Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Pegg Thomas

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live on a hobby farm in very rural Northern Michigan with my husband of *mumble* years. We raise sheep, chickens, and keep a few barn cats along with Murphy the spoiled rotten dog. It’s a beautiful part of the world, and we are blessed to be here.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Some of my earliest memories are of my grandma reading to me before bed, stories from magazines. I became a voracious reader, often reading through the school day, my novels “hidden” behind my algebra or English books. And always I thought, “Someday I’m going to write a book.” But someday didn’t come until our son was grown and the empty nest stared back at me in 2009.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genres are historical fiction and historical romance. The history inspires me. I enjoy novels with real history and even real historical characters in them. Novels where characters struggle with real-life issues common to their era. Period novels are good too, but the inner history-geek in me loves those meatier stories. Laura Frantz, Jocelyn Green, and Ann Gabhart are must-read authors for me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Sarah’s Choice” releases on Aug. 3rd. It’s the first book in my “Forts of Refuge” series. The series is set during Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763. There were three Colonial American forts that did not fall to Pontiac’s forces. “Sarah’s Choice” is set at Fort Pitt. “Maggie’s Strength” is set at Fort Detroit. And “Abigail’s Peace” is set at Fort Niagara.

“Sarah’s Choice” is about a young woman with her whole life planned out ahead of her as a newly married woman on the frontier. A pre-dawn attack on their settlement changes everything. As the only survivor, Sarah has to make some life-altering decisions over the next several months as she struggles with her life changes. At its heart, it’s a story of life and hope amidst the askes of her dreams.

While writing this book, I did my best to show the events only through the eyes of the main characters, Sarah and Cully. I had a first-hand journal written by a soldier stationed in Fort Pitt during the siege. From there, I envisioned how the events would have impacted these two characters. I made no attempt to filter this history through our 21st Century lens. I wanted to see and feel things the way I think Sarah and Cully would have seen and felt them. So it’s not a book about the siege, it’s a book about Sarah and Cully and how the siege changed them.

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Pegg Thomas’s Website

Pegg Thomas Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Mary Elizabeth Jackson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. My first job I worked at Disney World and could see the fireworks every night from my house. I moved with my husband to Tennessee 27 years ago. Our plan was to stay just five years. But three children and and one amazing dog named Bella later we are still here. My author career started later in life after my surprise son was born. I am an award winning children’s author of the Poohlicious series, and an advocate for special needs and disabilities, co-founder and co-host of the Writers Corner Live TV Show and Special Needs TV Shows on Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon Live, Twitter, and YouTube. I am a ghostwriter and book collaborator and the voice on the app Sports2Gether.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have loved books from the time I could read and have tried to pass that onto my own children. When I was little I was fascinated with futuristic and fantastical stories. Now I love spiritual books, mysteries, historical non-fiction, and true stories.
I have been writing my whole life. Poetry is my first love and writing children’s stories didn’t happen till the past few years. Now I could write children’s stories everyday. Having a young child means my days are filled with inspirations both for a child and adult.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Since I have an author show and get to interview authors I have the opportunity to read lots of different genres. It depends on what is going on in my life as to what I am reading and who is my favorite. Recently I read Energy Speaks by Lee Harris. Great book and now I am reading a debut author’s book: 77 Letters by Susan P. Harris. It’s a true story based on her mothers experience in the Vietnam War. It is being written into play format.
My favorite genres are children’s books, parenting and self-help, mystery, historical non-fiction, and spiritual growth. I am inspired and continue to be inspired by Dr. Seuss, Beatrix Potter, Judy Blume, Elizabeth Gilbert, Deepok. There are so many I love and find value in so I will list just a few.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is third in my children’s series. Poohlicious Oh the Wonder of Me is carrying on the message that children are okay just the way they are and came into this life. It journeys through the funny, silly, awkwardness of childhood. Having crazy hair, spaces between their teeth, and funny ears are all normal at this stage and a great thing to see the positive in. I have included an I AM page in each book to get kids and their families started on this positive language early in life. Helping to encourage them to be more empowered within themselves and in challenging situations they might find themselves in. Its a great book for ages 4-7/8 and features boys and girls because they all go through quirky times during these ages.
Because I wrote this book in rhyme it took awhile, and the illustrations can take a long time depending on the artist and medium they are using. Collaborating takes patience.

