My Book Place

Your place to find great books online!

  • Home
  • Featured Books
  • Submit Your Book
  • Author Advertising Pre-Pay
  • Author Interview
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Cart
    • Checkout

Author Interview: Marilyn L. Davis

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I'm the Editor-in-Chief at From Addict 2 Advocate and Two Drops of Ink. I'm also the author of the memoir Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate. I recently celebrated 32 years of abstinence-based recovery.

My memoir reflects a lost child who started using drugs at age 9, managed rock bands, gave up her children, and was mandated to treatment by her employer. With only ten months in recovery, a chance encounter with a 74-year-old Native American helped me find my purpose – opening North House, an award-winning residential facility for women.

In writing my memoir, I thought it was necessary to understand a good memoir's correct mindsets and mechanics. That research helped me write my memoir and create Memories into Memoir: The Mindsets and Mechanics Workbook.

I'm an avid reader, grandmother, and mother to two daughters who are also in recovery. Their children were born after they got sober and are all now teenagers with a greater understanding of the hereditary aspects of addiction, so we are optimistic that they will not continue in the cycle of addiction.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was born in Indiana and grew up with several educators in my immediate family. Reading, discussions of history, and mid-west values were the norm, and family was important.

Moving to rural Tennessee and labeled a Yankee was the beginning of bullying, and I found release and comfort in a journal. At age four, I understood that the black squiggly lines on the page told a story or described something, so words could take me somewhere else or help me process what was happening to me.

Encouraged by my father to write, I wrote terrible poetry but created strong characters in my short stories—these make-believe protagonists stood up to the bullies – something I couldn't do.

It was not until I opened North House that I returned to writing, creating the Therapeutic Integrated Educational Recovery System (TIERS) used by the women in the house and other men's and women's recovery homes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unlike Mark Twain, I don't make it a habit to write in bed; however, I am like Vladimir Nabokov and keep a sleep/dream notepad next to my bed for the 3 AM inspiration.

I also never destroy my darlings, whether it's a killer sentence or three paragraphs. I may not use them in a post for the two blogs, but file them under the topic. I review the darlings each time I write to see if I can finally use them.

What authors have influenced you?
I was born in Indiana and grew up with several educators in my immediate family. Reading, discussions of history, and mid-west values were the norm, and family was important.

Moving to rural Tennessee and labeled a Yankee was the beginning of bullying, and I found release and comfort in a journal. At age four, I understood that the black squiggly lines on the page told a story or described something, so words could take me somewhere else or help me process what was happening to me.

Encouraged by my father to write, I wrote terrible poetry but created strong characters in my short stories—these make-believe protagonists stood up to the bullies – something I couldn't do.

It was not until I opened North House that I returned to writing, creating the Therapeutic Integrated Educational Recovery System (TIERS) used by the women in the house and other men's and women's recovery homes.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Don't call yourself any of the following:

Aspiring
Newbie
Soon to be published
The next New York Time Bestselling Author

If you write, you are a writer. Give yourself credit for overcoming fears and obstacles and writing.

Please show your work to family and friends and ask that they give you an honest assessment of the work.

Don't take criticism of your writing personally. You're still a writer; you need to learn to edit better, revise, and proofread.

Study books on grammar, syntax, and how-to for writers, both fiction and non-fiction.

Read. Read things that aren't New York Times Bestselling books. Read books on "your" topic or niche.

See if an aspect of your niche is under-developed, and that may be where your writing can take center stage.

Submit guest posts, enter contests, and keep writing.

