Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Tina Wittendorff Mortensen

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Tina and I originally come from Denmark, but I’ve lived in four different countries: Denmark, Hong Kong, Australia, and France. I’m currently living in France where I work as an English teacher and attend a lot of cultural activities to broaden my horizon.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve loved books my whole life! I always wanted to become an author, and I even started writing short stories in the 2nd or 3rd grade.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read almost everything fantasy-related. At the moment, I don’t have any favorite authors, but my favorite genre is definitely fantasy!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called Soulwanderer. It’s a part of a fantasy series of four books: Soulwanderer, City of the Lost Souls, Twin Souls, and Souls Reunited. The series is inspired by things I’ve dreamt at night. The story takes place in a medieval society under water, where three immortal ghosts collect souls and try to take over the world. The main character, Melerina, and her best friend get kidnapped by these ancient creatures and are brought to a life in slavery. This is only the start of a series of events that will change both the underwater world and the human world forever.

I’ve also written three fantasy short stories which are free on Amazon on the 15th of each month:
The Amulet of the last Earth Ghosts.
The Rings of the last Earth Ghosts.
The Crystal of the last Earth Ghosts.

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Tina Wittendorff Mortensen’s Website

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Featured Interview With darla noble

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Darla Noble is a Missouri girl through and through. Born in Jefferson City, which is the state capital, she lived most of her life in Rolla, MO before moving to a small town just outside of Springfield, MO a few years ago. Darla has been writing inspirational nonfiction, historical nonfiction, memoirs, Bible studies, parenting/family resources, and curriculum for over twenty-eight years. Darla’s popularity as an author, ghostwriter, and speaker come from her ability to entertain, encourage and educate through storytelling and practical advice. Her faith, wit, and wisdom are enjoyed by readers across the United States, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Darla’s titles include:

All my Love, George…Letters from a WWII Hero” – a collection of letters written by army medic and Missouri native, George Burks, paired with the thoughts and memories of Benny, the younger brother he was writing to, some sixty years after the fact. Together, George and Benny remind us that we should live with gratitude for the sacrifices made that make our life possible.

“Love, Momma D”— a collection of Darla’s (aka, Momma D) most popular parenting lessons and stories that teach parents to parent from the heart with unconditional love.

“Through the Eyes of a Shepherd” – a collection of inspirational stories stemming from years of caring for the sheep on her family’s farm. Each story reminds readers that being called God’s sheep is a compliment…not an insult.

“Faith Is Like Chocolate” – a devotional book for tweens and teens that uses things like chocolate, pizza, movies, books, and even homework to encourage readers to get to know Jesus on a personal level.

“Please Pass the Memories” – a book filled with ideas advice, and instructions on how to bring the generations of your family together (past, present, and future) using stories, pictures, food, keepsakes, time, conversation, traditions, and more. Oh, and love. Always love.

Darla and her husband John have been married for forty years, are the parents of four grown children, four children in-law, and eight adorable grandchildren. When Darla is not writing or speaking, she enjoys raising vegetables and flowers, camping, spending time with her family and friends, and hanging out with her miniature dachshund, Charlotte. She is also the ‘voice’ of Gasconade Christian Service Camp, which is just a fancy way of saying she is in charge of promoting the camp via social media and newsletters. Darla is an active member of Glendale Christian Church, where she leads a small-group Bible study and is involved in a lady’s Bible study. She also serves as the promotions ‘guru’ for Gasconade Christian Service Camp in Waynesville, MO.

Darla loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to visit her website: www.dnoblewrites.com or contact her at dnoblewrites@yahoo.com and ‘like’ her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dnoblewrites/

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My elementary school librarian, Amanda Hughes, insisted we write–stories, poems, essays…everything. I loved it! But what really sealed the deal for me was when she took me to meet Judy Blume, who at the time, had just published “Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret”. I knew that day I would be a writer, too…someday. That ‘someday’ became ‘today’ several years ago. And on the day I got my first acceptance letter from an actual royalty paying publisher, I knew I had finally made it.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I prefer nonfiction and historical fiction, with the exception of my Nancy Drew books, which I still love. Fiction has to have some element of truth and fact to it in order for me to read it. Romances, fantasy stuff, and such…NO WAY!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I am passionate about family because at the end of the day, they are the ones that will always be part of you. I also know how important it is for us to have a sense of belonging–to have a connection with who and where we come from. The combination of my passion and desire to help people feel connected, is what “Please Pass the Memories” is all about.

This book is 241 pages full of ideas and inspirations for using food, photographs, stories, keepsakes, traditions, and love–ALWAYS love–to bring the generations of your family together.

Some of the things you will dsicover inside the pages of this book include:
*How to share your great grandma’s silver among family members by turning it into sets of windchimes
*How much fun you can have when you have a rousing tournamet of crazy 8’s with the cards YOU played with as a child
*Why having a family bake-off to see who can best replicate mom’s amazing rolls or stuffing might be the next best family tradition anyone ever thought of

We all long to belong, so why not let “Please Pass the Memories” help you discover that there really is no place (or people) like your own.

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Featured Interview With Vien R. Guenther

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Manila, Philippines. After finishing a degree in Architecture and several years of working in Manila I moved to California to live permanently with my family. While working at a local energy company I got connected to a man I worked with back in Manila in 1996. They call it fate after meeting again after ten years, so after getting married I moved to Colorado where he lives. We live close to the mountains where we can easily explore hiking trails.

We love dogs, but with our love of traveling having any pets is not a good idea, at least at the moment.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was fascinated with reading even as a child. I read everything I could find, including comic books and magazines. As a young adult I read thrillers and fiction – Ken Follett, John Grisham, Clive Cussler, to name a few. I also read hundreds of romance books (Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts and many others). Later in life I read mostly non-fiction such as history, travel and exploration, and memoirs such as by Peter Mayle and the Durrells for example.

