Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Donna M. Cain

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky and moved shortly after to Hawaii where we lived until I was three. As an army brat, I’ve lived all around the nation. My favorite place was Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I loved going to Kansas City Royals and Chiefs games! I went to college at the University of Kentucky and met my husband there. We’ve lived in Louisville, Kentucky for the last thirty years! I started writing books after my two sons left for college. With the help of my little black dog, Moose, I’ve finished three novels.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with reading began at such an early age. I can’t remember a time in my life that I wasn’t reading. When my kids were little I would read to them so much that I would change the stories around a little to make them new. That’s when I started to think about the series that I’ve written. Over the course of many years I developed each manuscript in my head. When my youngest son left for college, I wrote three books over the next three years.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read books of many different genres. I love Historical fiction because I’m obsessed with Henry VII. What a jerk! I like to read Women’s fiction when I’m writing my own scary stories because they have happy endings a lot. My favorite genre is suspense. I really like “The Passage” by Justin Cronin and I like a lot of Dean Koontz books. My all time favorite book is “Watership Down” by Richard Adams.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book will be titled, “Return to Meadowview” and will close out the Grounds of Vengeance series. This book will bring back characters from the previous three books and hopefully help them eradicate the Varuupian curse once and for all. I can’t guarantee that everyone will survive, but I’ll try to save one or two favorites. (wink wink)
I’ve only just started this one so it’ll take a while to finish. I’ll have it published by next summer. In the meantime, you can read “Meadowview Acres” which is the first book in the series. In that one, you meet my favorite character, Bug. She’s a smart little thing, but don’t underestimate her! Next, read “Plantation Springs” which has a nasty little rodent in it. Not many people are safe from him! After that, “Forest View” will have you rooting for Chowder, an heroic German Shepard. By the time you’re finished with those, I’ll be almost finished with “Return to Meadowview.” I love hearing your feedback so please don’t hesitate to tweet or add a comment to my Facebook page. Who would you like to make it? Who would you love to see have a nasty mishap? Any romances you’re rooting for? Let me know if you like where I’m going!

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Featured Interview With kay gardner

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
i’m a poet all the time, sometimes to the dismay of people around me, who become the object of the vacant stare of a poem clamoring to be written. i’m in love with words, my cats, really good coffee, and i’m a sucker for a well-crafted line (i’ll stop what i’m doing so i can write it down). i’m also a bit of a grammar nazi, which serves me well in proofreading others’ works. i was raised in memphis, but i live in a small town about three hours away, and i love it.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
i’ve loved books ever since i can remember. my grandmother would read to me, and when she was busy, i taught myself to read (“the runaway pancake” no less!). i would go to the library and check out stacks of books, read them voraciously, and be ready to go back the next day. as for writing, i started writing poetry off and on at an early age also, but it didn’t really take until college. that’s when my muse decided to move in full-time.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
favorites? i read everything i can get my hands on! poetry, science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, romance, whatever. two books i re-read on a regular basis are “shogun” by james clavell and “good omens: the nice and accurate prophecies of agnes nutter, witch” by neil gaiman and terry pratchett. i take inspiration for my poetry from emily dickinson, e.e. cummings, and robert frost.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
my latest book is “disappearing me,” and it’s a memoir of sorts. it’s poetry, with an intermission in the middle with a few of my favorite recipes. the poems were written over a period of a few years, and i compiled them into the memoir. most of them were originally published in “shattered dreams,” a book i collaborated on with another poet.

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Featured Interview With Gerald Gillis

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a native of Atlanta, Georgia. My wife and I still reside in the greater Atlanta area. We love Atlanta, love the four seasons, love the Braves, and hate the traffic. But for the allergies that afflict some of my grandkids, I would have a cat. Alas, no pets. Birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and occasional deer aren’t quite pets, but they do provide us with some interesting, enjoyable sights.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Early elementary school I began an exploration of books of all sorts. Once I read Bruce Catton’s This Hallowed Ground about the American Civil War, I was hooked on the subject and on reading. It was the first book I fully read (apart from the Dick and Jane stuff), and I began writing short stories soon thereafter. This would have been the 5th or 6th grade. I wrote my first novel in the mid-1980s, and had to decide whether to remain in a business career that was beginning to gain some traction, or toss caution to the wind and become a fledgling novelist. The family took a vote and preferred the steady income. I agreed, but I also concluded that I would write full time at some point. It took twenty-five years, but I finally did it! Some joker asked me during an interview a few years ago if I had been in prison for that twenty-five years. I’m happy to report that I wasn’t then, nor at any other time!!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Favorite authors: Pat Conroy; Shelby Foote; David McCullough; William F. Buckely, Jr
Favorite genre: Historical fiction
Herman Wouk inspired me with his historical novels War and Remembrance and The Winds of War.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
That Deadly Space is a novel about the Civil War. I had wanted to write a historical novel about the Civil War for many years, and now that I have completed it, That Deadly Space was the most enjoyable project I have done to date. It took me three months to write, and another three months to edit (and edit, and edit!). It concerns a young Atlantan who joins the Confederate army and participates in many of the war’s consequential battles. As an old man, he tells his fascinating story to his grandson, who himself is an army officer about to to off to war in World War I. It is a story of tragedy, heroism, love, and eventual triumph.

