Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With J.U. Scribe

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Joe or Jonas (depending on which alias he chooses) is a laid-back, creative guy from Wisconsin who gets to experience all four seasons sometimes in one day! He comes from a close-knit, religious, Nigerian-American family that taught him the value of hard work and education. He currently lives in Milwaukee which is about 90 miles north of Chicago for those not from the Midwest of the US. He’s a creative writer and freelance blogger. Over the years he’s been able to share what he’s learned about self-publishing by way of his growing blog “Writer’s Nook.”

When he’s not writing well into the night he enjoys spending time with family, listening to music, playing Sims games, hiking, and learning about different cultures.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I think my love for books was kindled in fourth grade where we were encouraged to read. I had a teacher that was passionate about helping her students bring their stories to life. It was in her class that I created my first book for a class project called “Will’s Problem.” It was about a boy who had to find a creative way to beat a bully so it was something that a lot of students including myself could relate to.

I started writing as a hobby back in middle school when I first created my story series revolving around a boy living in the shadows of the Roman empire. My story series followed him from four years old to when he’s sixteen. Never did I think back then that my debut story “Before the Legend” would ever be published many years later.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors to read is Lois Lowry. She’s inspired me to create complex, introspective characters that question their worlds such as Jonas in “The Giver.” Another author I’ve come to deeply admire is Suzanne Collins who’s well known for the popular Hunger Games’ trilogy. My favorite genre to read is historical fiction, although I also enjoy reading different genres including YA, middle grade, and Sci-fi/dystopian.

My interest in Greek and Roman history, the books I’ve read as a youth, and personal experiences help inspire and shape the worlds I create.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is a how-to guide entitled: “How to Self-Publish Without Going Broke.” It’s my first nonfiction book so it’s a huge departure from my fiction works. I’ve been self-published since 2013 and have seen so much growth in this sector. I also understand the first-hand struggles of finding readers and making sales. Self-publishing is an appealing yet daunting alternative for many new writers and I wanted to demystify self-publishing by breaking it down into 15 manageable steps that any writer can follow. It’s 2020 and it’s time we have advice that’s comprehensive and updated for writers breaking into this industry. While the economy has become increasingly unstable, I want writers to understand there are still cost-effective ways to get your book published without going broke in the process. The book covers several topics including the critical planning stage, how to self-edit, finding a good editor, learning the dos and don’ts of cover design, formatting, blurb writing, marketing, and more!

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J.U. Scribe’s Website

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Featured Interview With Leslie A. Sussan

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Manhattan. If I get emotional, you can still hear the New York in my voice, but I have not lived there in 50 years. I came to DC to go to law school and somehow I am still in the DC area. I share my house with my adult daughter and our cat, Neko-chan. We are surrounded with artifacts that remind me of our time in Hiroshima and our family bonds to that city.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have never not been fascinated with books. I got my mother in trouble because I taught myself to read by the time I was three and apparently the school system then believed that you had to learn using their phonetic methods or else you would never read properly. I may not read properly, but I do read voraciously. Every wall of my house is well-insulated with bookcases, often double deep. I always wrote little stories and poems as a girl and wrote professionally as a lawyer. My current book is my first venture in narrative/creative nonfiction.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t read by genre because what I adore is the exquisite use of language regardless of the type of book in which it appears. My tastes are nothing if not eclectic. Among my favorites are Erasmus’ In Praise of Folly; Epitectus; C.S. Lewis; Elaine Pagels; Ursula LeGuin; John O’Donohue; Madeline Miller (Circe and Ulysses); and Annie Dillard. As a writer, I have learned the most from Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird and Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones, as well as Writing the Memoir: From truth to art by Judith Barrington.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In 1946, with the war over and Japan occupied, 2nd Lt. Herbert Sussan received a plum assignment. He would get to use his training as a cinematographer and join a Strategic Bombing Survey crew to record the results of the atomic bombings in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. From his first arrival in Nagasaki, he knew that something novel and appalling had happened and that he had to preserve a record of the results, especially the ongoing suffering of those affected by the bomb (known as hibakusha) even months later. When the U.S. government decided that the gruesome footage would not be “of interest” to the American public and therefore classified it top secret, he spent decades arguing for its release. His last wish was that his ashes be scattered at ground zero in Hiroshima.
In trying to carry out his wishes, I went to Japan in 1987 with my little girl (then 4). I found myself, like my father, deeply drawn to Hiroshima and spent a year there coming to know survivors who remembered being filmed by my father more than 40 years earlier. It took me thirty more years to find the right way to share the first-person accounts that my father and the hikakusha had entrusted to me, but now they are available at last for readers as the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of the bombings — and again faces hard choices about nuclear weapons.

