Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Tamuna Tsertsvadze

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’ve been born and raised in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. For now I live there, before I finish school. Then I’m going to move to France to continue my studies there.
I have no pets as I don’t like them. In my opinion, pets should live in houses with yards, so they could have more freedom. Apartments aren’t for them, and currently I live in an apartment.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing at the age of 7, the time I read my first book. Thomas Mayne Reid’s “The Giraffe Hunters” inspired me to start writing. Even now Thomas Mayne Reid stays as one of my favourite authors.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are Victor Hugo, Thomas Mann, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Walter Scott, Thomas Mayne Reid, Jules Verne, Jack London, Hermann Hesse, Erich Maria Remarque. I enjoy reading classics, it’s my favourite genre. As for fantasy, I read it to develop my skills in writing, as I love writing fantasy books, letting my imagination flow.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book was “I am Held”, which I published in January on amazon. It takes place in a fantasy realm I created, called Ogaron. Helds are a warrior tribe, well-known for their professional battle skills. Their society is divided in two classes – the higher class, the warriors who defend their lands, and the lower class, called Serons, who do work and aren’t allowed to fight. But once a young Seron girl, Wolvena Nillin, decides to change the Heldic life, as she thinks that Serons should also be allowed to battle, as they’re Helds too. She will need to surmount many obstacles to achieve her goal.
I wanted to create a warrior girl, extremely determined, courageous, self-confident. That is how Wolvena was created.
It didn’t take me a lot of time to write this book though. In fact I often write books in a short time, be it one or two weeks, or even less sometimes. Books are of course small, you can even call them short stories, although, they have deep character development so I count them as books.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Tamuna Tsertsvadze’s Website

Tamuna Tsertsvadze Facebook Page

Tamuna Tsertsvadze Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rev. Dr. Kevin T. Coughlin Ph.D.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born a raised in Connecticut. I’m living in the Poconos of Pennsylvania at the moment with my three dogs. I love dogs! I’m a licensed and Ordained Reverend and the Director of a ministry in PA. I enjoy teaching and being a student; I love to write, create, and help people. To me, the perfect day is hanging out with my dogs and a computer.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing about 19 years ago. A friend died at age 19 and I started writing poetry to cope with the pain and loss. I had about 300 poems published and a book of poetry in the UK. Then I started writing articles and nonfiction and I was off to the races.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m really busy, so I like anything that isn’t too long. I love Poe for short stories and poetry. I think Jim Carroll’s poetry I think he’s fantastic. S. Hall for short stories, and a little Brian Evenson to round me out. All the classics as well.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I just released two books a week apart both are on addiction recovery. The first one is a workbook on the 12-steps of recovery, and the second is about finding spirituality and living in it. There are 46 years of experience on the pages of these 2 books; life-saving information to anyone struggling with addiction. These books have already changed many individual’s lives at the ministry.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Rev. Dr. Kevin T. Coughlin Ph.D.’s Website

Rev. Dr. Kevin T. Coughlin Ph.D. Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Barbara Goss

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My biggest influence was Grace Livingston Hill, a prolific writer from the 1940’s to mid 1960’s. She wrote over 100 Christian romance books. I felt the world needed more good clean romance books. It is possible to write books with excitement, steaming romance, and heart-warming characters without bad words, sex or violence.

My childhood home was in North Tonawanda, New York. It’s a small suburb that is between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. I’m still living in that area and love the changing seasons. Christianity has always played a big part in my life. I went to Lutheran school and later became a non-denominal Christian.

I live with my husband of 25 years, and two mixed breed stray cats that chose our home. Our three sons are grown and we have several grand children.

My hobbies are: writing, reading, playing Words With Friends, playing the penny slots and watching the Buffalo Bills play football.

Words I live by are: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was a rare mixture as a child because I was a tomboy who was also a bookworm. I read from an early age. My grandmother would send me books and my older sisters would pass their books down to me. When I wasn’t playing sports, I was reading. My school had a large set of books based on the childhood lives of famous people like, Abe Lincoln, Ben Franklin, Daniel Boone, etc. I was fascinated by reading about their young lives and how they were influenced as children to become famous adults.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I was introduced to romance by “Gone With The Wind”, and “Forever Amber” as well as Grace Livingston Hill’s books. After I became a born again Christian I switched my reading to entirely clean romance and read all Livingston Hill’s 100 books. When there were no more I knew it was time to write my own. I asked God, “What can I do for You, since You’ve done so much for me.” I never went to college and professionals said I could never be published. But my first book was published by a large publisher. So I know I had divine help.

I decided to try my hand at writing to see if it was what God wanted me to do. Since three publishers bid for my first book, I decided that was surely what He wanted me to do. Forbidden Legacy was published by Fleming Revell in the early ’90’s and they signed me for three more: Captured Heart, Stolen Heritage and Dangerous Illusions. Baker Book House did a second printing of Forbidden Legacy and Captured Heart and a few were published in German and sold in Germany.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
After publishing those four books, I went to work full-time and didn’t write at all. Now, I’m retired and back to the keyboard. Since January 2015 I’ve written: Silent Love, The Kissing Bridge, The Final Vow, Temptation by Moonlight, Drawn from Darkness and The Romantic Ruse. I had twenty years of book ideas floating in my head crying to get out.