Before I started serious writing I created photo books inspired by nature surrounding us. Then as we started traveling abroad I jotted down notes thinking I might use them later. I did! The memorable experiences we had and the rich history of the countries we explored was something I wanted to put in writing. My husband and I travel on our own and initially I wrote my travel books to look back on when we can’t travel anymore. Also for others who can’t travel, or can’t afford to travel. But any travel enthusiasts can find my books informative and useful, as one reader said.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have several favorite authors such as David McCullough, Joan Druett, Walter Isaacson, James Herriot, Peter Mayle, Ken Follett, Clive Cussler, to name a few. All the books I read inspired me since each book, fiction or not, I learned something. As one quote says, “the more you read, the more you don’t know”, so I keep reading. Reading inspires me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The latest book I published last August is about our travels in Ireland. The country’s rich history is what inspired us to explore the island. We concentrated on the Republic side of the island driving for two weeks visiting stunning historic sites from ancient sites to churches and cathedrals and castles built during the English occupation. We also explored awe-inspiring natural wonders and other interesting sites. We had a beautiful experience meeting some of the locals, chatting and laughing at their humor. Oh! Should I mention the delicious local food we had? That is after all the part of traveling that we look forward to every time.

It took me a little over a year to finish this book because we travelled in Ireland as well as Scotland in the spring for a month. After we got back it was time for gardening and summer activities so writing was put aside. Doing research takes up much of my time as well when writing a book. I take my time to make sure I’m giving the right information to whomever reads my books.

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Vien R. Guenther’s Website

Featured Interview With Jeny Heckman

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello, I was born in Washington state and with the exception of a year have lived here my whole life. We live in the country about an hour outside of Seattle, but also have a boat up near the Canadian border and spend a lot of time on it as well. We did have a black lab, Molly, but we lost her at age fifteen and never had another one. My son and his girlfriend have a red heeler, lab, and boxer mix named Lefty and she is our pride and joy. We spend a lot of time spoiling her then return her back to her parents.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Oh, wow, I’ve always loved to read, and am acutely aware of loving it from an early age. I remember the first “books on records,” mostly fun readers and Disney. As I grew, I became even more of an avid reader. I started becoming interested in writing in 2008 when caring for an ailing family member. I wrote a book to see if I could, then shelved it. In 2015 I self-published it. I fell in love with creating a tale and my second book was picked up by a New York publisher. The rest is history!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Around the year 2000, a friend of mine gave me the first Outlander book and I was hooked. I have read every one since then! I love Diana’s ability to weave and layer a scene. So, often epic sweeping novels are heavy on the scenery and it can go on for pages. I love how she explains what’s going on and keeps you interested, then the fully fleshed out and real characters are without parallel. So, she inspires me, but I loved the old Judy Blume books with real problems. I love the Sophie Kinsella’s and Darynda Jones’s who can tell a serious story with humor. I’m in awe of the grace of Peggy Jaeger, JR Ward, Nora Roberts, Brenda Novak, and Beverly Jenkins in their ability to crank out book after book, staying fresh and relevant. So, many inspirations, so little time to tell them all.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
So, I’ve had three books out this year. The first is a short story from the Australia Burns: Vol. 2 anthologies, entitled, “Dancing Through Tears,” about my family’s experience during the Route 91 massacre in Las Vegas. Book two, entitled, the Warrior’s Progeny, is the second book of my award-winning series, Heaven & Earth. My latest book is entitled, Releasing the Catch, is about a woman Alaskan fisherman, a story of fathers and daughters, letting go of the past, self-discovery, and overcoming odds made harder simply for your gender. It’s told in two parts, about two individuals at different times in an extraordinary life, with so much to teach one another.

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Jeny Heckman’s Website

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Featured Interview With Amritangshu Ghosh

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a student of DAV Model School. I am currently studying in class IX. I am raised in Durgapur of West Bengal. I am also currently living in Durgapur. I don’t have any pet.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have realised the fascination with books at the age of 13 and I have started writing at the age of 14.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are Amish Tripathi, Chetan Bhagat, Howard Pyle, J.K. Rowling and Jules Verne.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My recently launched book i.e. “What is the Infinite Power?” is a book based on research and study, which I did for months. It is actually a reference book for those, who loves to know about the real existence of God and Soul.

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Amritangshu Ghosh Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Sean Frazier

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in rural Maryland about an hour outside of DC. I currently live in Northern California, 25 miles outside San Francisco. Pets? of course! The wife and I have four rotten (in the best possible way!) rescue dogs.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
you know, I’ve never considered myself a “book person”. I read sure, but it’s usually thrillers, sci-fi or technological or business non-fiction. but.. I do like to tell stories. This story is based on real events during my teenage years trying to get a music career off the ground. My friends and I have always sat around and told these stories over beers and I thought they were too good not to write down.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author of all time is Stephen King. His writing just does it for me. He is the master of transporting you into his stories with his amazing attention detail. it makes for a vivid reading experience that I tried to replicate in my book. Other authors that I have enjoyed for a variety of reasons. I used to read the Harry Potter series to my kids so they will always have a special place in my heart as my kids have all grown up and become happy thriving adults.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
This book was a joy to write, and as I said, I’m not really a writer. It brought back so many memories of growing up in the 80’s as I just figuring out how to navigate relationships (friends and love interests) and while I was trying to plan my future. I wanted to be a “rock star” in the worst way. I never thought about being anything else but every journey has to start somewhere so this is where the book came it. it was hard juggling being a poor kid, in high school, in a very rural part of the country and try to be David Lee Roth or Bruce Dickinson. but man did we give it a hell of a shot!

