Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 69 year-old cancer survivor from Tottenham. A family man happily married for over 25 years to my wonderful wife, and am a former prison officer. After spending 25 years in the UK’s prison service, and having become increasingly disillusioned with stifling modern prison service politics and practices, in 2008 I took my pension pot and ran, moving to Spain to spend my early retirement in the sun. This autobiography A Turnkey or Not? is about my prison service life is my first book.

My wife and I, however, temporarily moved back to the UK due to the economic climate, at the time. And I returned to working life.

I have completed a second book all about working at a major UK airport as a security officer, based on true facts it is an observational look at how staff, passengers and management treat being subject to modern airport security.

It is about my last working career after having to go back to the UK during the recession I obtained work as a security officer at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5.

This book El Dorado? No! Heathrow Airport is a continuation where my first book finished and revels the truth about how we all behave when faced with airport security the rudeness and the language directed at security staff by passengers and celebrities will amaze you and bemuse you.

Read the book and recognise yourself in the book.

These two book have actually led to a third book making them into a trilogy of my quest to find my personal El Dorado.

The third book will be about real people too and my experience of living on an ex pat community in Spain. This too will be a great read but will mean I will have to move for my own safety after revealing the behaviour of my fellow Brits abroad.

But before this book can be completed I have written a prequel all about when I was a driving instructor in Central London back in the early 1980’s Which is now available too.

Pitched somewhere between the old English classic carry-on films and a series of sexy films called Confessions of… It is a humorous memoir of my time as a driving instructor; I reveal the stories of what can happen on a driving lesson, the offers of sexual favours and the actual driving routes I used all around the famous and historic landmarks of London. My books are all humorous memoirs hopefully in the style of Terry Pratchett They should appeal to anybody who likes anecdotal tales, I have tried to write in the style that would make you believe you are in a restaurant and I am with you just recounted episodes of my life or in a pub having a drink with friends, and I’m relating anecdotal stories about my life to you.
The Road to ‘L’ is an eye-opening poignant and often hilarious romp through my years as a professional driving instructor in Central London back in the early 1980s. I reveal people’s behaviour, conversations and downright dangerous things that happened to me during their lessons and their time learning to drive in my tuition car.

I reveal the amazing tales of some of the things that could have come straight out of a Bond movie, the inappropriate offers of sex, and you will meet the amazing sister Mary Clara and her meeting with one of the famous Beatles back in the day. Travel throughout London and all the amazing sites this city offers and all on a driving lesson, or be part of being bombed twice in one day on two separate lessons, by the IRA.

Learn about the Falkland Islands war, from the perspective of both sides.

My book is a journey through the eyes of a professional driving instructor that will amaze you and also amuse you. It gives you a chronological history of the world events that affected London during this period, and of course about learning to drive a car. But in reality, the book is about people and how they can reveal so much about themselves whilst in the company of their driving instructor. With some amazing stories, and some scary situations, but above all humour.

I am now also working on a children’s book all about four stray kittens that arrived on our doorstep after some tremendous storms. Homeless, hungry and in need of help these cats have changed our lives and I felt compelled to write their story

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Road to “L” Do you remember your driving instructor? They sure remember “YOU”
I wanted to leave something to my grandchildren and their following generations so they would know what their relative of all those years ago was like along with what the world was like in their past

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Because all my books are memoirs I write down my memories in whatever order I think of them and in fact often have several chapters going on at once, then I go back and complete each chapter which in reality is a short story and then put them in a chronological date order

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Winston Churchill – The History of the English speaking peoples is my main influence

What are you working on now?
Two new books one is a continuation of my first three and is the final part of my quest to find my own El Dorado
The other book is my first attempt at Fiction although its inspired by the true events of four kittens that turned up at our doorstep some years ago after a terrible Gota Frie It is going to be a children’s story about the kittens adventures before finding their permanent home with us here in Spain

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use social media Facebook, Instagram and Twitter but not really sure if any of them work so hope word of mouth from my loyal readers works to.
I have a website but am not really skilled enough to keep it updated as much as it needs

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do it!
If I can become a published author then anybody can but you have to sit down and start, its a bit like a fitness regime you get all the correct attire and footwear but still cannot get out of your front door but once you start you carry on, and that’s what I think writing is all about just starting to set it down on paper then you can develop whatever your story is be it fiction or non-fiction

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t listen to negativity, stay positive and just improve on what you are doing now
My dad once said to me you have to earn respect its not an automatic right

What are you reading now?
I am not actually reading at present as I am trying to complete my next projects

What’s next for you as a writer?
I take each day at a time, as a cancer survivor its important to live each day and my time with my family is just as important, but to receive some recognition for my writing would be the icing on the cake

What is your favorite book of all time?
Winston Churchill amazing inspirational book
The History of the English Speaking Peoples

Author Websites and Profiles
Tony Levy Amazon Profile

Tony Levy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Joe Goodglass
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Joseph grew up in a small town off the coast of southern Maine. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from Georgetown University. He currently resides in the Bay Area.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Barrens

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of.

