Featured Interview With Karin Adams

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and it’s where I’m living now. Winters are long and cold, which is great for getting some writing done! Truly, there’s lots to do here and beautiful places to explore, and you can’t beat the gorgeous summers and the endless prairie skies. I don’t have any pets but I love animals. I know all the dogs in my neighborhood and we always stop on our walks to say “hi” to each other.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I can’t remember a time without books. I remember my mom reading me picture books and taking me to the library when I was very small. When I was a bit older and she started reading “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” to me—a chapter a night—I was captivated. I’d say it was then that I knew I wanted to tell stories and write books one day, too.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I still love C.S. Lewis to this day and re-read The Chronicles of Narnia once a year. I enjoy a wide variety of genres, from historical fiction to classic mystery novels (particularly Agatha Christie) to great works of literature like Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The books that have had the most impact on my own fiction writing are probably those I loved as a child – anything by Judy Blume and Gordon Korman fall into that category. Both authors have such a wonderful way of bringing authentic young characters and young-person situations to life, which is what I aspire to do too when writing for a middle grade audience. But I also love discovering today’s authors. I think that my writing is energized by any and everything that I read!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is “The One Week Writing Workshop”. It’s a non-fiction handbook for adults aspiring to write a novel, or those stuck somewhere in the process. The subtitle is “7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel” and that’s exactly the book’s intention! It offers a solid grounding in writing essentials, but is mostly activity-driven, inviting you to “write as you read”. By the end of the book, you’ll have experienced a proven seven-step method that you can use to write your novel and bust past creative blocks.

“The One Week Writing Workshop” took me about a year to complete, but it represents a much longer process than that. It’s based on my own novel-writing method and my many years of experience as a creative writing instructor. I’ve been leading writing workshops since 2010, so in a way the book has been in the making since then!

The activities you find in the “The One Week Writing Workshop” are all things that I do in my own process or have used to energize groups to write. I spent a lot of time figuring out the best order in which to present the writing tasks in book form, and the most inviting way to deliver my instructions. My goal was to energize and guide my readers, but also ensure that they could quickly dive into the writing activities themselves.

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Featured Interview With B. S. Daniels Novelist

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Howdy Partners!

I am not used to or enjoy talking about myself, so the simplest way I can explain myself is like this.

I was raised in the Canyon area of Colorado Springs. Readers might be more familiar with the term Cheyenne Mountain area, where NORAD is housed. Still, we lived close to where the “Broadmoor Resort” is located, and at the split of the two roads leading to the “Seven Falls” attraction which most people refer to as “The Cheyenne Canyon.”

My college years and the sowing of wild oats took place in Gunnison, Colorado, where I had about as much fun as any young man could have riding rodeo bulls, causing mischief with my buddies, and finally meeting my wife, Nancy. After being whipped off the bulls enough times and meeting Nancy, I knew for sure it was time to leave my ornery years behind.

I guided hunting trips into the mountains for friends to experience our vast wilderness and understand why I loved working in God’s country versus the boredom of a desk job. I found owning a tow truck business rewarding at times, helping many stranded people who wanted to enjoy our area but had no clue about how to prepare for winter storms on their visits. It was fraught with danger from time to time when vehicle repossessions were called for.

Deciding I wished for a better home base, we moved to New Castle, Colorado where I later found an interest in the tree and wood industry that I developed into more than one business. I had always cut firewood for our home but found it a lucrative business, which I created and expanded into a vending machine that sold boxed firewood. Later, I turned my hand and knowledge into trimming trees, then expanded into more branches of the wood business by investing in a mill.

My four children kept me busy during that time as well. We enjoyed watching them grow and shook our heads at their antics, recalling our youth as they did so. After they left home, Nancy and I were left with an empty nest, and we decided to strike out again. We moved to a small town in Meeker, Colorado, where we built a tiny home for ourselves and became a part of that community until the wanderlust hit us again, and we were off for a real adventure.

We now live in an exciting new chapter in Fort Laramie, WY, where I enjoy my lifelong dream of writing. I’ve had many four-legged companions, starting with Tinker, the fox terrier, D. O. G. (yes, that was his name}, plus another pup named Dog, then Caller, Buck, Rusty, Coffee, and now Kinder, all cattle dogs. They were my constant companions, always by my side when I cut firewood in the Cochetopa Creek Canyon in Gunnison, working on the ranch, hunting, fishing, or driving into town.
A cowboy can’t be without his dog on the range!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing for friends in college. I would help them out with love letters to their girlfriends. We had a great time doing that. Now, remember, I did mention earlier about my ornery days.

The problem with writing a book is that one needs to know how to spell. It’s hard to write if you can’t manage the spelling. Sometimes even the computer had a rough time figuring out what I had written on the page. I often had to chuckle at myself.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like Louis L’Amour’s style. I always enjoyed his writing. He wrote a simple story that was easy to read yet full of exciting events in the cowboys of the West.