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Featured Interview With Kari Holloway

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
A southern belle with flare, I am a native to Leesburg, Georgia, the same sleepy little town that produced greats like Luke Bryan, Buster Posey, and Phillip Phillips. A fourth-generation farmer, I don’t mind a little dirt under my nails, and if you happen to visit, you’ll notice I’m not particularly fond of shoes either. If I’m not penning tales of real love and uncovering the latest paranormal mystery, I’m chasing my rugrats around the local zoo or through the blueberries bushes of the family’s farm with my German shepherd watching from the porch.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Books have always been a part of my life. My mom was an avid book reader, devouring a book or more a day, and my dad binge read historical battles and biographies of great men before him.
In school, I was known to all the teachers and most of the students as a bookworm. If I didn’t have a book with me … yeah, that never happened. I always had a book.
I remember reading Silver Canyon by Louis L’amour. After devouring his impressive collection of westerns, I caught the writing bug. But while I had the writing bug, I didn’t get consistent with writing until 2015.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading fantasy: Brent Weeks, Brandon Mull, John Flanagan, Kim Harrison, Piers Anthony. Wow, I could seriously go on listing people who I enjoy reading. I’m not a rereader, but I’ve reread Louis L’amour, who is the biggest influence on my writing. His style is what sparked that little light inside me. But everything I’ve read has given me inspiration. Sometimes it’s about how poetic something can sound, while other times it’s about what not to do.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I am releasing the final book in the Laughing P trilogy. Determined to win the heart of the girl next door till death do they part, Darien sets a plan in motion that could make it or break it.
A death hangs over the happiest day of his life, his brother is missing, and some unsettling news about a certain blonde has him worried that the two are intertwined.
Can he carry the weight of what it means to be a Payne?
This is the final book, so readers know going in it’s going to be a happy ending, but that life is a lot like a river, it flows where it wants to despite where we want it to go. There’s a moment before the wedding when he’s making last minute adjustment and Maw-Payne tells him to wash his hands because there’s paint under his nails. He looks down, and he doesn’t see paint. What he sees is this pair of callused, rough hands, and a busted thumb all forged through hard work—his hard work. He’s grown up running the ranch, but everyone saw him as the trouble maker, the cad, and he hasn’t been those things in years. It’s my favorite scene in the whole book. I’d love to tell more, but “spoilers,” said in my best River Song voice.

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Featured Interview With H.C. Bentley

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m a Southern girl… not born but definitely raised! I lived in Mississippi from age two until I was twelve, when my family moved to Kentucky, where I still reside with my husband, kids and cat. I work at my local library as a cataloger. And aside from my time in the service, I’ve lived in this same sleepy little town for well over twenty years.

During the time I was away in the Army, I was stationed in South Carolina followed by Weisbaden, Germany. Pretty much a perfect place for a travel bug like me (if you follow me on Pinterest, you know I have an extensive travel bucket list)! I love visiting new places, seeing the culture and history, trying the food…I’ve told people if I ever won the lottery, they’d never see me again because I’d be busy traveling everywhere!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been addicted to books pretty much all of my life…I really don’t remember a time without them. Even while overseas, I was shopping Barnes and Nobles for titles I couldn’t find at the base book store (thank goodness for free shipping and APO addresses!). Let’s just say the movers packed a lot of books when it came time for me to come back stateside!

As for writing, I really started in middle school. One of my teachers encouraged me to develop more of my stories written for class and enter them in contests. I won several national writing contests for a magazine and from there I was hooked. I’ve been telling stories ever since.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m addicted to pretty much anything by Nora Roberts. I think I’ve read 90% of everything she’s ever written (including her JD Robb books). She’s got a way of doing things to get where she wants to go, and even though she’s had all the success, she’s still pretty down to earth. Sometimes I tell people I want to be Nora when I grow up. 🙂

I also like Debbie Macomber, Janet Evanovich, Barbara Delinsky. I tend to lean towards contemporary romance and romantic suspense more than anything else, though I have picked up some good biographies in the last couple of years. I also like books about history, particularly the period around World War II.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest title is the conclusion to my Small Town Hearts trilogy, a series about three women, all lifelong friends, who find their second chances at love. Finishing this final book is both satisfying and bittersweet at the same time. Strange, I know. But what can I say, writers a strange bunch. 😉

To Love Again releases August 5, 2017 and is the story of Bethany, a young widow raising two daughters after the sudden death of her husband. She’s perfectly content to live her life as she has been – single, surrounded by friends and focused on raising her girls – but things take a turn in the form of a new man in her life. Jeremy, one of her late husband’s best friends, has been coming around more and more. And as much as she tries to fight it, the attraction is mutual. But Bethany has misgivings and guilt about loving someone new. And her kids? Well, that could be a whole other story.

I have to say…this book was HARD for me. For one, I had to tie up all the loose ends for my main characters. Then, I had to figure out a proper way to say goodbye to these characters I’ve created and loved for the last couple of years. It took me the better part of six months to finish this story, and I still don’t if I’m ready to let them all go! But, I have a pretty crazy writing schedule this next year (four releases in 2018, y’all) so I won’t have time to dwell on it for long.