What are you working on now?
The Reservation

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ignore the critics and write about what interests you most.

What are you reading now?
My WIPs

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish and publish my second novel before EoY

What is your favorite book of all time?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Author Websites and Profiles
Joseph Goodglass Website
Joseph Goodglass Amazon Profile

Joseph Goodglass’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m D. H. Torkavian. I’m a transgender women (She/Her). I have written one book. My debut novella Fairywing is a transgender focused modern fairytale. I have written several horror short stories as well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My Debut Novella, Fairywing was inspired by a nightmare I had when I was 23 about highschool. I had been having them a lot, but this one was too interesting to get out of my head. I woke up, and wrote everything I could remember down, and then I built upon that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes I do. When I’m working on a project I normally find a band, or a few bands in the same style of music, and listen to that almost exclusively while I write. When I am writing about vampires I only seem to want to write in the middle of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love old books. Well first of all the old brothers Grimm stories for sure. Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia, The wizard of Oz, Dracula, Frankenstein, Carmilla, and Lord of the rings among others I’d say have influenced me. Also anything from Gail Carriger, and Cynthia Diamond. they are top shelf for me.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a few projects. One is a children’s series. The other is an urban fantasy, and the last is horror. All of which are set in the same universe, though not necessarily connected.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still trying to figure that out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it. Don’t listen to the people who say you can’t, or you shouldn’t for whatever reason. Just do it. Write at least 3 times a week. even if it’s just a paragraph. Talk about it. let people know you are a writer. Grow a following on social media. YouTube is your friend for info on anything you might be asking for. And make friends in the writer community.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Jenna Moreci once said something like get the words on the page even if it’s garbage. you can do something with garbage. you can’t do anything with an empty page.

What are you reading now?
I am re-reading Partners in Crime book by Agatha Christie at the moment.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books. Hopefully longer books. I have so many ideas that my brain can’t pick one at the moment.

What is your favorite book of all time?
What is my favorite book of all time? It changes constantly, but I am ark reading An Impractical Guide to Satyr Charming by Cynthia Diamond, and I have to say I am really enjoying it so far.

Author Websites and Profiles
D. H. Torkavian Website
D. H. Torkavian Amazon Profile

D. H. Torkavian’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Creativity is one of my most engaging features, as the itch to continually create must be satisfied. I’m an author, one who weaves artistic lacing of silver thread throughout phrases and pages to inspire people. Yes, people. My love and passion to inspire others is a driving force that continually pushes me to write more. I have currently published four books (two novels, a self-help, and my memoir) and will release my 5th in the near future. Growing up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania blessed my artistic eye with always seeing the beauty around me. A traumatic brain injury in 2018 inspired me to live with purpose and passion despite setback, and have turned to writing. I use my story to inspire others that there is always hope, and there is always something good that can be found in a situation if one looks for it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Wonders In The Deep is a novel, printed as a labor of love and bound with a tremendous quantity of my soul and passion. I lost a spouse in 2008. Recovering from such a tragedy was a difficulty beyond imagination. So much of what I learned in my recovery, the things I’ve been taught, and how I was brought through it is weaved into a great piece of literature that speaks volumes to the hurting soul. Wonders In The Deep is like a soothing balm over deep wounds. It is incredibly inspiring, one that will bless anyone suffering from loss.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I write best out in the rolling hills of our farmland. I work a lot in the cab of my pickup truck with the windows down, getting the chance to view the scenery and enjoy the fresh air. I love being outdoors. It is inspiring to me to use what my eyes see, and translate that into words and pictures.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been influenced by other authors, for different reasons. My career as an author started after reading the book “Joni” by Joni Eareckson Tada. I soaked that book up like a sponge. At the time, I was recovering from a severe accident of which I had brain bleeding. Life was very hard and recovery was almost insurmountable. But when I saw that her life still had meaning, and that she could still influence people and speak a message, it inspired me to do the same. If it could happen in her life, it could happen in mine. Even though I was bound to a chair for 23 hours a day, I could still write. With that, I still had a voice and could get my message out to other hurting people.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on another fiction read, advocating that disabled people are valuable and play a huge role in inspiring others.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well this is a work in progress. Though I’m still new and learning the process of digitally connecting with my readers, I for sure enjoy face to face contact the most. I love the chance to make a difference with my readers, encourage feedback and connection, and value personal interaction.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you are passionate about.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That’s a great question! I feel the journey of my life has been set in layers and they build on one another. To isolate one specific piece of that bundle would be impossible. I try to focus on never giving up, being true to yourself and your roots, and looking for the good in life no matter what is going on around you.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading “Send Down the Rain” by Charles Martin. I’m only about a quarter of the way through it, but so far, it really is hitting home with some of the deep places inside me, making me aware that I’m not alone in the struggle of life that we all walk.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to complete my 5th book, a novel, by the end of year. It is an exciting process, and I don’t want to rush it. I enjoy savoring each step of the writing process, especially the research part, as I try to plan

What is your favorite book of all time?
Wow. Another impossible question lol. I have really been inspired by Joni’s story, but also novels that have built and shape my writing style. I really like the style Kristin Hannah writes with. It has been influential to the way my writing comes together. As my life changes the books that touch that special place inside of me do as well. That’s why we keep reading more and more of them.

