Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With Amy Metz

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m almost a life-long Louisvillian. We moved here when I was six, and I’ve lived here since then except for my college years and three years after that. I live about five minutes from the house we lived in when I was in elementary school. I am currently dogless, but I do have two awesome granddogs and three grandcats.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always liked to read, but I didn’t become a voracious reader until 2007 during a tumultuous time in my life. I used books to escape life. Then in 2009, I started writing books to escape life. My first book, Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction, was based on two murders in my family’s history—one of them being a cold case murder. I grew up hearing stories about the murder and always thought someone should write a book about it. It really saddened me that the murder was never solved, so I solved it fictionally.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre is mystery. Favorite authors are Robert B. Parker, David Rosenfelt, Michael Connelly, John Sandford, Michael Lee West. Favorite non-mystery authors are David Sedaris, Rick Bragg, and Dennis Hart . . . I could go on and on.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Liars & Lunatics in Goose Pimple Junction is book 5 in the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series. It’s about liars, narcissists, and greedy people. It also has some quirky people like Special Kaye, who lies whenever she opens her mouth. There are some murders, some hijinks, some romance, and as always, some laughs.
An ex-boyfriend of mine may (wink) be the inspiration for the main character. But anyone who’s ever had a narcissist in their life will recognize this special kind of liar.
This book took me over two years to write, and it’s been three years since the fourth book in the series was published. A health issue, recovery, and a broken heart got into the way of writing. Life happens. I hope readers will be happy to catch up with the folks of Goose Pimple Junction.

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Featured Interview With Aicha Fischel

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Fez, Morocco. I have been living in NYC since almost 6 years now. I do have pets. A cat and gold fish

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started as a child but i was just writing stories from my imagination inspired by movies and cartoons. I had ideas about writing in the science fiction/fantasy category but i haven’t had a chance to do so and publish my first book until very recently.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Most of my favorite authors used to be French authors such as : Voltaire, honore de Balsac and other interesting figures in the French literature history. My favorite genre to read now is phylosophical, fantasy and science fiction. One of my best friends is an author and an actor based in LA and reading his novel inspired me to write mine, also i was inspired by a lot of elements that contributed in shaping my story such as cosmology and the law of attraction.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I just published my first book (An Echo from Gaea). Its a science fiction/fantasy novel inspired by old mythology, cosmology, universal laws and more. It took me a few months to write it and about 4 months to publish it

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Aicha Fischel’s Website

Featured Interview With John Graves

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
John has traveled extensively, with more than 80 countries’ stamps in his passport. His avocation is adventure. He has sailed to Hawaii several times as well as across the Atlantic and throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean. He has trekked the Andes, the Sahara, the Taklamakan, the Serengeti, and the Namib.

In his previous career, John was a chef. he lives in North Carolina and commutes to his CA office each quarter.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My grandmother taught me to read at age four. I thank her each day.
writing began in high school then college – a sonnet daily.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Conrad. Furst. Shakespeare. Fortey.
genre: non-fiction.
Good wordcrafting!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Death By Design.
Her foreboding eyes hide the horrid truth – she will destroy humanity unless a self-absorbed CRSPR scientist, her brilliant daughter, a sadistic interrogator or Mantis – her nemesis – can kill Tracker first..

Featured Interview With Mary Gant Bell

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Wisconsin, but moved to Texas as quickly as possible! Houston is home now. It’s where I met my amazing husband and gave birth to our beautiful daughter. We also have two cats indoors. There are always a few extra cats outdoors as well. We seem to attract them!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing family history and genealogy books about fifteen years ago. Those books were easier to write as the characters were already developed. I was blessed to meet numerous living people who shared stories of past generations with me. I didn’t really have a choice but to write it all down and document their fascinating lives. I started writing fiction last year. I have also written two daily devotionals. I really enjoyed writing the Under the Garden Tree series. It was difficult to finish the last book. I really became attached to those characters and their stories.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I enjoy reading historical fiction. It’s difficult to say who my favorite authors are. People I meet, more than authors I read, inspire me to keep writing. Everyone I meet has a story worth telling. There is so much to be learned from history. By writing our stories now, we create a history for future generations to enjoy and discover.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book was the last book in a 5-part series, Under the Garden Tree. Originally, the series was going to be three books. But I loved the characters and they had more to say! I also enjoyed the fifth book “Defining Dreams” because it is a romance novel written from the male character’s point of view. That was challenging (in a good way) and insightful.

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Mary Gant Bell’s Website

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Featured Interview With James Nathaniel Miller II

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Greetings from Central Texas! It’s only 94°F outside my window this afternoon—about the same as last week. I’ve kicked off my boots to enjoy a few quiet moments at my computer while I share with you my story.