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Leslie A. Sussan’s Website

Featured Interview With Elsa Kurt

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born and raised in a small town in Connecticut & reside there still (retiring to Florida on two years!) We have three dogs, Silas, Murphy, and Lola.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve had my head buried in books from the moment I could read. I’ve been writing since my early teens, but didn’t write professionally until my forties. It wasn’t until my husband gave me the gentle push that I had the courage to put myself and my work “out there.”

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m all over the board with my reading choices. I’ll jump from Jane Austen to Stephen King, from C.S. Lewis to Lianne Moriarty. I’ve been inspired by all of the above, and more. Great witing by any author just makes me want to jump behind the keyboard and write!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest release, The Two Tenleys, is a quirky, off-beat romance that takes a spin at the medical mix up scenario. It revolves around a free-spirited woman, Tenley “Ten” Harper and Tenley “Lee” Harper – two women with the same name who end up receiving each other’s lab results. This sends them on separate adventures that involve pro-wrestlers, drag queen, and a lounge singer. It was great fun to write!

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Featured Interview With Anuki Saak

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I love pets so much, but at the moment I don’t have them. I am Georgian (Country) I grown up in it’s capital Tbilisi.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have started writing this year

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
J. R. R. Tolkien, Dale Carnegie, Andras Curtie

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I have spent a lot of time and did big research to bring the true that everyone is looking for.
,,Pandemic The Next Wave How To Not Die”

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Anuki Saak’s Website

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Featured Interview With Jill Rosensweig

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I moved to the United States to go to law school in Boston then moved to New York City where I lived and worked for 12 years before moving to Los Angeles in 2014. I now live in LA with my husband, our two children, and our dog.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I grew up surrounded by books. My mother was an avid reader and taught me to love books from a very young age. I started journal writing when I was around five or six years old and have been writing ever since. Throughout college I loved to write, and I even applied to journalism school but opted for law school instead. While working as a young litigator and writing tons of legal briefs, I missed the creative writing outlet that my college days afforded me. As a means of satisfying that desire, I started a blog back in 2005, back in the early days of blogging. It mostly focused on my dating misadventures and was a really fun outlet for me, but that naturally ended when I met my husband. In 2014, I wrote an article about my struggles with infertility, which was published on a parenting website. Outside of legal briefs and blogging, it was my first time experiencing other peoples’ reactions to something I had written. Since then, I have written several short stories, none of which I have attempted to publish. I am in the midst of writing a novel, and I have now published Bailey Bloom and the Battle of the Bug, which I hope is the first of many children’s books that I will publish.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
When it comes to my favorite authors to read, I love Wally Lamb, Ken Follett and Emily Giffin.

My favorite genre would have to be historical fiction, but I love light, beach reads as well.

In terms of children’s books, I would say my #1 inspiration is Dr. Seuss. I love books in rhyme with a strong moral lesson (i.e. the Lorax).

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Bailey Bloom and the Battle of the Bug is about three best friends who love playing superheroes and imagining a time when they can become superheroes in real life. One day, they learn that their school has been shut down due to COVID-19, and they immediately set out to find ways to help the people in their community during the pandemic. Through their efforts in helping others, they realize that they can be real-life superheroes by engaging in these small acts of kindness. The book also addresses what schools might look like when they reopen, which is a conversation many parents are trying to discuss with their kids right now.

