Featured Interview With William James barry

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born and raised in upstate New York. During high I worked at a lumber company. After graduatiog I joined the US Navy and served as an assistant navigator on an ammunition ship , the USS Nitro AE23. After the service, I entered college, studying marketing and advertising. I worked for a while at IBM and then landed a job with the Providence Journal Company, a statewide newspaper in Rhode Island. I lived with my wife, three daughters, and West Highland terriors in Lincoln RI until I retired and moved to Florida.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Almost from the time I could read. I suffered as a kid with ‘wanderlust, the strong desire to be someplace else and books help me do that – be somewhere else.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As a youngster it was Ernest Hemmingway and JD Salinger. – after that I went through various phases, Patterson, Grisham, Le Carre, Balducci and others. Historical fiction is my favorite genre. My wife Jeanette, three daughters, and five grandchildren are my inspiration for writing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I just published my eighth book, a short story compilation titled, Twenty Four and More!. It has story at art contributions from all five of my grandchildren.

Featured Interview With Keath Silva

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I recently moved Los Angeles, California. I lived in rural Oregon for a decade previously. I was raised in Northern California and New York. I have two adorable and mischievous cats and many many plants. I am an avid gardener.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My mother read to me out load for my entire childhood. My fascination with books really intensified at age 9 when my mother read the Hobbit to me! I began writing poetry at age 8.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read novels about botany! Some of my favorite are The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner and The Signature of all Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. I also love to read poetry. One of my favorite poets is Alike Said-Menon

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called King Crone and The Empty Nest, a Collection of TRANSformational Poetry for Rites of Passage

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Keath Silva’s Website

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Featured Interview With Langdon Franz

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a Navy brat and have lived everywhere from Maine to South Carolina to Washington State. After working for an Associates of Science, I joined the Navy for six years and operated a nuclear reactor on a submarine. When I finished my time in the navy in 2013 I worked at another power plant before eventually going back to school and earning my Bachelor’s in Nuclear Energy Technology. Eventually I realized I hated nuclear energy and went back to school for my MA in English and Creative Writing which I completed in 2022. I spent the first ten years of my life in Maine and the most previous ten years of in Raleigh, NC where I live with my wife and two daughters. I currently have an Australian Shepherd, Diesel, a Husky, Nala, and two cats, Yanni and Lilah. All four of them were rescues.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I discovered Goosebump in 1995 when I was ten years old and those carried me until I was thirteen where I shifted into reading exclusively fantasy novels. These included series like The Wheel of Time, Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Coldfire Trilogy, The Serpentwar Saga and The Riftwar Legacy to name a few. Around that time I dabbled in writing my own stories. They weren’t good. But it did grow my desire to one day be an author which, twenty-five years later, has become reality.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Brandon Sanderson and Will Wight have encompassed the majority of my reading over the last decade. I rarely read anything other than fantasy. But if it’s not fantasy, it’s cosmic horror. Sanderson was a HUGE influence in my writing. Everything from the 3rd person limited point-of-view of only a few characters, to his unique magic systems and overarching story stretching across his Cosmere. Over the last few years, I have fallen in love with. H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu Mythos which have ignited a desire to write cosmic horror sometime in the future.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Heirs of the Promise took me three years to write. The first two years, I worked on it throughout my MA in English and Creative Writing. My thesist for the program was Part 1 of Heirs of the Promise. It took me one more year to finish up Part 2 and 3. It follows the protagonist, Kilal, who is the Immortal Arbiter. Arbiters are a group of enhanced humans who have the power to carve runes into their wrists to gain different abilities based on the combination of runes. The world is flat and split into three parts with only one part, The Sunlight Domain, inhabited by humans. An enormous Veil of black energy seperates the The Sunlight Domain from the Ashen Lands, a nightmarish hellscape home to the Ash Fallen, the enemy of humanity. The story picks up after Kilal and his daughter, Lilliana, were trapped in the Ashen Lands for ten years. During those ten years, Kilal lost Lilliana and fears her to be dead. After Kilal returns to the Sunlight Domain, abandoning his search for Lilliana, he must warn his land of an impending invasion of Ash Fallen which will wipe humanity from the face of their flat earth. But upon returning, he quickly realizes he no longer knows his land. A mysterious group calling themselves the Heirs of the Promise have settled into the Sunlight Domain, killed many of Kilal’s friends and corrupted the vast majority of the remaining Arbiters. Kilal finds himself faced with the task of recruiting warriors to head back into the Ashen Lands and kill the rising leader of the Ash Fallen, while trying to continue the search for his daughter and put an end to the Heirs of the Promise. It’s a fast paced novel which will be told over four books, The Immortal Arbiter Saga.