Becoming a fiction writer wasn’t even on my bucket list. I am a past contributor to Communities Digital News, a Washington-based news source, and I’ve written a few articles for The Liberty Beacon Media Group, but My professional life has been spent mostly in the aviation industry. I have over 8000 hours as a pilot-in-command, and I have founded two aircraft refinishing companies, but my story would not be complete without telling you how and why, at the age of 66, I became a fiction author and wrote my Cody Musket series.

Our companies supported outreaches to destitute people around the world, and even sponsored a chaplaincy program in a Texas facility for troubled youth. But I became burned out after so long and decided to sell my enterprises and retire. That’s when the real trouble started, the beginning of a sixteen-year-long wilderness in my life.

First, we lost 80% of our retirement in the financial markets crash of the year 2000. After that, I lived in a state of depression and panic for several years. It was a type of PTSD, I realize now. As a Christian believer, I tried hard to trust God through it all, but eventually I didn’t even trust myself any longer.
Thereafter, I failed at everything I tried.

After sixteen years, I was so defeated that I could no longer see any purpose for my life. I ran out of options, and the boredom coupled with failure was killing me. I reached the point of wanting God to just take me home.

Through it all, my wife Carla was a rock. She never wavered in her trust for me or for her Lord. She’s my hero. I wish I were more like she is. She seemed so unaffected by the turmoil, but I was a mess.
After I came to the end of my proverbial rope, something miraculous happened. Was it an answer to prayer? I wasn’t sure at first.

One night, out of nowhere a story invaded my head about a US Marine pilot who . . . well you get the picture—Cody Musket, a man who has reached the point of desperation, who meets a heroic woman whose faith is unbreakable.

The story grew in my head for months, but it never occurred to me to write a book. (Doofus!) I even asked God to take this story out of my head because it was disrupting my life. Finally, after about six months, I told Carla about the story. I told her I was gonna go crazy if I didn’t at least write it down. She said, “I think you should.” That’s it. “I think you should.”

I began to write feverishly and could not stop for two years. I studied hard to learn how to write fiction. No Pit So Deep, The Cody Musket Story was released in 2016 as a stand-alone novel, and I have now expanded this saga to a four-book series with a combined 440 customer reviews from around the world, many of which reveal lives that have been impacted. The first book has been on the Kindle #1 Bestseller list twice, and has won several awards, including a bronze medal in the 2017 Readers Favorite International Book Awards.

So, there I was, just a few years ago, thinking my life was over, and feeling abandoned. But if my life had not slowed down to an agonizing crawl, I would never have written this story. If I had achieved the retirement I had always dreamed about, I might have missed a greater destiny.

I have learned that God can have a surprise waiting even when things seem hopeless. Where we may see an ending, maybe He just sees a brand-new place to start.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I began to read books when I was about 10 years old. I read Johnston McCulley’s Zorro, which had a big impact. The Zorro character was heroic and honorable. Another book which captivated me was Ode to the Big Bird, a WWII first-hand account by US bomber pilot Bert Stiles.

I “graduated” to comic books during my teen years. (smiling)

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like reading books which deal with deep matters of the heart. Wild at Heart by John Eldredge is one of my favorites. Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton and Lisa Worthey Smith are great writers.

When I write, I don’t use a timetable. For me, inspiration is not something that can be tamed or timed. Here is my personal mantra: Try to write better but fewer books. I feel that many authors may sell themselves short because they are rushed, thinking that the more books they write in a given amount of time, the more popular they will become. That only works if your finished product is the very BEST you can produce. Our modern culture is held hostage by time. Time can be a tyrant, ticking away like a relentless metronome in your mind, robbing you of your best creativity and inspiration.

Inspiration for me is when I can see a scene unfolding in my head like a motion picture. I simply write down what I see and hear. All authors are not the same. I am just sharing my experience.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
To introduce No Pit So Deep, The Cody Musket Story, I am going to ask Cody to share from his own point of view. (Yes, he’s a fictional character, but he doesn’t know that!)
So, here goes . . .

–Hello everybody. I’m Cody Musket. Much of my story was inspired by real events, so even though I’m a fiction character, it doesn’t seem like fiction to me. I’m a former US Marine F/A-18 pilot who met with unfortunate circumstances in Afghanistan, but was blessed to eventually become a major-league baseball player.

I first saw Brandi when I was a rookie with the Astros. Our team was in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates, but the Friday night game was rained out, so I went to a movie. I was about to implode. The military secrets and memories I was holding inside were destroying me. Baseball had become my only refuge.

When Brandi walked past me in the theater that rainy night, she reminded me of sunlight and better days. I didn’t wanna stare at her, but I couldn’t help myself. The O2 rushed right out of my chest. She wasn’t the least impressed, but I followed behind her at a distance. That’s when it happened.

These three guys in ski masks came from nowhere and tried to abduct her. Well, I totally lost it. Witnesses said I was . . . like, completely out of control. I still don’t know what kept me from killing those guys, and I had no idea why they had targeted her.

