Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Sunidhi Raiya

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I have been living in the capital city of New Delhi, India since childhood. I have completed my education here. My interests in writing developed here only while i was in 8th standard. I haven’t stopped working towards being better since then. I have a little munchkin, my dog, Shaggy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was little when i learned i could write. It actually began from a school poetry writing contest. I still remember how much i enjoyed it. My soul has made a sweet home in my words since then. I can relate to words. I apply them in my real life. Words inspire me to become a better version of me. Afterall, what are we if not collection of words ourselves.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are plenty. I have been a reader since the time i remember. I love Sidney Sheldon, Agatha Christie, John Green, Danielle Steel, Victoria Aveyard, Twinkle Khanna, Sudha Murthy, Durjoy Datta, Stephen King and so many more.

I am a person who is easily influenced by books. I would say each book i read leaves a part of it in me. I am inspired by everything. I have build a habit of taking selective quotes or paragraph from each book and keep it with me, apply it practically in my life always.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The latest book, I participated in was an anthology, a collection of poetry, compiled by Randhir Kaur. My poetries were published in it. It’s available on kindle and amazon.

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Featured Interview With Brent Tyler

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
“Let me tell you a few things about myself. Since moving to France, I have compared my life to that of a ball spinning on a roulette wheel. I have absolutely no idea where I am going to land up next and it still comes as a complete surprise when I find myself there. Debbie and I have been living in France now for nine years and in each of those nine years we have spent Christmas in a different place.”

“My father was a man who found it very difficult to settle in a job, so much so that when he got up in the morning, his mother used to say ‘What are you going to be today, son?’ Perhaps, it is no wonder that my CV is, how shall I say, so chequered.”

“I live in the south of France with my lovely wife, Debbie, where we seem to hop from working for one stupidly rich lunatic to the next.”

“During our time here we have been adopted by a wonderful dog, Guss, who is not only an amazing footballer but is also both adorable and affectionate. I have never seen a dog who understands people so well and can melt hearts within moments of meeting him.”

“My short-term memory is a shocker and although I have no problem recalling people’s faces, mannerisms and moods, extremely vividly, I couldn’t tell you the colour of the walls in this room, as I type. I have never kept a diary but as someone once put it, I don’t bear a grudge, I just remember the facts.”

“In my spare time I like to walk the hound, write, play games and eat nice food. I am useless with technology. I have no idea what an app is and haven’t a clue how to use social media. I don’t own a Smartphone – I have a brick.”

“I began to write my first book, Cookham to Cannes as I was sitting in our living room in La Garde Freinet. It, perhaps, sounds a cliché but I have always thought that I didn’t write the book – it wrote me. Sometimes, I think that things that happen to you in life can be so astonishing and unbelievable that there is no other way but to commit those thoughts to paper. It’s taken me three years to complete but I think it was worth it. Besides, writing the book was so much cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist.”

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
To be perfectly honest I don’t have a fascination with books – I just enjoy writing. I started writing around twenty years ago. My wife, Debbie, and I owned a food magazine.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As I’ve said, I really don’t read books – I read a lot of newspapers. If I had to pick a favourite genre it would be autobiographies. I find people’s lives much more fascinating than fiction. The people that inspire me to write are the people that I come into contact with on a daily basis.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book ‘Same Circus Different Clowns’ is very much a continuation of my first book ‘Cookham To Cannes’

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Featured Interview With E. R. Yatscoff

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Edward Yatscoff was born in the Niagara Peninsula and now resides Alberta, Canada. He’s backpacked the world, visited six continents, and lived in Australia. From steelworker to assembly lines to construction work he finally settled down to a 32-year career as a firefighter. He’s played drums in a Big Band, climbed the Great Wall of China (Jinshanling section) , honeymooned during the Grenada Revolution, snorkeled with a marlin, tried smuggling a Playboy into Communist Russia, egged an Aussie PM, and met his future wife on a freighter in the South China Sea. Presently he manages a writer’s group, river floats, camps, does occasional renos, reads profusely, gardening, pickleball, and drinks demon rum. He has written 11 novels YA, MG, and adult crime, travel articles, and short stories. Among his notable awards are winner of the John Bilsland Non-Fiction Award and a Crime Writers of Canada Finalist. He has recently signed with BWL Publishing who are rebranding his firefighter series crime novels

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
In grade school I was enthralled by Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes series then went into science fiction. But when my friend showed me Spiderman comic #1, I became a Marvel fan. I published my first article–non-fiction–for big bucks in a national magazine and that led to a 10 year drought of rejections. I suppose I began writing about then which was 20 years ago

