Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Helen Pollard

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live in the UK, and I’m a true Yorkshire lass, born & bred. I lived in other places on and off when I was younger, but I always ended up back here. It’s a truly beautiful county. Nowadays, I’m happily settled in suburbia with my husband, two teenagers, and a rather psychotic cat.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree books are to blame. I read and reread those books well past my bedtime (by the light of the street lamp outside my window after lights out!) I loved the way she created a whole new world in each and every chapter, and I wanted to do that for myself, so I started writing my own stories in a notebook. I think I was about seven at the time. I still have that notebook, although it’s a bit battered now.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I can read any number of P G Wodehouse’s Jeeves & Wooster or Blandings stories. He had such a lovely turn of phrase. They make me laugh out loud. As a writer, Wodehouse inspires me to think up unusual and unexpected ways of phrasing my work, and to polish until it sounds just right.

I also love Mary Stewart’s mystery romances from the 1950s and 60s. They now seem delightfully old-fashioned – but the heroines are feisty, and there is usually danger, mystery and a villain to unearth alongside vivid descriptions of the places the books are set. As a writer, I think she got that combination perfectly.

For modern romance with sizzle, I think Nora Roberts is hard to beat.

If I fancy a thriller, I read Michael Connelly or Harlen Corben. I also love Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano mysteries – irreverent, convoluted and gripping.

When I’m in the mood for something a little more philosophical, I find Alexander McCall Smith’s tales of Mma Ramotswe and Botswana gently uplifting.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My new release, Holding Back, is a summer romance set in northern Portugal. I visited the area a couple of times a few years ago, and it’s so beautiful and friendly there. Since I love my books to take place somewhere interesting, and write the story so that my readers feel like they are visiting the place in their imagination, I felt compelled to dream up a plot and characters for the setting!

The first draft took me about six to nine months to write … but then I always spend an inordinate amount of time editing and polishing afterwards, until I get it just how I want it.

When I’m writing, I usually start out with a basic idea of where I want to go with the story, but then my characters have a habit of taking over and dictating their own route.

In Holding Back, Laura and Daniel are strongly attracted to each other but they don’t get on well at first. Laura avoids romance and assumes all she needs is extra willpower when she meets Daniel at her friends’ hotel where she helps out every summer. As for Daniel, he has too many work demands – and problems with his manipulative ex-girlfriend – to find time for anything else. They’re both stubborn and determined not to get involved – hence the title! It was quite a challenge to get the two of them together, believe me.

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Helen Pollard’s Website

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Featured Interview With Deb Julienne

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in San Jose, California. In 1998 we moved to Northern California, we now reside in the Tahoe National Forest Basin. Beside the writing, I have a day job with a computer company. For fun I like to play in the kitchen and create Jams, Jellies, and Sauces with alcohol and enter them in the county fair. My favorite jams to date is Peach/Tahitian Vanilla/Butterscotch Schnapps which took First Place, Best in Division, and Best in Show. For other concoction see the list on my web page: http://www.debjulienne.com/category/ruckus-room/

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved book, but realized I was meant to be a writer when I would finish a book and decide how I’d have ended it differently. From there the addiction grew.

Also, I’m one of those people who next says “What’s next?” Why? Because I always find out. And it’s not a matter of “If” things will go wrong, but “when” and “how bad” is more like it. I mean how many people do you know can have a seriously embarrassing results from a simple walk in the park or conversation? Don’t believe me, check it out ( http://pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/2014/02/life-is-just-one-big-walk-in-park-not.html & http://pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/2014/01/real-life-situational-comedies.html)

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love Janet Evanovich. Joe vs Ranger, what’s not to love. It was her character of Grandma Mazur that I realized you can totally let a character to crazy and have a ball no matter how old they are. I’ve recently discovered another Evanovich, Stephanie Evanovich. Her first book “Big Girl Panties” was fabulous. She really nailed the character of Holly. I loved the emotional connection to that character. I also love Jude Deveraux and her Montgomery/Taggert men…where’s my fan! Another author addiction is Greg Iles. If you haven’t picked up his books you need to.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aids and innocent woman finds out just exactly what she’s made of when she discovers the man of her dreams isn’t who/what he led her to believe. Getting even has never been so much fun.

Sex, Secrets, & Happily Ever Afters, book 2 of The Twisted Sisters Club Series, will be released on August 4th 2015.