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Langdon Franz’s Website

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Featured Interview With Kenny D.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Kendall Reagler aka Kenny D. I’m 42 years old and born under the sign cancer. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas. I Moved away to Houston, Texas to attend Texas Southern University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications. I moved to New York, NY for a job offer on Wall St. and lived there for some years until later moving back to Texas. iI am the oldest of 5, I have 3 sisters and 1 brother. I have nieces and nephews and a dog (Boxador) name Sir Drake who is like my child.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always enjoyed books and reading always took me another world. Away from the troubles and struggles of everyday reality and into a never-ending world that went as far as my imagination would take it. I’m a new author with 3 books under my belt so far. My first book, “Investing in Yourself” which is a self-help book on investing in your greatest asset which is YOU. My second book, “2024 Soulful Word Search: A Quest for Positivity”, is a word search book of all positive words as well as positive quotes throughout. My 3rd book, “A Journey, The Journal which is another self-betterment book to help you journal your daily life and set goals and achieve them.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
A few favorite authors of mine are, James Baldwin, Alice Walker, E. Lynn Harris, George M. Johnson, Toni Morrison just to name a few right off the top of my head. There are so many more. My favorite genre is black love, romance and fiction. I may have once upon a time been somewhat of a hopeless romantic lol but that’s another story for another day. I take my inspirations from many things and people. Mostly from strong people in my have and may have left and still left some sort of mark on me so I take that as well as them on me with every new book and journey.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, “Your Journey, A Journal” is not just a book, but your personal sanctuary for self-discovery and growth. This isn’t about reading; it’s about writing YOUR story. Each page invites you to delve into your thoughts, set meaningful goals, and express gratitude. Embrace the daily journey with morning reflections, affirmations, water intake tracking, mood check-ins, and future planning. ‘Your Journey’ is where you actively engage with yourself, crafting a narrative that transforms your days into intentional, empowering experiences. Let this journal be the compass guiding you toward a more mindful and fulfilled life—one entry at a time.”

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Kenny D.’s Website

Kenny D. Facebook Page

Kenny D. Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Walker Zupp

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Bermuda, where I studied until I was 16 years old. Then I went to Marlborough College for 2 years in the United Kingdom, where I stayed for university. I got my PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Exeter, and now I live in Cornwall, and am looking for a job.

Bermuda was “southern”, edgy, and privileged growing up. England afterwards was tough, but I found my niche first at boarding school writing poetry, and then at university writing plays and novels.

I would love to have a dog or cat, but my partner is allergic to most animals, so that one’s out! We have several plants though: Greg, McNeil, Rebecca, and Gustaf, the aloe vera. We have spent a lot of time at the Flicka Donkey Sanctuary in Mabe, Cornwall. We also like scratching other people’s dogs.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
When I was growing up, I always thought books were for smart people, so I stayed away. But I remember reading Flush by Carl Hiaasen, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Those were books where I learned about sex, and other things.

I started writing poetry seriously at boarding school, and had some success when I reached university. I published poems in Australia, and other places. I wrote two practice novels during my undergraduate years, and then I wrote my first serious novel for my MA in Creative Writing at Lancaster University. I managed to sign a contract to publish the novel before I got my degree. One of the good things about being published is that people begin to trust you more, so I kept writing novels and getting them published. There is not much money involved, but having spoken with authors who are much more successful than I am, money seems to be the thing lacking in the publishing world. Not that I write for financial reward.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read Doctor Who novelisations, and I had learned more about storytelling from books b Terrance Dicks and Ian Marter than I have from anything else. I also read Plato, D.H. Lawrence, Philip K. Dick, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Emily Dickinson, James Baldwin, and lots of non-fiction too, like Joel Kotkin’s The Coming Age of Neo-Feudalism, Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine, and Doug Stokes’ Against Decolonisation.

I don’t read in any particular genre, and I actually think that thinking about “genre” prevents the writer from producing their best work.

I have never understood inspiration, and look upon writing as something that I do. I don’t seem to need much inspiration to start writing – all I know is that if I don’t write, I get ill.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Fibber, which will be released by Montag Press on 1st February 2024, is about a poet who is charged with publishing in an illegal magazine, and sentenced to become a bureaucrat in a huge stone head posing as a refugee camp, when it is actually something much bleaker. It’s based on The Foundation Pit by Andrei Platonov, which is a Soviet-era satirical novel about collectivisation, and my editor, Charlie Franco, helped me to really get the book into shape. I hope that you all enjoy it!

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Walker Zupp’s Website

Walker Zupp Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Zoë Routh

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born in England, grew up in Canada on the prairies, and have been living in Australia since 1996. So basically, collecting Commonwealth passports. Most of my career life has been in the outdoors – leading canoe trips, working for Outward Bound. All this adventuring stayed with me, and I still put the pack on for little gambols in the hills.

It’s also always been about people. I’ve been running leadership development programs for over 36 years now.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I must have been eight or nine, maybe younger, when my parents gave me a book about King Arthur, It was marvellous and magic! I have not been without a book since then. Except for five years after my English literature degree where I could not read a book for pleasure.