Even Brandi was afraid of me afterward, but she was as curious about me as I was about her. We became friends, then gradually she saw how messed up I was. I figured she wouldn’t want anything to do with me after that, but . . . I could see she was a caring person. Then, she told me her father was a decorated marine and a Purple Heart winner.

Brandi was a single mom who wrote investigative reports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She had exposed a child-trafficking ring, and she had a price on her head. I fell in love that first night with this brave woman who risked her life to save children, and whose father had won medals for courage in battle.

We were now both on the syndicate’s hit list, but as we pressed on through the crisis together, I learned that Brandi was a woman of great tenacity and deep faith. she helped me discover that Jesus has a style of His own, that He’s in a class by Himself. I mean, the things that happened in Afghanistan . . . the people who died because of me . . . I didn’t know people like me could be forgiven and even healed.

See, I thought I was in a pit so deep that even God couldn’t find me, but Brandi . . . she never gave up on me. She knew how to listen to God, and she loved me too much to leave me in that pit. The underworld figures who sought our lives were no match for her prayers, and, as they say, the rest is history.

Many incidents in my phenomenal story were inspired by real events and real people. The story is both gritty and glorious. If you look carefully, you might even find yourself hidden within the pages.

Okay, so now you’ve heard from Cody, a chisel-faced former marine with freckles and sandy hair from Big Rock, Texas who plays third base for the Astros. Brandi, a Pennsylvania girl with dark hair and blue eyes, is a single mom and investigative journalist who has exposed a trafficking ring. She is part African American with scars from her own past, and she has a three-year old daughter, a heartthrob who is able to wrap Cody around her little finger.

Brandi is both gutsy and tender. She fights back tears as Cody trusts her with his story about the gut-wrenching incidents in Afghanistan which have remained hidden from the public, but she is tougher than a steel hammer when she stands against the demons of Cody’s past who attempt to destroy him in his post-traumatic mental abyss.

“A love story not soon forgotten.” -TopShelf Magazine

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James Nathaniel Miller II Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Nicola Jane

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi, I’m Nicola Jane. I was born and raised in Nottingham, England. I still live here today. I’m married (15 years this month) and I have two children. Noth boys, aged 15 & 11. I have 4 dogs, yes 4!! But they are all female so I’m not so outnumbered with the men in the house.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have loved books since primary school. I’m not sure if I was a toddler that loved books, I’ll have to ask my mother lol but I remember being around 8 years old and my most favourite teacher (Mr Lamb) didn’t bother reading us baby stories, he read us The Hobbit lol I remember loving this story so much that it got me reading. I loved books with adventures like Famous Five and Secret Seven. I was also a huge fan of Flat Stanley and Mrs Pepperpot.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have so many Authors that I love but I generally stick to Authors that I’ve never heard of lol If I like the book cover I read the synopsis and then if it’s my sort of book I’ll download. I really enjoy Authors such as E.L James, I was one of the Fifty Shades lovers. I also love Sylvia Day, her Crossfire series was amazing. I’m also big into MC romance so Authors such as Tillie Cole are also on my favourite list. I think I’ve been inspired by so many Authors, known and not so known. I was 13 when I first began to write so any book I’ve read along the way has inspired me in one way or another.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is an MC romance book. It’s about a woman looking for work and she ends up being offered a job as a nanny for a Club President’s nephew. She doesn’t really understand club life and often annoys Cooper, the Pres, in some way or form. Eventually, they get together but love does not run smoothly!

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Nicola Jane’s Website

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Featured Interview With Daniel P. T. Thomas

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Daniel P. Turner Thomas was born in North Wales into a military family. He attended private British boarding schools and later graduated from Thames London University with a business degree.

In London, Dan began a career in advertising which later took him to New York. For fourteen years he also ran his own marketing/advertising firm.

Dan is now a teacher and self-taught artist who creates landscapes in watercolor and pastel. His work is primarily centered on his love of the landscape of Wales, his homeland, and of his new home on Chincoteague Island.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was always fascinated with art, but never ever thought of writing a book until four years ago. Now I have two that I illustrated. I am still learning how to write. I have had alot of help to create books that I am proud of and are well written. I am getting great reviews, so it’s rather gratifying as a new author.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Roald Dahl
Peter Mayle
Bill Bryson
John Muir
Rachel Carson

Tell us a little about your latest book?
” A Year on the Tump” . . . turn onto Chincoteague Road. . . just past the rockets at the NASA Visitor Center, open the car windows. The road bends to the right and a massive horizon opens up. Breathe in the smell of the marsh. Get ready to be home – for the first time, or forever.”A Year on the Tump” unveils the seasons of life on Chincoteague Island – the wonder of its natural surroundings, its hearty down-to-earth people, and life in a small community. Told with artistic imagery and humor, where the sights and sounds of the front porch are more intriguing than television or the internet, Daniel Thomas takes the reader to a place where everyone knows your name, or at least your business.For newcomers, here is an introduction to a magical place surrounded by water and sky. For Teaguers, Come’ere’s and Been-heres who think they know the Tump well, you might just reconnect with all that makes the Island HOME.