My books get great reviews, but I wish readers would take the time to review more. I don’t think they realize how much their opinion of the books mean to writers. They influence them greatly, they also give a rating that helps when you are promoting, as well as helping readers to select books that fit their interests.

Some of my books just touch on God in small minor ways like Temptation by Moonlight and The Romantic Ruse. Both are extremely romantic though. The strongest Christian book is Drawn from Darkness. My female character has been a Christian since birth and never really been involved with people who were not church people. She went to work for a hotel in Hays in around 1898 and her boss was a handsome womanizer who see saw coming out of saloons with half-clad dancers. He had a reputation and she wanted no part of him, but he was drawn to her and he couldn’t figure out why. It was fun writing that book. I fell in love with all my characters and I always have some nasty characters that you will love to hate. I like westerns and that time period. Some of my books feature Native Americans, and my first book has one as the hero. Four of my books are a stand-alone series called Hearts of Hays. They all take place in Hays, Kansas and some of the characters you loved in previous books will have guest appearances.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Barbara Goss’s Website

Barbara Goss Facebook Page

Barbara Goss Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Teresa Watson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born on an Army base in Washington State, but I have spent most of my life bouncing between Texas and New Mexico. Currently, I live just south of Dallas, a Washington Redskins fan in an ocean of Cowboys fans. I wear several hats: wife of a misguided Cowboys fan, mother of a wonderful young man, daughter of a wonderful woman, sister of a nutcase, friend to many, protector of stray kids who have crossed our threshold over the years. Alas, no pets due to my son being allergic to just about every cat and dog known to man.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Fifth grade was when I became really interested in reading and writing. My parents gave me “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, and this is still my absolute favorite book (and I still have the book they gave me). I wrote my first story on the back of my homework papers, also in the fifth grade. It was a time traveling story. However, it soon became fodder for a landfill; my mother threw it out. She is still my harshest critic and one of my editors. If it’s not Mother approved, it doesn’t make it into a story. In fact, there was a recurring character in my Lizzie Crenshaw Mysteries series that she didn’t like (but everyone else did). By the fifth book, Mother said she had to go. Whenever someone asks why I killed the character off, I simply say, “Mother signed her death warrant.”

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre is mysteries. I started out reading Nancy Drew, graduated to Agatha Christie, and on from there. My mother and I enjoy the same authors, so we’re always exchanging books. Some of our favorites are Cleo Coyle, Janet Evanovich, Ellery Adams, Jennie Bentley, LynDee Walker, oh gosh, I don’t think you want the WHOLE list! But I also enjoy suspenseful thrillers, like Brad Thor, David Baldacci, and Steve Berry. My late father got me hooked on those, so like my mother, he and I would also exchange books. I read books like people drink coffee. If I’m not writing, I’m reading, and can go through two or three books in a day.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is the second one in my Ghostwriter series, “Who Invited the Ghost to Dinner?”, which should be ready for release by February 1st. Cam Shaw is hoping that her ability to talk to ghosts is a one and done deal. She would prefer to be a ghostwriter for real people instead of having to deal with pushy ghosts who want her to solve their murders. But unfortunately, she’s managed to catch the attention of two ghosts this time: one who claims to have worked for the mob, and another one who might have been killed because of her husband’s connections to the mob. Cam, her boyfriend Chief Mike Penhall, her best friend Randy Scott, and the rest of the gang work together to find out the connection of these old murders to two new ones that have happened. Who is trying to wipe out the Ingram family? And just how long is Cam going to be stuck with this wisecracking mob ghost?

This one took several months to write, and it was really a labor of love in a way. The characters of Grandma Alma and Cam’s parents are based on my own grandmother and parents. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away in January 2015 at the age of 96, and my father, very unexpectedly, passed away six days later at the age of 70. I decided to feature Grandma Alma and Cam’s dad more in this story, which I did, although not as much as I would have liked. My grandmother was a heck of a woman, and while she wasn’t a poker player like Grandma Alma, I decided to make sure that her character had a heck of a lot of fun (my mother approves!). And yes, one of her middle names was really Alma, like the character. As for Cam’s father (also named Jim like my dad), he is just like Dad. Loving and kind, a retired minister, a Vietnam veteran who served as a chaplain’s assistant, Dad was a wonderful man. And some of the things Cam’s father says in the story are things that my dad said to me (include the comments about using a weed eater to cut my hair; Dad was always offering to cut off my ponytail!). While Grandma and Dad are gone now, they will live on in the Ghostwriter stories.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Teresa Watson’s Website

Teresa Watson Facebook Page

Teresa Watson Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Victoria Benchley