And last? Keep writing and improving.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Marilyn L. Davis


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: M. E. Nash

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I was born in Florida, growing up as a Navy Brat. My families travels ended in Albuquerque, NM, in 1971. I’m still living in the Land of Enchantment enjoying the local cuisine and wide variety of wilderness available here. I consider myself a native and have no plans or desire to move anywhere else.
My dog, Crock, is a husky Basset/Dachshund mix. I call him my whack-a-do. He is very stubborn with a big heart. As far as training goes we’ve come to an understanding we both are happy with. But Crock is a great dog and my best friend, after my wife of course.
I enjoy my time with my wife, children, and Crock. When I am not camping or writing, I enjoy playing board games in the evenings with my wife and daughter. Every few weeks, I play Dungeons and Dragons with my son, younger brother, and friends. When the extended family gets together we make delicious food, play cards, enjoying each other’s company and catch up with our busy lives.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Land of Enchantment influenced my writing by being the state most of my camping experiences come from. I fell into a great Boy Scout Troop when younger, and it continued on with my son and I when he joined. We had a blast camping all over New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I start around nine in the morning and write until lunch. After lunch, I write until three or four in the afternoon, with at least two breaks in between taking a short five to fifteen-minute walk to refresh and renew my perspective. I use a very rough outline when starting a new book, keeping me on track. On the desk next to me is water, sometimes coffee, and a snack to eat. Keeping me at the computer longer, researching, writing, and finally editing.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Land of Enchantment influenced my writing by being the state most of my camping experiences come from. I fell into a great Boy Scout Troop when younger, and it continued on with my son and I when he joined. We had a blast camping all over New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice I can give to new writers is to schedule dedicated time for writing. Let the ideas flow without editing. You can go back and edit later, which is where the book really comes together. Learn from your mistakes and never ever stop the quest to improve your writing. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”- Henry Ford

[Read more…] about Author Interview: M. E. Nash


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: Luiz Mauricio Matos Santos

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I was born in São Paulo, Brazil. I had a nice childhood, surrounded by toys and the affection that every child needs. As a teenager I had my fun, but I've always been a fan of the motto, "health and judgment." I've also always liked to write. My writing really began when, in search of something new, I saw the following ad, which was very common back in the 90s:Penclub,
Hello!
These are the addresses of your new friends.
If you want to receive one more letter with a new friend's addresses, send a letter to the club's address. All your information is kept in a computer until 31.12.1994, which is why you could receive the letters from other boys and girls. If you don't want to participate in this club, please send this letter back, so that another person can join in and nobody will be disappointed. So get at it and get those postcards moving…thanks…

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was born in Sao Paulo,Brasil.I grew up surrounded by books and newspapers.My father were used to read everyday not only one but dozen different newspapers.So reading were a must within my parents.We were also used to read comic strips and even political pocket books.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My reading and writing habits have always been normal the only thing is that I always walk with pen and paper and when it comes inspiration based on the facts of life and my personal s do not like to miss the motto.

What authors have influenced you?
I was born in Sao Paulo,Brasil.I grew up surrounded by books and newspapers.My father were used to read everyday not only one but dozen different newspapers.So reading were a must within my parents.We were also used to read comic strips and even political pocket books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My only advice is inspiration.Music,cinema,literature all depend on inspiration and one art form depends on another .

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Luiz Mauricio Matos Santos


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: Lynn Wallace

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I actually graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor of science in nursing. I currently work part-time as a registered nurse in surgery. Between working and watching my son, I don’t have as much time to write as I would prefer, but it’s still my passion and one of my absolute favorite things to do! So during naptime and any time I get home from work early you’ll find me on my laptop, typing or editing or doing whatever author stuff needs doing!

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Texas. I don't know that living in the Lone Star state particularly influenced my writing except to say that every story I've written so far has been set some place other than Texas, so perhaps all the heat and humidity subconsciously makes me wish I were somewhere else! XD

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
A large part of my writing process involves sticky notes. Whenever I have an idea for a scene or snippet of dialogue, I jot it down on a sticky note. Then, when I actually start putting the novel together, I take the gigantic pile of sticky notes that I've accumulated, put them in order, and voila! The book practically writes itself!

