Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With J.M.Harrison

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an award winning author, writing to support the expansion of human consciousness.

I was born and raised in southern England, UK – lived 15 years in France and now back in the UK.

I now live with my wife and children in Dorset, UK and have a dog and a cat, Max and Fleurie.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was a late bloomer.

Writing cam about following a mystical death experience, I wrote WE ARE ALL ONE in the 6 days which followed. It went on to win an award.

Amazon Kindle e-book is a FREE DOWNLOAD 9-13th March.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love many spiritual books and inspiring stories, as I see personal transformation as the key to the realization of a new consciousness which can create a better world for all.

People inspire me, what the human is capable of achieving is only just becoming known.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I’ll cheat here and paste in the description:

WE ARE ALL ONE is an Award Winning and critically acclaimed book assisting personal well-being, growth and transformation. It came into the world after the author’s mystical death experience – being written in the six days that followed. A powerful spiritual truth, WE ARE ALL ONE records the authors’ blending with the Universe, providing the reader with new ideas, exercises and explanations that assist in ‘waking up’ to the truth of who and what we really are. To make this clear, the entire book is written without the use of the ‘I’.

Author J.M.Harrison explains this experience as a window to a conscious and holistic way of living which allows each one of us to fully engage in all aspects of what it really means to be a whole human being.

“A must read – life changing stuff from the English Tolle.” Book Review Org.

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Featured Interview With J.R. Vikse

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Kelowna, BC, Canada, in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famed for it’s vineyards, lake monsters, and skiing. I always considered myself a homebody, but ever since I got married I’ve lived all over the world, including elsewhere in Canada (Victoria), Australia (Melbourne), and Switzerland (Zürich), where I currently live. My wife and I enjoy travelling and I find that the cultures and landscapes we come across always find their way into my latest work!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was all about books as a kid. Still am, in fact. They’re a wonderful way to expand one’s horizons without having to deal with jetlag! I’ve always had a fascination with storytelling. Whether creating worlds with Lego or reading something in a beanbag chair in a nook in the children’s library, I couldn’t help but be absorbed by the many worlds the imagination could create. After a while I turned my storytelling skills to the stage, where I currently act and direct in a couple of productions a year. But I didn’t start writing until I was 23. At first it was just nonsense poetry and the odd short story. But those were just gateway genres. Now I spend my time writing full-on books! I published my first book in 2012 and have no intention of letting up anytime soon.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As always, there are too many to name! Right now I’m loving Scott Lynch, Conn Iggulden, Patrick Rothfus, and Lois McMaster Bujold, but I’m always on the lookout for the next great author to sweep me away to another world.
I suppose my favourite genre would be fantasy, because I feel there are even fewer creative limits on that genre in particular than other styles of fiction. I think that when you read a fantasy novel, you’re getting into the author’s head with fewer barriers between you.
I am inspired by reading and by watching the world around me. One teaches me how to tell stories. The other shows me which stories to tell.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book (Reaping the Whirlwind) is the closing chapter of a trilogy: The Keeper Chronicles. It brings to an end a journey that my characters (and my brain) have been on for the last year-and-a-bit. Readers of the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter will enjoy the odd and engrossing world of Tranthaea, which always seems to be under threat. Young men and women from Earth are called over to this other world to defend it against its attackers, and have to overcome obstacles, face their fears, and survive. The main characters come from all cultures, countries, and time periods. It’s a wild and exciting ride through a world unlike anything you’ve ever read before!
I’ve also published a short contemporary fiction novel (The Lazy Postman) and a short story collection (Fictions of Questionable Length). And of course I’m working on something new right now!

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Featured Interview With A. C. Burch

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m a long-time Provincetown resident who spent his early summers on Cape Cod and since then, the sand has never left my shoes. My first visit to Provincetown sparked a romance with the town and forged a love of the sea that continues to this day—most summer days will find me sailing on Cape Cod Bay. I trained as a classical musician, but my passion for the arts extends to photography, the art scene in Provincetown and Miami, as well as the written word.
I’m the proud father of a young Golden Retriever named Dori.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I remember being told at the age of six by the local librarian that a certain book (I forget its name) was for “older students.” I took it out anyways, went home, and read it that night. My first writing effort was a short story in the fourth grade. I gave it to my teacher, who corrected the name “Modell” to “Model.” I realized he wasn’t even reading, just correcting, and I stopped for forty years. I trained as a classical musician, got into computer programing to pay the bills, and then found my way back to writing ten years ago.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My reading is eclectic to say the least. I’m a big Jane Austin fan, but also love Agatha Christie. I devour Saki, Patrick Dennis, and that off-beat genre, but also am a big fan of William J. Mann, Armistead Maupin, Alan Hollinghurst, and Walter Mosley. To me, anything with heart that doesn’t take itself so seriously you don’t want to get out of bed is worth a look.
Armistead Maupin has been a source of great inspiration. His all-encompassing range of characters and his love for San Francisco were a major influence on The HomePort Journals. I share his love of place and appreciate his gentle, nonjudgmental appreciation for the foibles of humanity. It’s not easy to join humor and empathy together in a novel, and Maupin strikes the right chord every time.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, The HomePort Journals, is a fantasia, loosely defined as, “a work where the author’s fancy roves unrestricted.” It’s a love story on multiple levels: between two men, between generations, which also chronicles the sometimes difficult path one follows to love oneself.
The book takes place in Provincetown, primarily in the secluded mansion of an elderly recluse, Lola Staunton. Marc Nugent leaves New York and an abusive relationship, drives through the night and arrives in Provincetown in early November. He takes a job working for Lola and quickly encounters her housekeeper, the cross-dresser, Helena Handbasket. Helena relentlessly pursues Marc, while he falls for the brooding artist, Cole Hanson. Marc learns of a scandal that tarnished the Staunton name and drove Lola into seclusion. Together, Marc, Cole, and Helena set out to prove what really happened and reunite Lola with an estranged childhood friend who’s never stopped watching out for her.
The HomePort Journals took 5 years to write, essentially because my characters lead me into new scenes and situations with every revision. The book describes many beautiful and lesser-known spots in Provincetown… a world that few visitors ever see.

