Top Selling Authors: Get To Know Them Better

Featured Interview With John (Jack) M. Cunningham Jr

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1954. I later attended the University of Alabama where I received a degree in history and also studied education. After my graduation I moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where I taught school. After Hurricane Katrina hit the city, I moved back to Alabama. Fortunately, my home didn’t suffer much damage in that storm. As far back as my junior high school years, history has been one of my passions.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve loved books and reading as far back into my childhood as I can remember. In the mid-1980s, I began writing professionally.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Most of the novels I read are historical fiction. Regarding non-fiction, I enjoy history and biographies. C,S. Forester, Sarah Sundin, Angela Hunt, Bruce Catton and Alexandre Dumas are my favorite authors. My first inspiration for writing novels was Forester’s Horatio Hornblower series. This led me to write two Civil War novels with a naval setting: Vengeance & Betrayal, and River Ruckus, Bloody Bay. Bruce Catton inspired me to dig deeper into the American Civil War. Sometimes, inspiration comes from places I visit or stories I read in magazines newspapers, and on the internet.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
In 1850s Mobile, Alabama, a backslidden Christian named Gideon Deshler spirals toward destruction, his demise hastened by evil Elvira Sturgis with whom he falls in love. She and her father, president of the nearby Spring Hill Jockey Club, brutalize their slaves. Two of Sturgis’s slaves, the jockey Ned and his girlfriend Becky, must escape to Canada so they can fulfill their dreams. But how? Alabama is far away from Canada, and it also doesn’t have an Underground Railroad.

Meanwhile, a mystery surrounds the death of a champion Thoroughbred named Green Legs. Before he can solve this mystery, Gideon must get delivered from Elvira’s spell and reconcile with Sam Quarles, with whom he’d fought a duel. Sam’s father had been Green Legs’s owner.

Sam’s brother, Joe, feuds with Gideon’s friend, Owen Washburn, over Green Legs’s death. To keep his promise to his dying father, Joe vows to regain the status of his father’s horse farm in a big match race against Owen’s champion, Comet. Joe’s hope lies in an ornery Thoroughbred named Johnny Boy. If Johnny doesn’t win the Pride of Alabama Stakes, Joe vows to kill himself, for horseracing is his life and he’d have failed his father’s dying wish. Yet, Green Legs’s real killers and their accomplice have other plans.

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Featured Interview With David Scott Richardson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Seattle in 1942. Several years thereafter we moved to NY city and eventually western Pennsylvania. Returning to the NW in 1949 I bounced around between Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Bellingham finally coming to rest in Woodinville over thirty years ago. I live with my wife, two cats, and a mini zoo of backyard critters.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I must confess I never had a fascination with books, primarily because I had considerable difficulty learning to read. About 25 years ago I injured my back and had to sit for roughly four months. My wife was an avid reader and she began bringing books from the library. I didn’t make requests so she brought anything she thought I might like. That may be why I read books from so many different genres.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t know if I have favorite authors; there are so many to choose from. I tend to concentrate on history and social commentary but I do like Hemmingway, Steinbeck, and Vonnegut. I spent several years reading about NW railroad and logging history. Recent books have included How the Word is Passed, Caste, Waking up White, Half American, and Just Mercy. I’m inspired by any author who can suck me in and keep me reading.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Because my father was killed in WWII, the war has always been an interest. At some point, the idea of somebody lighting fires during the mandatory blackouts in Seattle captured my imagination. As a former sixth-grade teacher, I understood how inadequate we are at teaching civics and history, especially to young people, hence teenage readers became my target audience. The central idea of An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze cried out to become a mystery. It was also a vehicle to portray the homefront in a way most young readers had not been exposed to. The story is set in my Seattle neighborhood, which by the way, still looks almost exactly like it did in 1943. Much of the story reflects my own lived experiences, though slightly updated to the nineteen fifties.

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Featured Interview With Nick Haskins

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m a full-time writer and love creating and releasing new material for my audience. I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. I’m still in Toledo, without pets at the moment, but I’m getting a doggy very soon.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started entertaining myself with the stories I used to come up with at around nine years old. I started writing my stories out when I was around seventeen, but in 2008, when I turned thirty, I realized that all I wanted to do was write. I released my first book in 2011, and it’s been on from there.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author is any writer who can tell a good story. A few big-name writers are my favorite, as well as some indie writers. I love the art of storytelling, no matter the genre or who it comes from. Who inspires me? Hands down, my audience. I want to reach and entertain as many people/readers as possible, so being able to do that inspires me over everything else.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is from my family drama series, Dark Waters. This African American fiction title is about an affluent black law family in Philadelphia that is perfect for the public but a mess behind closed doors. Judge Waters and his family have the best of everything except love, respect for one another, or loyalty.

I have also chopped part one of my new audiobook, Paradise Ocean Hotel (contemporary fiction), into eleven episodes currently streaming on YouTube. Paradise Ocean Hotel has a lot of drama and chaos for my readers to enjoy.

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Featured Interview With Gwen Suesse

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in a small town in upstate New York. Following that, I went to New York City and Boston for college and graduate school. I started teaching in Clinton, New York and went on to live in the greater Syracuse area after I married. Career-wise, I have worked as a choral director and music teacher, as well as in various human resources positions. I am a certified life coach with advanced training in grief support.