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Victoria Benchley lives with her husband of over twenty years and their two children on the West Coast of the United States. She grew up reading the classics and counts Dickens and the Bronte Sisters as her favorite authors. After a career in corporate America spanning public accounting, cash management, and real estate investments, at national and international firms, she chose to become a stay-at-home mom and full time taxi cab driver for her children. She is a Christian and enjoys quilting, cooking, and traveling (road trips included!), as well as reading and writing. Victoria is the proud owner of a quirky mutt who inspired the Mr. Lincoln character in the Duncan Dewar Mysteries. Come football season, she can be found most Sunday afternoons enjoying an NFL game.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I read the classics, with my mother, from an early age. She devised a scheme to get me interested in books by volunteering to do my chores if I would read to her while she worked in my stead. Guess what? She chose Vanity Fair as our first endeavor and it worked! She did the dishes while I stumbled over words in British literature. Thankfully, she possessed enough patience to endure through countless novels and my lifelong love of reading and writing began.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I still enjoy the classics most of all. Right now, I’m in the middle of The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins and I’ve tried to pass on my love of Dickens to my two boys. In addition to the Brontes and Jane Austen, I’m a fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafon and David McCullough. I like just about any genre, including non-fiction, as long as the story in entertaining and unique. I gather my inspiration from many places. Recently, unusual antiques have given me ideas and they play an important role in the book I am now writing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is The Christmas Contest. Fifth in the Duncan Dewar Mystery series, this novel proves a departure as it is more of a romantic comedy than straight up mystery. A crime still needs solving, but the focus is on the escapades of the Dewars and their friends during Christmas and Hogmanay in a small Scottish village. Ancient traditions and fun abound in this humorous tale. I began writing the Christmas Contest immediately after finishing The Laird’s Labyrinth, and it continues where that title leaves off.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Victoria Benchley’s Website

Victoria Benchley Facebook Page

Victoria Benchley Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Raj

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a Lawyer by qualification. I was born in New Delhi, India and am still living in the same city. I do not have any pets as of now but I would definitely have one when my daughter is old enough.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I became fascinated with books at quite a young age and started writing when I was in High School. However, I fell out with my parents and financial troubles forced me to forget all about it for several years.

It was in 2013 that I published my first book, “Annihilation : Almost – Time to start again”. It was the first book that I had written in 1998 but as luck would have it, got around to getting it published only after fifteen long years when I took up writing again.

Now, I have given up on my banking career of several years to take up writing full time.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Ved Vyas, Premchand, and Homer. I am a kind of reader who does not restrict oneself to any particular genre.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is Book One of a three – book series, “The Converts” and is titled “Battle of New York”. It is centered on a worldwide war against zombie domination but has plenty of battleground action, a mystery and a smattering of science – fiction to make it quite wholesome rather than the usual zombie stuff.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Raj’s Website

Raj Facebook Page

Raj Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Samantha Fischer

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Springfield, VA which is about 10 minutes outside of Washington DC. I now live in Lafayette, IN with my boyfriend and three year old daughter.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I really started to get into reading in high school. I didn’t have a lot of friends so I spent all my time in and out of school reading books, mostly in the YA fiction section. I started making up stories to myself around the same time, but didn’t start to actually write any of them down until college when I started taking creative writing classes.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author is Stephen King. I will read anything by him (yes, I’m one of those crazy fans) and will read anything in the fiction genre. I’ve been getting into more historical fiction lately as well.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I have only published one book so far, a novella called Love and Self Discovery. It is about a girl in high school who comes out as gay to her Christian parents. I wrote it for a creative writing class in college and it’s inspired by my own fear to come out to my parents. Luckily for me, my parents were much nicer about it than my character’s.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Samantha Fischer’s Website

Samantha Fischer Facebook Page

Samantha Fischer Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Alex Hinkley

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Alex is 29 years old and lives in Western New York. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Niagara University and a Certification in Security Management and Homeland Security from The University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is also professionally certified in Statement Analysis. Despite his education in the field of Criminal Justice, Alex instead chose to pursue a writing career and became a video game and sports journalist out of college. He has worked as a video games journalist since 2009. As of January 2016, his online content has been viewed over 30.6 million times.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I didn’t actually start writing until I was in college and I wasn’t a fan of reading until senior year in high school, after I picked up The Dark Tower. Before that I hated reading. Now I read everyday and always have a book with me everywhere I go. I only wish I had become a reader earlier so I could have enjoyed English classes more!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre is fantasy. My two favorite authors are Robert Jordan and Stephen King. Stephen King originally got me into reading and ultimately into writing after I discovered The Dark Tower series so I gotta give the nod to him slightly, but The Wheel of Time is my favorite fantasy series ever so he’s definitely worth mentioning.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called Nerd Psychology. It is the culmination of many years of research and interviews with thousands of nerds online. Basically it delves into the psyche of an online nerd and explains why they act how they do under the veil of anonymity online. It also details the differences between a nerd and a geek because they are not the same, despite the fact the two terms are used interchangeably in modern culture. If you’re into video games or internet culture, then you’ll find this book not only interesting and educational, but also relevant to your everyday life.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Alex Hinkley Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rev. Floyd Cryer

