Featured Interview With Kernifer Spiropulos

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in a beautiful island called Jamaica, I currently resides in the United States of America. I don’t have pets.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Honestly, when I was attending high school my strongest academic area was reading and story writing.
I started to write in 2021.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are: Joel Osteen, Crystal Daye and Donna Morris.
My favorite genre is Non-fiction
God inspires me to write, he revealed to me that his people are turning away from him, Im not a singer neither am I preacher. So the best way i can motivate God’s people is through writing which is my gift from God. I have been through alot of struggles as a teenager and I believe that God is using me to motivate his people. And since I never really had the proper teaching on how to do things the right way, I want to offer my teachings and motivation to teenagers and young adults.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My books are: 1. Cardi’s Teenage Journey, in this book I wrote about my teenage pregnancy, how I overcome the obstacles, and also encouragement for teenagers and mothers of teenagers.

2. Pray Without Ceasing Book, this book has teaching of the different prayer methods, what to pray for, short passages of prayers and how to overcome fear.

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Featured Interview With H. R. Truelove

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest surrounded by trees. My debut series, Alter, is set in a multiverse inspired by Seattle, WA.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve written poems and song lyrics for as long as I can remember. I wrote a few short stories for school projects in elementary school, but quickly realized I prefer writing novels over shorts. I started writing my first book in High School, but took almost a decade off from writing before I published my first novel.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Leigh Bardugo, Lois Lowry and Philip Pullman are some of my favorites. For full fantasy, I like Stephanie Donohue and Lou Wilham. For romance and fantasy, I love Brindi Quinn. Nicole Bea is another fantastic romance writer. I love big worlds and messy characters being their authentic selves.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Alter: Multipocalypse is the 3rd and final book in the series. The story follows a group of young women who are dealing with an apocalypse that is affecting every world in the multiverse.

I started this series in 2018, and can’t believe how far it has come. I love getting to create these fabulous and immersive worlds almost as much as I love destroying them!

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Featured Interview With Claire Marie

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in the tiny little farm town of Harrisburg, Oregon, and have a love for small town life. I’m now lucky enough to call The Dalles, Oregon, my home in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge which has provided a lot of inspiration for Sammy the Sasquatch and her Forest Friends. My family and I have a wonderful, goofy pup who keeps us on our toes, a four-year-old Great Dane named Murphy who often tries to cuddle with Sammy the Sasquatch.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I think I realized my fascination with books at quite a young age. My mom would read to us almost every night before bed and by probably six-years-old I would crawl into bed at night with a stack of illustrated children’s books by my pillow and a clip-on book light in action. I would stay up long after I was tucked in to sneak in extra reading. The floor would creak when my mom came down the hall to check on me, so I’d quickly turn off my book light, feign sleep as she peaked in, then get right back to reading after she closed my bedroom door. I wrote for school assignments as do many kids and all through college but honestly, I never imagined I’d write a children’s book. For Sammy the Sasquatch; Welcome to Crittertopia, Sammy really started writing her story through me in December 2020 out of a desire to help parents, caring adults, and kids.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Growing up, I absolutely loved series like the Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, and Harry Potter among many, many other books. As an adult, my favorite genres to read are classic literature, including the works of John Steinbeck and Jane Austen, and science, including books by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Amishi Jha. Dr. Tyson and Dr. Jha are able to take incredibly complex, important concepts that have direct impacts on the human experience and make these fascinating topics fun, engaging, and accessible to all.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My first, and latest, illustrated children’s book, Sammy the Sasquatch; Welcome to Crittertopia, was born out of a desire to empower kids to keep themselves safe and to support adults in having big conversations in trauma-informed, gentle, non-scary ways. Sammy is a curious, friendly, and adventurous young sasquatch who knows it’s important to practice being safe every day as she tours readers around her magical world of Crittertopia. Sammy and her Forest Friends dance, mountain bike, explore the forest, and know what to do just in case a curious human ever wanders into Crittertopia, a lockdown, “locks, lights, out of sight.” While I know many adults associate a lockdown with the worst case scenario in schools, lockdown is just one of the many tools school staff and students can use to keep themselves safe when something is “not normal” on campus or inside a school. How parents and caring adults introduce lockdown has a big influence on how kids view and experience the practice. Through my work, I know parents and caring adults are often hesitant to discuss this topic with kids because they are, understandably, afraid to open a Pandora’s Box of questions they won’t know how to navigate. This book includes four pages of support information for parents and caring adults on how to navigate these conversations and provides opportunities throughout the story to highlight for kids how great they are at being safe every day, all day long.