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Jill Rosensweig’s Website

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Featured Interview With Tristan Hutchinson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Tristan Hutchinson is an author and empath living in New Hartford, NY. The son of a children’s book author, Tristan still holds the same creative imagination he did as a child. His love of Stephen King, the Star Wars franchise, and other unique books and movies fuel his creative spirit. As a supernatural thriller and horror writer, Tristan hopes to transport his readers into the worlds he creates, allowing them to explore their wild imaginations.
Tristan’s degrees in interactive media design and criminal justice give him the ability to use vivid imagery while remaining realistic in his crime and investigative details. A husband, father, and brother, Tristan’s family has played a large role in who he is. And, at the basis of his personality is his spirit animal: The wolf. Tristan believes that you are never too old to let your imagination run free and unleash the wolf hiding within.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
17

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Stephen King. Horror and Thrillers.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Detective Aaron Wolfe wakes up in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by foreboding darkness. As he makes his way through the dark town, using only the flashlight on his phone, he soon makes a gruesome discovery. The entire town has been slaughtered. Blood and body parts are scattered through the streets, the scent of primal fear and death lingers.As he tries to make sense of what has happened, he realizes a strange blanket of darkness blocks phones and other electronics from working. Unable to call for help, and scared of what being the only person left alive in a massacred town suggests, he leaves the shattered town to find his partner, Jaclyn Hunsacker. He and Jaclyn must work together, while navigating their complicated relationship, to solve the mystery of who laid waste to an entire town. If their investigation proves unsuccessful, Wolfe may never be able to clear his name as the main suspect of the murders.

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Featured Interview With Robert P. Ottone

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Robert P. Ottone, and I’m an author from Long Island, NY. Born and raised!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My father read to me every night, after teaching long hours and working his butt off. My mom gave me art lessons after school and as a smaller child. I was always surrounded by art, whether it was books, drawing, film, so, it’s always been in me. I started writing my own comics, sorta; straddling the best of both worlds around the age of six, drawing on pads of paper my mom would make me from printer paper at her job at the IRS. Don’t tell the US Gov’t.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read across a wide spectrum, I suppose. My hero is Bret Easton Ellis. I adore him. Everything about him. If I could start a religion based around his work, and not be judged by him, I would. Jay MacInerney, too, I love his writing, whether about wine or about his fictional world. Mark Z. Danielewski is up there. Stephen King, obviously, Grady Hendrix, Brian Evenson.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My new book, Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares, is a collection of short horror fiction centered around the concept of fear. Fears I have, fears I think we all connect to on some base level. Whether it’s the economy, the future, the natural world, whatever the case may be, there’s fear to be had in these everyday notions, if you’re smart enough to have your eyes open.

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Featured Interview With H.H. Hauser

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Southern California with two older brothers who I served like their personal butler, which I obliged to get on their good side. I was also a quiet kid but always full of energy. I took every opportunity to play with action figures and would sell anything I could to hoard as many as possible.
I currently reside in Ventura, California, a small beach town that is quiet and runs at a slower pace than Los Angeles. I love dogs mostly because they always love playing with me and hanging on out.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
With my energetic little brain, I never took the time as a child to indulge in books. If I picked up a book and didn’t have cool images, I would drop it immediately. This persisted until I turned 25, and I read Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck. For the first time, my brain stopped running around and began recreating the scenes and dialogue I read. I was able to take myself to a different world and control every aspect of it, from the soundtrack to the detail in every character.
i began writing when I turned 30, but I struggled to find my voice and a good story structure. For years, I stuck to it until I finally wrote articles for friends and finally wrote my book, which was a great journey to be a part of.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Some of my favorite authors include John Steinbeck, J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl, & David Icke. I like reading mystery, magic, fantasy, and fiction like historical tyrants, civilizations, and wars. My inspiration comes from many authors, known and unknown. I’ve never looked at a book’s author and decided whether to read it or not. If the subject and synopsis sound good, I’ll immerse myself in the book.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The best way to explain my book is to imagine you’re a young boy taken out of his element and thrust into a world he knows little about. He soon realizes the world does not work the way he thought and discovers not only himself but also a treasure of mystery, magic, and events that will shape his life.