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Featured Interview With Anna Taylor

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Southeast Michigan and moved to Ann Arbor for college and never left. I grew up in a big family and lived in a communal house for a decade before buying my own place and discovering peace and privacy. I share the place with one cat who is nicer than she has to be to get along with me. She has thoughts about the dialog I rehearse while I’m writing.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
In second grade my teacher asked the class to write a story as an assessment test. Later in the year, after the materials were scored, the teacher started reading my story out loud to the class and I didn’t recognize it was mine until it got to a part where the ghosts show up. It was really odd sensation to have all my classmates listening and wanting to hear what came next.

Given the early start, I am a bit humbled by the fact that it took a few years to get around to publishing the first book.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love romance, science fiction, and fantasy. My favorite authors from those include: William Gibson, Jim Butcher, Elizabeth Haydon, Anne McCaffrey, and Simon Green. Other authors that inspire me include John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut, Tana French and Margaret Atwood.

True stories inspire me because as much as fiction can take flight I am stunned at how remarkable people can be when called to confront challenges.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book is science fiction and romance.

Quinn Lyons has slid beneath the radar. She cleans floors in a mining station next to a section of the Asteroid Belt called the Briar Patch. The humble act doesn’t last. When the station recovers a ghost ship it leads her and Angle Xiang on the quest to answer a riddle about what it takes for small ships to travel as fast as large ones – pulse speeds that approach light speed. The process unmasks them and ties them closer together. Both will tie themselves in knots to protect the other.

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Featured Interview With Anicia S. Eriksson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in October 1995 in Stockholm, Sweden, which is where I currently live. I have a pet, Frizzy. She’s a black cat and the sweetest and weirdest little creature. I share a home and a life with my boyfriend. Writing is basically who I am, and something I’ve been loving since a little kid. I wrote my first book as an eight year old. Can’t say it was a book worth any raving reviews, but I was pretty happy with it at the time. I still keep it around, to remind myself of my biggest dreams coming true.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As soon as I could read, I knew it was for me. I always loved ariting assignments in school, and have always been writing much on my spare time.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
There are too many to mention. I do prefer thrillers of some sort, but I always end up reading romance and feelgood – they are my guilty pleasure. I acutally enjoy reading most genres!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called “Not your shame – A journey in recovering from mental illness”. It is originaly a Swedish title (“Skammen är inte din”) and was recently translated by myself into English. It was released on Amazon in july. It is a self biography in poetry and prose about alcoholism, death, rape, mental illness, and also about love, hope and finding a will to live. It was therapeutic for me to write, and has shown to work therapeuticly for the people reading it as well. It took approximately one year or so to write, and it wasn’t until I’d written like half of it Before I realized that it could be a book. When I finished it, I had very small hopes of it ever being published, but I sent it to a few publishers anyway. And only a couple of months later, my publisher emailed me back that she wanted to publish my book. I have grown so much since then.

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Featured Interview With Jaylyn Hassan

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Jaylyn Hassan. I was born and raised in Southeast Michigan. My hobbies are writing and drawing. No pets.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
The moment I wanted to start writing was when I was fascinated in books. At age 10 was when I picked up the pen.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Johnathan Rand, Todd Strasser, and Dorothy Allison. My favorite genres to read are Action and Adventure. These are the people that inspire my content as well as peers and family members.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book is called the Street Racing Club and is my first published novel. The characters are somewhat inspired off of real people, including myself, but tend to do the thing you’d see in the Fast and Furious. It took me four years to work on the novel. I started typing it in 9th Grade and finished it in 12th.

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Featured Interview With Ilham Alam

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and grew up in Kuwait to an expat family. But we left a pretty good life in the Middle East to immigrate to Canada, because while there was a lot of money to be made in Kuwait, there was ultimately no future there for us expats, as you couldn’t gain citizenship, own property or send your kids to higher education there. All those years devoted to a country and nothing to show for it, my parents realized.

I’ve been in Toronto since I was 10 years old and now reside in the GTA with my family. I have a very large, very friendly cat, who’s terrified of the baby in our family. My kitty is also the inspiration for my next work, which I’m querying to literary agents now.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always LOVED reading. I recall being 4 years old, sight reading and learning to read that way. I didn’t start creative writing until I was in grade 6, in Canada. Here, the education system stress creative thinking, so we had creative writing classes which I had never done before. That fired up my imagination like nothing else! Writing, and being good at it and being admired for it, helped me a lot in settling into Canada as a new immigrant kid, to be honest. It helped me make friends at school.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Gosh, I could go on forever if I started down this road. But I’ll try to make it as succinct as possible, lol

Favourite Authors: Jane Austen on one hand and Stephen King on the other.