NOTE: Paul Walker was the character I modeled the male leads in both books (Twins) and to honor him, I’m donating half the proceeds of these two books to his Reach Out WorldWide Organization https://www.roww.org/

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Featured Interview With Angie Salisbury

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a life-long Ohio girl, born and raised. After college I moved to South Florida and stayed there for four years before coming back north. I never looked back and have been loving being back here for the last 20 years. For my whole career I’ve been a business writer of one form or another – moving from technical writing, web writing, general business writing (RFPs, RFQs, really any RF…), back to technical writing, to publications, to Internet marketing. After losing my fulltime job several years ago, I decided to go out on my own and become an entrepreneur. Now I provide my business writing services to entrepreneurs and companies, specializing mainly in ebooks, actual books, web copy, articles, white papers, special reports, and so on.

Over the last few years I’ve ghostwritten dozens of books and ebooks, but last year I co-authored the first book with my name on the cover. It added that legitimacy to my work. From there, I knew I had to get out that passion project that was inside me – the book I always wanted to write, from my heart. That’s where Dogs Know Best comes in.

I’m a devoted dog mom to two German Shorthaired Pointers. Since I work out of a home office, I’m with them, many days, 24-hours a day. Dogs Know Best: Two Dogs’ Training Guide for Humans is my love letter to my aging dogs – my thank you for the lessons they have taught me over the years. It is a sweet, warm look at the relationship between a girl and her dogs that anyone who has ever shared their life with a dog (or cat or bird or bunny, for that matter) can relate to.

This book was the first time I went from presenting a straight-forward business story to telling a tale that came directly out of my open heart.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been a life-long reader. I remember getting so excited in school when it was time for the Scholastic Book Fair, and carefully choosing the bounty of books that would soon be mine, come delivery day. I remember trips to our local library, roaming the aisles. I remember the first time I made the transition from the children’s section to the young adult area – from the big lettering and colorful pictures to the “mature,” often thicker and more substantial books. I remember bringing home a bagful of new worlds to explore.

To this day, a book is never far from reach, thanks to my iPad. I can now carry all the worlds with me and am never far from dipping into a new story.

I remember loving writing in school. I always welcomed an essay exam because I could “explain myself” in a way that was much more effective than if I had to solve a math problem. I could crank out research papers in the blink of an eye, which fed right into my procrastination habit!

When I entered the business world, writing became a natural extension of my skills and talents. I found that there was a real need for the things I could bring to a company. I remember being surprised that writing was such a challenge for so many people when it was something that I did without much thought.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre to read are mysteries and thrillers – suspense novels. I love a good Stephen King, and my absolute favorites are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. With those authors, I will mark my calendar and eagerly await a new release. On the flip side, I love a good story, and one of the best was Maeve Binchy. Her books transported me to another place (usually somewhere in picturesque Ireland) and let me get lost in the characters.

There are so many fantastic authors out there, beyond those initial ones the field gets very crowded. Then there are the non-fiction bunch, offering everything from motivational to inspirational to business guidance. (Again, thanks to my trusty iPad, I can absorb them all, depending on my mood). As a part of many different writers and author groups, I have the privilege of reading the books of some wonderful authors in a wide-range of genres, further expanding my appreciation of the art and craft of book writing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Dogs Know Best: Two Dogs’ Training Guide for Humans, is a passion project. It is my love letter to my two senior German Shorthaired Pointers. It is my thank you for the lessons they have taught me over the past 12 years.

I so often found myself smiling, laughing, or tearing up as I wrote this book because of the incredible lessons I have learned from my two goofballs. Having a companion – much less two – like the ones that inspired me and taught me the lessons included here has absolutely made my life richer. To everyone who reads this book, I wish the same.

Sometimes we forget the simple things we can do in our everyday lives that will make us happier. That’s where my two wise German Shorthaired Pointers come in. Follow along as Bimmer and Bertram take you on a journey towards greater happiness.

As they explain, “We’ve seen a lot, listened a lot, taught a lot, and learned a lot. We thought it was about time to share our philosophy and lessons on life with all of you humans so that you could have the same incredible life we do. Think of it as our legacy.”

These are simple things that people can start doing immediately to live a happier life – a dog’s life!

While this is a very quick read, it’s perfect to pick up, read and absorb a lesson or two, and put it into practice in your daily life. It’s the kind of simple book that you can go back to again and again. And there are some really cute pictures in it!

Dogs Know Best went to the top of the Amazon charts in 6 countries! A 37 time #1 bestseller!
The book is available on Amazon for purchase or download.

I hope you enjoy it!

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Featured Interview With Nicholas Ponticello

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’ve been writing for over a decade and I’ve got about three other books lying around on my hard drive gathering digital dust, much like Jim’s brain in Do Not Resuscitate. I’m interested in getting at least one or two of those other books in shape for publication. But there’s no hurry. Writing has always been a hobby for me–a way to gather my thoughts in one place, rearrange them, test their strength and validity. I try to write my characters into situations that may seem outlandish, but are really quite plausible. Then I kind of wait to see what they’ll do. And that always says a little something about me and a little something about what I think of humans in general.