I remember my first story from about eleven, called The Pirate. My parents kept it and I recently re-read it – hilarious! Apparently the worst thing that ‘Louis Bourg’ ever did was ‘falling in love with a young girl’. Bahaha!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Favourite authors…changes all the time! Current obsessions: Kate Quinn, David Brin, Pierce Brown.

Favourite genres: speculative fiction, historical fiction, spy thrillers.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The most recently published book, Terra Blanca: Insurrection, asks the question, “can we really live and lead collaboratively”? It sets in the near future, in a climate ravaged world, where we are experimenting with new habitats, man-made islands. I wanted to explore best leadership intentions struggling against our more primal nature.

I started writing in December 2022 and finished the first draft in March. Editing rounds and production took forever, and it was released in September. Each book is getting a little faster, but not as fast I’d like.

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Zoë Routh’s Website

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Featured Interview With Tiara J. Brown

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi! My name is Tiara J. Brown and I am a young adult, fantasy writer. I grew up in the Bedford, Ohio. I attended Ohio University and graduated with a degree in Digital Media. I lived in Los Angeles, California for about 4 years after college in pursuit of a media career. However, I decided that L.A. was not for me and I moved back to Northeast, Ohio (where I live now).

Other than being a writer, I am also a dancer. I have been swing dancing on and off for over 10 years. Two years ago, I learned the tango. I have never competed in a competition. However, I have done two showcases; one in swing dancing and the other in the tango. Now, I’m learning ballet. I adore ballet. It is great exercise and it makes me feel very graceful and elegant. I also love to hike. I have gone on hiking trips to places like Hocking Hills, Ohio. I am a baker. The sweet tooth is real! And, I am a huge history nerd. History was one of my favorite subjects in school. I still love reading and learning about it, today.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always been a storyteller. The first story that I ever wrote was either when I was
6 or 7 years old about a little girl shrinking to the size of a bee and sneaking into a
beehive. However, it wasn’t until I was 12 years old, when I consistently began writing stories down and sharing them with my friends that I knew that I wanted to grow up to be a writer.

As far as my fascination with books, although I liked telling stories at the age of 6 or 7, I wasn’t an avid reader until I was 10 years old. The books that I had read prior were always for school and I didn’t like them. I didn’t connect with the stories or the characters in them. However, all of that changed when I read, Jeremy Thatcher: The Dragon Hatcher. It was a book that was in my school library. It was the first story that I truly fell in love with and sparked my fascination with fantasy books and fantasy storytelling, in general.

I believe that book is why I am a fantasy writer today.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre to read is young adult, fantasy. It is the genre that my imagination gravitates to. I love the enemies to lovers trope and the discovery of a new world and/or new love. There is a beautiful innocence in a lot of characters in young adult novels and as the reader or writer, we witness how these characters are sometimes tragically ripped away from that innocence. I think the
symbolism of that can sometimes be true to real life, which makes it so captivating.

Currently, my favorite authors to read are Stephanie Garber and J.K. Rowlings.

Stephanie Garber wrote the Caraval trilogy and its spin-off trilogy, Once Upon A Broken Heart. The trilogies truly capture the imagination and the imagery of a suspenseful modern-day fairy-tale, that you can’t put down. There is so much to learn from Stephanie on writing engaging character interactions and dynamics, as well as crazy twists and turns that you truly do not expect.

In regards to J.K. Rowlings, I still love the Harry Potter series and she is one of the authors who inspires me due to the world that she created in the series. There is so much
symbolism and depth to her characters, the story, and the world-building of the franchise
that she created.

Also, there is a lot to learn from her in the art of writing. One of the challenges in writing
fantasy is to not info dump, which is hard because you have to explain the rules of the
world and the magic system without boring the reader. Harry Potter is mostly set at
Hogwarts, a school where she can info dump, but make it come across as natural
because it is a school setting. Genius!

I am also inspired by two other writers.

William Shakespeare. Macbeth is one of my favorite plays and Shakespeare
really nailed the descent into madness with Lady Macbeth and writing compelling people
in all his works. Not to mention, his skill at word play. There is a reason why we still use
his phrases in pop-culture today. “Double double toil and trouble.” – Macbeth. “A rose by
any other name still smells as sweet.” – Romeo and Juliet. And a reason why we still
make movies inspired by Shakespeare like She’s the Man (Twelfth Night) and 10 Things
I Hate About You (The Taming of the Shrew).

And, Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities is a phenomenal story filled with love and
tragedy. It is set during the French Revolution (a very crazy and volatile time in history).
Already a suspenseful backdrop and then you add on complex characters, unrequited
love, but sacrifice so your unrequited love can be happy, and an amazing villain
reveal/plot twist. It has everything. All in the dangerous midst of chaos, looming death,
and hope!