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Featured Interview With W. Andranette “Anne” Anderson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a single sassy middle-aged lady who enjoys life, exercising, singing, playing the piano, and working Soduku. I grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and this is where I presently reside. I do not have any pets. In my wildest dream I never thought that I would become a writer. However, thanks to my mother I did.
Life is too precious to take anyone or even the material things that one acquires for granted. Whatever obstacle you face remember to always look at it in a positive light. That is, never see the glass as half empty see it as half full. Remember without bad times in your life you would never appreciate the good times when they arrive. Also, it just makes life more interesting as well.

As I always say, “Without a test, there is no testimony, and without a mess there is no message.”

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I did not realize my fascination with books until I was in my late forties. I started writing in July 2013, after being diagnosed with Stage 3 Infiltrating Ductile Carcinoma (Breast Cancer) and given my first chemotherapy treatment.

My mother was adamant about me not sharing my disease with my family and friends. Due to the aforementioned statement, I used my writing as a way to describe my true feelings about the changes that my body was going through with chemotherapy, surgeries and radiation treatments while simultaneously telling my feelings about what was going on in my life during this time.

When I really think about it, I really believe that we all should write down what is important to us. I do not believe that people realize how POWERFUL words are. In fact, I have a mantra for myself that i repeat daily. That old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”, is NOT TRUE at all. Words can hurt and words can heal. Moreover, people do not realize that we can speak things or circumstances into existence. Furthermore, we tame animals but the tongue cannot be tamed. Therefore, think twice and speak once. Remember you have the power to make this world a better place or a miserable one. Its all up to you.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like to read a variety of authors, but 2 of my favorite authors are Jodi Piccoult and Jim Stovall. I love to read Self-Help books because I am striving daily to become the best person that I can be. I know for a fact that whatever I put out into the world or my environment that is what is coming back to me. In other words, ” You do reap what you sow”, so it is to one’s advantage to sow good seeds so one will reap a bountiful harvest. We all have our flaws and idiosyncrasies, but we should be striving daily to reach our full potential while we are here on Earth. After all, its not the material things that we acquire or degrees that we obtain that people remember but they will remember the relationship/s that you made with them and that is what is important.

My mother inspired me to write and i know that I would not have written this book if it had not been for her. She really left a great legacy for me and she demonstrated the importance of giving to others and I did my best to give of myself by self-publishing this book.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In this non-fiction story “My Journey with Infiltrating Ductile Carcinoma(Breast Cancer)”, I used my passion and emotions to convey to my audience how the challenges of breast cancer affect me and my family. My challenges are compounded when my mother and stepdad are also diagnosed with serious illnesses. I am now the primary caregiver for my parents and myself. This story takes place over a period of two and a half years. During this time, I do my best to live my life as normal as possible, do whatever is needed for my parents, and use my daily activities as a much needed respite in order to ensure my own self preservation. Though I had to stop working as an educator to take care of my parents and myself, I would not trade anything for the lessons that I learned from this awe-inspiring experience.

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Featured Interview With Glenn McGoldrick

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m from Cleveland, in the Northeast of England, which is where I currently live. There are plenty of nice spots for walking, and I’m not too far from the coast. I’m not much of a pet person, but maybe I’ll have a dog one of these days…

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I loved English class at school, and was often the spelling champ. I was an avid reader, and remember writing some stories when I was at primary school. Probably complete rubbish, but I enjoyed it!
Then I grew up, got a job, travelled the world a bit, working on cruise ships, forgot all about writing. When I left cruise ships in 2011, I took a year off, thinking about what I wanted to do next…
Then I took a writing course, got chance to write some stories and loved it. The rest, as they say, is history.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m an avid reader, particularly enjoying James Lee Burke (Robicheaux series), Robert B Parker (Spenser series) and Lawrence Block (Scudder series).
I usually bookmark my favourite passages from their books, then revisit them later, hoping to soak up some of their skills!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
‘Breaking Spirits’, a dark short story available on multiple formats. I got the idea for the story from a newspaper. I get lots of ideas from newspaper articles. I expand the original idea, work on it for three or four days, ending up with lots of notes on paper. Then when I’ve got most of the story figured out, I’ll get to my laptop, start typing it up, breaking it down by scene, in random order. I usually find that the first and last scenes are the easiest ones for me.

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Featured Interview With J. A. Pickett

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Vandenburg AFB CA in 1966 and moved ever 18 months to three years. I live in Oklahoma with my wonderful husband and our two cats Tony and Blue.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started reading when I was about three years old and started really writing in the sixth grade.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
There are many authors that I enjoy reading. The two that mainly inspired me are J. D. Salinger and George Orwell.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
A Distortion of Reality is a commercial fiction set in a reality of a different kind, depicting characters with no names or gender and at the same time taking you into a realm of romance, mystery and wickedly intrusive overtones which will undoubtedly stretch your imagination.
A Distortion of Reality has an Orwellian feel with a twist leaving the time set open to being the past, present or future. With the minds imagination what seems to be is not always what is and much is left open for the reader to participate in the creation of the characters. The story begins with the main character completely overwhelmed by something or someone, reality or dreamed, taken and held for an unknown amount of time, physically examined, tortured, injected with unknown substances and left totally confused. The Party makes it all but impossible to have the freedom of a personal life although there is still room for the trials of romance, if in fact they are real. Be it mystery, science fiction or fantasy, or maybe a combination of all, this story will definitely keep its reader anxious for more, to find out what will happen next, and will take you back a little with the Hitchcock style ending.