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Mary Elizabeth Jackson’s Website

Mary Elizabeth Jackson Facebook Page

Mary Elizabeth Jackson Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Riri-sensei

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello dear readers! :3 My name is Ririchi [リリ血] but you can call me Riri-sensei. A little bit about me! I am an Asian lady in her late 20s who lives in USA. My favorite animals are cats but I love all animals very much. My favorite colors are green, black and red. I also love pastel colors. My zodiac sign is Capricorn, yay cappies. ^_^ In my daily life, I suffer from several medical conditions and I have physical disabilities. This makes life a little tricky but I try my best to live a good life and do enjoyable things. c:

As for my interests & hobbies, I am a huge nerd who loves anime, manga, and video games! I play lots of RPG games and several MMOs in my free time. 😀 Stardew Valley, Black Desert, Tera & The Gray Garden are some of my favorites. I love old school retro games and pixel games a lot too.

I also enjoy cooking, sewing, and doing arts & craft projects. I am a certified henna artist and enjoy drawing body art in my free time. In addition, I have a passion for astrology, divination, occultism, and spiritualism.

With that being said, I have written and published 1 book so far but my goal is to publish a 20 novels. 🙂

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was 9 years old and started having a fascination in writing when I was 8. 🙂 I used to make up stories and tell my grandma and mom when I was 3. I didn’t know I wanted to be a professional novelist until I was 15.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am heavily inspired and influenced by Japanese manga artists and one of my favorite artist is Cocoa Fujiwara. My pen name is in remembrance of her death. My favorite book genre is romance and fantasy. 🙂 I was inspired to write books because of my mama who always supported my dreams. She passed away 4 years ago in 2017 and I stopped writing for several years but in 2020 I decided to go for it again. 🙂

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Taking place in an alternative universe during the 18th century, Ashiqui is a tale about love, self-discovery, and hardships. This story begins with Raiszadah, the Goddess of Fire, as she tearfully mourns the death of her loved ones. In despair, she attempts suicide by drowning herself in the sea of Zo’ar. Alas, her immortal blood binds her to the living realm preventing her death. Sinking to the bottom of the sea, Raiszadah goes into a deep slumber, where she stays isolated from the mortal world for several years. In an act of defiance, Jahei, the God of Water, convinces her to continue living and revives her from her catatonic state. Once revived, Raiszadah begins to have strange dreams of a young boy whom she has never met before. Plagued by nightmares, she begins to question if this is just a dream or a prophecy. Meanwhile, Zhou Bai is sold to a gang of slave traders by his abusive grandfather shortly after his mother dies. At the mercy of evildoers, Zhou Bai is forced to work at a brothel where he suffers from constant sexual abuse, and violence at the hands of local thugs. The result of this traumatic experience leads a young Zhou Bai to become a shell of his former self. As time passes, Zhou Bai is tired of his life as a prostitute and seeks comfort in suicidal thoughts. Desperate for a solution, the boy ends up praying to the Goddess of Fire, begging her to have mercy upon him and end his miserable life. After hearing his pitiful pleas and having reoccurring dreams of Zhou Bai, the Goddess decides to embark on a journey to find him and save him. Unbeknownst to Zhou Bai, Raiszadah devises a plan with the help of Jahei, to uncover her connection to this young boy and rescue him before it’s too late.”

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Riri-sensei Facebook Page

Riri-sensei Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Leigh M. Hall

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live in Texas, where I was born. I have ventured out to other areas, but Texas is where I belong. I have three trying boys that take up most of my time. I love animals. I have three rescue dogs, and one rescue cat, all of them have a passion for destroying my house. My husband is the greatest man I have ever met, so I decided to put a ring on it.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As a student, I loved writing, but I could never end my stories. They just dragged on and on. I could never perfect the perfect short story. I have worked in the medical field for 22 years, that’s what my degree is in, but I have never been fully satisfied with my career choice. I’ve had an idea for a book since my early twenties but never made the time to sit down and write it. In 2020 I made that time, but the idea I had wasn’t what came out. I still plan on writing that book sometime in the future. I mastered my ending problem by writing my endings first.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read all genres, and as a youth, I loved paranormal books. As I grow, I’ve started to enjoy thrillers and mysteries more. My favorite authors are Anne Rice and Charlaine Harris.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Capability was actually the first book I ever wrote. I have sat on it for over a year making small changes and sending it out to different agents. It is a dramatic psychological thriller that centers around a woman who suffered a brutal attack. She is trying to find herself but at the same time loses herself entirely.

