Awesome Author Interviews

Interview With Author Neal Schaffer

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a digital marketing consultant, speaker, author, and university educator who is publishing my 5th book this month and 6th book next month! I focus on helping professionals and businesses with their social media / content / influencer / digital marketing.

I grew up in Southern California but began my career by living in Japan for 15 years. I was an Asian Studies major and originally studied Mandarin Chinese and then Japanese became my 3rd language. Having lived in Asia for so long and being able to speak those languages gave me a different perspective on life and a holistic perspective on business that has become part of my DNA as an author and person.

If you were curious about me, check out my website at https://nealschaffer.com/

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth. The first two books I wrote were about LinkedIn, but they were published back in 2009 and 2011. So this new book commemorates my 15th anniversary of being an author! I also believe that the topic is evergreen and still popular, and with a decade of perspective I could add a fresh new voice and offer value to those seeking advice on LinkedIn.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Because I write nonfiction, I have the luxury of culling content from all of my blogs, podcasts, and presentations that I deliver. The ability to repurpose this content from other sources of my own definitely helps accelerate my writing. Don’t know if this is unusual, but it is very much a content marketing approach to writing a book!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Some books that have influenced me include the book which defined the term Inbound Marketing, Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, and Seth Godin’s Tribes.

What are you working on now?
Now that I am publishing Maximizing LinkedIn, I am preparing to launch my 6th book, Digital Threads: The Small Business and Entrepreneur Digital First Marketing Playbook. I actually have two more books that I would like to publish before the summer of 2025 – wish me luck!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Investing in building an email list over time, keeping in touch with members frequently, and developing as many and as deep of relationships as possible is by far the best way to promote your books. This will help you convert some of your newsletter subscribers into becoming advocates for you, further helping your promotion efforts!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is that writing the book and marketing the book require two different mindsets. Both are important, but it is critical to switch gears after writing your book so that you can promote your book the best possible. Market your book as earnestly as you write it with the same energy!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In creating a strategy, deciding what you don’t do is equally important to deciding what you do do.

What are you reading now?
Just bought “Hungry Authors” by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry and can’t wait to start digging into it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
As mentioned earlier, I am working on two more books, so as a writer, I need to get back into my groove and begin my research on the topic(s) I plan to write about. This also means beginning the process of reaching out to others that I can interview as part of the book writing process.

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 choose classic epic fantasy books which I can dig into and find new meaning and discover new connections and intricacies from with each reading: The Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, and The Wheel of Time.

Author Websites and Profiles

Neal Schaffer Website

Neal Schaffer Amazon Profile

Neal Schaffer’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

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Author Interview Series

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Interview With Author James J Phelps

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m James. I am an ordained priest with the American Marriage Ministries and a member of the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union and I speak to civic and religious groups about safeguarding our freedoms and how to recognize the signs of subversion and sedition. I am in my seventies and I live in South Alabama. I write in my spare time and I have twenty-one published works to my credit so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Saving a Democracy: Final Chapter” and the political events, especially the January sixth confrontation at the capital and the events in Charlottesville were my inspiration.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I prefer to write late, late at night in a silent room.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I cannot even begin to answer that; I am into everything, but if you pinned me down, I would go with Margaret Mitchel and “Gone with the Wind”.

What are you working on now?
I am still trying to master the art of formatting and I don’t really have anything on-going right now.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll go with KDP Select; I’m new to promotions as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take your time and follow the advice of your peers with more experience. Join lots of groups and do the same.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t do Mass on an empty stomach; your parishioners will think it’s the end of time that they hear rumbling!

What are you reading now?
Several text books about the political and socio-economic climate in Europe before, during, and after World War Two.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep on keeping on till I get it right.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible, the Koran, a survival manual and a long, long drama novel of some kind.

Author Websites and Profiles

James J Phelps Website

James J Phelps Amazon Profile

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Author Interview Series

To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!

If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.

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

Interview With Author Paul Garland

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
While I have been a storyteller all my life, this is the first collection of my poems I have published. I moved around a lot as a young person, and everywhere I went, there was the comfort of books and libraries and stories. The same book I loved in one state was still the same book in another state, and that just stuck with me, how well stories travel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called “Love, Loss and the Hope In Between”, and came about sort of by accident. I entered a contest to have a poem written in a chapbook, and while the idea of being in a book with other poets was intimidating, I thought it was time I took a risk. One thing lead to another, and suddenly, here I am, a published author!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write free-form, just sitting at a keyboard and letting my fingers do the thinking for me, then going back and revising with a pencil after I print it out. I find that if I take the time to worry about if the absolute best word is the first one chosen, I never get anything written.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a voracious reader, so that is rather like asking someone what is their favorite dish at a buffet. If I had to chose, I always return to Robert Frost, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and old favorites like that.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on a book for young adults, loosely inspired by my moving so much as a pre-teen, but with a mystery thrown in to make it interesting. I also am part of a writer’s group that has me working on one-act plays and ten minute scenes, which are great ways to work on your dialogue, and clarity.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Tell everyone- facebook is your friend, coworkers are your best marketing street team.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t have to be print ready- it just has to get out of your heart and head. Imagine how many wonderful books would never have been written if the author hadn’t picked up a pen or pencil and started to write. And find your people- ones you can trust to give honest feedback, give direct criticisms. And then, take the feedback, the criticism and act on it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There was a remarkable woman named Annie Wilkins, who rode her horse from Maine to California because she wanted to see the Pacific. This was in 1954, and Elizabeth Letts wrote a very enjoyable book about Annie’s trip, called Ride of Her life- I can’t recommend it enough- go read it! In the book, Annie is quoted multiple times as having a motivational poem, and I took it to heart:
“If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you won’t
If you’d like to win but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you will lose, you’ve lost
For out in the world you will find
Success begins with a person’s will
And it’s all in the state of the mind.”

