Awesome Author Interviews

Here are some of the awesome authors that have submitted books for you to enjoy. Get to know them and discover their awesome books.

P.B. Cannon

Interview With Author P.B. Cannon

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
There’s not much to tell about myself, but I’ll try.

Let’s see, I’ve lived in Charlotte, NC, all my life, and I’m a retired electronics technician. But before getting to that particular occupation, I worked a variety of other jobs, some definitely non-glamorous including dishwashing, being a busgirl, a housemaid, a motel/hotel maid, and holding down a job at a fast-food joint. I’ve been a telephone operator and a store clerk, and have done work even more menial (like picking cotton).

For hobbies, I like reading, drawing, painting (pictures not walls), walking, working crossword puzzles, and dancing (though I was never that good at it and don’t do much of it anymore). I also sing (mostly off-key).

I am a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who didn’t begin publishing until I retired and I’ve since written thirty-four novels, novelettes, novellas, and short stories. I enjoy concocting yarns of science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal, and I did write one short story that’s neither (Why I Started Smokin’ Cigarettes or What Happened the Night Daddy Went to Hooter’s to Git Some Chicken Wings. [Yeah, I know that’s a mouthful but that’s how it came out!])

Hmm… what else… oh, yeah, I daydream a lot.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last book I published was actually a short story, “Sunset”, and it was inspired by a dream (I’ve written several books that began as a dream).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m basically a “seat of my pants” writer though I’ll sometimes make a loose outline or plan, which I’m sure is how a lot of writers go about it, so that’s not unusual.
Um, I’m pretty much of an introvert, and I drink a lot of coffee and miss sleep when I’m in the middle of writing a story. Also not unusual.
Er, I guess I’m not sure of what an “unusual” writing habit would be.
Wait, I usually know how my story begins and ends and then I go about figuring out the middle. Is that unusual? Well, probably not.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to name them all, but Octavia Butler is one. Others are Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, Zenna Henderson, Ray Bradbury, and Jim Butcher. I could go on but that’s enough.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working on an untitled novel that begins in the not-far-off future but spans centuries and deals with the after-effects of global warming and a devastating plague coupled with a war. I’m also working on a sequel to the novels “Sower” and “First”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t done much promoting. This is my first time using Awesome Gang so I’m hoping it becomes a favorite.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My only advice would be if writing is what you want to do then do it. Then write some more. And keep on writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The rules of writing are not really rules but you should learn them anyway so you’ll know when to break them.

What are you reading now?
Not reading anything right now as I’m in the middle of a manuscript.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing my current WIP and getting it to my editor.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh, gosh, that’s a hard choice to make. Um, maybe my How Things Work encyclopedia? It has helpful information for making things such as water filters and cooking pits. Or a book on providing first aid in a primitive setting that could perhaps point out natural items to use for things like bandages or antibiotics. For entertainment, I’d certainly want a slew of science fiction and fantasy books but I’d be hard put when it came down to choosing just a few. Hmm… I think I’m just going to avoid being stranded so I don’t have to give up any books!

Author Websites and Profiles

P.B. Cannon Website

P.B. Cannon Amazon Profile

P.B. Cannon’s Social Media Links

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Asha Nyr

Interview With Author Asha Nyr

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an accidental author of fantasy romance who writes to process unspeakable trauma from childhood sexual, verbal, and physical abuse. When I became disabled from medical conditions and lost my job, I focused on my DBT therapy and wrote a novel as an exposure therapy exercise. I had no intention of ever publishing, but I also didn’t want to go through the process alone. Confronting trauma is a painful and risky endeavor, so much that I had to put distance between it and myself with a medieval fantasy setting. I posted chapters online and readers came flooding in, including survivors who also said they found healing in the story. Shortly after, readers started asking for sequels and physical copies, and I realized that maybe this was how I could find meaning to my life again. Since then, in October 2021, I’ve written 11 fairly hefty novels, each one focusing on a different aspect of my trauma. I am gradually publishing them all in an attempt to restart my life and have many more books waiting for me to write them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book I published is The Packless and the Fae Prince, book 3 in the Healing Fate series. The sequel brings back wolf-shifter Hekla from the first book, and through her struggles moving to a fae realm with harmful rules, I process my traumas around helplessness. Prince Belenus is my approach of those rules and his point of view explores the profound realizations I had when I went off to college, when I discovered that the rules I grew up with weren’t actually ‘the norm,’ that healthy relationships did exist. A reader wouldn’t necessarily know all this until they read the author’s notes at the end, but once they do, the book becomes a different, more meaningful experience.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I might have a couple, but it’s hard to say what’s unusual since I never took any creative writing classes, just paid a lot of attention to my English classes in school. For me, since the writing process is completely therapeutic, I don’t heavily plan or outline them. I write straight ahead from a single idea so I can explore new thoughts born from the traumatic scenarios my characters encounter. This allows the reader to discover the profound realizations I’ve found at the very same point in the story, so we are essentially taking the journey together. I also don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what to write when I’m in front of the keyboard. Before I fall asleep at night, I consider the next chapter, what I want to explore, and what I need to happen, that way, in the morning, I can pretty much jump into writing it all out. Thinking about the story before sleeping is also a good distraction for me as I have chronic nightmares and occasionally dread going to sleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’d say my two biggest influencers were David Eddings and Garth Nix. I’m not too familiar with newer works—I had no idea that fantasy romance was even a genre before 2021. Eddings’s The Belgariad and Garth Nix’s Sabriel both have likeable characters, fascinating lore, and gripping world-building. My attempt to create something as rich had me finding another helpful buffer against approaching trauma. Aside from the relief I find incorporating humor to counter darker elements, creating complex magic systems and interesting deities provided a welcome distraction in between intense writing sessions. Sabriel, a slightly morbid read, also made me feel like I had permission to carve my own rules within fantasy, something I couldn’t avoid.

What are you working on now?
I just released book 3, so I’m working on publishing book 4 now, The Tiger Pariah and the Runaway, a story about a woman who escapes from her isolated, cult-run village with its orphans when she discovers a plan to harm them. An exile runs across the runaways and works to lead them through the jungle to safety. I’m also getting close to completing The Winter King and the Wilted, book 9 of Healing Fate. After that, it’s moving on to writing The Fae Queen and the Deadman!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method or website for you to reach me at is https://www.ashanyr.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
This is a bit tough since everyone writes for a different reason and has different goals. I’ve only unintentionally fallen into the trade, utterly into the deep end, and I’m still learning. On the art side, I’ve discovered that readers tend to sense that an author has written something they enjoyed writing. If an author stresses only over what will sell, that creative spark may not find its way onto paper. On the survival side, becoming an author is starting a business and comes with the same challenges of investing and finding ‘customers.’ If your books don’t gain traction right away, don’t despair. You do have readers out there waiting for your book. It’s just a matter of finding them and giving them the best chance to find you. I cannot express enough the importance of investing in professionals and proper ads if you’re self-publishing—scrape and save however you can—and finding mentors to help guide you through the process.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As someone who is learning how to reprogram her brain in DBT therapy, I’ve received a lot of life-changing advice over the years, so picking is difficult. Honestly, the advice I think that saved me the most was for me to never make decisions when emotional. Due to my trauma, I am a very sensitive person, and I’ve learned to recognize when an emotion isn’t serving me. When I’m depressed, I don’t give up; I take a break and take care of my body and mind. When I’m agitated, I don’t send that angry email or post that comment; I wait until the next day to see if it’s really what I want to say and if it does anything for me. Emotions are valid though and can serve us, so don’t forget to be compassionate with yourself. At this moment, I know I am doing the best I can. So are you.