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Leigh M. Hall’s Website

Leigh M. Hall Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Harsimran Kaur

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Harsimran Kaur, and I’m a 16-year-old author and an English language enthusiast who also happens to have an affinity with the history of the Indian Partition. I am born and raised in a small village on the outskirts of a city called Jalandhar in India. I’ve always been an ardent fan of literature since a very young age. I was raised reading Mark Twain and Roald Dahl. So in a way, you can assume that books have raised me along with my parents!
I recently made a national record and an Asian record (‘Grand Master’ for authoring a book containing different colours of poetry), which is given to me by the India Book of Records (registered with the Government of India) and Asia Book of Records, respectively.
I don’t have any pets now, but I fancy having a dog and a cat.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As far as I can remember, I started writing poems and several ramblings around ten. I had recently finished reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain at that time, which made me write a poem about protecting our planet (don’t know what element from the book inspired me to write that) and a short story about a mischievous kid called Thomas. I titled it ‘Some Years Without Parents,’ which is an expression that I indeed consider pretentious.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
If any people inspire me in writing, they are the greatest minds of the past century like Franz Kafka, Kahlil Gibran, Robert Frost, Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Wendy Cope, and Toni Morrison. I also idolize Michelle Obama and Arundhati Roy – and I can’t emphasize the fact enough. My mother is also a source of my utmost inspiration, and I admire her for that.
I love reading literary fiction, modern classics, and poetry. I also love to read translated works of literature from different countries because that’s how globalization is facilitated, one of the aspects that I love the most about books. I’m prominently interested in American and British literature, which will most probably be the focus of my higher studies.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, ‘Clementines on my Poetry Table: A Poetry Collection‘ came out on March 17, 2021. It is a collection of poems written between December 2019 and June 2020 about topics ranging from Zoom meetings to donuts. It is currently available on all the Amazon Marketplaces and all the royalty received at my end for the book will go to the Give India Foundation’s urgent COVID relief fund. You can follow me on Instagram @harsimranwritesbooks for more updates regarding my books.

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Harsimran Kaur Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Laurie Sudbrink

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in a tiny little upstate NY town where cows outnumber people. I was a middle child of 13 siblings – I fondly refer to us as ‘the Crazy Bunch’ (kinda like the ‘Brady Bunch’).

I live between my small upstate-NY town and a small community in Florida. I love nature, so living near trees, water, wildlife is important to me. I enjoy being outside as much as possible!

I lost my dog Mason almost 7 years ago. I’m just starting to think about getting another puppy! A rescue. I love animals!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Finally as a senior in high school, our teacher let us select an author and read 5 – 10 books. I chose John Steinbeck, and my favorite was East of Eden. I was hooked on books after that. (Prior to that the reading was boring to me.)

I wrote poetry in high school and absolutely loved it. I wrote short stories as well, but never attempted at getting anything published – the thought really never crossed my mind (I don’t think I would have believed it was possible…)

I still don’t consider myself a writer. I’m more of a doer. I love the work I do, training and developing, coaching, retreats, etc. From this comes great ideas and if I can get it into a book, I can share it with more people.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read a lot of trade-books (leadership, self-help), and my favorite authors are Don Miguel Ruiz, Patrick Lencioni, Ken Blanchard, Dan Millman to name only a few!

Don Miguel Ruiz inspired me to write my current book, Leading With GRIT. (In fact, he endorsed it on the front cover!). I went to many retreats with Don Miguel Ruiz and spent 1:1 time with him.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The idea for Leading With GRIT came to me on a flight from NY to CA. I wrote the outline and chapter summaries on that flight. It changed quite a bit since then (10 years), but that’s where it was born!

The book began as “Get Your GRIT Together!” When Wiley published the book, they wanted the title changed to “Leading With GRIT!” So yes, Wiley published my book in 2015. I’m now self-publishing because there’s so much more I want to provide and it was difficult to do so with a publisher. I’m fortunate to have gained the rights back, and just finished the audio version as well (out very soon)!

My 20+ years of experience, with real stories of clients, makes this book relatable and very practical.

