Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With I.M.Nameless

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Pakistan but raised in Toronto, Ontario, where I’ve lived my entire life. I completed my HBSc from the University of Toronto, majoring in Human Biology, and I’m now pursuing my Masters degree. I’m also a certified medical writer, helping medical companies inform and educate their patients.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I think I’ve always loved stories, but the first time I truly felt their magic was in third grade. My teacher asked me to read my short story to the class, and I was so nervous that I begged to go to the bathroom instead. She let me go—but on the condition that she could read it aloud. When I returned, I stood outside the classroom and listened in shock as my classmates laughed at the right moments, gasped at the twists, and even clapped when it ended. That was the moment I realized storytelling could make people feel something.

That feeling never left me. By high school, I was writing poetry and stories regularly, and by my final year, I had drafted my first novel, Sole Silence. I haven’t stopped writing since.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have a deep appreciation for both classic and modern literature. I admire Oscar Wilde for his wit and depth, Robert Frost for his timeless poetry, and Eoin Colfer for crafting brilliant stories without relying on romance as a central theme.

Spiritually, I’m drawn to the works of Rumi and Hasan ibn Thabit—their words have a way of cutting through time and reaching the heart.

When it comes to inspiration, I find it everywhere—from literature and philosophy to the quiet, unspoken moments in life that most people overlook.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My poetry collection, Dear Muslim: Letters from the Heart, is one of my most personal works, and I was honored when it won an award. It’s a collection inspired by faith, resilience, and the human experience. Winning recognition for something so close to my heart was surreal, and it reminded me why I write in the first place—to connect, to heal, and to inspire.

I also published a novel, Sole Silence, which explores themes of trauma, resilience, and finding one’s voice in a world that often demands silence. That book holds a special place in my heart because it resonated deeply with readers, especially those who have faced bullying or struggled to be heard.

Right now, I’m working on my next novel, and I’m beyond excited to bring a fresh perspective to my storytelling. I’m also exploring the idea of turning some of my poetry into short films—because I believe words, visuals, and sound combined can create something truly magical.

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I.M.Nameless’s Website

Featured Interview With Paul Bruno

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Colonie, New York just outside Albany. I went to college at Binghamton University, and The University at Albany, both in New York. I began my career in information technology working for the town I grew up in. In my mid-30s I moved to Henderson, NV outside of Las Vegas continuing my career in information technology. My late wife and I had many cats, and I currently have two.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with books began in elementary school. I was drawn to history books and constantly checked out the Civil War Golden Book. I did it 36 weeks in a row when you were only allowed 3 weeks (one could get away with this in the age before computers, LOL!) To say the least, when she figured it out, the librarian was not happy but that experience cemented my love for books and history.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
The authors of the Bible and the Bible itself are my favorite “genre”. After that, I enjoy history both non-fiction and fiction. I love Clive Cussler and his fiction series, blending history with current events. Since all my writing is historical, I am inspired by the people I write about. Be it those who created the Jeep; Charles Young, son of former slaves, who overcame incredible racism to become the first African-American to reach the rank of Colonel in the United States Army in the early 20th century; or Alexander Journine who in 1979 at the age of 26 risked everything to escape the Soviet Union by hiking across the rugged and desolate terrain of Northern Finland.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is the Expanded Edition of The Original Jeeps (TOJ) which tells the entire story of the creation and development of the Jeep to January 1942. TOJ brings to life the amazing individuals from the American Bantam Car Company, Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., Ford Motor Company, and the United States Army, and tells in historically authentic detail the Jeep’s creation and development from information researched at the United States National Archives. It took me over 13 years to complete TOJ which I believe stands as the Magnum Opus of works detailing the origins of the Jeep. The book includes dozens of outstanding photos. Any fan of automobiles, history, or World War II should find it entertaining and interesting. As one Amazon reviewer stated, “No better account of the creation of the Jeep has been written!”
The book and all my works are available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Original-Jeeps-Paul-R-Bruno/dp/B0DKBZ5YKM

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Paul Bruno’s Website

Paul Bruno Facebook Page

Featured Interview With E. C. Hibbs

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Emma, and I write all kinds of fantasy under the name E. C. Hibbs. My debut novel was published in 2012, and since then, I’ve released an additional 12 novels, plus some anthologies and short story collections. I’m also a calligrapher and traditional storyteller, and I frequently give talks on the historical origins of fairy tales at events around north England and Wales. I’m from Cheshire, and I’ve lived in this area all my life, except for a period when I was based in the Finnish Arctic. Now I’m back in England, and am kept company by my very vocal cat, Millie-Moo.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always been an avid bookworm, and have read for as long as I can remember. As a child, I devoured whatever books I could get my hands on: everything from Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket to William Golding and Charles Dickens. I really related to Matilda when I was growing up, partly because I was bullied a lot, but also because she read so veraciously.