Currently, I am blessed to live in Tryon, North Carolina, a small town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tryon has a remarkable presence of the arts, music, and cultural opportunities for a town of its size, attracting many artists, musicians, and writers to make their homes here.

I’ve had dogs most of my life but am currently pet-less following the demise of my beloved corgi, Daisy.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have loved books all my life. I read voraciously from the time I “cracked the code” and learned to read. I was lucky to be raised in a family that valued reading and education. There were always books in our home. Books on all subjects, from Audubon’s Birds of America to multiple encyclopedias, to novels and nonfiction titles, to the ever-present, huge, (or so it seemed to me as a child) Merriam Webster Unabridged Dictionary. My parents valued teaching their children to use exactly the right word. The dictionary sat in an alcove between the living and dining rooms, ever at the ready for reference!

Writing is so much a part of who I am that I cannot remember when I started. I wrote for school, of course, and won several essay contests. I wrote for my various jobs and volunteer positions. However, the writing I value most is the private writing in my journals, where I write to figure things out. When I put my thoughts on paper, the whirling clutter that is flying around in my overactive brain magically goes out of my mind and onto the page, where I can see those thoughts separately, grapple with them, and attempt to find structure, focus, or a glimmer of understanding and message for going forward.

These journals provided fodder for my two books. As Toni Morrison once said, “If there’s a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” So I did! Twice!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have so many favorite authors. Some of them: (in no particular order) Anne Lamott. Michael Malone. John O’Donohue. David Whyte. Leo Tolstoy. Mark Twain. Barbara Kingsolver. Ann Patchett. Mary Oliver. Mark Nepo. Robert Frost. Brian Doyle. Abraham Verghese. David Brooks. Doris Kearns Goodwin. Elizabeth Strout. Bill Bryson. Ivan Doig. Amor Towles.

I read everything except science fiction and dystopian literature, because I think life is scary enough without delving into those genres. I lean toward literary novels, poetry, spirituality, and current affairs, as well as books from any genre which illuminate human behavior because I am fascinated about what makes people do what they do.

I have been especially inspired by writers like Anne Lamott and Mark Nepo.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is Notes from Planet Widow: Finding My Way After Loss.
Planet Widow is a story of rebirth. With the sudden death of my beloved husband, I landed without warning on Planet Widow, an utterly barren landscape with nothing in sight – only total desolation with mind-bending disorientation and soul-piercing heartache as my sole companions. I had no vision of what life could look like in such a place.
My book describes the trail of insights that knit themselves together to restore my sense of wholeness as a newly single person. While I couldn’t eradicate grief, I could learn profound lessons from it. Finding the courage to be open to it as a fierce teacher, I slowly lived my way into a new realization of self that includes grief, transforming disorientation into grounding and a measure of peace within the altered context of living on my own.

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Gwen Suesse’s Website

Featured Interview With Shamree Lynn Williams

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Shamree! I was born and raised in Texas and currently reside in Texas. I’m a mom of five and we have a pet bearded dragon, Eliza. I work as a mental health therapist with a specialty in trauma. I love nature, listening to music, and tea. My favorite flowers are roses and orchids. My favorite color is black and I love Mexican cuisine.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
To be honest, I’ve just written my first book. What inspired me to write that book connects to my work as a therapist and my own traumatic upbringing. I realized just how much my childhood trauma dictated what my adult life consisted of. I identified a cycle that I desired to change and I did that. Once I did that for myself, I wanted to share my story with the world. My story is raw and very touching but I what I intend for others to get from it is that healing is possible and we all heal in our own way. I desired to share my story so others could adopt tips to assist them on their own healing journey.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading books on spirituality and I absolutely love Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score! I inspired my own writing! I wanted my story to reach millions in hopes to change the lives of millions!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book provides insight to my life as a child and into my adult years. It provides a very detailed description of my experiences from childhood sexual abuse to toxic relationships that I’ve experienced as a result. Many of us have had traumatic upbringings and as a result, we may lead unfulfilling lives without having any understanding of how our past traumas may have influenced this. I lived many years of my life repeating a cycle I had no idea I was in. I had no insight to how my childhood trauma was the foundation to my experiences. I encountered many hurtful relationships and often blamed others for my experience. What I realized was I was the one who was responsible for the cycle I was in, and I will share in this book how I came to understand and overcome that.

Rather than allowing my trauma to hold me back, I made the decision to heal and see things from a more positive perspective. I realized my power and used my trauma to ignite me in the direction of prosperity and to influence and motivate me to help others who feel as if there is no hope.

I have chosen to be vulnerable enough to share my story with the world in hopes that it will reach and inspire individuals all over to pursue their own healing.

I have included a bonus chapter where you will get to review many of my diary entries from my personal diary and witness the emotional roller coaster I rode as I started to heal. You will also get to see how my perspective shifted over the passing months as I got deeper into my healing and started to make remarkable progress. I’m positive that my diary entries will help you gain a new perspective and you will be able to adopt tips to assist you on your own healing journey.

