT

What are you working on now?
STOLEN: The third in the series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I travel the social media sites and go anywhere and everywhere I think will help.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up your dreams.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up your dreams.

What are you reading now?
Stephen White: BEST REVENGE

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

What is your favorite book of all time?
I would say that may be THE JESTER by Patterson, so different from all his other novels. But I love Follett and JD ROBB. SO MANY BOOKS…SO LITTLE TIME.

Author Websites and Profiles
dawn whidden Website
dawn whidden Amazon Profile

dawn whidden’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written two books and I’m currently working on my third, which is a sequel to my first book, Sound Bites.

I started writing around the age of ten due to my obsession with R.L. Stine murder mystery novels.

About five years ago, I landed a few freelance writing jobs for music and fitness columns, and started writing my first novel shortly thereafter.

I had a literary agent for a few years, but after many unsuccessful publishing attempts, I decided to release the books on my own last year. After learning how to market them, my first novel became an Amazon Kindle Top 100 Bestseller in 3 different categories. It was incredible.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel, Finding Mia, was inspired by several great books I’d read, and many great people I’ve had in my life. It focuses on bipolar disorder, and I had to conduct extensive research about the subject for the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I only write at night. I find it easier when the sun is down and I have no distractions.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jen Sincero, Jodi Picoult, Chuck Klosterman, Janet Fitch. And many, many more.

What are you working on now?
My new novel, Love Bites, which is a sequel to Sound Bites. It is set to be released Fall 2013.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I did a book blog tour and found it to be the best marketing tool out there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. Keep writing and building a following. And don’t let bad reviews get you down, we all get them 🙂

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.

What are you reading now?
You are a Badass – a hilarious inspirational book by Jen Sincero.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing Love Bites and learning new ways to market it. I’m starting to do radio shows and partner with indie book stores in my area.

What is your favorite book of all time?
White Oleander by Janet Fitch.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rachel K. Burke Website
Rachel K. Burke Amazon Profile

Rachel K. Burke’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, hello there! My name’s Helen J Beal, I write contemporary literary fiction and I have published three novels and a book of short stories. I write engaging, enjoyable books that are often quite quirky and unconventional. My short stories in particular take readers on some exotic flights of the imagination!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Riding a Tiger – I was inspired to write it as I found myself inordinately interested in the piracy phenomenon in the Gulf of Aden (Somalia) and wanted to tell a character-driven story that didn’t just paint the Somalis as criminals but tried, through privileged Westerners’ pairs of eyes, to understand a little more about how their country operates and what they are born to. The title was inspired by me stumbling across a corporate story at work, that is, in fact, an old Chinese adage – but you’d have to read the book to find out how it fits with a story based around a continent which has lions, not tigers!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write underwater. Ok, seriously – I suspect not. I write as and when I can. Sometimes I can assign serious chunks of time to writing and treat it like a job, getting to a desk and knuckling straight down to it. Other times I fit it in where I can – on trains, planes, in hotel rooms. Writers are such an eclectic bunch and many do have foibles. A couple of my favorite stories would be that Dan Brown hangs upside down when he has writer’s block and I think it’s Barbara Taylor Bradford who gets all dolled up and sits down at the start of the day with a chilled glass of champagne to kick her off (I rather like the sound of the last one, but am not so keen on the first). Oh – wait! I do have a pair of (pink and grey knee-length striped) writing socks. When I first started out I didn’t feel ready to hit the keyboard until I had donned them. I’m not so bad now but I’m more likely to be found writing in pajama bottoms or my Pilates kit that anything suitable for twinning with champagne.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like quirky, funny books. I studied English Literature and Language at the University of London and was taught to read when I was three so have devoured a fair few books in my time, but key authors would be: Douglas Adams, Douglas Coupland, Margaret Atwood, Barbara Kingsolver and Nuruddin Farah. The books that hit the top of my favorites lists are: Life of Pi (Yann Martel), ‘The Extinction Club’ (Jeffrey Moore), ‘Flight Behavior’ (Barbara Kingsolver), The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern), Amsterdam (Ian McEwan), Bird Brain (Guy Kennaway) and East of Eden (John Steinbeck).

What are you working on now?
I’m working on two novels and a book of short stories at the moment. I am focusing on my concerns around overpopulation, conservation and the current mass extinction event for the novel and short stories and the other novel is inspired by a disturbing recurring dream that I have and so is a thriller – new territory for me, but fun to explore.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a big fan of Goodreads – the first thing an author needs to do when promoting their books is create social proof, i.e. get some decent reviews online. Friends and family may be able to help, but it’s always going to be more effective and ethical long-term from people who don’t have a vested emotional interest in your success. Goodreads runs an excellent giveaway function which has attracted a good deal of readers to my book and resulted in some very positive, encouraging and helpful reviews.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing – you’ll get better with every book, and if readers like your work they’ll want to come back for more material so the more you have, the better. Also, don’t try to do everything on your own. Writing is a job and a career – it may not be your first or primary income stream, but be professional. Hire editors – this is the most important thing an author can do in my mind if they are not being traditionally published and being provided with these services. Second, hire a cover designer.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just write. One of my favorite authors is the comedy thriller writer Janet Evanovich. She has published an excellent non-fiction book on writing called How I Write. She said: “If you want to be a writer, just write.” – it’s the advice she gave herself and it seems to have worked out pretty well for her!

What are you reading now?
I recently discovered Barbara Kingsolver following an abortive attempt at The Poisonwood Bible several years ago. We chose Flight Behavior as our book club read this month and I was instantly hooked – I suspected I might be as I have long held butterflies in high regard and conservation is top of my agenda at the moment. As a result, I am now steadily working through her back catalog – I loved Prodigal Summer too and now I’m on her non-fiction book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle which is about how she and her family tackled a project to only eat locally grown food for a year. There is so much wisdom in there.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I’m very pleased to be able to refer to myself as a professional writer now so it remains to build on that and keep on writing! I hope to publish my three new books in the spring of 2014 and then will try to decide which of the many other projects I have slated to work on next! I don’t suffer from a deficit of ideas, which is both a good and a bad thing.

What is your favorite book of all time?
That would be Life of Pi.

Author Websites and Profiles
Helen Beal Website
Helen Beal Amazon Profile

Helen Beal’s Social Media Links
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