Featured Interview With Mindy Killgrove

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello, Friends. I started my journey as an indie author long ago while living in a small town in Ohio. When I was just a kid, I participated in Young Author’s Conference, sharing works I wrote containing mysteries, suspense, and romance. I found one of my first books not long ago and I started to wonder if they still have these conferences. I hope they do because I was inspired by that first interaction and have always, always loved sharing my stories with others. Today, I live in Orlando, Florida with my adorable husband and three children who constantly keep me on my toes. I write mostly romance novels, but I represent many subgenres including children’s books, young adult, new adult, contemporary romances, and bits of historical fiction.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have two very early memories of learning to read. The first comes from a time before I could recall my own age, but I would sit at the table and read aloud “Cinderella at the Ball.” I vividly remembering doing that bit of reading while my mother held up the phone (it was a landline back then) so I could show off my skills to relatives. My second earliest memory of being a reader was when I was in the second grade. My classmates and I participated in the accelerated reader program and that was when I felt like I truly started to remember the content of the books I read. I enjoyed diving into new worlds and meeting fresh characters. I started writing shortly after that–I believe. I’m not a terribly gifted artist, so I used stencils to help draw the illustrations that were necessary. I remember pouring over my work, trying to get the story and the pictures right, then proudly displaying that work to others.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author is Jane Austen. My favorite series is the Cheney Duvall, M.D. series that was penned by Gilbert Morris. But the author whose work I have read the most is Agatha Christie. Time and again, I delight is following along with Hercule Poirot, Captain Hastings, and, of course, Miss Marple as they find the murderer and reveal their conclusions. My favorite genres to read are romance and mystery, but I also love diving into historical fiction. I am inspired by nearly everyone I meet. About a year ago, I watched the movie, inspired by the musical “Tick Tick Boom” and I felt a kinship with the main character because I, too, am constantly mining conversations I have with others for anecdotes to use in my stories. While I do specialize in writing works of fiction, my characters, their dialogue, and the conflicts they face come from a real place.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is entitled Meet Me at Blessed Creek. It will go live across many platforms this week. It is the third and final book in the Missy Lawrence Trilogy. This book has a unique spot in my heart because I began writing the trilogy almost twenty years ago. I didn’t want to put Missy’s story on the shelf, but life got in the way, I transitioned from one job to another, and before long, I’d abandoned hope of finishing the job I started. But when I sidestepped from ghostwriting and elected to become an indie author again, I knew I had to get back to Missy and her love story. In this final tale, I aim to give our heroine the ending she deserves and I hope the readers are satisfied with the way she finds her true happiness.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Mindy Killgrove’s Website

Mindy Killgrove Facebook Page

Mindy Killgrove Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Alice Lenkiewicz

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in Plymouth, Devon. I now live in Liverpool, Merseyside.
Yes, I have a small pet dog, relatively new to the family. He is very sweet. I have had dogs for many years. In October 2023, my dog Poppy of fourteen years passed away. It was a huge shock. They become so significant in our lives. I have actually been writing a book of letters to them called ‘Letters to the Dogs’ speaking to them and reflecting on our lives together. It has been very healing and therapeutic.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always enjoyed writing. At sixteen I wrote my first ever book. It was my 1981 Diary. I wrote inside it every day for that year. I wrote about my emotions and my adventures and my interests in music. I am actually in the process of publishing it all these years later. I am very excited.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
In the past I loved epic novels such as ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘Jane Eyre’. Later on, I enjoyed books by Toni Morrison and Isabelle Allende and later on still, I began to enjoy experimental Beat novels, surrealist books as well as poetry.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called ‘Shadows and Fury’. I first wrote it in 1995 in Oxford. It was a strange time in my life. I was writing my emotions and feelings down as fairy tales and fables. They are imaginary and surrealist tales about life and dreams and are written from experience and the imagination. It is something a little different. I have illustrated each story. It is available on Barnes and Noble and Amazon as well as Lulu press bookstore.

The characters in the book are lost princesses and sad queens, rebellious brides and vagabond women off on their adventures who have romances or experiences, strange and bizarre occurrences. There are ship figureheads and witches hidden inside trees and flowers that talk and communicate as well as angels and animals. I mix up genres such as fairy tale with Punk, Cowboys and Mermaids, Bad women and gangsters. It’s a medley of my inspirations, kitchen sink drama, meets the postmodern and the gothic fairy tale.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Alice Lenkiewicz’s Website

Alice Lenkiewicz Twitter Account

Featured Interview With V.Ophelia Rigault

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a highly accomplished professional with a Master’s degree in Education specializing in Educational Leadership. With over 20+ years of experience in the field of equity, diversity, and inclusion, I am a sought-after Speaker and Trainer. I am also the owner of Real Talk Solutions, a company dedicated to providing training in equity and diversity to inclusive leaders and organizations.