I wrote my first story when I was five years old. One of my fondest memories is my mum stitching a spine into it, so it looked like a real book. My first novel followed when I was twelve, and even though it sucked, it lit a fire within me. I knew then that writing was something I would never stop doing, and I dreamed of being an author one day. Luckily, I was encouraged by my parents and several fantastic teachers, and a few years ago, I was able to go back to my old school and personally thank them.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Reading Dickens as a child really impacted me, and I developed a love for classics which has never faded. My favourites under that umbrella are the Brontes, Mary Shelley, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle. My other favourite genre is fantasy, in practically all its forms. I adore the work of Tolkien, Michelle Paver, Marcus Sedgwick, Garth Nix, Bridget Collins, Susanna Clarke and Philip Pullman. I also tend to read a lot of nonfiction, especially historic and folkloric stuff, and anything to do with the Arctic – it feels like going home!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest paper baby is The Road Through Night, to be released on Sunday 2nd March. It’s Book Two of the Nightland Quartet: a series which features almost 30 retold fairy tales, laced with elements of Gothic classics, and set in an alternative 1830s, when Queen Victoria has just come to the throne. It follows a young woman called Beatrice, who is neurodivergent and mute, and her drawings feature throughout the books as illustrations.

The series grew very organically out of research I was doing into Grimm fairy tales. I work in the heritage sector, so I was able to use my knowledge of the 19th century for the world building. Creating Beatrice was a wonderful experience, because I used my own autism to inform her perception of the world: the first time I had purposefully done that.

The entire quartet is now written, and the first drafts collectively took about two years. Combined with all the research, planning and editing, that number rises to five years. I can’t wait to bring out the final two books, but for now, I’m very excited for The Road Through Night, and I hope people will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

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E. C. Hibbs’s Website

E. C. Hibbs Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Jai Prakash Acharya

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am Jai Prakash Acharya from New Delhi, India, and a graduate of English Literature from University of Delhi, I find deep fulfilment in exploring the complexities of the human condition through the power of words. A dedicated reader and writer, I am passionate about using my writing to connect with others and share insights on the world around us. I currently contribute to various news outlets and magazines.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I began writing in high school, but it was during my time at the University of Delhi that I truly discovered the power of words to express myself. I realised that actions alone often fall short in conveying complex thoughts and emotions. I find great satisfaction in employing the power of words to describe human conditions and their environments, striving to accurately portray the intended image to the reader.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Literature, particularly Indian literature, has profoundly shaped my perspective. From Premchand and Aravind Adiga to Chetan Bhagat, Grant Cardone, the Bhagavad Gita, and the works of APJ Abdul Kalam, these influential voices have significantly impacted my life.
I am passionate about reading, both fiction and non-fiction. I am a keen observer of my surroundings and enjoy writing about them, particularly focusing on human conditions.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My recent publication, ‘The Weathering Tree: Finding Hope in Hardship,’ is a short story about Ankush, an ambitious young man in Delhi, who faces a sudden upheaval when his father mysteriously disappears. Each encounter in the story reveals new layers of meaning unique to the reader.

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Jai Prakash Acharya’s Website

Featured Interview With Alia Luria

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Tampa, FL. I have been back in Tampa the last few years after spending the majority of the last 30 years living in Orlando, FL. I’m an attorney and former software engineer, so I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years. I’ve also traveled extensively and lived abroad. My boyfriend and I together have two dogs and a cat.

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. My mother always let me read anything on our shelves at home, so went from reading The Phantom Tollbooth to Stephen King (IT) and Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs) by the time I was eleven years old. I read everything I could get my hands on and started writing short stories in middle school. I started my first novel at fifteen but never finished that particular story, only getting about 50 pages in.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, police procedurals, memoirs, and more. I read broadly, because I believe that it’s important to read a lot of different authors from different cultures to appreciate the universe of books out there. My favorite authors include Ursula K. LeGuin, Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, Andy Weir, Haruki Murakami, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, David Sedaris, Arthur Conan Doyle, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kelly Barnhill and so many others! All of these authors inspire me in different ways.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My new book is memoir essay collection titled Geri o Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin. During law school, I spent the spring semester of 2008 living in Tokyo, Japan and attending Temple University Japan. This collection chronicles some of those adventures as well as a collection of haiku poetry and watercolor paintings from photographs I took while I was abroad. Even though this book takes place in 2008, I didn’t really start writing essays for it until 2020. A number of the haiku were written in 2017, since I like to use haiku as a form of journaling (similar to Jack Kerouac I guess, although I didn’t find that out until later). I always knew I wanted to write a book about my time in Japan, but during the pandemic, when we were all trapped at home, I began to think more seriously about what that collection would look like. David Sedaris definitely influenced me with his collection “When You Are Engulfed in Flames” which was his book about moving to Japan for three months to quit smoking, but my stories are very different. The title story Geri o Shimasu was written in 2020 and used to unsuccessfully query some small presses. I had a few stories written as of 2023, and I am extremely grateful that Unsolicited Press gave me a contract with three stories, some haiku, and some paintings.