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am 42 years old and an Ordained Minister, Married Jan. 7, 2011, and live in Hodgenville, KY. I’ve owned my own business for 20 years as a Home Repair & Remodel Specialist and at the same time I worked as a Building Maintenance Supervisor for a Major Hotel Chain which had 3 properties in the area. My wife and I are ministering and teaching others about the Love of Jesus Christ through Testimony & Prayer Ministries. I love reading, writing, most sports, especially the NFL as well as soccer.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I didn’t really get into books until I was 18 years old. Now I read everything I can get my hands on. I didn’t start writing until after 2000. I didn’t start doing it professionally until about 5 years ago. Then I was doing Blogs and article marketing.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
John Grisham, Janet Evanovich, David Baldacci. I love reading Christian Non Fiction, Court room thriller and mysteries, comical cop or bounty hunter books. Many writers, but the three aforementioned authors will do…

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Right now I am working on a Political Non-Fiction right now. With all the players in this election field that need to be whittled down I think it is time to take a very good look at what is happening and why things are shaping up like they are. In my next book, “Trump For President?” we will be taking a very good look at all of this and more.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Rev. Floyd Cryer’s Website

Rev. Floyd Cryer Facebook Page

Rev. Floyd Cryer Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Elizabeth Kazeem

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born into a family of eight, my parents included, don’t judge my parents until you meet them, they love children. My family was such that reading books, doing house chores and proving each day that you’re disciplined was far appreciated than a gift of many hampers. Being bred in the tropics, in a family where so much love abound gave room for development of traits and talents.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I took to reading since I could say my name. I loved reading so much that I could exchange my dinner for a good book to read. Then I started writing. I began with illustrations, you know, the childish drawings you see in children friendly books. I’d illustrate a whole story and then search for someone to narrate it to. Then I graduated to telling stories, whenever I had the opportunity to share a story with friends, I didn’t narrate books I read, I gave my own story. They always enjoyed it anyway. I started real time writing in senior school.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Lisa Jewel, Wanitta Prakks, Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. My favourite genre, inspirational, romance and thriller. God inspires me in my writing. All I need to do is pray and take a pen.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Thorns and Roses.
An orphaned young woman with a terrible health challenge who was jilted and abandoned. Despite responsibilities on her shoulders, she quit her job when the manager demanded an erotic affair. She fell and became covered in thorns, which prevented her from reaching the one who loved her. She must overcome myriad if thorns if she must pluck roses. Would she really survive it?

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profile

Elizabeth Kazeem Facebook Page

Elizabeth Kazeem Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Elizabeth Kazeem

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born into a family of eight, my parents included, don’t judge my parents until you meet them, they love children. My family was such that reading books, doing house chores and proving each day that you’re disciplined was far appreciated than a gift of many hampers. Being bred in the tropics, in a family where so much love abound gave room for development of traits and talents.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I took to reading since I could say my name. I loved reading so much that I could exchange my dinner for a good book to read. Then I started writing. I began with illustrations, you know, the childish drawings you see in children friendly books. I’d illustrate a whole story and then search for someone to narrate it to. Then I graduated to telling stories, whenever I had the opportunity to share a story with friends, I didn’t narrate books I read, I gave my own story. They always enjoyed it anyway. I started real time writing in senior school.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Lisa Jewel, Wanitta Prakks, Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. My favourite genre, inspirational, romance and thriller. God inspires me in my writing. All I need to do is pray and take a pen.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Thorns and Roses.
An orphaned young woman with a terrible health challenge who was jilted and abandoned. Despite responsibilities on her shoulders, she quit her job when the manager demanded an erotic affair. She fell and became covered in thorns, which prevented her from reaching the one who loved her. She must overcome myriad if thorns if she must pluck roses. Would she really survive it?

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Elizabeth Kazeem Facebook Page

Elizabeth Kazeem Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Aaron Emerson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania but have lived in Mason, Michigan since I was two. Mason is a small town outside of Lansing and is a place I have grown to love. I have a dog named Charlie that is around 11 or 12 years old and I love sports and reading. I have a girlfriend named Alison, a five year old daughter and a wonderful, supportive family.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with books began about five years ago, actually. I started out reading a lot of mystery books, mainly James Patterson. I really got interested in them and now I am an avid reader. It was around that time that I started journaling, as well. I really fell in love with the ability to put my thoughts on paper and it became a positive outlet for everything I felt and thought.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Mitch Albom, James Patterson, and John Grisham. I love mysteries, but I also love a lot of non-fiction. I really like reading inspirational books and autobiographies. Albom has inspired me the most, the way he has a positive message in a lot of his works. I love how he blends a good fiction story with the ability to use his writings to inspire and make a difference.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book is a memoir I wrote on my addiction to drugs. It takes the reader through my several year addiction to painkillers and heroin, followed by my attempts to find recovery. Throughout my addiction and early recovery, I journaled everything I went through. I really felt if I compiled the significant journals throughout these years, people could see what it is like to live a life of addiction and how hard it is to find recovery. I have really felt a calling from God to use my story to not only raise awareness, but to inspire others that no matter what happens, there is always hope.
A lot of people don’t understand that addiction to drugs is a disease, and the person that’s addicted turns into someone different and almost unrecognizable. Though the decisions to take drugs in the first place are usually horrible, life changing mistakes, no addict goes into experimenting with drugs thinking they would become addicted.
My addiction took me to jails, rehabs, and almost killed me several times with overdoses and accidents. I lived a life of regret, but I finally turned to God and made the decision to do whatever was necessary to get sober. It was a very long, intense, and hard journey, but I pulled through. I really hope this book will help people not make the same decisions I made, raise awareness on addiction, and show readers that if you are alive, hope is alive, as well.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Aaron Emerson’s Website