I teach. That’s what I really do. I don’t even want to pretend for a second that I’m a bona fide writer. I teach high school maths–the stuff you used to hate when you were in school. I’d like to think I make the maths a little more likable than they were when you were in school. They really are likable–maths.

I also coach, well I recently stopped coaching, but I used to coach high school cross-country and track. That’s another one of those things you used to hate as a kid–running. I am a bona fide runner. That I can say. I think I’ll know it if I’m ever a bona fide writer, but for now my writing is to ________ what jogging is to running.

Pets? Yes. Five freshwater fish. One freshwater snail. And a whole bunch of happy plants.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Does one have to have a fascination with books to be a writer? I think the word “fascination” does not do it justice. When you are fascinated with something, there is an implication that it is beyond you or “other.” Reading is integral to my life. Books form the basis of my education. I’m not fascinated by books. I’m indebted to them.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t think genre is very important to me, so long as there is honesty and insight in the writing. My favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, Victor Hugo, Isak Dinesen and, yes, Jane Austen. If you’ve got something to say about the human condition, then I’m all ears.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Do Not Resuscitate is inspired by all the terrifying realities you read about in the headlines today, and it attempts to imagine the near future in the context of those realities.

The main character, Jim Frost, thinks that when you’re dead, you’re dead. Gone. Finished. Kaput. But on the eve of his seventy-third birthday, his daughter suggests he have his brain downloaded to a microchip for safekeeping, and Jim is forced to consider what it really means to die—and what it might mean to live forever.

Do Not Resuscitate is the firsthand account of Jim Frost, an aging misanthropist who witnessed the rise and fall of the United States as a world power, the digitalization of the planet, the advent of the water wars, and the near collapse of the global economy. Yet he remains impervious to it all. Concerned more with his plasma TV, high-speed Internet, and continual supply of hash, twentysomething Jim takes an under-the-table job off Craigslist delivering mysterious red coolers to strangers in cafés in an effort to pay the bills. But when Jim’s enigmatic employer asks him to fly to North Korea for a delivery, Jim starts to wonder what he’s gotten himself into.

Do Not Resuscitate became available on April 1, 2015 in paperback and Kindle formats. I started writing it a couple of years ago, and wrote the bulk of it during a summer holiday in Paris. That’s why much of the subplot takes place in Paris. It was a very easy city in which to imagine intrigue and adventure. In the intervening years after I wrote the first draft, I had to come to a decision about making the story available to readers. And so it is available. Now.

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Nicholas Ponticello’s Website

Featured Interview With Rachael Richey

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in the south of England, moved to the Isle of Mull, in the Hebrides for fourteen years, and now live back in the south, in Cornwall. Whilst on Mull, I met and married my husband and had two children. Over the years we have had two rough collie dogs, and now we have a lovely lop-eared rabbit.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing stories when I was seven. They were adventure stories about my dolls and teddies. By the time I was about ten I knew I wanted to be a writer and spent several years writing totally unbelievable stories about a group of girls who had amazing adventures. I’ve always been an avid reader too, devouring books constantly.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My absolute favourite author of all time is Daphne du Maurier. I adore her books. I like lots of genres, crime, thrillers, chick-lit, romance, romantic suspense – bit of everything really. I’m particularly fond of Barbara Erskine. Her books all feature at least two stories running through the book, one present day, one flashback. I love that style and have used something similar in my books. Hers are more historical though – my flashbacks so far haven’t gone back past the twentieth century. I also love, Linda Fairstein, Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, Sophie Kinsella and Kate Atkinson – to name but a few!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My first book, Storm Rising, was published at the end of February by the Wild Rose Press, and is first in the NightHawk Series, featuring Gideon Hawk (guitarist in a grunge rock band), and Abigail Thomson (artist). The book follows their story using flashbacks to when they met as teenagers in the nineties. They were kept apart by forces beyond their control, and when Abi’s mother dies she discovers a shocking secret that changes her life. You’ll have to read the book to find out more!

I wrote the book in three months. It started from one tiny idea for a scene (which actually never made it into the book) and it just suddenly all came to me and came flooding out. I didn’t originally intend there to be a sequel, I thought I would have told their story by the end, but that wasn’t to be. I realised just how much I loved the characters and couldn’t bear to leave them. I also realised just how much more of their story there was to tell. The second book, Rhythm of Deceit, due out later this year, answers some of the questions raised in Storm Rising regarding Abi’s mother.