There is so much to learn from all of these writers. They inspire me so much on
world-building, characterizations, and the overall art of storytelling.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Tales of Alexandria Stecklar: The Locket is a young adult, fantasy book about a telekinetic, 15-year old girl named Alexandria (Alex) who lives underground with her family during a time of on
again/off again war between her kind, other psychics and magical sorcerers. Alex longs to see the outside world, but feels trapped in her underground home. One day, she is separated from her family above ground and thrusted into the Land of the Sorcerers. She must make it home safely, lest she be captured, or killed or worse!

Will Alex return, safely? Or will someone else get to her first?

It is a fantastical story set in a world of magic versus technology, adventure, first love, family bonds, and a twist that changes everything.

“Hatred. War. Death. Pain. No matter how hard we try, it seems as if man cannot escape these casualties, and no matter how hard I try, neither can I.”

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Tiara J. Brown’s Website

Tiara J. Brown Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Anastasia Pash

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up on a small Mediterranean island, Cyprus. By the time I turned seventeen, I had already explored much of the Middle East and Europe. Later, I pursued my studies in the UK and completed an Erasmus exchange year at the University of Bordeaux, nestled in the enchanting heart of wine country in Southwest France. Living in the UK and France exposed me to new cultures, styles, and manners of expression. I encountered two strikingly distinct realms of style: one eclectic, scruffy, and edgy, and the other steeped in old-money aesthetics and effortless chic. This striking contrast expanded my appreciation for beauty and fashion and added depth to my own style.

After my studies, I embarked on a new chapter in bustling London, where I forged a career that offered me the privilege of travelling the world. The companies I worked for maintained a global presence, with offices scattered across Europe, Asia, and the United States. I frequently flew to fabulous destinations like New York, Paris, or Milan. I made the most of every vacation day and bank holiday, steadily accumulating stamps in my passport. I started channelling my love for travel, writing, and photography into a travel blog. What started as a hobby soon blossomed into a platform that enabled collaborations with renowned brands and granted me access to some of the world’s most exclusive locations.

In 2017, I took a leap of faith, bidding farewell to the corporate world and pursuing my dreams of a more creative life. I moved to Mozambique to volunteer at a marine conservation foundation and hone my creative skills in a serene seaside village along the Indian Ocean. The three months I spent living in Africa transformed me entirely. My values shifted and so did my relationship to clothes. I began to see the absurdity of fast fashion and appreciate the value of luxury items. I commonly stumbled upon pre-loved branded pieces at local street markets in Inhambane. They landed there amongst other hand-me-downs, packed and sold by the kilo to local vendors by charitable organisations from the West. Shopping was a real treasure hunt. You never knew what you would find.

Following my stint in Africa, I moved back to Cyprus, which I used as a home base for several years. I kept travelling, blogging, and launched several businesses, all focused on travel. In late 2019, I travelled to Barcelona and didn’t return to Cyprus until July 2020 because of the pandemic. Living in Barcelona during the lockdowns was an unforgettable experience that left me with many cherished friendships, photo albums full of culinary masterpieces, and enough loungewear to last a decade. During the lockdowns, we launched Globetrotter VR: a virtual travel platform that enabled grounded globetrotters to keep exploring the world from the comfort of their homes with the help of professional tour guides and virtual reality. This venture garnered international press attention, catered to thousands of virtual travellers, and got accepted into the Emirate’s incubator for travel start-ups in Dubai.

The United Arab Emirates has become my new home. My husband and adopted furry-child, Bono moved here in 2022.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, really. As soon as I figured out how to write, I was scribbling away short stories about my pets in these little notebooks my parents got me. My love for storytelling really kicked off when I was five. We went on a family trip to Egypt and saw the great Pyramids of Giza. I was totally blown away by ancient Egypt and ended up spending the next year making up stories and even movie scripts about life back then.

As a teen, I started writing poems, mostly about my crushes and to deal with all the typical teenage drama. English Lit was my favourite subject for A-levels. I couldn’t get enough of the elegance and intricacies in the works of the greats like T.S. Eliot and Seamus Heaney.

In my early twenties, I wrote a travel blog. I worked in a job that allowed me to travel frequently, and I used this as an outlet for my experiences and insights.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Growing up, I was completely absorbed in fantasy novels. The Harry Potter series was my go-to. I also had a soft spot for poetry.

As I entered the working world, my reading tastes shifted towards non-fiction. I dove into books on psychology, self-development, and esoteric subjects, finding in them a source of knowledge and empowerment.

Elizabeth Gilbert has been a monumental influence in my life. Her book “Big Magic” was a game-changer, inspiring me to launch my travel blog and ultimately leave a career in finance for a life of creativity.