Aaron Emerson Facebook Page

Aaron Emerson Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Joleene Naylor

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in south west Iowa in a little town of tumbled down buildings and faded memories, surrounded by cornfields, soybeans, the song of crickets in summer, and the stillness of snow in winter. After seventeen years away, I’m back. I live with my husband, random members of my immediate family, and a Noah’s ark worth of pets in a crooked DIY-reno Victorian house in Villisca, only a few blocks from the infamous axe murder house. Someday the place will look great, until then I’m living with peeling wallpaper and drywall dust.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My mother is a writer and poet, and both parents are voracious readers, so writing and reading have been a part of what I consider “normal life” since I was a toddler. When I was six, I learned that not everyone had stacks of paper in their house and I couldn’t figure out what they did for fun if they weren’t writing or drawing (you can tell I wasn’t much of a baseball player). I wrote my first novel at twelve, and then promptly threw it away because it had adult themes that embarrassed me. It’s a good thing I’ve gotten over that or I couldn’t publish my vampire series!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre is fantasy (everything from high fantasy to YA fantasy romance) with sci-fi and horror tied for second and historical romance in third place. Honestly I like a good romance, no matter what genre I’m reading. What can I say? I’m a romantic at heart.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Masque of the Vampire – to be released April 1, 2016 – is the eighth book in the Amaranthine series and, though it has plenty of blood, action, and vampires, it is inspired by the classic British mystery: a guest at a well-to-do days-long party ends up dead. Who killed them? Why? Only, instead of a dead guest I have a series of child murders, a mysterious locked door in the attic, a phantom stalker, and a cast of suspicious immortal characters. It’s a paranormal who-done-it with a dose of disturbing.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Joleene Naylor’s Website

Joleene Naylor Facebook Page

Joleene Naylor Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Elizabeth Kazeem

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’d say I’m a beautiful but humble, high-spirited, devoted, and disciplined but jovial personality. Don’t be surprised if you catch me picking my nose, I’m praying to be delivered from that habit. I don’t do it often in public though. ‘Laughs’. I enjoy putting smiles on people’s faces, listening and counseling. I really do love impacting lives. I’m fun to be with and can dance pretty well, only to good songs though. I’m simply Elizabeth Kazeem.

I was born into a family of eight, my parents included, don’t judge my parents until you meet them, they love children. My family was such that reading books, doing house chores and proving each day that you’re disciplined was far appreciated than a gift of many hampers. Being bred in the tropics, in a family where so much love abound gave room for development of traits and talents.

I don’t have any pet yet. But if I’d get one tomorrow, I would get a parrot. Then, I’d be able to share funny stories about how it mimicked every one around the house.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I took to reading since I could say my name. I loved reading so much that I could exchange my dinner for a good book to read. Then I started writing. I began with illustrations, you know, the childish drawings you see in children friendly books. I’d illustrate a whole story and then search for someone to narrate it to. Then I graduated to telling stories, whenever I had the opportunity to share a story with friends, I didn’t narrate books I read, I gave my own story. They always enjoyed it anyway. I started real time writing in senior school.
I wrote my first published book in 2015. I actually wasn’t thinking of writing a novel at that point. I merely posted a part of the first chapter on my blog as a ‘share and care’ stuff, posts you read and drop your opinion about. But it turned out people were expecting more. One of my readers, my number two fan—God is my number one, He’s interested in all I do— encouraged me to build on it and finish it, which I then did. Before I finished it people were already telling its tale, which geared me on to finishing it. When I finally dropped my pen, I realized I had finished “Thorns and Roses”

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Lisa Jewel, Wanitta Prakks, to mention but a few. My favourite genre include Inspirational nonfiction, Romance, Thrillers, Women fiction.
Hundred percent, God inspires me. All I need to do is pray and take a pen. My loved ones and my fans do a great job to cheer me on.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is “Thorns and Roses”
Centred on three major people who must survive the pricking of the thorns to enjoy the beauty of the rose.
Melissa, an orphaned young woman with a terrible health challenge, Leukemia, who was jilted and abandoned. Despite the tugging responsibilities on her shoulders, she quitted her job as the manager demanded an amorous affair with her. She fell and was covered in thorns, which prevented her from reaching out to the one, who loved her. She must overcome myriad of thorns if she must pluck roses. Would she really survive?
Mark, a handsome gentleman, the type you see on the cover of fashion magazine. He was a repented Casanova who was later on being played. Despite his devotion for the one he loved, he was not accepted by her. Would he give up after unraveling a scary secret of hers?
Tara, the young virtuous girl, hated for wanting to keep her dignity and purity. Despite her determination to stay unspotted, she was abused, and developed a life threatening consequence. Would she survive or give in to the cold hands of death?