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Featured Interview With Melissa J. Morris

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m an Australian nurse, writer and avid traveller. I have a fascination with the road least travelled, which has led me to work in a health care clinic in East Africa on the outskirts of a refugee camp and study tropical medicine in London and attempt to learn French in Paris during a global pandemic (ok, the learning conditions were not planned)

I returned to Australia at the end of 2021 and have been on a journey of discovering who I am outside of the healthcare industry (while trying to make it financially viable). Nursing will always be a part of my story, but now it includes writing, Francophile and whatever else I decide to do.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Reading was a large part of my childhood, and books have always fascinated me. I was one of those kids who had a vivid imagination and performed concerts for my family. In my early teens, I entered a local competition sponsored by Nestle for a short story. It was chosen as one of the region’s finalists, which included a workshop by a local author and a bag of goodies.

Writing has always been something I have enjoyed but thought I was not very good at. Since leaving school, most of my writing has been academic or work-related. When I started living overseas, it allowed me to explore blogging platforms. Still, it’s only been in the last two years that I have seriously considered trying to turn it into part of my career.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My bookshelves have a variety of genres, and my reading preferences have changed over the years. Most of the time, it’s either Christian living, non-fiction or historical fiction. Lately, I have been gravitating to historical fiction, particularly about France or WW2, but I enjoy anything with a good storyline. In addition, I have several books written by healthcare professionals sharing their lives in their workplaces.
I love anything written by Natasha Lester or Christian Indie Authors. It’s been a lifelong goal to write a historical fiction novel, but currently, most of my focus is on Christian living and relationships.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut book is ‘Praying For Your Future Husband: 31 prayers for his heart’. The idea came to me 12 months ago when I was at the start of a career change. I have been praying for my future spouse for many years, and sometimes it is hard to know what to pray other than ‘please bless him, Lord.’

Building a habit of praying for your loved ones is so important, particularly when it involves one of the most important decisions of your life: marriage.

The book includes 31 prayers to pray over your future husband, covering many topics. I hope it gives people ideas and a little structure in what subjects they pray about for their future marriage.

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Featured Interview With B.A. Summer

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello, this is B.A. Summer (pen name) I write fiction under my pen name and non-fiction under my real name Jane Peyton. I am British, born in Skipton, North Yorkshire, former long-time resident in Los Angeles and London, and now based in Brighton on the south coast of England which is a creative, sociable, and individual city with a reputation for fun. It makes me smile and is endlessly entertaining!

I love dogs but cannot have a pet where I live so instead I have dog envy as I gaze at the gorgeous dogs being walked by their owners as I’m out and about. I also follow lots of dog social media sites. AND I included my perfect dog as a character in my novel ‘Sole Brethren: If The Shoe Fits’.

I am the author of ten published books with another one to be released in June 2023 (titled ‘The Philosophy of Cocktails’ – it is a brief history). My non-fiction books are on the subjects of architecture, interior design, and alcoholic drinks. I split my time between writing fiction, non-fiction books about alcohol and running the School of Booze, an events, education and drinks consultancy I founded in 2008.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As soon as I could read I was never without a book in my hand. As a child I spent hours either up a tree with a novel, or laying behind the sofa turning the pages of the latest gripping story I was reading. I still have one of my English composition books from age 8 and the teacher’s comments said things like ‘Imaginative story’.

As an adult in my 20s I used to write stories for my friends about our social lives. Then in my 30s I started pitching non-fiction books ideas to publishers and eventually in 2002 my first book was published. Having had the idea in my head for so many years I felt quite overwhelmed to be holding a physical version in my hand. It was a wonderful feeling.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Favourite authors include Oscar Wilde, E.F. Benson, Angela Carter, Armistead Maupin, Jane Austen, Jeanette Winterson, Isabel Allende. I enjoy witty writing, books with a pacy plot, with loveable characters who I would like to be friends with in real life, books that have a strong sense of place.

