Category: Author Interview

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Interview with author Emeka Enu

1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know you better

My name is Emeka Enu. I have a background in pharmaceuticals and business. I live in Connecticut with my wife and our children.

2. What is your inspiration behind your book “Prop and Friends: Prop and Oz the Osprey”?

My inspiration came from my son who did not like the books I was reading to him at bedtime. He loves airplanes and wanted a story about them. He has a toy propeller plane in his room and that’s how the idea came to me.  

3. When did you realize you want to be an author?

I do not see myself as an author. I see myself as a storyteller.  It was my wife who convinced me to start writing these stories in the hopes of sharing them with other children like our son.

4. Please tell us something about your book “Prop and Friends: Prop and Oz the Osprey”?

This is a book about an unlikely hero. The protagonist is given a difficult task against great odds even though he does not fit the profile to accomplish it. It is the typical story we have all read in our childhood-David and Goliath, Frodo, Harry Porter, the Ugly Duckling. 

5. For which age group is your book suitable for?

Prop and Friends is suitable for children ages five to eleven years. 

6. What is your favorite Quote?

A quote from the philosopher Seneca, “We suffer more in imagination than reality”

7. What do you like the most about your country?

I  like that I am given the freedom to write whatever I want. If people like it, great and if people do not like it, they can move on. 

8. What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit? 

We are so busy but taking a few minutes each day to read to your children, especially at bedtime is critical in their development. There is something magical when parents read to their children. Personally, it is a bonding experience where you get to know the character of your children. Ask them questions about the story, ask them to name their favorite character(s) and in turn, allow room for them to ask questions. 

I am currently reading, “How to Train your Dragon” series and I am learning a lot about my kids and we get into discussions on how the protagonists act’s during certain situations.

9. What does literary success look like to you?

As long as people keep reading my books, I will keep writing. My goal in writing stories is to make a kid smile or laugh before they go to bed. My dream is that kids and adults  turn off the TV, put the phone down and pick up a book. 

10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

This is a hard question and yet an easy one to answer. My inspiration in life are my family, especially my wife. She brings the best out of me. If someone told me that I would be writing books, especially children’s books, I would say, they are crazy. However, my wife was ahead of me, because she knows me, she encouraged me to put to paper all these stories that are stored and formulated in my head. 

Buy Prop and Friends on Amazon

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Interview with author Dima Dupéré

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

My name is Dima Dupéré. I live in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). I am a social worker and teach therapeutic writing (journal writing with a deeper purpose).  I also write, draw, and am constantly creating something.  

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Watching from the Shore’’?  And how long did it take you to write it?

I started writing this story in 2010.  I wrote 11 chapters and then went to Grad school to complete a Masters in Social Work. In 2016, I picked up the story again while at a Novel Writing Marathon.  I rewrote it from the perspective of a different character, in an epistolary style.  I spent a lot of time trying to think about how I wanted to present it so that people would have the feeling of reading actual letters.  I hand wrote  letters thinking I could create a picture book. Then, in 2021, I had a heart attack and that slowed me down quite a bit.  I was able to proofread, make some changes and recently decided the best way to present this story is in an e-book because I can use different fonts for the different characters.  I love this story, especially since it had such a complicated ‘birth’.

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

I love simple story lines written with emotion.  One of my favourite authors is Carol Shields who had a way of connecting deeply with me through her words.  I also love the poems of Mary Oliver.  Generally I tend to read a lot of memoirs.

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

I love Newfoundland (Canada) in particular the small town of Woody Point. They have a spectacular Writers Festival each year that combines authors, musicians and nature.  It’s located in the middle of Gros Morne National Park, on Bonne Bay.  Being by the ocean is very healing to me, and the festival very inspiring.

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

I tend to sit with a story and think about it for a long time before actually writing. I will do some research if necessary to make sure my facts are accurate.  Once I have a sense of exactly where I will go then I start writing.  But often as I start writing the characters tell me where they want to go.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Watching from the Shore’?

