Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born in 1932, I grew up in LA and its environs and was dumped into America’s concentration camps during WWII and repatriated to wartorn Japan in 1946 where I grew up in lonely exile until 1959 when I was able to return to the United States to get married and finish my college education. I have written ten books, six of which have been published by me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled Westward Lies the Sun. I’ve written a Christian-themed novel about a Japanese American attorney’s search for God.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I used to spend four to six hours writing years ago but now I limit myself to about three hours at a time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I used to spend four to six hours writing years ago but now I limit myself to about three hours at a time.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is rhkohno.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick to your guns, keep the faith and fight the good fight, come hell or high water…and be bold.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what is right for yourself and for those that love you.

What are you reading now?
Dark Night of the Soul

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m at work on yet another novel under my pen name. R. H. Kohno. I’ve set aside the third book of a trilogy I’ve been working on under my regular name to let it gestate.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Brothers Karamazov.

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert H. Kono Website
Robert H. Kono Amazon Profile
Robert H. Kono Author Profile Other Bookseller

Robert H. Kono’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I had previously published a few books and dozens of articles on legal issues (I´m a lawyer) , but I had never before undertaken the task of writing fiction, despite the fact that numerous readers of my legal production praised my prose, in some cases over the technical content of the material (I never knew if I should feel happy or sorry about that, but it’s always comforting to know that readers enjoy what you write, whatever it is).
It was about fifteen years ago when I started drafting various fiction manuscripts, but they never got beyond a few chapters (due to my job requirements, time was always scarce). In 2017 I devoted myself to this matter with more determination, and then I realized that the novel I had in mind had to be transformed entirely. I started a completely new one, but once again my job and some health problems put a halt to my work. Finally, it was only at the beginning of 2019 that I was able to resume working with some continuity, which, fortunately, I haven’t abandoned since. “Crimson Winter” is my debut fiction novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Crimson Winter” was inspired by an interesting story.
A few years ago, I read an article about the proliferation in China of agencies that provide what they call a “mistress-dispelling service,” that is, ending affairs between married men and their extramarital lovers. Hired by scorned, typically rich wives, these agencies turn to the most varied methods (some claim to have up to “33 different procedures”) to induce the mistress to disappear. Immediately, I thought that would be a good starting point for developing an interesting story. And I guess it is indeed, to the point that many of the readers of “Crimson Winter” believe I made up these agencies for the novel!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any writing habits that are noteworthy for their uniqueness. But when I’m committed to a project, I’m determined to write every day (for intellectual activities, I am more productive in the second half of the day and at night). I also endeavor to strictly follow Stephen King’s advice: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Some of my favorite books are The Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird—not surprisingly, given my profession—The Catcher in the Rye (it doesn’t amaze me that an average of 700 copies of this book are still sold every day around the world, more than 70 years after its first publication), Patricia Highsmith’s novels, and Ambrose Bierce’s short stories, among others.

What are you working on now?
I have several writing projects in mind. After finishing reading “Crimson Winter,” you’ve surely realized that the main one is a continuation of this story, for “Crimson Winter” is intended to be the first installment of a series (ideally, three books). Many readers have told me that they’re already looking forward to the next book, which of course flatters me and places a great responsibility upon my shoulders at the same time.
I would also like to write a story in which the protagonist is a woman who must face challenges that push her to the limits and, at first, appear to overwhelm her completely, albeit with an entirely different theme and setting than “Crimson Winter.” The only thing they will have in common is the underlying theme of female empowerment.
Finally, I’m about halfway through a collection of stories that could be labeled as “grim.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon author page, AllAuthor, Goodreads and social media are classic channels for an effective promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Here are a few of the best advices to new authors that I´ve ever heard:

“The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.” — Mary Heaton Vorse.

“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” — Octavia Butler.

“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” — Margaret Atwood.

“Persistence or talent, which would you rather? After a long time in this game, I can tell you that persistence wins every single time.” —
Harry Bingham.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any one thing.” – Abraham Lincoln, letter to Isham Reavis (1855).

