Featured Interview With Allison Lee

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Huddersfield but spent some of my early childhood living in Singapore, where my father was stationed while he was in the Royal Marines.
I now live on a smallholding in the Yorkshire countryside with my husband of almost 37 years. We have three miniature donkeys, two miniature Shetland ponies, three micro pigs, five pygmy goats, twelve sheep, six chickens and four dogs – life is hectic!
We also have two sons and two granddaughters.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have loved books since I was a small child and I have always harboured a dream to write a best seller!
I first started reading at a very young age, Enid Blyton was my favourite author and I enjoyed exploring all her books again when our children were little and now that I have grandchildren they are also enjoying the adventures of the Famous Five!
I first started writing about ten years ago when I ventured into writing non-fiction books about my career at the time which was childcare. These books were published by several publishers including Bloomsbury and Continuum International.
More recently I have got back into writing and I have published two novels so far this year with a lighthearted series of books about life living and working on the smallholding due to be released in the coming months.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Stephen King is my favourite author and has been for many years. I have read almost every book he has written, and his work has brought me into a world of horror. I also enjoy thrillers, and lately, I have enjoyed reading the works of Adele Parks. Her books are well written and set a fabulous pace – I can’t put them down!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, The Final Chase, was published on 3rd May. It is a thriller set in Snowdonia. Although it is only my second novel, I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, and I have already started writing my third!
The Final Chase is about a young woman who has suffered abuse at the hands of her husband for years. When she finally manages to pluck up the courage to leave him, with the help of her brother, she finds herself in a sleepy village in Snowdonia. However, all is not as it seems in the village, and she starts to uncover disturbing things. As her husband tracks her down, the net closes, and the final chase begins.

My next book, the first in the series, All The Gear, No Idea! will be out shortly. It is a humorous look at life on the smallholding. It will give you an insight into my everyday world and help you to understand the highs and lows of living and working with various animals throughout the seasons in the bleak Yorkshire countryside.

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Allison Lee’s Website

Featured Interview With Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
In 2008, I left behind an almost two-decade career in the financial services industry in order to open the doors for the Best Ever You Network. Today, Best Ever You is a revolutionary multimedia brand and platform with millions of fans and followers around the world.

Elizabeth is a bestselling author, success strategist, change facilitator, trainer, and speaker focused on helping others root in gratitude and compassion to navigate change and breakthrough to their best success. I am the author of the bestselling, five-time award-winning book, The Change Guidebook: How to Align Your Heart, Truths, and Energy to Find Success in All Areas of Your Life and The Success Guidebook – How to Visualize, Actualize, and Amplify You. I am also the author of PERCOLATE – Let Your Best Self Filter Through published by Hay House.

When I was 25, I was diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies and has nearly lost my life on multiple occasions, once while six months pregnant with her son Cam. These food allergies and stories are documented in my books and children’s books. These experiences have helped me become a food allergy advocate helping people stay alive and thrive with food allergies. I work with multiple organizations including FAACT and MedicAlert Foundation.
My husband, Peter and I have been married for more than twenty-five years and have four adult sons, three rescued cats, and two dogs. We can often be found in Maine in their gardens, in the pool, raking leaves, or, depending on the season, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been fascinated with books since Kindergarten. I was one of the kids who could read and write in Kindergarten so I helped the other kids learn. In 3rd grade, my teacher said, “You’re going to become an author.” That has always stuck with me.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading books in the self-help genre and Jack Canfield is my favorite author and success coach. I also enjoy reading books by Lisa Gable and Liz Brunner who write about leadership and success. I am most inspired in my writing by Jack Canfield, as I feel he helps people be their best in all he goes.
I am fascinated by the topics of gratitude, change, success, and compassion and will read most books about these areas.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is the 2nd in the Guidebook Series called The Success Guidebook – How to Visualize, Actualize, and Amplify You. It’s time for us to redefine success for our authentic selves—a one-size fits-all-concept is not only outdated but unworkable. Success is so much more than data or the dollars in our bank account. True success is reflected in the smiles that brighten our faces and the peace that settles in our hearts. It’s the gratitude we seek in all things and the intention and actions being our very best in each moment.