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like a mix of investigative/tough guy stories whether by cops, lawyers, PIs or anyone else and good historical fiction or drama. Dan Fesperman, Robert Crais, LeHane, J.L. Burke (opening pages are the best ever), Baldacci, Connelly, Deverell, Child–just so many I can’t pin one down. I do mix in non-fiction every 3rd or 4th book to clear my head of fiction characters. I read an average of 45 books a year. Every poorly written book I’ve read has spurred me on to write because I knew I can do better. There are still books I come across that are poorly researched regarding investigative protocols. All the authors had to do was befriend a cop.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
FIRE DREAM is the 1st in my firefighter crime series as well as the 1st firefighter crime fiction in Canada. It was conceived on a visit to my hometown in the Niagara Peninsula when I ran into some high school people (and an old flame) who remarked on my firefighting career. It also evoked some less than pleasant memories. My story stars a heroic fire captain, a master at chaos control. But nothing prepares him for the deadly situations in his hometown. It’s a different kind of chaos. It’s fun to throw a character into the maelstrom. In my historical fiction novel THE RUMRUNNER’S BOY it is a teenager I throw into the mix of criminals, liquor smugglers, and WW1 vets during U.S. Prohibition. FIRE DREAM was rebranded from Old Flames BWL Publishing

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Featured Interview With Josh Hill

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a young writer living in northern Utah. I was born and raised here. I like 70’s music, and I’m trying to learn how to play the saxophone.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always liked to write stories since I can remember, but I first seriously started my books when i was nineteen. I honestly didn’t ready a lot as a teenager, but, at sixteen, I picked up The Shining and haven’t stopped since.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I always like to keep an open eye to authors, but I love to read Stephen King. My favorite genre is definitely medieval fantasy, but I have a huge respect for horror and crime drama.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
It is the first to my medieval fantasy series called The Dark Raid Chronicles. It revolves around a young boy who goes searching for his brother after discovering an old family secret. It deals in magic, different races, and realistic medieval diversities.

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Featured Interview With Yolanda M.P. Coleman

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens 40Projects. I was raised by my mom’s eldest sister in the same house with my 2 cousins. Until this day, I call them my big brother & big sister. I eventually moved with my children to Baisley Housing Apartment. In 1998, I got married & had my last child. We eventually relocated to Richmond, VA in 2001. I’ve been living here for about 19yrs.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was always fascinated with writing & drawing at an early age. In middle school, I had a diary. I would write my feelings and what was going on with my day.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Judy Blume and Nancy Drew but as a young child. I loved Dr. Seuss books especially “Green Eggs and Ham” I would read this to my children. My publisher, Ayoka Boyce was very motivational & inspired me to join writing challenges which I enjoyed doing. I eventually wrote my first book.
I currently enjoy reading self-help, inspirational, leadership, drama & romance books.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My first book is called “From Broken to Reborn” it takes you on a journey through my life as I transitioned from death to having life. I take off the mask and becomes completely transparent about my childhood trauma, domestic violence and the destructive lifestyle that nearly caused my demise.

Featured Interview With Sabine Garvey Campbell

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Northern Virginia. After college I moved to Colorado for graduate school. Five years ago I came home to Virginia where I now live on a hobby farm with my husband and two children, twins. We share our lives with four dogs, two cats and four birds. When I am not working, I spend my time writing, painting and coloring.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I wrote my first poem when I was in grade school. In the years that followed, I continued writing poetry but it was always a dream of mine to write a book. When I moved back to Virginia I finally found myself in a position to pursue that dream so I wrote my first fiction book in 2016. The second book in the series followed in 2017. After realizing only marginal success I stepped back and evaluated myself as a writer. It was then that I decided to direct my talents towards non-fiction writing. As Mark Twain once said, “Write what you know.” My first non-fiction book was released this month.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My first passion for reading is and has always been mysteries. My love affair with Agatha Christie began thirty years ago and since then I added Sue Grafton to my list of favorite mystery writers.

I also enjoy reading self help books that capture stories of personal development. I am always trying to be the best version of myself in anything and everything I do so I find it inspiring to read stories of people who have successfully gone before me.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is titled “An Unexpected Road to Motherhood.”

I wrote this book over Christmas vacation in 2018 when I was home for two weeks with my family. My children have finally reached the age that they are becoming independent. Watching them grow and learn reminded me of all the love, time and effort that had gone into raising them this far. And, how when I became their mother, I did not know what to expect and came to find that it was not like I had imagined it would be which is fine with me.