Favourite Genres: lately I’ve been reading a lot of psychological thrillers with twist and/or gruesome endings and true crime. I’m also going to be giving magical realism more of a shot, after recently reading & loving “The Night Tiger” by Yanze Choo.

As for writing inspirations, I try to read as widely and from as many authors as I can, both new and established, both self-published and traditional- so that I can learn something of writing from each book I read. I firmly believe that to be a good writer, you have to be an avid reader.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut picture book (and my first published book ever, really) is called, Wonder Walk. It’s been published by Iguana Books, a small press in my hometown Toronto. I felt that going with a small press would give me a better opportunity to break into publishing. I realized that in order to be taken seriously by literary agents and publishing houses, it wouldn’t hurt to have some publishing credits under my belt and to show that I knew my way around book marketing.

Wonder Walk is a 20 page rhyming book on a very common thing: a walk that an adorable & curious child takes with his beloved Mom. The child asks his mom questions about all the things they see, Mom comes up with increasingly creative answers but even she runs out of patience sometimes and is pooped out! It’s a scene that plays out daily in my house, for sure. I love this book because I love the trusting and loving relationship between Johnny and his Mommy. I love that Wonder Walk is so relatable and so universal to the experiences of parents.

It’s available on major online retailers such as Amazon and its country-specific Amazon retailers; Barnes & Noble; Indigo in Canada; Kobo, iTunes, Waterstones UK and more. It’s also available in a few independent book stores in my hometown. I’ve been doing Storytime programs in those bookstores too, as I love the opportunity to meet with readers and fans.

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Featured Interview With Roger B. Burt

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in New York and wanted to go exploring. I went to college in Michigan and graduate school in North Carolina. Then I moved to Maryland to work in Baltimore’s impoverished inner city. Now I live in Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Earlier we lived in a valley in northern Maryland. There we had a flock of cats and dogs running free. Through it all was the exploration which was of interest to me.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I got interested in books as soon as I could read. It was always a matter of exploration. I started writing just after graduate school but then a demanding life got in the way and I deferred serious work until my later years.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Since I go exploring I don’t have a favorite author but prefer magical realism and range through fantasy and science fiction. But I always return to the magic of who we really are and that can include the spirit world which lies so near us.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I don’t believe in a rigid reality. People think it is a little strange but I believe there is a spirit world but too often it is ephemeral and hard to contact. Presently we are entering a world in dramatic crisis and that has fueled my latest book along with the intriguing empowerment of women currently in evidence. I’ve always found it interesting that the myth of mermaids is very widespread. So, I brought them into this book at a time of world crisis with empowered women. What fun!

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Featured Interview With Maureen Scanlon

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am the CEO and Founder of Maureen Scanlon Life Coaching. I am a Native of Arizona, grew up in the city of Glendale. I have a wonderful husband named Dennis, am a mother of 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren. My furry babies are Jade (chihuahua) and Brodie (Australian Shepherd), plus a Bengal kitty named Grayson who believes he is the 3rd dog.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved to read! To be completely honest, however, I never aspired to be a writer. In my journey of change, I was told by a good friend that they saw my picture on the cover of a book, so I said, “ok, I guess I’m writing a book”. It was a joyful and easy process for me and I have enjoyed the readers and discussions that have come from it.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oddly enough, although I wrote a non-fiction, inspirational book, I really love suspense fiction. I’m a huge fan of Sandra Brown.
My Inspiration for writing comes from…….my furry babies of course 🙂

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book, “My Dog Is More Enlightened Than I Am”, is a fun, inspirational and easy read.
I looked at my dogs and just realized while I was in the midst of a stressful day, how easy going and carefree they live life. I started recognizing the different ways they show affection, loyalty, and gratitude. I realized how I could take my lead from them, to not only live that way, but to help my friends and Coaching clients to also. I wrote each chapter down and then started writing. It took 8 weeks for me to complete and it was so much fun!

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Featured Interview With Rich Green

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Chicago and grew up on the south side. In middle school, my dad’s job transferred us to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where we lived for almost two years. It was such a different pace and helped me form some friendships I still have to this day. We eventually moved back to the Chicagoland area and settled in the suburb of Tinley Park when I started high school. Tinley Park is where my parents still live today.

I live in Joliet, Illinois, a far southwest suburb of Chicago. I moved out this way in 2001 to be a bit closer to my job at the time. Over the years, I have gotten to know so many people from this area, and I like that small town feel even though it is a fairly large city.