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Featured Interview With Renee Garrison

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Boston but moved to Orlando, Florida, when I was 14 – before Walt Disney World opened! (That practically makes me a native Floridian!) My amazing, 5-pound peke-a-poo reached 16 years old before she left me to chase the angels. I hope to find another furry friend to love. Until then, I dog-sit for friends!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I discovered my love for journalism by writing for my high school newspaper. After receiving a degree in Mass Communications, I was hired as a staff writer at The Tampa Tribune. I love so many characters, but there’s one who made an early impression on me – “Harriet the Spy” by Louise Fitzhugh. At 11 years old, Harriet carefully observes others and writes her thoughts down in a notebook as practice for her future career.
I, too, always carry a notebook and pen with me so I can scribble thoughts in the car, on beach chairs – I’ve even done some pretty good work on the back of vomit bags during long airline flights! I must have coffee, though, and chocolate seems to help my creative process a lot.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
It’s too hard to choose! My guilty pleasures include the John D. MacDonald Travis McGee mystery series and Randy Wayne White’s Doc Ford novels. Both authors accurately describe the Florida landscape (as well as the quirky people who live in the Sunshine State.)

Tell us a little about your latest book?
What if you were the only girl living in a boys’ boarding school?
My Young Adult book, “The Anchor Clankers,” tells the story of Suzette LeBlanc, who never had a brother – at least, not a biological one. But she acquired 150 of them as a 14-year-old freshman in high school. That’s when her father became commandant of The Sanford Naval Academy, a military boarding school in Florida.
Yes, I grew up in a boy’s academy.
In 2010, I returned to Sanford to see the old school building. Though the naval academy closed its doors in 1976, the building was used by a missionary group that graciously gave me a tour of my old home. Memories came flooding back and a book was born – a book which took me SIX YEARS to write.
My life was a bit unique as the only girl in a boys’ boarding school. But the book deals with themes such as prejudice, peer pressure, and coping with change, which are common to all teenagers. My main character moves from Boston to Sanford in 1971. Not wanting to move is normal. Leaving behind everything that’s familiar is frightening. I want my readers to remember that they’re not alone. According to the National Military Family Association, “military children will say good-bye to more significant people by age 18 than the average person will in their lifetime.”
“The Anchor Clankers” is a medalist in the 2017 Florida Authors and Publishers Association Book Awards.

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Featured Interview With Caryn Lee

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hey everyone I’m Caryn from Chicago, a city gal with a country accent. I’m from the Westside of Chicago & a 80’s baby. I come from a family of six and the middle child. I love tacos (I mean really love tacos!) My favorite color is purple, although I am falling in love with yellow. I love fashion, taking pictures & R&B music. I’m a fun and spontaneous person, but I do believe in taking a nap. I love spoken word, live bands, plays & comedy shows. The thing that I enjoy doing the most is reading a book!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination for reading started at such a very young age. I grew up in a household of readers and was surrounded by books. When I was younger my mother took me & my sister to library all the time. At school we were given a free book every month. I remember the times when I had a long order form for books during our book fairs. I also remember reading so many books for a free pizza, Lol. My love for reading led me to writing & creating my own stories. I started writing in the early 2000’s but my first book was published in 2014.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors to read are Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Eric Jerome Dickey
Sister Souljah, Zane, Teri Woods, Mary B. Morrison, Vicki Stringer, Kiki Swinson
and Ashley Antoinette Etc…Etc…Etc (just to name a few). My favorite genre to read is Urban Fiction/Romance & Drama. Everyday life inspires me to write.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book Love Will Make You Do Some Stupid Things is about three best friends Chassidy, Tanessa and Jalissa and the men that they are in love with. They share their stories of the good & bad in their relationships. A modern day soap opera reading filled with romance and drama.

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Featured Interview With Joanna Marie Bautista Clark

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Founder and CEO of theClarky.com

I created a website called theclarky which is aside from being an image hosting website, a place to upload and view images around the world. I write books from time to time.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I realized my fascination with books ever since.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorites are Shakespeare and Bob Ong.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Lovers In Capiz, is about the struggle of Noah between believing or not believing in the supernaturals.

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Featured Interview With Kristi Saare Duarte

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I guess I’m a New Yorker more than anything else, because I’ve lived in Manhattan for the last nineteen years. When people ask me where I’m from, I often say Northern Europe, because it’s difficult to be more specific than that. I was born in Sweden by Estonian parents who had escaped their home country as children during the second world war. My culture is Estonian, I have two passports and I’m married to a Peruvian-American.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My parents were the best. They always encouraged me and my sisters to read. As children, we had a set bedtime, but we could read in bed for as long as we wanted. Mum and Dad gave us books for our birthdays, Easter, Christmas, and brought us to the library to stack up on books in between.