“Most little girls dream of meeting their Prince Charming, getting married, and becoming a mother like something they read in a fairy tale. For some lucky girls, life goes just as planned but for others, the fairy tale gets rewritten into something that reads more like a mystery. And then, there are girls like me whose story turns out to be a little bit of both. Like the fairy tale, I met my Prince Charming and we got married, but then my road to motherhood became unexpected, complicated, and unpredictable just like a good mystery. Fortunately, I always knew that life had a plan for me and that if I never gave up, I would one day find my happy ending.”

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Featured Interview With Rosemary Morris

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a multi-published romantic historical novelist from Hertfordshire in the U.K. There is a gigantic canvas for a historical novelist to choose from.
My novels are set in the reign of Edward II, Queen Anne Stuart, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, and the ever-popular Regency era.
I chose those periods because each of them affected the course of history. If the Duke of Marlborough had not won The War of Spanish Succession, and The Duke of Wellington had been defeated by Napoleon at The Battle of Waterloo, the history of Britain and that of Europe would be different. Defeat would also have had far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world. If Edward II had won the Battle of Bannockburn, it is feasible that he would have conquered Scotland and, perhaps, as it is claimed, he would not have been murdered.
The more I read about my chosen eras the more fascinated I become, and the more aware of the gulf between the past and present. Those who lived in the past shared the same emotions as we do, but their attitudes and way of life were in many ways very different to ours. One of the most striking examples was the social position of women and children in in bygone ages.
My characters, are of their time, not men, women and children dressed in costume who behave like 21st century people.
Research of my chosen eras sparks my imagination. The seeds of my novels are sown, and from them sprout the characters and events which will shape their lives.
I was born in Kent. As a child, when I was not making up stories, my head was ‘always in a book.’
While working in a travel agency, I met my Hindu husband. He encouraged me to continue my education at Westminster College. In 1961 I and my husband, by then a barrister, moved to his birthplace, Kenya, where I lived from 1961 until 1982. After an attempted coup d’état, four of my children lived with me in an ashram in France.
Back in England, I wrote historical fiction, joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Historical Novel Society, Watford Writers and on line groups, and am now published by Books We Love Ltd
Apart from writing, I enjoy classical Indian literature, reading, visiting places of historical interest, vegetarian cooking, growing organic fruit, herbs and vegetables and creative crafts.
My eight foot by twelve foot is so crammed with historical non-fiction, which I use to research my novels, that if I buy a new book I have to consider getting rid of one.
Time spent with my five children and their families, most of whom live near me, is precious

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with books began before I could read. My mother told me I memorised my favourite stories, opened my books and turned the pages as I recited them. After I learned to read and write I wrote poetry and stories for my own amusement until I wrote my first novel in my early twenties.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have too many favourite authors to list. Some of them are Elizabeth Chadwick, Bernard Cornwall, Barbara Erskine, Agatha Christy, Georgette Heyer, Elizabeth Goudge, Mary Stewart, Sir Walter Scott, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen.
I read more historical fiction than any other.
Historical non-fiction inspires me. For example, I wrote Yvonne, Lady of Cassio after delving with great enjoyment into books about the early fourteenth century. What, I asked myself, was it like for a couple in an arranged marriage who disliked each other and, apart from their rank, had nothing in common?

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Saturday’s Child, which will be published in July, 2020, is the last stand alone novel in my series, heroines born on different days of the week. In the words of the nursery rhyme ‘Saturday’s child work’s hard for a living.’
The child in my novel is Annie, who was born in Portugal during the Napoleonic Wars. After her mother died, Annie continued to ‘follow the drum’ with her father a hussar. After the battle of Waterloo he was discharged. Unemployed, he and Annie are on the brink of starvation when he begs for help from Mrs Tarrant, daughter of an officer he served under. Life forces Annie to deal with may trials during which she works hard for a living.

