Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Hadi Tajfar

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Iran and currently reside in the same country, working in the private insurance sector.
In addition to my full-time job, I work as a strategic business consultant and content creator, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence in sales and management.
I hold a Master’s degree in Strategic Management and a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering.
While I don’t have any pets right now, I enjoy spending my free time reading, writing, and exploring emerging technologies.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I discovered my passion for books in my early teens. I was fascinated by how authors could build worlds with words and communicate complex ideas so clearly.
Although I started writing smaller essays and articles in my university years, I became a dedicated writer in my forties.
My professional experience in business and insurance inspired me to start writing practical books for entrepreneurs and professionals.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I enjoy reading business, strategy, and innovation books. Some of my favorite authors include Clayton Christensen, Eric Ries, and Richard Rumelt.
In the field of AI and technology, I’m particularly inspired by Andrew Ng and Tim O’Reilly for their clear, future-focused thinking.
My writing is often influenced by real-world challenges professionals face, and I aim to offer actionable solutions through my books.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is titled AI-Powered Professional Selling.
It explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the sales process and gives practical guidance to salespeople, consultants, and business owners.
The book shows how AI tools can help generate qualified leads, personalize client outreach, and improve conversion rates.
Rather than being overly technical, the book is designed to be accessible to all readers—especially those looking to modernize their sales strategies using real, tested tools.
This is my third book, following Using the Business Model Canvas to Deliver Insurance Services and AI-Powered Business Ideation to Income.

Featured Interview With Mark Bliss

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in the St. Louis area, but have lived most of my adult life in Cape Girardeau, a city located along the Mississippi River in Southeast Missouri. I spent more than. 30 years working as a journalist at the daily newspaper in Cape Girardeau. In that time, I covered everything from murders to politics. I retired in 2019 and began writing mystery novels set in a fictional town of Elmwood, which I patterned after Cape Girardeau. I have now written four Elmwood Mystery novels, the latest being “Stacked for Murder.” All my novels are available on Amazon/Kindle and on audiobook.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My parents loved reading. From an early age, my mother would take me and my sister to the public library every Saturday to check out books. When I was young, I wrote by hand a short Western on lined paper, which my parents fondly kept. I love history, particularly American history. Mystery stories intrigue me. I am an avid newspaper reader and read several newspapers online daily.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
In terms of fiction, I have always enjoyed mysteries. I have read everything from Agatha Christie to Louise Penny novels. Louise Penny, John Sanford and C.J., Box are some of my favorite mystery writers. They have inspired me with their richly drawn characters and their ability to make you feel at home in their landscapes whether in Quebec, Canada, or in Minnesota or in the Rocky Mountain West of Montana and Wyoming.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Stacked for Murder” involves the killing of a librarian set against the backdrop of a minister’s effort to ban some books at the library that he and his community group felt were pornographic. Police arrest the preacher, but newspaper reporters Connor Tate and Rachel Long doubt he did it. As in my other novels, the reporters work to uncover the truth in the river city.

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Mark Bliss’s Website

Mark Bliss Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Gregory Stout

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Greg Stout is the author of Gideon’s Ghost, and Connor’s War, both young adult
novels set in small-town America in the mid-1960s, and Lost Little Girl, a detective novel set in
Nashville, Tennessee, which received the 2022 Shamus Award for best first novel. His second
detective novel, The Gone Man, was released in December, 2022 and his third, Woman in the
Wind, was released in November 2023. A complete listing of Greg Stout’s published works can
be found at www.gregorystoutauthor.com. A native of St. Louis, Greg resides with his wife, Carol, and two cats, Wallace and Gromit, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he is a member of the Heartland Writers Guild, the Southeast Missouri Writers Guild and is a member of the board of directors for the Missouri Writers Guild.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My father was a “reader,” who encouraged me to be the same. Rather than throw balls around in the yard, we played Scrabble and did crosswords together. He was also active in amateur theater, and I improved my reading (and theatrical) skills by helping him learn his lines for the plays in which he appeared. My first (or 28 to date) traditionally published title was a railroad history, which was released in 1995.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
These days, I write detective fiction for Level Best Books. I have four titles to date and a fifth will be released in the fall. These days, I try to keep my head in the game by reading other mystery authors, especially Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, James Ellroy and Walter Mosley. I also write reviews of other mystery novels for Strand magazine and am an occasional co-host of a St. Louis-based radio show called Authors Edge.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Long time Gone, the fourth installment in the Nashville, Tennessee-based Jackson Gamble PI series, was released in November, 2024. Gamble is hired to find a college professor who disappeared four years earlier. At the same time, he is trying to track down a bail-skip who has an impending court date. Of course, like all good PI mysteries, both cases quickly collapse into a trip through the dark underbelly of Nashville’s underbelly of prostitution, illicit drugs and organized crime.