What are you reading now?
I have a list of classic books I still have to tackle (or reread), such as: Airframe (M. Crichton), Notes from Underground (F. Dostoevsky), Of Mice and Men (J. Steinbeck), and Slaughterhouse-Five (K. Vonnegut), among others.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I´m eager to start or continue the projects I mentioned above.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The titles I mentioned above still battle for the first prize, but I still can´t declare a winner…

Author Websites and Profiles
Ken Adams Website
Ken Adams Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book, and I am halfway through the second book in the series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Lawyer’s Angel. Many of the characters share personality traits of people I know or knew. The Lawyer’s Angel took me over 10 years to write because of my law practice. I tried to write a book that would resonate with readers and give them a reason not to give up if they were facing their own trial of some sort.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I read my book aloud to one critique partner reader. One local book club read it and provided feedback. Award-winning Crime writer Charles Salzberg(Canary in the Coal Mine) read and gave his feedback and positive recommendations. I think reading the book aloud to someone helps with edits. I also had my book professionally edited by Robbie Tucker, in NYC with experience in the movie industry.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Earnest Hemingway, J.R. Tolkein, William Faulkner, James Joyce.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a second book with the same protagonist attorney, James Crossen, and I am about one-third of the way through that book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My Author Website really is a great tool https://scottallenbenkiebooks.com/.
Social media is a great tool you can follow me on my different platforms
Social media
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/scottallenbenkie/
Twitter = https://twitter.com/ScottABenkie
Pinterest = https://www.pinterest.com/scottallenbenkie/
Linkedin = https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottallenbenkie/
Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/scottallenbenkie/

I do think getting out promoting your book and entering different contest and submitting interviews like this are also very powerful. It gets your book in front of new readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research and due diligence, use a professional editor and read your manuscript aloud. Write what you know and think about your writing like a movie, show the action don’t just tell it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Hemingway said what was necessary to be a good writer was to sit before a typewriter and bleed. I paraphrased this but I think it’s true. You have to put into words visceral emotion and action.

What are you reading now?
Michael Connelly, The Dark Hours.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have started a sequel with Crosson as the protagonist and with a continuation of some aspects of the first book.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Old Man and the Sea, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Author Websites and Profiles
Scott Allen Benkie Website
Scott Allen Benkie Amazon Profile
Scott Allen Benkie Author Profile Other Bookseller

Scott Allen Benkie’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Writer of the apocalypse, I’ve penned more than twenty books and anthologies. I have multiple series in the genre and work hard to help other authors as well. Owner of Angry Eagle Publishing, LLC, I publish new authors offering all services in publishing at no upfront cost. To me it is important to give back to the community.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fractured World is an anthology of more than 800 pages written by some of the best names in the genre. This book is meant to benefit veterans and first responders. 100% of the proceeds go to the Gary Sinise Foundation and the authors shouldered 100% of the advertising, editing, covers, and other expenses to make the greatest possibly contribution to these heroes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wake at 4am to write, it is my best time. Sometimes, however, I like to go to a coffee shop like Panera Bread and write while I people watch. Be careful you might end up in a book if someone is ticking away on the keyboard and looking around.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a fan of the post apocalyptic genre and loved the early works, like Alas Babylon by Pat Frank as well as Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven. many of these have such great story lines that stand the test of time. But an all time favorite is 1984 by George Orwell… Now who doesn’t love that one?!?!

What are you working on now?
Finishing up the Chaos series with the third and final book for these characters. Plotting another series that is based upon the short story [Altered Resonance] in the Fractured World Anthology, among other projects.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use varied forms of promotion from paid advertising to social media, each have their own positives and negatives.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There is this thing called “imposter syndrome,” do not fall for it! Even the bestsellers question themselves, so just keep going.
I also tell them it is about the 200 words! Many look at me like I’m crazy, surely there are more than 200 words. They are correct there are, however, when it comes time to grab a potential reader… they have 200 words. The first 200 words represents the first page of any story. Think about that …

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
OH Goodness there has been so much! Something a good friend and fellow writer David Simpson told me was to know what I want to do and do it.