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Featured Interview With Abbie Payne

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up and I am still currently living just outside of Houston, Texas. I have a German Shepherd mix named Yoda (yes, I’m a major Star Wars nerd). I’ve always had a wild imagination (which I tended to get made fun of for by my classmates when I was younger), but I think that’s what helps me when it comes to writing my books. I primarily focus on fantasy and dystopian novels, but I also love to try and dabble in a little bit of everything whenever I can. I currently have five books out (three different series) and I’m working on releasing another.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always been a reader. My mom and grandma were always readers and I was taught to read and write before I even started school. I’ve also always loved telling stories and I fondly remember insisting to my mother that I read the book that she would read to me every night, but then completely changing the story around until it wasn’t even like the original story except for the characters. I started writing when I was in elementary school, but I was pretty severely bullied during those years. I remember when I was in second grade, my classmates and I all got to write short stories that our teacher later made into little “books” for each of us to keep. I was so incredibly proud of my story, but that quickly faded when everyone started to laugh at me for my story. In fourth grade, we were supposed to write a story about pirates and my teacher failed me for the assignment because I was being “too creative”. I ended up quitting after that and I only tried again when I was in seventh grade (I believe I was 12 at that time). I started again because my anxiety and depression were becoming more and more unmanageable and I simply couldn’t find any outlet for it. However, as I started writing again, I quickly fell in love with the craft again and I also figured out that it helped me to put my fears down on paper and that’s what I kept doing. Towards the end of that school year, I went home and told my mother that I wanted to be an author and that I was going to be publishing a book. I don’t think she thought very much of it at the time (I mean, duh, I was pretty young at the time and I wasn’t very well-known for sticking to anything), but I meant it. At the end of ninth grade, at 15, I finished my first book and ended up self-publishing The Secret Two just a few months later. After that, I seemed to become addicted to the art and I slowly began writing and publishing more and more stories. Now, I’m getting ready to publish my sixth book and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon.

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 fantasy, dystopian, and non-fiction, but I do tend to read pretty far across the board. My absolute favorite author is S.E. Hinton (I read “The Outsiders” when I was in eighth grade, extremely depressed, and contemplating suicide and I strongly credit that book for being one of the things that saved my life), but I also greatly enjoy the classics: Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald are just a few of my favorites.
I can’t pinpoint one person or thing that inspires my writing. I know that S.E. Hinton inspires a lot of my personal writing style, but I tend to get inspired by a lot of people – both fellow authors and normal, everyday people.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My sixth book is coming out in late October. It is a new adult/adult fantasy novel and it’s the first of its series. The book is called “The Light We Lost” and the series is called “The Stardust Circle”. Here’s the synopsis:
“Blood, death, and gore as far as the eye could see… and a High Priestess Serena standing on top of it all.”Nadia, Jade, Spencer, and Priamos have spent the best part of their lives trying to keep a massive part of who they were a secret. They kept themselves as separated from the rest of their coven as possible, not telling anyone about who they were – not even Priamos’ brother, Tempest, until he discovered he was already one of them. The number one rule for the entire group is very simple: absolutely no one can know about what sets them apart from the rest of the town. However, when the reigning High Priestess begins to lose her control over Wolf’s Hollow and the Stardust Circle, they realize that there’s a grave danger in Wolf’s Hollow and that they might just be the only ones that can put a stop to it.
This book took me two months to write, though it took me A LOT longer to plan it out, This book is also quite different from everything else that I’ve written.
This book all started because I was once in my college U.S. history class and my professor was telling us the story about what happened with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died and uttered the phrase “Jefferson still lives”. He told us that we couldn’t write a story about it because no one would believe it and my only response was “but can I try?” Then, a few months later, I started toying with the idea of a bunch of characters that had memories from significant historical events, and eventually, The Stardust Circle was born.

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Featured Interview With Rey Cena

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Ecuador but came to Los Angeles when a was young and lived there ever since. I have a dog name Sparky but had other pets like a duck, quails, and chickens.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I always wanted to write stories about heroes like in the comics. I grew up watching comics as a child. Just a couple of years ago I started expressing my artistic talent such as music writing and now writing books.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Stan Lee is my role model. He inspires me to write some of my books. Stephen King is another great mind I admire along with Guillermo del Toro.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
This book combines all my passion for music, life in Los Angeles, my passion for creating a different type of hero, and my experiences working in different jobs. I wanted to create a different type of hero. One with musical powers.

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Featured Interview With Pastor Janet M. Fears D.D

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My Bio:
I was born and raised in Joliet , IL USA
I worked at Joliet Township Central campus, also Joliet East Campus & Joliet West Campus, for over 32 years, then retired to pursue my writing dreams, in 2004.
I have  a degree in “Fitness & Nutrition,” from International Correspondence Schools in Scranton, PA.  I have a degree in Fiction writing from NRI schools in Washington DC, where I graduated with honors. I write poetry, black folklore, plays, children christian books, and romantic christian novels.
I publish with Create-space and Kindle on Amazon

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was 8 years old, I love reading and often heard stories in my mind. I started writing the down on paper and it grew from there!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Danielle Steel. My favorite genre to read is christian romance. God inspires my writing as I read the word. Most of my writings are in the Christian genre, even my poetry books, as well as my children books too!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
With Graduation less than ten months away, Talitha Jones has no idea what to do with her life, but it doesn’t include serving God. Not yet. Maybe later, after she’s experienced life, love,
and traveled the world. But a new assignment places her as the assistant to Professor Joshua
Shadday. A Teacher from Israel, teaching beginning Hebrew. Suddenly nothing is the same, as she discovers the Professor is like no man she’s ever met before. She begins to question just who is this man, who calls himself Professor Joshua Shadday!