Featured Interview With Anne McClard

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but lived in many different places growing up. My dad was a surgeon in the Navy, and my mother was a housewife. After seventeen years of marriage and having had six children with my father, my mother divorced him, something rare in the early 1960s. So, we moved a lot and, for a time, were what people nowadays call “unhoused.” We lived in Virginia (Norfolk, Virginia Beach), Colorado (Breckenridge, Empire, Georgetown, Denver, Boulder), Billings (Montana), and Santa Fe (New Mexico), where I came of age attending St. John’s College. I think of myself as coming from the “Rocky Mountain Corridor.” As an adult, I have lived in Rhode Island, Denver, Boulder, and the Bay Area. I am married and have two children, one living at home, and the other in Los Angeles, where he is starting his fledgling career in the film industry. Last but not least, we have two adorable senior Tibetan Terriers.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have been writing for my entire life. The first time I thought of writing a book was after reading ‘Little House in the Big Woods’ by Laura Ingalls Wilder. A couple of years later, I read ‘Harriet the Spy’ by Louise Fitzhugh and went right out and bought my first journal. I have kept a journal in one form or another ever since then. It is no accident that I ended up being a cultural anthropologist—notebook , pen, and observational skills are the main tools of the trade, as is documenting every day life.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I gravitate to literary fiction, regardless of genre elements. Magic, romance, mystery, culture, history and good world-building are all part of what I look for. I really love well researched novels with developed characters who have complex back stories. Intricate plots also fascinate me. As an adult reader, I have been most influenced by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Barbara Kingsolver, and mystery writers like Tana French and Donna Tartt. I also love good ethnographic fiction. The books I enjoy reading the most teach me something but also entertain. And, that is the kind of books I try to write.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Margaux and the Vicious Circle is the book I most recently finished writing. It will be released on September 30, 2024. It tells the story of Margaux, a young writer in 1985 Manhattan, who has penned a semi-autobiographical novel that includes the unresolved disappearance of a childhood friend. She faces the usual impediments that all authors do—difficulties finding an agent, and pushback from family members who feel that her book reveals too many secrets they have worked hard to hide.

Margaux, like me, has four siblings, and her backstory is scaffolded on many events that took place in my own family and childhood, but she is definitely not me, and the novel she has written is only tangentially related to my life. The characters are wholly fabricated. Character building is one of the most fun parts of writing for me. I spend almost as much time writing backstories as I do writing the book. I was able to produce a complete draft of this book in approximately six months.

This book was particularly tricky because it weaves two timelines. The story is really two complete novels that mingle details of Margaux’s childhood with her current life. Multiple mysteries are opened and closed in each timeline. Thematically, I was inspired to write the book because my mother kept fretting about how dangerous the world had become. I argued that the world has always been dangerous, recounting the dangers she faced in her childhood and the dangers my siblings and I faced in ours. Childhood might actually be safer now! Another important theme, present in both of my novels, is the power of magical thinking and imagination for overcoming adversity.

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Featured Interview With Thích Quang Trí

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an American Buddhist monk living at the Phuoc Hue Buddhist Temple of San Antonio (Texas). Though I have a love/hate relationship with Texas, it is still home. I’ve written a few books, most notably “The Buddha Journey: Questions & Answers for the Awakening Mind” and “Meditations: Aspirations & Reflections for a Happier Life.”

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve loved reading and writing for as long as I can remember! I’ve always had several bookshelves in my room my entire life. Actually, for most of my adult life, I’ve always made space somewhere in my home that acted as a library. In either my bedroom or in my office, I would have three bookshelves: one shelf of books I’ve read and really enjoyed, one shelf of books I’ve read but want to read again, and a shelf of books I haven’t read yet. The last shelf is currently overflowing…

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t really have a “favorite” anything, honestly. My taste is very eclectic. Of course, as a monk, all my reading is specifically in the genre of religion and spirituality.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Buddha Journey: Questions & Answers for the Awakening Mind (2nd edition), is an invaluable book full of wisdom for those curious or new to Buddhism, or even if you’re a seasoned practitioner and want to learn something from a new perspective and point of view. Part one of the book covers all your most important basics: the history of the Buddha’s life and enlightenment, the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Dependent Origination, Karma, and Meditation. Part two includes over 100 questions on various topics like: compassion, meditation, enlightenment, lists and numbers, and more!

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Featured Interview With Dr Jasmine

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a practicing family doctor. My career spans almost 30 years; I worked in Europe, the USA and finally, over the last 20 years, in the UK. All in all, I had supported and treated about a third of a million people of all ages, races and religious backgrounds, and from every walk of life.

I feel privileged that this vast experience had offered me some valuable insights into the joys and struggles of us, humans. I also feel, that all too often, the kind of help/guidance that my patients need, is either not available within the mainstream healthcare system, or worse still, that societal make-up is a large factor in my patients’ troubles.

I am passionate about sharing what I have learned on a greater scale – via my books. But my writing is daring, thought-provoking and controversial, so I write under a pseudonym.
Having embarked on writing 11 volumes of Human Condition series, I am delighted that the first volume- Love, demystified- has just been published.

When not working or writing, I enjoy cooking, gardening, painting, singing and playing piano.
My husband is a doctor, too, and we have two children.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I always loved reading, ever since I was a little girl, but had no plans to become a writer, until…

About ten years ago I had a very surreal experience. It felt like “the Universe had placed large amounts of information” into my mind; I realize this sounds “mad”, but it really is how it felt.