What are you reading now?
I edit for other authors so right now I am reading a debut novel by Charlotte St. Pierre. It is a wonderful mix of romance with a bit of spice mixed with a zombie apocalypse and loving it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have two new separate series that will debut their first novels in October and December of this year and looking forward to writing more ways to end the world.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Animal Farm by George Orwell. While a short book, I loved the layered way he personified the animals in the story. I have many favorites but of all the books, this one shines like a beacon of both literary prowess, comedy, and social issues.

Author Websites and Profiles
DJ Cooper Website
DJ Cooper Amazon Profile

DJ Cooper’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written 4 books in The Viking’s Apprentice series for children aged 8 and over.
I’ve also written 2 short stories for older readers, She Died on a Monday and Silent Treatment.
I’m from Scotland, where I live with my two daughters. The Viking’s Apprentice series for written, originally, for them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Sword of Vercelli was my last full length book. It was the 4th in the Viking’s Apprentice series. However books 5 and 6 are due out this year so The Last Bear Hunter and Charlotte’s Song will be with us soon.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always write while listening to the tron legacy soundtrack. I love the music and I can picture the scenes in my books being played out to that musical score.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was influenced in my writing by Stephen King’s book The eyes of the Dragon which he wrote for his children and was a step away from his usual genre. I also loved the Hobbit growing up so writing a kids adventure story was always something I wanted to do.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on books 5 and 6 in The Viking’s Apprentice series. These two can be read in any order and it won’t effect the reader journey so when they arrive at book 7 both stories will come together.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is the best place to advertise your work. It just has an unparalleled reach.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. Most writers give up, either at query stage or if initial sales aren’t want the expected or hoped for. Keep writing and never be afraid to write from your heart.
My book sales were slow initially and then with hard work, and constant promotion they took off. The work doesn’t stop when the writing does. You need to be a writer and a salesperson.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up. Believe in yourself.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading through everything ever written by Mitch Albom. Stunning writer and I can’t recommend his books highly enough.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep working on the Viking’s Apprentice series. I have two books in the process and another one outlined for after that.

What is your favorite book of all time?
My friend Leonard by James Frey. Heart breaking and beautiful book. His writing style is stunning.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kevin McLeod Website
Kevin McLeod Amazon Profile

Kevin McLeod’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live on an idyllic island with my lovely wife and she’s also my best friend (that’s important isn’t it?). Over the years, we travelled internationally holding seminars and teaching the full range of real biblical living – knowing God, being guided and empowered, making a difference in the world around us. Now, we both write and sometimes write together as co-authoring books that teach a successful, spiritual life. I’ve been writing for over 35 years and counting. That’s a lot in courses and seminar materials – hundreds of articles, lectures, course material plus 6 books and many more to keep me happily writing for years to come.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s a real mouthful, ready? ‘You Are… Uplifting truths about YOU! Workbook: A Happy Walk Book’. In short, ‘You Are…’. The inspiration? We all need to have a good self-image and we need someone to tell us good things about ourselves. Who better to tell us than God? I set out to write who you are from God’s perspective, from the bible. There are over 31 “You are…” declarations in this book, so, reading it is an amazing and uplifting experience. It’s a genuinely feel-good read that you can return to over and over and one you’ll want to share.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I never get writer’s block. This is why… I have multiple writing, painting, creative projects and when I don’t know how I want to say something, I don’t force it. I go and cook, walk, chat, watch a show. I switch to something else. Then, bubble, bubble, I sense a theme or idea bubbling up and I don’t delay, I start to put it down. Sometimes, when I can feel there’s something there but it’s not ready to go down in writing, I leave it and allow my mind to work on it in the background.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Without reservation, the book that most influenced my writing is the bible – it’s any serious biblical writer’s primary source with an extraordinary range of information. Being a prolific reader and researcher I also have a library containing a wealth of bible-based and other subjects – histories, cultures, science, the mind. We also have all our theology text books from our university days. To add to that, I have masses of writing my partner and I have done over the years and I get surprised by what’s been written before.

What are you working on now?
Lots of exciting works are in progression including books on success, how God communicates with you, dreams and sleep, and painting with a view to illustrating and making prints. Plus I’m writing for our monthly newsletters.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You can’t go wrong inviting readers to receive email newsletters. How? We offer a free book in our books and follow up with monthly emails with free articles and books and news of special book releases. Plus our books contain extracts from other books we’ve written with links. And this site was highly recommended to me by a top publishing expert.
They said, ‘A Top Book Promotion Site.’