I wrote my first story, My Dog, when I was five. And after that I kept writing. And writing. And writing. I wrote my first novel when I was fifteen, but I never tried to get it published. My second novel came fifteen years later, but it wasn’t until I started writing The Transmigrant that i really found my niche and my voice. It’s taken me six years to finish this novel, so it’s not like its been easy. Or quick. But with the great reviews I’m getting, it was definitely worth the time and effort.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t have a favorite author per se, but my favorite books are often set in India or somewhere else in Asia. I love to “get away” when I read, experience a different culture or a different environment. Among the best books I’ve ever read are: Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts; The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini; Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami. But I also enjoy anything by John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, and John Irving.

I’m inspired by authors who can write “effortlessly.” That’s why I aspire to. I don’t like lengthy descriptions and slow reads, I enjoy beautiful, flowing prose that you don’t have to stop and think about, or where your mind doesn’t start to wonder. That’s what I aspire to, effortlessness.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Although I’m not religious, my novel is about Jesus and his travels across Asia where he studies Hinduism and Buddhism. I’ve always been curious about where all the different religions stemmed from, and wanted to explore more about their similarities. When I started writing The Transmigrant, I spent a lot of time studying the similarities of religions, and I can definitely say there are more similarities than differences. The research, writing, and editing took six years. I read more than fifty books on the subject and watched any documentaries and TV series I could find. I tried to only focus on authentic sources and therefore have disregarded large parts of the New Testament, because the books were written by people who never knew or had met Jesus.

In my novel, Jesus as a child is somewhat arrogant. He thinks he’s just a little bit smarter than everyone else. He wants to become a priest, but given he’s from a family of carpenters, it’s just not possible. When he meets a monk from Sindh (today’s Pakistan) and learns that in Sindh anyone can devote their lives to studying the scriptures, he runs away from home. He joins a camel caravan and travel along the Silk Road through Asia and eventually ends up in India. The Jesus in my book is very different from the one you usually see in movies. He has romantic relationships, fights with his ego, and has a difficult time following other peoples’ rules.

The reviews I’ve received so far have called The Transmigrant: “An inspired narrative and vibrant living tapestry that humanizes Jesus in a sensitive and delicate way,” “A captivating and powerfully related account of Jesus’ early years,” and “The Transmigrant will transport you to that ancient cosmos of biblical times with such searing vividness, you will swear the story is unfolding before your very eyes, you will swear that you are witnessing a cinematic event.”

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Featured Interview With Martin Fone

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am 62 years of age and live in Frimley in Surrey in the UK. I am retired having worked in the financial services and spend some of my time researching and writing books and my daily blog. My latest book, Fifty Curious Questions, is my second book, although I have also co-authored a couple of text books.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always been fascinated by books and been an avid reader. I really started writing for fun about five years.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have a very catholic taste ranging from non-fiction, particularly history, to literary fiction to detective fiction. I like strong, opinionated writing. I also think a dash of humour doesn’t go amiss.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called Fifty Curious Questions.
The pace of life is such that we rarely have the luxury to stop and think. We take so much on trust. We assume that we know why something happens or the way things work. It is only when we stop and think that nagging doubts or questions creep into our subconscious. For those of us blessed – or is it cursed? – with an enquiring mind, once the seed of a question has been planted, we need to find the answer.
The purpose of the book is to shed light on some of those nagging and irritating questions. There is no overarching design behind the fifty questions. They are just some of the topics that have puzzled me (a self-confessed ignoramus on all matters scientific) over the years, and I have now had the time to find the answers. Fortunately, greater brains than mine have grappled with some of the issues and carried out bizarre experiments or made quantum leaps of logic to push out further the frontiers of human knowledge. This book celebrates this quest and thirst for knowledge.
In the book we look at how our body works: why we blush, why we feel colder when we step out of the shower, and whether there is a finite limit to how long our hair will grow. We will perfect some essential life skills such as how to spot a liar, handle a hangover, rid ourselves of hiccups, and construct the perfect cream scone. There are some deep existential questions to answer, like how long is a generation and whether we are only six feet away from a rat. And then there are some really maddening questions like, Why do we still use a QWERTY keyboard? and Why do the British persist in driving on the left hand side of the road? All will be revealed inside these pages.
We also consider some left-field questions like: Do we lose weight when we fart? Do elephants take longer to urinate than horses? and When you are caught in the rain, do you get wetter if you run or walk to your destination? Life would be all the poorer without the answers to questions like these.

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Featured Interview With D A Prince

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’ve been described as a youthful, energetic, sophisticated and an inspiring woman. Passionate about learning, research and takes a special interest in making each day count. I am a Model wife, mother of two, soccer mom, and fashion lover (and an ex-model, who still wants to work btw ;)).