Author Websites and Profiles
Chuck Carr Website
Chuck Carr Amazon Profile

Chuck Carr’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi my name is Ann Birdgenaw and I’m the librarian at an elementary school who always wanted to write a book of her own
Ann lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with her family and two morkies: Bilbo and Sheba.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s kind of a funny story. I was inspired to write my first book, Black Hole Radio by a strange beeping coming from a box in my garage. My kids great-uncle had died and I had a lot of his things in my garage for storage. The beeping started and we didn’t know what it was. But it was beeping the same time everyday. When we found the radio we couldn’t turn it off no matter what we did. I started to imagine eerie things were going on in my garage.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, except….when I sit down to write it just seems to flow. I don’t plan my plot or characters, I just write then edit. I guess you could say I’m a pantser as opposed to a plotter. lol

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was really influenced by Bruce Coville’s very funny scifi for children. titles like My teacher is an alien and My teacher flunked the planet! What a riot!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on book 5 in the Black Hole Radio series. I feel like the series is evolving and I’m enjoying the experience. I am also working on translating my books into French since I live in Quebec, Canada. It’s nice to think about my books going around the world to countries like France and Belgium.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Twitter. I am part of the #WritingCommunity on twitter and they are very supportive and helpful to new and indie authors.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write sooner than later and write often. The more you write the better you get at it. Don’t let anyone put you down or distract your focus. You can do it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If it sounds like writing, rewrite it!

What are you reading now?
I am reading books by Riley Sager. The Last time I lied and Lock every door. I like suspense.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to keep making my series of books for children better and more relevant to their lives. I’ve been trying to address issues that affect all children in today’s society.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Charlotte’s Web by E.B White and A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

Author Websites and Profiles
Ann Birdgenaw Website
Ann Birdgenaw Amazon Profile

Ann Birdgenaw’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi my name is Ann Birdgenaw and I’m the head librarian at an elementary school in Montreal who always wanted to write a book of my own.
I live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with my family and two morkies: Bilbo and Sheba.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s kind of a funny story. I was inspired to write my first book, Black Hole Radio by a strange beeping coming from a box in my garage. My kids great-uncle had died and I had a lot of his things in my garage for storage. The beeping started and we didn’t know what it was. But it was beeping the same time everyday. When we found the radio we couldn’t turn it off no matter what we did. I started to imagine eerie things were going on in my garage.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, except….when I sit down to write it just seems to flow. I don’t plan my plot or characters, I just write then edit. I guess you could say I’m a pantser as opposed to a plotter. lol

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was really influenced by Bruce Coville’s very funny sci fi for children, including titles like ‘My teacher is an Alien’ and ‘My teacher Flunked the Planet!’ What a riot!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on books 2-5 in the Black Hole Radio series. I feel like the series is evolving and I’m enjoying the experience. I am also working on translating my books into French since I live in Quebec, Canada. It’s nice to think about my books going around the world to countries like France and Belgium.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Twitter. I am part of the #WritingCommunity on Twitter and they are very supportive and helpful to new and Indie authors.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write sooner than later and write often. The more you write the better you get at it. Don’t let anyone put you down or distract your focus. You can do it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If it sounds like writing, rewrite it!”

What are you reading now?
I am reading books by Riley Sager. ‘The Last Time I Lied’ and ‘Lock Every Door’. I like suspense.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to keep making my series of books for children better and more relevant to their lives. I’ve been trying to address issues that affect all children in today’s society.

What is your favorite book of all time?
‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E.B White and ‘A Fine Balance’ by Rohinton Mistry

Author Websites and Profiles
Ann Birdgenaw Website
Ann Birdgenaw Amazon Profile

Ann Birdgenaw’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been a Police Officer in Queensland, Senior Fire Commander at a number of airport fire stations around Australia, a Customs Coastwatch surveillance mission coordinator, (which happily involved a couple of hours flying!), heavy machinery mechanic, emergency medical technician/ instructor, film extra, and General Manager of an event company, which is my current occupation. I’ve previously published separate peer reviewed academic papers on Liquid hydrogen fire fighting tactics and Rescues in difficult terrain. I have held a worldwide provisional patent for a nonlinear mathematical calculation, (it was a method of calculating Blood Alcohol Concentration before computers came alone). I narrowly survived Australia’s largest gas BLEVE in 1987, (there’s a blog of that particular one on chasmurrell.com.au and have provided operational support to some of Australia’s largest natural disasters (cyclones) in Far North Queensland.