This is the blurb for Storm Rising:
Frontman of the grunge rock band NightHawk, Gideon Hawk has had enough of the rock star life. He is jaded, disillusioned, and haunted by the memory of an unresolved heartbreak. On a whim, he leaves the band in New York and heads to England in search of answers.

After attending the funeral of her estranged mother, Abigail Thomson makes a shocking discovery in her parents’ attic. The still-raw memories that surface, along with even more startling discoveries, force Abi to face a devastating truth that leads to a series of life-changing events. She and Gideon must race against time to reclaim the life stolen from them a decade before.

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Rachael Richey’s Website

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Featured Interview With Azzurra Nox

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Catania, Sicily, but have led quite the nomadic life since birth. I’ve lived in several European countries, and Cuba. I currently reside in the Los Angeles area. I’m a sucker for cats, but if I see a cute dog, I can’t stop myself from petting it.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved books, even before I knew how to read, because my mother would always read to me the Grimm fairytales. The moment I learned how to write, is when I began writing stories. At that time, they were mostly ghost stories or dolls being possessed by demons. I had one too many viewings of Dolls and Child’s Play, as a kid.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Some of my favourite authors include: Oscar Wilde, Chuck Palahniuk, Anne Rice, Isabella Santacroce, Christopher Rice, and Charles Dickens. There’s others that I love, but those authors are the ones that I obsessively gush over to the point that I’ve read every single work by them. Music is a huge inspiration for my writing. I always listen to music whenever I write, and usually it helps spark a mood or a scene. Movies inspire me as well, especially when trying to keep the pace going. I watch a lot of horror movies, and usually the pace for those movies is very fast, as everything has to happen in a 90-minute frame. Another source of inspiration is just the people around me. Living life and trying to experience new things always helps in getting the creative juices flowing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
CUT HERE is a YA Paranormal Urban Fantasy. This is a quick blurb about it:

Sixteen-year-old Lena Martin’s idyllic world shatters the night her mother dies due to a hit and run accident. Two years later, her dad relocates her from Italy to Los Angeles to help her put behind the time spent in a psychiatric ward following her mother’s death. But the move only proves to be a fatal mistake. Shortly after her arrival, the classmates of her new private school begin to commit suicide under mysterious circumstances after reading a cult book called Cut Here.

Determined to unravel the mystery behind the suicides, she bands together with loner Jonathan Russe and outcast Hope Peters to figure out exactly what is happening, not realizing that this places them under a dangerous radar. During this same time, Lena falls for a mysterious and attractive guy named Michael, who is as equally disarming as he’s dangerous.

As her attraction grows, so does the body count at St. Lucy Academy. Soon, Lena needs to decide whether to stay away from the guy she’s falling for, or to trust him. Is Michael behind the suicides, or is he the key that can unlock the mystery that can stop the bloodshed? Deceptions run high and Lena soon learns that nothing is what it seems.

I initially got the idea for the novel in 2008, after a vivid nightmare about mysterious deaths and the cause behind it being a book called CUT HERE. I go more into detail about the behind the scenes of the book on my website: http://azzurranox.com/

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Azzurra Nox’s Website

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Featured Interview With T.K. Chapin

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
T.K. CHAPIN is a clean entertainment author. He writes Contemporary Christian Romance, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy. He is actively engaged with fans on all social media sites and through email. When not reading or writing, T.K. enjoys playing video games and spending time with friends and family in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed reading and good stories. I wrote poetry in High School and last year I took the leap into publishing.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t read that much, but I’ve read Francine Rivers a little. I also enjoy reading my Bible. My inspiration comes from God and his blessings such as my amazing and supportive wife and step daughter Emma.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Perfect Cast is about a soon-to-be High School senior and is forced to go live with her Grandpa for the summer before her “big year” at school. What she thought was going to be a boring summer turns into one that changes her life forever. A broad range of emotions are touched on during the book. It took me about a month to write, which is the longest I’ve spent on a book thus far.

Buy the book on Amazon.

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T.K. Chapin’s Website

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Featured Interview With J.R. White

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in the Upstate of South Carolina and after a bit of traveling around in my early twenties I settled down just a few miles from my childhood home. My husband and daughter are both very supportive of my writing career and are an endless well of inspiration. Along with my human family I also share a home with three dogs, an evil cat and a very lazy hamster.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I realized early that I had a love for fiction. Before I could put letters together to make words I was drawing out stories. Dyslexia delayed my ability to write and read, but once I started making sense of the words I dove nose first into any book I could get my hands on. That was also the time I started trying to write my own stories down instead of just drawing them.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Anne Rice is one of my top favorite authors to read and recently Jane Lindskold and John C. Wright joined the club. I tend to grab up any book that sounds interesting, but romance, fantasy, science fiction and any combination of these are my top genre picks. I don’t know if there are any authors that inspire me any more than any other. Writing a story, pouring yourself into it and then putting it out there for the whole world to see takes a lot of courage and every author that can do this inspired me to do it myself.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Fire Hunt, the third and final book in the Saving Grace Saga, will be coming out later in 2015. This story focuses on the magical community in a altered reality United States where werewolves and witches are being persecuted. The leading lady, Agent Julia Flagg, is a witch in disguise who holds a top position in the Witch Hunter organization. When a man from her past is captured she finds herself putting her life on the line trying to save him and the magical community before bad goes to worse.