I wrote a huge and complex book there and then- “The point of it”, which related to everything that exists. However is was a heavy and complex read, and did not get published.
Since then I have completely changed my writing style, and broke the above work into 11 volumes. I am currently writing ” Mental Health, demystified”- the book that I hope will help millions of mental illness sufferers who just cannot get better despite taking medications for decades. The book unveils a number of societal taboos and signposts to a real cure.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love reading classical fiction! Lighter books too, I enjoy them sometimes.
But you know this saying: all books in the world could be divided into “the book of the hour” and ” the book of all times”..?

In terms of genre, my favorite pleasure reads are romance and psychological detectives- I adore Agatha Christie :o).

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Love Demystified by Dr Jasmine (who writes under a pseudonym) astounds readers as she sets out her intriguing beliefs around the seamless continuity between sex, love, God and the energy pool of the universe, which she demonstrates with clarity and simplicity, using school level physics.

This is an idiosyncratic book that combines science and fiction, philosophy, poetry and some original art, to answer all your questions about love; the meaning of life; the design and the purpose of the universe.

Why do we love sex so much? Who is God and where is he? How to maintain passion in a long-term relationship and experience the highest levels of pleasure? What is the structure, function, and the meaning of every entity in the Universe, and what is your place amongst them? These, and many other questions, are answered.

Sharing four chapters entitled Universe made easy; The anatomy of love; The colours of love; In love with the Universe, this book is the first in Dr Jasmine’s planned series – Human Condition.

Using the rainbow as a metaphor, this unique book shares that the only way to foster a lifelong love relationship requires that romantic love should be tasted in all its multitude of colors and hues. Not only the red color of passion and the yellow of joy, but also the greens of envy and jealousy, the blues of depression, and the purples of betrayal.

And if you are pulled apart between wanting to keep a stable family for your children, and craving the tearing excitement of sexual chemistry that you seem to have lost, read on! You will discover the ‘formula of passion’, and become irresistible to your lover, all over again.

Love, demystified, also details how your health, and the unquenchable thirst to find and fulfil your life purpose, are intrinsically interwoven and are both dependent on you having the foundation of lasting romantic love.

Love, demystified (Human Condition) – Kindle edition by Dr Jasmine. Self-Help Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Love, demystified (Human Condition): Dr Jasmine: 9781068656606: Amazon.com: Books

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Dr Jasmine’s Website

Featured Interview With Khadijat Quadri

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Well I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and migrated to the United States at the age of twenty-two. Today I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Texas with decades of experience in clinical mental health which led me to write my first book.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Well I started writing around 2018 but I have always been an avid reader.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am greatly influenced by the works of great minds like Rudolf Steiner, Michael Newton, Alan Watts, and Abd-Ru-Shin

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called “Indigen: Journeys of A Wounded Healer.” Through this book, I tell my story of being a spiritually gifted child from Nigeria who emerged from a life of physical, mental, and sexual abuse to become a successful psychotherapist in the US. Indigen is inspired by a desire to support the healing and restoration of others. Through this book, I hope to raise awareness about the role that spirituality plays in psychology. Indigen sheds more light on the complexities of trauma, and how holistic approaches and alternative medical treatments can be helpful on the journey towards healing.

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Khadijat Quadri’s Website

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Featured Interview With Jeremy S. Adams

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I have lived in Bakersfield, California my whole life. My roots there are proudly deep. I teach at Bakersfield High School, home of “The Drillers,” which is 131 years old. It is the only school where I have ever taught—26 years and counting. My four siblings and I attended the high school. My father taught there for 30 years. I met my future wife there. My children are Drillers. The wonderful thing about Bakersfield High School is it is a microcosm of America—we have a little bit of everything. Rich and poor, a lot of ethnic, religious, and class diversity. If there is a trend happening in America writ large, I guarantee it can be seen on the campus where I teach.

This is why my students are my inspiration. They are the signposts of a society in deep and woeful distress—their addiction to technology, their myopic view of the nation and its history, their loneliness and worrisome mental health, their often chaotic family living arrangements. My writing career has been devoted to sounding alarm bells as loudly as possible and offering realistic solutions so that they can make the most of their lives and the blessing of human liberty that has been bequeathed to them.

I have three children, two dogs and just proudly celebrated my 25th Anniversary with my wife and high school sweetheart, Jennifer.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I know it is odd, but I loved writing stories as a child more than reading them. I was not a particularly bookish child, even though I had two parents who were avid readers. I really fell in love with books early in college when I made the most important discovery of my life—words from long ago somehow entomb eternal truths that can live on forever. There I was as a college freshman, being asked life’s big questions, having nothing but inclinations and shallow shibboleths from my youth. And yet, by reading Plato and Aristotle, learning about the Gospel and the Four Noble Truths, and absorbing ideas from men and women who had died long ago, I could find some answers and solve some riddles of how to live a better life today. That seemed utterly magical to me. It left me with the impression that books, ideas, and words allow us to create a community of learners that can stretch across the centuries. I think anyone who has ever been inspired to live differently because of a book or author believes there is a grand nobility in writing that is different than any other human ambition.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am always reading two books simultaneously—one fiction and one non-fiction. Some of my favorite non-fiction writers are historians and political commentators. I really revere the works of David McCullough, Gordon Wood, Joseph Ellis, and Ron Chernow. I have a deep love of ancient philosophy, so the works of Seneca, Aristotle, and Boethius have deeply affected me, as well as the inventor of the essay, Michel de Montaigne. Tolstoy is my favorite writer of all time, and while I love his fiction, especially The Death of Ivan Ilych, his autobiographical writing about his struggles with religious faith is some of the most underappreciated prose in the western canon. My favorite modern novelists are Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes, Donna Tartt, and Elizabeth Strout. I think American fiction writing is as strong as it has ever been.