I’m keen on magical realism as a genre. I like to escape when I read.

I am particularly inspired by Armistead Maupin for the loveable characters in his Tales of the City series, the inventive storylines, and the sense of place he invokes. E.F. Benson is another favourite because in his Mapp & Lucia series, he makes the tiny fictitious town of Tilling appear as the most glittering and exciting town, with his tongue firmly in cheek.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
‘Sole Brethren: If The Shoe Fits’ mixes magic, footwear and all things fabulous as it tells the story of Cordelia Tanner and her glittering life with charming twin brother Rex, and enigmatic best friend Dr Elodie l’Archambeau, which is threatened by the unintended consequences of an invention that she thought was a very good idea at the time – 3D wearable hologram shoes. Fortunately for Cordelia she can periodically escape the problems she has inadvertently caused through her mind-blowing psychic ability that permits her to enter historic realms and visit, amongst others, the charming Lancelot, 18th century superstar Master of Ceremonies to High Society.

I describe Sole Brethren as a magical realism romp. It is very funny and so far, reader’s reviews have been fantastic. Judging by their comments, Sole Brethren has brought them joy, delight, and laughter. They like the main characters too which I am so pleased about because if I do not enjoy the characters I won’t read a book so it was essential when writing my own characters that they should be irresistible.

I had the idea for Sole Brethren in 2010 and thought about it over the years but never had time to write it because I was writing non-fiction books and also building my own events, education and consultancy business. Like many other writers, the Covid 19 pandemic gave me chance to start it and I enjoyed disappearing into the fictitious world I had created so I concentrated on completing the story while the world was locked down. It took 18 months of writing from start to the final draft.

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Featured Interview With Mary McMahon

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Detroit Michigan. I graduated from the University of Detroit and became an elementary school teacher. In the late 1970s I moved to Houston, Texas and still live there today. My first published book is, The Motor City and Me: Our Story. The book highlights the rich history of Detroit and how the Motor City has left a lasting impact on my life. I parallel the ups and downs in my own life with the rise and fall of Detroit. After retiring from teaching I owned and operated a puppet performing briskness and began writing puppet scripts and books.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Throughout my whole life I have enjoyed books and writing. My mother loved literature and wrote many short stories. Unfortunately she never published any of her writing. During the summers of my elementary school years I was required to complete grammar lessons before playing with my friends. In high school my mother critiqued my writing. She never wrote a word for me, but explained to me what needed to be done to write a successful story.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My all time favorite book is Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning. His wisdom and his words inspire me each day of my life.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In the book, DADDY IS COOL LIKE THAT, Daddy likes flashy cars, loud music, tasty pizza, and chocolate cake, but his daughters, Rachael and Laura, don’t think those things are what makes him cool. They say that he is cool because he knows how to have fun even through difficulty. They discover that conquering challenging situations can produce many rewards. DADDY IS COOL LIKE THAT, is not only motivating, but amusing as well. It stands as a platform for discussions to be had by families that are struggling with a serious issue.

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Featured Interview With Sam Libraty

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
OK, I’ll do my best to keep it short. (Laughs). Growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, I was fascinated with science fiction, especially books. At 15, I met Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, and knew I wanted to write Science Fiction someday. After studying my other passion, music, at Kent State, I pursued a career in music while continuing to write in my spare time.