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H.H. Hauser Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Callan J. Mulligan

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born in Australia, in 1988, I spent most of my childhood writing and drawing. Actually, I spend most of my time as an adult, doing the same.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Too young to remember, I was writing “books” by age 10 and poetry in my teens. I became serious about publishing when I finished a novella I was particularly proud of, at age 29.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love Ben Bova, his science fiction work is incredible. I also love Stephen King, and have taken a lot of inspiration from Hemingway.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
It’s about an alcoholic who suffers from post traumatic stress. He begins seeing visions of a demon in his hallway, and is convinced a woman is following him. Soon, he realises his waking dream might be more than just a nightmare, it might be real…

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Featured Interview With David Kouri

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello all! My name is David Kouri. I was born and raised in Houston,TX, and am now living in the Texas Hill Country, Kyle, TX to be exact. I have four pets, two cats, Luke Skywalker and Daniel, and two dogs, Jack and Tina.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I would have to say that I became fascinated with books around the age of five. I started writing poetry around the age of 12 and began writing novels, screenplays and teleplay at the age of 16.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are in order, Hunter S Thompson, Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. I am inspired by just about anything in my writing, but I would have to say that horror, sci/fi, and real life inspire me in my writing.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My new novel, Elyria is of the vampire genre. Its very dramatic, exciting, and a little violent. It touches on issues that are concerning our world at this time. Love, compassion, our rights as citizens, and racism.

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Featured Interview With Ellen Behrens

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in a small town in Ohio where all I could do was ride my bike to the edge of town where cow pastures and corn fields blocked my view of the rest of the world. After decades of following a sort of tourist route along an unusual career path, I’m now a full-time RVer with my husband of more than twenty years. We live in a 200 square-foot RV, follow the weather on the backroads of America, and have been doing this for more than ten years now. My Rollin RV Mystery series is inspired by our travels.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been reading since “Dot and Jim” (if you remember those books, you know I’m of a certain age), and forming my own sentences and stories since I could put fat pencil to lined paper. I still have my first story, “Harold,” which I wrote when I was about six. Wrote for the local newspaper in high school, freelanced in my twenties, did an MFA program in my thirties… Writing has been my most constant friend through my life.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read everything — from daily newspapers and magazines to nonfiction books to fiction. Nonfiction fills me with wonder–I’ve learned so much from books about birds and history, travel and politics. When I want to relax, I reach for authors like Janet Evanovich, Carl Hiaasen, and Michael Connelly; and I try to read every novel with RVing main characters I can find! My Goodreads “Want To Read” list is about as varied as you can imagine. Every book I read inspires me in some special way.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Superstition Victim” is the newest (third) installment in the Rollin RV Mystery series, and it was–as the first two books in the series were–inspired by some of our real-life experiences as full-time RVers, but this time Walt and Betty Rollin find themselves trying to figure out if a murder victim found in a nearby RV is in any way related to the oddball campground neighbor who can’t seem to be found. Local law enforcement can’t seem to get a handle on the case, so Walt and Betty have to bring their unique RVing experience to bear in order to solve the case. Set in the shadow of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, Walt and Betty are also dealing with rude a salesman as they try to find a new RV. The last thing they need is high pressure tactics when everything around them is tense enough.

Every time I start a new Rollin RV Mystery I set the stakes a little higher–for the characters and for myself. That’s also meant this book took longer than either of the previous two books (“Pea Body,” the first book, is set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina; “Yuma Baby,” is set in Yuma, Arizona). And I wanted to allude to the earlier books without giving anything away.

Before Covid-19 hit, I used to swap books in RV parks, laundromats, used bookstores, and anywhere I could find paperbacks to snap up. Very early on I figured out I wanted each installment in my series to stand alone, so if you missed one or couldn’t read them in order you wouldn’t miss anything. There’s nothing worse than getting into a book only to feel as though you’re learning how everything turned out in the book before that one–a book you haven’t read yet. None of that here!