In my late twenties, as I ventured into entrepreneurship, I gravitated towards self-development and business books. Audiobooks became my new best friends. Titles like “Creativity Inc.,” “The Design of Everyday Things,” “Start with Why,” “Lean In,” “Never Split the Difference,” and “Atomic Habits” have been instrumental in shaping my approach as a leader and entrepreneur.

I’m also deeply fascinated by human potential and the power of the mind. Authors like Joe Dispenza and Deepak Chopra are favourites of mine. Their insights and practical tools have been invaluable in harnessing my own potential and understanding the incredible capabilities of the human mind.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, “Travel With Style,” is really a culmination of my lifelong passion for travel and fashion. It’s a guide that aims to put an end to overpacking and the all-too-common dilemma of what to wear while traveling. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned from living in nine countries and visiting over forty, and distilled it into this book.

In “Travel With Style,” I share my unique approach to packing, which is not just about what to bring, but also about creating a style that’s both practical and chic. The book takes readers through a detailed methodology that makes packing both stress-free and enjoyable. It’s filled with style guides and packing lists for 20 top destinations around the world, including places like Bali, London, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, the Riviera Maya, and the Greek islands. I’ve also included specific gear and style recommendations for special trips like skiing and safaris.

What I love most about this book is that it’s more than a packing guide; it’s a deep dive into how to adapt your style to different cultures, keep your wardrobe in top shape while on the go, and how to incorporate local fashion into your looks. It’s designed to help anyone travel with elegance and ease, feeling confident and stylish every step of the way.

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Anastasia Pash’s Website

Featured Interview With Peter Conti

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’ve always liked a good challenge along with a bit of excitement which has led me into some interesting situations. My tendency to do things to get attention might be the result of growing up near Chicago, IL in a big family with six other siblings.

I’ve spent time living in the mountains near Denver, Colorado, on the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland, and currently reside in Jenson Beach, Florida. When I’m not writing, I enjoy riding my bike, walking, and of course, hiking.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Soon after starting my first business at age 25, I began to devour every business or self help book that I could get my hands on. I also enjoyed reading biographies and memoirs of other people who had been successful or overcome adversity in their lives.

By age 30, I started investing in commercial real estate and within a few years I realized that I would like to teach or mentor other people on how to get started with little to nothing as I had done. I began teaching others about seven years later, in 1997.

Although much of my early writing was combining my life story and experiences with real estate investing advice, my personal style of sharing my ups and downs become a comfortable place for me.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author is Bill Bryson, and to this day I still enjoy biographies and memoirs the most. The ideal book for me is written by a comedian as I can relate to the struggle to be out in the public while being motivated to prove your worth to either the world or perhaps just to your family.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I really should have listened to my wife. My name is Peter Conti and I shattered my hip and dislocated my femur in a motorcycle racing accident. The doctors were working on me in the hospital when they crushed the nerve in my leg which meant I was in horrible pain. The worst part was the pain didn’t get any better over time.. one day after another, it continued to hurt like the dickens.

It was hard for me to get any help because I was looking for a solution that was impossible
You see, just like millions of other Americans who struggle with chronic pain
I wanted all of the pain to go away immediately.

I went to dozens of different doctors and tried everything from opioids, to electronic gizmos, acupuncture, and more. But nothing seemed to make any difference. While most injuries can get better quickly, some of us can get into a never ending pain loop. It’s called Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS.

This is a condition characterized by persistent, severe pain in a specific part of the body, often triggered by an injury or trauma. In my case, it was my foot and leg that was killing me. So I found myself almost two years after my injury and there I was sitting on the coach watching Netflix to distract myself from the never ending pain.

So how did I overcome this?
Well, it’s a long story that I’ll summarize with three key points
1) I had to accept full responsibility myself (and stop wanting someone else to fix my problems for me)
2) I had to discover that sometimes overcoming a huge problem requires taking tiny little baby steps at first.
Instead of getting rid of all the pain, I began looking for ways to make things 1% or even 2% better. At least I was headed in the right direction
3) I made a ridiculous challenge – I decided that if I could hike the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail then my leg would have to be healed.

So that’s what I did. Three weeks later, I took a train down to Georgia and started hiking north from the top of Springer mountain. I made it a total of two and half miles the first day and then went from there.

It turned out to be quite the adventure with plenty of mishaps including the time that medics came to rescue me one night. I tried to make it using brute force and pushed so hard I got to a point where I couldn’t go any further.

So I came home, rested up, lost some weight, and built my strength back up. I got creative and wrote an entire list of ideas on how to nurture myself so that I could complete my adventure and make it all the way to Maine on the Appalachian Trail. And then I headed back out to the trail.

I learned that anything is possible, but that you can’t force success. Instead I had to find a way to gently yet persistently make progress while trusting that over time I’d be able to heal my body and soul.

The result is an inspiring book called Only When I Step On It.