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Texas. I don't know that living in the Lone Star state particularly influenced my writing except to say that every story I've written so far has been set some place other than Texas, so perhaps all the heat and humidity subconsciously makes me wish I were somewhere else! XD

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Then write some more. Then go back, and keep writing! Practice makes perfect and never give up, because that's how books are created: one page at a time.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Lynn Wallace


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: Paul Lonardo

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I have authored both fiction and nonfiction books in a variety of genres, from true crime to romance. As a freelance writer, I often collaborate with people to help them write and publish their biographies, memoirs, or to tell of a particularly compelling personal experience.
 
I studied filmmaking / screenwriting at Columbia College – Hollywood. I earned an A.S. (Mortuary Science) from Mount Ida College and a B.A. (English) from the University of Rhode Island.
 
I live in Lincoln, RI with my wife and son.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I'm a New Englander, raised in Rhode Island. I read a ton growing up. Being the late 1970’s and early 80’s, horror was king, and Stephen King was Overlord. So, one of his books was never far from me. I liked the horror masters, Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, but I also read many other contemporary authors of fright and the macabre, such as Clive Barker, Dean Koontz, Joe R. Lonsdale, Ramsey Campbell and Robert McCammon, to name a few. I still read a lot today, perhaps not as much, but certainly from a much more diversified field of writers, hence my penchant for writing across genres.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do prefer the night, the later the better. I feel I am at my most creative in the evening, and late at night. When everything is quiet and the day is done, I can focus better on a creative project. The daytime hours I usually spend doing promotional work and research, as well as reading.

What authors have influenced you?
I'm a New Englander, raised in Rhode Island. I read a ton growing up. Being the late 1970’s and early 80’s, horror was king, and Stephen King was Overlord. So, one of his books was never far from me. I liked the horror masters, Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, but I also read many other contemporary authors of fright and the macabre, such as Clive Barker, Dean Koontz, Joe R. Lonsdale, Ramsey Campbell and Robert McCammon, to name a few. I still read a lot today, perhaps not as much, but certainly from a much more diversified field of writers, hence my penchant for writing across genres.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If writing is something you really enjoy, don’t let anything stop you, no matter how little time you have to devote to it. Always write for you first, write what interests you, and the readers who find you will be lucky they did.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Paul Lonardo


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: Matthew Paris

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Growing up, I never really thought about being a writer until I got to my Sophomore year in high school. I was sitting in English class and my teacher came up to me and said, I was doing really well in the class, that this might be a talent and I should really explore this. I was nice about it, but at the time I was really focused on sports. I played football and ran Track. I didn't really get serious about writing until I attended Texas Tech University. While there, I learned about many great authors like Stephen King, Mary Shelley, and Bram Stoker. I wrote many short stories and papers about the classic authors. I ended up getting my Bachelor's in English Literature.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Houston, Texas. As a kid sports was always a huge influence on me. I come from a sports family and I grew up playing. It's still a big part of my life to this day. I've been a coach in Austin for 12 years. My first three books on Amazon, dealt with sports. I call it my sports trilogy of books. One is a bout coaching, the other about the emotions of athletes and how that effects their performance during a game, and the other other is about the journey to achieve his or her goals as an athlete. I've written some short films to that have nothing to do with sports. A lot of times, my inspiration can come from anywhere. I'll just observe or read something that may give me an idea.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I was in college. Professors would usually say to you that you need to write everyday. I can't do that… I've had some situations where I've sat at my desk and I can't get past a page because I have nothing to continue the story. I'll have to go away for a few days and then sit back down. At other times, I'll sit down and write 10 pages. I know a lot of authors like to block out a certain amount of time to write. I'm very spontaneous with it. Sometimes, I'll write for a few hours at night and other times in the morning. It depends on when I have free time to do it.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Houston, Texas. As a kid sports was always a huge influence on me. I come from a sports family and I grew up playing. It's still a big part of my life to this day. I've been a coach in Austin for 12 years. My first three books on Amazon, dealt with sports. I call it my sports trilogy of books. One is a bout coaching, the other about the emotions of athletes and how that effects their performance during a game, and the other other is about the journey to achieve his or her goals as an athlete. I've written some short films to that have nothing to do with sports. A lot of times, my inspiration can come from anywhere. I'll just observe or read something that may give me an idea.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always keep writing and make sure you feel good about what you write. If you've written a book or short story feel good about it. Finshing something is a huge accomplishment in itself. Never let anyone tell you you're not good enough. Focus on the positive.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Matthew Paris