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Gregory Stout’s Website

Gregory Stout Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Chris Woody

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a 37 year veteran of the military, business owner and author. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina called Maiden. My wife and I lived in the same town and attended the same schools but didn’t date until after high school. We married and have been married for 36 years and have four children and 5 grandchildren. We have a dog named Daisy who is very spoiled. We currently live in El Paso Texas.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have rolled the idea around in my head for many years to create a way to help young families keep their marriages together while in the military. Last year I decided to try to write this book.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like to read biographies about politicians, military members and racecar drivers. I don’t have a particular author that I follow.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Lesson’s Learned by a Patriotic Husband and Dad is my attempt to share mistakes as military member while being married. Most fathers don’t understand what it means to be the head of the house as written in Ephesians. It takes a conscious effort to learn from your mistakes and not do them again. This book is short chapters that are meant to be thought provoking about our responsibilities.

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Chris Woody’s Website

Chris Woody Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Penda L. James

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in Dayton, Ohio, where funk music, poetry, and my family emphasized literacy. I am a film writer, podcaster, and author. I live in Cary, North Carolina, and I want to get another puppy one day.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been writing since sixth grade. My fascination with books started as a young child, reading Shel Silverstein poetry with my Grandma Dear. We used to siton her king-sized bed and she would act out the poems. I fell in love with words and started writing in fourth grade, because Grandma Dear would send me books and tell me to write book reports and send them to her in the mail. I would fill my journals with ruminations, poetry, and doodles. I still do.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am deeply inspired by Maya Angelou because her book, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” gave me a nudge to write my own story of resilience. I was sad that I couldn’t meet her in person. My other favorite authors are J. California Cooper, Victoria Christopher Murray, and Edwidge Danticat. I love to read memoirs, books about entrepreneurship, and poetry – Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou. Tupac is also one of my favorite poets.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
A woman must understand her mother’s life story in order to overcome her fear of being an unfit mother. Complicated relationships require understanding and forgiveness.

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Penda L. James’s Website

Penda L. James Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Treisha Parker Combo

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in a small town near Ahoskie, NC. I currently live in Smithfield, NC. I have a beautiful 13 year old Chihuahua and Jack Russell Terrier mix named Winter Rose.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I had a fascination with books in 2nd and 3rd grade. After the passing of my Best Friend my Great Grandmother Mamie, I lost interest and ended up in the Special Education Program for a few years. I began writing in 2023.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I enjoy Inspiring Authors like Stormie Omartian. Rachel Rodger’s, and Michelle Obama. I definitely am a Fan of the Holy Bible also.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Ain’t No Shame is about a woman who lost everything and must listen for God’s voice in order to restore her Faith. After a series of misfortunes in her life my character lost her trust in God, but he had other plans. I tried to write alone. Which got me Nowhere. I prayed to God for help and he answered me. My Scribe Coach, Penda L. James helped me get everything done. My book was supposed to help about Money and halfway through. There was a shift and Ain’t No Shame was birth. It took us 4 Months to complete it.

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Treisha Parker Combo’s Website

Treisha Parker Combo Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Deborah Franklin