Featured Interview With Tammy J Cohen

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Tammy J Cohen, and I was born in Manhattan and raised on the South Shore of Long Island. I moved back into the city right after college. I am married and raised 3 wonderful sons in Manhattan. I work as a brand messaging consultant, founded the Women Beyond the Table Network, and co-hosted the Beyond the Table Podcast. My husband and I opened Eighteen Restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side over 13 years ago. “Text Messages To My Sons: Connecting Deeply In a World of Devices” is my first book.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always loved reading and writing. I was highly engaged in English and Social Studies because there was always the opportunity to write an essay or report, and I enjoyed researching subjects. I could also express myself through written words better than with spoken words.

It’s interesting because I never considered myself an author; however, I did consider myself a writer. Writing or publishing a book never crossed my mind until the past 1-2 years.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Growing up, I loved Leon Uris, Jackie Collins, Harold Robbins, Ken Follet, and Robert Ludlum. I was also attracted to crime mysteries, spy and intrigue novels, and historical biographies.

Over the past 3 years, I have gotten into the mindset -thought leaders genre, such as Dr. Joe Dispenza, Stephen Covey, Robin Sharma, Napoleon Hill, Patrick Lencioni, and Victor Frankel.
These authors are very inspiring because they are out-of-the-box thinkers in many ways.

I have dipped into the Paranormal Romance genre. I enjoy it; it’s a great way to wind down from a hectic day.

But to be honest, regarding “Text Messages To My Sons,” as I was learning and looking inward, I wanted to share this with my sons and develop a more meaningful way of interacting with them.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Text Messages to My Sons: Connecting Deeply In A World of Devices” came about from a practice I started during the pandemic. I decided to communicate with my sons in a way that would reach and resonate positively with them. Everyone is continuously plugged into devices, and in-person communications are just not happening like when I was younger.
To me, devices are neither good nor evil; they exist, and the type of message sent makes the difference.

When my sons were younger, I noticed that my mindset wasn’t always good; I was unhappy and had my own limiting beliefs.
Most of my messaging to them was either reminders, commands, or reprimands.

I wanted to change the tone of my communications. Much of the information I started to share was from what I was learning or noticing as I was taking steps to evolve and engage in personal development and growth. I became more present and in the flow, and that energy flow propelled me on this journey of connection and engagement positively.

I spent 2 years texting my sons daily from Monday- to Friday. Friends were intrigued by what I was doing and said I should put it in a book. It took about 8 months of working with a great company that knows the entire publishing process, and that is how I got Text Messages to My Sons to market.

However, it was not until the events of 10/7 that I realized messaging love, inspiration, encouragement, support, positivity, and knowledge to our kids, family, friends, and community is the way to bring more light into our world.

Imagine the different world we would live in if those who are raised in hate, propaganda, indoctrination, and incitement received entirely different messages from their family, friends, and community?

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Tammy J Cohen’s Website

Tammy J Cohen Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Elle Teller

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hey! I’m Elle Teller, a first time author, successful business woman, and mother of two. I was born, raised, and still live in New York with my husband Samuel and 10 year old husky, Lou.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I became fascinated with books as soon as I could get my very own library card, at the age of 11. I started out writing poetry.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am a walking contradiction. The works of Dr. Maya Angelou, Terry McMillan, and Alice Walker have all influenced me to become a writer. Because they can transport readers into the story by the power of their prose.

But, on the flip side my absolute favorite genre is Fantasy fiction! I enjoy reading the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, and J.K. Rowling.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, A Good Man/Soul Ties is the second book of a three-book series chronicling the love story of Armand Hall and Camille Simmons and the litany of obstacles they must overcome just to stay together.

In this series, the bond between Armand and Camille is undeniably strong but, it’s the ties that bind Armand to others that threaten to tear them apart. Find out what happens as the series continues…

It took me approximately 3 months to write this story which explores tropes pertaining to love conquering all, acceptance, and family dysfunction with a dose of humor to balance it all out. Love can be tested in many ways and this couples’ love for each other will be proved by the ties that bind!

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Elle Teller’s Website

Featured Interview With BEBogdon

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello, friends! I’m BEBogdon, and I’m a Christian entertainer from the Midwest. My passion for writing began with a love for reading! As a kid, I devoured classic literature and mysteries like Sherlock Holmes. When I discovered Christian suspense/thrillers, I was hooked!