My dog Annie is always by my side, and I have two fish in my home office. When I was five years old, I received a dog from my aunt and uncle for Christmas, one of my favorite Christmas presents of all time. She was rescued from a very poor living situation and turned out to be the best dog. I was obsessed with Mickey Mouse as a kid, which is no surprise considering I am still a massive Disney fan to this day. Since the dog was a girl, my parents convinced me to name her Minnie. Little did anyone know that five weeks later Minnie would give birth to a litter of puppies. Talk about the gift that kept on giving! Over the years, I have continued to have a rescue dog or dogs as furry family members. Annie was only four when I rescued her, and she recently turned sixteen. She is the sweetest girl and my buddy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
When I was a child, my parents enrolled me in one of those book-of-the-month clubs that were really popular at the time. In my case, they were all Disney books and collections of Disney stories. I was constantly reading them and trying to draw all the characters in them. I knew all those iconic characters and stories from the books long before I ever got to see any of the animated films. My love of children’s books just grew from there.

My indirect path to writing has come about from my background in illustration. I started trying to draw at a very early age and really got interested in computer graphics and animation over the years. Since I specialize in children’s themes, I found the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and have been involved with them for several years now. I realized that I have some of my own stories ideas I would like to turn into books someday and have been working on writing and creating some book dummies of my own to pitch. Fingers crossed!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors and genres have evolved and changes at different periods in my life. There was a time I was pulled into books that were about to become films. I would read them (and the entire series if there were more than one). At another point in my life, it was a self-help book on finances or health/fitness that was my go-to for making changes and rereading for reinforcement.
Recently I have been going back and reading some of the classics I never read growing up, books like “Treasure Island” and “Lord of the Flies.” I also have read a relatively new YA series: “Arlo Finch” by John August.

Lately my focus has been on reading all kinds of children’s books to stay current and inspired. I read the children’s book “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt, and I absolutely love it. It is so clever and imaginative. It is a children’s book that is also written for the adult reading the book to a child as much as it is for the child.

As an author/illustrator, it is pretty much a requirement to read all the time. That may be even more true in the children’s book world, as you need to see what types of stories are being told, what styles of illustration are resonating with art directors and audiences, and so on. I try to make it a weekly routine to head to my local library and check out a handful of children’s books.

Being so involved in the SCBWI Chicago-Area Illustrators Network has afforded me the opportunity to meet so many amazing authors and illustrators. Forming a bond with some of them has really taken my love of their books to a new level. Matthew Cordell is high on that list. I even had the honor of getting a portfolio review by him several years ago. Now he is a Caldecott medal winner for his incredible wordless picture book, “Wolf in the Snow.” Another favorite of mine is Don Tate who has authored and/or illustrated several incredible books and is the kindest, most humble guy. I find that so inspiring. I have been very fortunate to take illustration courses by Lee White and David Hohn, both of whom have incredible careers in children’s books and illustrations. I have been mentored first hand by Terri Murphy and Janet McDonnell. Terri and Janet have flourishing careers in children’s books and have taught me everything I know about the children’s book industry and beyond. It is their generosity of knowledge that has had the biggest influence on me. I am forever grateful to them both.

Last, but not least, Larry Broutman, who brought me into his latest book project, “Chicago Treasure,” is a fascinating person and has the most generous spirit. I am so inspired by his collection of books, his kindness, his drive and, most of all, his friendship.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Chicago Treasure” is the most recent book I have worked on as both co-author and illustrator. The concept for the book came from author and photographer Larry Broutman. He has three previous books of photography. He woke up one morning with the idea of taking photographs of children and turning them into the main characters in classic storybook, fairytale and nursery rhymes. He contacted me about illustrating scenes around the kids.

I also worked on creating newspaper articles that summarized the stories and put a clever, modern twist on them, based on the kids featured in the images. We call those “Chicago Pretender” articles as they have a lit bit of reality and a whole lot of imagination in them.

In “Chicago Treasure,” our message is one of access and inclusion for all children, regardless of ability. That is a message I am very proud of, and the response to the book has been wonderful.

Please visit https://www.everythinggoesmedia.com/product-page/chicago-treasure to learn more about “Chicago Treasure,” read reviews, and pick up a copy.

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Featured Interview With Rusty Blackwood