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: Andrea Glass

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I'm a bestselling author, award-winning ghostwriter, and book coach for first-time nonfiction authors. For more than 20 years, I've ghostwritten dozens of books and copyedited hundreds of nonfiction books. As a book coach I've guided countless new authors to write and publish their book, some to bestseller status. I'm also a long-time instructor for the University of California, teaching classes in the creative writing and copyediting certificate programs. I wrote "Your Fabulous First Book" to guarantee that new authors would have all the essential preparation to write their own fabulous first book. I have many more books in the pipeline including a workbook to follow my book and an online course.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in New York City. It influenced my writing because I hated living there and used reading and writing to escape.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None other than having too many book ideas and not enough hours to write them all.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in New York City. It influenced my writing because I hated living there and used reading and writing to escape.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Focus. Schedule time in your calendar to write. Get support, coaching, and/or accountability. Get feedback. Be open to improving your craft. Take classes and read books. Learn all you can about marketing; it's as far from writing as it can be, but essential if you want to sell what you write.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Andrea Glass


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: W.D. Kilpack III

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
W.D. Kilpack III is an award-winning and critically acclaimed internationally published writer, with works appearing in print, online, radio and television, starting with his first publication credit at the age of nine, when he wrote an award-winning poem. As an adult, he received special recognition from L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. He has been editor and/or publisher of nineteen news and literary publications, both online and in print, with circulations as high as 770,000. He is an accomplished cook and has two claims he thinks few can match: cooking nearly every type of food on a grill; and nearly being knocked flat when his grill exploded.

He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster College of Salt Lake City. As an undergrad, he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. As a graduate student, he earned a master of professional communication with a writing emphasis. He was also a high-performing athlete, qualifying for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling.

He is a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. He is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to live, coach and teach.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in West Jordan, Utah. I had several teachers who really influenced my writing, starting with Miss Adams who taught Gifted & Talented in 4th grade and helped me get my first publication credit by entering one of my poems in a contest through the local newspaper. In 6th & 7th grades, Mrs. Ferrin was a great influence, teaching my Language Arts and Gifted & Talented classes. My first novel was written over a span of writing assignments for her class., where she let me write chapters for my book, rather than having to comply with the proscribed assignment requirements. In 8th grade, my Computer Science teacher, Mrs. Demond, was incredibly supportive. She read my hand-written manuscripts and letting me take time in her classroom before and after school to type them. In high school, Mrs. McKinnon was super supportive of my writing, often reading my sci-fi and fantasy short stories to my 9th grade Honors English class, even though that wasn't very cool at the time. Throughout the rest of my high-school experience, Mrs. Sawaya was like a second mother, really taking an interest in my writing and me as a person, teaching my Journalism classes and as the advisor for the newspaper and the literary magazine. All were hugely supportive of my writing and I wouldn't have been exposed to any of them had I not grown up in West Jordan.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don't know if it's unusual, but my wife loves her bedtime stories. I read her my work and she sometimes tells me if she thinks this character wouldn't do something or say something. She provides a little bit of a reality check for me.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in West Jordan, Utah. I had several teachers who really influenced my writing, starting with Miss Adams who taught Gifted & Talented in 4th grade and helped me get my first publication credit by entering one of my poems in a contest through the local newspaper. In 6th & 7th grades, Mrs. Ferrin was a great influence, teaching my Language Arts and Gifted & Talented classes. My first novel was written over a span of writing assignments for her class., where she let me write chapters for my book, rather than having to comply with the proscribed assignment requirements. In 8th grade, my Computer Science teacher, Mrs. Demond, was incredibly supportive. She read my hand-written manuscripts and letting me take time in her classroom before and after school to type them. In high school, Mrs. McKinnon was super supportive of my writing, often reading my sci-fi and fantasy short stories to my 9th grade Honors English class, even though that wasn't very cool at the time. Throughout the rest of my high-school experience, Mrs. Sawaya was like a second mother, really taking an interest in my writing and me as a person, teaching my Journalism classes and as the advisor for the newspaper and the literary magazine. All were hugely supportive of my writing and I wouldn't have been exposed to any of them had I not grown up in West Jordan.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love and become a true student of your passions. If you write sci-fi and fantasy, no one in the room should ever be more of an expert on sci-fi and fantasy than you are.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: W.D. Kilpack III