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
With over twenty years as an educator Deborah Franklin decided to pursue her passions. These include working with women, traveling, writing, motivational speaker, International missions and spending time with her family. She founded Church Girl CEO and Church Girl CEO Foundation that were built on two pillars: education and missions and created to assist women to reach their fullest potential. Deborah resume includes being an author of adjectives, #5 30 Days of Prayer & Motivation, 21 Days 21 Minutes of Prayer & Motivation, The Prayer of Jabez In the Marketplace and a former co-host on an online book review show The Tea. Deborah holds an undergraduate degree from Texas Southern University in Communications, Masters of Education and honorary Doctorate for her work in ministry and community service.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Before I could ever read, I had a true fascination with books. I loved the bold colors and the big pictures. When I learned to read around 4 or 5, it was for entertainment. But as I grew older, it became my way of escaping what was happening around me. As a survivor of verbal abuse, it let me go to different worlds where it didn’t matter how short or fat I was. I could travel to new places, live out a fantasy, or just enjoy the happy endings. Reading was my superpower that helped me to be more than what people expected me to be.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Favorite Authors Zora Neal Hurston, Maya Angelou, Octavia E. Butler

Favorite Genre Drama, Suspense and Romance

Writing inspiration would have to be a combination of all of my favorite authors….something from each one.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
A pastor must confront her secret life in order to evade the consequences of a one night stand.

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Deborah Franklin’s Website

Deborah Franklin Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Sarah Jinhee

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Seoul and raised across Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada, which gave me a sense of cross-cultural and cinematic depth in my storytelling.
With a background in visual communication and film production, my works span from award-winning screenplays to literature.
I was selected for Berlinale Talents Tokyo, KAFA Co-Production Prebiz, and the Korea Creative Content Agency’s New Novelist Program.
My debut crime-thriller novel was published in Korea in 2023, and my new science fiction anthology is slated for 2026. Arabica in Us marks my first English-language romance novel.
I currently reside in South Korea and work as a freelance creator and teacher.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was a quiet one, always digging up shelves for things to absorb. I started writing diaries ever since I could write, throughout my life, I still do. I wrote my first screenplay without any schooling or mentoring. So I actually wrote it like a diary at first. LOL. It was my executive producer at my first job that told me I should read any acclaimed screenplay and learn from it.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I try to read the classics, or works by acclaimed authors to learn and draw inspiration from. Works by Oscar Wilde, Keigo Higashino, Albert Camus, comes to mind. I actually prefer to read factual books in various fields to get updates on what’s happening in the world. They include books categorized in humanities, economics, technology, politics, philosophy, and so on.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
TITLE: “ARABICA IN US”
A Cross-continental Story of Growth, Healing and Love by Sarah Jinhee

BOOK INTRODUCTION
After the passing of her mother, Aram leaves behind her job as a social worker, and the weight of her past in Seoul – to seek meaning in the unfamiliar streets of Beijing. There, she meets Siyu: a quiet, kind-hearted rickshaw driver with a past he rarely speaks of.

Their encounters are brief, their words few – but in each silent moment, something gentle begins to grow. As Aram finds solace in the new rhythm of her life and the challenges it brings, Siyu begins to reclaim a long-abandoned part of himself through a cross-continental journey.

Set in a city steeped in history, culture, and quiet beauty, this novel is a soft, luminous tale of grief, healing, and a love that arrives not with thunder, but in stillness.

For readers who believe that even the most delicate connection can change a life – and that sometimes, the most meaningful journeys begin with loss.

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Sarah Jinhee’s Website

Featured Interview With Rebecca Bolton

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a writer, poet, historian and mum to identical twin daughters. I am now based in rural England, although I grew up in a busier town that was commonly voted one of the worst places to live in the country! Although, from the inside out—it wasn’t all that bad.

When I’m not reading or writing, I am usually in the garden tending to my many rose bushes and being escorted by our chubby cat, Arlo.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always loved reading but when I was ten years old, we had a class teacher who really appreciated books. He spent an hour every week reading The Hobbit to us. I looked forward to that hour every week and I think it really kicked off my love of fantasy stories and lore-heavy worlds.

I began writing as a teenager and have always enjoyed the process, from journalling to submitting to competitions. This year I decided to finally get it all down on (digital) paper and self-publish.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I really enjoy Delphine Woods Victorian thrillers. The books are full of twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat and I am always thinking about the characters long after the end of the book. Woods’ writing inspires my process when I am writing plot twists into my own fiction.

Reading a genre is very mood-based for me. I will go through phases of reading every fantasy book I can for a few months and then move on to a non-fiction about how clothing processes are damaging the Earth and get hooked on that rabbit hole. I think that reflects my own writing quite a lot too. Eclectic.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest publication is a poetry collection entitled, We Are the Fall.