In The Success Guidebook, readers will find inspiration, motivation, and a pathway to live their best, most fulfilling life. By implementing my unique Ten Factors of Success—the behaviors consistently exhibited by people who stand out and behave with world-class excellence—readers will learn how to finally overcome the stubborn obstacles that have stood in their way and harness the power to move forward with clarity, a renewed purpose, and the personalized confidence to build a life of bold, brave, and infinite possibilities. Included are profiles of 20 people who exemplify these principles. Here’s the secret: You don’t need to be on a national or international platform to be world-class. You can have it right in your own home, to be and feel successful in each and every moment of your life. This book will help you learn how to tap into world-class behaviors and get the results you desire—at last.

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Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino’s Website

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino Facebook Page

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Robert J. Emery (pen name R.J. Eastwood)

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Mr. Emery’s career as a Producer, Director, and Writer of motion pictures and television productions spans four decades. At a very early age, he began writing short stories and shared them with one of his teachers, who encouraged him to keep writing. His work in motion pictures and television eventually led him to begin writing books, both fiction and non-fiction, for which he has received many book awards, among them, Pen America, Author’s Circle, Book Excellence, Book Talk Radio, Readers Favorite, Literary Titan, International Review of Books.

His newest novel, “MEGASTAR,” is his 9th publication.

Mr. Emery’s film career began with writing and directing regional and national TV commercials, live local television, corporate films, network documentaries, and motion pictures. His award-winning productions include “Swimming Upstream” (feature film), “For God and Country: A Marine Snipers Story” (MSNBC), “The Directors” (91 episodes Starz/Encore), “The Genocide Factor” (4-hour mini-series PBS)

Mr. Emery was born and raised in Bristol, Rhode Island. He currently resides with his wife in Florida. When not writing or working on a project around the house, Mr. Emery can be found in the kitchen creating great Italian meals thanks to the teachings of his Italian mother and to the delight of his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Early in my teens I began writing short stories usually no longer than a single hand-written page. I have no idea why, I just enjoyed writing short stories. I had teacher who would read and critique my stories. She said I had a naturnal talent and that I schoud pursue writing. After my 4 years in the Air Force, I had made up my mind that I wanted to be in the film business. I of no training in that field other my time with Armed Forces Radio. I would have to teach myself, soI began by directing TV commercials for the local station. I began writing screenplays and was very lucky to get my first one financed by local investors. The rest as they say, is history. I was very lucky to spend 4-decades as a Producer, Writer and Director in the motion picture and TV industry as a member of the Directors Guild of America. When I retired from active production, I turned to writing books, something I always wanted to do but never had the time for. I have been published 9 times, three of my books are novels, the rest nonfiction. I am a member of the Writers Guild. My current novel is MEGASTAR, which I spent some 20 months writing and working with my editor before my publisher released it on May 1, 2024. Of the books I’ve written, both fiction and nonfiction, MEGASTAR was the most joy of all of my books because of the unique story and characters I created. It has been very well reviewed.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
It is hard to say who my favorite author is because there are many. I read both fiction and nonfiction and enjoy all genres as long as they are well written. I follow the rule that a well-written book captures a reader with a strong first page and first chapter. I strive for that in my writing. What keeps the reader turning pages? That’s the first question every author should ask. As for inspiration, my wife is the first person to read whatever I am working on. She is an avid reader herself, so I trust her to be honest with me. Trust me, she can be brutal, which is why I trust her instincts.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
MEGASTAR came about when I thought it would be great to tell a story about one man’s life from his birth to his death. I finally settled on the idea of a young man – Addison Jordon Stone – who just turned 19. He has an incredible and unique singing voice and sings in the local church choir. People jamb the church on Sunday’s just to hear Addison sing. Through a series of circumstances, he is discovered by a New York talent agent who gets Addison a spot on the international broadcast of Sing America Sing. To his surprise, he wins and his star rises quickly. But because of a traumatic childhood, his demons come back to haunt him, and he is ill prepared for the fan adulation, the demans of stardom, and he is involved in complicated love interest. If I say anymore, I will ruin it for readers, so I will leave it there.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Robert J. Emery (pen name R.J. Eastwood)’s Website