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Give your best with a view to adding value to each reader’s life. Be positive and provide solutions. Ensure that it’s accurate and properly researched. Write, rewrite, condense, check for typos more than once. I always have an expert in my field read the draft and comment. People judge a book by its cover so make sure it’s done well and the content is well-formatted.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s something that comes through in all my writing – to gain true satisfaction in life, give your very best and make a positive difference in the world around you.

What are you reading now?
‘Happy Money’ by Ken Honda. Ken presents a unique perspective on money and our relationship with it and how that affects our ability to receive and give in the right way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m illustrating and writing a children’s bible story colouring book for our monthly newsletters. It’s one of our free offerings.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I’ve read the bible, cover to cover, over and over, through and through more than any other book.
As far as a favourite book of all time? Now that’s hard, I read very, very widely and in many genres for study, research, to be informed, for entertainment. There are so many excellent books.
Let me be cheeky and put down ‘Tales out of Africa: Ordinary People having Extraordinary Encounters with God’ – this is the book I would have dearly wanted as a new Christian – it’s full of miracles and amazing experiences that raise your expectations. And because there was no book like it, we wrote it. It’s semi-autobiographical so very special to us both.

Author Websites and Profiles
A Victor Amazon Profile

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

I’m a relatively friendly, relatively outgoing girl who has somehow made it forty years on this planet (so far; I’m hoping for even more in the future!). Although I’ve hated writing for most of my life, I’ve been actually enjoying it for the last few months. Here’s to hoping that will continue for years to come!

As a young person (in middle school and high school), I wrote a variety of poems and short stories, and I find that I have returned to that basic theme now, in my middle years. That being said, I’m currently loving the Kindle Vella medium, where I’ve been working on the novel I’ll talk about in answer to the next question. See below.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, Gedra Gets A Man, is a smutty fantasy novel (more on that in answer to a later question) inspired by looking around to see what my readers really wanted to read. When I identified that, I immediately began working toward giving it to them!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write without reserve. I write as the words come to me, and I let the story take me where it will. Sometimes, it goes in surprising directions I could never have predicted!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, man, that’s a long answer! There have been tons. Here are a few: Dr. Seuss, Nora Roberts, Michael Crichton, Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Robert Frost, Robert Browning, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m mostly working on writing the Kindle Vella novel that I mentioned earlier, Gedra Gets A Man.

It’s a fantasy story about a young woman who discovers that her child is destined to prevent a catastrophic war between the species (vampires, werewolves, demons, aliens, fairies, and humans) that would otherwise destroy the human race.

When she finds out, she realizes that any child she could possibly have would be insufficient to the task, so she determines to create one capable of doing what is needed to get the job done. Action, adventure, sex, love, humor . . . it’s all there!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I’ve primarily been engaging on Twitter. My following on there isn’t huge, but I enjoy the interactions, and I feel like I’ve built a pretty decent community.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have fun! You don’t have to be the next Nobel Prize winner, and it doesn’t really matter if your old English teacher from high school looks down her nose at you or not. As long as you’re having fun and your readers are having fun, you’ve accomplished something worthwhile.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Another hard one to answer! I’m going to go with, “Be careful what you wish for — you just might get it!” I think it’s a good rule to live by. And “the grass is always greener on the other side,” while not being advice necessarily, is something else to be cautious of, perhaps followed by, “Money isn’t everything.”

What are you reading now?
Well, let’s see. I’m reading The Fellowship of the Ring to my daughter and Cat Warriors, I believe it’s called, to my youngest son. Other than that, quite a decent amount of Twitter feeds, as well as random articles such as “Control Anger Before It Controls You” and the Wikipedia page for the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to enter more short story and poetry contests as they arise, as well as continuing to work on Gedra. I actually intend to make a sequel to Gedra Gets A Man, not to give away too many details, and I may end up making it into a trilogy when all’s said and done. I also have a sci-fi story that I’ve written the first page of (Running Out of Ronel on Vocal) that I might expand into a novel in the future. Time will tell on that one.