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island, New York. Friends and Fans can often catch me keeping fit in Sunny, Palm Beach, Florida. A tennis enthusiast, working on my game! One of the things I enjoy most out of life is talking to people and listening to their perspectives and ideas on a variety of common interests and current topics. I enjoy making others laugh, and have 2 boys and no pets.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with books began at 9 years old. Even though I didn’t read as much as I collected…I enjoyed having books around and reading several at a time.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors to read are James Patterson, Debbie Macomber, and Terry McMillian. Favorite genre is Romance, self- help, inspirational and mysteries. Love Shonda Rhimes and Ava Dunaway. Life inspires me to write. I enjoy entertaining myself with writing!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Crystal thought she found the perfect man, finally. After what seemed like a relentless pursuit of wrong men & relationships that didn’t work out she was living the American Dream. Burt was successful, they had money, they had a beautiful family – they had everything every woman dreams of. She had arrived. BUT IT WAS ALL AN ILLUSION.

One innocent look at her husband’s phone shatters Crystal’s world and pushes her into a world of introspection, reflection, and on the warpath to remedy an ever unfolding situation of deception and emotions. One moment Crystal is grateful for her “perfect” life, and the next she is looking at naked photos of another woman on her husband’s phone.

Should she confront her husband’s lies? should she destroy the other woman? what is to become of her life? How did she not realize this was going on?

Disastrously Fabulous is an inspirational, fun, and insightful story on how a woman becomes strong and grows from the unthinkable situation. Alongside the main character, the reader learns about not getting so caught up in love that you forget to enjoy yourself. It’s a lesson on not feeling embarrassed or ashamed for being cheated on or betrayed, and how to use an emotionally shattering situation to your advantage.

It took over 10 years to write this book. I always wanted to write but never had the time to make it happen.

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Featured Interview With Gary Guinn

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in a small town in the southern Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, in what was then a very rural area. It was a great place to grow up, but of course I couldn’t wait to leave. After a few years of bouncing around in several colleges and the military, I decided it wasn’t such a bad place to live after all. After getting a master’s degree in literature and marrying a hometown girl, I started teaching at the local college. Two kids and about twenty cows on a small farm later, I finished my PhD and settled in for the duration.
I taught creative writing and literature, directed plays, acted in plays and musicals, made a lot of friends, had a good career. The kids grew up, we sold the farm, and I started seriously writing fiction. We traveled a lot in Europe and Central America, wished we could settle down in Italy or Greece, but always loved coming home. Now our two dogs–Seamus, a Lab mix; and Peanut, a Corgi mix–fill the empty nest nicely. We still travel, learned to sail, and I write fiction and brew beer. And drink what I don’t share.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My father and mother were readers. I still have two of the earliest picture books my father gave me–Dr Squash the Doll Doctor and The Puppy Who Found a Boy. Maybe my real fascination with books, though, began on my eleventh birthday, when my parents gave me a copy of Treasure Island. I was mesmerized. I still have my copy of that book too, and I gave both my sons a copy of their own on their eleventh birthdays. As an English professor, my whole professional life was books, but I didn’t begin writing fiction seriously until midway in my teaching career. Maybe I’m a mid-life crisis writer, but my first novel was inspired by events in my family’s history.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
The two kinds of literature I love, read, and write are literary fiction and crime fiction. In literary fiction, I admire and have been influenced by Louise Erdrich, John Irving, and Louis Nordan. My first novel, A Late Flooding Thaw, is literary/historical. In crime fiction, I admire especially the Scandinavian writers of what is known as Nordic Noir. Hakan Nesser, Joe Nesbo, and Stieg Larsson are a few of my favorites. I also admire the Belgian writer Georges Simenon in his Inspector Maigret novels, and the British writer Colin Dexter in his Inspector Morse novels. My novel Sacrificial Lam, the first in a series of Lam Corso suspense novels, was influenced by these writers.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The first Lam Corso novel, Sacrificial Lam, released March 3rd, is actually based on real events early in my teaching career, when three professors received anonymous death threats. In the novel, Dr. Lam Corso, an outspoken progressive English professor, teaches at a small southern university, where his views are sometimes unpopular. The book opens with a death threat, which Corso thinks is a joke by one of his colleagues. He is, after all, living the perfect life. But escalating threats and violence, with the police unable to find any leads, force Lam to take action. His wife, an avid anti-gun activist, is outraged when he brings a gun into the house. But when the violence extends beyond Lam to his family, Lam and Susan are forced to examine their marriage and their cherished values. The novel poses the question, what will it take to survive?
I worked on the novel for approximately a year and a half, and I was very aware that the themes of intolerance and violence against differing views were very appropriate to our contemporary society.