Robert J. Emery (pen name R.J. Eastwood) Facebook Page

Robert J. Emery (pen name R.J. Eastwood) Twitter Account

Featured Interview With A.M. Davila

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Long Island and now live in upstate New York with my husband, two young daughters, and our dog. We live near the woods and a river which is a much less hectic way of life than either my husband or I grew up with, but still close enough to the city for activities and rendezvous. I’m a high school teacher by day, and I dabble in vegetable gardening when I find the time.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember! My mom is an avid reader and so was my paternal grandmother. They always read to us, took us to the library, and rummaged through garage sales for used books. It was something I realize now with my own daughters that I associated with love and warmth. As I grew older, reading became an escape as well and a way to travel through space and time without having to leave my house. As for writing, I distinctly remember having to write stories in school often in 2nd and 3rd grade. I even still have one from third grade about a butterfly, inspired by a science activity where we raised caterpillars in class. From there I just kept writing! I wrote in marble notebooks mostly, and when I was in high school I would finish work early so I could sneak some time to write in class. I had an English teacher in high school who encouraged me to keep writing…and I did! So many years later, but I did!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t have a particular author that I can pinpoint as a favorite, but I do have favorite genres. Historical fiction is my usual go-to, and I’ve been able to actually use quite a bit of what I’ve learned in those readings in the classes I teach. My students might not think so, but I always think it’s pretty cool to connect a novel to my lessons! I also love YA books of different kinds. They can be so well-done, but sometimes overlooked. Within YA I love dystopian and apocalyptic works, but lately I’ve been reading more books involving kids of color or other marginalized groups. I think it’s important to understand different points of view.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Undoing is my debut! It’s the first in a 3 book series. I was inspired when I wad stuck in traffic on my way to work in the pouring rain one December. Essentially: the apocalypse arrives on Christmas morning, but few realize that’s what’s going on. They think the recent bad weather knocked the power out. It did! But it also didn’t 😉 . Our six characters happen to be alone or stranded on Christmas, and once they realize they can’t carry on like that, they each leave and their lives intersect. It’s an apocalyptic adventure, but it’s really a story about regular people. There’s no ex-military character or doomsday prepper to save everyone. These characters could be you, me, your friend, or your cousin. Every character is recognizable in our everyday lives, and I believe that’s the beauty of The Undoing. They are raw and real, sometimes a little annoying and sometimes even a little magical! Readers will want to see how they all make it through, especially when they realize who the characters all are and what they are bring to the table: a cantankerous LGBT interracial couple, an impulsive teenage Mexican immigrant, some disgruntled kids, and a strong-willed Black female business executive might seem like they have little to offer at the end of the world, but the characters surprise themselves and the readers.

Featured Interview With Ellenmorris Tiegerman

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Manhattan in Washington Heights in a Housing Project. I was one of three children. I was the oldest. And my Sister, Susan, was the middle child while my Brother was the youngest. When I was seven years old, I went with my Mother and my four-year-old Sister to a playground which, at the time, had a cement base. My Sister walked up the slide and fell off. She remained unconscious for several weeks, and the entire family was traumatized. When she finally woke up and came home, she had lost most of her speech and language functioning. My family was never the same after that. When it was time for my Sister to go to school, the local public school refused to take her, since she was clearly developmentally disabled. There was a point in time when the family actually considered institutionalizing her, but obviously, this was a very traumatic and drastic decision.

My Father decided that he was going to teach my Sister, and he borrowed money from his pension to purchase school books that he used at home for instructional purposes. He worked with my Sister for 12 years every night and rarely, if ever, missed a day. When she graduated from high school, my Sister gave him her diploma and said: “Mommy gave me my first life, and you gave me my second.”
The experiences I had as a child, which were clearly traumatic, were also formative and inspirational. While teaching as a Professor at Adelphi University, I had the opportunity in 1985 to open a preschool program for 36 children with language disorders just like my Sister’s. I loved working in this program, and I worked very hard to expand its services so that now there are 800 children and adults attending the program from all over Long Island and in New York City.