On a personal level I suffer from relentless and debilitating migraines and have done since I was 5. I’m proud father to four and pop to two! My artistically entrepreneurial and wonderful wife and I live in Tasmania, which looks very much like Scotland! Robert the Bruce (King of Scots), is my 21st Grand father and history runs deep in these veins.
The second question is easy, lol, just the one so far. The sequel is progressing though, just a little more slowly than I would like.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Yearn to Fear. You probably wouldn’t believe it, but, true story, my wife Gabbi suggested I write a book during COVID lockdown, so a couple of days later I had the original idea and off I went for 2 1/2 months until the first draft of 94,000 words was done. That would be a lot of pencils if I couldn’t touch type lol.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I dont think I have anything you’d really call unusual, I dont have a ritual or regime or anything like that. But, I do like peace and quiet which I guess is the norm. I find it takes a day to get my head back into writing a story when you have been thinking about other things, be they work or a busy life in general.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I loved the old Dale Brown books based on “Flight of the old Dog,” mind you I’ve read all the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon as well. I can remember listening to the Davinci Code (Dan Brown) on CD on a long car trip from Cairns to Brisbane nearly 2 decades ago, (about a 20 hour drive), I loved it.

What are you working on now?
The sequel of Yearn to Fear. Since we’re all friends here, lol, the next book in the series is called Fear to Recall and the last of the trilogy is Recall to Past.
I’m currently working on Fear to Recall, the framework is up and some of the detail is in, but so very far to go! 🙂 I have asked a few folks who have read Yearn to Fear if they wanted to know the first sentence of Fear to Recall. Of those that said yes, 100% were very happy with the start. The challenge is to keep the benchmark up there for the next two books. I will do my level best!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well Artisan book group has to be up the top of the list. These guys, if you dont know, are author visibility and marketing specialists. We really like their personalised approach and being able to jump on board quickly when time was short! – thanks folks. We need a home base ourselves and we have chasmurrell.com.au

Do you have any advice for new authors?
– Don’t do it for the money.
– Develop a thick hide, and pour your heart and soul into that manuscript!
– If you’re different and that’s the direction you want to go in, then the decision belongs to you, so go do.”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing!

What are you reading now?
The manual for the DJI Mavic Air2S drone. Not much of a story in there, but it might save me taking some paint of…

What’s next for you as a writer?
That’s a hard question as I dont write for a living. But… it would be to finish the trilogy I started with Yearn to Fear. I have had an idea for another trilogy based on historical fact, but whether I actually get to write the first in line, “The Jets of Adlertag” is another thing altogether! I couldn’t help myself though, I’ve done some basic mapping for all three. lol.

What is your favorite book of all time?
It’s a difficult question, so I went for a walk, made a cup of tea, ate an apple and still had no answer lol. I decided to look at my desk and there’s one book that hasn’t moved off it for 18 months, so even though it might not be my all time favourite, its worth a mention. “Pilot’s notes for Spitfire IX, XI & VI. I’m not sure what that says about me, but we’re al;l individuals hey?

Author Websites and Profiles
Chas Murrell Website
Chas Murrell Amazon Profile

Chas Murrell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I decided to follow my passion and embrace crafting short stories with an adventurous and dramatic twist. I have written and published more than five short stories. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with my extended family, the outdoors, sunsets, exercising and working within the travel and tourism industry. I have one younger sibling and was raised by a single parent who contributed to my strength, inspiration and positive approach towards life. I reside on the sunny Caribbean Island of St. Lucia.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Can’t Get Enough Episode 4, titled- In too deep.
Because of the difficulty and frustration faced by many married couples and committed relationships to keep the fire burning in their union after many years, I found it fitting to write this humorous story. And it tells of how they can implement creative, fun ways to keep things interesting.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always walk around and play out some scenes to get the emotional aspect of it. Before I start writing, I set up camp by bringing all necessary items near me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Eric Jerome Dickey
Danielle Steel
Paulo Coelho
Adele Parks

What are you working on now?
Promotion and Marketing

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Wow, to be honest, I have not found the one I can call the best yet. I am a young Author so I am still getting around. I should have an answer soon with an increased budget.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research on everything before you start writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
(1) Start simple, get fancy later.
(2) A little bit every day for a lifetime.
(3) You don’t have to be great, you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be consistent.

What are you reading now?
Husbands- Adele Parks

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently working on creating a box set for my stories. By the end of 2021, I plan to translate my current books into three more languages.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Author Websites and Profiles
Ranatta Philip Amazon Profile

Ranatta Philip’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written two full length humorous urban fantasy novels, multiple novellas and a short non-fiction guidebook for software development careers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s called The Headless FloridaMan. It’s a short novella that was inspired by a thought of a twist on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow mixed with Trailer Park Boys.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Mainly at nights between 10 pm and 2 am on writing nights. That’s my time to really hammer stuff out. Otherwise, I keep a lot of notes on my phone, some of which don’t end up making sense later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A number of authors have influenced me. Fiction authors include Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Christopher Moore, Chuck Wendig and many more. Non-fiction, I’ve always liked some southern humor columnists like Lewis Grizzard and Dave Barry.