I genuinely believe all writing and all genres are an attempt to explore the central problem of being a human being. We are intelligent enough to know questions but not intelligent enough to know the answers we want. We live in the finitude of time, but we want eternal and infinite wisdom in its durability and vitality. We have these limited brains, sensitive hearts, and severely limited bodies for a length of time we do not know while encountering new troubles and fresh tribulations daily. Being alive is hard, but we also have a sense that it is spectacularly special, that it is a gift, and that there are paths available to us that are higher, better, and more meaningful. I love any genre, any author, and any project that helps us to make sense of the messiness and promise of life.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Last month, HarperCollins published the book I have wanted to write and publish my whole life. It is entitled Lessons in Liberty: Thirty Rules for Living from Ten Extraordinary Americans, and to be blunt, it is my magnum opus. It is a book of patriotic self-help: think George Washington meets Atomic Habits.

I found both inspiration and sadness in the reality that many contemporary Americans lead unhappy lives. A staggering 30% express broad dissatisfaction, while a quarter of 18–24-year-olds have contemplated suicide. Our nation grapples with civic and personal misery. Despite our freedom, we face a great conundrum: how to use liberty meaningfully and productively. As a teacher, I firmly believe that we learn best through examples, especially stories. In my book, I delve into the lives of ten extraordinary Americans spanning different walks of life and time periods—from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. From their wisdom and habits, we can extract three practical and actionable rules for successful and happy living. By looking to the past, we can shape our future. The book is not only informative but also practical, offering guidance to modern Americans who seek assistance. I truly believe it can play a powerful role in improving our personal and political lives.

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Featured Interview With Michelle M. Pillow

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi, I’m Michelle M. Pillow, a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author. I grew up in the Midwest, amongst open prairies as wide as my imagination. Now, I live in the American South, where the friendly people make up for the dreadful humidity. My constant companion is my cat, Bunny, who doubles as my writing buddy and manager. She’s a hard taskmaster–even demanding where I should work for the day. When I’m not crafting new worlds, you can often find me brainstorming story ideas with my husband or exploring our new location.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My love for books began early. My mom had us in the book a month club, and we loved new book mail. It created an excitement for reading. My dad would always take us to the library and bookstores. By the time I reached high school, I knew I wanted to be the one to create worlds. I loved to read and would love to find books that had not been checked out for decades in the school library. It was like a game, and ended up being a lot of the classics.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have a deep admiration for many authors. Anne Rice’s blending of romance, fantasy, and the supernatural has been a significant influence on my work. Jane Austen’s sharp wit and pushback against societal norms resonate with me, inspiring character-building in my stories. John Steinbeck’s ability to portray the human condition with such depth and empathy is something I strive to emulate. In terms of genre, I gravitate towards paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction, as they offer endless possibilities for exploration and creativity. As to modern-day authors, Mandy M. Roth and her Immortal Ops and Grimm Cove series are favorites.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Merely Mortal, is an urban fantasy novel that explores the intricate dance between the mortal and supernatural. The story follows Tamara, an ordinary woman born into an powerful supernatural family where she must navigate dangers, uncover family secrets, and grapple with her own identity. Writing this book was a journey of discovery. The characters in Merely Mortal are richly developed, each with their own struggles and triumphs that readers can relate to. Tamara’s journey is one of self-discovery and resilience, and I hope it resonates with readers who enjoy emotionally charged stories. If you’re looking for a blend of magic, mystery, action, danger and heartfelt moments, please give Merely Mortal a try. Book one is currently released. Book two, Mostly Shattered releases Oct 2024.

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Featured Interview With Enid Langbert

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
In the sixties, I spent my time marching, sitting in, and raging against segregation and the war while, in raising three children in my spare time. Eventually, I went to law school. I loved advocating for my clients as an attorney, whether they deserved it or not, until my husband became ill and I closed my practice to care for him. After he passed, I traveled widely and enrolled in an English literature master’s program.

While I was raising my children, in a big old house in the country, I had dogs and cats and chickens. Now that I live alone on the 39th floor of a Manhattan tower.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Books are among my earliest memories. My mother, an avid reader, surrounded me with books which she read to me often. When I was as young as three, she wrote down and showed me things I said, including poems like: Birdies flying overhead; Please come down and eat my bread. Sadly, I have to admit that this doggerel did not display much talent.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am obsessed with James Joyce and am an avid fan of other Irish authors as well: William Butler Yeats – I attended the Yeats summer school in Sligo, Ireland; Brendan Behan – he spoke at Vassar when I was a freshman; Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde. I currently read mysteries — especially by Irish, Scottish and English authors. And, of course, Arthur Conan Doyle! I often re-read Dylan Thomas, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, e.e. Cummings, Alan Ginsberg, T.S. Eliot. I love Milan Kundera and always wanted to study with him. My favorite current author is Colm Toibin and I do enjoy many contemporary authors chosen by my long-standing book club.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Paula Levy is fourteen years old in 1956, a unique moment in time. Adults, traumatized by the Depression and the Holocaust, cling to sameness, safeness and prosperity. But restless adolescents feel the beginnings of the revolution which will explode in the 1960’s. A conspiracy of silence surrounds the Holocaust, which has not yet even been named. And there are no words for the coming revolution. My book is about living in the shadows of the past and celebrating the future in the birth of rock & roll.