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J.R. White’s Website

J.R. White Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Sam Siv

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Sam Siv has profound interest in areas concerning personal growth and spiritual development. He is a philosopher at heart, aside from being a fitness fanatic and adventurer by choice. He is fascinated by dreams; the dream world.

Sam’s daily rituals includes practicing yoga and meditation. He aims to achieve deep inner peacefulness and maintain simplicity in life. Instilled within him is an unrelenting desire to learn and share strategies in life that would inspire everyone to aspire for greatness and realization of their dreams, visions and missions.

Several of Sam Siv’s academic ventures include the following: intellectual neuroscience, positive psychology, health and exercise and weddings. Most importantly, what he truly desires is to be a positive influence to other people.

The words of confucius inspired Sam Siv with this quote: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” He encourages all he mentors to pursue their dreams and make incremental improvements towards goal attainment.

Through this all, Sam Siv has this to say: “If I have played only a tiny part in altering your life, made yet one good influence on you, left you with some brand-new idea, guided you in a new direction, or helped you take that next step on your journey, then I will certainly be greater than satisfied. If you were to leave right here with nothing else, I would certainly intend to leave you with this: Do not die with your songs still in you. There absolutely is nobody else that can sing your tune, but only you.”

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
21

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
self help book

Tell us a little about your latest book?
We’ve all seen Buddhist statues and monks in robes, we’ve heard about the Buddha and about meditation. But what does it all mean? How do we benefit from Buddhism, and what does it mean in our lives? What is Nirvana (besides a famous indie Rock band) and is it possible to reach it? Are all Buddhists vegetarian, and do they worship idols? What are the benefits and dangers of meditation?

This book is aimed at answering these questions and introducing you to the most important concepts of Buddhist thought, in a way that makes sense to the average Western reader, and in such a way that it can be easily put into practice. More and more people are investigating the ideas related to the Buddha, including mindfulness, inner-peace, meditation, compassion and more.

Some of this interest is related to recent discoveries in particle Science, and also new insights into the science of the mind. As scientific enquiry opens up realms of exploration into the miniscule world of sub-atomic particles, and into the realms of the mind, modern researches are finding hidden gems in the teachings of the legendary Sidartha Guatama, the Buddha. Things that are now coming to light were considered by Buddha 2,500 years ago.
What’s it all about? What is Buddhism, really?

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Sam Siv’s Website

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Featured Interview With Adrian Pelzer

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in metro Vancouver, B.C., Canada, eventually studying English literature and Biblical Studies at Trinity Western University and Regent College. I enjoy movies and books, especially science-fiction and humour; I also enjoy soccer, golf, skiing, and hiking. Currently, I teach high school English and Bible in Vanderhoof, B.C., Canada, where I live with my wife and children.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I got into books a bit later in my childhood; mostly I read the sports page in the newspaper but I enjoyed stories by Roald Dahl quite early. My brother got me into Stephen King and that hooked me in my teen years. I wrote a few stories for English class and won an award at the local library in Richmond, B.C. in 1996.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Currently I like Douglas Coupland for fiction, Donald Miller for memoir, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky as a classic writer. I like science-fiction and found the Hunger Games to be entertaining. I read a lot of news, sports, politics and history from a variety of sources, as well as the books I teach for English class. I’m actually quite inspired by some of the students who write in my classes!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Life of Noah, is the second volume in my series The Bible for Aliens. Here is the synopsis: What were familiar Bible characters like before they became known for doing epic deeds and having epically long, white beards? In this second volume of The Bible for Aliens, you can imagine that, had their day been somewhat like ours, Noah might have played a computer game called “Boatcraft,” that Jacob could have been on the school wrestling team, and that Abraham may have fallen afoul of social services. Characters in the Bible were just like many of us—flawed but hungering for purpose, having faith in God but not always going about things in conventional ways. Welcome, aliens, to Volume 2, with more to follow!

The book and series aim to connect the Bible to current culture in a humourous way. I’ve bee writing these stories since 2004 but only started publishing last year with volume 1, Lord of the Garden.