What are you working on now?
I’ve gotten done outlining the arcs and story elements for the next book in the Wrong Gods series that will fall after Over a God’s Dead Body. It’s going to be called Dead Ringer, and I’m really excited to get to drafting stages with this sequel!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, social media and talking to the audience. Sometimes stuff I post will hook people, maybe an ad, but usually they just see something strange I say and kind of fall into a book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. Your first book will rarely be a massive success even if it’s fantastic. Keep adding more to your catalog and your audience will grow with it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There’s a fine line between humor and bullying.

What are you reading now?
The Outsorcerer’s Apprentice by Tom Holt, but just wrapped up The Graveyard Shift by DM Guay and it was hilarious.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing more books in both series I’ve started. I’ve kept them separate and loose enough that they could possibly occur in the same magical universe, so maybe have a crossover piece down the road too.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Mort by Terry Pratchett has always been a classic for me. Death takes an apprentice, then gets a little strung out and has his own existential crisis, it all ends up being very humorous.

Author Websites and Profiles
Joel Spriggs Website
Joel Spriggs Amazon Profile

Joel Spriggs’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Anthony (“A. L.”) Bruno, I’m a third generation military veteran (grandfather Navy, father and myself USAF,) and a graduate of the University of North Dakota, where I focused on creative writing. I’m the father of two amazing kids, and three astonishing grandchildren. I married my High School sweetheart, and I count my lucky stars that I’m with her now even after thirty four short years.

“Stars Forever Black” is my first novel, with its two sequels (“On Quiet Fire,” and “Demons of the Dark”) currently in edit.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first novel is “Stars Forever Black: Book I of the Star Lion Saga.” It’s the first chapter in a trilogy about a war weary exploration crew discovering a previously undiscovered human civilization hundreds of light years from civilized space. It’s a story of love and loss, triumph and tragedy, with a focus on those things that separate us yet bring us all together.

I crafted “Stars Forever Black” during the endless 2020 lockdowns. Originally conceived as one novel, my editor and I realized that it worked better in three parts rather than one massive tome.

My life served as inspiration for the work. I was lucky enough to grow up in the 1970s on Beale AFB, California, with the SR-71 Blackbird flying overhead. My father was an in-flight air refueling “Boom Operator” for the plane, and as such some of my earliest memories are of men in Gemini-style spacesuits parading around the squadron on open house days to show us what they wore on the job. To my forming brain, space was just another place where people worked. It was only after I left for Europe that I understood how unusual that upbringing had been.

Living abroad for nearly a decade — first in England and then in Germany — really drove home how cultures could be simultaneously strange and familiar. Adjusting to a new way of living, and realizing that the “American Way” was not as universal as I had once believed broadened my horizons in ways I could not have imagined.

Unfortunately, I also saw some of my fellow Americans act poorly towards our host nations. That, in part, fueled my desire to tell a story about those experiences through the lens of space opera.

Finally, I’ve been a space opera fan since childhood. “Logans Run” and perpetual reruns of “Star Trek” hooked me hard, but it was the arrival of a little film called “Star Wars” that caught me completely by surprise. As a kid I couldn’t recognize the 1930s serial influences, or that the movie was a buffet of Golden Age cinematic tropes. All I knew is that it was exciting, funny, and scary in equal measure. I knew then that I wanted to tell stories like that some day, and that, eventually, led to today.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to get completely ready for the day before I write. I can’t produce if I’m in sweatpants or pajamas. I need to shave, shower, and the rest in order to focus my mind on my day’s goals. It’s a quirk, I know, but it works for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Heinlein caught me when I was younger, and I loved his work through “Stanger in a Strange Land.” Stephen King’s evocative prose was astonishing, while William Gibson leaves me gobsmacked every time. They all shared the ability to bring a verisimilitude to outlandish situations that is nothing short of awe inspiring.

What are you working on now?
I’m deep into final beta edits on “On Quiet Fire,” the second book in the “Star Lion Saga.” “Demons of the Dark” will be next, and after that I plan on writing some bridging material before the next trilogy…

…and I’ve probably said too much.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The only method I know is to throw a wide net. Do every interview you’re asked to do, post on every site you can, and push your work wherever you can. It might feel uncomfortable, but it’s the only way your work will ever find an audience.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have three pieces of advice.

1. Write.

2. No matter how good your work is, someone will always love it and others will loathe it. Try not to take offense, or let success go to your head. All you can do is write the best work you can and move on.

3. Keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The surest sign of a weak mind is one that feels it needs to surround itself with those who think like it.”

One of my college professors said that to me once, and it’s stuck with me every since. It informs all of my work, and even the way I look at life.

What are you reading now?
“Surprise, Kill, Vanish” by Annie Jacobson.

No, no reason. Move along now.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently working with another author on a supernatural series, but my post-trilogy goal is to turn out some shorter fiction set in the same “Star Lion” universe. The plots are there; all I need now is the time to write.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Ouch, that is a tough question.

While “Neuromancer” nearly gets the nod, I’ll have to go with “Starship Troopers” by Robert Heinlein, if only because my perception of the work has shifted so radically over my lifetime.