I am passionate about creating communities of belonging, and I am committed to partnering with inclusive leaders and organizations to foster equitable and inclusive work cultures and communities.

Through my engaging keynote speeches, impactful training sessions, community-building initiatives, and media appearances, I actively promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

Having personally experienced exclusion based on gender and race, I bring a deep understanding and empathy to my work. Drawing on my extensive background as a business consultant, entrepreneur, educator, and mindset coach spanning over 20 years, I possess a unique ability to engage diverse groups of people across various sectors.

My expertise lies in facilitating difficult conversations about race, gender, privilege, mental health awareness, and equity. I empower HR managers, business owners, and community leaders to develop their equity-building skills and create spaces where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging.

Approaching my work with empathy, compassion, and encouragement, I am dedicated to forging a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My passion for books blossomed around the tender age of 7 or 8, when I found myself newly immigrated to Canada without my large extended family around me and books became my refuge, offering me the chance to explore new realms and expand my horizons.

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 include romance novelists like Danielle Steel and Barbara Cartland from my teenage years. In high school, I was captivated by William Shakespeare, and later on, I delved into horror, crime stories, and classics by authors such as Stephen King, John Grisham, Toni Morrison, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, bell hooks, and James Baldwin.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The message in my book is that being an inclusive leader goes beyond organizational policies and humanitarian laws; it requires a genuine commitment to promoting equity. That’s why I titled my book “CAREING Leader” with the ‘E’ in the middle, emphasizing the importance of equity in leadership. True caring leadership involves recognizing and addressing historical systemic discrimination to ensure everyone is treated equitably in the organization.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

V.Ophelia Rigault’s Website

V.Ophelia Rigault Facebook Page

V.Ophelia Rigault Twitter Account

Featured Interview With April Tompkins

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in western North Dakota, but I’ve lived in a suburb of Minneapolis for the past 25 years. I have a three-year-old rescue cat named Sasha.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Oh gosh, my older sister taught me how to read before I even entered kindergarten, and I’ve been fascinated with books ever since. I only began writing seriously in 2016, but I have been quite prolific since then.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’ve always loved true crime. I like following clues and trying to figure things out. And I find real people fascinating. I also read a lot of biographies, and believe it or not US history from around the 1880’s to early 1900’s. I guess I’m eclectic.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Lies and Love is set in a fictional tourist town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. My main character, Drea, returns home against her will to take over the family store due to problems with her dad. She meets a man who is reviving the town newspaper and falls madly in love. Little things about him begin to nag at her, but she’s convinced he’s “the one”, much to the dismay of her old high school friend, Gil, who would love to be more than just friends.

Lies and Love was completed quickly (for me). It only took about six weeks to write. I don’t write every day, but that still was probably a record for me. Once I got into the story, everything flowed.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

April Tompkins’s Website

April Tompkins Facebook Page

April Tompkins Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Mark Steven Porro

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m a New Jersey native (Exit 163) with an Industrial Design degree from The Ohio State University. After years of agency work, my love of acting led me to Hollywood, where I appeared in dozens of television, film, and stage productions. I also spent my twenty-eight years in Tinseltown, entrepreneuring. I started five non-profit companies, but hold the applause, none were intended to be. I now lives in the South of France, but hold your pity. I of sound mind and body chose to suffer in the heart of wine country where the locals insist my French isn’t so bad—at least that’s what I think they’re saying.

I’m an award-winning designer, writer, director, and now an Amazon Best Selling author. I have written lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. A Cup of Tea on the Commode—a sad, sweet, and funny debut memoir—chronicles my multitasking adventures of filling my mother’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. Though not always successful, I came pretty damn close. I’m a step-father to two rescue dogs, one American, one French.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My love of books came later in life. But I did start writing early on. I loved writing funny stories, then greeting cards, and then memory books. I have always been fascinated with family history which led me to Italy to dispel a family rumor. I made a documentary of this journey and also wrote a screenplay loosely based on it. My writing came into full gear in Hollywood.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love non-fiction best, but appreciate a good story in any genre. David Sedaris is a favorite of mine, also Rick Bragg. Others include Mitch Albom, Anthony Bourdain, W.P. Kinsella, Daniel Wallace, and Joan Didion.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
At 55, I gave up my carefree bachelor life to become a first-time parent to a ninety-year-old, sharp-tongued, guilt-tripping, stubborn as all get out, and yet funny lady who could barely remember my name. My mother. It’s rare for a son to take on 24/7 caregiving, but I jumped in with gusto to fill Mom’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. Not always successful, but I came pretty damn close.
“A Cup of Tea on the Commode” chronicles my multi-tasking adventures. My hope is to not only entertain as there are a lot of fun stories in it, but to inspire others, especially men, to find the joy in caregiving. I did, and I’m a better man for it.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Mark Steven Porro’s Website