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Featured Interview With Dana Goodman

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

John Muir

Nature, prayer, contemplation and simple joys make my heart happy. During my early childhood years, I was brought up in wide open space, free to roam and enjoy life’s simple gifts in nature. From the very beginning, I preferred quiet places to busy chaotic cities. In truth, I am a bonafide introvert.

Even as a little girl, I liked to write about deep things in my journal. I tended to be quite serious, but also playful and spontaneous. I saw the good in people and stood up for the underdog. Injustice hurt my heart and still does.

After graduating from high school in 1989, I pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Bachelor’s in teaching from the University of British Columbia. During my time at UBC, I met my first husband, Jason Laird. We had two lovely boys together–Zach and Carter Laird.

Our worlds fell apart when Jason was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma in 2001. Within six months of diagnosis, he died. At that time, Zach was four and Carter was two. Little did we know, this was only the beginning of the nightmare that would play out in our lives.

Twelve years after Jay died, Zach, my second husband, Doug, and my mother-in-law were diagnosed with cancer almost simultaneously. My 12-year-old son and my mother-in-law both died. I never imagined I would ever be able to claw my way out of the darkness. Four years later, I have written about our grief journey in In the Cleft Joy Comes in the Mourning: A Story of Hope After Tragedy.

In the Cleft is a moving, inspirational and intensely personal account of grief, hope and love. Readers will grieve, laugh and celebrate as I lead them into the private places of my heart. Everyone has a pain story, and I pray my family’s story will be salve for the wounded places in your hearts.

In the Cleft Joy Comes in the Mourning

-Helps your process your own pain stories
-Invites you to move beyond the wounded places of your heart to find joy once again
-Revives and refreshes those who are weary from the day-to-day struggle
-Helps you understand how pain can increase your capacity to love and have deeper compassion

I would love to hear from my readers and can be reached at inthecleft.com

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My parents read to my every night as a little girl. My dad always read with great enthusiasm and instilled in me the love of books. I have written since I was a little girl–is has always been my way of processing my internal world.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
C.S. Lewis’ A Grief Observed, Nicolas Wolterstorff’s Lament For A Son, Phillip Yancey’s Where is God When It Hurts, Jerry Sittser’s A Grace Disguised and Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts–these books are a few of my favourites. My favourite genre is inspiring, life-changing memoirs that bring me to tears.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In the Cleft: Joy Comes in the Mourning was birthed after a long season of grieving. After the deaths of my husband and son to cancer, I found myself in the wilderness, unable to navigate through the darkness. Even breathing was hard. My pain forever changed me, scarred me and contaminated the way I viewed life; however Jesus met me in the middle of the dark valley and led me through the heartache so I could see in colour again. In him I was able to find renewal, meaning and purpose even after unthinkable tragedy . My journey compelled me to write In the Cleft: Joy Comes in the Mourning in the hopes that my story might help others find their way through their own pain journeys.

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Featured Interview With Awen Finn

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Awen Finn, who has been described as having a mix of Tina Turner’s energy, Stevie Nicks’ brilliance and Ella Fitzgerald’s range, was born in the United Kingdom and began her career in fashion before moving to Australia in 1989. In Sydney, Awen went on to develop a successful business in the art world, co-founding art galleries and a successful art publishing company. Awen began her journey in spirituality after attending a meditation class with a friend. She went on to train and qualify as an energy healer and spiritual teacher before she began to understand the incredible connection hidden within music and the spiritual energy of the world. She now interprets how to apply this life-changing knowledge in people’s favorite songs while completely transforming their understanding of music and its energy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I fell in love with books at the age of 16. I read “My Family and Other Animals” for my O Level English and loved it. I was particularly inspired by the wacky Mother, and to this day, still want to live in Greece. I have dabbled with a book of illustrations and a cookbook written with my daughter. However, writing in the genre of music and spirituality is my passion 🙂

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My top 3 books are;

“Disgrace,” by J. M. Coetzee. In my opinion the best and most original author and writer in the world.

