Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Lauren Greene

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an author, a mother of three, an advocate for hair (since I don’t have any due to alopecia universalis), and I work a full-time day job too. I was raised in Alabama, moved away to Washington D.C., and somehow I ended up back in Alabama again! I have two pets: Ritz, an orange tabby cat and escape artist, and Skippy, a mangy mutt, who loves to lick everyone to death.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved books. Every year for my birthday, my grandparents would send me a leather bound copy of a classic. I would read it, and any other book I could get my hands on. I started writing when I was seven years old. I have sheets and sheets of handwritten stories, mostly about the Civil War and triplets, which I was apparently obsessed with as a child.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
It’s so hard to name a favorite author, because I have so many. I love Joyce Carol Oates, John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut, just to name a few. I will read any genre, but in general I like literary fiction the best. I would love to be as amazing of an author as Joyce Carol Oates. I think she’s the most amazing writer, and I strive for my writing to be as good as hers.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut novel, “No Turning Back,” will be released on Amazon (and Barnes and Noble) on January 31st! In the novel, Kaia Hart is a successful architect, mother of two, and she’s struggling in her marriage with Patrick. She is haunted by an accident from her past, and she still feels connected to the love, Asher, who she left behind. On a call, one day, Kaia is surprised to find Asher has moved to her town and will be working with her. She must sort through feelings from her past and decide whether to move forward with Patrick or give up everything for Asher.

I wrote “No Turning Back” in about three months, but I’ve been working on it for over three years: mainly gathering enough courage to submit it to Amazon! I’ve had several friends and family read an advanced copy of the book, and I’ve received excellent feedback.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Lauren Greene’s Website

Lauren Greene Facebook Page

Lauren Greene Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Cody Young

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in the New Forest and grew up in the UK, I emigrated to New Zealand when I was eighteen. I have written nine books – mostly romantic fiction – plus one history book. I recently released the first book I ever wrote – yes, that book that every writer has under the bed or in a dark cupboard that isn’t supposed to see the light of day. Yes, well, I published that one (it’s called Becky’s Boyfriend) and to my surprise I sold over a thousand copies very quickly. So – other writers reading this – buff up your book and put it out there. I am now working on sequels to that book – part of the Urban Boyfriend series, and I’m also just finishing the third and final book in my time-travel trilogy, affectionately known as “the Johnny books” by my readers.
I am (at last, and hopefully forever) married to a romantic Italian guy, and we have three kids.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing seriously about five years ago, but I had always done a lot of dreaming about my characters and the situations they might get into. I entered a competition that inspired me to “finish that book” in 2009 and though my book was not in any shape to win, I got some great feedback. I later published the book as American Smile. The next one was Scandal at the Farmhouse, which began as a spoof on the bodice ripper genre but ended up being deeply romantic. Then I wrote Katie’s Hero which got some attention from a Harlequin editor who shall remain nameless. But then it lost her attention and was picked up by Crimson Romance. After that I went into my vampire phase – with time-traveling, blood-drinking Johnny – the dark, sexy hero of Johnny Doesn’t Drink Champagne. Johnny is my readers’ fave character and the one I get the most fan mail about. Now I’m writing more contemporary romance – often set in London or other big cities. Lots of grime and crime but also lots of sex and romance.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’ve enjoyed a wide range of genres and books over the years – Gerald Durrell, Lee Child, Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, Nora Roberts, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and a zillion books on fashion history and costume design. Not exactly what I write – but enjoyable all the same. I am now reading a LOT of romance books and genre fiction.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Ben is a contemporary romance about a London doctor who risks everything, including his career, to save a lovely young girl from a London crime ring. It is a 93k full-length book – possible a ‘thriller romance’ – and I wrote in in less than three months. It was hugely enjoyable to write. Ben is the trainee doctor who appeared in Becky’s Boyfriend, and lost Becky to another man. He needed a love story of his own. But I wanted to make sure that this time he was prepared to do JUST ABOUT ANYTHING for the love of his life, because he let the last girl slip through his fingers… In Layla he meets his perfect match.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Cody Young Facebook Page

Cody Young Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Ebele Mogo

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Ebele. I was raised in the thriving metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria for the most part. I moved to Canada, to Scotland, to Japan and then to the United States. I write, am a scientist and am also an entrepreneur. I love to laugh, I ask too many questions and I love to sing.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I cannot remember when I realized my fascination with books because they have always been in my life. I do remember sitting out in the corridor on cool evenings and poring through a book from my parents’ library – I read everything – health, guinness book of records, hymnals, physics. I remember reading novels when I was bored in my aunt’s house and being so fascinated by how a little collection of papers could lead me into a new world.

I started writing very young- I remember loving the sound of words and being so motivated to get perfect on my english papers. I didnt write poetry for a while though- I was about thirteen when I wrote my first poem and it was bad!