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Alia Luria’s Website

Alia Luria Facebook Page

Alia Luria Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rachael Wright

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am from western Colorado raised on a ranch with a ton of animals and currently don’t have any pets because I exhausted myself early on! I do have two kids though!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with books began as soon as I could read but when I was 13 I was introduced to Lord of the Rings by my father, who is a massive nerd, and I fell head over heels in love. I began writing not long after I finished the whole series because the words and stories just would stay in. It’s that way to this day … I can’t seem to stop.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite author is JRR Tolkien. I doubt I’ll ever be able to get bored of him. I also read Sherlock Holmes regularly as if I’m meeting an old friend for drinks. But I also adore England Regency period novels including Jane Austen, the Bröntes, Thomas Hardy. I think I wanted to escape from modernity and phones and explore a different world.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book, The Twins of Strathnaver, will be published by Green Avenue Books in September 2025. It’s an Outlander meets Ghost Whisperer novel set in late August 1997. What you wouldn’t guess is the sheer amount of research I undertook in order to get the historical events, from 1746, that I reference in the book all straight and correct. I spoke to the French National Military Archives, Dunrobin Castle in Scotland, the English National Archives, Blair Castle Archives, the list goes on. Here’s the blurb:

The Mackay Rules: Never Tell and Never Leave.

The Witching Mackays have endured centuries of suffering and ostracism all because of their powers and the ghosts they can see. As August 1997 draws to a close, and Hugh and Margaret Mackay enjoy a more peaceful life than their ancestors, a mysterious Londoner arrives in desperate pursuit of fame and long-lost Jacobite gold.

Louis Talbot is much more than a treasure hunter wielding a metal detector. Armed with a strange book and its tantalizing account of a family who can speak to ghosts; Louis sets his sights on the vulnerable, lonely Margaret Mackay.

As sides are chosen, Hugh and Margaret are forced to confront the reality that the gold isn’t all the ghosts are protecting and that the consequence of their failure will be nothing less than the destruction and death of everything they’ve ever known.

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Rachael Wright’s Website

Featured Interview With Joan De La Haye

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Joan De La Haye, a caffeine-fuelled South African author of dark and twisted fiction. I write thrillers, horror and dark fantasy. I live in South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria, where most of my books are set with my two cats – Midnight and Mogwai.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I come from a family of readers. When I was about five or maybe even younger, my older sister decided she needed to teach me how to read. The usual books for teaching kids to read were way too boring for her, so she decided I would learn by reading The Famous Five and the Nancy Drew books. I’ve loved reading ever since.

As to when I started writing, well … when I was about eight years old, I was sitting in my mother’s office during the school holidays, and she had this lovely fairy poster on her wall. I was bored and probably driving her insane; I found myself staring at this poster and wondering about what the fairies’ lives were like, what their world was like, and the next thing I knew, I was thumping out a story called The Wonderful World of Candyfloss on her typewriter. I still have that story and the rejection letter from the publisher I sent it to. Yes, I was eight when I submitted my first story to a publisher and got my first rejection.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are probably Karin Slaughter, Ann Rice, Jeffery Deaver, Stephen King, Alexandre Dumas, Jane Austen, George R. R. Martin, Dennis Wheatly, and Kathy Reichs, to name a few. You can probably gather from that list that I have pretty eclectic tastes. But I probably read a lot more thrillers than anything else.

I wouldn’t say that just one person inspires me. I am inspired by almost every author whose work I’ve read. To some extent, they all influenced me and taught me something new about writing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest stand-alone thriller is The Fluttering Cage. I got the idea for the story while I was walking along the road, heading home, one sunny afternoon when a car revved its engine at me, completely freaking me out. I had one of those aha moments that most writers know pretty well. The next thing I knew, I was at home, in front of my laptop, and the words were flowing onto the blank page.

Here’s the book description:
He Thought I Was Weak— He Thinks He Knows What’s Coming.

I didn’t think my life could get worse. No job. No money. No future. Then, a car pulled up beside me, and I ignored every instinct, doing the one thing you’re never supposed to do.

I got in the car.

What happened next shattered everything I thought I knew—about people, survival, and myself. He took me—body, mind, and soul—and tried to cage me.

But he didn’t break me.

I’m still here. And I’ve found allies in the unlikeliest of places. Together, we’re not just fighting to survive—we’re fighting back. He has no idea what we’re capable of.

He’s about to learn how wrong he was.

For fans of Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gardner, this is your next obsession

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Joan De La Haye’s Website

Joan De La Haye Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Ms. Angel Clancy

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I like to read and write poems, children’s books, and cookbooks. Im from Lakeland, Florida. I don’t have pets.I

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing in 2022.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like reading Barbara Park Junie B. Jones and I like read poems and children books. Barbara Park inspire me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
It is going to be great time of the year and mother and daughter is enjoying seeing the snow fall down. The little girl is excited to hear Santa sleigh and Carolers singing. She smell cocoa and gingerbread cookies. She like to see Christmas lights and trees everywhere. She goes to the mall and tell Santa her wish.