Here are links to my two books:

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Featured Interview With Taylor Fenner

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, where I still currently live. When I’m not writing I enjoy reading and adding to my book collection, cooking, taking photographs, working on photomanipulations on my computer as a hobby, and fighting with my cross-eyed cat and writing buddy, Tiger.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I developed a love of reading when I was very young. My grandmother always read to me before I went to bed as a child and as I grew older that made me appreciate books as much as she does. I started writing goofy little stories when I was in the third or fourth grade but I didn’t start writing seriously until I was in middle school or high school. I’m a strong believer in ghosts and the paranormal which led to my interest in writing paranormal romance for young adults.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Some of my favorite authors are Wendy Higgins, Rachel Caine, Jessica Verday, Jennifer Crusie, Nora Roberts, and Jane Austen to name a few.

My favorite genre to read is Paranormal Romance, but I love all types of romance both paranormal and traditional, young adult, new adult, and regular romance.

Inspiration comes to me from all sorts of places; from vivid dreams I’m prone to having, music that hits a chord with what I’m writing, and random occurrences in my daily life.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Haunting Love is my debut novel. It’s a young adult paranormal romance novel set in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

What would you do if you never got to tell that one person how you felt? What if you could go back and tell them exactly how you felt? Seventeen-year-old Izabella “Iza” De Luca didn’t believe her crush, Johnny, could ever like her because she’s curvier than the other girls at school. Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Johnny Becker doesn’t believe he has a chance with Iza; the smart, beautiful girl he has fallen for.

It isn’t until a fatal car crash traps Iza between the living and the dead that she can muster the courage to tell Johnny how she feels. But telling Johnny how she feels does not relieve her from her burden. Soon she and her love, Johnny, find themselves in an all-out battle to keep their love alive. Nobody is safe when a demon named Devlin starts messing with everything and everyone they know.

Johnny and Iza will need the help of all of their friends to overpower Devlin. Can their love withstand all of the odds stacked against them or are they doomed from the start?

The Haunting Love is about ghosts, first love, and finding the courage to go after what you want. I started writing The Haunting Love when I was a high school junior and I finished it a little over half-way through my senior year of high school.

The Haunting Love can be found in paperback and ebook on Barnes and Noble and Amazon’s websites:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00SW1B940
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1CG4EEi

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Taylor Fenner’s Website

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Featured Interview With Samuel Robert Piccoli

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born the 13th November, 1950 on the Island of Maddalena—one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean—off the northeast coast of Sardinia. But my origins are nuanced. My mother—an American citizen, although her family was originally from Liguria in northwest Italy—was born in Philadelphia, PA, and my father was born near Treviso, in the northeast of Italy.
When I was very young my family moved to Rome, where I first went to school. After attending Classical High School, I studied political science for two years at theSapienza University of Rome. I then moved to Treviso, where I eventually settled.
From 1972 to 1975 I attended the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, where I graduated with a doctor’s degree in philosophy under Professor Emanuele Severino. I also studied English at San Francisco State University in 1980.
I have been a High School teacher of History and Italian almost all my working life. Now that I have retired, I can finally spend more time doing what I love most: writing.
In my Twitter profile I describe myself as “European by birth, American by philosophy,” which after all is quite an accurate description. Perhaps it also supports the adage that brevity is the soul of wit.
I live in the Venice area with my wife, Clara, my daughter, Benedetta, and our dog, Lady, a golden retriever that swims like a fish and is crazy about tennis balls.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t read. Likewise, I was an avid writer from the time I was a young child.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love a lot of writers, but I must say that I am not a very big reader… I mean, don’t get me wrong, I wish I was, and I enjoy the work of so many writers, but, if we talk about literature, broadly, the time is the problem, because I read a lot of non-fiction. It is, so to speak, a matter of priority: first duty, then pleasure—first understanding the world we live in, its divisions and conflicts, its past, present, and future, then enjoying a fascinating story, a great book. Perhaps that’s also why I prefer to spend my limited free time with the classics: true food for the soul, they never disappoint you, they never waste your time. My favorites are Dante, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Alessandro Manzoni, Herman Melville, Thomas Mann. Among the contemporaries I admire Thomas Merton, Umberto Eco, Dan Brown, and Valerio Massimo Manfredi.
Yet, as I previously said, I read a huge number of non-fiction books (philosophy, history, politics, theology, biographies, autobiographies…). My favorite authors range from classics such as Plato, Augustine of Hippo, Machiavelli, Montaigne, Thomas Jefferson, Edmund Burke, Tocqueville, and of course Ralph Waldo Emerson—perhaps the most influential on my thinking—to contemporary authors/thinkers such as Russell Kirk, Bernard Lewis, Roger Scruton, George Weigel, and Alain Finkielkraut, to mention just a few.
I am deeply inspired by the authors I mentioned above when I write, but I don’t try to emulate them, basically because most of them are such giants that it would be foolish to expect any success in such a venture, but also—if not mostly—because of Emerson’s warning: “Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him” (Self-Reliance).