“The Sound and the Fury,” by William Faulkner. To me this book is a piece of visual art first and a work of words and literature second.

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee. Who doesn’t like this book? I love the heart and characters and story. Superb!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In today’s fast-changing world, it’s more important than ever to look within to uncover your true self. Read My Song, Read My Heart, Read My Soul offers a new and powerful system for self-knowledge. Awen Finn presents a unique guide to help you discover the hidden meanings and special messages within your favorite songs. With her signature conversational style, Awen’s astonishing insights will help you uncover your true self so that you can live the joyous and fulfilling life you desire.

Practical and visionary, Read My Song, Read My Heart, Read My Soul is both a unique process of discovery and a powerful work of spiritual wisdom.

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Featured Interview With Sacha Haughtee

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I really was a bikini-model, then a nude model, then a stripper, and then an Escort, all in Orange County California.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I NEVER thought that I’d co-author ANY book, least of all a memoir of my early adult years.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Neither Max or I read very much, which makes it even stranger that we would write a book together. It took us over five years from the time we got serious about the book until we published the first edition.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My favorite client (Max, who really is an Engineer) started to write down all the weird events and humorous outtakes from our meetings, and before long, we had hundreds of pages. This is how our first book came to be. This is the true story of how we met and what happened to us, no kidding.

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Featured Interview With Michele de Winton

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in New Zealand, and after traveling around the world a bunch, ended up back in the land of Hobbits. Well, not really hobbits. Everyone I know is tall. Go figure.
I started writing romance just before I became pregnant with my first little boy. When I sold that book, three months after he was born, I suddenly found myself on a romance train and didnt want to get off. With five books out now I’m looking forward to my two little ones starting pre school and giving me a bit more time to write. I love my boys – beyond anything – but I love words too! Gotta somehow fit the two together! 😉
We used to have a puppy called Valour – we were raising him for the Foundation of the Blind, so he could become a seeing-eye-dog. Unfortunately he failed on a technicality. He was a big wimp. However he was a lovely dog and so ended up being a mobility dog and the first working dog to partner with someone with Parkinson’s Disease. A pretty cool puppy that one!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Apparently I won a writing competition when I was seven. I dont remember, but my mom does. And I’ve always written one way or another. I published my first book in my thirties – a literary fiction novel with Penguin – but now it seems to be all romance all the time!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oh my. I love to read very broadly. From thriller to historical, literary to category romance. I love a broad and varied range of writers too, from Sarah Mayberry and Ruthie Knox, to Nalini Singh and Larua Kaye, to Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Put a hot tempered cook on a cruise ship, add chilli sauce, shake and step back so you don’t lose an eye…

Working in a floating tin can was never on Charlotte Atkinson’s list of dream jobs, but if she’s ever going to open her own restaurant again, she needs to make nice with her Pop, and working on his cruise ship is her last option. Even the Captain’s little girl needs to let her wild red hair down though. And who better for a no-strings night of fun, than the ship’s hot security officer who also carries the player badge?

Since leaving the family firm and the pressure that was sucking his soul, Jeremy Turner has made chasing tail his top priority. No commitments, no mess. Stands to reason then that having a hot one-nighter with the Captain’s daughter was always going to be a bad idea. Letting it turn into anything more? Lunacy. But Jeremy hadn’t counted on Charlotte burning up his sheets and getting under his skin quite so easily.
When Charlotte goes missing, nothing will stop Jeremy seeking out his forbidden temptress. And as the search goes on, Jeremy realizes he might have left it too late to discover that he doesn’t want to be a player forever.

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Featured Interview With Kathleen McGurl

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’ve always lived in the UK, although my husband is Irish. I currently live in a south coast town, with my husband and younger son. My older son is away at university. We’re really lucky to have a large house just a few minutes walk from one of Britain’s best beaches. In fact, the house in my novel The Pearl Locket is largely based on our house, with a bit of my neighbour’s house added in for good measure.
We have one gorgeous but elderly tabby cat called Mir, who likes to ‘help’ me with my writing by ensuring I am never alone.
I have a day job – working in computing for a large UK retail company. I work at home most days which means the commuting time can be writing time instead!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was always an avid reader. My mum likes to boast of how I taught myself to read before starting school, though funnily enough I can’t quite remember doing that. I was one of those kids who read by torch light under the covers long after I was supposed to be asleep.
It was a long time before I got round to starting to write, although I always knew that eventually I would be a writer. About ten years ago I finally got round to sitting down and writing a story. I then spent several years writing stories for women’s magazines before trying my hand at novels. I’ve now had two novels published by Carina UK and another one self-published. These days I much prefer writing longer stuff!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love historical, timeslip and dual-timeline novels. Kate Morton and Katherine Webb are probably my favourite authors, though recently I’ve started reading Pamela Hartshorne’s wonderful Tudor timeslips.
My own books are dual-timeline and also have a genealogy angle. It’s a good idea to write the kind of book you’d most like to read, so because I’m obsessed with family-tree research, I usually add a strand of that in my novels too!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Pearl Locket is a dual-timeline novel, based partly in 1944 and partly in the present day. When Ali and her family inherit a house, 17-year old Kelly starts to act strangely. It seems there’s a presence in the house, and Ali’s grandmother has been harbouring secrets all her life…
This book started life as a short story. It was quite a challenge to expand it to become a full novel by adding in the 1944 story, but I loved doing it!