I also remember learning to journal from one of my friends- it was our way of rebelling against being misunderstood teenagers- writing in our journals and hiding them away.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love poetry, I love essays, and I love novels. But I also love anything that is fascinating- social media, business, science. I have no favourite genres. I am inspired by a need to be true, by a curiousity about myself and life that is then existentially lived out through the empathy and exacting nature of my words.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I wrote Courage and Clarity, my new book, because I wanted to support other creatives in the process of creating work that matters. I know that process is fulfilling, but it is also challenging, riddled with self-doubt and there is often the question of if to take the road less travelled or to keep conforming to external standards that we do not even hold. I just wanted to share words that have been true for me in the hopes that they would support others in realizing their gifts. It is an ongoing process of walking the creative path. I wanted to share words with people who walk with me.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Ebele Mogo’s Website

Ebele Mogo Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rebecca R. Cohen

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts but grew up and still live in Westchester County, NY. Currently I reside in Pleasantville, New York with my husband and our 19-year-old cat, Buddy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
It is strange to say but I honestly didn’t become an avid reader until about two-years-ago. Sure, I’ve always read books but I was never as engulfed in them as I have been lately. My book shelf is currently stocked with over 50+ books that I am diving into one-by-one. One of the books I have read and re-read a few times is “The Lovely Bones,” by Alice Seabold. If I could emulate the fantastic way she writes I would be thrilled.

I have been writing since I knew how to. In Elementary school one of my teachers made the class keep a journal and from that point on I wrote. One of my first stories was a very short, 5 sentence story about a snowy shoe foot. To this day I still don’t know what it was I was trying to say with that one. From then on I would write everyday. Most days I would take out my Grandmother’s type writer and write stories about my day, about people I admired and of course fictional tales. These days I focus on writing within the young adult genre.

I am also writing as an entertainment journalist for the online magazine, Dudley Media Group. I have been blessed with the opportunity to interview some of my favorite celebrities and authors including Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries) and Lauren Oliver (Before I Fall, Delirium).

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oh geez, this is a really tough question. I have so many favorites and I feel as though my favorites change as the more I read however, I have found myself migrating to Gayle Forman’s books. I also love Cassandra Clare, Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth. If I had to pick a favorite author though, as I mentioned before, it would have to be Alice Seabold.

I love reading young adult books, even though I am in my 30s. I find that YA books take me into worlds I never imagined possible. I love how descriptive they are and the way the books pull me in from page one. There are some books, such as “If I Stay,” and “The Fault In Our Stars,” where I have opened the book and read it straight through to the end in one sitting. Those are the ones that stick with me the most.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Into The Light (The Fallen Shadows: I)” is the first book of a three-part fantasy series. It is the kind of book I’ve always wanted to write. For years I’ve been fascinated by the idea of angels and the concept of a fallen angel. I am also an avid fan of fantasy television shows and movies such as “Supernatural,” “The Vampire Diaries,” etc. so one day this idea popped into my head I wrote vigorously for 4 months and the end result was this book. It is the thrilling story about a young girl who had her life planned entirely only to find out that her plans didn’t matter because the universe had something else in mind for her. Here is a little bit more to give you an idea as to what you can expect if you decide to pick up this book:

Katharine Macklemore had her life entirely mapped out. She was going to Harvard Law School and become a world-class lawyer but one frightful night in the town quarry derailed her plans. After being viciously attacked by a grotesque creature, Katharine meets the mysteriously attractive Ash who teaches her about her true destiny. With her best friend Molli at her side, she is thrust into a world she’d only heard about in Sunday school. Now Katharine must join a war she never knew existed, a war that has been going on for centuries between The Guides and The Descended. As Katharine gets used to her new reality she learns devastating news about her best friend and finds out that Ash is far more mysterious than she could have ever imagined.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Rebecca R. Cohen’s Website

Rebecca R. Cohen Facebook Page

Rebecca R. Cohen Twitter Account

Featured Interview With FCEtier

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born and raised in Northeast Louisiana, USA. Spent most of my adult life in Baton Rouge, LA.
My wife and I now live in the Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina with four dogs and two cats.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
In my early teen years, a friend whose family did not watch television, got me interested in some great young adult books. My interest in books caught fire and has never been quenched. I began writing in fifth grade in an attempt to emulate my cousin who was majoring in journalism. Later, as an adult, my writing began in the early 2010’s when I began writing reviews for an online magazine.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Michael Crichton is my favorite author, however my favorite book is “When All the World Was Young” by Ferrol Sams.
My first choice of genres to read is historical fiction.
My writing influences range from Dr. Seuss and Ernest Hemingway to William Safire, Ferrol Sams, Mark Twain, Miriam Goldberg, Ian Fleming, Michael Crichton, Carl Hiaasen, James A. Michener, Caleb Pirtle and John Grisham.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My most current book, “A Year Without Killing,” is the sequel to my first, “The Tourist Killer.”
The main character of both books is Claudia Barry, a baby boomer. She kills people for a living.
She’s sixty-two years old and has successfully negotiated a career of over thirty years. Now she’s contemplating retirement and examining her life. What’s next for a professional assassin? Who do you retire? Her assigner convinces her to take a year sabbatical rather than retire outright.