What is your favorite book of all time?
This one is impossible. I actually have no idea what the answer is. But here’s a list of some that everyone should read: Fahrenheit 451, David Copperfield, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Stand, Lord of the Flies, And Then There Were None, and Gone With the Wind (but only after you’ve seen the movie). Those are the ones that spring to mind.

Also, if you’re feeling . . . especially daring . . . give The Amber Chronicles and The Book of the New Sun a shot. Oh, and Terry Pratchett stuff. And Douglas Adams, of course, particularly his Dirk Gently books . . . the list really does go on.

Author Websites and Profiles
Laura Pruett Amazon Profile

Laura Pruett’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in the enchanting Silesian region of the Czech Republic. I’ve written some short stories in various genres. Metanoia: Improbable Heir is my first novel. It’s a thrilling historical fiction full of adventure and romance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book’s called Metanoia: Improbable Heir. Metanoia means a fundamental change of heart and mind. It’s rather fitting for the characters in the novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I come up with an outline while strolling outside. When writing, I usually type for a little while and then start walking and thinking about the story. Basically, the majority of my thinking happens while moving around. That’s why I only sit and write for about twenty minutes before walking again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
If I were to name one in particular, I suppose Dorothy Dunnett’s The Lymond Chronicles.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently beginning to work on Metanoia sequel as well as another historical fiction novel. This one is set in the 1800’s.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, considering this is my first book I’m exploring the plethora of options and cannot decidedly say which is the best at the moment.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself so ask me in a few years and I’ll attempt to give a helpful answer.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t let potential be written on your tombstone.

What are you reading now?
Donal Ryan’s The Spinning Heart. It’s a collection of short stories which shows how people deal with Ireland’s economic collapse.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The untitled historical fiction novel set in 1800’s and Metanoia sequel. We’ll see which comes first.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I’m particularly fond of the Father Brown series, The Screwtape Letters, Pride and Prejudice, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, and Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jiří Stacho Website
Jiří Stacho Amazon Profile
Jiří Stacho Author Profile Other Bookseller

Jiří Stacho’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an avid outdoorsman small business owner who turned his passion for fishing into a book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“A FLICKER IN THE WATER” (Inside the Tales) I wanted to tell a fun educational story inspired by my experiences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Write the inspiration down as soon as it comes. Other times let it simmer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea his granddaughter Mariel wrote the foreword for my book “A FLICKER IN THE WATER” (Inside the Tales)

What are you working on now?
Promoting “A FLICKER IN THE WATER” (Inside the Tales)

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Persist & be patient.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be a good listener.

What are you reading now?
Moby Dick

What’s next for you as a writer?
Making “A FLICKER IN THE WATER” (Inside the Tales) known.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Bible especially as it relates to fishing.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bob Gonzalez Website
Bob Gonzalez Amazon Profile

Bob Gonzalez’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is the first book I’ve ever written. I am a combat veteran who was just looking for a way to get my postwar emotions out of me and onto paper. I created characters to represent different emotions and then somehow this insane story just evolved.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled The Lady in The Red Shawl, it was inspired by a painting that hangs on my wall. I would sit with this paining for hours just thinking. She brought me such solace and comfort that I gave her to my main female character for the same purpose.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually write in the middle of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
If I could meet any author in the world who ever lived, it would be the beautiful Walt Whitman. The descriptions he makes paint a picture so clear to the reader and the emotions he traps in words transcibe across all generations.

What are you working on now?
I finished the sequel, The Lady Draped in White, and am now working on trying to self-market.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://books2read.com/u/bo21wV

Drafts2Digital has been wonderful. So far I haven’t had much success with getting readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Pay an editor. It is completely worth it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat people as good as you are, not as good as they deserve.

