Tell us about yourself.:
I'm a married mum of one who lives in Surrey, just outside London in the UK. I used to make short indie films and started to write short stories and longer fiction around seven years ago. I've always been obsessed with thrillers, true crime and horror stories, especially those that have an unreliable narrator.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in a northern town in the UK. It shows itself in my characters – they are kind are hard, edgy, use a bit of language. It's what I was surrounded by where I was raised.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Just fitting it in whenever I can – I work full time in a day job so writing is done in the gaps between everything else!

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in a northern town in the UK. It shows itself in my characters – they are kind are hard, edgy, use a bit of language. It's what I was surrounded by where I was raised.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read as much as you can in the genre you are writing in. Also read books on how to plot for pace, how to create rounded characters and how to create mood with setting. Reading is as important as writing.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: K.T. Jayne

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Tell us about yourself.:
I have written "The File on Thomas Marks," a mystery, "The Prize Winners and Other Stories," a collection, several short stories that have been published in literary journals, and numerous poems that have appeared in literary journals and anthologies.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in a small town on the Ohio River, not far from Cincinnati. Primarily because it was a small town I got to know numerous folks over the years. Although I moved away in my twenties, I still return from time to time to see relatives. Without question, what I experienced growing up influenced my writing, especially the short stories, many of which are set in small towns or rural areas.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don't think so, except I try to write or edit something almost every day.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in a small town on the Ohio River, not far from Cincinnati. Primarily because it was a small town I got to know numerous folks over the years. Although I moved away in my twenties, I still return from time to time to see relatives. Without question, what I experienced growing up influenced my writing, especially the short stories, many of which are set in small towns or rural areas.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Even though one should try to write about what s/he knows or has experienced, I think one needs to learn the fundamentals of writing. In other words, enroll in one or more courses in creative writing. The critiques from others are worth it.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Bentley Turner

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Tell us about yourself.:
Former soldier, paratrooper, United Nations peacekeeper, kickboxer. Hold a Bachelor of Human Ecology (Foods & Nutrition). Enjoy fitness, alternative healing, outdoors and books.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Surrey, B.C. Canada. I always loved books. By grade 4, I was reading full length novels.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually follow a ritual of writing at a desk by a window and with a painted rock given to me by my daughter. I usually write in 45 minute chunks of time.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Surrey, B.C. Canada. I always loved books. By grade 4, I was reading full length novels.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Like physical training or studying, never wait for inspiration or the perfect time. Just get words on paper.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Doug Setter

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Tell us about yourself.:
I study Leonardo Da Vinci since 1999. And yet, every time I pick up one of its five thousand codes, I always find something new to study and discover. I have written numerous books on Leonardo, with famous publishers who then distributed my books all over the world. The most famous book is about Leonardo's machines that I made in 2004, I find this book in all bookstores in the world and it makes me very angry. It will seem strange, because usually scholars never deny what they write, but what I wrote in that book I find now obsolete and outdated, the research I did and Leonardo's machines that I rebuilt in 3D like the automobile, The bridges, the bombards, the flying machine, the helicopter, the boat with poles, the armed wagon etc .. I find them, copied in all the museums of the world. I recognize my studies and my machines because I have always added something and modified Leonardo's drawings and at times I have discovered things that no scholar had done before. However, all these machines are not exactly Leonardo's, in fact I later discovered that all these subjects are actually already existing machines that Leonardo copied, studied and tried to improve. I then moved on to study Leonardo da Vinci directly from his writings, thanks to the teachings of Carlo Pedretti, and here I found the great surprise. Leonardo's real machines and real projects are hidden in thousands of virtually unknown pages. In fact, they are sketchy, unfinished and difficult to interpret drawings. For this reason they have been "abandoned". In the last hundred years it has been more convenient for museums and for many curators to copy Leonardo's usual machines without ever delving into the historical truth. My task, my mission and my passion is to rediscover these projects, study them, understand them and also create models from life, as well as on the computer. In recent years I have therefore studied and discovered new Leonardo machines, exhibited all over the world and my work is only at the beginning.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was very lucky. I was born in Italy, the cradle of art, the land of the Renaissance. I studied art, design and engineering in Milan. I traveled, studied and lectured in Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Vicenza, Verona, Vinci and other wonderful Italian cities. Certainly being born and living in the same places where Leonardo Da Vinci lived and worked influenced my culture. I was able to see, study and touch the castles and palaces where both Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael worked. What more could you ask for?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I write books on Leonardo I always let myself be guided by his creative spirit. I have long ago decided to write simply and directly, as if I had to explain things to a guy. For many years I have been following and reading academic research, with heavy, formal and unnecessarily complicated language. I understand, understand and accept the formal academic rules that are now mandatory for the world of professors. But this has distanced them from their primary purpose, scientific and artistic dissemination. Academic books are now full of citations and self-citations between professors without adding any useful information to the topic treated. Serious books on Leonardo therefore become more and more useless and distant from young readers who should be the first to be inspired and guided by science and art. When I write then I also let myself be carried away by continuous discovery: that is a process by which, by treating a topic and analyzing a drawing or a work, infinite new ways of development and study are opened. I know where I'm starting from, but I never plan to arrive. The journey, in art and science, is more beautiful and fascinating than the arrival.