What are you reading now?
I have not really been able to read any books since I started writing for exposure therapy, and I’ve been writing nonstop for about three years now. I tried and entering another story throws me off of where I am in my therapy. To be honest, it saddens me a bit as I feel like I’ve become distanced from a hobby that used to give me comfort, but the trade-off has been life-saving. The last book I read right after going on medical leave—before I lost my job—was by Kerrelyn Sparks. She was my first exposure to fantasy romance, and I only wish I could read more of her The Embraced series. Maybe someday.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have quite a lot on the agenda. Right now, I’m working with my first PR team to get out from behind the screen. Showing my face for the first time has been a huge adjustment, but with so many readers asking about book signings, I know I’ll have to get used to putting myself out there. Having written about such personal topics, it’s nerve-racking for people to know what I look like, but that is simply more exposure therapy. For my writing projects, I also have a second fantasy romance series that I will be querying to find an agent for: The Summoner Chronicles. This series is therapy for my other conditions such as POTS, hEDS, and ADHD. I’ve written two books for it—So Familiar and How to Duet—and the third, After My Sewn Heart, isn’t finished yet. Though Healing Fate will always be self-published, and I have no plans of ending that series, I’m looking to traditionally publish The Summoner Chronicles. A lot is coming—continued healing for me and books that are enjoyable for my readers.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Well, if I have any hopes of reading more than 4 books for the rest of my life, those books will be on survival and how to escape! I suppose the most whimsical and entertaining of the lot would be The Book. The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization by Hungry Minds, an author collective. I’ve heard good things about it, and the topics are intriguing, like how to make penicillin from scratch—though I’m not sure I’d be able to find the ingredients! I’d definitely bring a book on how to survive a stranding on a desert island so I can identify edible plants and fish, make smoke signals, etc. I guess if a couple of books covered survival, the third could be for entertainment. I’d love to read Kerrelyn Sparks’s latest from The Embraced series I mentioned earlier: When a Dragon Falls. I’d have to pause my writing therapy there!

Thank you so much for this interview. It’s truly been an honor, and I’m deeply humbled.

Author Websites and Profiles

Asha Nyr Website

Asha Nyr Amazon Profile

Asha Nyr’s Social Media Links

Author Interview Series

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Bradley VanDeventer

Interview With Author Bradley VanDeventer

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have published three novels and numerous short stories in literary journals.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is titled Crushed Trachea Blues. I wrote it from 2020 to 2021. It was inspired by my love of two things: Raymond Chandler and jiu-jitsu. I had gone down a Chandler rabbit hole while simultaneously taking up jiu-jitsu. I thought the premise of suicide by jiu-jitsu would be naturally intriguing and would require a discerning yet noble character such as Paisley Fuentes to solve the case. The title comes from a variation of the guillotine choke, one which leaves the practitioner of the technique with a sore windpipe from all the applied pressure–hence Crushed Trachea Blues.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I write long-form on paper. I’ve been known to write at busy intersections, provided I’m at a dead red light. You know: safety. Something about the impersonal bustle gets me in a flow state.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Influential authors include Salman Rushdie, Thomas Pynchon, Raymond Chandler, John Barth, Jorge Luis Borges, Italo Calvino, and Milorad Pavic.

What are you working on now?
An epic novel about a militant female pope, a cryptocurrency mined through love, and insects from outer space. It is titled Scourge of Honey.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon ads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot. Contrary to some other writers’ opinions, DON’T read stuff you don’t like. Read stuff that inspires you. Pay close attention to the craft and find your own style.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write with your blood, Friedrich Nietzsche.

What are you reading now?
Prometheism, by Jason Reza Jorjani

What’s next for you as a writer?
To publish an already-written sequel to Crushed Trachea Blues and finish up Scourge of Honey.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
60 Stories, Donald Barthelme
Tarot Fundamentals, Paul Foster Case
Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie
Inherent Vice, Thomas Pynchon

Author Websites and Profiles

Bradley VanDeventer Website

Bradley VanDeventer Amazon Profile

Bradley VanDeventer’s Social Media Links

Twitter Account

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Torgeir Blok

Interview With Author Torgeir Blok

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I was 6 years old, I went to a birthday party where the kid had tricked his parents into letting us watch the movie Ghostbusters. I didn’t really understand anything of the humor in the movie and found the ghosts to be terrifying. But I loved the feeling of seeing something “forbidden”.

This fascination for the forbidden soon blossomed into a fanatical love for horror. And as soon as I learnt how to write, my stories were always filled with monsters.

My love for literature also made follow a career in writing, which included work for magazines, movies and TV-shows. But these jobs never let me unleash my love for horror to the extent that I wanted. So I saw no other option than to write a full blown novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called ‘Worn Skin’, and it initially started out as a short and quirky horror story featuring voodoo and shape-shifting shamans, inspired by movies such as Hellraiser (1987), The Believers (1987), Angel Heart (1987) and the computer game Gabriel Knight (1993).

I also took a lot of inspiration from tattoos, specifically from the time around the mid 2000nds, when they suddenly became wildly popular. At the time, more and more musicians, movies stars and athletes began decorating their bodies with all sorts of inscriptions and suddenly everybody seemed to be getting ink. This was in stark contrast to how it used to be. When I was growing up in the 80s, tattoos had been a sub-cultural oddity mostly found on the wrinkled arms old sailors, bikers and inmates. A person with tattoos used to be someone you would cross the street to avoid, but if you ever bumped into one and dared ask them what their markings meant, they could talk for hours about each one and point out mysterious design traits from an underworld of secret symbols. However, as offbeat tattoo culture gradually slipped into the mainstream, body modification quickly lost its badboy appeal along with all of its secrets. People just wanted to look like the celebrities they idolized, and if you asked someone in 2006 what their tattoos meant, they would usually refer to a character in their favorite movie.

And the idea of a whole generation of people covered in symbols that they had no idea what meant, made for a really fun backdrop to my story. So I bought up all the books about tattoo history I could find and discovered a secret language that was far more elaborate than I had ever imagined. And there wasn’t just one language either, but a multitude of different styles and placements, all of which had different meanings. I soon had innumerable symbols to play around with in my writing, and if anyone should ever bother to fact check my story, they should be able to find that all the secret symbolism mentioned in this book is grounded in real life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I do rewriting, I need to read everything out loud. This makes any hiccups stand out much clearer and enables me to easily hear all my mistakes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a kid I spent most my days reading Stephen King and when I also discovered the wondrous violence of Clive Barker, I was hooked. Barker’s ways of portraying extreme brutalities as poetic beauty is truly unique, and I still consider his Books of Blood to be among the greatest words ever written.

What are you working on now?
I recently finished the first draft of my second novel and hope to be able to release it as soon as I am done with editing and rewrites.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying to learn.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I guess the best thing I could tell you would be to learn to LOVE rewriting. This means that when you spot a typo, you correct it. When a word is repeated, you look for synonyms. When something is convoluted, you simplify. When you’re telling instead of showing, you elaborate. When your pacing is off, you make adjustments. When you stumble into a plot hole, you fill it. When a character is one-dimensional, you add depth. When motives are unclear, you try to inject meaning. When the structure is off, you swap around whole paragraphs. And all along the way you also delete as many unnecessary words, sentences, and even chapters as possible.

Never leave mistakes for being fixed “when you get around to it.” Look at your typos as walking out the door with your fly undone… which is a problem I’m sure anyone would hurry to remedy soon as possible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You will not get better at anything just because you get older. You won’t become faster, smarter, stronger, or more skilled, and your handwriting will never be nicer than it is today. Unless you actively work on improving yourself.

Because, if you want to become good at something, you have to practice. A lot! Whether it’s singing, cooking, programming, storytelling, speaking different languages, or writing, the only way to get good is to practice, practice, practice. Challenge yourself and constantly strive to improve every day.

What are you reading now?
Currently I’m reading the Manga Gantz, which is filled with monsters, sex, and violence. What’s not to love?