Later, I transitioned to working in film and television while holding onto my passion for writing. After publishing my first book, The Time Agents: Search for the Leon Key, in 2022, I decided to become a full-time author. I’m working on the second book in the Time Agents series while enjoying time with my family and cats in Los Angeles.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
From the age of about 6 or 7, I was captivated by storytelling. However, it wasn’t until I discovered Saturday morning cartoons, specifically of the science fiction genre, that I was truly hooked.
Shows like Space Ghost and Jonny Quest (my favorite animated science fiction show) transported me to new worlds, and I became fascinated.
Watching TV was my escape from a difficult family life. My interest in the genre grew as I discovered The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, and Star Trek, of which I am a lifelong fan. That’s around when I discovered books and how they could transport me to other realities.
Meeting Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, at age 15 was a pivotal moment that solidified my passion for writing science fiction. I even had the opportunity to walk him to his hotel and chat about the genre. Meeting Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in Star Trek, was another highlight of my journey. Live long and prosper!
That was around the time I started dabbling in writing short stories, mainly for my own benefit.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My first and most intense influence was the writing of Robert A. Heinlein. The “Grand Old Master of SF.” Many of his early books were written for younger readers and really took me to other worlds. His works for adults were jam-packed with great characters, and the plots were sublime.

Other very influential authors include but are not limited to:

Arthur C. Clarke Larry Niven
Robert Silverberg Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Robert A. Heinlein Andy Weir
Poul Anderson Douglas Adams
Theodore Sturgeon Samuel R. Delany
Isaac Asimov George Orwell

Tell us a little about your latest book?
This book will take you on a thrilling journey through time and space! In this action-packed novel, you’ll follow the daring exploits of Jon Howe, a time-traveling agent tasked with keeping the timeline stable at all costs.
An impending invasion threatens our universe. Jon must go back to 1939 Casablanca to find the key to a parallel universe and stop the invasion. Along the way, he’ll encounter strange timeline events, uncover hidden secrets, and face off against an unhinged maniac determined to destroy everything in his path.
But that’s not all – Jon’s heart also has its own mission. He finds himself irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic Shoshanna, an intelligent, fiery, and exotic woman who seems to hate him on sight. As he tries to win her love, Jon realizes that Shoshanna is not what she seems, and their relationship could have far-reaching consequences for the fate of the world.
This book is a must-read for any fan of sci-fi and fantasy! With well-defined characters, pulse-pounding action, and a dash of romance, it will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Will Jon save the world and win Shoshanna’s heart, or will his enemies defeat him? You’ll have to read it to find out!

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Featured Interview With Mark T. Sneed

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born in the deep south, raised in Chicago and educated at the University of California, at Berkeley. Have always been an introvert. Loved art. First books read and enjoyed were comics.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Have always enjoyed reading. Always writing.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Influenced by science fiction, fantasy, fiction and Harlem Renaissance. Love science fiction. Favorite science fiction authors: Ray Bradbury; Isaac Asimov; Robert A. Heinlen; HG Wells; Philip K. Dick; Octavia E. Butler; HP Lovecraft; Mary Shelley; Arthur C. Clarke; Orson Scott Card; William Gibson and Harlan Ellison. Really enjoy fantasy. Favorite fantasy authors: George R. R. Martin; J.R. Tolkien; Piers Anthony and Ray Bradbury. Love fiction. Favorite fiction authors: Walter Mosley; Walter Dean Meyers; Charles Dickens; Herman Melville and Iceberg Slim. Love the Harlem Renaissance authors. Favorite Harlem Renaissance authors: Langston Hughes; Richard Wright; Claude McKay; Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The second book in the No Credit Series which is a #1 Amazon New Release in Science Fiction revolves around Darren “Ren” Armitage. Ren is a normal teenager trying to understand why he is so powerful and gifted, when by all outward appearances he appears normal, if not average. After an incredible feat of strength Ren finds himself selected to attend a private academy to hone his skills. There, in the ACADEMY, Ren begins to discover his innate abilities and so much more. He is fourteen going on fifteen and one of the strongest people at the ACADEMY, but he can’t imagine why. This is an origin story, in part, and an object lesson in youth, acceptance, and blind obedience within a superhero story. There are some unexpected twists and turns in this seemingly straight forward tale. Hold onto your hats and be prepared to rethink what seems normal.