What are you reading now?
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next step is to see if anyone actually likes my books! They are pretty dark, and kinda psycho… so I’m worried no one will like them.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t think I could ever narrow it down to just one, but if I absolutely had to, I guess The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton…or maybe For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernst Hemingway…or maybe…I could go on and on.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A gratitude enthusiast, I have authored five books on Gratitude. This includes two beautiful Journals with art from Tara Thelen, and 3 inspirational gratitude books, two are Daily Guides for a year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Daily Gratitude Reflections, Vol. 2

I have a gratitude subscriber list and send out daily gratitude reflections (you can sign up at www.graceofgratitude.com home page) and i took the best of the last several years and included them each day of the year with color photographs on each page.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Rather than long essays or stories, I am best at short but sweet essays!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As far as non-fiction, there are many. To name just a few: Wayne Dyer, Brene Brown, Deepak Chopra, Michelle Obama, Ernest Holmes.

What are you working on now?
I plan to write on Radical Gratitude. How one can be grateful for even the challenges and hard times in our lives.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
www.graceofgratitude.com

Websites like this one!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. If you have a passion, keep writing and share it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That failures are natural when someone has imagination and passion. It is OK to fail, and the best inventors failed many times before their successes.

What are you reading now?
Just finished The Afterlife of Billy Fingers! phenomenal book

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep on keeping on with my gratitude calling!

What is your favorite book of all time?
365 Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes

Author Websites and Profiles
Deborah Perdue Website
Deborah Perdue Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m your average smut writer. I’ve been writing for years and I tried self-publishing a couple of years ago. Like everyone else, I kind of got sidetracked. Now I’m giving it another go.

So far I have written 5 short stories. I’m working on editing a novel that’s set in the same world as my Crimson series. Lots of horny magical creatures for the win!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m actually working on a couple at the same time because I’m completely insane. The main world I’m working on is based on the state I live in. Kind of. It is a magical version of it. No one seems to write about Southern Maryland, so I figured why not.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing particularly unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Definitely Anne Bishop and her Black Jewels series. I can’t get enough of those books.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m editing The Last Fae. The last Fae in the earthly plane gets roped into a plan to release an ancient evil. Meanwhile, he finds himself smitten with a human girl who is more than she appears. This is set in a fictional town called Crimson, thusly named for a red weed on the beach that stains the sand like blood.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still working on finding that out! I do enjoy using my blog for that reason, though.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
JUST. KEEP. WRITING! If you’re stuck at a part, just move on to the next part and come back to it. You’ll figure it out later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you’d want to read.

What are you reading now?
I’m re-reading The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss and I think after that I’ll read the Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Nothing in particular. Just editing and writing more stories in the world of Crimson.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Not so much a book as a series. The Black Jewels trilogy is my jam.

Author Websites and Profiles
Erica Beale Website
Erica Beale Amazon Profile
Erica Beale Author Profile Other Bookseller

Erica Beale’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I want to tell the world about the stories I know. Many of them are out of my own life experiences. I have written two books. One is on real ghost experiences of close persons. Name of the book is “Real Ghost Experiences: Chilling True Ghost Experiences from India”. Other book is “Fun Facts: Fun Facts about Science Mathematics Universe History and Many More Topics”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Name of the book is “Real Ghost Experiences: Chilling True Ghost Experiences from India”. I heard personal experiences from village elders, colleagues and friends about their run-in’s with paranormal activity. In this collection of stories, I have told my friends’ and families’ recounts of ghost appearances from all over India. They all are fun to read and inspire us to explore the paranormal.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I take the help of meditation in writing my books. I get up early in the morning. Spend some time in meditation. Once my mind is free from clutter, I start thinking about the book which I am currently writing. In that state of mind, the book starts incubating and I get several insights regarding the development of the plot.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The writings of Carl Sagan, Paulo Coelho, and Alistair McLean have inspired me. They have inspired me in different ways like writing on spiritual and supernatural, writing on science topics from a layman’s point of view, and the way of storytelling.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a book relating to the game of Golf. I love to play golf. However, the book is not about how to play golf or how to improve golf. It is about what we learn from Gold which can help us in our life. This book is going to be about lessons we learn from golf which will help us in steering our life.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Recently I have come to know about https://awesomegang.com/ and https://pretty-hot.com/. I am trying to find out more avenues.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. I do have. First of all, write from your heart. Do not think about whether people will like it or not. The first and foremost requirement is that you should like it yourself.
Secondly, do not start writing long books. Start with smaller books like 100 pagers or even less. Once you know the process and build confidence, then go for longer books. In fact, do not try to write longer books per se, write only as much content so that the book remains coherent.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen to your heart. Your heart knows the best.

