Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book ever written and published. My Lifelong dream was to become an author in hopes of inspiring and helping others through my work and through whatever financial gains I will be lucky enough to receive. I am a born-again Christian, was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. I went to school in Southern California to study Theology and Communications. I came home one year ago after a severe heart issue and a severe battle with anxiety and depression, which I still battle and suffer with greatly today. I made weekly video’s on my Facebook page regarding my greatest battle with Depression in order to inspire some people. I’m hoping it did.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Story of 1000 Testimonies by Jason Ryan. My inspiration was the fact that I may die without a written legacy or without a lasting impression on this world. I want to write to inspire people, to teach people, to touch people’s hearts, and hopefully to change the world forever for the better. I can’t think of a better way for people to be inspired spiritually and emotionally than to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior the way so many people have and the way I once did during my freshman year out in California. Learning to Live life by loving in action is the greatest thing any of us can learn in our lifetime.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to try something new during each of my books. I never want to live inside the box. For this book, I combined poetry and music with storybook telling tales. I also combined fiction with nonfiction stories. I wanted to try some things that I haven’t seen tried before in writing. I’m not sure if it will work or connect with the audience, but I decided to give it a shot and leave it on paper. I also changed narrative voices in some of the stories to keep the readers on their toes, or to at least give the story a second read and have an even better experience.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the New Testament because its the most influential book in the history of the world. People go out of their way to live and die by the word of God. I also love the readings of Edgar Allen Poe because of how beautifully he tells a dark grimly tale through the most eloquent of rhyme-schemes. Okay, I think I got all my grade school vocabulary out of the way. But seriously, I want to touch my readers in an everlasting way. Emotionally and spiritually.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a book of proving God’s existence and on my autobiography of how I went from being born a Roman Catholic, my journey into and through Atheism, and how I transformed into a born again Christian again. Some revelations are soon to be made.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Its tough to say so far since this is my first book, but the website Kindlepreneur has been extremely helpful in helping me find sources. I have found this website along with affiliated websites through this link. I would also strongly suggest the cocktail method: keep meeting people, building connections, and getting people’s email whom who know and whom know and trust you. The best way to build your brand is through those who love you most.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Pour you heart and soul into your work. Another thing I would strongly suggest is living life out on the edge, meaning take a chance. If you’re unsure about trying something new for the first time, give it a first time try. At the very least, you’ll learn a lesson to teach others when they ask for your advice down the road. At the most, you’ll have done something new and innovative for the first time and be able to set the precedent for how marketing or writing is done down the road. Anything else between the two is a blessing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“what you can control in life you must control”. The more of our life we can control, the better a life we can choose for ourselves. For those things in life we can’t control, there’s little use getting upset about it anyways. And God is always a prayer away. Another piece of advice: Love is the greatest cure to all emotional and spiritual concerns. I made that one up, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense through my spiritual and emotional trials.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading as much theology as I possibly can because I’m working on finding the proof to God’s existence. As tough as the challenge will be, I have a lifetime in front of me so I’m ready and up for the challenge.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More inspirational books, some fictional stories, and a whole lot between the two. My next two stories are in the works, but I don’t want to give everything away. But I do want to let you know that I will not be boxed into one main genre or category in my life. I want all my ideas to pour out of my head and onto paper before I die.
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, Old Testament and the New Testament. That’s the cure to my emotional and Spiritual concerns right there; yes I pulled an Angela form the office answer, no I’m not ashamed of it. I would choose the book “The Yankees: Through the Centuries” So I can relive my glory days as a Yankee fan before I was melting alive. I would read a how to Manuel consisting of every way possible to survive in the wilderness for as long as humanly possible. And I would choose Story of 1000 Testimonies by Jason Ryan. I don’t know why, but I like the author for some reason. And I know he put his everything into his first disasterpiece. Or masaster. Can’t be anywhere between the two. Pick your word. Read it for yourself and let me know. I’m always a message away.
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