What are you reading now?
Working my way through a to be read pile that grows almost daily. I think it has to do with being married to a librarian. Currently , on my kindle I’m reading Frankenstein (which I am ashamed to say I don’t remember ever reading before) and in print I’m reading “The Crossroads of Should and Must” By Elle Luna. Rather different ends of the literature spectrum, those two.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the young adult book I mentioned, and have several short plays in the works. Mostly, I plan to keep writing, even if it isn’t as good as I’d like it right away- it’s a process. Trust the process, you know?

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh, brother- there are so many choices. A lot would depend on what other resources I had. For survival, I’d take The Knowledge: How to rebuild civilization in the aftermath of a cataclysm. For fun, pretty much anything by PG Woodhouse. And for personal growth, North of Boston by Robert Frost. I always find such refreshment in his writings.

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Author Interview Series

To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!

If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.

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

Interview With Author Ido Graf

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
If you enjoy Ken Follett, John Grisham, Dan Brown or Nelson DeMille then you will love Ido Graf!

Ido Graf grew up in the Mediterranean and in the United Kingdom, predominantly in London.

Ido and his family were acquainted with the famous author, Graham Greene who is widely acknowledged to be one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century.

After studying for a Bachelor’s degree, Ido went on to study for a Masters, before taking other specialist qualifications.

He spent considerable time in military bases in Europe and the Middle East and comes from a police & military background.

Ido has travelled extensively in North & South America and in particular in Columbia (at the invitation of the Columbian government) and Venezuela, Cuba, Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Far East, Russia, and the former Eastern bloc countries.

He was questioned at length in Guinea by the Presidential Guard on spying allegations relating to the Presidential Palace and in Sierra Leone by agents of the state concerning alleged diamond smuggling.

Ido and a friend of his once engaged in a shooting competition in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City, with John F. Kennedy Jr. while the actress Daryl Hannah watched the three of them as they fired AK-47s. It was an extraordinary, chance encounter when they were travelling in Vietnam in the 1990s.

Ido is a fully qualified scuba diver and skydiver. He is a proficient snowboarder, skier (both downhill and cross-country) and a highly experienced alpinist.

He has worked in various sectors for both government departments and private concerns in a variety of sensitive fields in the UK and North America. He worked for short time at Interpol headquarters.

Ido Graf is a writer of mystery and suspense thrillers. His works, which he is now publishing, are derived from his own experiences and from meticulous research. He visits all of the locations that he writes about to maintain the highest standards of realism within his novels.

Though much of his output is contemporary in nature, it frequently has a historical basis at its core.

The main focus of his books is in the political, terrorism, military intelligence, corporate espionage, thriller. spies and adventure categories.

I have written four books and am now completing my 5th, Indian Blue, which is part of the Adam Wolf series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Indian Blue. I was inspired by my love of the Indian sub-continent and its people and the ongoing ‘Great Game’. The desolate Himalayas and the ongoing disputes between China and its neighbours may well be the flashpoint for WW3.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write during the hours of darkness as I only sleep two to three hours a night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ken Follett, Duncan Kyle, Desmond Bagley, Frederick Forsyth, Nelson DeMille.

What are you working on now?
My Mercedes.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going. Set out your plot and write even a page a day. You will soon be finished. But then go over your work and add in more twists and turns and… polish, polish, polish until your work sparkles.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up!

What are you reading now?
Guess How Much I love you – my young son loves it… so do I!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Netflix or HBO… I’m waiting for the call! It’s just a matter of time!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible, Treasure Island, Wind in the Willows, Plum Island.

Author Websites and Profiles

Ido Graf Website

Ido Graf Amazon Profile

Ido Graf’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

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Author Interview Series

To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!

If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.