My most recent book in print, is the second in the “Barry-Hixon Conspiracy” series, “The Presidents Club.” Claudia’s lover, introduced in “The Tourist Killer,” stars with a group of men who frequent an old mans’ bar in Georgia. Their first names are also the first names of former U.S. Presidents.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

FCEtier’s Website

FCEtier Facebook Page

FCEtier Twitter Account

Featured Interview With michael coombs

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Before delving into your question I would like to say thanks for this great opportunity. That said, my name is Michael Coombs and I was born on the Island of Jamaica. I had a wonderful time as a child there. My Aunt, who I grew up with, had a small farm and I spent a lot of time in the trees, at the river or building carts that my friends and I could drive in. Actually it was my friends who did most of the building. Of course like any kid on a farm I did chores like tying out the goats, feeding the chickens or helping to plant crops like lettuce or carrots. My aunt supplied some supermarkets in the city with produce. I never thought seriously of writing anything but if you think long and hard you can probably spot little telltale signs of the probability. It likely started when I was quite young – 6 maybe 7. Like many kids at that age I would tell stories. These stories, however, where quite elaborate and would often involve my ‘made up’ weekend with my Dad. There were others. I remember one in which I was a swashbuckling pirate. I actually acted that one out. I stopped when I got to primary school. Making up stories were no longer cool or so I thought…no more stories. I am not sure I missed it because at around that time I started reading a lot of kiddy mystery novels – particularly the Hardy Boys. My Dad turned me onto the series. I also got involved in the boy scouts and track & field. Maybe I am now coming full circle with this book writing. It certainly was enjoyable.

I migrated to the United States in my early teens and completed both high school and college here. I also pursued the sport of track & field with vigor until my junior year of college. I wasn’t a raw talent…nothing at all like a Usain Bolt. I threw in the towel on track & field during my junior year and decided to salvage what was left of college. College happened to be in Maryland and after a few fits and starts which actually saw me move back to Jamaica I decided to come back to the US and settle in Maryland. The winters are not too harsh and I can handle the summers so I kind-a like the state. If I had to it over again though; I would settle in a place with a tropical climate all year round.

You asked about pets. I had any number of them growing up in Jamaica…dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits…one of the few pets I didn’t have and never wanted were snakes. It’s a bit odd then that I am not now a pet person. Guess I had my full. Don’t get me wrong, I still like animals; I just have no desire to own them.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
The fascination with books came pretty early on. I have my Dad to thank for that. At around 8 or 9, maybe a little younger, he turned me on to reading. He got me the Hardy Boy series. I read them all fairly quickly. I remember Frank, one of the main characters, talking with Joe, his brother and Chet, a friend, about foods such as Pizza that I had never had or heard of as a child in Jamaica. I delighted in those foods when I came to America. While I love to read and always have a book close by I never gave serious thought to writing. That changed several years ago. It was sometime in 2009 when I first put pen to paper…I guess it was more like keyboard to monitor but that just doesn’t sound right. Anyway even when I wrote my first few lines it was not with the conscious thought of writing a book. I jotted down a few lines in the middle of filling out a resume and for some reason saved it. Here I am several years later with a full blown book.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I enjoy reading authors like Stieg Larson…he never lived to see his work published by-the-way…the early John Grisham, Cervantes, Mark Twain, Arturo Perez-Reverte and Anthony Winkler. I can easily go on. My favorites actually change with my mood.

I am quite sure that I do not have a favorite genre. Though I am partial to good mysteries, I will just as soon read a good historical fiction, an engaging biography, a romantic epic or a sweeping adventure novel. My one requirement is that the book catches my fancy in the first few chapters. It really cannot be boring.

The answer to the question what inspires me to write is opaque at best. Inspiration can come from anywhere and at anytime. It may be the way the suns rays shimmers on a body of water, a fleeting glance from a stranger, the sight of a flock of birds making their way across the sky. And the kicker is that you have no idea way it inspires. For some reason that thing or that action touches a chord deep in your soul. My muse, however, is the lady to whom this book is dedicated – Jeannie. It’s as though I have been placed on this earth to be with her. The thought of her makes me want to put pen to paper and write something that brings joy to the world.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
This is the first one…my first born so to speak. It loosely falls within the genre of romantic thriller and is titled Sight Unseen. There is meaning in the title…one I am sure you will grasp very quickly. Sight Unseen follows Simon Sinclair’s search for a woman, he has never met but just may love. How it ends is anyone’s guess. One thing is sure; he will be a different man when it does. Was that brief enough? The book is 284 pages so we could chat about if for awhile.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

michael coombs’s Website

michael coombs Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Charity Tober

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Charity Tober. I was born raised in Tennessee (in a small town outside Nashville) and ended up moving to Florida when I was 15 years old. After high school, I attended college at the University of Florida where I earned a BA in Business Administration. I currently reside in Lake Mary, Florida (North Orlando area) with my husband, son and two furry cats.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have had a love for books and reading for as long as I can remember. I have fond memories of spending countless hours reading the “Babysitter Club” series when I was young. I also enjoyed creating my own stories complete with illustrations. I continued to jot down story ideas over the years and eventually entered the self-publishing world in 2013 when I published my first children’s picture book titled “Roly-Poly Monster.” I followed up in 2014 with the sequel “Roly-Poly Monster Goes to the Zoo.”