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Sean Frazier’s Website

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Featured Interview With Ruth Mitchell

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My career as a travel writer took me to many delightful places. My gigs as a freelancer educated me in the ways of the world. My positions as an editor for At Home in Arkansas and Arkansas Business taught me to manage lots and lots of little fires. As the author of Arkansas Heritage, a state-adopted elementary history text, I learned to be accurate. As a novelist, I am learning my toughest lesson yet, how to engage readers through stories. My novels, White Oak: A Steamy Tale of Betrayal and Seduction, and Beyond: A Tale of Discovery on the other Side of Life are available on all major retail sites.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I vividly remember learning to read. It happened in a matter of minutes. My carpool driver, Ms. Jean, who also owned the small private school that I attended, made me stay in the car and read her The Cat in the Hat. I had the book memorized and all I had to do was make the connection between the words in my head and the words on the page. I’ve been reading and writing nonstop ever since. The first time I was published was in high school. I was committed to being a published writer going forward the minute I saw my words in print.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have read thousands of books, many classics and literary works. I like psychological thrillers, history, memoirs and anything that challenges me as a person. I am such a critic now from all this reading, that what I like has to be clever, surprising, and extremely well-written.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In the acknowledgements of my book. I thank my characters. This is a little unusual, but it is how I feel. My stories just seem to write themselves once I get a solid foundation for the story. I love reading about eccentric, gifted characters so that’s what I create when I am the storyteller.

The book, Beyond: A Tale of Discovery on the other Side of Life, is a lot of fun, even if paranormal romance is not your thing. The story begins with Laura a successful fantasy writer who needs to get sober. She lives in a haunted hotel in San Francisco with her beautiful white German Shepherd who can see the ghosts.

When Sean Wilson appears in her life, everything changes. Through the use of Artificial Intelligence Sean and his crew revolutionize how ghostly apparitions are perceived. This leads to discovering who Laura’s mysterious grandfather was and sparks an unlikely romance. Will Laura and Sean live happily ever after?

As Laura sobers up her life changes for the better. She finishes the book she has been struggling with, captures Sean’s heart which ultimately leads to a wedding in a Scottish castle, and has a faceoff with an Etheric Revenant. Once the family ghosts have been identified, the ratings for Sean’s reality ghost show skyrocket and Cloud becomes famous, creating its own challenges.

Ghosts aside, readers are in for a rollercoaster ride as they suspend their belief and get to know Cloud and his unique perspective as well as Laura’s eccentric grandmother who once was a celebrated Madam, serving the elite gentlemen of San Francisco.

If you are one to “think outside the box” and want an exhilarating read, with mind-expanding ideas presented in a skillfully written and entertaining fashion, then this book is for you.

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Featured Interview With Shashank Mutneja

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Uttarakhand, India in 1995 and completed my graduation in 2018 and currently I am an UAV Engineer & Trainer at Drone Application & Research Centre (DARC), Dehradun. Along with a Trainer, I am an Entrepreneur and doing two businesses together.
I used to help my father in his business. From childhood, I am involved in spiritual activities and goes to Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) with my parents. I am also a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Besides that, I am fond of reading, writing, podcasting, and traveling. I do not like to read books during my college days but after my graduation, I joined a drone-based startup and I realized that books are the best friends and reading changed my mindset.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Actually, writing is my habit. I write a lot. Whatever comes to my mind, I write it. Whenever I hear something important for me, I try to note it down. I don’t find pen & paper instead I write in my phone notes. I do not remember things for long-time so I prefer writing them. While pursuing my graduation, I was attending a lecture and my professor said a statement, “Today you are reading others books, become such a personality that people read your book”. This set-up my mind to write a book someday and after 2 years of completing my graduation, I am able to complete my first book.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
The first book which influenced me is “Hind Swaraj” by Mahatma Gandhi. I have read lots of books written by Gandhiji and I got inspired from his life. The other author who inspired me is A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Jeff Keller, Bill Gates, Angela Duckworth, Devdutt Patnaik, Danah Johar, Stephen Covey and many more. There are many books and authors that will make you love reading. In my book, I have mentioned books & authors that seem best to me and what teachings we can learn from them so that it is easy for the reader to understand more things in less time.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
This book describes the lessons on how to live a balanced life in this 21st Century. Whether it is Covid-19 or anything else, it boils down to having a balance. When balance gets upset then reactions start taking place. We all want success but the secret of success of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg and many such great personalities is not limited to becoming rich. Money-Mindedness is the biggest obstruction in life. Mentally-intellectual culture is also important and to achieve it we need big thinking. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became Missile Man of India from his big thinking. Big thinking doesn’t mean to have a higher IQ. We think that successful people have higher IQ but we are absolutely wrong. So, how to find the right way? How to balance your personal & professional relationships? This book will help you to make right decisions. We don’t need to wait for another Covid to teach us positivity. We need to realize and change today for a better tomorrow.

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Shashank Mutneja Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With T.J. Champitto

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Well, I was born in Troy, New York and spent most of my childhood in Atlanta, Georgia. I currently live in Greenville, South Carolina, with my wife, Tisha. We have two dogs; an American bulldog named Maggie and a boxer named Roxy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been fascinated by books for as long as I can remember, and I’ve since had a lot of travel articles published around the globe. But it wasn’t until I was about thirty-five when I began writing my first full-length manuscript.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Olen Steinhauer, David Baldacci and Tom Clancy, and of course some of the greats like George Orwell and John Steinbeck. My favorite genre is espionage and suspense thrillers, but I also get into my fair share of non-fiction. I’d have to say my writing is mostly inspired by authors like James Michener and Dan Brown.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut novel, ‘The Medina Device’, published this past August and it’s been a pretty wild ride. The story follows a former Navy SEAL, Cameron Lyle, who has formed this band of thieves to steal from corrupt corporations. A secret society enters the fold and basically blackmails them into stealing a well-protected piece of ancient technology from the U.S. government and everything imaginable goes wrong for Cameron and his pals. It’s an international thrill-ride that loosely folds fringe science into a series of action scenes, suspense and mystery. ‘The Medina Device’ was recently awarded the 2020 PenCraft Award for literary excellence, as well as the 2020 Maxy Award for Best Thriller. It’s a really fun story with a lot of great characters, and I can’t wait for you to meet them.