Author Websites and Profiles
A. L. Bruno Website
A. L. Bruno Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I am an author, jazz pianist and lawyer living in London. I love writing, was writing from the age of 7, and have written 7 books all available as e-books on Amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is the sex comedy 7 Days Sex Affairs. It developed out of the earlier romantic thriller Seven Day Love Affairs which had a male hero, Chase Chevas. I wanted to find a female voice for the dating situation and found Monica.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Late night, early morning

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Russian greats like Tolstoy

What are you working on now?
Ah, it’s a secret until it’s no longer a secret

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Various sites, a bit random. Free book listings help

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what is in your heart. Tune into yourself. Go with what comes

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just write

What are you reading now?
Billion Dollar Brain, Len Deighton. His third book in what became the Harry Palmer film series with Michael Caine. The style is developed and assured.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Lots of projects

What is your favorite book of all time?
War and Peace, Tolstoy

Author Websites and Profiles
Joe Sykes Website
Joe Sykes Amazon Profile

Joe Sykes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have always loved creative writing but I took a logical path in college studying Computer Science.

For the bulk of my career, I was an IT Business Analyst/Quality Assurance expert for websites (financial, mostly). I actually wrote steadily, however, the writing was technical in nature. The Business Analyst part of my job entailed meeting with clients and writing the program requirements clearly and concisely so that everyone who read them (developers, clients, etc), interpreted them the same way, critical in the IT world. Quality Assurance entailed testing the program at all levels after development to ensure that the program worked as the requirements specified. I loved it.

When I retired from work, my creative side asserted itself and I started writing creatively again.

I have written one book, #HuntedLives, and am currently working on the sequel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
#HuntedLives, a thriller, is my debut novel. My inspiration came from my grandkids, who love social media and gaming. I used to watch them play their games, asking them questions about what they were doing and why. It intrigued me. My twelve-year-old granddaughter is teaching me how to use TikTok now. It’s amazing how fast they learn how to use the apps! I am concerned about how social media has changed the way we communicate today. There are plenty of good aspects to it but I wanted to highlight the darker side, and it was very natural to weave my technical background into the story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmmmm…that’s hard to say. What may be unusual to one person could be perfectly normal to another. 🙂 I usually write a rough outline of where I think the story will go. It’s only a guide though, and I frequently update it as the story unfolds. I don’t have a regular writing schedule…I write at various times of the day. And I don’t have a set amount of words I want to write each day. If I’m on a roll, I won’t stop and if I’m not feeling it, I walk away for a bit.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Janet Evanovich! I also enjoy JD Robb/Nora Roberts, and Catherine Coulter. I’m reading a delightful series called Warriors (about warrior cats) by Erin Hunter that my ten-year-old grandson got me hooked on. All styles are unique and I’ve learned from all of them.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequel to #HuntedLives. Mali and Jake’s story is not over yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have just one website that I use. I’m new to all of this and try different things. I appreciate Pretty-Hot for all you do for authors. Without sites like yours, getting the word out about my book would be so much harder.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Learn from others and follow what works, both in terms of writing in your genre as well as marketing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In terms of marketing, two things:
1. Work with other authors to cross promote your books.
2. Platform Leveraging – guest podcasting, author interviews, attend events, etc.

One last thing:
Traffic x Conversions = Sales
You have to not only get people to your book’s page on Amazon (or wherever), but you have to get them to buy your book once there. If you don’t convert, no sale. You do that by having a great cover design, title, description, ‘Look Inside’ sample (if on Amazon), competitive price point, and by having multiple customer reviews.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading some books by authors with whom I’m collaborating:

The Lady and the Cat’s Meow, by GL Robinson

The Arbonox Syndrome, by Michael Spitzkoff

By Valentine’s Day, by Catherine Johnstone Petit

Loved So Much It Hurts, by Rebecca Olmstead

And of course, the next book in the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, called Fire and Ice.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Events coming up:
May 15 – Blanco Market Days (Blanco, TX)
June 12 – book signing at The Boerne Bookshop (Boerne, TX)
September 18 – Blog Interview on Brummet’s Conscious Blog

In between, I plan to finish the sequel to #HuntedLives with plans to publish it in the fall.

Whew! I’m tired just reading what I’m going to be doing! 🙂

What is your favorite book of all time?
There are so many, I can’t think of just one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kady Hinojosa Website
Kady Hinojosa Amazon Profile

Kady Hinojosa’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a 46 year old author and financial advisor. I have written two books so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is Want to Live Debt Free? This is How You Do It. The book was inspired by my 5 year journey to becoming debt free. I wanted to lay out the process so that others who want to become debt free would understand how to go about it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in very short spurts, usually 20 minutes or less.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you have a book inside you, get it written.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take life one day at a time.

What are you reading now?
The Upside of Irrationality Dan Ariely

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am contemplating writing a finance book for teens.