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Ms. Angel Clancy Facebook Page

Ms. Angel Clancy Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Christina Callahan

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi, I’m Christina Callahan—though you can call me Christy! I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and now I live in Southern Maryland. I don’t have any pets at the moment, but I grew up with guinea pigs, and I’m planning to surprise my husband with one very soon! Maybe I will write a story about his reaction!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was never really into long novels—more of an internet blog reader myself. When I was six, I told my mom I wanted to change the world and write stories. My English teachers, though, made me feel like a terrible writer, which crushed my dreams for a while. But after writing a few books, my readers have told me otherwise. Apparently, I’ve got a gift! It’s better to discover than now than when I’m long gone. I’ve got a quirky sense of humor that definitely comes through in my writing, keeping things exciting and fun.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Myself and The Bible. I’m open to learning about more authors, though.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
This is an inspirational memoir straight from the heart, based on my real-life journey. It’s a passionate, hopeful story filled with faith, love, and some downright miraculous moments through life’s ups and downs. It’s bound to resonate with so many people.

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Christina Callahan’s Website

Christina Callahan Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Fia Sylvan

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up all over the East Coast of the US, we moved constantly, so I’ve lived in a lot of places. I currently live in Oregon with my husband, two dogs and a cat.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was reading from a very early age and it quickly grew to be a passion and an escape. I started writing in middle school, journals and poetry for classes and realized how much I enjoyed it.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read widely, nonfiction (memoirs and history mostly), fantasy, fiction and some science-fiction. My favorite authors are Diana Gabaldon, Jean Auel, George R R Martin, and Sara Donati.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
A deeply honest look at a true American family. Poor, dysfunctional, blended, biracial, and mentally ill. This story is different from other memoirs in this genre in that I did not go on to be highly successful, famous, or even educated. A story at times ugly, raw, emotional and messy, in the truths I share, and the wild extremes to which my family swung. It is also quirky, imaginative, and unusual, taking readers from the dark depths of my childhood experiences to the unique and exciting adventures of my young adulthood. A transition made possible by the chaos from whence I came.

From the cold and lonely streets of Buffalo, New York, to the wilderness of Montana and Alaska. Training Iditarod sled dogs, living among Latino immigrants, working construction in Texas summer, wildfire fighting in Idaho, and working my way across Scotland.

My life has been anything but predictable, even less what people expect from surface appearances. My experience is that most people exist in shades of grey-not a black-and-white system of absolutes where right and wrong, love and hate, are simple, uncomplicated, and self-evident. A middle-class, educated woman is not automatically a good mother. Biracial relationships are not always free of racial conflict and deep-seated bias, and all mothers are not necessarily fit to raise children. Parental mental illness leaves a lasting legacy on isolated children, and the systems intended to protect vulnerable populations fail, time and again.

A story for anyone who appreciates journeys about personal transformation and the triumph of the human spirit, that stubborn, unexplainable spark that refuses to be quenched.

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Fia Sylvan’s Website

Fia Sylvan Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Matthew E. Johnson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in Church Hill, Tn. It’s a small town right at the roots of the Appalachian mountains. Around here, the arts of music and literature are not well respected as this is mining and farm land. However, I am now the Choir Director of the local High School where I once attended. Now, I teach young minds the wonders of music and literature.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always been a super imaginative kid. The first time I tried to write a “book” was in second grade. It was supposed to be a thriller about scientists trying to defeat the Kraken. However, my passion was not fully realized till high school when I got into DND and started making worlds and lore and characters. So, the books I write are all based on the DnD campaigns I have and/or am currently running.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m a fantasy or classical lit guy. My favorite series ever is, of course, the Lord of the Rings. However, I love books like Dune, Area X trilogy, ASOIAF (we’ll never see it finished), the Wheel of Time, anything epic and dark fantasy. I try to write like GRRM and Jordan combined.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My most recent book, “Inquisition of the Damned” was released in Nov. of 2023. It’s the second book in my “Atheneum Cycle” which will span a total of 14-16 novels. The cycle is broken up into 3 separate sagas that occur in the same universe.

Inquisition of the Damned follows “The Guardians” who have just barely escaped death when the capital city if Valistar was destroyed. Now, as a shadow grows in the sky to herald the coming tides of doom, the Guardians must find out a way to reduce their kidnapped friend and prevent the fall of their world into the Void.

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Matthew E. Johnson Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Jenny Clift