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T.J. Champitto’s Website

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Featured Interview With David Bush

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Maltese Islands where I spent my childhood. I then settled in the UK where I became a doctor and specialized in Haematology. A few years ago, I returned to my first home where I still practice hospital medicine. I was the co-founder of a support group for patients with blood cancers. Since I gave up my private practice, I have more time to spend with my two great-nephews Jack and Luke. Their joie de vivre has given me the impetus to attempt novel writing. Writing a novel has been one of my many lifelong ambitions.

In my earlier days, we had two cats who both died of old age. We had become very attached to them, and after they died, we all resolved not to have any more cats. We didn’t want to re-live the trauma of seeing them slowly deteriorate physically and mentally in their last years.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As an early reader, I had read practically all Enid Blyton’s books. But in my early teens, I was an enthusiastic subscriber of the magazines Look and Learn, World of Wonder and Tell Me Why. It was through these magazines, that I developed a penchant for historical adventure novels, like the Scarlet Pimpernal, H. Rider Haggard’s tales, Hornblower and many other such stories. That’s when my lifelong love of literature really blossomed.
Unusually, I recently had two free weekends, when I had the house to myself, as everyone else was abroad. During each weekend, I wrote the first draft of two novels which were intended to be part of a trilogy dedicated to my great-nephew Jack.General jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms is the second book of the trilogy.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like AJ. Cronin and Somerset Maugham (both of whom had a medical background) who both write in the style of Guy de Maupassant. For family sagas, I like Taylor Cauldwell. I like the gritty naturalism of Emile Zola and Sigrid Undset, both Nobel Prize Laureates.
My favorite genres are historical novels, and generational family sagas, especially if they have a Christian theme.
The books that have most influenced me are Animal Farm for its humourous political satire, CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien for their allegorical imaginative world building, and Francois Mauriac who is the best author for narrating internal conflict within a protagonist. The latter author influenced Graham Greene who is another of my favourites.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
It’s an anthropomorphic fantasy adventure along the lines of the Chronicles of Narnia. It’s intended for the young adult reader but it should appeal to all adults. It transcends various genres, like YA fiction, Christian fiction, fantasy, action & adventure, allegory, myths &legends. It’s not a particularly long book, about 200 pages. I intended it to be an entertaining, inspiring and educational book. I have also included some back matter to encourage further reading for any reader who may be inter

Featured Interview With Doug Shidell

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Writing is a full contact sport for me. It leaves me dazed and bewildered. I’ve left the house wide open, driven off without my wallet (and driver’s license), and arrived at a destination without knowing how I got there after an intense session of writing. My antidote is the outdoors. I love bicycling, kayaking, hiking and cross country skiing.
The two interests feed into each other. I may take a three week self contained bicycle tour, in which I ride all day then curl up in my tent after dark to write an extensive post about the day’s experience. Before retirement, I would ride my bike to my day job and later spend a lunch hour speaking about bicycle commuting to employees of a Fortune 500 company. I’ve written for nine hours non-stop and made up for it with a long bike ride the next day.
I need both activities in my life. They balance each other. A lifetime totally dedicated to intellectual pursuits would leave me sluggish and unhealthy while a life built solely around exercise and the outdoors would dull bore me to death.
Beyond that, I’m pretty boring.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
At age nineteen I wanted to write a book. I’m not sure why, but I was sure that no one would want to read a book by a nineteen year old, so I needed a hook. I had been bicycling as an adult for a year and in the enthusiasm of youth figured I was something of an expert, so I set out to write a bicycle touring guide. I used the maps and tour descriptions to sell the book, but added touring stories to satisfy my creative needs.

Sometimes the brashness of youth pays off, if the payoff you’re looking for is freedom, exploration and creativity, not income. That book, co-authored with Phil Van Valkenberg, lead to hundreds of low paying freelance opportunities, five more bicycle touring guides, dozens of bicycle maps and a career in the world of bicycling. The career paid the bills. Income from the books, maps and freelance opportunities fed my cycling habit and eventually allowed me to ratchet back my “career” to three days per week.

Those three days were spent in a cubicle. It was a good job, but I lived for the other four days when I could write, create maps, give talks and explore endlessly. My world expanded from the cubicle to the metro area of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, then further afield across the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin and a bicycle tour that eventually crossed the breadth of the United States.

Wherever I went, and whatever I did, I felt compelled to write about it: opinion pieces, touring stories, interviews and observations. Some of the pieces elicited kudos, others derision, many a mix of both.

I never developed the tough skin of a hardened journalist. I winced and groaned when the response was negative and my stomach churned when I submitted a piece likely to generate backlash. The best protection was to reread the story multiple times before submitting it. Did it convey my real thoughts? Was it clearly written? Did I use the right words? If I could honestly say “yes,” then there was nothing more to do. I submitted the piece and waited for publication.

Like so many journalists, I felt that I had at least one novel in me. And like so many journalists, I had a wealth of experience to draw from. I’d interviewed folks from many walks of life, observed with a focused eye and a developing story line, lived an itinerant life for too many years and worked at the craft of writing.

I could tell a story, but could I write a novel? The biggest challenge, and the most enjoyable revelation, was that a novelist can lie. As a journalist, I worked hard to get an accurate story down on paper. As a novelist, I had to work hard to break those bonds of accuracy. Sure, I had to keep the story, down to minute details, believable, but beyond that I could lie, cheat, fib, fabricate, revise, prevaricate. Call it what you wish.