What are you reading now?
I am reading “Chanakya in You” by Radhakrishan Pillai and “The Fifth Mountain” by Paulo Coelho.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, listening to my heart and creating more and more books. I will be writing about experiences on a spiritual journey.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I will like to list more than one.
I like Cosmos by Carl Sagan.
Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking.
Autobiography of A Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Author Websites and Profiles
Avadhesh Kumar Amazon Profile

Avadhesh Kumar’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an 18 year old author, half Zimbabwean and half South African. I’ve written books on wattpad before, but I really started to publish in 2022, with my debut being available worldwide on March 13, 2022. I’ve written 5 books that I plan to publish in the coming years.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut, The Secrets That She Kept, was inspired by a few events that had taken place around me in years prior to its release. What inspired me to write this was the ability to portray mental health accurately and to raise awareness, as well as reaching out to those that feel like they are alone, when in reality, they aren’t.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do! When I sit down to write, I usually have set character playlists or scenes and before I write, I listen to them, pretend I’m the character that I want to write(my book has multiple POVs, well, at least the sequel does) and then after I meditate, imagine a whole interview with set character in my mind for that specific chapter, and I write. It seems unusual and exhausting, but it’s actually really fun!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Chelsea Cameron influenced me the most. I remember the first boom I ever read by her was My Favourite Mistake, and I read this when I was only 13. It inspired the type of characters I write now; strong, flawed humans that need love and recognition. If there’s one character that really influenced me in her book, it has to be Hunter Zacadelli. He was flawed, but to me, he was the perfect love interest for Taylor.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on two projects; the sequel to The Secrets That She Kept and a stand-alone novel (a sapphic YA) that’s completely out of the universe I created for my debut. While my debut, and its 2 sequels to come after it, are dark, this sapphic YA is light-hearted and fun, and will be out in early 2023, so make sure to look out for it!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Best method? Has to be Instagram for me. I write YA, and my audience is mainly on Instagram, so it’s easier to promote there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is to not rush yourself, even if you’re writing your debut. There’s time, you’re not going to be late or early to the party, just take your time and go easy on yourself as well.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If there’s a book that you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. Tori Morrison said that, and I resonated with it so much.

What are you reading now?
At the moment I’m reading Kissed By Her written by Chelsea Cameron. Let’s just say I’m enjoying it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I think after I finish the Devington Series(the trilogy which includes The Secrets That She Kept) I’ll be focusing on more light-hearted YA, and maybe even dip my toe into fantasy again. I’m in no rush though, I’m young and I’ve only just begun!

What is your favorite book of all time?
My Favourite Mistake by Chelsea Cameron!

Author Websites and Profiles
Salem Miles Amazon Profile
Salem Miles Author Profile Other Bookseller

Salem Miles’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have so far written one book with a second nearing it’s completion as i write this answer. Though i honestly have a backlog of over eight other books i had written as a teenager which will never see the light of day because they are so horribly written, because of my age and lack of writing skill. I may revisit them one day to rewrite possibly but only after i have finished writing my current series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book i have nearly finished writing is name ‘Blood Brothers’, the second installment in my Werewolf book series i am currently working on. My Werewolf books have a large mix of different inspirations. I have been reading fantastical fiction book my entire life which probably inspires a lot of the creativity that goes into my book. That and along with the amount of animation i watch current as an adult also helps with my creative process. No existing Werewolf related franchise inspired my current series as i was intending to add my own original spin on the genre but my love for the supernatural is my largest form if inspiration.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a particular system of writing where if i have been writing for a while and i complete a chapter, i do not let myself stop there. I always make sure i write at least one page into the next chapter before i stop writing because as a writer, i find it much easier returning to a chapter that is already in progress than starting by staring at a blank page. As a result, i always make sure when i come away from my writing, it is at a moment where something substantial has either happened or it is in the middle of an interesting conversations between characters so i can immediately keep the scene going when i start writing again. Starting your writing when your not in the zone can be impossibly difficult for a writer so that’s my way around that problem.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Two Authors mainly come to the mind because they were the writers i followed he most through my life thus far. The first is probably in the top five of any modern writer, Stephen King. Though particularly the Dark Tower series has had the most influence on my as a writers. Mainly because of his larger than life characters in the story that work off each other well, encouraging me to develop and create characters with similar dynamics with each other.