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Featured Interview With Gary Walters

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I work full time in the hospitality industry and I am a business school graduate from an accredited university. An avid reader, The Thorns Beneath the Rose is my first novel and the first in a planned trilogy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I became interested in books, both fiction and non-fiction once I had learned to read during the middle of my primary school years. I started writing late in life. I attempted short stories and novels after taking a creative writing class. The class was one available through a city recreational program offered in the evenings. It was just one of many evening classes one could take, classes in French or Italian cooking, pottery, self-defense, golf, painting, were also available. In such a casual program, you only scratch the surface of knowledge in creative writing. As I was already in my early fifties, I put aside writing for awhile as I had neither the time nor the money to go back to school full time. My one university degree is in business, not the arts. Eventually, I decided to increase my knowledge of creative writing by reading several books on the subject.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Shakespeare, Hemingway, Dickens, Atwood and Vonnegut on the fiction side.
Jane Mayer, Peter Frase, David Suzuki and Jeff Rubin on the non-fiction side.
I like a fair variety of genres from standard literary work to mystery/thrill and increasingly, science fiction/fantasy. I must also give credit to non-fiction works on subject matter concerning creative writing, sociology, political science, economics, history and works on predicting the future.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
As a schoolboy, I had some exposure to the mythologies of the Greek and Norse gods which often dealt with the basic human issues of moral choice, in addition to exposure of the teachings of traditional Christian Sunday School classes that many of my generation were required, or almost required, it seemed, to take which also discussed, at some basic level, issues of moral choice.
It never occurred to me to link “Big Picture” issues of our modern times with Mythology and Fantasy, despite my love of “Slaughterhouse-Five’ until I read, in my later years, novels such as Martin’s “Game of Thrones”, Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”, Bradbury’s “The Martian Chronicles” and last but certainly not least, given its satirical flavor, Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods”.
These works as well as exposure to the current issues of the day provided the spark to write “The Thorns Beneath the Rose, Book One”.

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Featured Interview With Tori L Wilson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in a small town in Georgia and still live there. I have a four year old Pekingese dog named Lori and several kittens.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was always fascinated with books and as a child I always read with my family members and encouraged my friends to read more. I began writing in the second grade and have continued writing stories since then.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Stephanie Meyer, J.K Rowling, and Niel Gaiman. My favorite genre is paranormal romance. I am inspired by my family members, friends, and dreams I’ve had.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is a paranormal romance about a psychic named Alexander Damion who falls in love with a ghost named Kristine Ann Smith

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Featured Interview With Lynn Baber

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? That you want something different than what you have, or a magic pill to transform you into someone new? Do relationships confuse or frustrate you.

If you answered yes to any of those questions, we share some common history. I write non-fiction books for people who know that there’s more and better somewhere out there. But they don’t know how to get it.

I was the geeky kid from a dysfunctional family and no hometown. My favorite companions were animals and books. Animals weren’t judgmental, and books offered escape, intrigue, inspiration, and companionship.

After decades of learning the hard way (is there any other?) I figured out where all the wonderful stuff is hidden and how to access it. By the grace of God, I survived experiences many don’t, and enjoyed a successful career as a business consultant and motivational speaker. Then the dream of a lifetime became reality – I jumped head first into the horse business as a trainer and breeder.

Mind you, I had to start at the bottom. Over the next 25 years, I learned to be simple, communicate efficiently, earn focus and respect, and enjoyed great horses, wonderful clients, and blessings I never expected. I judged shows in the US and Europe, earned World and National Champion trophies as a trainer and breeder, and served as an expert witness.

God wastes nothing and has a sense of humor. Seven years of equine-related ministry followed my years in the industry. Today, I enjoy living in a Texas barn with my husband, five horses, dogs, and cats.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Books have been an important part of my life since first grade. The library in our little suburb held two-stories of fascinating opportunity. I was a regular visitor, never leaving without an armload of new books to replace the ones just returned.

I tried writing stories in grade school, but wasn’t any good at it. As a young adult, I dabbled in poetry. Being somewhat autobiographical, they were better than my failed stories. Sometimes a touch psychedelic (I’m a product of the 60s and 70s), I still like the poems I wrote.

As a business consultant, I wrote books on management and customer service. If I’d stayed in that line of work and not done the horse thing, one of them would still be in print. The content is evergreen and relevant to every business and organization today. But I didn’t, and the story goes on.

My husband and I sold the big ranch and downsized. Every morning I recorded training notes for two gray quarter horses I worked with. They knew something was up before I did. After a few months, I discovered I was writing a book. The lessons I thought I taught the horses, were really lessons God intended for me. That was a twist I didn’t expect.

I was a horse pro who authored a book, not a writer who happened to do horses. There’s a big difference. While the first book, “Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace” was in production at the publisher, I was led into ministry and started the next book. Ministry was never something I’d considered. Far from it. But, if you know God at all, telling Him “No” isn’t the right response.

Over the next seven-plus years I wrote more books, licensing them to the ministry. We purposefully didn’t market or promote. Our goal was offering something positive to people who needed it. The books were used more offline that online, and I enjoyed years of rich experiences and blessings. With practice, I became a better writer.

In 2017, I transitioned from full-time ministry to serving in a new capacity. I write, teach, coach, and do all I can to help others find simplicity and security in relationships and faith.

As a Christian author, I write for horse lovers and readers looking for answers in a complex and changing world. The basics are the same. The truth is the truth. What works, works.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading mysteries, courtroom drama, humor, and books that expand my knowledge base or perspectives. Most books I read are non-fiction, because that’s what I write. The more I know, the better and more relevant my writing is to my readers. I bring a new perspective of simplicity to issues, concerns, news of the day, and personal challenges.