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write and publish more.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I wouldn’t want to bring books that I had already read, so it’s difficult to say. But I’d probably try to find a couple of horror novels and a couple of short story collections.

Author Websites and Profiles

Torgeir Blok Website

Torgeir Blok Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Jayna Morrow

Interview With Author Jayna Morrow

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Lufkin, Texas, in an area called the Piney Woods. It’s a rural area with tons of tall trees. I spent most daylight hours outside, barefoot, up trees, and pretending I lived in the woods. So, it comes as no surprise that I’m transitioning to full-time RV life now as an adult. I still love living in the woods…but with some creature comforts. Glamping, it’s called. My family often camped, and we spent time fishing, hiking, picnicking, and exploring historical sites. Those are still some of my favorite things to do, and you’ll see them reflected in everything I write.

I consider myself a plotter and exploratory writer. I’ve heard the expression that readers live a thousand lives. The same can be said for writers. We are the creators of characters and worlds, and the entire process is magical. But it takes readers to breathe life into those characters and worlds. I couldn’t achieve my writing dreams without my readers. I’m so thankful for you all!

My “Hallmark Hero” and I live in East Texas. I have two beautiful, almost-grown daughters. Currently, I have 2 sweet romances and 2 cozy mysteries out in the world. Book 3 in the Motorhome Mysteries series is coming soon. I can’t wait to share more of our travel adventures with you!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Body at Beavers Bend is my newest release. It’s Book 2 in the Motorhome Mysteries series, and it was inspired by my real-life RV adventures. My fiance and I are full-time RVers, something I’ve dreamed of for decades. The main character in my series is also a full-time RVer and mystery writer, so that gives me endless material to draw from.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m an extreme plotter, and sometimes my outlines are between 10-30K! Also, my brain works better horizontally than vertically. So after I’ve completed a draft and done some editing on it, I print it out, tape the pages for each chapter together, and then hang the pages horizontally along a wall. I use sticky notes and various colored pens to revise that way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nancy Drew got me started in the mystery genre at a young age. I grew up watching Murder, She Wrote. I know that’s a show, not a book, but it fueled my love of cozy mystery. Later on, I started reading the Murder, She Baked series by Joanne Fluke, and it got me to thinking I could write cozy mysteries, too. All my favorite cozy mystery authors now are Indie authors: Kassandra Elaine, Carolyn L. Dean, Patti Larson, Jenna St. James…I could keep going on and on.

What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up Book 3 in the Motorhome Mysteries series, The Death at the Diamond Mine. My fiance and I had a wonderful trip there, and it was fun taking bit and pieces of our trip and turning it into a funny cozy mystery.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My fiance is my marketing “team,” and he’s been taking a Facebook ads course. I do have 1 Facebook ad running right now, and that has been the most effective marketing tool for me so far. I also post sporadically on Instagram and Facebook. Growth on those platforms has been slow and steady.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love because you’re going to have to read it a hundred times. Ha! Seriously, write what you love because writing is more of a passion than a career. Or it should be.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t feel like you have to jump on trends or spend more time marketing than writing. Do what feels true to you and the vision you have for your career. I know I will never have a YouTube channel and that’s okay. If you don’t like social media, that’s okay, too. There’s more than one way to find success in this business.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading the National Park Mystery Series by Aaron Johnson, Bigfoot and Bewilderment by A.R. Winters, and Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle series.

What’s next for you as a writer?
An agent, I hope. I’ve come close a few times, only to see everything fall apart. This time, my goal to attract one is sales. I’ve seen a lot of Indie authors land an agent after proving themselves by selling a lot of books. Why not give it a shot?

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would definitely bring the Twilight series with me. I’ll admit it, I’m a Twihard. I would also want a few of my favorite writer resource books like the Emotion Thesaurus and others in that series. I’d also bring my Bible, so I can continue doing Bible Journaling.

Author Websites and Profiles

Jayna Morrow Website

Jayna Morrow Amazon Profile

Jayna Morrow’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Sarah Hill

Interview With Author Sarah Hill

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi there! My name is Sarah, and I am a 32-year-old mother of beautiful daughter Sophia. This autobiography is my story of how I came to write “Pure and Simple” and why nourishing little tummies has become one of my life’s greatest joys.

My love for cooking remained as a hobby until Sophia was born. When Sophia arrived, everything changed. Like most new parents, I wanted to give my child the best of everything. As a foodie, I was particularly excited about introducing her to the world of food. I wanted to ensure that the first tastes that touched her little tongue were nutritious and delicious.

Writing this book was not without challenges. As a new mom, I was learning to juggle the demands of parenthood while also pursuing my passion. Late-night writing sessions, testing and retesting recipes, and navigating the publishing process all while caring for a toddler was not easy. But every time I looked at Sophia, I was reminded of why I started this journey. Her laughter, her curiosity, and her enjoyment of the meals I prepared for her fuelled my motivation.

Another challenge was ensuring that the recipes were not only healthy and nutritious but also allergen-friendly. With so many children having food allergies these days, I wanted my book to be as inclusive as possible. I spent hours researching and consulting with paediatric and nutritionists to ensure that the recipes were safe and suitable for a wide range of dietary needs.

After months of hard work, “Pure and Simple” was finally published.

Looking forward, I have plans to write more books, focusing on different aspects of child nutrition and family meals. I want to continue to explore how we can make food fun, healthy, and accessible for families.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The idea of writing a cookbook specifically for babies and toddlers began to take shape as Sophia transitioned from purees to more solid foods. I noticed a gap in the market for recipes that were not only healthy and nutritious but also simple and easy for busy parents. I wanted to create a resource that could help other parents like me, who wanted to introduce their children to healthy eating habits from a young age.
Writing “Pure and Simple” has been a life-changing experience for me. It has not only allowed me to share my passion with others but also to connect with a community of parents who share similar values. I’ve learned so much about nutrition, child development, and the importance of establishing healthy eating habits early on.
Most importantly, I want to keep inspiring parents to enjoy the journey of feeding their children and to create memories in the kitchen.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
no

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My daughter is my motivator

What are you working on now?
I am working on a next cookbook, but there I will put just baking recipes, in order to make it more faster and easier for busy parents.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It is hard to tell, coz its my first book I am publishing

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going..

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what is making you happy

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. ” Radical Forgiveness” – Colin Tipping
2. ” The Silva Mind Control Method”
3.” Reality Transurfing” Vadim Zeland

Author Websites and Profiles

Sarah Hill Website

Sarah Hill Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Lancelot Schaubert

Interview With Author Lancelot Schaubert

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Dozens, I don’t count.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
COLD BREWED —

Jett Cropper’s best friend dies from a bad coffee roast that had been laced with chicory. To find the new burnt Master Roaster behind this mess, Jett dives into the city’s underworld to bring back justice no matter the cost.

Told through both words and pictures, COLD BREWED takes place in a classic prohibition-era world where coffee is currency and third-wave coffeeshop lingo is drug slang.

Though filed among other graphic novels, this unique story uses silent film and film noir techniques. COLD BREWED favors classy black and white photographs over pencil sketches — a grittier grandson of the narrative form developed in Selznick’s books “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” and “Wonderstruck.”

Shot and produced in and around Joplin, Missouri, Cold Brewed reinvented the photo novel for the 21st Century and testifies to the art revival happening in the formerly tornado-devastated town.

____

“You get where you wonder how life got so whipless. Been there before, didn’t want to go back.

“Did anyway.

“It happens. You end up staring at your boots asking how they got so wet. How the water on them got so hard. Guess these days, there ain’t enough grinders like me left on the streets. Everything’s darker than it used to be – more burnt, less clean.

“Some new Master Roaster comes into town and tampers with the trade and everything ends up in the knock box and the water gets hard again and runs the drains over.