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Enid Langbert’s Website

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Featured Interview With Vespasian Phantom

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Vespasian Phantom, and I’m a debut teen author, publishing my first crime fiction book. I was raised in a small country in the heart of Europe, called Slovakia. I’m currently studying in Denmark, and I plan to stay here. I was always in the presence of books, mainly from my mom, who is the biggest book lover I have ever met. She inspired me to write my own – the Unseen Cases of Detective Winston. Nowadays, I run my TikTok account where I teach other teen and adult writers on how to publish their dream book!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I read my first ‘adult’ crime book when I was 13. My mom used to work in a library, and they had a very small English section, and she brought me a Kathy Reichs book home. Ever since then, I read most of Reichs’s books and more. My most favourite book is The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara – I fell in love with the story and how the protagonist slowly became the villain. It really inspired the backstory of Detective Winston.
I started writing short stories when I was in high school, and I wrote Unseen Cases of Detective Winston the summer after I turned 16, a year ago. It took me roughly four months, and hundreds of hours of editing. I truly had no idea what I was getting into, but I enjoyed the whole experience.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I hate to say this, but I have so many favourite books from all the genres that I cannot choose one. My favourites include Kathy Reichs’s Bones series, Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code and Donna Tartt’s Secret History. I also enjoy authors like Murakami or Hanya Yanagihara. My least favourite books are in the fantasy genre. I don’t usually read non-fiction, but last year I started to read more memoirs and finally understood why people enjoy non-fiction.

What inspired me the most to write my book was the fact that there are many crime fiction books with thrilling story lines, apart from the usual unhappy detective who is searching for meaning in their lives. I have decided to writ the ultimate villain in my book as disguise him as a normal person. I don’t want to spoil any more facts, but I can tell you, the end will leave you at the edge of your seats!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is also my debut book, called Unseen Cases of Detective Winston. It’s a crime thriller, with a variety of characters – I inspired it from my years of reading crime and thriller books, but it still includes its own twists and characters, like Detective Winston, a corrupted cop from New York, whose past is coming to catch up with him. It also explores the morality between the right and the wrong. He is a compulsive liar, manipulative and obsessive over his grand plan – order now to find out!
What makes my book different is the fact that each chapter is inspired by the different ‘unsolvable’ cases Detective Winston and Maxine take on. If you enjoyed books like Dexter, Gone Girl,Sharp Objects and The Silent Patient, you should definitely give my book a try!

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Vespasian Phantom’s Website

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Featured Interview With British Bombshell

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hey everyone! I’m the British Bombshell. I was born in Scotland, Edinburg and raised in London. Currently I’m in the states but travel everywhere!! I don’t have any pets but I have a robot dog, hehe.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved to read books and I’ve been writing since I was pretty young. First it was poetry and then papers in college, and now books!!! I’ve always had a skill when it comes to putting words down on paper. I’ve even written a few plays and a comic storyline in the past as well.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Honestly, I don’t really have any favorite authors to read but Stephen King and Richard Wright are definitely two great ones and as you can see from the types of books they write, my genres are vast.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called “How to get over your ex and rebuild your life”. I decided to write it because I’ve seen so many people get stuck after a relationship ends without knowing how to move forward and I wanted to provide advice and guidance to them. I also wanted to share a lot of life lessons that can be utilized to build yourself back under any circumstances.

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British Bombshell’s Website

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Featured Interview With Ian Johnson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I’m currently writing from my parent’s house in Milwaukee, but I’ll be leaving for New York City in two weeks to begin work as an english language arts instructor for the fall semester. I do not have any of my own pets, but my mom has an absolutely adorable maltese.
I earned my bachor of arts degree in philosophy in 2023. I also studied political theory at Goethe University in 2022. I attended graduate school to study political philosophy and ethics at the University of Pardubice in the Czech Republic in 2023 and 2024, but I left the program before finishing.
I attended a German immersion school when I was in kindergarted and first grade. I still speak enough German to make small talk with natives. I also picked up French in 2022. My French is much better than my German.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My mother is a librarian, and I’ve always been highly interested in reading. I started writing short horror stories in middle school, after I discovered Stephen King.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am heavily influenced by existentialist literature (Dostoevksy, Sartre, Camus, Cioran, Kafka, Richard Wright etc.). I really appreciate Plato’s dialogues as well. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is also one of my favorite books.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut novel, Notes from After Dusk, is an epistolary exploration of depression, sadness, and relationships. The novel also explores Liberalism, Existentialism, Marxism, phenomenological ontology, Hegelianism, and a myriad of other thought provoking themes.

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Ian Johnson’s Website

Featured Interview With Stuart Stromin

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Stuart Stromin is an award-winning South African-American writer and filmmaker in Los Angeles. He was educated at Rhodes University, South Africa, the Alliance Francaise de Paris, and UCLA. His latest novel is Wild Cards (Close2theBone Publishing), and his latest poetry chapbook is Sea of Troubles (Bottlecap Press), and his latest collection of short stories is subspace (EMP Publishing).