Many more awaits you in the intriguing, suspenseful and gripping book, “Thorns and roses”.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Elizabeth Kazeem Facebook Page

Elizabeth Kazeem Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Carrie Lowrance

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised on a main highway in Central Pennsylvania. My parents owned and ran a restaurant and motel. After my parents divorced, my Mom and I moved to Illinois to be closer to my Aunt and Uncle. I have lived in Illinois for 18 years. I live with my wonderful husband James and our two furry children. We have a one-eyed, orange, tabby cat named Colin. He is my baby. We also have a one year old rabbit named Abbey who thinks she is a total diva. She is constantly organizing her house so it is perfect to her specifications.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My Mom started reading to me at a very young age. She tells me that when she first opened a book, I started waving my hands at the pictures and my eyes got all wide. I have always loved books. I started writing when I was nine years old. The obsession never let go, although I have picked it up and put it down over the years. It wasn’t until last year that I decided to get serious about my writing.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Dave Ramsey, Jon Acuff and the list goes on and on. I like to read everything from romance to suspense to business/work/finance and just about everything in between. My favorite genre to read is romance. However, it has to be good romance with an actual story. I’m not a fan of the erotica genre.

I get inspiration for my writings mostly from people I know or have known. Sometimes I get inspiration from different situations I have heard about or been in. Other times I think about subjects that have been written about and try to find a different angle to pursue. Then there are times when an idea will just drop into my head out of nowhere.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called Don’t Eat Your Boogers (You’ll Turn Green). It is about a boy named Goober McGee, who eats his boogers and comes down with a case of Boogeritis. I actually wrote it several years ago after I got off work one night. I didn’t pick it up again until 2013 when I submitted it for a freelance writing course I was taking. My instructor really liked it and said I should try to get it published. I submitted it to a few places, but nothing panned out. In 2014, I decided to take it to work (daycare) and read it to the older kids. They absolutely loved it, except they wanted pictures. That’s when I decided to self-publish it. I was working on my first book of poetry at the time, so I put it aside for a little while. I self-published my first book, Lithium Dreams And Melancholy Sunrise in March of 2015. I followed it up with The Safety Of Objects in May. I started working with my illustrator and the lady that formats my books in August. It was such a neat process to see my illustrations go from pencil sketches to inks to full-color images. It took about three months to complete. Don’t Eat Your Boogers (You’ll Turn Green) was released in November.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Carrie Lowrance’s Website

Carrie Lowrance Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Dani Collins

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Canadian. I grew up in a suburb of Vancouver and now live in a rural town in BC with my high school sweetheart. Our daughter has left the nest and our son will graduate soon. No pets! We’ve had cats over the years, but we also have a lot of wildlife here, like cougars and racoons. Plus, now that we’re approaching an empty nest, we want the freedom to lock the door and go.

Would you like to try before you buy? I have a short story ebook romance called Cruel Summer. I wrote it exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. You can join here and download it for free: http://danicollins.com/free-book/

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I found romance novels in high school and knew I wanted to write them. I have a TERRIBLE opening scene that I wrote in Grade Eleven, which was when I discovered that writing is HARD. About five years later, I rented a typewriter (yes, I’m that old!) and tried again. Writing was still hard, but I persevered for the next twenty-five years, through mountains of rejections, and finally signed my first contract in May of 2012.

That was for Harlequin Presents and I’ve been writing steadily for them ever since. I just turned in my seventeenth title!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love any kind of romance, but mostly contemporary. Werewolves and Vampires are lower on the scale, but I’ve read some wonderful ones. I’ll also read erotic and other types of paranormal. Historicals are always a fun departure, but mostly I read contemporary romance.

Honestly, I don’t make enough time for reading. Part of the problem is that I sit so much that when I take a break, it’s usually for something active. (Walking is a huge pastime for me and maybe this year I’ll resurrect gardening.) I’ve recently discovered reading on the treadmill at the gym, however, so I predict doing more of this!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I’m very excited about my baby swap duet with Harlequin Presents called The Wrong Heirs!

The first book, THE MARRIAGE HE MUST KEEP (Print and Digital, Jan 2016) has Octavia realizing in hospital that she has been handed the wrong baby, but no one believes her. She and her husband have grown estranged and his cousin has caused some mischief between them. Octavia is ready to quit the marriage, but Alessandro is determined to make it work. The story takes them from London to their villa in Italy, where they both learn all that the other has sublimated until now.

