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Book: Virtual Insanity

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Q1. Hello Maám, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

I’m Lara, and I am a former management consultant who works full-time and writes part-time. I am from Australia, but live in the UK. I have two children, who are adults now although I have a painful story of losing custody of them many years ago. My inspiration for writing came out of a childhood dream of wanting to be a writer. I have written four books: Virtual Insanity, a memoir published in 2020, two children’s books, Lest We Forget and Wizard Company published in 2021 and a sequel memoir being published in early 2022. I have recently submitted a manuscript to my publisher called My Dream, The Republic of Australia, Our History, Our Hurt, Our Country for release in 2022. I am also working on my debut fiction novel.
I live with my partner in Hampshire, UK. I have a passion for writing.
And a little secret I hold is that my daughter inspires me to write, and I write my books for her too.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Virtual Insanity’ book?

Virtual Insanity was my first book, and is a memoir of my life and descent into mental illness. I wrote whilst I was unwell in psychosis so that I could illustrate the challenges of mental illness. Writing my memoir was hard because I revealed so much about my life; very personal details which I felt ashamed about at the time. But after it was published I felt a lot of healing and peace. No longer was I silent about my life, my illness and the things that had happened to me.
In Virtual Insanity, I described how I felt under surveillance by intelligence agencies and terrorised by a drug cartel. There is a part of me that still believes my story is true and that these things were occurring. However, I have found peace and joy in my life again.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Elyn Saks, an American, who is Associate Dean Professor of Law, Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould Law School was my greatest inspiration for writing my books. Elyn Saks lives with schizophrenia and wrote a book about her experience with the illness in her award-winning best-selling autobiography, The Center Cannot Hold.
I am diagnosed with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder and I read Elyn Saks autobiography in 2018 and it gave me the inspiration and courage to tell my story.
My other favourite author is Jane Austin whose works I find romantic and divine. She has inspired me to write my first fiction novel that I am currently working on.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

I am from Australia and my favourite spot in Australia is the Gold Coast. White sandy beaches and the aqua ocean always give me a sense of calm. It’s a beautiful spot and brings back my childhood memories of playing in the sand and diving into the surf.
As I live in the UK now, my favorite spot to visit is in Cornwall. We go camping there, visit the old ruins of castles and go to the beaches and rock pools. I find delightful beauty in the UK countryside and love hiking through woods and visiting historical places.

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Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

I always plan the book out before writing. As a former project manager and cannot help but planning it out! Often my books require research and brainstorming sessions to develop the plot and characters and I will spend quite a bit of time doing this. I also like to read other books with the same genre which inspire me in my own writing.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Wizard Company’ and ‘Lest We Forget’ books?

Wizard Company and Lest We Forget are children’s books for 5-10 year olds. Lest We Forget is an educational book teaching children about Remembrance Day and all those past and present who have served in our Armed Forces and given us our freedom.
Wizard Company is about four children who find a magical book and are transported to a magical land where they have to overcome dark forces and solve a riddle to return home. It’s a fantasy story but teaches children to have courage.
Both books took me six weeks to write.
Virtual Insanity, my first memoir, to me one year to write.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find your books to buy?

Virtual Insanity is available on Amazon in eBook, Audiobook, Paperback and Hardback. All my other books are available in Paperback and eBook.

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Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover and the title of your books?

Titles I find difficult to come up with. The title of Virtual Insanity I chose because I wanted to reflect the brink of insanity I experienced with my mental illness. That is, I virtually became insane. I have recovered now though.
The titles for Wizard Company and Lest We Forget are titles that I chose because they reflect the themes of the book.
All My Stars, my sequel memoir being released in early 2022, was a title I was wary of choosing but I came up with it because it reflected the spiritual experiences I have had which I have outlined in the book.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

When I’m writing I take breaks – sometimes long breaks. During these breaks I do other activities and go on long walks. This gives me time to reflect on my writing and allows me the ability to change the plot, characters, storyline or find a twist that I need to add. I also sometimes create vision boards (a board with pictures from magazines) which I use to inspire me with my writing.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

I guess one little secret I can divulge which I share in my sequel memoir, All My Stars, is that I found love again. In Virtual Insanity, my first memoir, I end with being alone. But my life changed so much since then and I reunited with my former partner which I ended with in All My Stars.
I guess the message is, that no matter what, no matter what you go through, no matter what happens to you, you can recover and love can be found again. Love reigns supreme. I recreated the gorgeous life that I live now.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Virtual Insanity

Book: She Is

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Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Charde Vera. I am from New York but have lived and travelled many places because I was in the military. I am a wife and a stay-at-home mom to an incredibly talented daughter named Nayomi, who also co-illustrated my first children’s book “She Is.” My passion, dream and purpose have always been for writing. I have been journaling since I was five years old and still have them all to this day! I am an advocate for mental health and self-love and want to use my writing to guide woman and children into believing, trusting and loving themselves fully.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘She Is’ book?