“And when there ain’t enough grinders like me who’re willing to crawl down in there, down into the sewers to filter it all back out, then all that hard water creeps up higher and higher till it spoils us all…”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In the sense that I write anywhere, see it as a job, and have a minimum word count, yes. I’m not fussy about it, I’m a workhorse who grew up poor and underprivileged, though there are certainly those in the world that had and have it worse than me. It’s not something I fuss about.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dostoevsky and anyone you’d find in the Harvard Classics, Britannica Great Books, Eastern Classics, Desert Fathers, or Prenicene, Nicene, Post-nicene fathers.

Huge influence from the inklings, but also with the kinds of writers who think like them, before and after. David Bentley Hart and NT Wright form a sort of philosophical core to my thinking.

I love Chesterton’s impressionism, hate his anti-semitism and unholy bloodlust. George MacDonald is as close as we get to a saint in fantasy writers.

Gobs of women like Dianne Duane and Juliet Marrilier and Kaaron Warren and LJ Cohen pour into my mind. I’m a fan of Langston Hughes, several Arab poets I heard live, all the romantic poets, Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy, lots and lots and lots of myths. All of the golden age science fiction writers, I could do this for forever. Weird little academic abstracts.

Also… why don’t we count song lyrics? The OH Hellos? Jon Batiste? Denison Witmer? Sufjan? All the old Irish ballads?

Anyways.

What are you working on now?
Six novels. One’s called Overmorrow that’s having issues. It’ll be out late 2025. I hope. It’s a portal fantasy, in a way, sort of a dark NYC Narnia.

A small town vampire fantasy with a dreamworld interplay.

A cyberpunk security state YA thriller.

A sequel to Bell Hammers as well as a prequel. The sequel is a white trash carpenter’s disco heist. The prequel is basically THE ROAD starring a little girl in midcentury America.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of Mouth. I ask all of my readers to read their copies, sign their copies, and pass their copies on like a massive lending library. If you want to keep one, buy two and lend the other one out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write either every day or enough weekly that’s its as good as if you wrote every day. Do the same with reading. Keep a commonplace journal, preferably in multiple places, to keep track of the quotes that make up your mind. With page citations. Play an instrument and fiddle with paint to keep the spirit of play. Understand basic ontology and virtue ethics. Study personal finance and business reinvestment. Learn a bit about personal reconciliation with mediators and do counseling as very least as often as you’d change the oil in your car. Understand grammar (how language works), logic (how to string thoughts together), and rhetoric (how to communicate your thoughts incarnate words to other people so they believe what you believe or at very least understand it). Have a spiritual director. Indulge in less and less dopamine addictions — particularly substance abuse and eating and sleep disorders. Keep submissions in the mail AND self-produce as an entrepreneur.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’ll only get better when you want it to, so say “mea culpa,” reform yourself, then reform the world. AND REFORM THE WORLD YOU MUST. But first, yourself. Too many students these days want to change the entire administration and system when they’re being forced to read a 4,000 page book. Maybe the administration isn’t the problem. Maybe you’re just lazy and don’t understand the purpose of learning and doing the hard thing.

Do the hard thing, grow up, then change the system. Both need changed, but it’s so so much easier to look within and change yourself first, if something needs changed.

CoDa anonymous starts similar to Alcoholics Anonymous: “We admitted we were powerless over others – that our lives had become unmanageable.” You can’t control other people, but you can advocate for systemic change. But first, yourself.

What are you reading now?
I’m in the middle of NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND by Dostoevsky, IN SEARCH OF WONDER by Damon Knight, a bunch of articles by Aristotle Papanikolaou, and some stories for our scifi critique group. Also gonna read YUMI AND THE NIGHT PAINTER by Sanderson soon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More stories, more investment in the career, more music and multimedia production.

And building out a team to manage it all.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
There’s one book folks never use in this question, and it’s the correct answer for everyone:

— Country Wisdom and Know-How, Everything You Need to Know to Live Off the Land

1. The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
2. The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky
3. The Resurrection of the Son of God by Wright OR a copy of the Bible OR a copy of the Bible + desert fathers, depending on whether or not anthologies count. But if they do, it changes my first to answers to their entire ouvre

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Chris Armstrong

Interview With Author Chris Armstrong

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have had three careers, merchant seaman, farmhand on the Welsh farm where I still live, and information scientist working both in the university and for my own company before I retired to write. I have published three poetry collections, Mostly Welsh, Book of the Spirit and Lost Time, as well as a work of fiction – The Dark Trilogy – and a collection of short stories: When I Am Not Writing Poetry.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book was a collection of poems called Lost Time: Chorus and Other Poems. Although I write fiction – I am just completing another work – my first love was poetry and I have written some 500+ poems. The latest selection brings together poems that relate to place (mostly Wales), the Sea (if not the sea, then the horizon! The sea is always there in my life), Writing, Memories and Time – I love to explore how we live in time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write mostly directly to the screen of my desktop computer and edit as I go – often changing words, word order line order in poems, or even sentence and paragraph order. Very often I do not plan a story or plot I just sit down and begin typing and somehow the right words find their way to my fingers from my brain!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A very tricky question – I have read so much! In fiction I would have to reference Nabokov (particularly Ada and Pale Fire), James Joyce, Durrell’s quartet and quintet; poetry is even more difficult with many Anglo Welsh writers such as R S Thomas and Dylan Thomas contrasting with Leonard Cohen and the American beat poets. And T S Eliot.

What are you working on now?
I have just completed a work of fiction called Trystan, which follows the lives and misfortunes of two men through their day in a small Welsh seaside town; both trying desperately to rise above their troubles. The idea was inspired by Joyce’s Ulysses and, like that work, has a background in a classic – in my case, The Romance of Tristan and Iseult – the main chapters being named for and making oblique references to the chapters of the original: an odd phrase, an artefact… but it is in no way a retelling of The Romance. The main chapters are written in the voice of one or other of the two protagonists, Trystan and his friend George. Their individual but interweaving stories are divided by a series of Interlude chapters.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My blog and website: https://curatedlines.online/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never stop writing!

What are you reading now?
I have about 6 books on the go – works of poetry such as Ruth Bidgood and most recently Zosia Kuczynska, Jo Shapcott and the beautifully written Cairn by Kathleen Jamie – that is the way to use language. Non fiction: Bibliophobia by Brian Cummings, Letters from Wales by Sam Adams, and so much fiction!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am putting together another collection of poems.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Laurence Durrel’s The Avignon Quintet; James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake; If Only the Sea Could Sleep (Adonis); The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas edited by John Goodby and perhaps something by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

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Alexander M

Interview With Author Alexander M

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in building and scaling businesses across multiple countries, including Ukraine, Germany, the UK, and the USA. My approach is focused on practical, no-nonsense strategies that get results. I’ve written one book, designed to provide straightforward, actionable advice for entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their businesses.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is “The Entrepreneur’s Guidebook: Essential Strategies for Small Business Growth.” This book was inspired by my personal journey of building businesses amidst incredible challenges, including the war in Ukraine, which forced me to leave my home and adapt to new environments.