Leading with GRIT® centers on the why, what and how to make positive, effective and sustainable changes in your life so you authentically and more naturally lead others to do the same.

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Laurie Sudbrink Facebook Page

If you enjoyed this writer’s interview, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors to learn about. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring! If you are an author and want to get exposure to new readers submit your book to our book promotion service.

Featured Interview With Marshall Armstrong

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in a small Midwestern town, and moved to Southern California as a freshman high school. After high school, I attended junior college in Southern California before joining the military. That sent me travelling the world, making my home on three different continents along the way. I am a retired Air Force veteran. I live and work in San Antonio. Timeless Poetry, is a collection of poems I wrote over the last 30 years, shaped by life in the moment and memories of life gone by.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I really started writing poetry in 1989. I wrote my first poem, I Am, for my church in Southern California. After that, I wrote off and on for many years, finally culminating in my first book.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I really enjoy Michael Crichton and Robin Cook. They are my two favorite Non-Poetry writers. I love Mr. Cook’s medical thrillers. My favorite Crichton books are Sphere and Jurassic Park.
My favorite poets are Sylvia Plath and Algernon Charles Swinburn. Swinburn has inspired me to write my own style especially when looking at my stanzas and rhythm. Plath is the poet that inspired me to explore the senses as I write. There are many great Poets I enjoy reading , like Frost and Dickinson. I feel that Plath and Swinburn really inspire me the most.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book, Timeless Poetry: A Collection of Poems is a collection of the poetry I wrote over the last 30 years or so. It has three sections, Faith, Life, and Romance. The “Faith” section has poems written about my faith in God. It covers subjects such as blessings, struggles, and surrender. The “Romance” section is a bit steamy but not erotic. It contains poems about my wife’s accent, our wedding, and her beauty. The “Life” section has poems about my life in a small town, and a poem about how a lie I told caught up with me when I was a kid. Check it out. I hope you enjoy this first book. 🙂

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Marshall Armstrong Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Jocelyn Chen

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in California, which is where I still am now! I am currently a student at the University of Toronto studying Economics, Political Science, and English. I have written two novels so far, Last Moment, a young romance drama, and Burning Ember, an action and adventure with touches of fantasy and romance. I have a little dog named Mocha, who is my best friend and you can follow her on Instagram @mochacupid!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My affinity for books was always unexplainably present, and I honestly can’t remember when it was that I became fascinated with books. With regard to writing, my first story is somewhere on some Kindergarten scrap paper… Writing has always brought me joy, particularly creative writing and fiction: the type of writing where I can let my mind go wild and say what I want to say.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genres to read are action, thriller, and paranormal. Authors that I adore, if only to name a couple, are A.A. Milne and Shakespeare. I know Shakespeare as an influence seems very distant and intangible but I think that is exactly why I look to his work so much. Shakespeare created so many foundations on which storytelling is built upon today and I think that’s irreplaceable and undeniable. As for A.A. Milne, I think his structure is often so simple yet so beautiful even so. So many of the lines he has created are almost plain at the surface level, but I love that feeling when the beauty behind the simplicity slowly seeps in.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book just released June 1st and it’s called Burning Ember. This novel is inspired by various events I have seen and experienced in my life ranging from statewide Californian fires to the nationwide social unrest and I started accumulating these ideas when I was in high school. I began the actual writing last autumn and I made sure to sit down and write for at least a few hours everyday, which was a stressful way to relax at the end of each day, but so rewarding. Burning Ember is an action and adventure novel with touches of fantasy and romance. The novel is available on paperback, ebook, and FREE on KindleUnlimited! Thank you and I hope you give me the chance to take you on an adventure.

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Jocelyn Chen’s Website

Featured Interview With Brooke Jones

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Manhattan, and raised in the suburbs of NYC. Not being a fan of New York (or SNOW), in 1968 I began the first phase of my westward migration, which took me to…Chicago — and I thought New York had cold Winters!

In 1973 I said a final, if not fond farewell to frigid weather, and moved to the place that inspired Mark Twain to proclaim “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”. The city of San Francisco, long ago dubbed “THE City” by its hyperbole-inclined inhabitants, is certainly not as cold as Chicago but it was also not nearly warm enough for me, so, in 1986, having run out of “west”, I migrated south, and exchanged “THE City” for “The City of (fallen) Angels” aka Los Angeles (decidely warmer, but also distinctly surreal!)