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: Nitika Sharma

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I am Nitika Sharma .

Infinity lies within our eyes
explore this deep ocean
you will find all these unuttered emotions

An automation coder in an IT firm with a poetic mind is something i do for living. Undying love for travelling, italian, acoustics, coffee and optimistic souls is something that defines me .I write micros,musings,poetry,fictions and blogs.
Apart from this
I am an author of "Escaping Vapour of Void".
and co author of many Anthologies .I had been also part of some writing projects worldwide.My Poetry Pieces had been read live by many promising poets and poetic community across the globe.
My insta blog is where i bleed out my inmost emotions .

I started writing two years ago and that day i realised ,poetry is something which comes to me from within effortlessly .I draw a drain to my emotions out on paper and it help me to sustain my mental health .

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was born and brought up in the foothills of Himalayas .Shimla a small city in India where my roots are born and here my soul belong.My roots bring freshness and uniqueness to my poetry

What authors have influenced you?
I was born and brought up in the foothills of Himalayas .Shimla a small city in India where my roots are born and here my soul belong.My roots bring freshness and uniqueness to my poetry

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a Lot ,Write Everything that strikes your mind
Write to express your inmost emotions not to please anyone
If only one person relates to you ,you are doing a great job out there

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Nitika Sharma


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Author Interview: Pam Saylor

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
First-time author, a former paralegal whose only previous writing was legal memorandums. My book is about the anxiety and exhilaration of travel.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in the small-town, landlocked Midwest. I was always eager to escape my town and, using books, I traveled the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I play my playlist favorites on Alexa from the minute I sit down to write until I quit. It is fair to say this book would not have been written without Alexa!

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in the small-town, landlocked Midwest. I was always eager to escape my town and, using books, I traveled the world.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just sit and write, knowing your first (second and third) drafts will be crap. It gets better.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Pam Saylor


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Featured Author Interview: Mandira Mazumder

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I love language and literature, especially English. Since my girlhood, I have been attracted to libraries which enabled me to know the world literature. Dickens, Thackeray, Maupassant, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Emile Bronte, Jane Austen filled up my bookshelf and soul. I belonged to the '80s generation when we were not exposed to cell phones and the Internet in India.
My diary was my best friend, and I loved nature like Maria of "Sound of Music."I ran away from school to spend my blissful time in the woods and among the hills. I belonged to a green city in India where industry and greenery co-existed side by side. I did not mind when I often got caught for playing the truant and received punishment. The reward of freedom is priceless:)
I felt my existence as a caged bird, and I wanted to sing. I was brought up in a very conservative society which I observed closely. I joined the debate and elocution club, where I could express myself freely. My teachers egged me on to write for the school and college magazines. Later, I wrote for Ezine Articles. Thereafter, I wanted to publish my book when the Pandemic suffocation left me with no other option in my isolation. "Even Caged Birds Sing" was created. Now, while the 2nd wave of Covid stalks our cities and towns in India, and life has turned even more miserable, I am writing my second novel about the triumph of love and humanity over greed for power and money.
I always had a penchant for writing