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Ellen Behrens’s Website

Featured Interview With Hong Wai Onn

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Hong Wai Onn. Hong is my surname, by the way. I’m a chemical engineer by training and profession. I was born and grew up in a small family in Ipoh, Malaysia. Ipoh is the city which is famous with its surrounding mountains, limestone caves and food. I am also proud that Ipoh was listed as one of the best Asian destinations to visit in 2016 by Lonely Planet, a travel portal in the world. After my secondary school, I attended Universiti Malaysia Sabah, where I studied chemical engineering. Right now, I’m staying at Kuala Lumpur, a federal territory and the capital city of Malaysia. This is where the tallest twin towers in the world is located.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
When I got involved in the Institution of Chemical Engineers, I often found myself drawing upon my experiences at one of the country’s leading oil palm plantation companies. I learned that many of the experiences and knowledge I gained are lessons from which any chemical engineer could benefit from. Through my speaking engagements, I realize that there was tremendous interest in the society in gaining a better understanding of the inner workings of this profession. The seed was planted, but I still had not decided to capture my experiences on paper. I gained the final commitment and motivation to write my first book after I had a coffee talk with Mahbob Abdullah, a veteran of the palm oil industry and author of “Planter’s Tales” and “Planter Upriver”. He passed me a book authored by him entitled “Now You Too Can Write!” and encouraged me to share my experiences with others in the form of writing, just as he did. That is how my first nonfiction memoir book, “A Chemical Engineer in the Palm Oil Milling Industry” came about in my late thirties.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like to read autobiographies and biographies, business, memoir, and self-help. I have been influenced by every single book I have ever read. However, to keep this section a reasonable length, I’m counting Mahbob Abdullah and John Maxwell. Mahbob Abdullah wrote few books that made me want to write and publish my work. He shared his life as a plantation manager from a view of a very experienced Malaysian planter, rather than a European one. There are almost perfect stories in “Planter’s Tales” and “Planter Upriver”. His book “Now You Too Can Write!” has influenced me greatly too. John C. Maxwell wrote many books. He has influenced me the way I receive and participate in leadership along with public speaking.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“A Chemical Engineer in the Palm Oil Milling Industry” is the first and also the latest book that I have published (in August 2020). Palm oil is a big business. Palm oil has been widely used in food and non-food industries. More than half the products on sale in supermarkets are made with palm oil—yet many people hardly know anything about this industry. They don’t even know chemical engineers have a significant role to play in this industry. Hence, I am motivated to write a book to provide a series of episodes for readers to discover the opportunities chemical engineers have in the palm oil milling industry. I hope this non-fiction memoir book could bring readers closer to the most enigmatic profession of all time. Well, I’m also excited to share that my book has received Literary Titan Gold Award and a 5-star review rating from Readers’ Favorite! The book is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Kobo and other major retailers.

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Featured Interview With Billy J. Barnum

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born in Bridgeport CT where my direct descendant died. He was “The greatest showman on earth” non other than P.T.Barnum. Raised in Stratford CT, and now reside in Ansonia CT. I have 2 birds and a cat crazy huh? lol 🙂

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing in my early to mid teens and I had a vivid imagination and started out writing songs and playing the guitar. Through natural progression I then started writing poetry that just poured out of my mind like some unknown spirit was responsible for writing them while my hand and pen were moving.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Favorite authors may be Dr. Seuss the cat in the hat and red fish, blue fish. It’s poetry and will live forever through our youth. I like profound poetry like the kind I write. I don’t really have an inspiration for writing when it comes to me I write it down quickly before it’s gone.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book “Move over Shakespeare Tales From The Baron” is being called in certain circles one of the greatest poetry book of a generation for which I am very humbled by that assumption. It has imagination, depth, tragedy, love, humility, sadness, and yes even humor.