What authors have influenced you?
I was very lucky. I was born in Italy, the cradle of art, the land of the Renaissance. I studied art, design and engineering in Milan. I traveled, studied and lectured in Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Vicenza, Verona, Vinci and other wonderful Italian cities. Certainly being born and living in the same places where Leonardo Da Vinci lived and worked influenced my culture. I was able to see, study and touch the castles and palaces where both Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael worked. What more could you ask for?

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The new authors must never give up, it is difficult but as Leonardo teaches only perseverance and obstinacy can lead us to the goal. We must inform ourselves, never believe the first editor or the first specialist who seems to be able to help us. However, as I always write in my books on Leonardo, he too had problems and struggled to sell his art, only after a long time did he become famous.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Mario Taddei

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Tell us about yourself.:
Hello! My name is Cheryl Ilov, and I am the author of two books, which still manages to surprise me. I never planned on becoming an author, nor did I consider myself a writer. However, I have always had a passion for storytelling. I suppose my writing career began by chronicling medical documents and progress reports for thousands of patients as a medical professional in both respiratory as well as physical therapy. Along the way, I discovered that weaving stories along with treatment modalities helped educate my patients and was a powerful tool in their recovery and ongoing progress.

I reluctantly started a blog in 2011, when a marketing "expert" I was working with set one up for me even though I had no idea what a blog was or why I would possibly want one. Once I was able to figure it out, I began writing about health, fitness, and life in general. My open, friendly, and sometimes whimsical writing style captivated my followers, and several years later I began writing short stories, several of which have been published in "The Pueblo Chieftain," a local newspaper, as well as "FINALLY! Magazine," an international online publication for the over fifty population.

I wrote my first book, “Forever Fit and Flexible: Feeling Fabulous at Fifty and Beyond,” in an attempt to share my personal and professional experience as a physical therapist in private practice to help people in every stage of life enjoy a healthy, vibrant, active, and pain-free lifestyle. Although my intention in writing the book was to establish myself as an expert in my field, attract new clients, and reach a larger audience with my positive message of hope, the book made me an award-winning author and was a #1 Best Seller on Amazon.

My professional career as an author was launched, at the tender young age of sixty-one.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in a small steel town in Western Pennsylvania in a household full of estrogen and female energy. My father was a immigrant from Eastern Europe. My mother was born in the United States, the daughter of two immigrants. I have two older sisters and two younger sisters, and we grew up with a lot of storytelling, love, and laughter.

Books and stories were very important to us, and we were passionate about everything we did and experienced. I believe this is what launched my writing career, and I am currently working on a series chronicling my family history.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, although I often get inspiration for great ideas at the strangest times. Like when I'm driving or at the grocery store, which causes me to talk out loud and have vibrant conversations with myself. It's not a problem when I'm alone in the car, but it seems to make the other shoppers uncomfortable, because they get out of my path in a hurry when they see me coming their way.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in a small steel town in Western Pennsylvania in a household full of estrogen and female energy. My father was a immigrant from Eastern Europe. My mother was born in the United States, the daughter of two immigrants. I have two older sisters and two younger sisters, and we grew up with a lot of storytelling, love, and laughter.

Books and stories were very important to us, and we were passionate about everything we did and experienced. I believe this is what launched my writing career, and I am currently working on a series chronicling my family history.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes! Focus on the process of writing rather than the end result. Enjoy the journey, and don't second guess yourself along the way. If you need help, hire a reputable writing coach, and a good editor is a must. When you feel stuck, walk away from the project and go for a walk, get some exercise and fresh air, and you will come back with a renewed sense of creativity and energy. Finally, don't give up and don't doubt yourself. There is an audience out there just waiting to hear from you!

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Cheryl Ilov

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Tell us about yourself.:
Not who everyone thinks she is.
The product of someone’s imagination.
The end result of a lifetime wishing to get out.
Do not buy the lie.
If you live in fear, you give up freedom.
Taking the risk and making the leap.
Too much of anything is a bad thing.
Innuendo floating on the mist that rises above the water.
Walk away and leave it all behind.
Telling the story that haunts a fantasy.
Catching a dream.
She does not exist.
-Ophelia Kee

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was raised in Northern Middle Tennessee, Have a Bachelor of Science in History and Geography, and am certified to teach High School social studies. I have lived most of my career in education in Texas, but have taught in Tennessee and Florida. I love the classroom but don't want anything further in education. Writing and building an indie author career slowly is my choice for what I want to do when I no longer step into a classroom full-time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a chaotic pantser writer. I write the scenes as they come to me. That's not always in order or even in the same story. I also do not publish a book until I am completely done with it. So some of the stories have been languishing in my Docs files for years.

What authors have influenced you?
I was raised in Northern Middle Tennessee, Have a Bachelor of Science in History and Geography, and am certified to teach High School social studies. I have lived most of my career in education in Texas, but have taught in Tennessee and Florida. I love the classroom but don't want anything further in education. Writing and building an indie author career slowly is my choice for what I want to do when I no longer step into a classroom full-time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, read, research, and write. Learn marketing and take the time to build at least one social media platform.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Ophelia Kee

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Tell us about yourself.:
Camille Cabrera is a known mystery and suspense author. She writes her novels at a consistent speed and tends to craft multiple projects at the same time.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
The sunny California beaches and peaceful shores tend to starkly contrast Camille's darker writing style. However, she set her first suspense novel within Los Angeles as a small nod to her upbringing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Absolutely! Camille loves to write out her first drafts by hand. Each of her purses contains a notebook, just in case a new idea strikes when she's outside of the house.

What authors have influenced you?
The sunny California beaches and peaceful shores tend to starkly contrast Camille's darker writing style. However, she set her first suspense novel within Los Angeles as a small nod to her upbringing.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Camille Cabrera

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Tell us about yourself.:
I am a romance book author and ghostwriter of more than twenty years, who enjoys writing sweet romance books series.

These novels are mostly set in a little Kentish village, featuring tight-knit communities, a determined earl with a scandalous reputation and a spirited heroine who not only brings the hero to heel but must stand up for herself to seize the happy-ever-after she deserves.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in a small, tight-knit village in England and lived for a few years on a farm. As there wasn't a lot of entertainment if it rained, I read copious amounts of books including Jane Austen.

However, the fact I write modern regency romance novels where the sparks fly between a brooding hero and a flawed but feisty heroine is purely coincidental…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Before I write, I water my flowers, catch fish and buy seasonal outfits for animated creatures in Animal Crossing. But that's not unusual, is it?

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in a small, tight-knit village in England and lived for a few years on a farm. As there wasn't a lot of entertainment if it rained, I read copious amounts of books including Jane Austen.

However, the fact I write modern regency romance novels where the sparks fly between a brooding hero and a flawed but feisty heroine is purely coincidental…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t beat yourself up if another author's technique doesn't work. Just keep trying new things till something clicks.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Kate Harriet

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Tell us about yourself.:
Societally unacceptable—with no plans to change!

We’ve published three books in the last year: Butch & Louie’s Book of Stress-Relieving Humor: Feel Better Fast, Butch & Louie’s Book of Poetry, and Butch & Louie’s Book of Odd Short Stories.

All of our books are free on Amazon, B&N, Apple, and Smashwords. All of them are, or have been, number 1 in multiple categories on Amazon, and we expect to end the year as category leaders.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
We grew up in the back of our father's motorcycle shop. That experience taught us to wash our hands before we write anything because too much grease on the page can obscure the text.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, we only write with words we can spell.

What authors have influenced you?
We grew up in the back of our father's motorcycle shop. That experience taught us to wash our hands before we write anything because too much grease on the page can obscure the text.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Of course we do. Make sure you are very successful and make lots and lots of money before you start publishing books because you’re going to need it! That's what we did in our area of business, selling used motorcycle parts. We quickly learned that if we got the parts for free, then we made more money on them when we sold them.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Butch & Louie

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Tell us about yourself.:
Dr. Trina Boice is a #1 best-selling author of 31 books and was named the California Young Mother of the Year in 2004, an award which completely amuses her 4 sons. She teaches online for Brigham Young University and Arizona College of Nursing, in addition to creating online courses for professional development at LifelongLearningEducation.com. She’s a movie critic at Movie Review Mom.com and has a daily podcast called “Daily Inspirational Quote Hosted by Trina Boice”. She’s an author coach at FromBook2Business.com
She worked as a Legislative Assistant for a Congressman in Washington, D.C., and was given the “Points of Light” Award and Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her domestic and international community service. She was selected by KPBS in San Diego to be a political correspondent. She taught classes at the famous Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College and says she has the weight gain to prove it. If she told you what she really did she’d have to kill you.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in California and moved to Las Vegas a few years ago. I always knew I’d be a writer when I was a little girl. I just didn’t know exactly what I’d be writing about! I started collecting inspiring quotes and ideas for my books when I was only 6 years old. I kept them in a little box, which grew into dozens of filing cabinets full of content. My husband said I would be buried in a filing cabinet. Thank goodness we can now scan documents into our computer! I've always loved clever wordplay, foreign languages, and different ways of communicating. Would you believe I actually liked diagramming sentences in my middle school English class? My kids think I'm such a nerd. They’re right. When I was a little girl, I won a contest in my 2nd grade class for reading more books than any other kid in the class, more than triple!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To get into the writing zone, I listen to music. The type of music depends on what kind of a book I’m writing and what mood I want to get into. Sometimes I light a candle and I almost always have a delicious snack on my desk to much on. Before typing, I do a lot of research on the topic and begin brainstorming in outline form.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in California and moved to Las Vegas a few years ago. I always knew I’d be a writer when I was a little girl. I just didn’t know exactly what I’d be writing about! I started collecting inspiring quotes and ideas for my books when I was only 6 years old. I kept them in a little box, which grew into dozens of filing cabinets full of content. My husband said I would be buried in a filing cabinet. Thank goodness we can now scan documents into our computer! I've always loved clever wordplay, foreign languages, and different ways of communicating. Would you believe I actually liked diagramming sentences in my middle school English class? My kids think I'm such a nerd. They’re right. When I was a little girl, I won a contest in my 2nd grade class for reading more books than any other kid in the class, more than triple!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it! If you truly believe in your project, don't give up. Writing a book and getting a book published can be hard work, especially in today's economy. Persistence in this industry definitely pays off.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Trina Boice

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Tell us about yourself.:
I'm a current writer and former factory rat, graphic artist, and kindergarten teacher. I live in Michigan with my beloved husband and our cat Charlie. I was born in Massachusetts and miss the East Coast when I'm not there. I love to write, read, draw, travel, and learn new things; I love nature, love to laugh, love my family. Somebody Knows Something is my first novella.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was born in MA grew up in a blue collar suburb south of Detroit, MI. Not too much of an influence on my writing except for me needing/wanting to get out, venture forth…which writing allowed me to do–virtually.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess the unusual aspect of my writing is that every time I write something, the experience is different. Either I'm writing in a flurry, or I'm writing in fits and starts, or agonizing about the ending, or not writing for months then writing like a crazy person for weeks on end, dreaming my story start to finish…

What authors have influenced you?
I was born in MA grew up in a blue collar suburb south of Detroit, MI. Not too much of an influence on my writing except for me needing/wanting to get out, venture forth…which writing allowed me to do–virtually.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1) Write what YOU want to write. Ultimately, it's your name on that cover.
2) Get ready to grow a thick skin quickly, esp. if you go the querying route or have smart, savvy people reading your work.
3) Editing is critical. Be prepared to hack and slash, do what it takes to sculpt and then, fine tune that bad boy.
4) Don't write in a vacuum. Seek out fellow writers, and writing websites. Writing is such a solitary thing and feedback is invaluable. And it goes both ways–you'll be helping others, too. There's so much to learn about writing, editing, querying, promoting your stuff–you don't have to do all that alone.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: K.K. Edwards

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Tell us about yourself.:
I am an author of several books, including novels and short stories. I write in many different genres – humorous, horror, dystopian, science fiction, etc. I'm also a retired middle school teacher. I taught language arts and enjoyed helping my students find their own creativity. I live in the desert Southwest of the United States. I have a wonderful sister who always offers me support. I also have an adorable cat named Simba who I love spending time with.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in the Midwest. I'm not sure that the place actually inspired my writing, but I loved writing even when I was a child. I would often spend my free time writing plays and stories. It provided me with stress relief and still does to this day!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Some of my characters and stories are very unusual, but I'm not sure that my habits are. The most unusual thing I can think of is that I am often inspired by dreams (usually nightmares). Instead of being upset by the dream when I wake up, I just think of ways to turn it into a story.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in the Midwest. I'm not sure that the place actually inspired my writing, but I loved writing even when I was a child. I would often spend my free time writing plays and stories. It provided me with stress relief and still does to this day!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start writing! It's easy to be overwhelmed by the idea of writing a book if you've never written one. When I wrote my first novel, I had no idea how I was going to turn my idea into a full-length book. But now, I'm actually turning it into a series that looks like it's going to have at least six books. That would definitely have been way too overwhelming for me had I thought about it at the time. So, think about the book you want to write. Start hashing out some details like who will the characters be, what problem with they face, etc. After organizing your thoughts, start writing. Don't spend time worrying about how it's going to come out. If you love it, that's great. Keep going. If you hate it, that's okay too. There's nothing wrong with starting over! I always told my students that part of the revision process is sometimes throwing out the first draft and starting over.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Sallie Cochren

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Tell us about yourself.:
I am a speculative writer.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up next to an orchard full of tall weeds and decaying trees which aided my fertile imagination.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up next to an orchard full of tall weeds and decaying trees which aided my fertile imagination.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Follow your heart.

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

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Tell us about yourself.:
I am a Literature student and poet. I am the author of poetry collection, Mirror of Emotions. I have written for many national and international literary journals. Apart from writing, I love nature and football.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was brought up in the city of Jaunpur, India. Well, I consider myself an inquisitive soul who’s seeking the definition of life, and everything coming in its way. Being an introvert; my aura and art is often honed by inquisitiveness I follow in solitude.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yeah, it's trying as many genres as I can even if I am not too good at it. I believe failure teaches you a lot of things in life. So I love to fail and learn.

What authors have influenced you?
I was brought up in the city of Jaunpur, India. Well, I consider myself an inquisitive soul who’s seeking the definition of life, and everything coming in its way. Being an introvert; my aura and art is often honed by inquisitiveness I follow in solitude.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would advice them to have faith in their art. Don’t try to copy anyone. Have faith in your personality. Believe you are unique. Don’t chase perfection. You will never write a single word if you are looking for perfection. Fail and learn from failures. Try to find out what failure is teaching you and never give up on your goal.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Ali Ashhar

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