Sometimes those fabrications revealed a truth that ran so deep it shook me to the core. I’d stop, take a few deep breaths, wipe my eyes and walk away to regain my composure. I don’t expect the same impact on readers, because the act of writing can mine a deep vein that reading can only acknowledge.

Whether fiction or journalism, the same criteria applies to a story. Did it convey my real thoughts? Was it clearly written? Did I use the right words? I checked those boxes with “On His Own Terms” and published the story.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I enjoy reading biographies and Ron Chernow, author of Alexander Hamilton, is my favorite biographer. I also love reading good, long form journalism in which a writer goes into depth about a subject. Almost any subject can be interesting if researched and written well.

Recently I’ve read three novels by Paulette Jiles and a couple of books by John Steinbeck. I seem to float around among genres, but don’t spend time in pulp fiction, thrillers or mysteries.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“On His Own Terms” has been bouncing around in my head for at least 30 years. At first I thought it would be a big picture look at bicycling and how it can lead down so many different paths. Not just riding, but the history of bicycling, its impact on society, especially during the Victorian era, the characters who populate that history, insights about politics, international relationships, that sort of thing. That idea died an ignoble death and the world is better for it.
Then it segued into an autobiography, a short lived fantasy, no one was hurt.
In the end the characters took over. They made it clear they knew who they were and how they would handle any situation, if I would just get out of the way. I threw situations at them and they handled them on their own terms, but a sharp eyed editor wasn’t impressed. With the MS Word equivalent of a red sharpie plus pithy comments and a summary letter, he suggested that I throw out the last third of the book and rewrite the first two thirds. The rest was OK. Three more readers who believed in tough love made additional demands.
The book finally made it to print, only to be panned by a couple of friends who were also schooled in the value of tough love. No option but to pull the book down and rework it.
I’d like to say that the novel is ready for the big tent now, but I’ve learned that verdict isn’t mine to make. Readers will decide, and I’ll have to handle the situation on my own terms.

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Doug Shidell’s Website

Doug Shidell Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Mike Sherer

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Mason, Ohio, which is within the Greater Cincinnati Metro Area in the southwest corner of Ohio. I have settled in West Chester, Ohio, about 10 miles distant. I enjoy traveling across the US, and have detailed camping trips across the country on my travel blog American Locations: https://mikesherer.org. I especially enjoy long hikes in the wilderness while on these trips. I have published 3 novels, 4 novellas, and 20 short stories, plus 1 screenplay that was produced into a movie. It was released direct to DVD & now is available on Amazon Prime.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
The first books I read in my pre-teen years were science fiction. That’s all my older brother ever read, so they were laying around. I have since broadened my range to all kinds of fiction, especially horror, fantasy, and suspense, and nonfiction, especially history and science. I began writing song lyrics in my teen years. I progressed to short stories, screenplays, and finally novels.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Thomas Pynchon, Robert M. Persig, John Updike, Neal Stephenson, Robert Jordan, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Ray Bradbury, Philip Roth, Bernard Cornwell, Elmore Leonard – to name a few.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In my paranormal suspense novel ‘Souls of Nod’, published by Breaking Rules Publishing, five members of a soul family gather to carry on a conflict that has been repeated since the dawn of time. One of them will murder another member of the group, and there is seemingly nothing any of them can do to stop it from happening. It is app. 67,000 words. In 2010, Hester has recently married Paul and moved into the house he previously shared with his former wife Flo, located in a suburban Ohio neighborhood decimated by the real estate crash. Many of the houses stand empty, and Hester has encountered ghosts in some of them. Paul scoffs, but neighbor Chanti and husband Clay have seen them, too. Hester learns from them and others about violent deaths that have happened on this land that had once been a prosperous farm, killings involving people who seem strangely familiar. Chanti tracks down Millie, an old woman who appears to know what is going on. Millie tells her about a soul family of the five ancient elements: fire, air, water, earth, and the void. In each incarnation each member of the soul family can be either man or woman, husband or wife, brother or sister, father or daughter, mother or son, or totally unrelated, or any combination of these. No matter how they are incarnated, each generation the five souls are drawn together to carry out the violence they seem destined to commit. In this latest incarnation the gathering is complete when Paul’s ex-wife Flo returns. Will they continue the age-old cycle of violence they seem doomed to commit? Or will this time be different, allowing the soul family to advance on its path to Nirvana?

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Mike Sherer’s Website

Mike Sherer Facebook Page

Mike Sherer Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Mike Sherer

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Mason, Ohio, which is within the Greater Cincinnati Metro Area in the southwest corner of Ohio. I have settled in West Chester, Ohio, about 10 miles distant. I enjoy traveling across the US, and have detailed camping trips across the country on my travel blog American Locations: https://mikesherer.org. I especially enjoy long hikes in the wilderness while on these trips. I have published 3 novels, 4 novellas, and 20 short stories, plus 1 screenplay that was produced into a movie. It was released direct to DVD & now is available on Amazon Prime.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
The first books I read in my pre-teen years were science fiction. That’s all my older brother ever read, so they were laying around. I have since broadened my range to all kinds of fiction, especially horror, fantasy, and suspense, and nonfiction, especially history and science. I began writing song lyrics in my teen years. I progressed to short stories, screenplays, and finally novels.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Thomas Pynchon, Robert M. Persig, John Updike, Neal Stephenson, Robert Jordan, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Ray Bradbury, Philip Roth, Bernard Cornwell, Elmore Leonard – to name a few.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In my paranormal suspense novel ‘Souls of Nod’, published by Breaking Rules Publishing, five members of a soul family gather to carry on a conflict that has been repeated since the dawn of time. One of them will murder another member of the group, and there is seemingly nothing any of them can do to stop it from happening. It is app. 67,000 words. In 2010, Hester has recently married Paul and moved into the house he previously shared with his former wife Flo, located in a suburban Ohio neighborhood decimated by the real estate crash. Many of the houses stand empty, and Hester has encountered ghosts in some of them. Paul scoffs, but neighbor Chanti and husband Clay have seen them, too. Hester learns from them and others about violent deaths that have happened on this land that had once been a prosperous farm, killings involving people who seem strangely familiar. Chanti tracks down Millie, an old woman who appears to know what is going on. Millie tells her about a soul family of the five ancient elements: fire, air, water, earth, and the void. In each incarnation each member of the soul family can be either man or woman, husband or wife, brother or sister, father or daughter, mother or son, or totally unrelated, or any combination of these. No matter how they are incarnated, each generation the five souls are drawn together to carry out the violence they seem destined to commit. In this latest incarnation the gathering is complete when Paul’s ex-wife Flo returns. Will they continue the age-old cycle of violence they seem doomed to commit? Or will this time be different, allowing the soul family to advance on its path to Nirvana?