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am British but my twin sister and I were born in France, as my parents were diplomats. We then lived in Malaysia, China, Canada, Northern Ireland and England. …
While I was at boarding school in England I started to play the violin.
I now live in Madrid, Spain, with my Spanish husband and three daughters, and our two cats, Muffin and Pepper.
I am a professional freelance violinist and an EFT – Emotional Freedom Techniques – Tapping coach.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always been a voracious reader…first of novels and fiction, and more recently of non-fiction, especially personal development books.
As a somewhat frustrated performer, facing fears and insecurites, I was very drawn to books such as Susan Jeffer’s ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ and Timothy Gallwey and Barry Green’s ‘The Inner Game of Music’.
As I progressed I read a lot of books about the Law of Attraction and then discovered the energy healing modality, EFT. That lead to working with a Life Coach, EFT expert Brad Yates, and making a LOT of changes in a relatively short space of time…. moving from mainly teaching to performing.
I then trained as an EFT practitioner myself – and felt inspired to share what I have learnt, first in my more autographical book, The Music Inside, and now in THRIVING ARTIST.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
When I was a child my favourite book was Enid Blyton’s ‘The Faraway Tree’!!
Then a mixture – classics (all of Jane Austen, Trollope etc) and novels by Lynne Reid Banks, Rosie Thomas, John Irving, Jeffrey Archer…anything with a great story and great characters.
I love authors like Michael Crichton (I read his ‘Travels’ 3 times!) and Bill Bryson. Starting on my personal development journey I read all of Scott Peck’s ‘The Road Less Travelled’ series as well as Alan Cohen’s books.
My writing is inspired by so many authors, coaches and thought leaders. I LOVE googling ‘inspirational quotes’ by Einstein, Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin and Churchill to name just a few.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Since publishing my first book The Music Inside, back in 2016, I’ve been working as both a violinist and an EFT Tapping coach.
For the last couple of years it’s been on my mind to share what I’ve learnt about this amazing modality, Emotional Freedom Techniques, and specifically how it can help musicians, performers and creatives with the different challenges that come up.
I started writing it via blogs on my website and then got serious about pulling it into book format a few months ago.
The actual writing was pretty easy, but turning the draft into a real book, with beautiful book cover (IMHO!!), edited content, formating, and finally all the marketing and promoting required to self-publish a book, well that’s the hard part!
But the whole experience has been amazing.

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Jenny Clift’s Website

Jenny Clift Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Olivia Gold

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live in hot and sticky Florida with my husband, three kids, two dogs, two sheep, two cats, twenty chickens, and a miniature zebu. When I’m not writing or dodging animal doo-doo, I’m teaching almost a hundred rambunctious seventh graders. Occasionally, I read my writing to them so they can give me advice. They never let me down with their feedback!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been stapling together pieces of paper and calling them “books” for as long as I can remember. When I was seven years old, I sent my first manuscript to a publisher. It wasn’t accepted, of course, but they sent me the cutest rejection letter imaginable, and I kept writing books in notebooks, on scraps of paper, and eventually on the family computer.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am a die-hard Gordon Korman fan. My students love his books too; we really can’t get enough of them. Still, my biggest inspiration has to be my students. I crunched the numbers, and I’ve taught about a thousand kids!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Hidden was such a fun book for me to write. I didn’t want the length of the book to discourage readers, so I kept it around 170 pages long, and it only took five months to write. Xander witness what MIGHT be a crime and is thrown into witness protection in the strangest Utah town imaginable. He has to figure out how to fit in when all of the kids are obsessed with school spirit and all things Utah. My favorite part of the writing process was reading the chapters to my students as I wrote them. It was so fun to hear them laugh or gasp aloud as I read, and as I mentioned, they gave me amazing advice. It’s a memory I will definitely cherish.

Featured Interview With Jackie Ross Flaum

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a water aerobics enthusiast, amateur jewelry maker, struggling bridge player, and kick-ass grandmother in addition to writing stories. I grew up in Kentucky, went to college at the University of Georgia where I had way too much fun, and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in journalism. After college, I worked for the Associated Press then became a reporter for “The Hartford Courant” in Connecticut. I married there and our two daughters were born there. My newspaperman husband got a job in Memphis and we moved there. I became a freelance speechwriter, publicist, and marketing person for major companies in town, but my favorite gigs were with the Memphis City Schools and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. I retired and began doing what I’d always wanted to do: write fiction. I wrote short stories that appeared in such anthologies as “Now There Was a Story”, “Low Down Dirty Vote II and III”, “Mayhem in Memphis,” and “Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem”. Since I liked short stories, I tried my hand at a longer form and wrote a novella of love and murder, “The Yellow Fever Revenge.” What I really wanted to write a novel, and so was born the civil rights era suspense/thriller series, Sterling Brothers Ltd. So far the series includes “Justice Tomorrow,” “The Price of a Future,” and coming soon, “Wigs, Mustaches, and Other Disguises”. I am the immediate president of Malice in Memphis a Killer Writing Group and mother to one very disobedient dog.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was reading before the first grade and always listening to radio programs and making up stories to go with them. Many times teachers had to remove a novel from inside my math book—needless to say I stink at math today. I actually wrote my first ‘novel’ in the sixth grade and my mother, bless her heart, typed all 100 pages of it.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Harper Lee, Zora Neale Hurston, SA Cosby, Faye Snowden, Charlaine Harris, and JD Robb (Nora Roberts)
I love all their books. I stumbled on “Their Eyes Were Watching God” when my granddaughter asked me for help with an essay on the book. What a treasure I found.
But I love thrillers and mysteries and suspense stories, especially those with a romantic flavor. I am constantly surprised by authors and books that I read just to please a friend or because I’m about to meet the author. For example, I didn’t think I would like Charlaine Harri’s Sookie Stackhouse series because I’m not into vampires and werewolves. Boy, was I wrong! That proves a well-written book in almost any genre will get me interested.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“The Price of a Future” took me two years to finish. I wrote short stories in the meanwhile, but mostly I stewed and stewed about it.
First, I couldn’t think of a way to make the exchange after Socrates Gray is captured and his partner Madeline Sterling agrees to give up her newborn daughter for him. All her angst wore me out and I cut a bunch of it (You’re welcome, readers.) I had to be smart: Sterling has no intention of keeping her end of the bargain, but it took me a hot minute to figure out how to make all that happen. Second, I finished with 105,000 words, and my Malice in Memphis critique partners went “Whoa! Nobody’s gonna read a thriller that long. Besides, you have two books there.” So I divided it–the third book in the series “Wigs, Mustaches, and Other Disguises” will be out by summer.
Third, I spent a lot of time making sure the scenes and the dialogue in the book were true to the 1960s and the people of that time.

