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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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