Surviving and thriving in the face of uncertainty has taught me that entrepreneurship is not just about growth—it’s about survival. Whether you’re navigating a war zone or a tough market, the principles of resilience, adaptability, and strategic decision-making are universal. This book is a reflection of the hard-learned lessons that helped me not only survive but succeed in diverse and competitive environments. It’s for those who understand that real-world business isn’t glamorous—it’s tough, but with the right tools and mindset, anyone can come out on top.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, my writing habits are rooted in my experience as an entrepreneur. I approach writing the same way I approach business—straightforward, without distractions or unnecessary fluff. I often write in short, intense bursts, focusing on delivering value and actionable insights. My goal is to get straight to the point, so I avoid filler and focus on practical strategies that readers can immediately apply. I also tend to write late at night when everything is quiet, using the calm to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned from the challenges I’ve faced, especially during the war.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Several authors and books have influenced my approach to both business and writing. Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” helped shape my understanding of leadership and purpose in business. Peter Thiel’s “Zero to One” inspired me to think about innovation and how to build something truly unique. Additionally, Tim Ferriss’ “The 4-Hour Workweek” challenged me to rethink productivity and efficiency, which I apply in both my work and writing. However, my biggest influence comes from real-world experience, where I’ve had to blend theory with the brutal realities of entrepreneurship in crisis situations.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my TechMasters business, offering expert computer repair and custom PC builds across the Chicago area. Alongside that, I’m developing new content that dives deeper into the practical strategies entrepreneurs can use to survive and grow in uncertain times. I’m also exploring new ways to share my business knowledge, potentially through online courses and workshops, to help others apply the lessons I’ve learned from building businesses in challenging environments.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method I’ve found for promoting my books is through social media and targeted online ads. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow me to reach specific audiences who are interested in entrepreneurship and small business growth. Additionally, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) promotional tools, such as Kindle Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions, help to boost visibility. Creating engaging content, such as practical business tips and personal insights from my entrepreneurial journey, and sharing them across LinkedIn and YouTube, has also been effective in building a loyal audience interested in my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is to focus on authenticity and actionable content. Don’t try to please everyone—write with a specific audience in mind and deliver real value. Avoid fluff and filler; readers appreciate direct, practical insights that they can apply immediately. Consistency is key, both in writing and in promoting your work, so set clear goals and stick to them. Also, don’t be afraid to leverage your personal experiences, even the difficult ones—they make your voice unique and relatable. Lastly, treat your book like a business: market it, engage with your audience, and be relentless in getting it in front of the right people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is: “Adapt or die.” This simple yet powerful phrase has guided me through the toughest challenges in both life and business. Whether you’re facing a market shift, a personal setback, or even a crisis like war, your ability to adapt is what keeps you moving forward. Success isn’t about having the perfect plan—it’s about being flexible, learning from every situation, and making adjustments to stay on track. This mindset has helped me build businesses in different countries and survive through unpredictable circumstances.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading the Bible. It’s a source of deep wisdom and reflection, offering valuable lessons that can be applied to both personal life and business. It helps me stay grounded and offers perspective, especially when facing challenges.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer, my next step is to dive deeper into practical business guides that focus on helping entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty and rapid change. I’m also exploring the idea of creating online courses or workshops to complement my writing, offering more hands-on, actionable advice for those looking to grow their businesses. Additionally, I’m considering expanding into personal development, blending my experiences with entrepreneurship and the mindset needed to thrive in challenging environments.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I were stranded on a desert island, I’d bring a combination of books that offer wisdom, practical survival skills, and personal growth. Here’s what I’d take:

The Bible – For spiritual guidance, reflection, and inner strength during difficult times.
“Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe – A classic survival story filled with practical lessons on resourcefulness and resilience.
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey – For staying focused on long-term personal and professional growth, even in isolation.
A comprehensive survival guide – Something with practical advice on survival tactics, such as shelter building, foraging, and navigation, just in case!
After experiencing the reality of war, where a rocket could be headed for your home, a deserted island doesn’t seem so terrifying. Survival is survival—whether you’re facing nature or something much worse.

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John Monyjok Maluth

Interview With Author John Monyjok Maluth

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am John from South Sudan. I began my writing journey in 2002 in my village at the age of 19. Due to the lack of support from the first publishers I encountered, I took the initiative to self-publish my books starting that same year. As of 2024, I have self-published 100 books, with each title available in three formats on Amazon: Kindle, Hardcover, and Paperback.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My 100th book is titled, African Theology, a creative nonfiction narrative that uses fictional characters, Panyim and Nyakor, to explore African perspectives on God, salvation, and other spiritual concepts. This work draws inspiration from the historical understanding that Africans had their unique conceptions of God well before the advent of organized religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism on the continent.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write whenever inspiration strikes, without adhering to a schedule or setting milestones. It may seem unconventional, but it’s my preferred method. I write when the mood takes me. Additionally, I have a routine of crafting short stories or articles every morning before I brush my teeth and wash my face. It’s something I truly enjoy!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wayne Grudem, known for his work ‘Systematic Theology,’ has been influential in my writing. Leila Abouleila, hailing from Sudan, has also shaped my fictional and creative writing through her novel ‘The Kindness of Enemies.’ My reading list includes authors like Neil T. Anderson, Praise George, and Napoleon Hill, among many others. Additionally, the Bible and its authors hold a special place in my heart as the most impactful book in my life.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am focusing on how to attract more readers and earn a living from my greatest passion: writing. I am not authoring new books at the moment; a hundred books suffice for now. However, I need to find a market for each book in my ten published series. Additionally, I am enhancing my writing skills and speed by utilizing AI tools.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not certain, but I frequently use Facebook despite not generating any sales through it. That’s how I discovered Awesome Gang, thanks to my instructor, Dave Chesson. I’ve been learning from his educational content for years. Currently, I’m experimenting with Amazon ads, which are yielding many impressions but few clicks and no sales. Perhaps I need to delve deeper into learning.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Indeed, I possess extensive advice for novice independent authors, drawing from my own experiences. New authors often commit numerous errors that should be avoided. A common mistake is hastening to publish a manuscript without ensuring it is ready for publication. This often means insufficient self-editing. Other frequent errors include inadequate cover design, blurb writing, and interior formatting. I, too, made many such mistakes when I began self-publishing my books online in 2012.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The most impactful writing advice I’ve encountered is simply, “Sit down and write.” It’s advice that truly resonates with me. I remember, back in the 1990s, acquiring an exercise book emblazoned with the phrase, “Put it down on paper,” which served as my inspiration. I believe it was a Kasuku product. Indeed, there is no superior method to learn writing than to sit down and do it.

What are you reading now?
I am not currently reading any books. However, I am enrolled in Amazon ads courses on their website and also taking a course on the same subject by Dave Chesson. As mentioned, I am confident that my motivational self-help series, which is based on my personal experiences in a war-torn country like Sudan, is unique. Therefore, I aim to connect with a broader audience, particularly young individuals globally who may be facing an identity crisis at the moment.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer, my next goal is to increase book sales and assist others in finding peace and resilience. It’s a challenging mission, yet I am convinced that my purpose is to inspire. Additionally, I aim to generate sufficient income to enhance my books. My aspiration is to travel globally, conducting workshops on personal and professional growth. This is where my passion lies.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Being stranded on a desert island, I would want to have my Bible, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind” by Dr. Joseph Murphy, and “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl with me.

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Blessing Chivende

Interview With Author Blessing Chivende

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a seasonal writer and I’ve been published three times on Omniscriptum and Amazon. My books are based on romance, bio-fiction and Science.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Once a bread basket

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I too had a love story, Like it happened yesterday, Half Girlfriend

What are you working on now?
What about our dreams Part II

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
morebooks.shop

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep on writing, dawn is near!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never tell people your dreams, show them what you can do.

What are you reading now?
R. Chudley and Greeno Building

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to engage in movie acting and screenplay writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Jessica and ‘ the Brilliants’, ‘Once a bread basket and What about our dreams?

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Vera Persiyanova

Interview With Author Vera Persiyanova

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I haven’t always been a writer. In fact, I’m an artist. But I wasn’t always an artist either. It’s quite a long story, but I’ll try to keep it brief.

I was born in a country that no longer exists, and for the past 10 years, I’ve been living in the Kingdom of Wonder. This isn’t a joke. I was born in the Soviet Union, in Siberia, and now I live in Cambodia, which is also known as the Kingdom of Wonder.