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Featured Interview With Sara Hosey

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in New York and I’ve lived in a bunch of different neighborhoods in Queens, including Flushing, Jackson Heights, and Richmond Hill. Where I grew up and came of age has had a huge influence on my writing–which I think is obvious in my debut novel, Iphigenia Murphy, but which also plays out in some of my other work, including my short story, “Revenge of the Nerds,” which will be appearing in Casino Literary Magazine this summer.

Yes–I have a wonderful dog and two darling cats and many adored plants.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Reading has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I started reading young and I have no memory of ever not loving reading or, as I’ve gotten older, being without a book or two going.

I started writing when I was 5 or 6 and I still have my first story, about a little girl named Rita. Not much happens–it’s basically a recounting of my own day-to-day life–but there is a story there and there is conflict–will Rita’s friend come over or not?

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Right now I’m reading Hilary Mantel’s newest book–“The Mirror and the Light”–and it’s sublime, of course. I love short fiction–I am looking forward to reading Kelly Fordon’s “I Have the Answers” next.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My ya debut, “Iphigenia Murphy,” tells the story of a 15-year old runaway who sets out in search of her long-lost mother and makes a life for herself in a wooded park in Queens. Just like Iffy, the friends she makes in the park—Angel, a stray dog with the most ridiculous tail; Corinne, a young trans woman who is escaping her own abusive situation; and Anthony, a former foster kid from upstate whose parents are addicts—each seek a place where they feel at home. Whether fate or coincidence has brought them together, within this community of misfits Iffy can finally be herself, but she still has to face the effects of abandonment and abuse—and the possibility that she may be pregnant. During what turns out to be a remarkable journey to find her mother, will Iffy ultimately discover herself?

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Featured Interview With Texi Smith

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hey there, born and bred in a rural market town in Northumberland, near Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK. Had some adventures around Europe and ended up in Sydney, Australia. Living with my two beautiful kids and dog Duke in the burbs and writing Unashamed Football Novels.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always had a fascination with writing, and that started at an early age. Match reporting for the Uni was the big turning point, a magazine editor role then honed those skills before launching head first into writing novels. First novel published in 2019.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’ve read a lot of football autobiographies, biographies and the like. One author I did get sucked into was Christopher Brookmyre, a Scottish crime novelist. He’s so detailed in his writing, even when he doesn’t need to be. I have a feeling that my writing is influenced by his works.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is “Jarrod Black – Guilty Party” and it’s due out in May 2020. It is book three in the series following the life and times of Jarrod Black. He’s an Aussie, plays football in the English Football League and has never quite made it to the Premier League. So excited about this book coming out!

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Featured Interview With Yodassa Williams

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. My family was the only Jamaican family in the neighborhood, and one of just a few black families. So even among the minority, I was a minority! This time taught me the importance of advocating for myself. I realized no one would understand how I experienced or viewed life unless I shared it myself.
I currently live in the Bay Area in California and do not have any pets, but hope to get a miniature pig one day.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have had a love affair with books since the very start. I can remember being too young to read, but being fascinated with the covers of books, and wanting so badly to figure out the story that was going on between the pages. I was so excited to learn how to read, and to be able to unlock the secrets to any book I could touch.
I started writing when I was around seven, and my parents divorced. I felt very scared and sad about the changes in my family; my sisters going to college, my mother and father separating. I remember this is when I realized there was something special about being able to write out my feelings and not keep them bottled inside me.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have always leaned towards science fiction and fantasy books and films. I love being absorbed into a world that is different but still relatable to this one.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Goddess Twins is a black girl magic fantasy. This is the type of story I have been wanting to read for my whole life, and in writing this novel, I thought a lot about my inner child, and what she needed to hear to feel inspired and powerful.
This book centers on two sisters, Arden and Aurora, who discover they are goddesses when their mother goes missing. Each chapter is told in an alternating twin’s voice, so readers are able to follow along on this adventure that shapes and matures the twins into powerful women.