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Being Conservative from A to Z: An Anthology and Guide for Busy Conservative-Minded People, could be described as an anthology of conservative analysis and insights on some key issues. It’s a book for readers who wish to acquaint themselves with conservative political thought and to get a critical and comparative perspective on what passes for political, social, economic, and cultural conservatism in their own time and place. The book is intended for both European and American readers. It provides readings from European and American thinkers, which besides may help to call attention to some of the peculiarities of American conservatives, who, for instance, believe in Progress even more than liberals do. Last but not least, as the subtitle reads, this volume wants to be a teaching tool and a guide “for busy conservative-minded people,” even though I must confess that I don’t know what “busy people”—whether conservative-minded or not—exactly means… Be it as it may, despite its brevity and modesty, I hope this book, will lead readers to a greater appreciation of conservative values and principles. After all, as we all know, the ways of the Lord are mysterious.

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Featured Interview With Dylann Rhea

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in the small town of Norwood, NJ where I still live with my family. It’s really comforting knowing the ins and outs of the town, but I can’t wait to explore a new area outside of my comfort zone! I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life without a pet. Right now, I have two dogs and two cats and one very furry little hamster.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I didn’t really find an interest with books until an older age, probably around thirteen. I’m dyslexic so I’ve always had a hard time keeping up with my class. I had to be really passionate about a book to keep me interested. It was when I read The Outsiders for the first time that I found I enjoyed stories. It was actually that same year in school I started to take my writing seriously even though it was for a school project.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author of all time is S.E. Hinton. Just the fact that she wrote The Outsiders when she was in high school is so incredible to me. I like authors such as Susan Ee, Cassandra Clare, and Michelle Hodkin. They all have such incredible stories to tell and I’m a big young adult fantasy fan! I don’t think I can pinpoint who inspires my writings, I think I get inspired by any type of art that moves me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Tormented Soul is the first installment of the Storm Trilogy, it started out as a type of therapy for me and turned into something so much bigger. I wrote it when I was stuck in a rut and that’s exactly where Kaden, the main character, is when the book begins. She decides to go out with her best friend for the night and what was supposed to be a fun night turns disastrous when her friend goes missing. Kaden has to work with a young man named Finley who shows her that there’s more to the world than just humans, that there’s also a world of fae. As Kaden struggles to find her friend, she gets torn between one world and the other. My goal when I was writing it was to escape and I think that it really is an escape. It’s dark, funny, and heartbreaking all at the same time!

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Featured Interview With Katie St. Claire

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in the rural north and continue to live in the northern United States. I’m married and have one teenage son and a gorgeous black lab named Maggie.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing in high school, mostly poems, but the passion for writing really took root as an adult. I’ve been an avid reader since college, when I realized how much knowledge and entertainment was at my fingertips if I only turned the first page.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love too many genres to list, but tend to shy about from shocking, horror type books. My endings need to be happily ever after. Fantasy, paranormal, romance, self-help, marketing, psychology are a few of my favorite genres.

Inspiration comes from many sources. People, events, books, television, art, music. It depends. It’s hard to explain when and why inspiration hits.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Fast Forward is the explosive ending to a three part series on the mysterious Van Buren family. The first book is Second Hand Stops, then Rewind, and finally Fast Forward. This is the book where it all comes together and ends at the same time. I left the door open for a second generation of Van Burens. They are a controversial family of paranormal individuals with one foot in this world and one in the next.

Here is an excerpt from the first book, Second Hand Stops:

Julia Malone lands on the doorstep of an old English manor at the age of three. She’s abandoned and alone, later joined by five incorrigible children with the same paranormal abilities.

When the teens reach eighteen, the mistress of their manor presents them with an unbelievable opportunity with curious strings attached. They must drink an elixir that promises to prolong their lives. At the conclusion of this mad science experiment, they become wealthy beyond their wildest imaginations, thanks to a mysterious benefactor from New York City.

The children meet Claude Van Buren, the man behind the elixir. They assist in a global launch of Immortality, a facial product marketed to the world as the new fountain of youth. Julia and the others become the youngest executives at Van Buren Industries, a diverse giant positioned in the global market.

Interwoven between the pages of this intriguing plot is a love story that spans a lifetime. Her paranormal journey of ethical dilemmas, a heartbreaking love triangle, hidden family secrets, and a fight to stay alive, finally erupts in the conclusion of The Van Burens.