I spent the first half of my life dedicated to medicine and science, I even completed my PhD thesis, but that’s a long story in itself and not particularly relevant to the present.
As I approached 50, I moved to Cambodia and picked up a paintbrush, and that’s where I became an artist. This passion led me around the world, and now my paintings can be found in 20 countries.

Recently, I’ve been captivated by a new passion – writing.

Currently, I have two book series.

The first is about my journey as an artist, my travels, encounters, and paintings. At the moment, there are three books in this series, with a fourth one planned.

The second series is science fiction and adventure. So far, the first book in this series has been published, and I’m working on the second. The third one exists too, but only in my mind for now.

What surprised me recently while editing the second book was the realization that it incorporates Kant’s philosophical paradigm of the “thing-in-itself” and some references to Schopenhauer’s “On the Basis of Morality.” These elements are naturally woven into the plot. I used to be seriously interested in philosophy, but I never consciously intended to include it in the book. It happened subtly and organically. Well, I suppose that’s how it’s meant to be.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book is “Insomnia: Strange Faces and Lost Dreams.” I’m not sure if I can call it a full-fledged book; it’s more like an expanded chapter from the previous book, “Fate and Art: Bridging Time.” I wouldn’t say it was inspired, per se. It was more about the state of insomnia being so exhausting that I decided to write about it, to share my thoughts, feelings, and… paintings. After all, insomnia doesn’t just steal sleep, but dreams too… it changes one’s personality, and that’s dangerous, not just in a medical sense.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if this counts as an unusual writing habit, but I usually write in bed. Half-sitting, half-lying down, with my laptop on my knees. This position allows me to stay in one place for a long time, as it’s quite comfortable and relaxed. There are downsides, though. Taking more frequent breaks would make the writing process more effective, but sometimes I’m just too lazy to get up…
I also write down dreams that I manage to remember, and nighttime thoughts that sometimes turn out to be unexpectedly interesting, which then naturally fit into the plot of my next book. Although sometimes a thought seems almost genius at night, only to look like complete nonsense in the morning. But that’s normal; it’s just consciousness playing tricks along with the subconscious…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ah, here too, it turns out to be a strange cocktail with very different ingredients, but for me, it leaves a long, deep aftertaste, a sense of the beauty of the world and humanity.
The good old fantasy classic – Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” saga literally consumed me in its time. I don’t know if I’ll reread it, but it left something grand, unusual, warm, and heroic in my memory.
Erich Maria Remarque also made an indelible impression on me in his time.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – definitely. But not so much “The Little Prince,” although that fairy tale is wonderful in itself. Rather, “Wind, Sand and Stars” and “Night Flight.” The author was a pilot himself, and he opens up a world from above for the reader, where there are no unnecessary details, and everything comes together in a fascinating picture.
And lastly, I’ll mention “Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality” by Eliezer S. Yudkowsky. At first glance, it’s just fanfiction. But since it was written not by a writer, but by a scientist who was at the forefront of AI, it turned out to be an absolutely amazing work. This book is not for children, unlike the original. You can reread it several times, and each time something new is revealed.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the second and third books in the “Primordial Flow” series. It seems there will be a fourth one as well, but I’m not sure what it will be about yet. I just feel it coming. This series seems to write itself, emerging from nowhere, and its plot twists sometimes surprise even me.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As a new author, I’m currently testing all methods of promoting my books. I don’t think there are ready-made solutions or links for this. A book needs to find its specific audience, and I don’t know where that will happen. Not yet, anyway. Maybe I’ll never know. But time will tell.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself… But I suppose I can share some advice. It’s not necessary to follow it, as with any advice.
Author, don’t stop. Don’t give up. Work on your book until you start to get engrossed in it yourself, until it becomes the book you would want to read. And remember, this is only the first part of the journey. The main obstacles await your book after publication… And this is where it’s especially important not to stop.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Oh, this was funny. It wasn’t even advice. It was more of a friendly conversation, and it happened in France, at the home of a good friend I met in Cambodia. He offered to let me paint a wall in his restaurant in France, and naturally, I agreed.
One evening, we were sitting in his house by the extinguished fireplace, and he said to me, “I’ll do it, even if it’s not normal. Because I want to do it.”
This thought is dangerous, like a sharp knife. But we use knives every day to make salads, for example… It all depends on whose hands the knife is in, doesn’t it?

What are you reading now?
I’m rereading Yudkowsky again. He has not only fanfiction but also several original works.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have some ideas about this, but first I need to finish my two book series. I think it will be some kind of mix of art and science fiction. Because this is close to me, as an artist, as a former scientist, as a person who never ceases to be amazed by this world.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take several books by Yudkowsky and Saint-Exupéry. To not forget how amazing the world is.

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Tammy Aiken

Interview With Author Tammy Aiken

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I did write articles for Wordsmith Magazine US. I received my diploma through Thomson Education Direct for Catering and Gourmet Cooking April 2002. Now I am a cookbook author who writes cookbooks for kids and adults who have celiac disease to help them have safe desserts. I have written 8 newer cookbooks and working on more cookbooks. How ever I do have a 2 cookbooks which are not gluten free. I am an author and baker who wants to create different desserts. I like to be different.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Kids Gluten free Christmas cookbook I was inspired by kids for this cookbook. I hear about kids who have a hard time just eating gluten I wanted to write a cookbook to make tasty and safe desserts for kids to enjoy the Holidays!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I would wake up get dressed get my breakfast sit and eat. I would start creating more recipes for my books. Once I get the recipe done and right then I sit and type the recipe.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Alex Guarnaschelli love her books. she is a great author and chef she really puts her self out there no matter what is going on. That makes me work harder as an author.

What are you working on now?
I am working on another gluten free cookbook.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Right now it is Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be careful not get overwhelmed that is very easy to do. And be careful with publishing companies check them out.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My mom told me to never give up on my cookbooks.

What are you reading now?
my old cookbooks that I collect.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To live my dream to be featured on Food Network one day.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My bible, and cookbooks.

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Rochelle Brandon

Interview With Author Rochelle Brandon

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Living my next 50 years by letting go of anything that does not support my goals of a deeper spiritual life and extracting all the joy out of each and every day. Starting new endeavors: writing, publishing, creating art, and consulting. I have published four books and have3 more to publish by the end of the year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pecked to Death by Ducks: How Minutiae Can Distract
You from Living Your Best Life is more than just a
clever title—it encapsulates a profound truth about the
human experience. The phrase “pecked to death by
ducks” may evoke a smile, but its implications are far
from humorous. The phenomenon of being overwhelmed
by life’s trivialities can have serious, sometimes
devastating, impacts on our lives.
Reflecting on the most challenging periods of my life, I
realize it wasn’t the monumental crises that truly wore
me down; it was the relentless, soul-crushing minutiae
of everyday responsibilities. I remember meltdowns
after long workdays when I felt too exhausted to
cook, wash another dish, take out the trash, or even
complete a load of laundry. Any moment of downtime
was quickly consumed by the demands of phone
calls, text messages, and the high expectations I had
set for myself—to be “there” for my patients, family,
and friends, day or night. This unsustainable approach
to life led to a deep burnout, affecting my physical,
psychological, and spiritual well-being.
This book emerged from that place of hard-won
realizations. The overcommitment, the multitasking, the
constant availability—it was a recipe for disaster. I was
forced to reevaluate my priorities and learn to protect my well being.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
LOL! I don’t know how other ‘normal’ writers write so I would not know if I have any unusual habits. I will say that my black cat Nahado, is jealous of my computer and likes to walk over the key board sometimes to put his touch on my books. My other cat, Aria, is a sweet girl and likes to sit on the back of the couch and proof read my writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a voracious reader and suffer from abibliophobia, the fear of having nothing to read. Recent books and author I love include:

Erasure: A Novel by Percival Everett-“An erudite homage to Ralph Elison’s Invisible Man. Felt the character/author’s pain. Illuminated my pain too.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires: A Novel by Grady Hendrix-“Could not put it down. Hint, it is about more than vampires. See my extended review as Carrie.”