Featured Interview With Susan McDonough-Wachtman

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in Bellevue, WA, and I still live in the Pacific Northwest. I have only one cat at the moment, although we were up to four cats, two gerbils, and a fish when we had three children in the house. Now, it is just my husband, me, and Sky, and all of us are feeling our ages!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I won a contest in second grade and got my story published in the school newsletter. I was hooked.
I continued to win contests in school, including two winners in the Scholastic contest, two in the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association contest for teenagers, and one from the Seattle Times. I was convinced that I would make my living as a writer. I was extremely offended when my English teacher laughed when I claimed my creative writing class at Lake Washington Vocational Technical School as my vocational credit.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Some of my favorite authors and biggest influences have been Elizabeth Peters, Connie Willis, R.A. McAvoy, Mary Stewart, Mary Norton, Edith Nesbit, Louisa May Alcott, and Zola Helen Ross (My first writing teacher at Lake Washington Voc-Tech who was an author. She was one of the founders of PNWA). My favorite genres have always been science fiction and fantasy. Today, I am inspired by the authors who write social commentary with quietly amazing heroines, like T. Kingfisher, Emma Newman, Becky Chambers, Arkady Martine, Rivers Solomon, N.K. Jemisin, and Ann Leckie.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest published book is Snail’s Pace, a space opera comedy of manners about Susannah, a Victorian woman who finds herself governess to an alien on a spaceship. Susannah did not expect this, and her intrepid British spirit and sense of superiority are severely tested by the experience of being employed by creatures who look like giant snails — particularly when they actually crawl on the dining table to eat their meal. I wrote the first draft of Susannah’sstory sometime around 1984 — so you could say she’s had a very long gestation period.

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Featured Interview With Karina McRoberts

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
.
I was born in the USA (hey, isn’t there a song about that?), but emigrated to Australia as an adult. For love, no less.
I live with my wonderul husband and extrememly clever border collie/kelpie cross supererdog on a rural property in Western Australia near York, the state’s first inland town and purportedly the nation’s most-haunted. Fascinagting spot.
I worked as a conservation biologist and completed a PhD in wildife disease ecology. Obviously, I CARE for Earth. You bet. We are converting this degraded farmland in forest/wildlife habitat. My novella, Dargo Eco- Hero also attests to that.
Creatures visit us daily. Love it!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started reading as a young child. Cannot lilve without my nightly sojourn!
Writing came later. I was working at an EXTREMELY boring job, so my mind started creating alternative universes to keep me sane. Thank goodness! And on from there to 17 books in 8 genres, and counting!
I write fiction that is character rich and emotionally gorgeous; I want to provide readers with escape, to the heights of their hearts and the depths of their souls! With all these genres, there’s truly something for everyone. Please have a look.
I am now working on an occult suspense thriller.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like character-driven fiction. All thse authors are ace at it!

Terry Pratchett. Love his humor and warmth. He had such a connection with humanity. His work is truly unique.

Janet Evanovich – the Stephanie Plum novels for a really good laugh.

Douglas Preston ane Lincoln Child for gothic-themed suspense.

And when I’m feeling brave – Shakespeare. If you can get through the language barrier, no body has ever written anything more beautiful or insightful.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Ladies of Karma is my first foray into Women’s Humorous Fiction. I was inspired by the Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels, but I wanted to add some warmth and depth, which I find lacking in those books. I kept the comedy, so, if you like Stephanie Plum and Co., you will surely enjoy The Ladies of Karma.
This novel is a response the injustices of poverty and homelessness I see around me. And the disempowerment that brings. I use literature to address the heartache we feel when encountering the horrendous reality of what some people have to live with. I have other books dealing with social issues such environmental destruction, bullying, and age abuse, where I tell stories through characters that readers can relate to. I also add comedy to the story telling. When at all possible, I think we need humor to lighten the load, so to speak.
The story is based on many of my own experiences. Take the opening scene, for instance – that was me! I really did that! OMG! Although I now live in Australia, I grew up in America, and have lived there off and on, so the character types are very familiar to me.
Anyone who’s been bullied or harassed. Ever wanted to get some of your own back?
This book is a fun, entertaining, thoughtful read. It’s pretty light (except for some darker realities) so great to read in one evening. There’s a happy ending, too. You could say it’s somewhat cozy, but definitely intelligent stuff.
I hope the book projects the idea of hope, even when things look hopeless. It’s about thinking for yourself, not being dictated to by the strictures of others, and finding a way forward. Add in compassion, camaraderie and courage to try something new, and there you have it!

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