Author Websites and Profiles
Cornelius Davis Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a financial services professional who loves to travel and eat great food. This is my first book in a series, Flavour with Benefits: France with my co-author Charley Best.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Flavour with Benefits: France was inspired by a health issue I had as a young girl. I happened to be living in France at the time and the doctors there prescribed artichokes for an inflamed liver instead of pills.
This led me to work on recipes that have great flavour and are healthy. The book features a romantic road trip through France and inspired foods. There is something for everyone. When travel is restricted, our book allows you vicarious travel to France and an ability to try great tasting recipes at home.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anthony Bourdain, Elizabeth Gilbert, Yotam Ottolenghi

What are you working on now?
Flavour with Benefits: Sicily and Calabria which is a love letter to southern Italy and features places many people have never been and new takes on iconic recipes. With 100+ original photos of the south of Italy, this will be a great follow on from Flavour with Benefits: France.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Set a deadline and get organized. Publish your book and don’t wait for perfection.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get advice from others but the buck stops with you. Make a decision and move on.

What are you reading now?
Sooley by John Grisham, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write my second book and work on book signing events and free cooking demos via Zoom and social media.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Gone with the Wind

Author Websites and Profiles
Cathy Connally Website
Cathy Connally Amazon Profile

Cathy Connally’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve lived nearly my entire life in Iraq, and had as an uneventful life as one can get when living in such a country. I’ve written one book in English and currently writing my second.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called “A beautiful omen” and the thought process behind that name is finding a bright facet to an otherwise dark aspect. After all, an omen is nothing if not bad, so what could be beautiful about it? Read my book to find out.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it’s unusual, but I get my ideas while listening to music. Also, the right track will get me out of a writer’s block.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Not an influence, per se, but I find “The Book Thief” highly relatable. Growing up ruled by the iron fist of dictatorship, the propaganda, fear of punishment for what you talk about, the limited resources available to common folks, and last but not least, war. In conclusion, I never felt more connected to fictional characters than when I did with the ones in that book.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel called “Healer”. It takes the concept of a long awaited savior and explores the bright side, and the most prominent dark side of placing such a responsibility on a single person. I may or may not introduce a love triangle in the mix, and if I do, it’ll be subtle; I don’t want that to be the center stage and take the attention off of the main theme.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still new to this foray, but I find that websites such as pretty hot books to be a great help in promoting books, since they already have an extensive email subscriptions. I also hate social media, so such sites are a lifeline for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Your book is a piece of you, and you were brave enough to bare it to the world, so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t sell as you’ve expected. Try and diagnose what you can do better about that, oftentimes than not, the issue is with the way you market it. So figure out a different game plan and dive in again.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up, you’re efforts will be rewarded eventually. It may sound generic and simple, but there is vast truth in that simplicity.

What are you reading now?
Nothing really. If I’m not writing then I’m playing video games, or reading articles about said games.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Trying to build a following. There’s no point to writing if no one is reading what you write. I hope that one day I inspire people to think and debate about different aspects of my books. I feel it will be truly rewarding to have readers dive deep into the lore a writer introduces, like you’re book has become alive in some sort.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The forty rules of love. There’s something magical about discovering one’s self no matter the age or life phase, and in challenging your preconceptions you grow as a person.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nabaa Abduli Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a women’s fiction writer. And I have released my first debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called ‘The diary of a nagging wife’ and it was inspired by a lot of women married with kids, trying to juggle it all.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write whilst listening to music

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I enjoy reading books by Jane Green, Nicola May, Mile Gayle. I also like thrillers and fantasy, JP Delaney and Mark Helprin.

What are you working on now?
I have finished my second novel called ‘The pregnacy diaries’ and I am currently working on my third.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like using Goodreads and also amazing books

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and promote yourself as much as possible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t stop writing!

What are you reading now?
‘Welcome to ferry lane market’ by Nicola May

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue to write my third novel. And work on promoting my debut novel.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Tempting fate by Jane Green

Author Websites and Profiles
Donna Mensah Amazon Profile

Donna Mensah’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I started on my first book, The Jet Jewel, I lived in Nottingham, where -although in an alternative version- The Jet Jewel is also set. However, most of it was actually written in France, where I lived for 5 years (I know, I’m not a quick writer). Now, back in the UK, I’m working on my second book, a cosy mystery set in France.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
As I said, the Jet Jewel is mostly inspired by Nottingham and its grand Victorian buildings. The story largely evolved around the setting, even though I changed it rather dramatically. You can still see the resemblance to the real Nottingham Castle, though.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I write when my kids are at school, so I have to use my hours wisely. No time for an 8 a.m. mudbath, or switching on and off every light in the house before I get to work…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many! I learned to love reading with my dad’s old boys’ books, Dutch teen adventures that also almost always had an element of mystery. Agatha Christie and other classic mystery authors weren’t such a leap after that. But when I was writing my first book, I read Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, which quickly became my favourite book and probably influenced my writing at the time.

What are you working on now?
My current work in progress is called Death by Naked Ladies. Although my female protagonist is a vintage pin-up photographer, you won’t find any actual naked ladies inside. Sorry! The titular Naked Ladies is in fact a poisonous plant…

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m only just getting started, so I’ll have to find this one out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just go for it! Things will never be perfect, but if you don’t try, you won’t get better.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Butt in chair. Without the work, there’s nothing to sell.