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Billy J. Barnum’s Website

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Featured Interview With Sergio Bersanetti

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Turin, Italy, but my job first and my curiosity later brought me to places like Los Angeles, Manchester (Connecticut), Munich, Barcelona and Cracow. In all these cities I spent from some months to several years, and I learned a lot about different lifestyles and points of view. By the way, that is something that I often try to convey in my books too.
Now I’m back in Italy and I live next to my parents and my brother. My mother has three cats, which unfortunately I’m allergic to even though I really like them, and they seem to like me even more 🙂

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I can’t even remember when I started reading books, I guess the answer is since I learned to read, although of course initially they were children books.
About writing: for several years I wrote articles about music and sports, and I did interviews to fellow musicians (I make music too). Only fairly recently I switched to books; my first output was a self-help guide, then I gradually switched to fiction, where I intend to settle. At the moment I feel comfortable with novellas, but I’m sure that one day I will write a novel too.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read a little bit of everything, although I seem to enjoy mostly inspirational books. What I mean by that is either non fiction that teaches how to live at my best, or biographies of people who made a difference in this word.
When it comes to fiction, Elena Ferrante is my hero. I wish I could write half as good as she does.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Antonio’s Wait” is quite and unusual book, in the sense that it blends non fiction and fiction. I wrote down some ideas on how I would like the world to be on several subjects, from children education to work relationships and so on. That is the non fiction or inspirational part of the book, and I completed it in a couple of years. It was not meant to be part of a book, initially, so I was writing only when I felt deeply connected to the thought that my mind produced.
Then I built a story around all these quotes and thoughts, which was really fun to do and took me just about one month to complete.
Antonio is a kind man, quite naive and also funny in his own way. Luckily he has a stong woman by his side, who takes care of the practical aspects of life even though she is a kind spirit too.
Then we have some other family members and friends, who also make his life more interesting and sometimes challenging.
The story develops during the 12 hours that preceed the birth of his first son, so I had to use some flashbacks or the book would have only 30 pages or so 🙂

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Sergio Bersanetti’s Website

Featured Interview With Brian J Savage

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Oruiginally from manchester. I then worked in IT in Birmingham for 20 years, before taking early retirement.
I now live in Shropshire, where my Pandemic Virus series is set.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I remenber my mother being pleased when I started reading for pleasure. The first book I recall reading was called ‘Half a World Away’ and was set in Australia. This was re-read many times.

I HATED writing at school, as my handwriting is bad (It still is).
Computers changed all that.

I had to write reports at work, and after early retiremnt I got invlved with writing articles for the travel industry in 2000. Following that, my wife and i were asked to write workshop manuals. We also wrote the centre spread for the National Exhibition Centre Motorhome show magazine.

I only started writing fiction in 2018.My Pandemic Virus books must have been very prescient!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Favourite genres are Science fiction, including the great authors such as Robert A Heinlein.
I love crime stories of all sorts/
In addition I rerad a lot of action adventure.

My own books may be classified as Post Apocalyptic Science Fiction, but in many ways they are more action and adventure. They concentrate on how adaptable peopla are and how they survive after a disaster.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The first book in my series FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL starts just before a pandmic changes the world for ever. It concentrates on the first year for the survivors.
Book two, THE END OF HUMANITY, covers year two and how they mange to gather goods together for their security and survival.

I am writing book THREE at present (Mid 2020) and this will continue the story. There is at least one more book to be written in the series, but this may be extended, if I have enough ideas!

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Featured Interview With Aswathy Vadakel

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an Educator, Author and Painter.After a six years of Teaching Career,I have penned my first book “Mon Amour”(A Collection of Romantic Poems) in 2020.
I was born in Kerala,an Indian State and attended high school in Idukki District,Kerala.I have earned my degrees in Tourism Studies,Diplomas and Certificates in Education too.Currently I am living with my father,mother, brother and my pet dog in Kerala.
I was a University Topper in Tourism Studies and I was appreciated for my volunteering work for United Nations Environmental Programme by UNEP, Government of India and Government of Andra Pradesh.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Immediately after I learned to read a word, I read whatever book I get in my hand.From the age of four, I am facinated with books,but I started my writing little bit late.In 2020 January only I started writing.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors to read are Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (Malayalam Author) and William Shakespeare.Historical Romance is my
favorite genre to read.Well,my love,my imagination and my own experience.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Well,my latest book titled “Mon Amour” is a collection of 25 Romantic Poems.This 25 poems covers various versions of romance such as break-up, waiting,dreams,etc.