Westerns were, and always have been, my favorite genre and will always be my way of living life. Simple, honorable, and full of respect for others.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book, TRAIL OF FATE, originally began as a one-hundred-page book.
Then, it began to grow as the characters developed. It is a novel suitable for all ages, featuring humor, challenging times, good times, and good old Western shootouts.

The book took about a month to write, but several months to be edited. With every edit, more detail was added and it continued to grow. Steven Spielberg stated, “Don’t develop the characters. let the characters develop themselves.”

I look forward to writing many more novels in the “Arduous Quest Series” to see where my characters will take me. I try to keep my writing simple. and I hope I paint a picture that intrigues the reader. ~B. S. Daniels (or Scott, as most people call me)

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Featured Interview With Mellisha Carter-Linton

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an Internal Auditor, Author, Empowerment Coach, Mentor and the mother of two awesome human beings. I have won medals in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Literary Arts competition in 2018 and 2019.

I was raised in the parish of St. Catherine located on the beautiful island nation of Jamaica in the West Indies, where I still live. I have no pets, as yet.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My earliest introduction to books was at about the age of 4yrs old. My mother had a book with pictures with the names of the images underneath and she would teach me from the book.

I was introduced to story writing in high school, as it was a requirement for sitting the external Caribbean English examination. My English Teacher did an excellent job at teaching the art of story writing, which unearth a talent that I never knew I had. She made me believe I could.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
When I was younger I loved reading mystery books such as Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I was intrigued by the stories and the authors ability to hold my interest from start to finish. I now prefer inspirational books. I admire the work of Author Terri Savelle Foy.

My writings are now inspired by my Christian Faith and my life experiences.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book “From Bitterness to Betterness. Principles to Change Your Outlook on Life,” chronicles the life of a young girl named Genie who was born to a teenage mother, who was unprepared for her arrival. Genie grew up to suffer from severe emotional abuse which resulted in her suffering from low self esteem, as she harboured unhealthy, self-destructive thoughts.

The principles outlined in the book will offer guidance on the power of forgiveness, breaking generational curses, establishing a road map for your life, pursuing your purpose and reassuring your parents that even though you suffered at their hands, they did their best under the circumstances.

The outline for my book was written in 2016 and it was my 1st failed attempt at entering the national essay writing competition. I had some trauma in my life and I picked it up (the script) in 2021, found a publisher and completed it in 2022. I initially had a challenge in writing more than 3000 words (this was the required word count for the essays) but with coaching I was able to complete the manuscript.

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Featured Interview With Rachel Young

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My motto in life is to have fun. I believe God created us to live life to full—which to me means— to soak in the beauty of every sunset, delight in the giggles of my children, and splash into the deep end of the activity before me.

I met my prince charming in high school drama class, he woo-ed me with poetry and pursued me until I said yes. I moved to Marysville, California in the middle of my junior year where I met him from Sterling, Colorado, a tiny podunk town that was a lovely place to grow up. My fabulous husband is the superhero dad to our four children and the calm to my crazy. Our couple superpower is supporting each other’s dreams to the bitter (and sweet) end. We live at a lake in Northern California where he manages a campground called Collins Lake. We have a golden doodle, 11 chickens and 3 goats.

I’m not a neutral kind of person–vibrant colors go best on me, and one of my friends has described me as a pen of many colors. You can find me serving tea (or wine) in my cabin in the woods of Northern Calfornia, to anyone and everyone who finds themself at my table for rousing and thoughtful conversations.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My writing journey began in the fourth grade when my teacher read my adjective-infused story aloud to the superintendent. I was hooked. I discovered journalism in high school with delightful Bruce who let me sneak off campus for donuts and gave me behind-the-scenes access to everything with my press pass. I learned some more at Azusa Pacific University and put my skills to work at a small-town publication in Pasadena. Then I told God that I wasn’t meant to be a writer, but a baker and extravagant hospitality giver.

With many tears, I answered the call God set before me to endeavor to write a book. I questioned Him many times if I heard Him correctly. But here we are, to the detriment of my housekeeping, the book he gave me to write is available to anyone who needs its message.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My all time favorite author is C.S. Lewis. He had a profound way of speaking God’s truths into story. I love any story that captivates me. I have especially loved lately Andy Andrews’ “The Noticer” and Bob Goff. I love theology reading and philosophy. And just a good fun story. Currently reading “Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingall’s Wilder to my 1st grader for homeschool. We are enjoying it. And my other all time favorite author is Francine Rivers. I have also recently enjoyed Lynn Austin.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
About 12 years ago my mother-in-law asked me to write down her story where she met the God who sees her. I started the project by interviewing her several times and even writing what I thought was the introduction. Somehow the project got tabled and I put it out of my mind.