Ten years of Hollywood proved to be more than enough for this girl so, in 1996, I said goodbye to “LA LA Land” and relocated to the relative sanity of Oregon. Not long thereafter, I began a tedious and not terribly amusing battle with Breast Cancer. Today I am finally Cancer-free…”boobless”, but Cancer-free!

A list of my 4-legged family members includes “Luna” (aka “Lunatic” or “Moose”) — a large, charming and goofy Golden Retriever who has never met an ANYTHING she couldn’t eat! Our house is also home to “Gypsy”, an almost reasonable facsimile of a dog of dubious lineage, and “Demon Cat” (aka “The Floor Weasel”) — an alleged “feline” who couldn’t care less what anyone calls him, as he can be counted on to ignore whatever name he is given.

In addition to writing books and screenplays, I am also the Meme Maven of Camp Meme-A-Day (Facebook.com/@CampMemeaday), and the owner, creator, and designer of THE CARD OUTLET (zazzle.com/thecardoutlet) — the online home of my alter ego, Ima Crone, the Gypsy Crone Queen of Snarklandia, and CardBard Greetings (cards for all seasons and all reasons) — sweet, snarky, tender and twisted! When you’ve got something to say, CardBard Greetings has an amusing way to say it!

I donate a portion of ALL proceeds from the sale of EVERYTHING I do, including my Greeting Cards and my new book, “WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS? (and other questions for God)” to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I began writing at the age of two, although my early “writings” bore a striking resemblance to indecipherable doodles.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
When I’m not writing, I’m a voracious reader. I’m particularly fond of Tom Robbins — his decidely “twisted” brain invents fabulous characters and fantastic stories and his use of language is a marvel to behold! I adore Ray Bradbury’s work for the same reason. While I tend to gravitate toward Biographies, (though you wouldn’t know that based on my fascination with Bradbury and Robbins), I am also drawn to Historical Fiction and the magical work of the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS? (and other questions for God)” is the absolutely TRUE, deeply INSPIRATIONAL, laugh-out-loud FUNNY story of my Near-Death Question and Answer Session with God, and if you think a conversation with God couldn’t possibly be FUNNY, you’re in for a BIG surprise!

As a Los Angeles and San Francisco Radio Personality, I interviewed more celebrities than I can count (Robin Williams, Mel Brooks, and Bob Hope, just to name a few), but the most AMAZING interview I ever conducted occurred after I DIED and suddenly found myself interviewing God!

Being a journalist, I refused to discuss my “Divine Experience” with anybody, unless I could get PROOF that it had REALLY HAPPENED, and that’s EXACTLY what I got…and it was PROOF that NO ONE COULD DENY!

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Brooke Jones’s Website

Brooke Jones Facebook Page

Brooke Jones Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Andrea Byrd

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a Christian wife and mom in located in rural Kentucky, with a deep affinity for an old-fashioned, natural lifestyle. Often described as having been born outside my time, I love to spend time with my family in the great outdoors, one with nature.

With a degree in Equine Health & Rehabilitation gathering dust and a full-time job tethering me to a desk eight hours a day, I decided it was high time to invoke change in my life. To show my children it is truly possible to make your dreams come true, I dove into the role of Christian Romance author with my debut series, Smoky Mountain Romance.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by books and loved to read. As soon as I learned to read, basically. My love of writing didn’t come quite as easily though. I quite disliked it until 7th or 8th grade. The English teacher I had those years helped me find my love for writing. I’ve been hooked ever since then.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Romance and Christian Romances are my favorite genres to read. I love a happy ending. And beautiful descriptions within the text. That is one of the reasons Diana Palmer is hands down my favorite author and inspiration.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest work is titled Smoky Mountain Embers. It is inspired by the Chimney Tops II Fire that affected the Gatlinburg area in 2016. What started off as a miniscule fire turned into a full-blown firestorm with hurricane force winds. The disaster claimed thousands of structures in the area. After researching the disaster which had hit so close to home, I felt compelled to tell a story which would honor both the lives saved and the lives lost.