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Featured Interview With Paz Ellis

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in New Jersey and I am still a Jersey girl at heart. I now live on the west coast of Florida with my husband and two sons. We moved here after living on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is beautiful but it lacked my happy place… the beach! I have a writing companion named, Remi. He is a ten-pound Maltipoo that thinks he is a two-hundred-pound wolf!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I grew up in a household of voracious readers. My father used to write Cuban folk songs and one of my uncles is a poet. Like my older sister, I kept journals from an early age and wrote poems and short stories. When I was about 12 years old my mother bought me my first hardcover book. It was a beautiful copy of “Little Women.” I looked at it and realized my name would be on a book cover one day. However, my first book was a product of grief. I wrote a memoir several months after my mother passed away and I have not stopped since that day.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Ayn Rand, Jeanette Walls, Amy Harmon, Ken Follet, Ernest Hemingway, Frank McCourt and so many more! I love memoirs and historical fiction, and all the classics.

I am inspired by people, by love, and by life. All my books thus far have a piece of me or my family history as the inspiration or springboard.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Plantains and the Seven Plagues- A memoir: Half-Dominican, Half-Cuban, and Full Life” is a collection of memories, stories, love, pain, grief, and family connections. As a child born to a Dominican mother and Cuban father, I struggled with their assimilation as they became hyphenated-Americans as well as my own hyphenations. There were multiple moves, school bullies, few friends, and a large, loving family to help me find my way and grow into the person I am. Inspired by the recent passing of my mother, I found myself entrenched in the past looking for answers and resolution to my grief. The result is this memoir that I dedicate to the memory of my loving parents.

It was a surprisingly smooth quick book to write. I was so lost after I lost my mother that I began writing the stories my parents had told me about their lives when they moved to New York. I interviewed my uncle, my mother’s only living brother to get more details about their difficult childhood in the Dominican Republic. Before I knew what was happening, I had written a book. A few months later I wrote my second book, “Just Finn” about a young man with Asperger syndrome, inspired by my brother who also struggles with Asperger syndrome.

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Featured Interview With Kaye D. Schmitz

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. While my immediate family has either passed away or left the area, I still have several cousins and many, many high school friends I continue to keep up with even though it’s been decades since we graduated. For the past 40 years, I have lived in Florida, the last 15 of which I have spent just north of beautiful, ancient St. Augustine. I am a regular contributor to some of our local magazines and spend as much time as possible with friends, children, and grandchildren.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My mother was an avid reader and made me one as well. She read to me right from the very beginning and I had a huge collection of Little Golden Books–which, sadly, got destroyed when they passed to my little brother. But when I had children and grandchildren, we built the collection back up again and I loved revisiting some of my favorite stories with them. We had the complete Dr. Seuss collection, too, and when I write poetry, my poems still tend to emulate the Seussian-style.

I have also always been a writer, and was first published at the age of ten-years-old, when my flower-filled fantasy, “The Garden,” was printed in my small hometown newspaper. I wrote short stories and poems during my teens and early twenties, and then dryer stuff in the form of business proposals and non-profit grant requests during the bulk of my working years. But when I visited an ancient cemetery in Midway, Georgia, one of the spirits there reached out to me and my first novel, THE CONSORT CONSPIRACY, was born. Now that I am retired, my newest novel, ON DEADLY GROUNDS, the first in a series, will be released on May 8. So far, my books are suspense with history and mystery woven in. I say so far, because one of the next books I will write is a vampire story with quite a wonderful twist.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
In my early days, I read everything from Sidney Sheldon to Danielle Steele, but tired of Danielle’s formulaic writing and the sex in Sidney Sheldon’s books finally outweighed the stories, so I gave them up, too. My last several years have been focused on thriller writers with Dan Brown, David Morrell, and Steve Berry as my favorites. I have had the pleasure to meet many authors at various conferences, David Morrell and Heather Graham among them. But my real favorite is Steve Berry, who also happens to be a neighbor and a friend. Steve, in fact, gave me a cover blurb for my newest book. I am inspired by prolific writers Kristin Hannah and Diana Gabaldon, however, I am fascinated by debut author Delia Owens. They all–the women, especially–inspire me to keep going on days when I look at what I wrote the day before and declare it “garbage.” I have learned that every writer goes through periods of that, so I keep plowing ahead. And it all works. Eventually.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
ON DEADLY GROUNDS is my newest book and is the first in a “Deadly” series, with the second book–the one I’m working on now, titled FROM DEADLY TIES. This series is led by strong heroine, Mattie Maguire, who, after a traumatic event in her life, returned home to her small town in North Carolina, where she lives close to her parents and grandparents. Through her efforts, her hometown has been chosen for the site of the next International G7 Summit when it cycles back to the states in 2020. Here is a sneak preview of the books’ description:

“On the eve of an international G7 Summit, event coordinator Mattie Maguire discovers that the venue, a century-old estate close to Asheville, NC, is more than simply a picturesque setting. It is also the center of political conspiracies involving a ruthless Russian spy ring that will stop at nothing to steal the massive fortune they believe to be hidden there. The search intensifies and a rogue Russian agent attacks Mattie’s grandmother, still living on the estate. She hovers in a coma, barely clinging to life.

As Mattie struggles to protect her family and ensure a safe event for the most important leaders in the world, her discovery of a fraudulent heir to the estate puts her own life in danger as well. But when her eighty-five-year-old grandfather is kidnapped and held at gunpoint, her path becomes clear. Despite her fear, she must locate the only person who has the information the Russians seek—the estate’s rightful heir, hidden away for decades after the murder of his father. But will the true owner’s return to his childhood home put his life in danger, too?”

It only took me about six months to write this book, but more than a year to do the rewrites. And even more rewrites after I got my publishing contract. That’s just the way of the business. At least for us newer authors. But that’s okay. I trust my editor completely and I have recognized that each new iteration has made for a stronger, better story line. I’m looking forward to working with them again on the rest of the series. The best news is, we’re currently offering a special on the e-book for only 99 cents, which can be purchased at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084CSYGNK/. I hope you will take advantage of this great offer and join me for all of Mattie’s adventures.

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Featured Interview With ANR

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I have lived in Ohio my entire life, though bouncing around different spots of it as I grew.
I come from a family of writers, so I suppose being an author was inevitable. Though, I think I’ve gotten further than most of my family.
I now reside in Lawrence County, Ohio on a homestead with my three sisters, parents, two dogs, one cat, five rabbits, six hens, and one rooster.
How I manage to fit being an author into my life, is beyond me.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing in 2017, which I guess would have made me… 12 years old at the time.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like to read fantasy and romance, most particularly, the Twilight Saga.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My most recent would be “Girl of Puzzles” It is a romance novella that is out for pre-order. But I would consider that my most recent. And I wrote it because I wanted to prove that you can have love without lust. So I thought that a way to prove looks aren’t important was to have a book about a *SPOILER* blind girl who can’t see her lover. Her emotions are purely based on fate.

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Featured Interview With Phyllis H. Moore

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Phyllis H. Moore is a native Texan, raised in rural South Texas. She has a master’s degree in social work and retired from that career in 2004 when she bought and restored an historic house to operate a bed and breakfast. She’s met many characters in her life and always wanted to use that inspiration in storytelling. Strong females are the protagonists in all of her tales and there is usually a social issue or two to tackle. Phyllis enjoys resilient children in “coming of age” stories, feisty, flawed adults who continue to learn their way in the world, and characters who discover their authentic selves after years of living to please others. Recently, she’s enjoyed writing a series of mysteries, but her love is a Texas gothic with scoundrels and church ladies. She retired to Galveston Island Texas and lives there with her husband, and an adopted mutt, Savannah.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I can’t remember not reading. I always had a book to read, especially during the summers for nap time, from the public library. I enjoy fiction, especially historical fiction and nonfiction. I loved being introduced to the classics in school. I didn’t explore writing until I was 62 and living on an isolated ranch in South Texas. I started doing it to pass the time, but I became addicted when characters would continue to talk to me and inspire me to tell their stories.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
The first novel I feel in love with was Rebecca, by Daphne DuMaurier. I like the southern authors, Faulkner, Somerset Maughm, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald. Now, I like mostly female authors, especially magical realism, like Alice Hoffman, and Sarah Addison Allen. I’m currently reading Kristin Hannah. I’ve enjoyed all of her books. When I was younger, I read all of Stephen King’s books. I like a scary story, not gore, but a nail-bitter. Love Rosamunde Pilcher’s books. I think I’ve read every one, specially The Shell Seekers.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I usually write two books a year, but this year has been different. You would think a pandemic and social isolation would give me plenty of time to write, but it’s been hard to focus. My son goes to work in a hospital every day and that’s worrisome. However, I have settled down to focus some. I don’t force myself because it’s something I love to do when I’m ready. Currently, I’m working on the fourth book in a series of cozy mysteries. Meg Miller is the amateur sleuth. She doesn’t look for crimes, they find her. I’ve watched her grow from Book One, A Dickens of a Crime, where she found a dead body in an historic house she would docent for an annual homes tour. It was someone she knew, and she thought the woman’s husband was the murderer. Meg is like me, technologically challenged, so in the second book, don’t you know, her cell phone would get her in big trouble. In the third book, she unlocks the mystery of her deceased mother, a woman who committed suicide when Meg was 11. These revelations come about when she inherits a coastal ranch out of the blue. So, in this fourth book, Meg has embraced her intuitive abilities, her new found wealth, and new friends, but it’s reconnecting with old friends that will take her to another part of her little hometown and expose her to characters she didn’t know existed. I’m still figuring out who that will be, but I’m looking forward to meeting them, too. These cozies aren’t the cartoon cover type. I like my characters to have more depth than breadth. I want them to be likeable, but not without flaws, more like old friends than perfect. If they are relatable, I feel like I’ve done a good job. A reader should think they are more like them, than likable, (thought they could be both). Settings are important to me, also. I’ve lived up and down the Texas coast. I like to introduce readers to the landscape, the animals, the for a and fauna, etc. I want them to feel like they know the houses, the views and the pets. All of my characters have pets. I use Pinterest to set up boards for each novel. There readers can see the clothing, the food, the rooms, the cats, dogs, and horses. The images on Pinterest inspire the holidays in my books, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas and family gatherings. I like going up in my character’s attics and digging through their stuff. In Sabine, I did that while’s Sabine’s mother, Josephine was in the mental hospital. By the time she got home, Sabine had redone the whole house. It was so much fun.