Fast forward 10 years and I am 8 months pregnant with my third child. I somehow stumbled upon a one hour webinar with Selfpublishing.com and when the presenter said “a writer needs to write,” I started crying. I knew right then I couldn’t keep delaying. I had to obey God’s call to write this book.

I went up to talk to my mother-in-law who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and early signs of dementia. She did not remember that she had once wanted me to write a book for her. With prodding from her husband, she finally did remember and was thrilled I wanted to take on the project.

Two years later, I am at last publishing God Gave Me Diarrhea, a testimony of faith through impossibly difficult circumstances. It is an interweaving of stories that bring together God’s faithfulness and attentive care.

She suddenly became a full-time caretaker of her 27-year old adopted son when he was severely brain injured. He became like a permanent one-and-a-half-year-old, angry and violent. She had to trust God for the help she needed and saw him answer one prayer after another, the first being in the form of Diarrhea.

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Featured Interview With Ambro Blackwell

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Ambro Blackwell is a Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author for his book “Small Business Loans Made Simple”.

He’s currently a vice president and senior business banking relationship manager at JP Morgan Chase. He helps CEOs, CFOs, business owners, and executives to properly manage cash flow in their businesses and obtain commercial financing for various aspects of the lifecycle of their respective businesses.

He delivers thought-provoking and both conventional and non-conventional methods of strategic planning to help businesses set themselves up for success and obtain true access to capital.
Ambro’s mission is to help entrepreneurs and business leaders lead the most fiscally responsible companies authentically in the 21st Century. He has worked with CEOs and executives for over 20 years.

Ambro holds the designation of a Certified Treasury Professional from the Association of Financial Professionals. He earned a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California at Riverside, and an MBA in both Finance and Marketing from La Sierra University.
Working as a small business lender and commercial banking officer at some of the largest financial institutions in the world has given Ambro the edge and relationships to quickly analyze and support companies in almost every industry.

As a child of parents who were enlisted in the military, he grew up in several cities around the Air Force bases in Southern California with his siblings when they didn’t live on the military base.
He is actively involved in the community and charitable causes. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies, jogging, and spending time with friends or family in Southern California.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I first realized my fascination with books when I was studying for my bachelors degree in college at University of California at Riverside. However, I didn’t get started writing until I met a gentleman by the name of Paul Walker at business networking mixer among C-Suite executives in Orange County, California.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My list of favorite authors are extensive and I don’t think I could possibly list them all. However, some of my favorite authors include David Meltzer, Patrick Bet David, Daymond John, Jack Welch, Warren Buffet, Daniel Priestley, David Goggins, Robert Kiyosaki and more. My favorite genre is a mix between business finance and self-improvement. My inspiration comes from family and that includes my mother in particular. In addition, to my family I draw inspiration from individuals that demonstrate a high level of success.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Many of my peers have told me that they believe this is a help me to help you type of book. The goal in mind when writing the book was to provide the reader or listener with a road map that can serve as a guide to educate the business owner and entrepreneur on many of things that will help them to find success in seeking funding to grow, expand or start their business. A lot of myths are dispelled and resourceful information is packed inside of the book.

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Featured Interview With James Landsaw

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Missouri, then we moved pretty much all over the country. I kind of got off the moving bus with Family in West Texas. This is where I finished High School and begin my Career. I now live in Big Spring Texas

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
After working for many years in the country club industry and a few other industries. I worked 65 plus hours a week and was always on the front lines and back of the house. My Wife and children didn’t see me much as I spent long days and nights at work. My wife always says you run the country club, and I run the house!

I’ve since retired and decided to write about some of the gossip I ‘ve seen and heard. This is where I begin my adventure into the next part of my life. It was an area I disliked a lot about people.

I found that gossip and lies can create lots of funny stories and trouble. Gossip about corruption, lifestyles, sex, scandals, racism, drugs, lies, and politics found on all levels and classes. So, I decided to put those stories on paper.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My wife and family continued to say with all the tails you talk about why don’t you put them on paper?

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Behind The Setting of a Country Club According to Inquisitive Jeff” by James Landsaw is a book that delves into the intriguing and often scandalous world of a country club. The story follows Jeff, a waiter at the club, who uncovers various aspects of life within this exclusive setting. The book explores themes such as gossip, corruption, lifestyles, sex, scandals, racism, drugs, lies, and politics, showing that these issues permeate all levels of society, regardless of class.
Jeff’s inquisitive nature leads him to discover that whether one is rich, middle class, or poor, everyone faces similar problems. The narrative provides a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the staff and members of the country club, revealing the complexities and hidden truths of their interactions

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