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in St. Thomas Ontario, Canada on October 5, 1949, and had the pleasure of growing up on my paternal grandfather’s farm in southwestern Ontario. Looking back, I was truly blessed to have been given the life I led there, where I could run to my heart’s content, share friendship with assorted animals, and really be in touch with nature. I am Mom as well as friend to two wonderful sons, grandmother to three beautiful granddaughters, one handsome grandson, and one dear great grandson. I have always loved the Arts in their many unique forms, and graduated with two diplomas in Interior Decorating & Design. I love music, and spent many years spent on the south-western Ontario stage performing with my family’s country music band, ‘The Midnight Ramblers’, and the country – rock – blues band, ‘MIRAGE’ as an accomplished vocalist, bassist, and rhythm guitarist. I still enjoy music, and I miss that life, but I still perform occasionally to help keep my skills intact. I now live in St. Catharines, Ontario, and besides writing, I enjoy art, gardening, nature walks, horses, and spending quality time with family, friends, and my loyal cat, Tipper.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I would say my love of writing began around eight or nine, while I was in elementary school, and I attribute my passion for it to my late father James Beecroft, who taught me colour and texture in everything around me, and the late Gladys Carroll, my elementary teacher who taught me the love of written word and saw my ability to create unique stories during composition time in class, however, I didn’t follow that love of writing as a career for it was unfortunately not an offered career for women in the early sixties, so I’m unprofessionally trained in the field of writing, but I have always had an affinity for the written word and God-given gift to express it, which I have done many times since becoming a serious writer in 2001. I love to express myself in four genres, poetry, children’s short stories, adult comedy, and romantic fiction drama, my favorite genre and the one for which I am best known.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
It greatly depends on the mood I’m in, but I have different authors whose work I enjoy. I don’t read as often as I should, as I will not read someone else’s work when I am writing a manuscript of my own. But when I do, I very much enjoy local author’s in my area as I am a firm believer in supporting local talent. My favorite author in my area is Niagara romance novelist, Gina IaFrate, whose incredible work takes you to exotic settings around the world, and whose work can be found on Amazon. If I were to name my favorite genre it would be expressive romantic fiction drama. I suppose because it my favorite genre to write. I have also enjoyed the work of Stephen King – I find it interesting how he can always get inside a reader’s head – and I have always enjoyed the classics. I don’t take inspiration from other authors, but instead from nature, and my own imagination.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I am truly excited about my latest novel, ‘The Perils of Autumn’, published by Tellwell Talent, a Readers Favorite 5-star awarded novel, and now a 2019 International Book Awards Finalist in romance, as it combines a few of my favorite topics, my favorite being horses and stable life, especially English discipline. I have always admired nurses and all they do, as well as single mother’s whom for whatever the reason, endure incredible hardship to stand by their child, and endure whatever they must to give their child the best they can.

In ‘The Perils of Autumn’, I combine all three of these subjects, and they certainly continued to inspire me throughout their interactions within the book, which in turn has inspired me to continue the story in the coming, ‘Return to Autumn’. I think there’s nothing more rewarding than to create a piece from something that you greatly admire, or have an affinity to, and have it become something that makes you extremely proud.

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Featured Interview With Jen Paul

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Jen Paul. I’m a British journalist and writer and I live in the south of France with my little dog Nucky. I grew up in Somerset in the United Kingdom but moved to France 20 years ago. I live near the sea and it calms my soul..

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always loved books since I was a very small kid. I remember reading Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Trees under the covers with a torch when I was supposed to be asleep. I’ve written since a very young age too, words are magical.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love memoirs and biographies; there really is nothing stranger than the truth! There’s so many I love, but if I had to pick one then it would be F Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night which was set near to where I live now actually.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I’ve written the first in a series. It’s called The Girl Lost At Sea It’s a novella so a fairly swift read. I’ve set it in Nice in France, years ago, before the history books really began, the people I’m writing about are a very early version of the Celts. It’s girl meets boy but with a twist: She’s battling serious trauma and I wanted to explore undiagnosed mental illness through a fictional setting, maybe even raise awareness. We’ll follow the same characters through a couple more novellas, the second of which I am writing at the moment. I’ve fallen in love with these people and I hope everyone else does too!

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Featured Interview With Paris Edmond

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
VCP (Paris Edmond), is a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service in Westchester County, New York. I spend most of time playing sports, especially handball, and writing realistic fiction. I’m an avid moviegoer (action, adventure, horror) and I travel domestically throughout the year. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and currently resides in the Bronx. I have written 9 books, but only published one of them so far.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Both happened when I was around the age of twelve. While reading certain books like Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I would envision myself playing the role of the main character. From there, I would create situations such as “What if this happened instead of that?” That helped me build my own personal story lines and concepts.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like action, adventure, horror, and thriller books. I’m into fight scenes, explosions, and guns blazing while also exploring different areas, worlds, and realms. I don’t have a favorite author in particular because I feel that each book I’ve read has either gave me wisdom and knowledge, or entertained me. The protagonists in my books inspire me to keep writing, mainly because I personally want to see what happens to them from beginning to end.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Knights of Labor is great introduction to the series in my honest opinion. It introduces one of the main leaders of the organization. I wrote this close to ten years ago, and it took me one month to write this 412 page book.
** An interesting fact, I actually wrote this and the second book simultaneously.
This book follows two sisters. Janelle is one of the main leaders of Knights of Labor. Alexa is an affiliate of the notorious gang known as Tailores. They unite in the nation’s capital, DC to take down the Sway Society. Little do they know, the Sway Society has a hired gun who has an agenda of his own.