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in a hilly Industrial belt. Nevertheless, it was green and expansive with rolling hills that changed colors. The ambiance of flora and fauna nurtured a creative instinct in me.
The colorful festivals and the cosmopolitan upbringing stirred up my imagination. Besides, the sisters in my school, especially my English Teacher encouraged me to write. Besides, the rebellious streak to my nature that always craved freedom and liberal views led me to reach out my voice on the issue of gender apartheid and social evils to the local English papers and small magazines. I do make use of irony and humor in a natural way to entertain my readers. I also wrote romantic lyrics and short stories which won me, readers, both male and female.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I would love to write about international issues in war-ravaged Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel. I read war novels and enjoy watching Hollywood war movies. I loved watching Forest Gump & Life is Beautiful. I wrote a few thrilling real-life stories against the background of Kashmir Valley, yet unpublished.
I enjoy writing at night because India is a noisy country with a teeming population. So I wake up like the nocturnal animals when everyone else is resting. I find it very peaceful to focus and probe within the characters' minds. The inner journey becomes easier. Embrace the darkness around to light up my soul.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in a hilly Industrial belt. Nevertheless, it was green and expansive with rolling hills that changed colors. The ambiance of flora and fauna nurtured a creative instinct in me.
The colorful festivals and the cosmopolitan upbringing stirred up my imagination. Besides, the sisters in my school, especially my English Teacher encouraged me to write. Besides, the rebellious streak to my nature that always craved freedom and liberal views led me to reach out my voice on the issue of gender apartheid and social evils to the local English papers and small magazines. I do make use of irony and humor in a natural way to entertain my readers. I also wrote romantic lyrics and short stories which won me, readers, both male and female.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have just published my first book, which got genuine reviews. I am yet to publish my second book in June'21. So I am a beginner at a fledgling state.
Yet, I might remind them that we are at a strange crossroads when biological weapons created by some greedy country can change and devastate the entire world so brutally.
So let us write about love and humanity; let us understand our value as the human race. We must write more about healing the world, living peacefully, and the need for Empathy and Global Understanding. So, write from the heart, write from intuition, write the truth that comes from the innards. Be genuine and original in perception. Develop your own signature style.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: Mandira Mazumder


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews

Featured Author Interview: Nicolas Smith

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I am a 29-year-old writer from Bakersfield, California. I grew up in a military family. I was born in Virginia and lived in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, California, and New York. I graduated high school in 2010 in El Centro, California and graduated from California State University Bakersfield in 2014 with a degree in English Language and Literature. I was a substitute teacher from 2015 to 2018 and I currently work as a security guard, primarily for the extension campus of University of California, San Diego.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in the mainly in the states of Virginia, New York, and California. I was in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Hawaii but I was under the age of ten when I was there and have vague memories of those places. I would say that how those places influenced me was through the very dramatic situations that I would go through like the racism that I dealt with living in a small town in upstate New York where they rarely see people of color outside of military families. There were always dangerous situations and life experiences that I had in those places like seeing old friends deep in drug addictions and money issues.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am not sure if this is unusual but for me, what I like to do after I write a chapter or write something special, I take a break and play a video game for an hour or two. What it does for me is help me rejuvenate my brain so that I can think more clearly and concentrate on writing when I get back to it.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in the mainly in the states of Virginia, New York, and California. I was in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Hawaii but I was under the age of ten when I was there and have vague memories of those places. I would say that how those places influenced me was through the very dramatic situations that I would go through like the racism that I dealt with living in a small town in upstate New York where they rarely see people of color outside of military families. There were always dangerous situations and life experiences that I had in those places like seeing old friends deep in drug addictions and money issues.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The same thing that they told me which was to take my time and do things right. There shouldn't be any rush to get your book done quickly. You should make sure that everything is done correctly more than quickly.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: Nicolas Smith


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Featured Authors

Featured Author Interview: Bob Keaton

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself.:
I am a communications professional who has worked for daily newspapers, associations, and corporations. I retired early to try my hand at creative writing. It was sort of a bucket list thing. Back in college I dropped out of a creative writing course because the professor was so critical of my work. Instead, I had a successful career in journalism. After retirement, I wanted to go back and prove I could be successful at creative writing, too. I’ve written four novels, three of which have already been published.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I’m originally from upstate South Carolina, but I don’t think that location influenced my writing as much as other places I’ve lived, including South Florida, the setting for my newest book, Grayer than Grey. San Francisco, where I lived for 12 years, is the location for first novel, SEX is nothing more than a game of tennis. I currently live in Atlanta where my second novel, Our Last Shot, family business at Peckerwood, takes place.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m most productive when I’m exercising. (I have to develop an idea in my mind before sitting down at the computer.) Perhaps exercise gets the blood flowing to my brain, but exercising is where I get my best ideas and where I’m able to work out any problems I’m having with scenes or characters. Sometimes taking a shower also works.