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

Interview With Author Steve Dunn

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I spent four decades in the newspaper business before I retired and moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in 2014. I worked as a reporter, sportswriter and managing editor for daily and weekly newspapers in three states, including the last fifteen and a half years as managing editor of the Daily Gate City in Keokuk, Iowa.
I have written four books: What a Ride, a collection of columns I wrote for the Daily Gate City and Hancock County Journal-Pilot in Carthage, Illinois; Engaged: Pat Deluhery and the Golden Age of Democratic Party Activism, a political memoir of former Iowa state Sen. Pat Deluhery ; “Principal Park: A Diamond in the Rough,” a history of professional baseball at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers in Des Moines; and Pug, Fireball and Company: 116 Years of Professional Baseball in Des Moines, Iowa, which traces the history of professional baseball in Iowa’s capital dating back to 1887.
I have also written 12 bios and 13 game stories for the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).
My wife Cindy and I have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren. In my spare time, I like to ride my bike over central Iowa’s vast trail system, play pickleball, fish, research baseball, go to Iowa Cub games and pops concerts by the Des Moines Symphony, and work with students at a Des Moines elementary school.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pug, Fireball and Company: 116 Years of Professional Baseball in Des Moines, Iowa. I am a baseball historian and lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. The Iowa Cubs based in Des Moines have been the triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs since 1981. After moving to Des Moines, I ushered for the Iowa Cubs for six seasons. My book about the history of professional baseball at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers dates back to 1947 when professional baseball was brought back to Des Moines. My latest book is a follow up to that book and is meant to be the definitive account of Des Moines’ professional baseball history, which includes the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Feller and Satchel Paige.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of. I try to do a lot of research before writing a book or an article for SABR. The website newspapers.com is an invaluable resource.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Any books about the Chicago Cubs. Author Doris Kearns Goodwin.

What are you working on now?
Promoting my latest book through book fairs, book signings, podcasts, magazine reviews, radio interviews and word of mouth.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Go to pugfireballandcompany.com to find out more about the book and myself. There are lots of other features about professional baseball in general on the website. I also have an author’s website at stevedunnauthor.com and a blog at dunnsteve.wordpress.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hang in there!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Most authors don’t get rich!

What are you reading now?
An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish a biography of the late Elvin Tappe, a catcher and coach for the Chicago Cubs during the 1950s and 1960s for SABR. Continue to invite guests to my new podcast called Pug, Fireball and Company at https://www.youtube.com/@SteveDunn-o9i.

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 book by Doris Kearns Goodwin, any book about the Chicago Cubs that I don’t already have and the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles

Steve Dunn Website

Steve Dunn Amazon Profile

Steve Dunn’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

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Author Interview Series

To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!

If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.

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

Interview With Author Anastasia Anait

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Anastasia, and I call myself Anait. All Milky Mousey stories’re written by me for my little son, when he was around 2.5. It all started from a quitting breastfeeding, cause we sadly had to (I wanted to make it as smooth as posible, so I’ve thought that making a baby book -is the best way) I’ve made a few books to help to teach kiddo basoc daily things, like collecting toys after playing, sharing things with friends etc.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The very first book of mine for now (and last,lol) – regarding breastfeeding.
There are more kids books, but they are not published yet.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am not a writer at all. I am the Mama! And proud of it, managing all the things without papa, trying to give my kid as much attention as I can, the best nutritious food, teaching him healthy habits, karma laws, respect and love to everyone.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nobody. The only influencer of mine – is my kid and the biggest wish to raise him in the best possible way as a kind and mindful human being.

What are you working on now?
I am working on book for parents, Cause I strongly believe that only calm parents with peace and love in their heart can raise healthy and loved kids, which our society needs so much nowadays!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
didn’t figure out yet

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Not yet)

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never care to what they do,
Never care to what they they,
Never care to games they play,
Cause Nothing Else Matters!

What are you reading now?
Dafna Dumorie

What’s next for you as a writer?
All books, what I read have nothing to do with what I write)

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. Strugatsky Brothers “Inhabited Island”
2. Victor Pelevin “Caravan PQ-17”
3. Jack London “Martin Iden”
4. Vladimir Vysotsky – poetry

Author Websites and Profiles

Anastasia Anait Website

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Author Interview Series

To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!

If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.

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

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

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

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Author Interview Series

To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!

If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.

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

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

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Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

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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

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Bradley VanDeventer’s Social Media Links

Twitter Account

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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

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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

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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

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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

Author Websites and Profiles

Lancelot Schaubert Website

Lancelot Schaubert Amazon Profile

Lancelot Schaubert’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile

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Author Interview Series

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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.

Author Websites and Profiles

Chris Armstrong Website

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Chris Armstrong’s Social Media Links

Twitter Account

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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.

Author Websites and Profiles

Alexander M Amazon Profile

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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.

Author Websites and Profiles

John Monyjok Maluth Website

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Facebook Profile

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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?

Author Websites and Profiles

Blessing Chivende Website

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Goodreads Profile

Facebook Profile

Twitter Account

Pinterest Account

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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.

Author Websites and Profiles

Vera Persiyanova Amazon Profile

Vera Persiyanova’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile

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