Mark Steven Porro Facebook Page

Mark Steven Porro Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rev. Iesha Congo Watson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a self published author , mother , wife , minister , Founder of Beauty for Ashes Ministries Inc. and the Jaden Earl Foundation, as well as a motivational speaker . I was raised in Wilmington , Delaware and I currently reside in Bear , Delaware .

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I realized my fascination with books when I was in grade school and at around 10 years of age that I started writing poetry .

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Maya Angelou, John Eckhardt , Sarah Jakes Roberts , Stormie Omartian, Cindy Trimm . My favorite genre to read is fiction , narratives , motivational or self help books . Sarah Jakes Roberts inspires my writing .

Tell us a little about your latest book?
A Walk Through the Valley
“A Walk Through the Valley” is more than a book—it’s a heartfelt testimony chronicling my journey through the various stages of grief. Within its pages lie not just my personal encounters with loss, but also strategic insights and inspiring pathways to healing that I earnestly wish to extend to others.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Rev. Iesha Congo Watson’s Website

Rev. Iesha Congo Watson Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Terri Greening

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live in Michigan and have lived here all my life.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve enjoyed reading since I was able to read. I think children’s picture books and board books were my first introduction to books. I started writing songs when I was a child, but I think I started writing stories when I was older. I was probably in middle school or high school when I started writing short stories.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like to read the work of many authors, especially those who write mysteries and thrillers. I read Agatha Christie novels.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Copper Isle Ghostslayer is a paranormal thriller with a mystery, hidden gold, murder and romance.

Layla Devereaux, a nature photographer, travels to an island to try to solve a murder and free her accused brother from prison. When she arrives, she finds more danger than she had imagined as well as ghosts and strange happenings. With the help of Colton Harding, a local businessman, she finds mysterious clues that lead her closer to solving the murder while encountering the supernatural.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Terri Greening’s Website

Featured Interview With Paula Y. Banks

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi there! My name is Paula and I’m a 46-year-old wife and mother of two sons aged 22 and 21. I was born and raised in New York, but now I live in Norfolk, VA. At the moment, I have a furry friend named Kane who is a mix of Corso and Rottweiler breeds.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My love for books began to grow in the 5th grade when I became fascinated with the Baby-Sitters Club book series by Ann M. Martin. I was hooked and read every single book in the series. As I entered my 9th grade year in high school, I discovered my passion for writing. I realized that I loved to write stories about various things, and that’s when I fell in love with the art of writing.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
When it comes to my favorite authors, I wouldn’t say I have one specific favorite, but I have always enjoyed the works of Terry McMillian and Toni Morrison. As far as my preferred genre goes, I love reading non-fiction books, particularly biographies. I find it fascinating to learn about people and what experiences shaped them into the person they are today, whether it’s good or bad. Music is a big inspiration for me. I’m a huge hip-hop fan and one of the reasons for that is that I love the clever wordplay and how MCs creatively put words together to create double entendres within a song. It’s an amazing skill, and it inspires me to incorporate that level of creativity into my writing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I recently published my first book, titled Peyton’s First Day at a New School, which is also the first book in a series I created called Peyton’s Journeys. The book follows the story of Peyton, an 8-year-old African American girl who is considered chubby by her peers and has been teased and picked on because of it. However, she doesn’t let her weight hold her back, and the story takes us through her journey of dealing with change as she moves from NY to VA and starts a new school. Despite her worries about not being liked because of her appearance, Peyton learns to embrace her differences and realizes that she is perfect just the way she is.

The idea for Peyton and the book series came to me while I was sitting on the couch watching TV one night. Initially, I felt like I was too old and had missed the boat on writing, but then I heard a voice telling me to write a book, clear as day. That’s when Peyton was born, and I was able to write the book in about a week.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Paula Y. Banks’s Website

Paula Y. Banks Facebook Page