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh-“Another book I could not put down. It was endlessly fascinating. Read my extended review on Amazon as Carrie”

The City We Became: A Novel (The Great Cities, 1) by N. K. Jemisin-“Fan of N.K. Jemisin. Love the duology. I love NYC!”

What are you working on now?
Warriors of the Word: Harnessing the Power of Intercessory Prayer

Unleash Your Spiritual Power. Become a Prayer Warrior!
Is your faith journey feeling stagnant? Has your passion for prayer faded, leaving you disconnected from God? Are your loved ones suffering while you feel powerless to help? Warriors of the Word: Harnessing the Power of Intercessory Prayer is your essential guide to reigniting your spiritual fire, deepening your connection with God, and breaking down the barriers that separate your loved ones from His divine purpose.
This powerful book is more than just a resource; it’s a call to action—an invitation to step boldly into your role as a prayer warrior. Through biblically-based strategies, inspiring teachings, and real-life examples, Warriors of the Word equips you to engage in effective spiritual warfare, interceding for others with confidence and spiritual authority. You’ll discover how to harness the full power of intercessory prayer, transforming it into a force that changes lives, heals relationships, and brings about divine intervention in every situation.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method for me is friends and family. The word gets out quick and people are interested in what I’m doing. Next would be Facebook. I have a decent following and they seem to read my post. I also have an author’s website that attacks people. I’m on Online Book Club and that is fun as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Lol! I am a new author. I would recommend staying organized early. It is a lot to keep up with when you have published several books.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Make sure your books communicate your care for the issue and how it impacts your reader.

What are you reading now?
Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be” Trying to learn successful business and personal strategies

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to complete a Christmas book companion to Pecked to Death by Ducks.
Playing with an idea for a science fiction short story. Finishing up my other books before the holidays. Then marketing, marketing, marketing!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would definitely take some type of book on surviving a desert island, “Fledgling” by Octavia Butler, “Xenogenesis” by Octavia Butler, Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling

Author Websites and Profiles

Rochelle Brandon Website

Rochelle Brandon Amazon Profile

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R.B.K. R.B.K.

Interview With Author R.B.K. R.B.K.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am just a humbled man. Who could be your neighbour or someone you just pass on the street. A tradesman and custom motorcycle builder from Canada. A father and grandfather. Who has an original story to share with the world.

AUDIO BOOK – AUDIO SAMPLES

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is part four of The Awakening Soul Series. Book title – (MY LIFE MY STORY MY JOURNEY & A TALL TALE.) Inspired by a gentle loving woman. Who has turned my world and life literally upside down. In a good way of course. And to add the series would never have been written without her inspiration.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well. I don’t know what would be classified as unusual. In no way am I a structured Author. I do not just sit down. And write from any kind of structure or generic story line what so ever. I write on the fly at any hour at any time. Writing when it is time for the story to move forward. Is my unusual writing practice.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I can honestly say that I have not been influenced. By any Author’s writing style but more of their subject material. Such as Ayn Rand and Friedrich Nietzsche. Both of whom have had an immeasurable impact on human society. To put it bluntly. I do not write fiction.

What are you working on now?
I am working on part five of The Awakening Soul Series. And editing part four soon to be released. The first in the series has been published as a 2nd edition. An audiobook will soon follow for part 4. Also do have plans for a pocket book as well.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do not have an answer to this question. What I do know is that most social media does not help sell books. Readers do not surf social media sites like twitter for books. Promoting books is very difficult for indie Authors. And the whole business of selling books is tailored to high end Authors. So at this time I have no idea what the best method or website is. As for nonfiction it is a very hard sell.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Advice to New Authors. Be diligent, relentless, and never give up. Because the literary world is a formidable opponent. And it will eat you up if you let it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write from your heart!

What are you reading now?
Linda Ronstadt’s biography.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write, edited, publish, promotion, promotion promotion.
My link tree- https://linktr.ee/rk.choppers

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Now if this was to ever be. I would only take one book. The Power of now by Eckhart Tolle. This book would be suffice to sustain.

Author Websites and Profiles

R.B.K. R.B.K. Website

R.B.K. R.B.K. Amazon Profile

R.B.K. R.B.K.’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Twitter Account

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Ed Sorensen

Interview With Author Ed Sorensen

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I wrote my first anything about 12 years ago. I have had three novels published and am working on another. What makes me rather unusual as a new writer is I only started writing when I was 73 years old. A curmudgeon come lately. I take my vitamins, eat, and exercise reasonably so there are many more stories for me to tell.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The First Child. Released March 30, 2024. I had been a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children that had been removed and in the care of Social Services. The main character in this story is a young 15-year-old foster child who had spent her life in foster care. She ran away(again) and ended up being attacked by a rogue vampire and became one herself

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Darn right, I have habits. Most are not mentionable. I do not have a set routine. I will be at one of my computers and just decide to take a break and will pull up a blank page and start writing whatever comes to mind. I do not set out a plot line. I don’t think of a novel title and try to wrap a story around it. I will have a character in mind and create a story around that person. Sometimes I think that the words just come dribbling off the ends of my fingers. Really. Many times I will finish a few pages and when I re-read it I think to myself, “Where did that come from, I like it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
The Barsoom (Mars) and Tarzan series by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Tolkien.
The many books by L.L. Baum – Oz.
Giles Goat Boy by John Barth (I went to Penn State).
Asimov, Heinlein, It’s a Long List.

What are you working on now?
The fourth book incorporates many of the characters of all the earlier novels. It isn’t really a series it is just that I will bring forward characters from previous stories because they are like my children.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just sit down and write. It doesn’t make any difference the characters or story at the time as you write your mind will start to go in a direction that uses some of the plot or characters you have created. The entire beginning 10 or 80 pages may eventually get scrapped but at one point you will have a core foundation of the story you eventually tell.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t quit your day job. It will take years before you finish your first novel. The first finished book will take more years to get published, marketed, and a following established. Income will be very dodgy in the beginning. That Porsche will not be an overnight dream come true.

What are you reading now?
A lot of authors are in my general genre, paranormal, and fantasy. New authors or ones that I haven’t already read. There are a lot more out there than I knew just a year ago

What’s next for you as a writer?
Not trying to change my style in any way. I have re-read every one of my books several times over. Even the first one which was by someone who had no education or experience in writing stories, ME. I get weepy at the tender parts, I get anxious at the tense situations. I have never lost my emotions in those sections even though I wrote them and have re-read them over and over.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Netters Atlas of Human AnatomyThe full series by Douglas AdamsThe complete CD set of Monty Python and John Cleese’s movies.

Author Websites and Profiles

Ed Sorensen Website

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Jeff Kerr

Interview With Author Jeff Kerr

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in St. Louis and still love that city’s gooey butter cake. Raised in Texas, I’ve lived in Austin for over 30 years. I spend as much time as I can on a slice of Texas Hill Country land in Blanco County. My wife of 45 years has stuck with me through thick and thin. We are the proud parents of two adult children. My dog Maggie is very cute, which is lucky for her given the pee stains I’ve had to scrub from the carpet. She lives for tummy rubs. I live to write.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I got the idea for Murder Creek while contemplating some people’s distrust of banks. What would happen, I wondered, if a wealthy person kept all their money stashed in a secret place? And what would happen if that secret got out?
The result is a tale of secrets, betrayal, misguided motives, and murder set in the fictional Texas Hill Country town of Pinyon. It is up to stalwart Deputy Adam Cash to untangle the lies, catch the killer, and bring justice where he can. All while avoiding becoming the killer’s next victim.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only that I treat it as a job. I write or work on book-related stuff every day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Over the years my reading interests have ranged quite a bit but lately I lean most toward mystery, thriller, and crime fiction. Favorite authors include Elmore Leonard, Michael Connelly, Craig Johnson, and Jeff Carson. In my writing, I strive to emulate Leonard’s lean prose, Connelly’s and Johnson’s character exploration, and Carson’s intricate plots.