In the second book, THE CONSEQUENCE HE MUST CLAIM (Print and Digital, Feb 2016) Cesar doesn’t remember making love to his PA, Sorcha. He was in a car crash and lost his memory of that monumental week. Pregnant Sorcha is run off by a woman who claims to be Cesar’s fiancee (How does a man get engaged while he’s in a coma, Sorcha wonders, as she resigns herself to raising their baby alone.) However, the mix-up at the hospital has the administrator calling Cesar for a paternity test–which is a terrific surprise to him when he has no recollection of chancing a baby!

I also have a bad boy short story coming out in ebook on Feb 11th called TAKEN BY THE RAIDER, which has a ruthless corporate raider ‘acquiring’ the heroine in a hostile takeover. I wrote this over Christmas, on request from the publisher, thinking ‘It’s short. It won’t be hard.’ Writing is HARD! how do I keep forgetting that? But I’m happy with the end result and hope you’ll think so, too.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Dani Collins’s Website

Dani Collins Facebook Page

Dani Collins Twitter Account

Featured Interview With J. Grace Pennington

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a Christian in my mid-twenties living in the Dallas area. Texas is my home through and through; I was born in Houston and lived there until I was nine, then lived in the Hill Country until recently. I have no pets, sadly, at least not with me. I do have a palomino quarter horse named Pioneer back home, but he was too big to fit in my Trailblazer for the ride up here.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I honestly don’t remember learning how to read. I just remember reading the Little House on the Prairie books at age four. Shortly after that, when I was about five, I was bored while my mom and siblings were napping and my dad was at work, and it occurred to me that I could write a story like the ones I knew how to read, so I did so. And I never stopped!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t even know if I have a favorite genre to read. I just love a good story, whether that’s sci-fi, romance, drama, thriller, non-fiction, or whatever. I also can’t possibly list my favorite authors, but among them are C. S. Lewis, Charles Dickens, Daniel Schwabauer, and Frank Peretti. All of them have had an impact on my writing and my stories in one way or another.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Implant, is a YA time-travel dystopia about a nineteen-year-old boy with leukemia who gets pulled into a future where everyone is controlled by means of a medical implant that can cure almost anything. Of course, he’s expected to save the day. Along the way he meets Neil, the idealistic and energetic leader of the rebels and Doc (my favorite), the mysterious and hardened doctor who helps the rebels’ cause–or does he? I wrote the story back in 2011, but only edited it and finally published it last August. It has a few shocking plot twists that have kept all my readers guessing!

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

J. Grace Pennington’s Website

J. Grace Pennington Facebook Page

J. Grace Pennington Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Scott Stevens

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
i’m a journalist, posting regularly on health and alcohol issues for online news services. I’m also a founding influencer at the world’s largest medical portal, HealthTap. Many popular alcohologists on air and on bookshelves have stellar credentials, but few have had to eat their own cooking. I have. I blend a little humor alongside my personal 86-proof-two-liters-a-day story and mix it with thorough research into alcoholism, sobriety, relapse and recovery.

I’ve had a ‘real’ job, too, as a former mutual fund industry executive. My books show that business acumen and bluntness. The three I’ve written: 2010’s What the Early Worm Gets, 2013’s Indie Book Awards finalist, Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud, and 2015’s Adding Fire to the Fuel. I regularly address conferences around the country — including the REEL Recovery Film Festival — on the latest trends in the field of alcohol use disorders.

I’ve had some amazing life experiences, like meeting seven Presidents of the United States, flying with the Navy’s Blue Angels, piloting a Los Angeles Class nuclear submarine and driving a NASCAR at 140mph on a one-mile oval. All that after I got my Master’s in Public Affairs Journalism from the University of Illinois – Springfield. I own www.alcohologist.com (as well as the Alcohology app for Kindle and all Android devices). I’m from the Midwest… born and raised, lived around the U.S., and came back.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My seventh grade English teacher put the bug in my ear. Mrs. Roanhouse always encouraged the creative side right along with grammar and sentence structure dos and don’ts. By the time I was a H.S. junior, I knew I wanted to be a TV reporter and use my writing skill that way. Throughout the marketing career, I was still a voracious writer and reader. Now that I am back to journalism, I can say I am one of the few lucky ones who’s been able to hold his dream job … not once but TWICE!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read classic psychology like Frankl and Jung, but I like unwinding with fiction that twists and turns. Deaver is the best at it.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Adding Fire to the Fuel was an unexpected journey for me. There is so much stigma around addiction, alcoholism and treatment. I have lived through what an alcoholic lives through and have had the courage to get well again, so I know the alcoholic journey isn’t easy. And it has little to do with willpower and nothing to do with crummy morals. I took a hard look at stigma, why it happens and what to do about it. I challenge the public perceptions, but more importantly, I challenge those in and around recovery to step up and be PANonymous and avoid self-stigma.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Scott Stevens’s Website