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Featured Interview With David Shaw

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?

I am a spirit medium from Kilmarnock in the west of Scotland. I was raised in Scotland and have always had the ability to interact with the spirit world. As well as a household of ghosts, I live with my wife, 10 year old son and new labrador puppy, Oscar.

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

I began reading the Hardy Boys books at about 10 years old and then became hooked on the imaginative world of Roald Dahl. Nowadays, I prefer non-fiction and started writing five years ago when I decided to write about my life as a spirit medium.

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

I like the wit and sarcasm of non-fiction writers like Jeremy Clarkson and Bill Bryson. As far as fiction, my favourite writer was John Steinbeck. I like to read about the wonders of real life and I’m inspired by ordinary people who do extraordinary things.

Tell us a little about your latest book?

Ghost Writers is a rather unique book that incorporates fiction and non-fiction. I was advised by my spirit workers to write a book about self help principles and was also informed that 10 famous writers from the past would be interacting with me to bring forward short fictional stories that would compliment the spiritual advice. I didn’t know the identity of the writers until the book was completed. My ability as a deep trance medium enabled me to receive the information from the Ghost Writers.

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Featured Interview With Gina Henning

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello *waves to everyone and offers a round of drinks* My name is Gina and I love to write stories that will hopefully make you laugh and warm your heart. I have lived an traveled all over the US and Europe. Some of my favorite memories are ones spent in different places, discovering new things or old things like the Colosseum in Rome. I’ve seen some incredible buildings and artwork but my favorite pieces of art are the ones found under the sea.

Currently, I live less than hour from the beach. I have one pooch Schatzi who is a mix between German Shepherd and possibly pig.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Gosh, I’ve been fascinated with books as far back as I can remember. My mom and I have been sharing books since I was in elementary school, I remember reading Katherine by Anya Seaton for the first time and I fell in love with historical novels. I’m in a book club and we switch up our genres, but I haven’t visited historical books other than that since that time period in my life. However, that all changed when I discovered Molly Ann Wishlade. She writes across genres and I have been one click ready to read them.

As far as my own writing, I have a very active imagination, being able to utilize it and share the stories going on in my head is pure joy, especially when I hear from readers that have fallen in love with my characters, it warms my heart and lets just say happy dances might take place when I find out about a reader being excited about my books.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
In alphabetical order my favorite go-to can’t wait to read their next books are: Karen Aldous, Mary Kay Andrews, Mandy Baggot, Tracie Banister, Ana Blaze, Claire Cook, Geralyn Corcillo, Helen Fielding, John Green, Liane Moriarty, Kate Morton, Angel Nicholas, Katie Oliver, Chris Pavone, Rebecca Raisin, Helen Rena, Rainbow Rowell, Ruth Saberton, Amelia Thorne, Samantha Tonge, and Molly Ann Wishlade.

I love romance comedies and steamy romances.

One of my current WIPs, came about during a visit to see my family. The trip is about four hours long and consists of a lot of farm roads that are fairly barren and I always wonder about the lives of these people. I had recently gotten a new cd and the line “Say you’ll remember me standing in a nice dress staring at the sunset” played across the speakers and all of a sudden this story line popped up about this moment and this character and I began taking down notes about it and her.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My most recent book is the sequel to How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie. The sequel is called How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake. In this story we get to see the main character Lauren excited to finally see Jack-the-pecan-hoarder (a guy she met over Thanksgiving) after weeks of chatting on the phone and things of that nature. However, he is a no show at the airport. Lauren has no idea why and as the story unfolds we get to see Lauren navigate her way through the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season with her family and their interesting traditions, and perhaps find out what is going on with Jack.

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Featured Interview With Bethany Bull

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
We take a look at this emerging author, whose Children’s Books are now finding the limelight…

Like all overnight successes, Bethany Bull has worked hard to earn the plaudits that now surround her name.

With three books already on Amazon, a publisher at Wollywagon – and a fourth book about to be launched – Bethany has already given thousands of children a first glimpse of love of stories – not just a love of reading per se. it is this capturing of imagination, that is probably the unique aspect that children love, and who buy her books in their thousands. It is probably because the stories themselves, of animals that talk, or danger, of horror – but in a way that children can handle – treat children as equal partners, and the graphics are fanciful and inspirational.