Although I am a newly published author, I’ve been telling stories for years. Through my involvement in theater, film, commercial, and voice-over work, I’ve had the opportunity to breathe life into the written word. This work has taught me how to dive deeper into the story behind the story—which helps me craft relatable characters.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved writing, whether it was a short story in creative writing class or drafting a Christmas play to perform with my family. I’m the type of person who needs to know the rest of a story, so I write to answer the burning questions my brain asks!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Frank Peretti and Bill Myers were the first Christian thriller authors I came across. Years later they are still top writers in that genre, so I lucked into picking up the best in Christian thriller/suspense! Peretti’s kids series featuring a brother-sister duo, the Cooper kids, is still among my all time favorite stories.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, I love sweet stories by Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austin. I devour adventure books by Sir Author Conan Doyle. And I believe that Oscar Wilde and G.K. Chesterton wrote some of the best (and most quotable) one-liners that exist.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Exodus Team: New Roads is the first book of a new character-driven, Christian suspense/thriller series.
Synopsis: They aren’t paranormal investigators, just ordinary believers who dare to follow God into dark places.
For Maj Newhouse life revolves around her faith, her friends, Aimee and Kevin Cole, and her projects at the old barn-but that was before Jason Knight walked through the door. The handsome businessman from Chicago has a problem; he has staked his career on rehabilitating a haunted hotel.
A chance encounter with Kevin has led him to the old barn, and Maj is shocked to learn that Knight expects to hire her and her friends as exorcists for his property!
Will Maj’s distrust of the charming stranger and her own self-doubt cripple the newly formed Exodus Team before it starts?

When I first had the idea for this book, it was at a time when discussing the supernatural was considered taboo. Today the pendulum has swung so far the other way that evil is depicted openly. It is prevalent—almost familiar.

The message of this story speaks to both issues, encouraging us not to fear an enemy that Christ has already defeated and reminding us that we don’t have to conform to the pattern of the world around us. In fact, God has asked us to live differently and has empowered us to do it through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

In Exodus Team: New Roads, I invite readers to envision what living from that place of power and love could look like. It is the story of three everyday Christians who dare to step out on the Word of God—and God responds.

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BEBogdon’s Website

BEBogdon Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Zita Muranyi

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. So I am a city girl, but now I live in Ráckeve, a small village-like town. A few houses away flows the Danube, full of wild ducks and swans. It is a very quiet and calming environment. It’s an excellent background for creative work. I have lots of kittens, many of them adopted.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have loved books since I was a little girl. My father worked in a printing house and used to bring books home in pairs. I wrote my first poem about Santa Claus when I was 7 or 8 years old, which my teacher read to the class. I got loud applause, so I quickly wrote another one. Then I returned to writing poems at 14. At the age of 21, a small publisher published my first novel, for which I won a prize in my country. My first novel, entitled Mirrorpalace (Tükörpalota) was published in 2003, and I received the Sandor Bródy Prize in 2004. They awarded this prize to the best debut authors. I had three books of poems and three novels published in Hungarian. My recent book is my first novel in English.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love Paul Auster, Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen, in whose honour I wrote my first novel in English. I love philosophical writing, like Kundera, for example. But also Bukowski’s raw and outspoken style and the fact that he writes in a very readable way. I prefer works of literary fiction. I would mention classics like Bulgakov, and among the contemporaries I might mention Zadie Smith, or the Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book On Mr. Darcy’s sofa is a compelling novel about love, loss, and heartbreak. Covering a range of delicate topics from death to infertility, the reader is taken on an emotive journey following a range of well-developed and interesting characters as they navigate their way through life’s ups and downs.

There are elements of humor that work well alongside the hard-hitting narrative and the references and comparisons to Jane Austen and Mr. Darcy .

My first english novel is an intriguing women’s fiction novel set in Hungary, which is informed by own experiences. With many parallels drawn between beloved Austen characters in the present day, I hope fans of Austen will enjoy reading another novel inspired by her romances.

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Zita Muranyi’s Website

Zita Muranyi Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Martin Roy Hill

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Redondo Beach, a small community south of Los Angeles. With the exception of military service, I’ve been a Southern California resident all my life. I now reside in San Diego along with my wife, son, and our three feline overseers.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been an avid reader as long as I can remember. My favorite part of grade school was when the Bookmobile would come around and I would check out Hardy Boys mysteries and other books.

I became determined to become a writer in high school when I started writing for the school newspaper. After a stint in the service, I earned a college degree in journalism and spent more than 20 years working for newspapers and magazines, covering crime, the military, business, politics, and investigative reporting. In the 1990s I started selling short stories to publications like Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.

After another stint of duty with the U.S. Coast Guard following the 9/11 attacks, I left journalism and went to work as an analyst in combat casualty care for the U.S. Navy. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, our op tempo was so high I didn’t write fiction for 10 years.

Finally, my first novel, The Killing Depths, was published in 2012. My eleventh book, Codename: Parsifal, a WWII thriller, was published last September.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Early in my writing career, I was heavily influenced by the Lost Generation writers like Ernest Hemingway, Erich Maria Remarque, and John Dos Passos. But I also read a lot of sci-fi authors like H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Heinlein, as well as thriller writers like Jack Higgins and Alistair MacLean. Contemporary authors I read include David Morrell, Stephen King, Robert Masello, and Nelson DeMille.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I always wanted to write WWII thriller in the vein of Jack Higgins and Alistair MacLean, you know like Higgins’ The Eagle Has Landed or MacLean’s Where Eagles Dare.