Scott Stevens Facebook Page

Scott Stevens Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Nathan H. Mogos

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in 1982 from Eritrean parents. Following the border crisis in 1998, I along with my family resettled in Asmara, Eritrea. I completed my BA degree in English SSE at the University of Asmara. Throughout my forced migration over the past decade, I had lived in many African countries before eventually settling in Norway.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I always had this wild imagination growing up. Making up stories, modifying and fantasising the ending of movies was my favourite past time. However, with the intense pressure of my Mother, my imagination went on overdrive once the spell of books took over. What started with Hardy Boys series, went on to serious existential contemplations of Aldous Huxley and Fyodor Dostoyevsky as the challenges of life got harder. After half-hearted years of scribbling my thoughts, at the age of 22, I began depicting the harsh reality around me in short stories in Tigrigna, Amharic, and English. In the past decade, having lived through several countries as a refugee until settling in Norway, my writing became my therapy as well as a career goal to maintain my focus and sanity

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Even though I read books across different genres, I often find myself drawn to those who epitomize the struggle of their times in their in fictive accounts. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Dambudzo Marechera, Vladimir Nabokov, Richard Wright, Saul Bellow, Sebhat Gebregzabher and Knut Hamsun are among the many. For capturing the essence and mentality of their times makes their work timeless and priceless. But my style of writing, which I am constantly experimenting as an apprentice could be the combination of the above mentioned immortal souls I look up to. But I guess I will let the readers decide for themselves

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Watching the news in the comfort of the western world, the coverage of the over packed refugee boats landing in tatters in Lampedusa and the Greek Islands made me feel uncomfortable yet helpless. The polarising narrations on the media fail to capture the deep rooted issues of a continental dilemma of a restless young African generation. The real lives of the people in flight are often blurred by the label “Migrants”. Instead of wincing and cursing on the TV from the comfort of my sofa, figured it was up to myself to portray the authentic story, the face, spirit, and soul of the young Eritreans that make the headline. Having been a migrant, a soldier and a teacher myself, I tried to encapsulate the mentality of the youth in a stagnated state of Eritrea, dubbed by the media ” the North Korea of Africa”. In the novel, you get to meet two brilliant characters with different visions for themselves and their country. With the western dream on the horizon, they try to make sense of their existence while playing hiding and seek from the mandatory open-ended military conscription in the picturesque city of Asmara…

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Nathan H. Mogos’s Website

Nathan H. Mogos Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Deb Graham

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in New York state, and have lived in Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, and I’ve lived north of Seattle for 27 years. I’ve visited 36 countries, and all fifty US states. I love to travel! If a passport or suitcase is involved, count me in!

I’m a self-published author of eleven non-fiction books, including two cruise travel guide books laced with stories about her innocent husband (so he says), a book on how to write one’s personal story, how to complain, and several cookbooks, science, and craft books for her six beloved grandchildren. My background in stand-up comedy spills into my writings.
Leery of writing fiction for many years, I’ve just finished my first novel, a cozy mystery set on (where else?) a cruise ship. I’t been delightful to learn how much I enjoy fiction. I already have a sequel in process! It seems that many cozy mystery flyleafs tell that the author lives with a spouse and assorted cats. I love my husband, but sadly, have no cats.
My superpowers include: being able to spell-check and grammar-check with my brain (thanks to abusive English teachers over the years); heading up the making of 1006 quilts for Project Linus; a quick mind that enables me to improvise on a dime; and my talent as a skilled bargain hunter, including being able to find name brand items with store tags still on them in second hand stores with laser focus.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have written my entire life, as far back as I can recall, including a 3 act play in second grade that the class performed. I write copious letters, and I’ve kept a daily journal for four decades. I write!

I read quickly, often devouring a book in an afternoon. There are so many good ones out there!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m prone to nightmares–and creative enough to conjure up my own nightmare scripts, thank you–so I have to be very careful what I allow into my head. I enjoy cozy mysteries, with warm characters, stories that make me feel good, along with rich historical tomes. A book that impacted me intensely was “Sarah’s Key.” Anything by Dorothy Gilman or Earlene Fowler is also guaranteed to suck me in. There goes the afternoon…

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Peril In Paradise is a wonderful book, I must say! Had I not written it, it’s just the kind of book I’d love to read. It takes place on a cruise to Hawaii, with rich descriptions of places and people that’ll make you want to book a cruise yourself. Go ahead–it’s accurate enough to plan a trip by.
Jerria and Will are unassuming real estate agents in Oregon. Dismayed by their son’s premature departure to college, Jerria agrees a cruise would cheer her up. Will loves her desperately, and does all he can to make the trip memorable. He buys her a necklace at the Honolulu Swap Meet, and that’s when the trouble begins. A simple cruise shouldn’t put Jerria’s very life in danger. You decide for yourself if Pele is myth or real. You’ll be caught up in this warm story. You’d better block out time to read it, because you won’t be able to put it down.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Deb Graham Facebook Page