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Featured Interview With Elle F. Kingsley

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello, I’m Elle!
I’m an award-winning futurist, AI ethicist, and bestselling sci-fi author, recognised among the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ and TechWomen100 honourees. My work spans AI ethics, legal tech, and global policy, advising organisations like the UK Parliament, the Commonwealth, and the European Commission. I’ve also worked on cutting-edge technologies like generative AI in Big Tech and specialise in cyberlaw, data protection, and privacy.

I put all this into my sci-fi work, weaving deep insights into technology, society, and policy to imagine future worlds—so that you don’t have to. My work explores how emerging technologies shape humanity, crafting stories that inspire thought about our digital futures.

I’m originally from England, spending time in Guildford before moving to London, where I’m currently based. My work has me travelling frequently across Europe and Asia, especially to Germany, China and South Korea, so I’ve learned to embrace a life that’s always on the move!

While I’d love the idea of a pet, my lifestyle makes it tricky, so I channel my energy into exploring new places and making the most of wherever I find myself. I love exploring new cultures, connecting with people, and finding inspiration in unexpected spots. Life’s an adventure, and I’m always eager for the next chapter.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always had my head buried in a book! I was fortunate to pick up reading at a young age—by 6 or 7, I was devouring classics like Alice in Wonderland and Grimm’s book of Fairy Tales. But a defining moment came when I was 8, during a school assignment to write a scary version of the Macbeth witches’ potion, which when then go up on the wall in the corridor. Knowing my audience would be other students and inspired by Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids, I conjured up witches tearing out naughty children’s intestines and putting them into their cauldron.

Needless to say, teachers were not pleased. They called my parents in, claiming my story was “far too dark” and would terrify the other kids. When asked why I’d written something so gruesome, I replied, “But you told me to make it scary!”

The teachers insisted I rewrite it, removing the scary parts. But my mum stood by me, arguing that I’d simply followed instructions.
Unsure what to do, the school suggested punishment.
The punishment? I was taken to the bookstore and free to pick any book I wanted while proudly called a “mini Stephen King.”

Fast-forward to today, and The Last Garden reached the same bestseller list as King at #30 on literary short stories. It’s reached #2 on the new releases list, just below Dostoyevsky. Life has a funny way of coming full circle, doesn’t it?

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m a sucker for the classics, especially in sci-fi and dystopian genres. Authors like Orwell, Huxley, and Kafka shaped my love for tales that explore dread, paranoia, and the human condition. Fahrenheit 451 is an excellent addition and commentary on literary rates. The Terror by Dan Simmons is another favourite that masterfully combines historical fiction with a creeping sense of doom.

On the sci-fi front, there’s Dune, which is iconic in its own right. I thoroughly enjoy Liu Cixin’s Three-Body Problem, which blends dystopia with speculative science and a lot of philosophical and ethical debates.

Similarly, I draw a lot of inspiration from classic philosophical ideas, especially those related to technology, surveillance, and freedom. Thinkers like Voltaire, who challenged ideas of progress and freedom, and Jeremy Bentham’s concept of the Panopticon, which explores surveillance and control, really influence the different nuances of the role of surveillance, technology and control in shaping society. These concepts help shape the moral dilemmas I explore in my writing, particularly in dystopian worlds where the lines between freedom and control blur.

These texts challenge us to think critically about power, surveillance, and the role of the individual within society. I apply these ideas to my storytelling, creating dystopian worlds where morality, freedom, and technology collide

Beyond books, I draw inspiration from other forms of storytelling, too. Anime like Psycho-Pass, series like Black Mirror or Mr. Robot, and graphic novels like V for Vendetta, and even games like Orwell, We Happy Few, BioShock feed my creative energy. Great storytelling, in any form, really inspires me to create my own worlds and narratives.

These immersive adventures remind me of the power of storytelling—it’s the only medium that can truly transport us to entirely new realities.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“The air, thick with smog, choked the sky with a never-ending amber haze. Ivy tightened her mask, its edges biting into her skin. Around her, the forgotten shuffled, their makeshift filters from scavenged waste barely keeping the lethal air at bay—each breath, a gamble.”