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Andrea Byrd’s Website

Featured Interview With Jennifer Lieberman

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi! I’m Jennifer Lieberman, from Maple, Ontario, Canada. I’m a multi-multi-hyphanate writer-actor-producer and have appeared in over thirty stage productions in Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, Europe and Australia; including my Award-Winning Solo Show Year of the Slut, which my novel was adapted from. In addition to my performance career I’ve penned a number of screen and stage plays including the wacky web-series “Dumpwater Divas” and the short films “Leash” and “Details” which both screened at the Festival De Cannes’ Court Métrage among other international film festivals. I also have a weekly vlog “I Never Thought I Would…” where I interview fellow authors about doing things they never thought they would and the amazing places it led them.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Although I always loved listening and telling stories, I was a slow reader growing up so it took me quite a while to get into books. In high school I really got into reading plays when my love for the stage was ignited. It wasn’t until I was in my early 20’s living in New York running a theatre company in the East Village when I fell in love with reading books. I was living in Queens and had a long commute on the subway and I also discovered this extraordinary used book store called The Strand, I guess the combination of the two led me to my now veracious habit of reading. I started reading a book on week on y subway commute and got hooked.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are Tom Robbins, Herman Hess, Paulo Coelho and Agatha Christie.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Year of the WHAT?” is an adaptation of my award-winning solo show “Year of the Slut” and is a romantic comedy that follows heartbroken and lonely 25-year-old Dana, who is six months off her first break-up and living the single life in New York City. A virgin once removed, she’s insecure and on the hunt for the one.

Dana has only been with one man and hasn’t given herself a chance to explore her own curiosity. She feels ashamed of her desires, and keeps trying to squash them in order to be a ‘good girl’. Her roommate, Kelly, on the other hand, has none of Dana’s hang-ups.

Kelly is unabashedly promiscuous, with an off the charts IQ and a full ride to NYU. But Kelly can’t stand the monotony of school, so she drops out to become a dominatrix and pursue an alternative lifestyle where she makes ‘lawyer money’ working in a dungeon in Chelsea.

After months of searching in vain for Mr. Right, Kelly’s lust for life and insatiable quest for adventure finally rub off…Dana embarks on an outrageous adventure of sexual discovery where she finds her inner power and confidence, all while taking charge of her erotic exploration. Through her exploits Dana realizes she will never find what she is looking for, until she finds herself.

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Jennifer Lieberman’s Website

Jennifer Lieberman Facebook Page

Jennifer Lieberman Twitter Account

Featured Interview With JP McLean

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in Toronto, Ontario, and moved to the west coast of Canada to attend university, but within days of moving, I knew I’d make the coast my home. There’s something magical about living by the ocean with snow-capped mountains standing guard and outdoor adventure at your doorstep. My husband and I now live on Denman Island, which is one of the northern Gulf islands nestled between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. We’re ferry dependent, and rural, so it’s not for everyone, but I find the quiet solitude perfect for writing.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My love of reading started early. I have memories of sitting in my father’s lap with a picture book from the library and dragging my finger along the page to sound out the words. But I never thought I’d have a story idea big enough for a book. Happily, I was proven wrong and began writing ten years ago what would turn into the seven-book Gift Legacy series.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors to read are also the writers who inspire me. They include Charlaine Harris, Kelley Armstrong, Neil Gaiman, Deborah Harkness, Victoria Aveyard, Jim Butcher, Lee Child and KJ Howe. You can probably tell from this list that I enjoy urban fantasy, paranormal, the supernatural, and thrillers.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Gift Legacy is a seven-book series about a secret society of people who can fly. It begins with Secret Sky. This is the book that made me fall in love with writing. It took me a year to write it, and another year to edit it into shape.

Emelynn Taylor is the protagonist throughout the series, but she doesn’t start out knowing that she can fly. She knows she’s losing gravity, which is awkward, and dangerous. In a daring attempt to learn to control it, a miscalculation causes her to fall from the sky. She ends up in hospital, and that’s where she meets a doctor who recognizes the second lens in her eyes that marks her as one of them, a Flier. The doctor introduces her to a covey of others who are like her. They teach her how to fly and indoctrinate her into their secret society. But she soon learns that they are keeping secrets. Their kind are ruled by a Soviet-style Tribunal, and powerful organizations know about them, are hunting them, and Fliers like her are going missing. Only one has ever escaped and he returned missing an eye and his will to live.

The tagline is: Everybody wishes they could fly–until it happens.

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