Bethany herself was born and raised in South Africa. Her family did not have television until 1976, so her imagination was her main …source of entertainment. She had a love of animals and magical creatures and a vast country with big open spaces where she imagined they lived. She would make up stories for her siblings in the evenings.

This is the pedigree that Bethany brings to her market, and what she says about her work, displays an understanding of the minds of children that have no limits:

“They have no doubt an ant can talk. Their imaginations are free to believe.”

We interviewed Bethany at our offices, and her modest way of describing herself overlays a real passion for communicating with her market. She lives modestly in the West of Cornwall, and there is this “back to nature” understanding that resonates throughout her work.

Bethany will be at the London Book Fair, at the Greene Media stand and is available for meetings, which will be held though the auspices of her publisher, Robin Wolstenholm at WollyWagon. Contact; bethanybrooks75@hotmail.com. Her books can be ordered direct – or through amazon.com.

Advance copies of her new book – can be ordered direct to Bethany and her publisher, prior to general release. Educational discounts are available for recognised schools.
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Bethany has a small Maltese x bichon Frieze poodle who’s name is Ben, he is so well loved that it shows in his personality! He has no fear and is cheeky even when faced with a glaring Rottweiler!!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have loved reading from an early age, starting with the Nancy Drew and Twenty thousand Leagues under the Sea. ~In my teens and right through until today, I enjoy murder mystery and forensics. I started writing in junior school and won many prizes.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are Tess Gerritsen, Tami Hoag, James Patterson, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and I love murder forensics and crime. I think Dean Koontz has inspired me for his way of using descriptive words in writing. When I read something from him I can actually picture in my head what he is describing!!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I have not got a title for my fourth Chapter book yet. It runs along the same vein as the other three chapter books, about animals and of course with a life lesson, all properly researched so that it teaches at the same time. I have already started book five and hope to come up with a name soon…

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Featured Interview With Brita Addams

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in a small town in upstate New York, but I’ve made my home in the sultry south for many years. I live in the Frog Capital of the World with my real-life hero—my husband, and a fat cat named Stormee. All our children are grown.

I write both het and gay historical romance.

Tarnished Gold, the first in my gay romance Tarnished series for Dreamspinner Press, was a winner in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, Historical Romance category. The book also received nominations for Best Historical and Best Book of 2013 from the readers of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group.

A bit of trivia—I pronounces her name, Bree-ta, and not Brit-a, like the famous water filter. Brita Addams is a mash-up of my real middle name and my husband’s middle name, with an additional d and s.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I think I was born with a book in my hand. I’ve read for as long as I can remember. My mother used to say I wasn’t like other kids. I rarely wanted to play outside. I was much more comfortable reading.

From about twelve or thirteen, I wrote articles for my school paper and for the local newspaper. I created characters for hundreds of short stories, most for my own enjoyment.

Only after we raised our children did I think of writing for publication. Believe me, that is much more rewarding than stockpiling shorts that no one else reads.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love romance novels and authors like Lisa Kleypas, Phillipa Gregory, and Mary Balogh get me to open each of their new works. Historicals fill my reading time, almost exclusively, both het and gay romance, because love is love.

I’m not sure that any particular person inspires me in my writing, but I am inspired by well-written stories and the authors I mentioned deliver time and again. I’m never disappointed in them.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Due to the closure of Musa Publishing, my latest release is temporarily unavailable. Those novels have been contracted by Fireborn Publishing and will return to the shelves in the summer.

I would like to remind readers about Tarnished Gold, a book that came out in March, 2013 and won a Rainbow Award that year for Best Historical.

Tarnished Gold came from my love of old Hollywood. I’ve always loved old movies, with the affected speech and glamour we don’t see today.

My character, Jack Abadie, loves the movies too. Though Hollywood was in its infancy when he saw his first film, one was all he needed. He was hooked.

In love with a childhood friend, Jack wants to spread his wings and take his love with him. Hollywood calls.

Through disappointment and hard knocks, Jack takes Hollywood by storm. Being gay was fine, until it wasn’t, and Jack gets caught up in the almost overnight change in the tide and is given an ultimatum that changes his life.

This is a saga that spans many years. I’ve always wanted to write a book that explores the growth of the characters and how the years affect the way they see the world. That was done in Tarnished Gold.

I researched for about six months before I ever started to write, but the result is an exploration of the old Hollywood star system and how what was one “in,” can just as quickly be “out.”

Jack starts his life on an old Louisiana cotton plantation, fashioned after one very close to where we raised our family.

The book won a Rainbow Award in 2013 for Best Historical and was nominated by the Goodreads M/M Romance group for Best Historical and Best Book of 2013.