What did I learn? I learned about my Father’s persistence and devotion of love. He never gave up on my Sister, and I never gave up on my school. As painful as my childhood was, I am grateful for the lessons that I learned and the struggles that I had. I think we all need to take a step back and reflect on the blessings that we have received from our parents and our families. These are the lessons that shaped us into the adults that we become in time.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I always loved to read. I read everything I could possibly get from the library. I was most interested in fantasy and science fiction. When I started teaching at the University, I decided to write a textbook about my Sister’s problem, since I realized that there were so many children with language and communication disorders. As much as I loved reading, I loved writing even more. So, I wrote several textbooks on developmental disabilities. It is only recently that I considered venturing off to write something a little more creative based on an experience I had as a teenager when I was traveling in Crete.

While I was on a tour at an archeological site in Crete, I had the sensation and flashback memories of having been there before. In fact, I knew where everything was located at the site. I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. It was frightening. When I spoke to my parents about it, they insisted that I never tell anyone about the experience. So, I kept it a secret for many, many years. It wasn’t until I took a therapeutic training seminar and course with Dr. Brian Weiss, a renowned Psychiatrist, that I realized I was not the only person who had experienced a set of flashbacks on a past life. Based on that seminar, I decided to write a book about a university Professor, such as myself, who had flashbacks but used the experience to solve a murder mystery on the campus of the university. This was my first venture into the world of creative fiction. A dramatic departure for me, given my scientific textbooks.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love the great British literary giants, such as Bronte and Austen. Presently, my favorite books consist of Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss and the Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Past Lives Denied incorporates my personal experiences at the university on the University Personnel Committee. My years teaching serve as the backdrop for the protagonist, Caitlyn Morrys, to investigate and attempt to solve a murder mystery on campus. Professor Morrys also has nightmares and flashbacks about past lives, and she also is uncomfortable with dealing with the possibility of the reality of past life regression. It’s not quite mainstream in our society, and without a doubt, most people are of the opinion that the entire topic is “weird.” It’s only someone like Dr. Brian Weiss who has the reputation and stature to carry the admission that he has had multiple past lives. It’s a fascinating topic for discussion and certainly for self-exploration.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Ellenmorris Tiegerman’s Website

Ellenmorris Tiegerman Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Lee Adam

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a part-time procrastinator, a full-time dreamer, and a father of two. I spend most of my free time with my head in a book and a cup of tea in my hand.
I was born and raised in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, where I still live with my wife, our two beautiful daughters, dog, and corn snake.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always loved books from a young age, but my true passion was born at the age of 36 after Watching Reacher on amazon prime, then I started reading the Reacher series of books by Lee Child.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My current favourite authors are Lee Child and David Baldacci. I enjoy reading crime and thriller books, and apart from my wonderful family, I as inspired to write after discovering the work of Lee Child.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, which is my first, is a crime novel based in Glasgow/Edinburgh Scotland. The story is about the turbulent relationship between a father and his teenage daughter, who has herself wrapped up in the criminal underworld with her drug lord boyfriend. The book has some tear-jerking moments, some funny moments, with a little bit of violence thrown in.

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Lee Adam’s Website

Lee Adam Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Electra Nanou

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. I moved to the UK in 2012, eventually ending up in Norwich, Norfolk, where I started to find my unique little place in the publishing industry. Now, I’m a freelance content writer and editor while creative writing, beta reading, and reviewing books on the side.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I loved to read as soon as I was able to and started writing as a hobby around the age of 12. I was determined to write an epic fantasy trilogy, which will now be a saga. Since then, my reading and writing interests have expanded to many different genres of novels and short stories.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I lean towards indie authors for their unique style and voice. I still love fantasy but prefer quirky stories, ranging from general and speculative fiction to dark fantasy and magical realism, the latter being my absolute favourite. It was Tolkien and Robert Jordan who triggered my writing journey. The likes of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende, Laurel Hightower, and many more took over.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
To Save a Thorn is the second book in my epic fantasy series Aerieti Chronicles of the Fall. It follows a young witch who finds herself honour-bound to leave her matriarchal island community and deliver an ancient scroll to a complete stranger on the dreaded mainland. Her courage and magical talent can only take her so far, however, as new enemies snap at her heels and doubts about who to trust claw at her conscience. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to survive? It’s a story two years in the making about overcoming trauma and redefining yourself.

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Electra Nanou’s Website