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I usually read a wide-variety of genres. Currently I seem to be drawn to the every popular YA genre, reading titles dealing with vampires, dystopian, apocalyptic and paranormal themes. However, I also love a good period piece (think Pride and Prejudice), chick lit and science fiction (told you I read a wide variety of genres). When it comes to children’s literature, I would say that Dr. Seuss continues to be a favorite of mine as well as an inspiration. He published so many great books for children, ones I remember reading when I was young and now get to read to my own child.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Children’s picture books are a personal favorite of mine. I currently have two books published – “Roly-Poly Monster” and “Roly-Poly Monster Goes to the Zoo.” Both books follow the adventures of a red, furry little monster as he goes about his day. The focus of the series is on just plain fun and excitement. I based the character after my own son and how he views the world with a sense of wonder and excitement. The stories are based on bedtime stories I created for my son. I am currently working on my next children’s book which deals with a cat and superpowers (that’s all I can give away for now, lol).

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Charity Tober’s Website

Charity Tober Facebook Page

Charity Tober Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rachel Medhurst

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Surrey, England and still live in the same county. I like to walk my dog over the beautiful English countryside while coming up with ideas for my next book. I’m a romantic and daydream of fantasy love and happily ever afters. I write to prove that no matter where you come from, you can achieve your dream.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My mother used to read Enid Blyton to me when I was a child. I would get so lost up the faraway tree, that I ended up reading myself at a very young age. I craved fantasy lands and far away places. People I’d never met became real to me. I started to write myself when I was a small girl, making up stories about girls that fell in love. When I was a teenager, I wrote my first small book and the words just flowed out of me. I think that’s why I still write new/young adult books now. I just allow the world I’m making up to come from me and somehow create a story from that.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read romance of all kinds. There’s something about a love story that opens my heart and makes me smile. I feel giddy when the happily ever after arrives. I like most young adult authors and romance authors. My favourite include Gena Showalter, Abbi Glines, J R Ward and Diana Gabaldon.

Every single person I’ve met inspires me in my writing. I take a piece of someone or an event I saw and it somehow ends up in my books. I love to feel how someone is feeling and portray that somehow. It’s a natural thing that I do and I never used to know that I did it.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Hope is an Avoidable with one arm. She lives in a divided city. Lower Side is made up of Avoidables. People that are not perfect looking. The Upper Side is a place where Perfects live. They are gorgeous and control the city. Hope meets Jason, a Perfect, when she sneaks to the Upper Side. When he touches her shoulder stump, it unleashes a part of Hope that she never knew about.

Avoidables is a serialised story and the first book is free. The following books are in a different character’s point of view, so you get to know and connect to each one of them. A love story unfolds between the character’s and it’s easy to fall for each one of them as their fight for survival and acceptance takes you into their world.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Rachel Medhurst’s Website

Rachel Medhurst Facebook Page

Rachel Medhurst Twitter Account

Featured Interview With John Paul Bernett

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in South Leeds in West Yorkshire on a council estate in the middle of the last century. My home was right next to the slag heaps (Excavation debris from the nearby mine) of which was my playground in my early years. It was upon my (mountains) that my imagination was set free to wonder where ever it fancied. They became the Himalayas when I was a mountaineer, The canyon when I was a cowboy and the landscape of Mars when I was an astronaut. My ability for telling stories I put down to those days of play rather than anything I learned at school.

I suffer from Dyslexia and back in the late 1960’s that wasn’t heard of and I was just passed off as an illiterate because I couldn’t read or write properly. That never stopped me writing (in my own way) my stories down, but I never showed anyone and used to burn the stories in a bin in the garden so nobody could see my bad spelling. Very much later in life my wife convinced me to show her one of my stories, that was in 2012 and since then I now have eight published books.

I love animals and with and help my wife look after 7 Hamsters, she has always kept hamsters and we have at least six living with us at all times.

I still live in Leeds not far from where I was born. I have crossed the river but only just as I now live in an apartment in the city centre. I love this city and if I ever move away it would only be to one place and that place is Whitby.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I began writing when I was about eight years old. My stories were usually linked to whatever adventure I had been on during the day. It seemed to me a strange thing to be doing; because I was having so much difficulty at school, being ridiculed by the teachers and laughed at by the other children in the class. The laughter and ridicule was because of my writing but here I was writing stories in my note book. Because of my inability to read I had no fascination with story books but I loved the ones with pictures.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Unfortunately I have never read a book in my life, but in many ways that has helped me because all my books are written from dreams and imagination. My story telling has not been influenced by other authors and my style and content are quite different to anyone else. Of cause many people don’t agree with that and work on the notion that you have to be a good reader to be a good writer and I am cool by that. I don’t need to become a millionaire, I have already had my rewards. The day I saw my name at the bottom of my first novel was one of the best days of my life and no monetary reward will ever top that.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The book I would like to talk about is book 1 of my Reaper Series ‘Atkinson’s Administration’. This was my very first novel published in 2012. The story is based upon a recurring dream I have had since childhood. In this dream I am a reaper in a different realm cutting peoples mortal cord that links them from their realm to mine. I am the one who slices in two this cord one half of which slips back to it’s owner and they die. The other half I join to a new cord and the deceased’s soul is passed to a baby being born.