In a world gasping under the weight of environmental collapse, The Last Garden is a short story, exploring humanity’s desperate attempt to reconnect with nature amidst the fallout of failed climate goals. Towering domed cities like Solara shine with technological brilliance and innovation, protecting their inhabitants while the world outside lies in ruin—a barren wasteland abandoned to those left behind. Within the dome, advancement flourishes, but at what cost?

Unchecked reliance on technology has created an illusion of progress while erasing the natural world and the very essence of life it was meant to protect. Meanwhile, outside, the Seed Savers, an underground faction, risk their lives to preserve Earth’s final seeds of hope.

What sets The Last Garden apart is its nuanced portrayal of morality, where I invite readers to consider their own complicity in systems of convenience and destruction. The Last Garden was born in a whirlwind of creativity, with the first draft written over two intense, caffeine-fuelled days to meet the deadline for its original publication in Futurescapes Zine.

The story poured out of me, driven by a sense of urgency to explore the themes of hope and humanity’s relationship with nature. Though the writing came quickly, the ideas behind it had been simmering for years—drawing from real-world climate concerns, the recent UN Summit of the Future, and my fascination with speculative fiction. Using the Three Horizons Method, I envisioned a utopian world where systems coexist, then stepped back to focus on the challenges and issues that may arise. This exclusive extended edition, published by Pariah Tales, was then finely tuned over a few months.

This tale is for anyone who has ever asked, “What would I sacrifice to create a better world?”

You can find your copy of the The Last Garden here: https://amzn.eu/d/0PP8ZYe

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Elle F. Kingsley’s Website

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Featured Interview With Dr. Phyllis Pobee

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Dr. Phyllis Pobee, a triple-board-certified genetic weight loss physician, author, and founder of GeneLean360°, a personalized weight loss program inspired by my own 100-pound transformation. I was raised in Canada as the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, where I learned the values of hard work, persistence, and self-belief that continue to guide me today.

I currently live in Canada with my husband and two young children, who keep me grounded and motivated. While I don’t have any pets, my home is always full of energy, laughter, and the occasional dance party in the kitchen.

Through my writing and work, I’m passionate about empowering women to reclaim their health, confidence, and joy through personalized, science-backed strategies.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I realized my fascination with books at a young age, around 8 or 9 years old. I loved getting lost in stories that transported me to new worlds or helped me see life from a fresh perspective. Books became a source of comfort, inspiration, and growth for me, and that fascination has only deepened over the years.

I started writing much later, inspired by my own 100-pound weight loss journey and the realization that I had a story and expertise that could help others. Writing became a way to combine my personal experiences with my professional knowledge to empower women to transform their health and lives. While I didn’t grow up imagining myself as an author, once I started, I knew it was a path I wanted to continue for life.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading authors who inspire action and transformation, both in life and in health. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, is one of my favorites for his practical yet empowering approach to building habits that stick. Maxwell Maltz’s Psycho-Cybernetics had a profound impact on me—it taught me how much our mindset and self-image shape our outcomes, a message I weave into my own writing.

My favorite genre to read is personal development and health science. Books that offer both relatable stories and actionable steps resonate deeply with me because they reflect the kind of writing I aim to create. I also enjoy memoirs that highlight resilience and transformation, as they remind me of the power of storytelling to inspire change.

When it comes to inspiration, my readers and clients are my greatest motivators. Knowing that my writing could provide someone with the tools and hope they need to reclaim their health keeps me focused and passionate. Authors like Jen Sincero (You Are a Badass) and Dr. Jason Fung (The Obesity Code) also inspire me to communicate complex ideas in a relatable, accessible way that empowers readers to take control of their journey.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Lean Genes: A Physician’s Guide to Genetic Weight Loss — Eat What You Love, Lose Weight for Good, and Break Free from Diets and Medications, is a deeply personal and empowering guide to transformation. It’s inspired by my own journey of losing 100 pounds through the groundbreaking science of genetic weight loss, and it’s designed to help women over 30 reclaim their health and confidence in a way that’s sustainable and personalized.

This book challenges the outdated, one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss by focusing on the unique role genetics play in cravings, metabolism, and fat storage. I combine relatable stories from my own struggles with practical, science-backed strategies to give readers the tools they need to create lasting change without deprivation or frustration.

Lean Genes isn’t just about losing weight—it’s about breaking free from the cycle of diets and discovering a path that works specifically for your body. It’s a call to embrace your unique genetic blueprint and take back control of your health, all while enjoying the foods you love and living life with joy and freedom.

For anyone who’s felt stuck, defeated, or overwhelmed by weight loss, this book offers hope, clarity, and a proven way forward. It’s more than a guide—it’s a revolution in how we think about weight, health, and transformation.