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Featured Interview With J.M.Harrison

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an award winning author, writing to support the expansion of human consciousness.
I was born and raised in southern England, UK – lived 15 years in France and now back in the UK.
I have a dog and a cat, max and Fleurie.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was a late bloomer.
Wrting cam about following a mystical death experience, following which I wrote WE ARE ALL ONE, which is now available on Amazon as a Kindle e-book.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love spiritual books, as I see personal transformation as the key to the realization of a new consciousness which can create a better world for all.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
WE ARE ALL ONE is an Award Winning and critically acclaimed book assisting personal well-being, growth and transformation. It came into the world after the author’s mystical death experience – being written in the six days that followed. A powerful spiritual truth, WE ARE ALL ONE records the authors’ blending with the Universe, providing the reader with new ideas, exercises and explanations that assist in ‘waking up’ to the truth of who and what we really are. To make this clear, the entire book is written without the use of the ‘I’.
Author J.M.Harrison explains this experience as a window to a conscious and holistic way of living which allows each one of us to fully engage in all aspects of what it really means to be a whole human being.
“A must read – life changing stuff from the English Tolle.”

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Featured Interview With Richard A Lester

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I have lived in Memphis, TN my whole life. In fact, I’ve even lived in the same zip code! It’s so centrally located, living here makes it easy to travel around the country.

I have two dogs, Ayden and Bryson. I also have a cat, Angeline.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I can remember reading from a very young age. During recess at school, I would find a corner to hide out in and read. The other boys would be playing soccer, and I would have my head buried in a book!

I started writing short stories in elementary school. I loved horror and science fiction, so most of my stories were Stephen Kind rip offs. I began writing seriously about 12 years ago. I actually wrote scripts and made independent films for years before writing my first novel.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read a lot of nonfiction. I am fascinated by the world, history, and how we got to where we are now. As far as fiction goes, I still read Stephen King. I also like Donal Ray Pollock and Carl Hiaasen a lot. I like anything with engaging characters and a unique story.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book, The Check Out, is about a group of low lifes that work at a failing grocery store. They each get caught up in crazy circumstances that leave them desperate for money. Low and behold, the store announces a $10,000 cash prize giveaway. Each of the characters decides to break into the store and steal the money on the same night. It’s a wild book full of humor and thrills. It’s also got a lot of heart to it, too.

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Featured Interview With Nicki J Markus

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Nicki J Markus, and I was born in Kent, South-East England in 1982. In 2007 I went on a backpacking holiday, met my husband on a bus journey while visiting a pen pal in Adelaide, South Australia, and never went home! I married in 2011 and was granted Australian Citizenship in 2013, so here I am, a British-Australian. I currently work from home as a freelance editor and proofreader.

My background is languages, and I still try to pursue that as much as I can; although, now I live in Australia I no longer get my long weekends in Prague or Paris to practise like I used to. I am interested in all forms of the arts: theatre, cinema, music (I sing and play several instruments), sketching, photography etc. And I have a great love of history and folklore and mythology. Many of these hobbies find a way to seep through into my writing either through the storyline or characters.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I loved books from a very young age. When we were children, my mother would ask me and my sister what we wanted to do with her for the afternoon. Invariably, my sister would want to play with dolls and I would ask to read a book. So, you can see books and reading have been a lifelong habit—one I have no intention of trying to break (unlike my tendency to bite my nails, which I really should try to crack).

I said for many years I wanted to be a writer, but never did anything about it. It was only after my move to Australia that I decided enough was enough: if I wanted it, I should do it. My first publications were several short stories that were released through Wicked Nights Publishing. From there, I released two novellas with Silver Publishing in 2011 and 2012. When both those publishers closed their doors, I rather found myself back at square one.

I had done a lot of editing work in the M/M genre, and when Wayward Ink Publishing opened and I started to edit for them, I decided to try my hand at something new and submitted to one of their anthologies. That story, The Raider, was accepted and was published under my M/M alternate pen name, Asta Idonea. Since then I’ve had several more short stories accepted by them, and I just sent in a novella for their consideration, which I hope to hear back on later this month.

Meanwhile, I did not neglect my mainstream writing and commenced my first novel, as well as deciding to re-edit/rework my two older novellas for self-publication. One of those, Time-Keepers, came out in January, and the other, Day-Walker, will release in May. My novel, The Ragnarök Chronicles, has just come out this month. You can read a little more about my novel later in this interview.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Wow, so many it’s always hard to decide who to list for these questions. I read widely (pretty much anything apart from true crime and chick lit) but my favourite genres are literary fiction and paranormal/fantasy. Some of my favourite authors include: Dante, Shakespeare, Pushkin, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Victor Hugo, Milan Kundera, Haruki Murakami, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Charlaine Harris, Anne Rice, Clay & Susan Griffith, Deborah Harkness… the list could go on and on!

My writing is inspired by anything and everything I read, but if I had to pick one author whom I hope I will write as well as one day it would be Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. Her vampire hero, Saint Germain, is an amazing character, and she manages to blend paranormal with meticulously-researched history and a wonderful prose style.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Ragnarök Chronicles is really my baby. It’s the book I love most of everything I’ve written so far. I started work on this tale in late June/early July 2014, inspired by my rereading of the Norse myths. At first I planned the book as a trilogy, but when I decided to self-publish, I changed my mind and combined the three books into a single volume. The novel is around 220,000 words in length and took me six months to write and edit, and then a further two and a half months to prepare for publication. So it’s been a long journey. The story is very dear to me and I hope readers will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I couldn’t ask for anything more than that!