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Mike Sherer’s Website

Mike Sherer Facebook Page

Mike Sherer Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Lynn Wallace

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in a small town called Boerne, TX and now live in Victoria, TX with my husband and my son. We don’t have any pets – cleaning up after a toddler is enough work!

I actually graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor of science in nursing. I currently work part-time as a registered nurse in surgery. Between working and watching my son, I don’t have as much time to write as I would prefer, but it’s still my passion and one of my absolute favorite things to do! So during naptime and any time I get home from work early you’ll find me on my laptop, typing or editing or doing whatever author stuff needs doing!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember. I actually wrote my first book back in high school! I didn’t publish it, of course ><. That first book and its sequel (written one summer during college) will probably never be published – I don’t think they’re quite the quality to print – but they were good practice! My writing has improved significantly over the years since then, and now I have 2 books on the market that I am proud to have my name attached to :-).

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
(Sigh.) Answering this question may take a while! I’ve enjoyed reading Charlie N. Holmberg, Stephanie Meyer, Marissa Meyer, Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, Lisa Mantchev, Juliet Marillier, Sharon Lathan’s “Pride and Prejudice” sequels… to name just a few ><. I seem to prefer YA fantasy with a dash of romance and the paranormal! I don’t know that there are specific authors that inspire my writings… the intimate first-person perspective of Twilight and Rick Riordan’s books are similar to my style though, and I admit to using vampires in my books because of Twilight! But I would definitely say my faith is one of the many places where I find inspiration for what I write.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In order to talk about the most recent book, I’ll have to start from the beginning! I write what I call “YA paranormal romance with a Christian twist.” My first book, “The Heart of Everything,” took almost ten years from initial idea to publication to create – it’s a YA paranormal romance where an ordinary young woman, Emer, discovers her own magical past and must choose between her two former lovers – a vampire (Alex) and a half-devil (Jesse)– one of whom is convinced she is the key to the salvation of his soul. And my latest book, “The Supernatural Reasons Why I Love You,” is a collection of paranormal romance short stories, with almost half the collection being “origin stories” that go into the background of characters you meet in the first book (mostly it follows Jesse and Alex, but it also sheds light on the “priestess” that Emer is reincarnated from). I actually wrote most of the short stories in this collection before I wrote the novel – I’m weird and I prefer to write my stories in chronological order so that I can keep everything straight XD (even though I published the novel first). So again, it took about a decade for this book to go from scribbled notes to fully published!

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Lynn Wallace’s Website

Lynn Wallace Facebook Page

Lynn Wallace Twitter Account

Featured Interview With M.L.Ruscsak

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Back in my 20’s, I had everything figured out. I had a career path and the schooling to proceed with my future. But life has a funny way of changing even the best-made plan. So, at 28 after a medical emergency, I was left with the choice to do nothing and live off the system or learn what I could and still achieve on my own. I have never been a quitter. True, I may back off and re-think, but I will not give up. Holding on to this core value, I discovered my passion for writing and the excitement of seeing my words come to life. I’m right there at the tip where things are starting to get exciting.
With a major move cross country coming up. Relocating not just my family, but three large dogs and a cat is anything but ideal. But there is no way I would leave any pet behind.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing in 2006. Nothing big just little fan-fictions for fun. It wasn’t until being challenged in 2016 that I sat down and wrote my first book, “The New Reign: Of Lite and Darke”

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m a fan of the Black Jewels. To pick just one book would be impossible. As I am getting ready for the next book of the Black Jewels to come out, I am in the process of re-reading the entire series . So, as you might guess Anne Bishop is one of the authors that inspires me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I currently have two coming out at the same time. The First is “Obsidian Chronicles: Secret of the Sword” This will be the first books in the series, but a spin off of my flagship series “Of lite and Darke.” The Secret of the Sword will follow Prince Magmas who will find himself in a bit of trouble. More than it will be worth.
The second book is the conclusion of the Of Like and Darke Series. This is titled “The Silent Wars.” As with everything, All must come to an end, but worry not as there is so much more of the story to be told. It will just be told through the eyes of another.

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M.L.Ruscsak’s Website

M.L.Ruscsak Facebook Page

M.L.Ruscsak Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Raymond Parish

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a Midwesterner, born in Ohio and raised in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Our dad was in the textile business and we moved around a bit; I went to three different rural high schools. Once I was on my own, I continued my nomadic ways, living in Iowa, Illinois, back to Iowa, and on to Missouri. I finally dug in, settling with my family in metro St. Louis . The intersection of rural and urban life that has been my personal journey was a driving force in the setting for my novel, Overnight Delivery: A Hank Anderson Thriller, published on Amazon in my pen name, Raymond Parish.