Atkinson’s Administration begins the story of the Grim Reaper. It is set at the turn of the century as a new Reaper want’s to change the system with catastrophic results to life and death. In this book you are introduced to the main characters within the series and are given a background into how the reaper system works, but more importantly what happens when the system breaks down. It took me around two years to write this book because the dreams only had me working in the realm of death and how the system actually worked so I let my imagination run wild and invented the characters that would work with and against the Grim Reaper. After the characters were in place I had the basis of the story. The rest of the series so far only takes around three months for each separate book to write.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

John Paul Bernett Facebook Page

John Paul Bernett Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Ashlynn Pearce

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Were it not for Hope, the Heart would Break…

Once upon a time…You ain’t gonna believe this sh**!
(I always wanted to start a bio like that!) But seriously—scrap that, I’m not serious, but I do love to write. Create characters. Give them hope that there is something better around the corner. It’s my passion. I live and breathe stories. When I’m not arguing with the characters in my head (yes, I do that, you can ask my hubby who thinks I’m nuts btw), I’m taking care of said hubby, my two kids and a melee of furbabies. I’m Okie born and bred and, yes, we get a lot of twisters and, no, there aren’t any teepees around that I’ve seen.

Follow me around to see what other mischief I’m up to!

One thing’s for sure, it’s never boring! 😉

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As soon as I could read. I devoured books and loved escaping into another world. The first book I can remember reading all the time was Black Beauty. When I was 13, I was given my first romance…and I’ve been reading them ever since. I’ve read thousands-literally. I lived at the used book store where I could exchange books and there came a point where I couldn’t find any that I hadn’t read. (It helps I’m a very fast reader)

About 10 years ago, I had a dream…with characters and a story, and it hit me–I could write this! So I did. I got serious, joined a writers group, absorbed information like a sponge and wrote one worth publishing.

The day it released, I had a stroke.

That was 5 years ago. I still have a host of health issues I deal with every day but writing and creating stories is my passion. I’d be lost without it.

I’m back.

I did it.

My motto says it all….Were it not for Hope, the Heart would Break…

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Romance. Anything romance. New Adult, Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, erotic…it doesn’t matter what genre as long as its romance. My favorite authors are Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jennifer Lyon, Karen Marie Moning, Jay Crownover, Kylie Scott–these are automatic one-clicks for me.

The biggest inspiration to my writing is my best friend, my Hubby. There’s a little bit of him in every hero I write.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
FUEL
‘DirtSlap Series’

“Is there any line she won’t cross?”

Cassie Dalton escapes her narrow-minded hometown and will do whatever it takes to make a life for herself—on her own terms. Getting stranded in Nashville on her twenty-first birthday is fine…running into the one man she never thought she’d see again is mind-blowing. She doesn’t want, or need, a hero, but he opens her heart to feelings she’d stopped believing in. She’s always loved him, but is he worth risking her heart?

Thrand Medlam is content with his life as a studio drummer, until Cassie slams into his world at full throttle. Grown up and running wide ass open, she sparks the fire he never knew he’d lost. The girl from his past digs up all the regret and remorse he’d buried when he left. Torn between the guilt of long ago and the vibrant girl in front of him, he must make a choice. Honor a promise he made to his best friend, Cassie’s dead brother, or love her.

In the midst of their chaos, a band, with a little bit of country, a dash of metal and a whole lot of dirt, is born…DirtSlap

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Ashlynn Pearce’s Website

Ashlynn Pearce Facebook Page

Ashlynn Pearce Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rebekah R. Ganiere

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hey Everyone! I’m Rebekah and I’m a SAHM of four wonderful kids that I homeschool when I’m not writing. I was born in Los Angeles and raised in Connecticut, Virginia and Idaho. I’ve also lived in Utah, Hawaii and Kansas. I went to college all over the place and studied theater. I love the theater and especially musicals and opera. I have over 100 musical/opera soundtracks. I listen to just about everything but ragae and rap. I can’t write in silence. I always write with the tv or music on.

I currently live just north of Los Angeles with my kids, my husband, English Bulldog, Border Collie, Two Tortoises, Two Bearded Dragon and handful of fish. The escaped snake is still missing. If I’m not writing I am usually running kids to dance team or auditions, watching television, or drinking tea. I love herb tea. mmmmmmm…. it keeps me from drinking soda 🙂

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
You know growing up I had dyslexia and I Hated reading. It was horrible and hard and I didn’t want to do it. But as I reached high school I fell in love with Stephen King, Dean Koontz and John Saul. I started writing horror at that time.

In college I began a terrible novel about the mafia (I was obsessed with The Godfather and The Untouchables). I wrote several short stories in college but it wasn’t until my son was born about six years ago that I got the first real idea for my novel Dead Awakenings. What if you entered an unsanctioned drug trial and woke up strapped to a hospital bed with no memory of who you were or how you got there, only to find you’d become, A Deader. It’s a Zombie Romance 🙂

It was at that time that I decided that if I was going to write, I was going to write what I love to read. Fantasy, Paranormal and Romance. I’ve been obsessed with Vampires and Werewolves since I was a girl. So it made sense that that is what I would write. Hence my logo of Vampires Werewolves Zombies.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oh man! I am kind of strange. I love the classics, Lord of the Rings and Hobbit, C.S. Lewis, Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare, Jules Verne, Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, Brother Grimm. I love to read them and they have influenced my writing the most. Their amazing storytelling and characters inspire me to write.