The Ragnarök Chronicles takes the figures from Norse mythology and places them in a modern setting. It will appeal to paranormal/fantasy readers, mythology buffs, and fans of re-imagined myths such as the Marvel Thor comics and films. It is a blend of fantasy action and paranormal romance, so it has a little something for everyone. Here is the blurb to give you a little hint:

For Ragnarök will be completed….

Nothing marks Cassandra out—except her visions. She’d only ever seen small, insignificant things. That is until the strange frost arrives.

With her normal life turned upside down, Cassandra is plunged into an extraordinary and terrifying world of Norse gods and rampaging giants, ancient feuds and broken prophecies.

A handsome stranger offers aid. But can Cassandra really trust him? More importantly, can she trust her own judgement when his slightest touch sets her heart and her body aflame?

You can also hear me read some excerpts from the book, and find out more via my blog:

http://www.nickijmarkus.com/p/the-ragnarok-chronicles.html

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Featured Interview With Steven Abernathy

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Raised in a small farming community in southern Missouri, my wife, Michele, and I now divide our time between Destin, Florida and Jonesboro, Arkansas. I was educated at the US Air Force Academy, Arkansas State University, and the University of Tennessee. Michele and I have two sons. The oldest is a children’s book author/publisher. The younger son is a computer engineer currently studying nanoengineering at UNC. While I grew up with dogs as pets and readily admit I am not a cat person, Michele has two cats I tolerate because I love her. Perhaps when Son #2 completes his doctorate, he can redesign one of the cats to look and act like a puppy!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My mother was a reading teacher, so I grew up with books. She tells me I wrote a short screen play and directed the play in our back yard when I was six years old. Admission was 10 cents, which was a lot of money in 1957, but a few neighbors and friends attended. My first published book was a Spirit Master (you have to be old to know what that is) science text book supplement written for ESP, Inc. in 1975.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My choice of genres is pretty eclectic. My wife complains that I often am reading three or four books at the same time, a concept that she finds confusing. Currently on my nightstand are “Fields of Color,” kind of a consumers guide to quantum theory, “Seeing Farther,” a history of scientific thought by Bill Bryson, and “The Thief,” an adventure novel by Clive Cussler. I recently completed two historical novels by Bernard Cornwell. I am particularly fond of Bill Bryson because of his precise use of language and of Louis L’Amour for his great storytelling ability. Naturally my favorite author is me, but I can think of at least 50 who run a close second.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Unspoken Valor” is a tribute to past heroes who never received recognition for their acts of valor. My father was one of the many WWII veterans who would never speak of their military service after they returned home from war. In 1998 I was flying Dad to Florida for a fishing trip on his 75th birthday when the single engine of my airplane failed and we crash landed into a wooded area on the Florida/Alabama state line. After the dust settled and we crawled from the wreck to find our injuries were insignificant, Dad surveyed the sky for a long time before saying, “Well, at least there aren’t any Germans up there this time.”

“This time?” I thought. He would never answer the obvious question, but it gave me the idea for what I hoped would be a great book. When Dad died a few years ago, mourners at his graveside service were stunned when a U.S. Air Force honor guard and a Scottish bagpiper showed up to honor him at the service. Why the professional honor guard rather than the group from the local VFW who usually came to veterans’ funerals? I have no idea. I researched as much as I could find about Dad’s military service and filled in the rest with supposition and unabashed fiction. If I did my job well, the reader will never know where I crossed the lines. I was lucky to grow up with a hero in my house. Is there one in yours? It is my hope that “Unspoken Valor” is a fitting tribute to all of the unknown heroes we meet every day.

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Featured Interview With Graham Downs

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Alberton, South Africa, in the province of Gauteng (Well, it was called PWV back then, and formed part of the Transvaal).

I didn’t stray too far from home. After finishing High School, I continued to live in Alberton with my parents for a few years, but quickly became involved in chatting online in IRC channels. It was there that I met my current wife, who was in Cape Town at the time.

What followed was a three year long-distance relationship, with us taking turns to fly to each other every three months or so. At one point, I asked her to move up and live with me. She told me that if I bought a flat, she would.

So I did. I bought a flat in Germiston, which is about fifteen kilometres away from my parents’ house and, true to her word, she moved in with me. We were married about two years later, and the rest is history!

Pets? Well, growing up in my parents’ house, we had lots of pets. At any given point in time, we had two dogs, a cat, fish, and a bird. My wife and I used to have a white-fronted Amazon parrot, but he died about three years ago. We haven’t replaced him. Such is life….

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve ALWAYS had a fascination with books, instilled in me by my mother, who used to read me stories from a very early age. My earliest memory is of her reading Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss to me. Over and over again.