My library includes everything Oswald Chambers and Dr. Francis Schaeffer wrote. I have many titles from and about Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and Francine Rivers. My library is extensive, full of resource materials as well as just plain good books.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“The Art of Getting to YES – How using Questions Correctly Inspires Action, Agreement, and Connection with Anyone” is my latest book. It’s a free short read ebook on Amazon and other online sources. It’s often more important to know the right questions than the right answers.

Readers, students, and audiences tell me that the information and illustrations I give about the 4 Types of Questions is particularly valuable. They see themselves in some of the goof-ups, and recognize the opportunity in using questions constructively.

Great communication enhances relationships and success, whether personal, professional, or with a horse. Misunderstandings and manipulation damage relationships. Using questions properly makes a huge difference when credibility and achieving goals is important.

My other most recent book is “Fifteen Minutes into Eternity – The War Between the Human Spirit and the Holy Spirit.” It picks up where “Rapture and Revelation” leaves off. The truth is fascinating stuff. This book is packed with it.

Evil is good. Tolerance is Intolerant. This book presents explosive evidence of wide-spread delusion among 21st-century Christians. From the scientific to social unmentionables, I guarantee every reader will finish the book and say, “I never knew!”

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Featured Interview With Karl Beckstrand

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Karl Beckstrand is the bestselling and award-winning author of 19 multicultural/multilingual books and more than 50 ebook titles (reviews by Kirkus, School Library Journal, The Horn Book blog, ForeWord Reviews). Raised in San Jose, CA, he has a B.A. in journalism from BYU, an M.A. in international relations from APU, and a broadcast & film certificate from Film A. Academy. Since 2004 he has run Premio Publishing. His survival western, To Swallow the Earth won a 2016 International Book Award. A college media instructor, Beckstrand has presented to Taiwan’s Global Leadership for Youth, city and state governments, festivals, and schools. Beckstrand’s nationally lauded Y.A. stories, e-book mysteries, ESL/ELL Spanish/bilingual books, nonfiction, and wordless books feature ethnically diverse characters—and usually end with a twist. His work has appeared in: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Border’s Books, Costco, Deseret Book, iBooks, The Children’s Miracle Network, LDS Film Festival, the U.S. Congressional Record, Papercrafts Magazine, and various broadcasts. FB, Twitter, http://KarlBeckstrand.com, http://PremioBooks.com

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I learned that books can be fun when I was eight. I started writing in college (when I should have been doing my homework).

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love history, so anything by David McCoullugh is ideal. Other authors I love: Tolkien, Harper Lee, C.S. Lewis, Clancy, Grisham, Shel Silverstein

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Bridge of the Golden Wood: A Parable on How to Earn a Living. A child with a knack for solving problems helps some hungry fish and finds a treasure. Illustrated Asian folk tale comes with career and business ideas plus online resources (for ages 4+). Young children will be captivated by the story; older ones will want to apply the things they learn. I wrote this fable after seeing a lack of kids’ curriculum on how money is made—how to earn a living. I used to be a recruiter in Silicon Valley; today’s graduates don’t seem as prepared for work as their parents. Many young people don’t know that failure is normal and can nourish future success. It’s free on Kindle through July 23 and has been #1 in three categories since May.

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Featured Interview With Santana Young

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’ve been a fan of science fiction since I was little and am a proud history geek. I play in a medieval recreation group and my love of history is often integrated into my science fiction.

I have a degree in Anthropology and love learning about other cultures and archaeology. This comes into my work in that I can create very detailed cultures for the people that live in my books.

I was raised in a little village called Bremen in Ohio. I still live in Ohio but near the city of Athens, a gorgeous city with lots of hills, history, and friendly people. I don’t have any pets at the moment but I dream of getting a pet fox one day.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing almost as soon as I could write. My sister started writing then too, and I think it sprung, at first, from the typical copy-my-big-sister mentality. But our writing took different flavors from different approaches and likes.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading the works of other indie authors, especially ones I know and have met. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of Urban Fantasy, though I’ll get back to scifi soon. Some of my biggest inspirations have been E.A. Copen and R.R. Virdi when it comes to urban fantasy.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Arena, and soon it’s sequel, Liberator, are products of a series and world that I’ve had in my head since I was around nine. It started with a poem I read once in an anthology and several over inspirational sources, including Babylon 5, added more flavor. It’s evolved so much you’d never recognize the first rendition.
I love making characters that readers can feel a connection with. The books are very character focused. At the same time, action is fun, too. So in the Arena, you’ll see several of Duncan Greyson’s fights with gladiators, some far bigger and older than he.
Duncan may be a bit young but he’s someone who comes up with solutions and jumps on it. He’d never be happy with a quiet life and, after being a slave, he can have some trust issues.
His best friend and a fan favorite is Mahmud “Mom” Kartal who teaches Duncan how to fight in the Arena. He’s a protector (hence the shortening of his name to Mom) and has good intuition. He’s often at war with himself about if he should let Duncan make his own mistakes or try to protect him. He’s certain he’ll die in the arena but he wants to believe that someone can escape, and not just survive but leave Neo Roma and live happily ever after.

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