Codename: Parsifal is a WWII thriller about three commando teams — American, German, and Russian — racing to recover the lost Spear of Destiny, the legendary spear that purportedly was stabbed into the side of Christ as he hung on the cross. Legend claims whoever possesses the spear will become a great conqueror. But if they lose it, they will lose everything—including their lives. Shortly before WWII, Adolf Hitler stole the spear from a museum in Vienna, Austria. Toward the end of the war, the spear disappeared. That’s all factual history.

In Codename: Parsifal General George Patton orders an American OSS team to find the spear and recover it. Unknown to the Americans, both the Russians and the Germans have also sent commando teams to retrieve it. Patton, SS leader Himmler, and Russian dictator Stalin all want the spear for their own ambitious reasons. And while the story is fictional, it was inspired by the real life search for the spear and other stolen relics at the end of the war.

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Martin Roy Hill’s Website

Martin Roy Hill Facebook Page

Martin Roy Hill Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Beth Erwin

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Huntsville Alabama and moved to Georgia the summer before I started Fifth grade. I currently live in a small town, Madison, which is about an hour from Atlanta. I am married, with one daughter, a son-in-law, and two beautiful granddaughters. My two puppies keep me on my toes as they are always into something! I have worked as a realtor for nearly 25 years and have ministered inner healing for about that long, too.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
When I was about six years old, my father said that he would take to me to do anything I wanted to do for a day. My request was to go to a bookstore! I remember walking in and immediately becoming overwhelmed by all those books. I had no clue where to start but a very nice lady took me by the hand and showed me many amazing books. We narrowed it down to two, The Cricket in Times Square and Little Women. She cautioned me that Little Women might be a little more than my current reading level but to not give up.

I was struggling to decide which book to get when my dad said he had an idea. He said, “Let’s get both of them!” I nearly exploded! Two books?! I can still feel the swell inside my chest walking out of that store with two books clutched to my chest.
I can also still remember my first poem, “The cricket jumped way up high, near the sky. Saying buzz, buzz, buzz, I have no fuzz, fuzz, fuzz. Let’s hope my skills have improved since then!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have so many favorites that it is hard to keep track of them. I have recently discovered Charles Martin and have enjoyed his writings. Ken Follet and Lee Child also come to mind. I have been inspired by reading Dreaming with God by Bill Johnson and There is More by Randy Clark.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I have just published, Wander No More: Stepping Out of the Wilderness into Abundant Life. I am passionate about this book. Too often, we are content to live ordinary lives believing that doing great things is for special people. Each of us is special because we have all been given a unique purpose and that purpose matters. There isn’t someone sitting on the sidelines hoping that we will not do our part so they will have something to do in their lives that matters. NO! We all have a purpose but often need God’s healing to step into the lives we have been given and to thrive in a life of abundance and joy. Wander No More chronicles not only my journey into choosing life but also leads the readers to embark upon a journey of their own.

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Beth Erwin’s Website

Featured Interview With Deborah Fox

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am 50 years old and have lived in Doncaster, England all of my life. I work in a returns department for a large electrical distribution company. I like gardening, cinema, theatre, walking and dogs.
I don’t have a dog at the moment but Jake my last dog who sadly passed a few years ago is the reason and inspiration for my book.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My mum always read Winnie the Pooh to me from an early age and still love the stories even now but i cannot say i have ever been an avid reader as always preferred the cinema as my escape. I only started writing a few years ago after Jake passed as a part of a grieving process and didn’t even think i would ever write a book in my life. Now that i have my first book published i am now well on with the second and loving every minute.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I guess i love supernatural, thriller, mysteries as long i am scared and i do love anything with a twist. One of my favourites is Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire. I also find time for period dramas anything by the Bronte Sisters and in particular Wuthering Heights. When i started writing i always had Murder She Wrote playing in the background and so i guess the great JB Fletcher is my inspiration! Halfway through my second book and nothing has changed but maybe my partner is getting a little tired of the re runs.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Second Hand Rose is a horror, mystery, thriller about a big town reporter Abigail Hirst drawn back to her beautiful home town of Friendship with her faithful terrier dog Jake when her Grandmother Rose dies and leaves Abigail her Antique Shop called ‘Second Hand Rose’. She decides to make a go of the new business and starts to make a new life but cracks start to appear in this chocolate box town. Strange deaths and disappearances and a large wardrobe that no one can open push Abigail into investigations that turn more gruesome the more she uncovers. Can she unlock the hideous secret this town has been harbouring for many years and face her own families demons before its too late for the people she loves and the town itself.

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Deborah Fox Facebook Page

Deborah Fox Twitter Account