I was reading on my own by around age six or seven. I loved Enid Blyton, especially The Famous Five and Secret Seven. My dad tried to get me to read The Hardy Boys (by F.W. Dixon), which was what HE grew up on. I never got into that, though.

In my later pre-teen years I discovered Asterix, and proceeded to buy every Asterix comic ever published. I still have fond memories of those early stories, but my tastes have refined a little since then.

I’ve always loved telling stories, and in High School I played a lot of table-top roleplaying, where I always ended up as a Game Master, because I was the best story-teller. I wrote my first book, a gamebook, at around age eleven. It never got published, and I’ve since lost it. Which is a pity, because from what I can remember, it was pretty good!

My first published story came in December 2012. It’s called A Petition to Magic, and it’s a fantasy short story about a new queen, and a wizard who refuses to cast any spells. I never even considered going through the rigmarole of pitching to agents and trying to find a publisher, but when I saw a few of my friends successfully self-publishing their stories, I just HAD to give it a try. I’ve never looked back!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My tastes in reading and writing are quite varied. My favourite traditionally published authors are probably Stephen King and Terry Goodkind, but I also really enjoy Terry Pratchett. On the indie side, whatever I can get my hands on – I’ve been reading a lot of JD Nixon lately, and I read Rebecca Cantrell’s The World Beneath a couple months ago. I thoroughly enjoyed that one!

In terms of my writing, I’ve written fantasy, thriller, young adult, and horror. I think Fantasy and Horror are by far my most favourite genres to WRITE, but I think Fantasy is probably the most difficult, because it involves so much research.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called Billy’s Zombie. It’s a really short horror story, and I think it falls nicely into the category of literary fiction as well.

It’s about a young boy who is a bit of an outcast, and finds himself constantly the butt of other peoples’ jokes, mockery, and bullying. One day, he decides to exact his revenge on everyone who’s wronged him, which he does by taking a book on Necromancy out of the library, and raising a zombie from the dead.

Because it’s so short, I have decided to make Billy’s Zombie permanently free, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to keep it that way.

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Featured Interview With Ken Magee

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Most folk believe that technology rules their lives. They’re wrong. Dark conspiracies and ancient magic actually dominate this planet. My one mission in life is to open people’s eyes to that fact.

My name is Ken Magee and I tell people I write contemporary fantasies which blend adventure and humour with technology and magic. My books live under the tagline ‘ancient magic meets the Internet’. I pretend that they’re works of fiction, because I’m afraid of the powerful people behind the conspiracies… I’m hoping a ‘fiction’ writer will slip under their radar.

Up until the point when I discovered about the frightening plot which deliberately caused the recent global financial meltdown, I’d led a fairly normal life. I’d worked for many years in the computer industry in roles ranging from programming through to sales. In the middle of it all, I’d served in the Naval Reserve… which was hard work, but fun. Then in 2010, I decided to make time to finish Dark Tidings, the book I’d started many years earlier (writing not reading). I would have finished it sooner, but life got in the way. It’s finished now (the book, not life).

Dark Tidings is book one of the series. The Black Conspiracy and A Darker Shade of Black complete the ‘ancient magic meets the Internet’ trilogy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I loved books as a child, but my interest in writing started much later. I seriously started writing in 2010, but I had dabbled a bit before then.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman and Grant Naylor (the collective name for the pair who wrote Red Dwarf). From that list, you’ve probably guessed that my passion is humorous fantasy… I love to lose myself in somebody’s unfettered imagination and I love having a laugh while I’m doing it.

I think every writer I’ve enjoyed has had some influence on my writing, but Terry Pratchett definitely inspired me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest published book is A Darker Shade of Black. It completes my ‘ancient magic meets the Internet’ trilogy. It took a bit over a year to write and I found it quite tricky because it had to tie up all the loose ends from the previous two books.

To be honest, I did create a new loose end at the end of the book… just in case HBO want a fourth and fifth season!

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Featured Interview With Moxkito

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My real name is Asadu Felix with stage name called Moxkito aka Moxflex.I was raised at Awoshie – Ghana and now I live at Awoshie Ghana. My favorite pet is cat

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Growing up as a kid, I made a bold decision to follow my dreams in life as a musician and that really brought challenges. I went through a lot and that motivated me to develop a blog. Through that i became a writer as well as a story teller. I started writing when I was 22.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
For me, Patrick Ness is one of the best authors living today. I love the way he weaves a story and creates characters that we care so much. His story somehow manages to wretch my heart and rip it apart; it’s so powerful.My favorite genre is realistic fiction.“While I enjoy fiction of all types, I always like to read a good mystery novel. I like mysteries both set in modern times or historical. Am always inspired by Daphine Addision and am a big fan of her.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In order to accomplish this, for me it was a matter of thinking big, of having the courage and visionary mindset, in order to get there. One of the best things in the world to be is a boy and regardless of my frustrations I never gave up. I know pain and after all i went through i had no option than to write this book. I hope to motivate someone

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