It is mythical retellings in verse and focuses on women in myths, sourced from Celtic, Greek, Norse and more. It was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend about the similarities between Pandora and Eve. How they were both blamed for the birth of pain, the end of peace. The Fall. What if the stories were flipped? What if the women in myths that were painted as victims, moral warnings and monsters were rewritten in a new light. To regain their voice and agency. Modern myths… with a dash of feminism stirred in.

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Rebecca Bolton’s Website

Featured Interview With Anurodh Das

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
First of all, it’s such a pleasure for me to introduce myself to the interview team of such a renowned magazine! I am Anurodh Das, born in 2010. I currently live in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, India. I am 14 years old, and my father is an entrepreneur and former teacher, while my mother is a homemaker. When it comes to pets, I have indeed had some past experiences, having had two birds as pets for a while when I was around 7 years old. However, as of now, I don’t have any pets, but I plan to have one in the future, possibly a cute puppy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
The hobby of writing has been within me since I was a small child, because I wrote several stories from my imagination. And by the time I was 8 years old, story writing and telling had become my major hobbies. It was in 2020 itself, when I was 9 years old, that I started utilising my storytelling ability in making YouTube videos for my channel RODH’s ZONE, and since then, it has continued. And by the time I was 12 years old, I wrote my first-ever book, Living In The Mars, and since then I have been utilising my story writing ability as well. Now, if we talk about books, since the beginning of times, I have been reading fiction books, but it was in 2023, when I turned 13 years old, that non-fiction books too drew my attention alongside fiction books.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am a true fan of Dr. Vikram Sampath and Sanjeev Sanyal, and I really love their work. It is because of them that history became my favourite!

I am mostly into history, as mentioned earlier, as well as historical fiction, as well as sci-fi and fiction.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
VISHWAVIDYALAYA: The Lost Knowledge of INDIA, ISBN: 979-8894468747, 979-8894468730

VISHWAVIDYALAYA: The Lost Knowledge of INDIA is a compelling non-fiction history book that delves into the rich educational heritage of ancient India through the lens of its four major universities: Takshashila Vishwavidyalaya, Nalanda Vishwavidyalaya, Odantapuri Vishwavidyalaya, and Vikramshila Vishwavidyalaya. These renowned centers of higher learning not only attracted scholars and students from Tibet, China, Greece, and Persia but also played a pivotal role in establishing India as a global hub of knowledge and culture. This book provides a detailed account of these ancient universities, exploring their contributions to various fields of study, their unique educational methodologies, and their lasting impact on the world. Through meticulous research and engaging narrative, This book “Vishwavidyalaya: The Lost Knowledge of India” reveals how these institutions were instrumental in earning India the epithet “Sone ki Chidiya” (Golden bird), highlighting their significance in the historical and cultural fabric of the nation.

It took me almost a year to research and write the entire book! And it was my first foray into the non-fiction field.

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Anurodh Das’s Website

Anurodh Das Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Joakim Lloyd Raboff

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m a Swedish-American writer and visual storyteller. I was raised in Los Angeles but have lived in Sweden for many years — currently based in Malmö, Sweden’s third largest city and close to Copenhagen. I’ve authored over 25 books, including documentary-style projects, travelogues, and humorous explorations like Phobias & Fears and The Aging Man’s Survival Guide.

While I don’t have any pets at the moment, I have had three dogs and one cat. I am a lifelong animal lover and spent a few years of my childhood on a farm in rural Sweden.

I’ve worked as a stand-in for Bruce Willis (Moonlighting) and on several other shows in the 1980s, which is in part why I became so inspired by storytelling.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Like most kids born in the 1960s, I started reading books series like Cat in the Hat. I wrote my first short story when I was 12 or 13 and after High School, I studied journalism. So, I’ve been writing for most of my life.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Here are some of my favorite authors. It’s a mixed bag, and I love switching genres.

Stephen King – I admire how King turns everyday situations into psychological minefields, making fear feel both intimate and inevitable.

Toni Morrison – Her language is like poetry wrapped in power — every sentence feels earned and unforgettable.

Frederick Forsyth – His precision and research-driven storytelling taught me the value of detail when crafting suspense and realism.

Isaac Asimov – Asimov’s ability to make vast, abstract ideas accessible continues to influence how I approach complex topics.