What are you reading now?
I’ve just finished Truth or Beard by Penny Reid, which I loved. Now getting back to Outlawed, which I’m reading for my book club.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Death by Naked Ladies will be book 1 of the St. Maurice Mystery series, so that’s all for the coming years, I think.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Ooh… Again, there are so many. But I’ve already said Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, so I’m sticking to that.

Author Websites and Profiles
Christa Bakker Website
Christa Bakker Amazon Profile

Christa Bakker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Alexis Gerst. I’m a millennial leader with a passion for remote work culture. I am currently an Acquisition Program Manager for the United States Air Force on Active Duty, where I lead technical teams toward the procurement and sustainment of weapon systems critical to our national defense.

On the side, I love to write. I recently released my first book, “Leading Remote Teams: Embrace the Future of Remote Work Culture.” This book champions the future potential of remote work, explores the advantages of a workplace paradigm shift, and delivers tactical tips for remote leaders to enable team success.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled, “Leading Remote Teams: Embrace the Future of Remote Work Culture.”

At the start of the pandemic, I embraced my digital comfort as a millennial and quickly transitioned all of my team’s activities to suit the virtual environment. We continued to execute our organization’s mission without so much as a slow-down. After a couple months, I became aware that not all team leads were able to successfully transition their activities to accommodate the remote work environment, so I volunteered to start putting together training materials and conducting presentations on how to effectively engage teams and continue to accomplish tasks while working remotely.

When I shared what I was doing with my passion project on LinkedIn, a few people in my network picked up the idea and encouraged me to run with it by asking that I speak at their national symposium. The inspiration from these two people that the topic of remote leadership was a needed discussion gave me the energy I needed to put the training content into a book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if it’s all that unusual, but I get up a 4am every morning to make time for writing. Since I have both a full-time job as a program manager and I prioritize fitness in my daily schedule, waking up early to write for a couple hours in the morning is the only way I can ensure I actually get time to write and make progress on my book.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Simon Sinek, Cal Newport, Tim Ferris, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb are a few of the authors that stand out in my mind as far as thought leadership goes. I read mostly non-fiction books, with the occasional science fiction or romance novel as an indulgence. As far as topics, I love reading books about technology, national defense dynamics, personal finance and retirement planning, health and fitness, mindfulness, leadership, and work/life balance.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on promoting “Leading Remote Teams” and getting the book in front of as many people in my target audience as possible. In a world where the shift to remote work is accelerating, this book has the tools many people need right now to lead their teams more effectively and relieve some of the mounting stress resulting from unplanned remote work. I’m also planning my next big career transition for when I leave active duty in the coming year. As I navigate the transition and look at where my career is headed, I will also be brainstorming ideas for my next book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I used several free promotion websites for my book during the first week of launch, in addition to pumping social media and personally messaging every connection in my network I could think of who would be interested in the book. Since the free launch promo was short lived and several were stacked on the same 2 days, it is hard to say which ones were most effective. I had over 900 free downloads in the first 2 days of launch! Kindle Book Review, Free Discounted Books, and eReaderIQ are a few that I can connect directly to results in downloads and sales.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Set a launch date and make a timeline for yourself to get it done and publish your first book. One book I read that really helped me lay out a plan and start executing that plan was “Published!” by Chandler Bolt. It was practical and easy to follow. Compress your goal into 90 days so you can make measurable progress and see results. It won’t go perfect—but you’ll gain experience, learn from your mistakes, and be able to do it better on your next book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Some of the best advice I’ve heard was a recommendation from my commanding officer before I commissioned. He told me that many people will try to influence my leadership style, but I should always stay true to myself. Time and time again, I’ve heard his words echoing in my mind as I haven’t always fit the “Type-A, Storm-the-Hill” type that is so common and desired in military leaders. I have come to learn that my leadership style is more analytical and collaborative, which fits my chosen career field much better than trying to impose my ideas from the top down.

What are you reading now?
I just finished “Overcoming the Impostor: Silence Your Inner Critic and Lead with Confidence” by Kris Kelso, which resonated with me on several levels. Currently, I’m reading “Likewar: The Weaponization of Social Media” by P.W. Singer. This one is an interesting take on how social media influences our perception of the world—and many of us don’t realize it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Up next for me, I’m learning about all things book marketing after publishing. I’m brainstorming a few ideas for my next book, which I’ll probably start writing before the end of this year. I love learning and writing about leadership, so I’m sure my next book will be within the overall topic of leadership and team culture.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The book that comes to mind is “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” by Cal Newport. This book really changed my thinking on what it means to follow your passions and find work that fulfills you, but also work that you’re really good at. I’m starting to hit the catch-22 in my career where I have more influence and control over my situation, but it is because I’ve found a niche role where I can perform well. Highly recommend this read, especially for younger individuals or those who are changing careers.

Author Websites and Profiles
Alexis Gerst Website
Alexis Gerst Amazon Profile

Alexis Gerst’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile