Tell us about yourself and your books.:
I grew up in East Germany and always wanted to travel. But that wasn't possible until the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. So, I made up stories, imagining all the places I would go to one day. However, it wasn't until I met my future husband, a Brit, and moved to the UK, that I fell in love with the English language and wrote my first book "Layers". My second novel "The sky above", a dystopian story, has just come out.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like my dog Shumba to sleep on my feet. Somehow it makes me creative.

What authors have influenced you?
There are quite a few because I don't stick to one author or even one particular genre. But growing up it's probably Stephen King and later Jodi Picoult.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up, but you can have a break. Just don't let it last too long.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: A.G.R. Goff

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
Hi! My name is Alexandra. For as long as I can remember, I was reading and writing like crazy. Growing up a natural introvert, I became obsessed with creating stories in my head and writing/telling/drawing/acting them out; it was such a wonderful way to express myself! I would put on plays with my siblings, direct "home movies", write screenplays and of course write poetry in my diary as a kid.
During the course of my adult life, I began to study mind-body connection, holistic therapy, and embodied living, and that's what really started to influence my work. I want nothing more than for people to explore self-actualization, using our human experience to grow and learn. All of my works are written from a place of curious exploration of the human experience; how we operate, and more importantly, WHY we operate, and all the crazy loving expanding processes in-between.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Oh goodness, of course! There are times when inspiration is there, but needs a gentle coaxing to come out.
I think the weirdest habit (That works wonders!) is in the evening, I take my journal and just totally word-vomit onto a page. The weird part? I close one of my eyes, in hopes to access different parts of my brain that aren't totally connected to our sense of sight. Sounds super strange, but let me tell you, it works!

What authors have influenced you?
There are so many, but a few of my favorites are Margaret Atwood, Anais Nin, Charles Bukowski, Erica Jong, David Deida, and Charles Eisenstein among others.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Honestly, just get rid of the idea that an "Author" has to appear/act/live a certain way. There are so many beliefs that we perceive about authors that can distract us from actually sticking with our work and believing in it. You CAN write, and you CAN be an author- if you're reading this, you are probably already doing all the things you need to be to get your voice heard! Just be yourself, and stick with your creation babies.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Alexandra Olmedo

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
Allistar Banks is a prolific author having self-published several books called Cracking The Happy Weight Code, Girl Rise, Spring Brings Summer, A Colorful Balloon Ride, and Lenny the Lizard And His Green Scarf. She has been featured in the Index-Journal, The Press and Banner, Lander Magazine, the McCormick Messenger, and on WZLA out of Abbeville, SC. Now Ms. Banks is going to be a Presenter at the South Carolina International Reading Association for her children’s books and on a future broadcast with the CBS Sunday Morning Show for A Colorful Balloon Ride. Besides writing, she loves reading, hiking, top 40 music, yoga, Pilates, history museums, does pet sitting, food and wine, local restaurants, comedy shows, and community events.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No.

What authors have influenced you?
Dorothea Benton Frank.
Rachel Hollis.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join author Facebook groups in their genre to collaborate and connect with other Authors.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Allistar Banks

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
My name is Andrea Wilson Woods, and I am an author, writer, patient advocate, and entrepreneur. I am president and founder of the nonprofit Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. I am also the CEO and co-founder of Cancer University, a for-profit, social-benefit, digital health company. My debut book Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days is a medical memoir about raising my younger sister Adrienne from the age of eight until she died from liver cancer at age 15.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I don't write when I'm drunk, and I always edit when I'm sober, which is 99% of the time.

What authors have influenced you?
Too many. I admire any author who can make nonfiction read like fiction and fiction seem like nonfiction.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Read, read, read especially in the genre you write.
2. Write an amazing story.
3. Hire professional editors and proofreaders.
4. Learn how to sell because it is the author's responsibility to sell her books.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Andrea Wilson Woods

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
I’ve been a professional writer for 20 years. After graduating from Film School Munich in scriptwriting, I worked as a screenwriter in the German movie business, then as a game writer in the video game industry.
Five years ago, I finally made my childhood dream come true and published my first novel. I have four traditionally published books in Germany, of which three are a Dystopian series.
My latest book, Shadow City, is, in a way, another debut for me, however. It’s my first book in English for the US market after I moved to the US in 2016.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a strict plotter, which is not very surprising considered that I used to write screenplays. I plan every scene in advance and write it down in a few sentences before I start writing the book.
When I started developing Shadow City, I planned it as a trilogy from the beginning. Before I wrote the first sentence of the novel, I knew exactly how the trilogy will end.
I have a very special work procedure. When I write I imagine a movie in my head. I see everything in all details moving and rewind the scenes in my head over and over again to make changes until I’m satisfied. Then I write them down. It is why my writing style often is described as cinematic by my readers.

What authors have influenced you?
I’m a big fan of George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Anne Rice, Phillip K. Dick, and Isaac Asimov. These are probably the authors who influenced me the most. Additionally, I enjoy reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz, George R.R. Martin, and Andrzej Sapkowski.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
One of the most difficult things for newbie authors is to actually finish a book. It’s easy to get distracted or disheartened. I would suggest focusing on only one story at a time. Especially the middle of a story is often difficult to write, and that’s the point when many have new ideas for completely different stories and start working on them.
I wouldn’t do that. If you have new ideas, write them down in a notebook, so you can come back to them later, no matter how tempting it is. Finish your story first.
I also would recommend writing every day, if possible. It doesn’t need to be much. If you have five minutes, write for five minutes. If you have five hours, write for five hours. Writing every day is the best way to avoid writer's block because you become so used to writing that after a while, you can do it anytime, anywhere.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Anna Mocikat

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and am now living on the shore of beautiful Nottawasaga Bay with my husband of 45 years. Technically I'm retired, but I actually spend anywhere from 6 to 8 hours per day writing. Since leaving the high school classroom in 2012, I've written and had published 7 nonfiction books (including 2 literacy programs, one for grades 9 to 12 and one for grades 4 to 8) and 6 novels of speculative fiction. Most recently, I've been focusing on space opera. Book 5 of my series, Sic Transit Terra, was released earlier this year.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmm. Aside from acting out every scene of dialogue (all the parts) before I write it, no. Nope. Not a one.

What authors have influenced you?
Every author I've read has had some sort of influence on me. Growing up reading the classic sf authors (Asimov, Heinlein, McCaffrey, Harrison, Blish, Silverberg, and so on, and so on) made me want to write tales of my own. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern was a master class for me in creating evocative prose. And Zenna Henderson's books set a storytelling bar that I am still striving to reach.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Reach out, and keep learning. Join a writing group. Attend writers' conferences. Take workshops. Don't just sit at the keyboard all alone. Writing is a lifelong apprenticeship, and the learning curve is more fun to travel if you have company.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Arlene F. Marks

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
First, most of my ebooks are FREE (except on Amazon). The pittance from a sale is nada por nada. It's more important that you read and understand.

I use science fiction as a convenient cover to advance the need for a common human ethical construct that might give us a better chance of extending our time on Earth. Readers hoping only for imaginative escape will be disappointed and miss the underlying messages in the prose.

These messages are intended to slap you across the face with a wake-up call.

After all, science fiction is not simply about entertainment, right? It should occasionally include elements about the human condition, how we advance as a species, and how our technological prowess and social progress must stay aligned and balanced.

We fail to recognize that we are just another species, and a volatile one at that. We will continue to flail and stumble between two points in time, our beginning and end, and our common goal should be to extend that time horizon.

I am amazed by human behavior in what may be its waning decades, have done martial arts for years, and write because I need a relief valve. Please visit me at BladeCort.com.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not so unusual, but I tend to read my content out loud in editing phase.

What authors have influenced you?
Heinlein
Huxley

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing is no different than the real world. The top 1% get the lion's share of revenue. So write for the fun of it, or because it pours from you and you can't help yourself.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Blade Cort

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
Hi, my name is C.S. Coy and I am a science-fiction writer who resides in New York. I currently have two books published. My first book "The Unexpected" was published in 2018 and my second book "The Unexplained" will be released October 1st, 2019.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It can vary. A lot of the times I like to draw out a scene or character first to get a better idea of a setting or design.

What authors have influenced you?
Marc Cerasini and C.S. Lewis.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
To be yourself and write stories that you want to read and really embrace that. I think if any writer does that, not only are you enjoying what you're doing, but you'll garner readers who will really love your passion and hard work you put into your stories.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: C.S. Coy

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
CAROLYN BOWEN is a mystery author who calls on her life escapades and an adventurous, imaginative spirit to inspire and entertain. Bowen uses travel as a muse to explore cultures and dialogue to bring her stories to life. Her writing credits include Cross-Ties, a romantic adventure; The Long Road Home, a contemporary crime fiction mystery; Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success; The Sydney Jones Series, Book 1: Primed For Revenge, a mystery thriller, and Book 2: Chance – A Novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I enjoy awakening before sunrise to start my day with a good cup of coffee.

What authors have influenced you?
I have been most influenced by Ernest Hemingway. I especially liked his advice to authors. I have written about him several times in my blog. My favorite advice from him is for authors to never compare themselves to living authors. If you want to be great, study the authors whose work has stood the test of time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes! Prepare yourself by reading, studying your craft, and daily writing.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Carolyn Bowen

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
I'm Cass Ford! This year, I released my first novel, an erotic romance titled Prince of Sin. And most recently, the audiobook came out on Audible, Apple Books and Amazon.

Prince of Sin takes place in the porn world. It's about a porn star dating a civilian. It was very important to me to capture the world correctly, so I visited real porn sets to research.

What authors have influenced you?
I absolutely LOVE Jackie Collins. Her stories are so scandalous. I hope my stories bring readers into fun scandals, rather than make them feel scandalized.

Christina Lauren turned me onto erotic romance. Though I'd read Fifty Shades, I was more into Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn to respect the highs and lows. Writing is a roller coaster ride of highs and lows — you can't let the lows pull you down too much.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Cass Ford

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Tell us about yourself and your books.:
I am indie writer who loves fantasy. In the Stardust Destinies series, I have five completed books, the first of which I have just published. I am currently writing the sequel quintology and am currently writing my first and rough draft of book 8. Outside of Stardust Destinies, I write fan-fiction, from the Star Wars Old Republic universe, which can be found on my website. I am also a YouTuber. On my main channel I dive into the lore of my favourite video game, Dragon Age. It inspires me and motivates me for my own projects.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don't know if they're unusual, but they're definitely particular. While some things I write I write directly in Word, when it comes to Stardust Destinies, I must write by hand first. Then I proof read before typing it up. I have a process where I proof read and correct the typed version before doing a self-editing pass. Only then do I feel it is ready for my editor.

What authors have influenced you?
I have three favourite franchises that have inspired me a great deal throughout the years. Star Wars and its original expanded universe is the first one. I was four years old when I saw A New Hope for the first time, so it's been a great inspiration. Lord of the Rings and other books by J.R.R. Tolkien is another inspiration for me. The way Tolkien includes songs and other languages inspired me to put in some songs and invented languages into my stories as well. And of course, I can't forget my favourite video game franchise, Dragon Age. All those franchises have rich characters of various types, with various arcs. Analysing certain character arcs and Carl Jung's archetypes has helped me develop some of my own characters.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would say don't listen to your inner critic. That voice that puts us down sometimes when we are unsure of ourselves can be detrimental at times. While it's good to gain feedback and to improve what we write throughout the entire process, simply doing is a step towards achieving one's goals. So, also, go for it, write, and write. There are online courses and tutorials that you can find for free for self-editing, which help improve your writing skills. I'd also advise investing in a grammar book. I consult mine regularly, even when I know the rule, sometimes it's best to make sure and double check. It can only improve the writing skill.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Celinka Serre

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