Douglas Adams – His mix of cosmic absurdity and razor-sharp satire reminds me to never take the universe — or myself — too seriously.

Haruki Murakami – Murakami’s surreal logic and emotional distance pull me into a world that feels like memory and dream at once.

Margaret Atwood – She balances dystopian terror with dry wit in a way that makes even the bleakest futures feel grippingly human.

George Orwell – Orwell’s clarity and moral urgency have shaped how I think about truth, power, and the weight of words.

Virginia Woolf – Woolf’s interior monologues taught me that introspection can be just as dramatic as action.

Agatha Christie – I love how she mastered misdirection — making you feel clever just before revealing you’ve missed everything.

Ernest Hemingway – His brutal simplicity and emotional restraint remind me how much power there is in what’s not said.

Gabriel García Márquez – His lush, layered prose feels like reading myth and history all at once — utterly transportive.

J.K. Rowling – She built a universe that’s both wildly imaginative and grounded in deeply relatable emotional truths.

Ray Bradbury – Bradbury’s nostalgic yet cautionary tone hits that rare nerve between wonder and warning.

Neil Gaiman – He seamlessly weaves myth, fantasy, and melancholy into stories that feel ancient and freshly imagined.

Salman Rushdie – Rushdie’s fearless language and mythological density always challenge me to think bigger and write bolder.

Kurt Vonnegut – His tragicomic tone is a reminder that absurdity and sorrow are often intertwined — and inseparable.

Leo Tolstoy – Reading Tolstoy feels like standing in front of a vast, emotional fresco of humanity at its most raw and complex.

Franz Kafka – Kafka’s bleak surrealism mirrors the anxiety of modern life in ways that still feel disturbingly accurate.

Joan Didion – Her cool detachment and incisive voice have influenced how I observe, distill, and dissect the world around me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Phobias & Fears started as a curiosity — and maybe, if I’m honest, as a bit of self-therapy. I began noticing how many people close to me had very specific fears. Some were classic, like spiders or flying. Others were more unusual — elevators, holes, even birds. The more I talked to friends and family, the clearer it became: fear is everywhere, and it doesn’t always make sense. And strangely, a lot of these phobias seemed to grow stronger with age.

So I decided to dig into it.

This book is a mix of things: part research, part observation, part storytelling. I explore how phobias develop, what’s happening in the brain when fear kicks in, and why certain anxieties latch onto us and refuse to let go. I also look at how fears evolve over time, how culture and upbringing influence what we’re afraid of, and even how animals experience fear.

But it’s not a clinical guide, and it’s definitely not a self-help manual. It’s more like a conversation — the kind you might have with a friend over coffee (or maybe something stronger if you’ve just had a run-in with a clown or a long-haul flight).

I wrote Phobias & Fears because I think it’s important to understand why we feel the way we do, especially when those feelings seem irrational. I hope readers will come away feeling a little more informed, a little less alone, and maybe even a bit amused. Because once you realize how common (and often bizarre) our fears are, they start to feel a lot less scary.

And if nothing else, you’ll learn to keep an eye out for ducks. Just in case.

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Joakim Lloyd Raboff’s Website

Featured Interview With JOHN DONKEYPLONK

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live in the UK. I was born and raised in the London area but now live further north, in Sheffield, and I love it there. I have done a whole variety of jobs in my time, but the main one was 25 years in the UK civil service. I retired last autumn, but did do a comeback gig as a Father Christmas in a shopping centre for a couple of months!
I have two sons who live in London, and a stepdaughter who is at University in Leicester, but no pets.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was always a keen reader, right from the age of about 7 or so, I used to like adventure stories, but as a teenager, moved on to SF.
As a civil servant, I did enormous amounts of writing – official reports, guidance, briefing for Ministers, the lot. At that stage I had a couple of ideas for books but I never got round to doing anything about it, because I had a ready outlet for my need to write. It was not until I stopped doing that job that I realised how important writing was to me. I was asked to edit a book about Ugandan politics and that whetted my appetite. I started to write in earnest two years ago.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Jasper Fforde. He does what I am trying to do – introduce the absurd into the everyday and see how the everyday copes with it. I like his quirkiness, but you can find quirkiness where you least expect it, it doesn’t have to be futuristic or surreal. I recently read “The Sisters Brothers” by Patrick de Witt, which I would describe as a quirky Western; and loved it! So I have more of a favourite feel than a favourite genre.
I have read widely and I like to think that all the good stuff has inspired me to a degree at least.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The book that I have just released on Amazon is called “Prepare for the Zargian Delegation!” It is a satirical romp through the public service mindset, in which I use the impending arrival of a delegation from the Planet Zarg to poke fun at the gimmickry, pretentiousness and back-biting of the diverse group of public servants who are asked to draw up preparation plans. Whilst set in the UK I think it will appeal to anyone with a quirky or irreverent sense of humour, but perhaps in particular to current or former public servants, or anyone who has experienced the “groupthink” of a large corporation, I ran an early version past some ex-colleagues of mine and they found it both hilarious and alarmingly accurate!
It was quite quick to write, because I didn’t really have to do any research – it all came from my memory or my imagination. I suppose it took me about six months to write and six months to edit and publish.