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Featured Interview With Cady Hammer

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello! My name is Cady Hammer, and I am the author of Chasing Fae, a young adult fantasy novel that is just about to be released! I grew up in North Carolina, and I currently attend college in Virginia. I have always been a writer. I wrote my first novel at the age of eleven between classes. Although that text will never see the light of day, I continued experimenting with stories throughout my school years. I was often teased for being off in my own world a bit, but I have never hesitated to invite others along on the adventure I was weaving. My college studies of history and anthropology play a major role in the worldbuilding in my stories, particularly this debut novel. It is always my goal to create a world that readers want to step into, a world where they can breathe in the air and feel the wind on their skin as they stroll through a market or a city center. I also run the internationally-read website, Fluff About Fantasy, a place for young writers to learn the genre-specific craft of writing fantasy and be inspired by what they can accomplish. It is important to me to get more young people writing and creating. I know that there are a lot of talented middle school, high school, and college students who just need a little push to get them started.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Reading was the first activity that captivated me as a child. As a two year old, I begged my parents to read these giant Disney anthologies of stories over and over again to me. My first word was “again”. My mom tells me that my grandfather was the only one who would read all 200 pages and then start back at the beginning when I asked for more. I learned to read by memorization at first, but through that, I was able to recognize words and learn quickly. All of my elementary school teachers had a hard time keeping enough books in the classroom for me to read! That fascination never died through middle school and high school although I regret that I have much less time to read now. I started writing stories as young as six or seven, but I started thinking about longer form writing like novels around ten. I wrote my first book when I was eleven. I think it would be considered a novella now. I started and stopped several novels over the next eight years, mostly YA contemporary romances and middle grade fantasies. I love the process of creating new worlds and characters. It’s just so much fun.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare, Julie Kagawa, Victoria Aveyard, Amanda Joy, Rick Riordan. I could honestly go on and on. Sarah J. Maas is my favorite author of all time; I love her Court of Thorns and Roses series. Rick Riordan is also amazing. I grew up reading the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus books. All of these authors are wonderful, and I know there are at least a dozen others I could include. Fantasy is my favorite genre, of course. Sarah J. Maas is my absolute favorite author of all time, and both her Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series inspired me to tackle my own fantasy book. I listened to a book talk of hers when A Court of Thorns and Roses first came out, and it was amazing. She listens to music when she writes to inspire different sections or scenes just like I do, and hearing her process and her laughter when she spoke made me feel like I could be an author someday just like her. I am a huge Rick Riordan fan; his Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series were a big part of my childhood. The Harry Potter series and the Mortal Instruments series are also two of my favorites; the former was my introduction to fantasy, and the latter was my favorite series for the longest time. Cassandra Clare writes some of the best characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I could just go on and on.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Chasing Fae follows the story of Grace Richardson, a young mortal woman whose only concerns are providing for her family, playing her violin, and spending as much time as possible with her brother, Leo. When Leo goes into service in the Fae’s world as a mercenary, she expects him to return with the honor that he deserves. When Leo suddenly dies in an unspecified accident, not a word, medal, or penny comes down from the higher-ups. Suspecting foul play, Grace disguises herself as a Fae and sneaks into the Upper Realm to get some answers. She anticipates being in way over her head, but the Fae soldier who discovers her true identity only a day in? Not so much. Now Grace is forced to drag Aiden along as she tries to work out exactly how and why her brother died. Along the way, she has no choice but to confront her prejudices against the Fae as she attempts to sort out the difference between the honest and the dishonest. Political conspiracies, demon realm escapades, and family secrets will all lead Grace to the answers she’s looking for… and some that she isn’t. I absolutely loved writing this book. This was the first idea in a long time that I had been able to take from start to finish and keep the same level of passion throughout the process. I love my main character, Grace; she is such a stubborn and driven character, yet she has some emotional fragility. I hope that she really resonates with readers. I love the world that the story is set in, the Three Realms. The Upper Realm is Fae, the Middle Realm is mortal, and the Lower Realm is demon. The Upper Realm has twelve Noble Houses for readers to navigate, each with their own unique landscape and culture. I spent eight months working on the worldbuilding for Chasing Fae, so I hope that readers love it.

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