I love fantasy and romance and paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and some sci-fi. I especially love Paranormal authors Lara Adrian, Jennifer Ashley and JR Ward.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Because of my love of fantasy and fairytales, I decided to put my own twist on fairytales. I’ve always wanted fairytales that happened in the same world. Like in Into the Woods. So when I decided to write in the fairytale realm I thought of which fairytales I wanted to tell the most. The first one to come to my mind was Little Red Riding Hood. I loved the idea of Red being a werewolf hunter. What if she fell in love with the werewolf king, but didn’t realize he was a werewolf because she’d been lied to her whole life about what werewolves really were.

From there I had the idea for Snow White. But what if Snow White had seven brothers who were Vampire Slayers, and she falls in love with the deposed vampire prince who is trying to reclaim his kingdom from his uncle who stole it.

Currently, I have out both Red the Were Hunter and Snow the Vampire Slayer as well as a novella for one of Snow’s brothers out. The next story in the series, Rapunzelle – Zelle and the Tower, is releasing the beginning of April and Cinder the Fae is releasing late summer.

I’ve had a lot of fun plotting out the nine books in the series. I was not really a plotter before I started this series, but since I have characters that move from book to book I realized I had to plot them all out to keep them straight. Both Sage, my Vampire Prince and Dax, a werebear with amnesia are in books one and two. You also see the werewolves in the first two book and the first novella. One of Snow’s brothers is the hero in Zelle and the Tower and he goes to visit Cinder from book four. Weaving everyone together takes a lot of plotting! Especially naming all the secondary characters. I swear I’ve tried to name about a half a dozen men Liam.

It takes me about a month to write the books but then about six months to edit them. I’m getting faster at editing, but I like to take my time on them to make sure I’m happy before I release my babies into the world.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Rebekah R. Ganiere’s Website

Rebekah R. Ganiere Facebook Page

Rebekah R. Ganiere Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Vanessa Kings

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born on March 14th of 1985, in Rosario, Argentina. I lived there until I moved to Buenos Aires with my boyfriend in 2004. We are currently living a small town called “Capilla del Monte”, in Cordoba, Argentina. We have a 15-month-old son and 3 cats.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
At the age of 10 I wrote my first fairy tale as a way to deal with a very painful earache. I found writing comforting and distracting. After that day, I continued writing every time I felt the need of leaving realty behind.
By the age of 18 I had around 120 pieces written of fairy tales, poems, life’s reflections and other stories. I always wanted to publish my stories but never had the confidence to do it. After my son was born, my husband and my best friend gave me the confidence that I needed to start writing my first book.
At the moment I have only one book finished and published, Chronicles of the Nocturnal Forest (Stories of the fairy of my dreams #1). I already started the second book of the series, The diary of Amanda, which I hope to publish this year.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite book of all times is “Alice in Wonderland”, by Lewis Carrol. I read it about 30 times and never get bored of it. I always loved the lack of logic on the story, the crazy characters and their clever conversations.
A book that marked me for ever, was “The never ending story”, by Michael Ende. I always dreamt of being pulled into one of my books and be the hero of the story, I read it countless times with the hope of hearing the voice of the Childlike Empress calling for my help. It never happened, but it was the main influence to my writing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
hronicles of the Nocturnal Forest, is my first and latest published book. When I was about 12 years old I started putting some of my stories together and connecting them to create a novel. When I decided to really write my book, I translated them to English and added Melanie, who wasn’t a character of the stories but it is the glue to connect them all.
The main inspiration I had was the books and movies of my childhood and the need to bring that kind of stories back. As I say on my blog and twitter, my main purpose is to bring the fantasy back, the old fashioned fairy-tale kind of fantasy.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Vanessa Kings’s Website

Vanessa Kings Facebook Page

Vanessa Kings Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Suzanna J. Linton

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
The short answer to where I was raised is: the swamps near Holly Hill, South Carolina. I say it like that because we moved around a bit and it’s an extremely rural area. We never did live in the town limits of anywhere, just close enough to a particular town to have its name on our address, but Holly Hill was a town we were never that far from. And it was fun living out in the “deep country”. I learned to not be afraid of the dark and creepy places!

Now, I live in Florence, SC and the only noteworthy things about it are the university and the fact that people pass it on their way to Myrtle Beach. And just like I grew up, I live on the outskirts of town with my husband and our dogs, cat, and Betta fish. I really enjoy the quiet and being close to nature.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was very little. My mother taught me how to read before I started preschool, which the teachers didn’t like because they had their own method of teaching kids to read. They taught children to recognize whole words, whereas my mother taught me phonetics. So, what ended up happening was the kids would be presented a new word, which they would stare at blankly until the teacher told them what it was, and there I was, in the back, waving my hand because “Momma taught me what sound ‘ch’ makes!” (It also didn’t help that I was left-handed, which would not do in the superstitious backwoods.)

At any rate, I remember being all of five and trailing behind my mother with her copy of THE SECRET GARDEN, asking her about every word because the Yorkshire accent made zero sense and I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. I eventually gave up on that particular book but not books in general.