What authors have influenced you?
I’m originally from upstate South Carolina, but I don’t think that location influenced my writing as much as other places I’ve lived, including South Florida, the setting for my newest book, Grayer than Grey. San Francisco, where I lived for 12 years, is the location for first novel, SEX is nothing more than a game of tennis. I currently live in Atlanta where my second novel, Our Last Shot, family business at Peckerwood, takes place.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
READ! READ! READ! See how other authors handle situations, especially in novels like what you want to write. How they handle conflict, build suspense, develop characters. If you aren’t reading, you’ll never be a good writer.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: Bob Keaton


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Featured Authors

Featured Author Interview: Karen Bell

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself and your books.:
All my work is inspired by social issues to which we all can relate. Work/ life stresses, the loss of a spouse and how marriage can sometimes swallow a woman’s identity, and the prevalence of greed in modern society.

Walking with Elephants was my first novel, although I am not new to writing. I was a dinner theater critic and celebrity interviewer for a weekly tabloid in Jacksonville, Fl and I earned a Master’s in Mass Communication from Oklahoma State University. For 15 years I worked in corporate America as a technical editor/editor/writer. I experienced first hand the politics and intrigue that goes with that territory and the balancing act that comes with being a working mother. I salute all those mothers who are the glue that holds their families together while pursuing the nine to five brass ring and they were the inspiration for this work. The audible book is available and narrated by me.

With my second novel, Sunspots, I continue to be in awe of the magical and wondrous phenomenon called life. As an observer and obvious participant in feminine values and approach to our human challenges, I bring this perspective to my work. Fascinated by the mysteries of the unseen forces that perhaps play a role in guiding our choices, I search for answers in the mundane as well as in the cosmic forces that surround us.

In my third novel, Alexa’s pact with the Devil in When a Stranger Comes…is an allegory for the evil lurking in our midst. The social decay of modern society with its excessive greed, the ignorance of our political leaders, and our indifference toward the survival of all species from the effects of climate change, among other environmental pressures, are perhaps brought forth by the darkest forces of human nature. The audible book narrated by me is available.

The genre of magical realism appeals to me and all my work has elements woven in. My current project is focused on a Bed and Breakfast that becomes a safe haven from the effects of climate change while celebrating the Feminine Divine and is set squarely in that realm.

I live in Ponte Vedra, Fl. with my husband and our two furry kitty kids. It true what they say that dogs have masters and cats have staff. We try to keep them wanting for nothing. Our four human kids have flown the nest and are scattered far and wide, alas.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are these: I turn on the computer and go shopping, check twitter, read the news, and check Facebook. I might as well write a couple of paragraphs as long as I'm sitting here. When I'm really in the throes of the plot and characters, thoughts come to me when I'm not at the computer and later on I try to remember them and add them to the story. Not very methodical and that's why it takes me several years from start to finish, but hey I'm self-published so who cares?

What authors have influenced you?
I love the work of Jodi Picoult because she brings social issues into her works as I do, Alice Hoffman because she weaves in magic, and the Latin-American writers like Isobel Allende who write in the genre of magical realism. I also respect good writing and if I think a book is poorly written, I can't finish it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep your day job, have someone in your life that pays the bills, and write because you love it.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: Karen Bell


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Featured Authors

Featured Author Interview: Rusty Blackwood

Leave a Comment

Tell us about yourself and your books.:
Hi everyone! It can be somewhat difficult to talk about one's self in a situation such as this for I really am a private person. My heroines may be based, or partly-based on me, and they have been known to be colorful and endearing, but truthful, as am I.