What are you working on now?
My next book, Roadkill, will be book 4 in the Adam Cash series. In it, Deputy Cash will investigate a murder related to a cattle rustling ring. I’m currently in the research phase, as I have a lot to learn about cattle.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find most success with Facebook ads and my website www.jeffreykerrauthor.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Remember, you’re in it for the long haul.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There’s no such thing as a simple job.

What are you reading now?
Tony Hillerman’s Skinwalkers

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to keep adding to the Adam Cash series until I’ve written at least six books. My goal is to release two books a year.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I don’t know but they’d be long.

Author Websites and Profiles

Jeff Kerr Website

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Goodreads Profile

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Barchelle (Chelly) Bolger Wathen

Interview With Author Barchelle (Chelly) Bolger Wathen

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Barchelle “Chelly” Bolger Wathen, a native San Diegan, now resides in Prescott, Arizona. She loves spending time with her husband, George, and their “fur kid” Shayla. She is a college graduate with a Master of Public Administration degree, and worked almost thirty years as a paralegal/senior paralegal with the San Diego City Attorney’s Office. From legal documents and grant proposals to college papers and her thesis, Chelly always enjoyed writing. Now it’s time to tell Shayla’s story, God’s story.

“Shayla & Friends” initiated this book series, sharing the true story about her remarkable, adventurous dog Shayla who came to America from a Ukrainian orphanage, and the friends she made along the way. “Shayla& Friends: Into the Light” continues the story of Shayla’s journey from Ukraine to find her forever family. “Shayla’s Adventure” is a fictional children’s book series that inspires all with Shayla’s lessons of love and friendship. In addition to writing Shayla’s books, Chelly produces plays based on these stories.

Chelly works full-time as an Ombudsman Specialist for the State of Arizona/NACOG. Together with her craftsman husband George, they operate a small woodworking business, “Wathen Custom Woodcrafts.” She also enjoyed volunteering with local animal rescue groups, including DogTree Pines Senior Dog Sanctuary. But her favorite activity is enjoying God’s creation with family and friends: kayaking, ziplining, and hiking mountain trails, especially with Shayla.

Just a girl and her dog!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Just published “Shayla’s Adventure: Finding the Light in the Darkness” (& Activity Booklet) – kids story about Shayla & orphan boy Ashok pretending to be pirates at the ocean. In search of ice cream, they go to an old lighthouse and meet the angelic light keeper. Inspired by Shayla’s journey to America.
Latest book, just about to publish, is “Shayla & Friends: Into the Light”-inspired by teens and a local senior dog sanctuary.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Just having my dog nearby to inspire me in writing her story

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kate the Dog by Alyson Sheldrake

What are you working on now?
Latest book, just about to publish, is “Shayla & Friends: Into the Light”-inspired by teens and a local senior dog sanctuary. The story shares Shayla’s journey from Ukraine to America, finding her forever family and dog pack. They share adventures (like catching bank robbers in a cave, surviving a forest fire), overcome their troubled pasts, and learn important life lessons. But will Shayla stay with her new family or follow the wild wolves into the night?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My publicist Lamourie Media, my publisher BookBaby BookShop

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Protect those characters who live in your mind so they will see the light of day until they come to life in print – and beyond. Don’t give up hope.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what matters to your heart – do what you love

What are you reading now?
Not reading anything this week while finishing up my books and submitting to print company

What’s next for you as a writer?
A Christmas story involving Shayla for the younger audience; then a photo book with various dogs and fun captions

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
a survival manual; my newest Shayla book (would miss her so much if she wasn’t with me); “Marley & Me” for a good laugh

Author Websites and Profiles

Barchelle (Chelly) Bolger Wathen Website

Barchelle (Chelly) Bolger Wathen Amazon Profile

Barchelle (Chelly) Bolger Wathen’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Author Interview Series

If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Freya Pickard

Interview With Author Freya Pickard

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Freya Pickard, author of The Kaerling series which is currently 15 volumes long. I have, this year, started producing boxsets of The Kaerling, for readers who prefer longer books!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is Air Brother. It’s book 5 of the The Kaerling boxsets and contains volumes 13-15. I was inspired to write The Kaerling series when I discovered that many modern fantasy books were being written to a predictable formula. In The Kaerling I have tried something different. Air Brother takes the four companions into the dangerous and hostile land of Jargoiden.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write for 6 days and then take 4 days off writing in order to re-charge and do ordinary domestic things such as shopping, baking, gardening and cleaning. I find this increases my creativity.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JRR Tolkien opened my eyes to new worlds. Tad Williams showed me how to write a complex novel that actually tells the reader the truth, without them being aware of it. And Anne McCaffrey gave me insight into telepathy and how awesome dragons can be!

What are you working on now?
I am currently writing the first draft of volume 19 of The Kaerling series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My blog works really well as does Twitter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. Always believe in what you are writing. Always write what YOU want to write, not what people tell you to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’ll never make any money out of writing fantasy novels, but you will enjoy the process.

What are you reading now?
I’m not reading anything at the moment as I never read whilst producing a first draft. The next book lined up on my Kindle, however, is Bleeding Heart by Aspasia Bissas.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To reach the end of The Kaerling series and start publishing poetry again.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Lord of The Rings by JRR Tolkien
Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
Myths of the Mirror by D Wallace Peach
Haliden’s Fire by Chris Sendrowski

Author Websites and Profiles

Freya Pickard Website

Freya Pickard Amazon Profile

Freya Pickard’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

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If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.

Reece Caven

Interview With Author Reece Caven

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Creative Writing Major right now at the University of Iowa, with hopes to one day get into the graduate program at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. I have only written one book so far but already have plans for sequels and I’m simultaneously working on my passion project “The Knights of Horntree” which I plan to get traditionally published one day.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is called “The Liar & the Knight”. It was mostly inspired by my time away from home for basic training. In the book, Sir Willam Hornsby has to sail away from home, and he spends the whole book missing home while he is on his obligatory quest.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always imagine the last scene of any story first. I see my characters in some sort of scenario and I can’t help but writing everything up to that point to find out what got them there.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many. George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien, obviously, because I write medieval fantasy. Some unexpected ones though are Claire Keegan and Cormac McCarthy- my two absolute favorite authors of all time.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the first book of my fantasy series “The Knights of Horntree” which is the ultimate goal and takes place hundred of years after “The Liar & the Knight”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I think Facebook advertising has been my most successful method of promoting my book, but my TikTok videos have also had a large reach and I can’t yet see how many pre-orders came from my TikTok videos.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Dear other authors,
The only advice I believe I’m qualified to give to you is to enjoy what you are doing. You will get caught up in the business of it if you are self publishing. I know I have. All the numbers, views, clicks, and sales. We all want and need money. I’m not going to say it doesn’t matter. But hey, we are chasing our dreams and writing about our lives, experiences, and the ways we see the world. Most people aren’t brave enough to commit to that. Even if my book sucked I would be so proud of myself for believing in it enough to put it out in the world. Luckily it’s fantastic and I can be proud of more than just my bravery. Haha. Good luck to you.
-Reece

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish your book. (The actual words were “find the ending”)

What are you reading now?
I am rereading the Two Towers and a Penguin Classics book called Early Irish Myths and Sagas

What’s next for you as a writer?
Probably a sequel to “The Liar & the Knight” and then hopefully the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and many traditionally published books after that.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Easy. I’d bring Surviving on a Desert Island For Dummies, and Lord of the Rings 1-3.

Author Websites and Profiles

Reece Caven Website

Reece Caven Amazon Profile

Author Interview Series

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