And when you read a lot and have a very active imagination, along with being fed a diet of folktales, fisherman’s tales, and ghost stories, it’s not long before it all bubbles over. I first started writing poetry and moved on to writing little novels by the time I was ten.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I adore Dean Koontz because of his way of weaving philosophy into his work without feeling preachy. Robin McKinley is amazing because her characters are so real and down to earth. I swear, I keep expecting to meet Sunshine whenever I go into a bakery/coffee shop. Charles de Lint’s writing is gorgeous. He weaves Native American and European myths into something that defies explanation. You call it urban fantasy because you have to call it something, but it’s so lyrical and so beautifully woven together that it feels more like an unknown side of our world brought to life. These are the authors that inspire me. I also tend to stick with fantasy but I don’t mind the occasional mystery and thriller.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is WILLOWS OF FATE. My writing method begins with an idea, as most books begin. I let it stew for a while in my mind, dreaming about it on and off for however long it takes. When it comes ‘to term’, that’s when I start writing it out. WILLOWS first came into my mind in high school.

You hear stories about people who see ghosts or past events that happened in a particular place. But, what if a girl walks into a room and instead of a ghost, she sees a knight holding a bloody sword? Or, she sees a baby dragon gnawing on a cow’s leg bone? And how would that affect that girl, especially if she also had a traumatic event in her past? And then, right when she thinks she has it together, what if the beings she’s been seeing suddenly start to speak to her? “Come with us because you’re in danger. You have something very important. If you don’t come with us, life for you is going to get so much worse.”

I sat with that story for years before I finally wrote it. When I did, Desdemona was ready to leap out onto the page. I wrote the story in a matter of months. I think the editing took longer than the actual writing!

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Suzanna J. Linton’s Website

Suzanna J. Linton Facebook Page

Suzanna J. Linton Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Shaheen Darr

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Kenya but in the 1980s I left my home country to live my married life in Britain. I am a mother of three grown daughters who have brought a special meaning to my life. They are independent spirits with generous natures who enrich my every living moment. I am proud I have brought up women who can think for themselves and can fight for their rights should the need arise.

I have been writing for an online writing site on various subjects including business and finance but it is fiction and poetry that interests me the most. I have two projects in the pipeline, a book of short stories and a novel that reflects many of my own experiences as an Asian woman living in Britain.

I question life a lot and from the random pages of my diary the why’s and what if’s were finally self published in two books. “Soul Searching” and “The Spectrum of Life”. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
We had a family bookshop so I grew up around books, there was no avoiding them! I started writing about 6 years ago, at first it was mostly articles on finance and small businesses and then I started to delve into poetry and fiction.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Apart from the classic writers like Jane Austen, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens some of the modern writers whose books I have enjoyed reading include Anudhati Roy, Monica Ali, Katerina Kenison, Khaled Hosseini, Dan Brown and Chinua Achebe. The list is too long so for the moment these will have to suffice. I enjoy reading fictional novels, poetry and autobiographies. Some of my favourite autobiographies are The Story of My Experiments with Life by Mahatma Gaddhi and The Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I have self published two poetry books on Amazon called Soul Searching and The Spectrum of Life. I question life a lot and these books contain diary entries from my life and what I see around me. I am currently writing a novel and another half finished project is a book of short stories

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Shaheen Darr’s Website

Featured Interview With Timothy Bateson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Timothy Bateson, a 40 year-old aspiring author. I’ve been happily married to my wife for almost 9 years. I was born and raised in England, attended University in Wales, and came out with a degree in the computers field.

I spent some time in the computers industry, before realizing how little I enjoyed the work. I’m an avid reader, and pretty much grew up on books. I’m also a role-payer, and a gamer, having played a number of table-top games, and card games over the years, and even donned costumes, and weapons to take part in live-role-play events.

A friend in the role-playing community introduced me to my wife, online one night, and after a while we decided that we wanted to meet. I flew to Alaska, stayed 10 days, and within 6 months flew back to Alaska and married. I’ve never looked back. Since being here I’ve worked in fast-food, home-improvement & construction sales, and now work in customer service in a supermarket.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always had an interest in writing, and my wife has become my inspiration to take this interest more seriously. She has completed drafts of two novels, has started a third, and has ideas for several more. But life, or online games, always seems to get in the way of finishing the stories that those completed drafts started.

The first book, is the start of a five-book fantasy series, with elements of classic fantasy, humor, and a classic good vs evil story. The second book is an urban fantasy book, with a vampire lead character, and a world where the supernaturals hide from the mortal world. I have had the pleasure of reading some of that work, and helping her craft it into something better. I even had a hand in shaping the world-building for the urban fantasy setting.

In the process of shaping the urban fantasy world, I have found characters and concepts that I liked enough to spark ideas for my own writing. I’ve completed NaNoWriMo for the last 4 years, but never managed to reach the conclusion of the story I started. Fifty thousand words, in a month is no small feat, and shouldn’t be discarded lightly. Yet every time I’ve walked away with ideas of what worked, and what didn’t work for the story I wanted to tell.

So, who do I want to be? I want to be more like my wife. Someone who has a story to tell, and can reach the end of that story. I want to find those little twists and turns of plot and character that keep me wanting to find where things are going to end.

More importantly though, I want to see us both get into print and e-book stores. I want to work in the world I shared a hand in creating, and produce stories that people want to read. In the process, I hope to help my wife finish the stories she started to tell, because they are all too big to be contained in the pages of the two book drafts she has finished.