Start the story in Second Hand Stops, continue the action in Rewind, and prepare for the shocking conclusion in Fast Forward. Discover The Van Burens and ask yourself one thing. Are they out there?

The entire series took me two years to write and edit. A lot of thought went into this speculative fiction series, and I wanted readers to almost believe something like this could actually happen. Throughout the books, Julia Malone is quite the character, and readers get an inside look into her quirky and often philosophical thoughts about people, and the world.

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Katie St. Claire’s Website

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Featured Interview With Black Dragon

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Chinatown in Chicago, Illinois. I was raised in a Chicago neighborhood called Edgewater. I lived in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago called Buffalo Grove, Illinois. I used to have two cats and a Dog. I plan on writing a Children’s book about them.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I just started writing only recently. I always had an a creative and a great imagination. I used it later for my projected career. I have a B.F.A. in Digital Film making and Video Production. It all started with Comic Books when I was young. The superheroes were as big as life for me.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
James Clavell’s books. My favorite book is Shogun. My favorite genre is mysteries with an Asian twist or Spy Novels. I put my life experience into my books. Whether it be: Marital Arts, Chinese Movies or Cooking. I love all media including writing, and Web Design. Movies that don’t portray enough feelings or thoughts of the main characters drive me to write a better novel, script, or movie.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
A Sci-Fi Romantic Drama about a female human Alien from another planet, Omnibus, which parallels the Planet Earth, arrives on Earth. The Planet Omnibus got destroyed by a great meteor. April Sancral’s spirit traveled to Earth and possessed someone’s body and lived the rest of her life on Earth. She discovered she has special powers. But at heart, she is just a girl from another planet looking for love. It took me several months to write this book. I am excited about writing this series.

Buy the book on Amazon.

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Featured Interview With Jamie Logie

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Canada and raised in England. I now live back in London, Ontario, Canada (the town Justin Bieber was born in, but don’t hold that against me..)

I work in fitness and nutrition and run a blog and podcast all about helping people take back their health

I have one dog named Brandy

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Probably around the age of 7 or 8 and started writing when I was 10. I liked fantasy stories and even making my own comic books.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I primarily like reading about nutrition and health. Some of my favorite authors are Weston Price, Nora Gedgaudas and Gary Taubes

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Taking Back Your Health gets you up to speed with all the nutrition issues that impact your health and wellness. It’s nutrition 101 helping you understand key areas like sugar, paleo, gluten and wheat and what you need to do to be healthy.

Buy the book on Amazon.

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Jamie Logie’s Website

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Featured Interview With Noorilhuda

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I have done my Masters in Psychology and Bachelors At Law. However, most of my career is rooted in the field of journalism. I am currently working as a senior broadcast producer and freelance journalist in Islamabad, Pakistan.

I usually writes on socio-political and security-related issues – a recent piece dealt with Afghan refugees status in Pakistan. A collection of my cover stories and other published pieces for leading English-language newspapers and monthlies is available at: https://www.scribd.com/noorilhuda

‘The Governess’ is not my first foray into the world of fiction – but it is the first one I’ve published. The e-novel is available in all Amazon countries under the Kindle Select and Prime programs, including but not limited to U.S. and UK. Check it out today.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
7; 10 – wrote a school play.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
J. Austen, A. Christie, S. King, A. Dumas, O. Winfrey, Bernard Lewis, Urdu-lit. B. Qudsiyah, Persian poet Sheikh Saadi and legendary Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“You make it seem like the cross was yours to bear, alone, do you really think you are brave? Let me tell you, who the brave one is, it’s each and every member of your family who didn’t slap you silly the first time you went awry, the first time you brushed your children aside for merriment. It’s your children, Mr. Lockwood, they are the courageous ones. Not you, you are nothing but a coward. And all for what? For your own selfish needs and whims, your own desire to be alone and free. Free from pain, was it? Or do you really want to leave a debauched legacy? Well are you free Mr. Lockwood? I don’t see any shackles on you; Are you free from the pain and happy, truly happy?……No passion is great enough for you to lose sight of what’s your duty, and the right thing to do. For that is not passion, but madness. You’re mad Mr. Lockwood, completely, utterly, mad.”

Thus begins the fiery odd relationship between Jane, the governess, and her employer, the widowed landowner John E. Lockwood. But Jane has her own crucible as well, and it’s hers to bear alone. Find out what Jane, The Governess, is made of. After all, True Worth has no regrets and takes no detours. Should you?

A movingly passionate and introspective character analysis of lonely people living through emotional abuse, grief and guilt.

It has a serious inspirational story and readers expecting a roll in the hay or sweeping cries of passion will be utterly disappointed. You’ve been warned!

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Noorilhuda’s Website

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