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I love stories so much that I began writing as soon as I could write! I was published at an early age, and have made writing part of my life and career.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am stuck in the classics: Shakespeare, Dickens, Dostoevsky, Camus, Twain, Steinbeck, but sometimes a contemporary crime fiction treat, like Elmore Leonard.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
subpace, a collection of kinky tales and stories, dares to explore the deepest, darkest desires of the human psyche.

from the power dynamics of dominance and submission to the tantalizing allure of kleptomania and the raw exposure of exhibitionism, each story is sensually crafted in a high literary style.

encounter characters who surrender to their most forbidden fantasies and fetishes, who pursue gratification at any expense, and who venture into uncharted realms of passion, yearning, and redemption.

sometimes playful, sometimes poetic, always provocative, subspace embarks on a journey where kink intertwines with romance in a rich tapestry of tales which defy convention, and keep you begging for more.

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Stuart Stromin’s Website

Featured Interview With Kristina Elyse Butke

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi! I’m Kristina, a YA Fantasy author based out of Ohio. I’m originally from Flushing, Queens, but have called Ohio home for most of my life, with the exception of two adventures–I lived in Wales for six months on a study abroad program, and lived in Japan for six years teaching English. The places I’ve lived influence my writing quite a bit, inspiring settings and even magical creatures. As far as creatures go, sadly I do not have any pets, but I absolutely adore cats.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was very young, in elementary school, when I realized I loved reading. In third grade I started writing stories. My teacher sold blank white hardcover books that you could illustrate and write in, and so my very first book was “The Fantasy Club.” I put all of my friends into that story, including myself, but stole the plot from TV. I was like that with writing for a while, using a sort of fanfiction way about it–taking something already made, and making the story last longer or changing it to suit my needs!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors to read are Margaret Rogerson, Alix E. Harrow, Juliet Marillier, T. Kingfisher, N.K. Jemisin, Holly Black, and more. But those authors specifically are auto-buys for me because what I’ve read of their writing, I’ve ended up loving. I read fiction but I also read manga, so I have two favorite genres: in fiction, YA Fantasy; in manga, BL. Authors of YA Fantasy influence my writing the most, but of all the ones I’ve mentioned, I’d probably choose Margaret Rogerson as my biggest influence. I’ve loved every story she’s written. Meanwhile, Juliet Marillier is the author who made me want to write fiction.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut novel, SON OF THE SIREN, was written while I lived in Japan, so my time there definitely ended up influencing the writing, from settings to creatures from folklore. It’s also inspired by fairy tales, namely three: Allerleirauh, The Wild Swans, and The Little Mermaid. I took motifs from each fairy tale and then gender swapped characters and mushed everything into a single story. If you know those fairy tales, you’ll definitely see pieces of them in the book, but if not, you’ll just get a tale you’ve never read before!

It’s about Lirien, a half-siren who calls on siren powers to bring his father, the King, back from the sea. But a siren song’s true strength is seduction, and Lirien ensnares his stepmother, the Queen, with its melody. The Queen uses magic to force Lirien’s love, but instead it steals Lirien’s voice and turns his siblings into animals. Lirien will risk everything to break the spells, but his own curse haunts him should he stray too long from the sea.

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Kristina Elyse Butke’s Website

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Featured Interview With Rachna Singh

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am Rachna Singh, author & Editor of The Wise Owl, an international literary & art e-magazine. I have authored 5 books in different genres, the latest being Phoenix in Flames, a collection of short stories about ordinary women who become extraordinary because of the resilience, fortitude and grit.

My father was in the Indian army and was posted to a different place every few years. My sister and I loved exploring new places and meeting new people. Our childhood was one big adventure. Dad was often posted to remote army stations, but I enjoyed the solitude because my dad had inculcated in me a love for books and I spent all my spare time reading anything and everything I could lay my hands on.

I now live in Chandigarh (India), which is a beautiful town at the foot of the Shivalik hills.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My father, before he joined the Army, had been a professor of English literature. He loved books and passed on his passion to me. As a child I would spend hours pouring over books and magazines, completely lost to the world around me.

I was probably twelve when I started writing. To begin with my writing was more in the nature of musings and scribblings about any subject that interested me. As I grew up, I began writing for the school magazine. In college I joined an Honours course in English literature and eventually enrolled in a masters program in english literature. I then began to write literary pieces for national dailies in India.

Then a whimsical fate beckoned and I joined the Indian Revenue Service. After several years as a Taxwoman, I decided to pursue my passion, quit the IRS and became a full-time writer.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read a well-crafted book, be it poetry or fiction or creative non-fiction. My favourite writers are Shakespeare (King Lear), TS Eliot (The Wasteland) and Jane Austen. Among the contemporary writers I love reading Paul Lynch (Prophet Song) and Audrey Magee (The Colony).

Life offers inspiration to write.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
‘Phoenix In Flames’ is a book dedicated to all ordinary women, who with their defiant resilience and fortitude become heroic and extraordinary. Sana, Sahar, Malini, Mrityunjai, Utkarsha and other female protagonists grapple with their personal demons and tragedies. Some arise rejuvenated and reborn like the Phoenix, others perish, consumed by their own torment. Although from different echelons of society, these women are soul sisters as they are united in their grief and their ability to face the adversities of life with a smile. The book also dwells on social evils like gender bias, under-age marriage and domes8c violence.