So I’m putting on a few new hats: Writer, Editor, Proof-reader, Critic, Researcher, and maybe in time Publisher.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My influences come from a range of sources. I’ve loved almost everything by the following authors: Jim Butcher, Terry Pratchett, Piers Anthony, Orson Scott Card, Dean Koontz

I love reading science-fiction and fantasy authors, especially those who have put a lot of work into developing their worlds and characters. Jim Butcher never ceases to amaze me with his Dresden Files books, and the Codex Alera. There is so much world building in both series that you see something new with every book. Terry Pratchett takes the fantasy world and sets a humorous spin on everything. Yet despite the humor, he manages to come up with surprising insights into the human character, and how we interact with each other, and our world. Piers Anthony has a versatility that is hard to match. He can write everything from humorous to serious, from loosely created rules to the massive creation that is the Incarnations of Immortality. Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas is possibly one of the most endearing heroes ever created, a cook that cannot seem to keep himself out of other people’s troubles.
Each and every one of these writers has had some influence on the material I write, as well as many years as a role-player. If I succeed in even drawing a small part of each writer’s work into my style and concepts, then I would consider myself a very lucky writer.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Moon Shadows” from Laurel Highlands Publishing is a Halloween themed anthology, released in October 2014, and featured my short story “Under A Hunter’s Moon”.

About “Moon Shadows”
In the dark of night, the moon is bright. But what lurks in the shadows will give you a fright.
Seventeen stories touch the unknown, the unseen, and the undead. Visit what we avoid. Step into the shadows of the moon.
Included stories (alphabetical by author):
“Masks” by Fred C. Adams, “Under a Hunter’s Moon” by Timothy Bateson, “Afraid” by Thomas Beck, “The Reckoning: Hidden Remains” by Spencer Carvalho, “The Hunt” by IE Castellano, “The Hearth” by Kevin Hayman, “Bumps in the Night” by Jovan Jones, “The Lightkeepers” by Renny Kalp, “When the Wine Begins to Sour” by Matt Kolbet, “Stranger Nights” by Jacob Lambert, “Masquerade” by Patrick MacAdoo, “Remembering Natalia” by James Park, “Mr. Cool’s Final Halloween” by Jay Seate,
“A Night Behind Bars” by DJ Tyrer, “Stingy Jack and the Boys” by Kevin Wetmore, “Home for Halloween” by Kelli A. Wilkins, “Halloween Bully” by Edward M Wolfe

About “Under A Hinter’s Moon”
Richard Parsons is a lupine, one of the many breeds of shape-shifters, though the mortal legends of their kind call them werewolves.
When a traveling exhibition returns to Seattle, Richard takes a night-time visit, with plans that go beyond seeing a particular display. However, he is unprepared for the memories and emotions that come flooding back.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Timothy Bateson’s Website

Timothy Bateson Facebook Page

Timothy Bateson Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Suzie Jay

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi there, I am a chaotic blend of all the worst traits, I am an author , a mum of six (I’m still considered sane, go figure) I used to be a school teacher, but I escaped and I have lived in Adelaide, Australia, my entire life. I’m not sure if that’s because I love the place or because I am scared to fly, but either way, here I am. Because my adorable entourage of children isn’t challenging enough, they all have pets. There are so many that i have considered charging an admission fee at our front door because it’s virtually a zoo.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I remember being able to read before I was 3 years old. By the time I was in junior primary school (In Adelaide that is between the ages of 5-7) I had read every book they had in their library so my teacher had to go every Monday and get me a box of books from the big school (The Primary school down the road). I wasn’t fussy back then, if it was a book I wanted to read it. My story writing started about the same time. My stories at school where always 20 pages long, while my friends would struggle with a paragraph or two. I think every teacher I have ever had, has told me I should write books, even my Maths teacher who I’m sure secretly enjoyed my stories about why I didn’t complete my homework.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Growing up my favorite author was Enid Blyton. I loved the wishing chair and the folk of the faraway tree. I had a little rocking chair in my bedroom and I used to sit on it and I would keep checking to see if it had sprouted wings yet. I thought if I squeezed my eyes shut tight and believed with all my heart, it would happen. As I said, I still live in Adelaide so, clearly, it didn’t happen. I remember the wonderment those books created for me and nothing can ever compare to that for me. As I got older I enjoyed the Sweet Valley twins series and as an Adult I read so many books that it would be hard to pick a favorite. I do always grab any new Marian Keyes books I see and the same with Jodi Picoult.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The book I am working on now is in it’s final edit. I am so excited it’s my debut novel and so far has gotten great feedback. The book is called ‘Walk on the Wild Side. The Re-invention of Violet Monte. I named the character after my grandmother, although if she saw half of what my Violet gets up to I’m sure she wouldn’t approve. The book follows Violet in her attempt to create a life for herself when she discovers her husband cheating. She sets out to find her calling but gets side tracked by the prostitute, who lives across the road. She becomes fascinated by her and writes down all the goings on. Things take a tricky turn when the lady of the night seems determined to befriend her. Will Violet find her calling? Will she find love again? What will happen with the woman across the road? These are all questions that will be answered in the book. I also threw a nice little twist in there, because, who doesn’t love a good twist? It is Chick-lit, it’s light, it’s funny and sometimes a little inappropriate. It will be out within the month, so for updates feel free to visit my facebook author page.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Suzie Jay’s Website

Suzie Jay Facebook Page

Suzie Jay Twitter Account