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Featured Interview With Joy Elaine

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised on a farm and every day that it was possible to spend outside, I did. I didn’t remember, until I started writing The Joy Chronicles, that I had been playing with the fairies on our farm. In the first book in The Joy Chronicles series, Path of Sweetness, my angel guide, Esthra, jogged my memory about my childhood fairy friend, Sheliah. I am able to interact energetically with her now and there is much information about fairies in all the books in the series (but especially book two and onward). I live in the suburbs of a city in southern Indiana, but still love being outdoors.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As a child, my parents often read Little Golden Books to me. All through my young adult and adult life, the library has been one of the places I visit most often. I didn’t start writing until February of 2014 when I was sixty-eight, but since then . . . WOW.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Kage Baker, Guy Gavriel Kay, Ian Banks, Terry Pratchett, Loretta Chase, Patricia Gaffney, Penny Reid, and Judith Ivory. Sci-fi/Fantasy and Romance books are my favorite genres. Lately mostly romance novels.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Actually, my latest book is not yet published. (There are ten novels in the first series of Joy Chronicles.) The one I’m promoting now is Blossoming of Love, the second book in the series. Although my books look like they are fantasy novels, they aren’t. Three decades of esoteric studies have given me the ability to move my energy body to different dimensions and timelines.

In this book, boy fairies are created in the fairy gardens, and four million dragons are restored to a dimension of Earth. You are invited to move to a seat at the Joy Council (how to do that is explained in the book) and join famous figures from Earth’s History—King Arthur and his knights, Lincoln, JFK, Cleopatra, Antony and Caesar—as they support the vision for our evolving world.

Reading any of the books in The Joy Chronicles is like looking into your own crystal ball to see the future of Earth’s evolution, and the paths leading to the destiny of your dreams.

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Featured Interview With Katt Rose

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Langley BC and moved to Vancouver Island when I was 12, have lived on the Island ever since. We bought acreage and I was finally able to get my horse I always dreamed about, then got a foal on my 18th birthday and raised and trained her myself. that was an awesome experience. I have had 3 dogs in my life, and still have my big black dog Kaylee.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
On my 6th birthday I got a gift of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, then I started the Pony Pals series later on. I was hooked dreaming of horses.
I began writing my diary around the same time, then took it more serious in high school and got my stories published in our high school news letters. In grade 12 I wrote my first novel.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author’s are Megan Miranda, Jane Austen, and lately Ruth Ware, her books are fantastic. I seem to enjoy fiction, mystery’s, suspense. I like some romance yet I like it to be real. not love at first site with some hardships to endure.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My Latest Book is titled Forget Me Not. I was inspired from working in health care. I see so many families torn apart by things they can’t control. Its interesting to me how religion often comes into play in a time in need. Some people take advantage of their vulnerability and it ends up being more unhealthy than good.

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