The most challenging part of writing this book was the discipline to keep going when things got hard, confusing and overwhelming. As well as finding and readjusting balance while writing this book, being a stay-at-home mom and wife and other responsibilities. Once I got in a good flow it was great because putting out this book is my dream.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Joyce Meyer has really influenced my writing because of her own story and all the amazing books she has written have helped me through the process of writing my own book. Books such as “Never give up” or “The Confident Woman.” She even has amazing children’s books.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

New York City is my favorite place to visit. What makes it so special to me is the diversity of the people, the sightseeing, the activities and places to visit. There is so much to do there, it’s beautiful. It also happens to be my home city.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

Yes, there are so many things to know. However, I believe if someone wants to write a book they should just start writing. Make an outline and write all ideas about what the book will be about. Have a plan for your purpose in writing this book, why are you writing, what do you want to share or do with this book? During that process you can research and reach out to other authors to help with everything that goes into the writing, publishing, and marketing part of it, especially a self-published author.

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Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘She Is’ book?

Once I started writing the book it took me about 4 months for everything, including the illustrations. However, this book has been in my heart for 5 years before that. So, once I started, I was ready for the world to see it and worked hard to complete it.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘She Is’ book to buy?

On my website http://www.chardevera.com as well as amazon for right now. I plan to have my book in many stores including Barnes and Noble and Walmart to name a few.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘She Is’?

The title “She Is” came to me when I began putting all the affirmations together for my book. It is a positive affirmation book for girls reminding them that they are each of them, e.g. Beautiful, Strong, Valuable. That’s when the name came to me because whomever she may be, She is Beautiful and She is Valuable. The cover of the book came to me because my daughter was my inspiration. She also co illustrated the book and it is her on the cover. She is surrounded by the flowers which represent each girl and the affirmation assigned.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Research, and that can mean searching online, talking to different people, putting ideas together and taking time to create and learn what people enjoy and what they need.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

The book is very diverse. I wanted to represent many different girls and, although each girl on every page has an affirmation on that page, every girl in the book, and in life, are all those things and more.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

She Is

Book: Tyranny Reborn

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Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Daniel Greenwell, I was born in 1987 in Darlington, a large market town in the North East of England which is approximately 225 miles from London.
I am from a large family and, being the step-son of a RAF Officer, we moved around the country but we returned to live in Darlington a number of years ago where I currently work as a Warehouse Operative.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Tyranny Reborn’ book?

One of the main challenges I faced whilst writing Tyranny Reborn was keeping it as realistic and up to date as possible whilst, at the same time, entertaining.
Many Government Departments, procedures and locations featured in the book are based on reality but, as it took me a long time to write, I had to go back and change things because procedures or departments had been altered. I was determined to keep it as realistic as possible.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I have always been intrigued by the world of spies, conspiracy theories and terror attacks and am an avid fan of James Bond.
I have read a wide range of books by various authors on these subjects.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

London is my favourite place to visit in England. Trinity Square, which is a little-known Memorial Park in the Tower Hill district is a particular favourite of mine.
To me, London stands out from other capital cities I have visited around the world. It has a different feel – you can feel the history as it has a fantastic combination of gothic and modern architecture.
I feel at home there – there is so much to do and see and, even though I’ve visited London dozens of times, I still haven’t seen everything it has to offer.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

Before I begin writing, I like to conduct as much research as possible to keep my work realistic.
I investigate everything that I believe I will touch upon then I flesh out the plot, bringing it all together. I look into everything to make sure all the dots are connected before I start writing, to determine that it makes sense and I know which direction I am going in.

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Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Tyranny Reborn’ book?

It was in 2005, not long after my first solo trip to London during my final year in college, that I started to write Tyranny Reborn.
Whilst 15 years seems like a long time to take, there were, of course, many times over many months when life got hectic so I didn’t write at all.
The plot over the course of this time has changed and evolved many times!

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Tyranny Reborn’ book to buy?

Tyranny Reborn is available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Tyranny Reborn’?

The front cover was a last-minute idea. I had not thought how my front cover would appear at all. When I had to come up with the decision, I wanted to portray the image of Britain on the brink of collapse, just a subtle image that would stand out to the reader, the image of the ripped and burning England flag came to mind. The entrance of the MI5 building below the title to show who the main protagonists in my story were. As for the title, I came up with the title rather late on, about ten years into my writing. It merely popped into my head, I can’t explain why it did, no reason or rhyme to it. It just came to me and I liked it.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

For me it takes hours and hours of research and not being afraid to go take a slightly different direction if necessary, that’s what keeps things fresh for me.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

The only thing I will say is…when you think you have worked it all out, you’ll be proved wrong!

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Tyranny Reborn