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JOHN DONKEYPLONK Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Jad Phillip

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Beirut—so storytelling came naturally. I now live with two mischievous kittens who think they’re dragons. Luke and Lea, except they’re not twins.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was five when I started reading, but even at three, I’d scribble nonsense and pretend I was writing a book.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’ve always loved fantasy. GRR Martin, Neil Gaiman (controversy aside), J.K. Rowling, Diana Gabaldon, Cassandra Clare, and Suzanne Collins are some of my favorites. GRRM probably inspires me the most—with the sheer scope of what he was building (until D&D butchered it). That’s actually why I wrote a fanfiction retelling of Season 7—it’s up on Wattpad under my name!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is The Crimson Crown, the epic finale of The Chosen and the Cursed series. It’s where everything comes full circle—magic, prophecy, betrayal, and love. Clara must finally face the monster within… and the one she might love. If you’re new to the series, start with The Jade Necklace, the Amazon bestseller that began it all.

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Jad Phillip Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Leland P Gamson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Growing up three miles outside of Washington, DC, I had a Huck Finn childhood with access to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. community land preserves, state parks, and the Potomac River. I was also a bus ride away from the wonders of our nation’s capital. I made frequent use of the library, making friends with Winnie-the-Pooh, Homer Price, and Snuffy the Tugboat. I was an Eagle Scout and began writing at a young age.
After completing an MSW from Catholic University, I moved to Marion, Indiana, to work at the VA as a caseworker and therapist. I enjoyed the challenge of the variety of assignments, including working in substance abuse, psychiatric admissions, as a homeless veteran coordinator, and running the residential care program.
Receiving a direct commission with the USAR, I pursued a parallel career, working in both a combat stress unit and a medical hospital unit. I retired as a light colonel and later served as a battalion commander with the Indiana Guard Reserve.
I wrote for the Wesleyan Church’s Sunday School curriculum for several years. Since retiring, I have focused on writing stories for young folks. I also do Bible characters and am involved in jail ministry. My LOKAEL: THE DONKEY WHO CARRIED JESUS was an Amazon Best Seller.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I do not remember ever not being fascinated with books and loving to both hear and tell a good story.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
C.S. Lewis, George McDonald, Garrison Keeler, Isaac B Singer, Mark Twain, George Orwell, Gertrude Compton, Aesop, to name a few favorites. I enjoy reading children’s books as my inner child is very much alive. I also enjoy Christian apologetics and the Bible.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
MALGRIM JOINS A GANG
Living with his humans, Malgrim was always well fed, safe, and had a big yard to play in. All this changed when a pack of stray dogs asked him to join them. Ignoring his sister’s advice, he left to live on the streets.