The second is Darren Shan, i have nearly every one of the series of books he has written and i probably have re-read his book series ‘The Demonata’ the most in my entire life. The influence those books have had on my is the overall structure of the universe the series takes place within, an inspiring feat i aspire to create within my own work.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the second installment in my book series about a young boy who was thrown into a war between Vampires and Werewolves. It’s name is ‘Blood Brothers’, with the first book named ‘Beast Born’. This book focuses on the development of the main character, Arthur Thorn, as he meets the rest of his race at the kingdom of Werewolves who live in a secretly constructed base under the earth. It focuses on how Arthur learns and struggles with new challenges as the world he joined in the previous book is slowly revealed to him, leading up to him being forced to become stronger to meet the challenges met to him, or die as a failure.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The website i have personally had the most success with in terms of book promotion as a self-published author is Twitter. There is a community of writers of there who are largely very supportive, providing you aren’t harassing people or spamming your book. building a list of followers isn’t as important as interacting with other authors, writers and reviews who you can show your work too and even attain new, kind and devoted readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always remember why you wrote your first sentence. It can be easy to become caught up in the stress and anxiety of promoting your work and making sure as many people as possible are reading it all the time but being a writer is the slowest marathon you will ever run in your life. Just keep writing your work and people WILL come to check it out and if they enjoy it and you are consistent then they will stay to see what you write next.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best writing advice i have ever been given is the following phrase –

“Is this the most important moment in your characters life? And if not, why aren’t we reading about that?”

I implement this phrase in my writing pretty much constantly, doing my best to stay focused and keeping my work engaged and poignant.

What are you reading now?
I am currently re-reading the Dark Tower books, currently on number three in the series, The Wastelands, and as usual, i am enjoying every page of it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After i finished the Werewolf saga, i have two possible ideas for books i want to write. I either wish to write a solo book about a post apocalypse, about a man trying to re-start the concept of stand-up comedy in what is left of the violence loving archaic humanity. Or i will start an entirely new series about gods, the main focus being a smaller and lesser known god, trying to make his way into greater acknowledgement within his pantheon.

What is your favorite book of all time?
‘The Wastelands’ by Stephen King.

Author Websites and Profiles
Dylan Altoft Amazon Profile

Dylan Altoft’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a single mother of four girls, and together with my oldest I have written and published nine books in the same bookverse, all in the last few years.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Our latest book, Ace Out of Time (Ace’s Book to Get Out of Trouble), was inspired by one of the characters in the Lodestar Diaries. We were driving along discussing how much fun it would be for him to travel back in time and see some of the characters again, so we decided to make it happen.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My kids hate it when I’m typing while doing other things, especially when I’m not looking at the computer screen.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles inspired us to begin writing our series, especially after finding out she wrote Cinder in one month for NaNoWriMo. I thought, “If she can do that, so can I!” So I wrote the entire series in about a year.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am writing a book about a zombie who experiences an awakening when he eats the brain of a person who’s just been bitten by a vampire but hasn’t turned yet. He finds himself immersed in a fantasy world in which he must use his developing skills and conscience to decide if he will stand on the side of good or evil.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use social media as much as possible, but am also trying to focus on my website more by adding more content and blogging. It is new, but hopefully I will figure out how to start an email list and newsletter soon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love and try not to get discouraged. There are many paths to success, and you will find which one works best for you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Find joy in the journey.

What are you reading now?
The Priory of the Orange Tree, though I’ve had to put it on hold to finish my own projects.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will hopefully be publishing my WIP in the next few months, and am focusing heavily on promoting my other books.

What is your favorite book of all time?
I have several, but if we’re talking about stand-alone novels, I would have to say Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freeman.

Author Websites and Profiles
Viera Landis Website
Viera Landis Amazon Profile

Viera Landis’s Social Media Links
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