Will the irreparable loss of her son push Malini to the brink of a numbing emptiness, or will she be reborn as the nurturer of all? Will Sana break through the dark clouds of an impending tragedy or will she perish in the flames of her anguish, never to rise again? Will Sahar be able to fight the desire for self- annihilation triggered by an incestuous relationship? Will the scars left by Farhan on Kudrat’s psyche heal? The readers will find the answers to these questions as they traverse the dark landscape of emotional tales of tormented souls.

In weaving together the stories of these women, I also dwell upon the treatment of women in our society today (both in India and outside). Sahar is disregarded by her father as she is a girl and is forced into marriage with a man old enough to be her father. Safeena is given up by her parents for adoption as she is a girl. Kudrat becomes the vic8m of domes8c and psychological violence in an apparently progressive urban household.

My stories find an echo in the lives of all women. The stories at times elicit a smile as ordinary women scale extraordinary heights. At other times they leave you misty-eyed at the tragic turn of events.

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Rachna Singh’s Website

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Featured Interview With Tammy Aiken

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a cookbook author I only bake gluten free desserts. I bake for people with celiac disease. My dream is to be on Food Network and really show people how to make and bake yummy gluten free dessert. And get my recipes out to the world to help so many more people! I was raised in South Deerfield Massachusetts. I live in Turners Falls Massachusetts. I have no pets at this time.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
When I was 41 years old and started writing cookbooks no one there to help me write a good cookbook. I have learned a lot through the years about being an author. Now I write cookbooks for adults and kids with celiac disease. I want to get my recipes out the world to help so many more people with this celiac disease.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Who is inspires me is Alex Guarnaschelli on Food Network she is just awesome my dream is to be on Food Network and meet her and get my recipes out to the world to help others with this disease. My genre to read is English. My husband and my mom when she was alive and friends have inspired me to write my cookbooks.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The last book I published was my Kid’s Gluten Free Dessert Cookbook. There is candy, cookies and cupcakes all gluten free. My passion is to bake for kids who have celiac disease. I have created this kids’ dessert cookbook in a way that kids can understand how to make the recipes.

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Featured Interview With Kim Carter Mystery Novelist

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised outside Atlanta, Georgia, and lived on the outskirts of town in Newnan for many years. When my husband passed a few years ago, I decided to move to Biloxi, Mississippi closer to many of my supportive friends. I have raised four beautiful grown children and enjoy time with my grandbabies. I enjoy walks on the beach with my dog Wally.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
There isn’t a time that I can remember that I didn’t love books.
My mother read to me incessantly as a child and I still have all the ‘well-worn’ childhood books to this day. I read them to my children as well as their favorites.

I didn’t start writing until 1999 when an illness left me homebound for a few years. So, I began to write different plots and stories, before I knew it my first mystery, not knowing I was good at it, and started writing my first book.

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/suspense which is also what I write.
I have so many favorites but to name a few….Sue Grafton, Iris Johansen, Karin Slaughter, and Mary Higgins Clark. My husband Jules was my #1 person who inspired me. Today my best friend, Lisa Mobley Putnam, Kelly Keylon my publisher, and of course my dear friend and expert marketer, Cat Lyon are my greatest supporters and inspiration. My sister, Pam, is my biggest fan and encourager!

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My newest novel, “The Root of All Evil” book three is part of the “A Clara and Iris Mystery Series” of novels and was released in February 2024. Book two is titled “Murder Among the Tombstones” and book one introduces the characters of Clara and Iris in “Sweet Dreams, Baby Belle.”
A little backstory of how Clara and Iris came to be while how other characters begin and my investment of the real “baby belle”…

‘Sweet Dreams Baby Belle’, was inspired by a child’s tombstone in a Biloxi Cemetery. It was broken and only had the name Baby Belle on it. There wasn’t a date of birth or death. My friend and I were so moved by it that we researched her for over two years and were eventually able to repair her broken monument while maintaining the integrity of the original base made by her family in the late 1800s.

Although the novel is completely fictional, ‘Baby Belle’ was the pure inspiration behind it. The book begins with Lizzie, who is a waitress in Atlanta but marries a cardiac surgeon who sweeps her off her feet and gives her a life of luxury.
However, Lizzie soon learns all that glitters is not gold when she discovers her husband’s drug development company is a Ponzi scheme. She realizes her life could be in danger if she doesn’t somehow escape the gated mansion on the hill. Her only hope is to go to Biloxi, Mississippi, and seek refuge with her sister, Maggie.
Maggie and her husband Leland quickly find a safe harbor for Lizzie in a house on the bayou. However, the house at the end of the street might not be the quiet retreat Lizzie was hoping for.

The confines of her hideaway soon get to Lizzie so she begins sneaking out in the middle of the night to walk in the historical cemetery next door. One night a damaged, carved lamb on top of the tombstone of a small child catches her eye, and the story of the baby/child captures her heart. But when Lizzie Chatsworth thinks her world can’t get any more complicated, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery from the 1800s pulling her in and demanding she seek justice.
As her husband’s empire begins to crumble, he’s more determined than ever to find Lizzie and kill her. But, will the mystery of Baby Belle’s death end Lizzie’s life first?

Books two and three share these two old retired private investigators opening their own PI business together and take readers off on both a gripping and some humorous mystery situations…

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Kim Carter Mystery Novelist’s Website

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