Although Hank is his own fictional man, his chosen profession, psychotherapy, is the path that I have followed. Two of my nonfiction books have been published including, Men at Work: An Action Guide to Masculine Healing, and I have self -published two additional self help books including, I’m Sorry, It’s Cancer: A Handbook of Help and Hope for Survivors and Caregivers. Service work has become the family business. My wife directs a nonprofit the serves children and families. One of our daughters works in an agency that assists women in need. My sister is a psychologist. And so, it only made sense that Hank had to be “in the field.”

Pets? I still mourn the loss of our West Highland Terrier of thirteen years. She was our “therapy dog,” shadowing any family member in ill health until they fully recovered. These days I make do with my son’s very laid back puppy and the cats that own both of my daughters.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Books were always around the house. Both of my parents were readers, as is my sister. My dad introduced me to the mystery and thriller genre early in life: the light mysteries of The Hardy Boys, then Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Dashiell Hammett, and Raymond Chandler.

As the new kid in a new town, one of my first moves was to find the local library and acquire my precious library card. I discovered historical fiction and biographies. Dickens, O. Henry, Tolkien,
Twain, Verne. The list was, and is, endless.

My introduction to writing in a conscious way was through a creative writing class in high school. Although interesting, I was still on a quest to become the next Eric Clapton, guitar god, or Dustin Hoffman, actor. Rock stardom and Tony awards were not in the cards, and in my early years as a counseling professional, my writing chops were practiced in reports and assessments. Nothing fancy. Clarity. Economy. Structure.

My entry into the world of published author came as an act of kindness from a friend, who submitted my first nonfiction manuscript to a self help book publishing house. My first editor provided all the motivation I would ever need to forge ahead when she said, “For a social worker, you’re a pretty good writer.” They then published the first of two editions of my book. I reminded myself of this ‘don’t wait until you’re the next Carl Jung before you write’ message to put fingers to keyboard and finish the first of my Hank Anderson series.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My reading is divided into two categories, professional and personal.

If readers read one nonfiction book on personal growth and healing in a lifetime, let it be Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, an integration of his memoir of pain and transformation as a Holocaust survivor, and his theory of psychotherapy and healing. He is one of my heroes. For a bonus, read the memoir of a Frankl compatriot, Edith Eva Eger’s The Choice.

In fiction, my choice of the greatest book of all: To Kill a Mockingbird. I can’t say anything about Harper Lee that has not been said.

My current favorites in the mystery and thriller genre are David Housewright’s McKenzie series, the Laurie R. King Mary Russell books, and John Sandford’s Virgil Flowers series. Housewright and Sandford utilize the Midwest as their setting, which I used as encouragement to set my novel in Des Moines, Iowa. Nothing like a little unspoken mentoring to overcome first novel jitters.

I am influenced by nonfiction books that read like page turning novels: Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies, about the history of cancer; Frank McCourt’s memoir Angela’s Ashes (it was as if I could here the Irish voices in my head…and I have no Irish DNA); Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Harari. Nonfiction or fiction; try to write the truth!

Although I seldom read the horror genre, I was inspired and influenced by Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Blunt. Clear. Simple do’s and don’ts.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Overnight Delivery is a psychological thriller from an insider’s point of view. Hank Anderson is a gifted psychotherapist, devoted father, confused ex-husband, loving son, and dedicated friend to a brilliant and flawed crew of beleaguered colleagues. When the imposing Detective Phil Evans refers Kenny Jensen, delivery man and thief, for counseling, Hank’s curiosity, compassion, and taste for personal risk draw him in to a world of meth and death that lies just beneath his town’s Midwestern calm and conservatism.

One of the joys of writing OD was how characters appeared through several drafts. In my first draft Dennis did not have a husband. The impetus for Preacher’s fanaticism was not apparent until I reached the finale. It came to me only recently that one of the catalysts for the relationship between Hank and Phil was my reading of the Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons autobiographies. My editor, Mary, was instrumental in deepening the strength and clarity of my female characters, along with helping me to find the trajectory of Hank’s journey through the calamity that will change him forever. Belinda’s blend of grace and edginess. Daughter Haley as a mirror for Hank’s humor and inquisitive nature. These qualities all rose to the surface over time.

It was clear to me that the friendship between Phil and Hank would be grounded in contrast, physically and emotionally. Diversity was also a core aspect of my work. I hope readers will connect with the people and the world I’ve imagined. And, will continue to imagine as I work on the second of the Hank Anderson series, tentatively titled, Higher Education.

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Raymond Parish Twitter Account

Featured Interview With F. Scott Service

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Like a lot of folks, I’ve been many things in my life, but one of the most prominent is that I’m a former sergeant with the Army National Guard. I also hold a Bachelor of Science in Professional/Technical Communication and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Nowadays, however; I’m a full-time author, which is really my true love, going way back to childhood when my mind was enchanted by the adventures of Tintin and his pals. I have also had experience with editing, journalism, desktop publishing, and videography.

Being an avid explorer, I’ve spent time in all but two states in America and am always on the lookout for someplace new. Internationally speaking, I never thought Iraq and Kuwait would be my first travel destinations, but they did provide plenty of writing material. In my spare time, I love to cook, read, backpack, and mountain bike.

I’ve just self-published my second memoir, titled Playing Soldier. My first, Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier’s Personal Journey in Iraq, won a Readers’ Favorite Five-Star Award and is a transcription of the handwritten journals I kept during my tour of duty.

I live in New England with my cat, Jerome, who is always purring for another snack.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I fell in love with books and imagination when I was very young while reading Herge’s The Adventures of Tintin and I wrote my first story when I was ten. It wasn’t much, three pages, but when I was finished awkwardly pecking at my mother’s old manual typewriter, I couldn’t have been prouder.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oh, there are so many. But off the top of my head, I would have to say Malcolm Braly, Maya Angelou, William Styron, Flannery O’Connor, and Baron Wormser.