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Featured Interview With Brian Keller

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in the Upper Midwestern US. I was an only child which, on a farm in the 70’s, simply meant that I had no siblings with whom to share the chores. During those formative years I learned the value of a strong work ethic, for which I will always be grateful.
Now, I am a blissfully happily married, retired soldier. My wife is a very patient, understanding woman (she has to be). She makes me want to be better than I am, but she loves me for the man I am.
We now live on 70 acres in NE Arkansas. I promised that after 20 years of globe-hopping and a multitude of overseas deployments, I’d bring her somewhere closer to family, and slow our lives down. We truly feel we are reaping the rewards of a demanding life.
We now look after dozens of chicken, a few pigs and an uprooted town cat named Jasper. Within the next couple of years we’ll be adding a few cattle and goats, but don’t tell the deer. They think the pasture will always remain un-fenced.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As soon as I learned to read, it was more often than not that I could be found with my head over an open book. I was an active “outside kid”, but also learned that books could take me places I might never otherwise see. Through my teens I fiddled around with some short stories and even a few poems, but these are better left unread (if they were even kept at all). It wasn’t until last year that *someone* tossed down the proverbial gauntlet, inspiring me to write. So whether or not you enjoy what I’ve written, you have my wife to thank for that.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Throughout my life I’ve read so many books it’s sometimes difficult to name favorites, but certainly there are those that stand out above all others. Alexandre Dumas would be at the top. The Count of Monte Cristo is a timeless classic that has resonated for me throughout my life. No library of mine could ever be complete without a copy somewhere on the shelves. I feel almost as strongly about Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Near the other end of the spectrum, few talespinners are as entertaining as Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens). There are so many others, it would be an insurmountable task to name them all.
As much as I enjoy reading, it was my wife who finally inspired me to write. As a soldier, working outside during a cold, wet winter day is ‘just another day’. Now as a retired individual, I tend to look at those conditions differently. Last year, when the weather turned unpleasant, I assumed a once-familiar pose above an opened book. This time, however, I wasn’t swept away by the words. Instead I felt like I was being pulled (against my will) up and down a predictable series of meticulously planned peaks and troughs. It felt like the same experience no matter which book I opened. I voiced my frustrated thoughts to my wife who simply replied, in exasperation after hearing the same comment for the 6th time (Ok, maybe it was the 20th), “If that’s the case then why don’t you write something yourself?” I remember thinking that was a fine way to say, “Put up or shut up” but wisely kept *that* observation to myself. Still, the notion stuck with me and I began to form a tale. But first I needed to carefully craft the center point of the plot, and then there was the matter of building an entire world around it.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The reward from these imaginings is the beginnings of The Kinsman series. It is a Low Fantasy, dark protagonist story that follows the life of Cooper, an orphaned boy. In the series, Cooper learns the skills needed to become an accomplished Assassin, and despite his best efforts his friends and mentors also (unintentionally) teach him what it means to be human. What begins as a tale of revenge, grows into a life-long pursuit for excellence. Magic does exist, but while it isn’t a focal point it does provide some unique sub-plots that add some incredible depth. There’s no “Hero saving the world” and “Mankind’s fate (never) hangs in the balance”, yet I believe the world and the characters will draw you in and make you feel included, rather than merely pulling you along as an observer, as their experiences unfold.

The inspiration for the book started months before I ever sat down to write, but when things finally coalesced and I began sketching things out, it all resulted in a story that (I hope) encourages the reader to suspend their disbelief as it carries them into a world that feels familiar, yet completely new. Once I began writing, I threw myself into the task with almost single-minded fervor. Cooper had my almost-undivided attention. He revealed his tale quickly and it took only 5 months to write, edit, contract for a cover design, re-edit, proofread, send to beta readers, receive feedback, re-edit (again), and publish. Once published, I breathed a sigh of relief. It isn’t easy to be a stenographer and editor for a precocious 9 year old assassin-in-training; though if you get the opportunity to try it, I heartily recommend it. While it is a book series *about* kids, I wouldn’t say they’re books *for* kids. There’s no sexual content, but there are certainly other situations that might a bit dark, but then again what would one expect from a book about Assassins and revenge?

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Featured Interview With Kelvin Bueckert

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised on a small farm out on the wild, untamed plains of Manitoba, Canada. More recently I’ve found civilization in the small town of Gladstone. A town best known for a giant smiling rock just outside of town. Why a smiling rock? Think of the name, Gladstone. Ahem.
Pets? No. My imagination causes enough problems.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
As soon as I started to read. I started writing and performing my own stuff at a pretty young age…maybe seven years old?

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Donald Miller is an inspiration with his insights drawn from ordinary life and events. My favorite genre to read? Hm. Anything that is interesting?
Would that be specific enough for you?

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Uncle Kelly’s Second Book of…Wisdom?
What is it?
Hm. There’s a lot of satire and humor and that’s just on the about the author page! But seriously, it’s mostly a collection of humorous flash-fiction, with a few essays and poems thrown in for good measure. There’s some stories about about my Dad and some backstage madness as well for people who are into that. All in all, there is a strong emphasis on humor but there is also a bit more personal reflection than I have written before.

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