I always loved to write, but literature wasn't where my life took me. I am an Interior Decorator by trade, and owned and operated a Residential Home Care service until I retired in 2015. In 2001, I became a serious writer and a published author in 2001 with my very first publication of contemporary and traditional poetry titled, Feelings: A Rhythmic Journey in Thought. I followed this in 2010 with my first collection of children's short stories titled, Young Minds. Both of these titles were followed by a second poetry collection titled, Impressions, and a children's collection titled, Through the Eyes of Innocence.

My first venture into main stream romantic fiction was tried with the 2011 release of the two-part Passion in Paris – Connections to the Past and Directions of the Heart, but they were not what I had hoped to achieve, so I revised the entire story and in 2013 released the Paris-based story in a grand scale novel titled, Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary which garnered a 4-star rating by Amazon.

In 2012, I released the first installment of my ongoing Derwood Comedy Series titled, The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom.

In 2015 I released Willow's Walk, a romantic drama that brought me a 5-star-rating by Readers Favorite Books while still in pre-release.

In 2017 I released my second comedy installment titled, Derwood Returns, and this was followed in January 2019 with my multi award-winning, 5-star romantic fiction drama, The Perils of Autumn. This novel has been awarded Finalist in Romance by both The International Book Awards and The American Fest Best Book Awards.

Also in 2019, I released my third Derwood comedy installment titled, Derwood Goes Caribbean. I am currently writing the follow-up to The Perils of Autumn, titled Return to Autumn, expected for release in late 2020. I am also planning to release my fourth comedy installment, Derwood Comes Home.

As you can see, I love to write.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It's hard to say what one considers unusual as all writers have certain habits that they apply while creating a literary piece. I am terrible for scribbling ideas and character conversation on scraps of paper. My desk can be a mess at times, but I have these scraps to refer to when working. I always make sure to write an idea down; this way it's not lost, or I have have to waste time trying to remember what it was. I got into that habit long ago, and for me it works.

What authors have influenced you?
I would say many authors have. I enjoy expressive writing, where the words pull you into the story, the plot, and sweep you away. I admire Margret Mitchell, and the writings of Canadian authoress Lucy Maude Montgomery, and American author Laura Ingalls Wilder. The last two are primarily known as authors of children's work, however, their expressive and informative stories entertain any age. I also try and support local authors in my area.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The most important advice I could give, is to write what you know. In other words, write what you know about. The more you understand, or have experienced first hand, the better your written perception of it will be and the more professional it will appear to your readers. Only you know how you feel, and how you perceive things, so stay true to your heart and if you're not sure about your topic, or subject, research it completely.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: Rusty Blackwood


This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Featured Authors

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Go to page 6
  • Go to page 7
  • Go to Next Page »

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Categories

  • Author Interviews
  • Book Categories
    • Action & Adventure
    • Autobiographies, Biographies & Memoirs
    • Body/Mind/Spirit
    • Business Books
    • Children
    • Christian Fiction
    • Christian Non-Fiction
    • Cooking and Food Books
    • Educational/How-to
    • Erotica
    • Fantasy
    • Fiction
    • Graphic Novels
    • Historical
    • Horror
    • How To
    • Humor (Fiction)
    • Memoir
    • Mystery/Suspense
    • Non-Fiction
    • Paranormal
    • Personal Growth
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Romance – Adult
    • Sci-Fi
    • Spiritual Growth
    • Thriller
    • Travel
    • US History – Local and Regional
    • Women's Fiction
    • Young Adult
  • Book Formats
    • Audiobook
    • Kindle/E-book
    • Print
  • Featured Posts
    • Featured Authors
    • Featured Books
  • Special Pricing Options
    • Bargain Books Under $3
    • Free Books – Limited Time
    • Kindle Unlimited
    • Permafree

Copyright © 2023 MyBookPlace.net