Typically, I read a lot of nonfiction, but really any book I can get my hands on delights me.

Cheryl Strayed has been an inspiration for me. I appreciate the style of her writing, but also her honesty.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
From the back cover of Playing Soldier, my latest memoir:

As an only child isolated within a troubled family, F. Scott Service found solace in fantasy and imagination, until a fateful day led to the discovery of his father’s Korean War field jacket hidden in a closet. What began as innocent emulation and approval, eventually spiraled into the calamitous loss of everything he had built as an adult. Faced with a grievous divorce, post-traumatic stress, homelessness, substance abuse, and the failure of everything he had willed himself to believe was truth, one night communing with a loaded pistol became the mechanism for self-clarity. From that darkest time, only elemental deconstruction and reconstruction of identity would allow him to forge a reclamation with his true, original self.

Visceral, with breathtaking candor, Playing Soldier powerfully captures the unlearning of expectation, the celebration of individuality, and the nourishing of self-acceptance once buried by cultural stamps of approval and societal convention. Braided with humor, courage, fear, despair, and hope, his unflinching, evocative story of passage into adulthood, the Iraq War, and beyond, speaks to anyone who has confronted adversity from without and grappled for their dreams from within.

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F. Scott Service’s Website

F. Scott Service Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Dion Anja

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello, I use Dion as my pen name and I was raised in a small town in Turkey. Luckily, after I enrolled into university, I moved to Istanbul where I enjoyed switching continents in the blink of an eye. I am a literature major and I love reading! I generally read classics but I love discovering modern or underappreciated classic writers too. Also, I love walking in nature, writing, learning languages and new stuff, and playing with cats! I have recently adopted a kitten which I named Monsieur. Yes, I am learning French. I love how different languages open different doors inside our souls, it feels like I discover hidden parts of myself every time. About my writing, it is really a mixture of so many feelings and genres. I self-published a poetry collection this year called “My Dawn Is Only Five Hours Away” but until this book, I have never liked poetry and would never imagine I would be writing them! So I tend to harmonize with my inner flow in my words though they generally have a gloomy side.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I remember very vividly the day I fell in love with books and it coincides with me borrowing a copy of Meyer’s “Twilight” from one of my friends. Though it is looked down on today, I enjoyed it and was almost obsessed with it back then. It was an easy read and as a 13 or 14 year old, I was fascinated with how someone could create such a magical universe with their words!I My writing journey began a couple of years later. There was a Sims forum on the internet and I sort of was writing a story about my Sim characters. It took on and I finished a book on Wattpad, got an offer, declined it and then… Well, I had to deal with “writer’s block” for about 3 years. I am turning back to my roots now, thankfully. And I am full of ideas!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As I mentioned before, I read a lot of classics and I love reading them. My favorites are Dante’s “Inferno”, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein, and Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. I like Patrick Süskind and Kazuo Ishiguro as more contemporary authors. My favorite genres include mystery, romance, and gothic. My muse generally come from my surroundings and my feelings and I find the most minute detail to be fascinating often. In terms of people, women authors really empower me when I feel down as I can identify myself with them.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut book is a poetry collection called “My Dawn Is Only Five Hours Away”. I started working on it back in April or March when I was distracted during my online classes. I could never believe I would be working on poetry but as I wrote I was convinced that what I and we as humanity go through these days can only be captured in raw and intense poetry. I worked on it until the end of October, I guess, and it blossomed into something that I am proud of today. I explored themes of love, death, anger, anxiety, sadness, hope, etc. during this pandemic and I wanted to tell it from a young adult’s point of view as our so called “glorious” days fade away during these lockdowns. I also wanted to experiment with literary movements like romanticism, and genres like manifesto. Therefore, there are narrative poems about fairies, talking cats, and lakes that awaken existential crises too. I am currently working on its paperback edition and I intend to add extra poems because I loved the whole process.

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Dion Anja’s Website

Dion Anja Twitter Account

Featured Interview With James Allocca

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Brooklyn, and now I live in Valley Stream, New York, where I live with my wife and daughter. I have been an Art Director for the last 35 years, designing all sorts of magazines, and having fun doing it!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was fascinated with books at an early age. They took me to places that I had never been and opened my eyes to the world. I even wrote some books as a kid that my audience of two parents really enjoyed! But it wasn’t until later in life that I had a solid idea for a book. Something that I thought readers would enjoy.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love science fiction and science fact books. Always a big fan of Jules Verne, HG Wells, Clive Cussler, Kurt Vonnegut, James P Hogan and others. And I grew up reading comics, which influence me to this day. Science Fiction movies have also influenced me through the years.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is The Descendants Of Krag, which is the sequel to Black Saucer. Black Saucer is a standalone book, but my readers suggested that I write a sequel, and they were right! I think that it’s a solid, fun Sci Fi book that I hope everyone is enjoying.

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James Allocca Facebook Page

Featured Interview With James Allocca

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Brooklyn, and now I live in Valley Stream, New York, where I live with my wife and daughter. I have been an Art Director for the last 35 years, designing all sorts of magazines, and having fun doing it!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was fascinated with books at an early age. They took me to places that I had never been and opened my eyes to the world. I even wrote some books as a kid that my audience of two parents really enjoyed! But it wasn’t until later in life that I had a solid idea for a book. Something that I thought readers would enjoy.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love science fiction and science fact books. Always a big fan of Jules Verne, HG Wells, Clive Cussler, Kurt Vonnegut, James P Hogan and others. And I grew up reading comics, which influence me to this day. Science Fiction movies have also influenced me through the years.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is The Descendants Of Krag, which is the sequel to Black Saucer. Black Saucer is a standalone book, but my readers suggested that I write a sequel, and they were right! I think that it’s a solid, fun Sci Fi book that I hope everyone is enjoying.

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James Allocca Facebook Page