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Leland P Gamson’s Website

Featured Interview With SARA FITZGERALD

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I write clean romance novels, most of which are set in Salt Lake City and are inspired by my life. For example, Pink and More Pink Haily is a beauty consultant raising her daughter and has a zany American Eskimo dog. I sold Avon for 14 years, have a beautiful daughter, and my own zany American Eskimo Dog. Making a Mess of Things is about a struggling artist like me. Suzy falls for a total business suit that she finds herself entangled with. In my Christmas novella, A Kiss for Kate, Kate’s grandmother is a lot like how my mom was: full of strong opinions, loved thrift store shopping, and desperately wanted me to be happy.
I also write paranormal YA books full of danger, secrets, and magic. As children, my sister and I would pretend we were magical witches and that we could soar into the midnight sky.
Besides writing, I love watercolor painting, hanging out with my family, and my dog, Glitter.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
In junior high school, I discovered the joy of reading romance novels. In high school, I was on the literary magazine staff, and my secret dream was to be an author one day. I wrote my first historical romance at eighteen; to this day, it has never seen the light of day, but I had the most fun writing it. I write clean romance novels, young adult paranormal books, and inspirational books, and I recently took a horror workshop. Some of my stories have been accepted in several new anthologies coming out this fall.

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 are Kristin Higgins and Debbie Macomber. I love reading romance novels and young adult paranormal books. My real life and the places I travel to inspire me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Who’s Chasing Who is A sweet romance novella that will make your heart happy.

Meg Smith dreams of becoming a top-notch reporter, but can she track down the sexy, media-shy billionaire Ryan Foster? She’s raising her brother, desperately trying to keep him out of trouble while not losing her job. She needs the Ryan Foster story to live another day at the struggling newspaper.

Ryan’s heart was broken not only from the woman he loved betraying him but also from losing his niece to cancer. The last thing he needs is a reporter invading his privacy, but the moment he meets Meg and her scowling teenage brother, he falls head over heels in love with her. Soon, he wonders who’s chasing who.

Will Meg get her story or begin her own?

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SARA FITZGERALD’s Website

SARA FITZGERALD Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Liz Ellyn

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Liz Ellyn, an award-winning erotic romance author, turns up the heat. With degrees in both engineering and law, she argues the positive energy gained by embracing desire is essential to balancing the serious forces of daily life.

She expertly weaves sinfully erotic scenes with heart-wrenching romance, nourishing readers’ cravings for both passion and emotional depth. Her stories are as irresistible as the decadent desserts she loves to create and share.

When she isn’t writing steamy romance books, she is out walking her dog while listening to audiobooks. Her seven year-old, Boomer, is a mix of a Bernese Mountain dog and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He misses the snow in Chicago, but has made many new dog friends in the San Francisco Bay Area.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Like many other pre-teens, S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders captured my heart. I read it so many times, the pages started falling out. Before I knew it, I was rewriting scenes and spinning out side stories. A fan fiction of sorts. But my true obsession with characters began after I picked up John Irving’s books at the age of thirteen.

High school English and law school derailed my love of reading. With all the required reading, I forgot the magic of stories. It wasn’t until Twilight landed in my hands that I remembered books can transport, inspire, and bring joy.

In the past, my writing has run the gamut, including: simple poetry, legal briefs, impassioned pleas to congress, Greek mythology, and non-fiction.
But spicy romance with character-driven plot lines is where I found my voice. After years spent courtside at junior tennis tournament, devouring love stories in hotel rooms and hours on the highway, I finally carved out space to write my own.

I’m now the author of Overruling Judgment, Willful Parties, and Defending Engagement. These three steamy romances explore love’s complexities with passion and heart. Each book in the series has earned the Literary Titan Book Award. And, I’m just getting started.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am drawn to authors who push boundaries and celebrate sensuality. Tiffany Reisz (The Original Sinners Series), Lauren Dane (Brown Family Series), and Shayla Black are a few of my favorites. Their bold storytelling and fearless exploration of polyamory resonate deeply with me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In Defending Engagement, JD, Ian, and Sasha share a love that’s passionate and all-consuming. Behind closed doors, their polyamorous relationship burns with undeniable heat, but beyond their Chicago home, judgment waits to tear them apart.

At the O’Malley family’s annual St. Patrick’s Day party, whispers turn to outright condemnation—immorality, illegality, and taboo desire. JD and Ian fear the scorn will drive Sasha away. They underestimate Sasha’s ability to eviscerate closed-minded arguments and fire to defend what’s hers.

It is time to take a stand and defend their engagement.

This book acts like a long epilogue to Overruling Judgement, but it stands on its own as a fun, provocative novella. I chose to self-publish this book to make it more accessible and affordable for readers.

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Liz Ellyn’s Website

Liz Ellyn Twitter Account