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Dr. Phyllis Pobee’s Website

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Featured Interview With Kate Damon

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Writing as Margaret Brownley, I’m a New York Times bestselling author with forty-plus romance novels to my credit. “Jury Duty is Murder” is my first mystery.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with the grandkiddies, raising Monarch Butterflies, and playing a wicked game of bridge. I’m sad to say we’re between pets right now as we recently lost our little furry friend.
I’m not sure what my next project will be, but since I’ve recently remarried, my thoughts have turned back to what else? Romance!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated with books. As a child, I would be so happy when I got sick and could stay in bed and read all day. I wrote my first book in 6th grade, a mystery I didn’t know how to end. I didn’t start writing seriously until my children were in middle school.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m primarily known as a romance writer, so of course I enjoy reading them. Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts, and Diana Gabaldon are among my favorite authors. I also enjoy a good mystery. Among my favorite mystery authors are Gillian Flynn, Lee Child, and Richard Osman, whom I recently discovered.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I never thought to write a mystery, but my life took a sharp turn with the loss of my husband to cancer just before the Covid lockdowns. This shifted my focus away from romance and “Jury Duty is Murder” is the result.
I have to laugh at the thought of murder crossing my mind during that ordeal. Life sure does have a way of steering us in unexpected directions. I like to think that this book is a reflection of my journey and the resilience we find in our darkest moments.
Here’s a preview of “Jury Duty is Murder”:
The verdict is in; a famed athlete is headed for prison. The jurors have done their job and are free to go back to their lives.
But after being sequestered for three months, life as most jurors knew it, no longer exists.
HAROLD ASHMAN’s house is almost destroyed when a reporter drives through it. Exotic dancer, CEECEE LAINE, discovers that her boyfriend is two-timing her, and she no longer has a job. Actor ALEX MANNING learns his career is down the tubes, and 72-year-old, HELEN RYDER, discovers her family is plotting to put her in an old folks home.
Then things take a turn for the worse. When jurors start dropping like flies, CeeCee, Helen, Harold, and Alex are convinced there’s a killer on the loose. Now the feuding foursome must find the killer before he finds them—or before they save him the trouble by killing each other.

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Kate Damon’s Website

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Kate Damon Twitter Account

Featured Interview With J C Pereira

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born on a plantation high in the mountains of a small Caribbean island where the trade winds blow clear, and the rains wash all clean, leaving only the smells of the sun-warmed earth and vegetation. After my father’s death, I travelled with my mother to England, a land of cold and constant drizzle, but where the promises and opportunities significantly compensated for the dull weather in comparison. Here, I completed my formal education with a BA (Hons) in Psychology and experienced an entirely new way of life that once influenced my origins. Knowledge and experience alter perspective and hopefully lead to wisdom. Upon graduation, I worked in the corporate world, where I was never comfortable. Then, I settled uneasily within the civil service, where, after several years, I moved to Italy, rediscovering the sunshine of my youth and starting a new family. The language remains a continued challenge.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always been captured by inventing stories in my mind, even before I could read, as my world was filled with the beauty of nature. Stories were my way of finding comfort and meaning in an isolated but never lonely setting. We all live within a tale we tell ourselves, and none is more important than another. The first books I remember reading were White Fang and The Jungle Book. They fit well into my imagination, nurtured by my early environment. I found submerging myself into another living creature and seeing the world through its senses a normal and natural thing to do. At school, I found short stories easy to create, and I started writing my first book, A Place To Belong To, while still at A Level college but only completed it many years later with my wife’s encouragement. With one done, many followed. The biggest project still to write remains brewing slowly in my mind, but in the meantime, I practice my storytelling by writing many others, adjusting my world perspective as I go along.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Reading has always been an integral part of my life, and I would read anything I came across. However, the fantasy genre has always and still remains my favourite, especially those with historical themes. David Gemmel’s ability to create dignified characters, even with his antagonists, has always fascinated me, and I find Robert Jordan’s storytelling engaging, especially the Wheel of Time books. When I first started writing The Hidden King, the first of the Brothers of Destiny series, I wanted to write a book my son would read and tailored one of the main characters after him. In the same way, when I wrote Dying Under a Clear Blue Sky, concerned that humanity’s inventiveness was negatively affecting our wonderous blue planet, I modelled my main protagonist after a projection of my daughter into her teenage years for it would be her generation that would have to deal with the mess we were making with our narrow band, solution based ingenuity. This method, I believe, is a technique of survival hard-wired into our psyche. This perspective is the foundation theme in many of my stories and can be found in Penance, and I Once Was.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is The Chosen, a sequel to the Brothers of Destiny fantasy series. It describes the efforts of genetically engineered twins with characters on the flip sides of the same coin, attained only through following the road of discipline and free spirit, a choice they individually make. Their destiny is to deliver humanity from the continuous and circular road of violence and war, which, ironically, they are masters of. Is such an endeavour possible? Can humanity be forced from the path of conflict? I examine the answers to these questions throughout the books. The setting is after several falls of civilizations where humanity’s DNA has been altered by the poisons and contamination of humankind’s wars, ironically giving some unique powers. A mysterious brotherhood digs into the past to resurrect the means to interrupt the repeated pattern of destruction. The result is Morgan and Krarl who are not quite human, always on the outside, feared and respected, but never accepted.

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J C Pereira’s Website

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