See question 2

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

My book is available on the book’s website (watchingfromtheshore dot com) and also at Kobo books. It can be found on OverDrive Library Network – which means you can request it at your library if it offers e-books.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Watching from the Shore’?

The title and the book cover have a direct connection with something that happens in the story.  Without saying too much, the last time Melanie and her brother were together as children they were watching their parents canoeing from the shore.

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

This story though relatively short has a lot of twists and turns.  The format of letters makes it fast paced and different from a regular book.

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

Part three will take the readers in an unexpected place.  I have to keep some secrets.

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Interview with author Leilani Taneus-Miller

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

I am a writer, teacher and mother who lives in Edinburgh with my children, husband, cats and dog. Born into a Haitian family, I grew up in New York, however I have lived in the UK for twenty years. I have always been an avid daydreamer and reader. I studied at University of Virginia, American University, Maryvale Institute and London Steiner House. Brown Girl is my first novel.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Brown Girl”?

I wrote the book in three months, during the first lockdown between March and June 2020. I was furloughed from my job and all my kids were home learning with their respective school. It was a real full house – Seven people, plus dog and cat in a 1970’s townhouse. Creative writing has always been a solace to me, something I turn to for expressing my secret feelings and innermost thoughts. I tend to gravitate to painting with words. But then I wanted my writing to speak to the anger and frustration that swirled around (not just in my head but in my gut) about my experience of being black and often the only black one. And this absolutely coincided with the George Floyd drama and the Black Lives Matter movement gripping public interest. W.E.B. Du Bois noted that amongst the most corrosive effects of racism was its tendency to make its victims see themselves through the eyes of people who hold them in contempt. So the first major challenge was freeing my voice to speak up (granted on the page), which was a big thing for me as I’d been trained to ignore racism – “don’t let that bother you, just move on and prove them wrong by doing great things”. Well-meaning statements like these are intended to soothe and empower, but they neither mend a broken spirit or broken bones, and they certainly don’t bring folks like Stephen Lawrence back to life. But it really is impossible for your whole being to ignore the repetitive verbal and physical abuse that is doled out to you because you are black, just as it is complicit to ignore it happening to anyone – that is ignorance. So there are two things that my novel challenges racism and ignorance, written from a young teen’s perspective, in her “I” to get the fullness of her expression, the fullness of her hurt and the fullness of her confusion.After writing the first draft, there was a lot of editing work to be done, which overall took over 2 years, as I had to fit this around working as a teacher and family life. But every time I picked it up, I still loved my main character and could still feel her telling me what she was thinking, what she would do and wouldn’t, I had to keep going. Plus, I absolutely enjoy the feeling of writing – being utterly immersed in a writing a story is like being underwater but being able to breath normally.

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

Any writing that gives you a deep inside view into a person’s real body, real mind and real emotion. Writing that has a historical perspective even if the recent past. Writing that isn’t afraid to be brash or unmannered. I love Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s blunt storytelling depicting an otherwise uninvestigated culture, the poetic prose of Elif Shafak, the transcendent quality of Jeanette Winterson to inhabit reality, fable and fairytale unapologetically, the relentless honesty of Jamaica Kincaid and Kazuo Ishiguro’s preoccupation with memories and consciousness. I can’t stop thinking about the humorous portrayal of a hard-knock life in Charles Dickens’ ‘David Copperfield’ or the cruel reality set to words in Tracy Chevalier’s ‘the Last Runaway’ about being born into slavery in America. I am floored by Dillibe Onyeama’s brave retelling of the sadistic racist encounters he experienced in his 1972 novel ‘Nigger at Eton’ restyled to ‘A Black Boy at Eton’ by Penguin Books in 2022. Yet to say these writers informed my writing style seems too bold a claim.

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

I do feel, mostly, that I have three countries. In USA my favourite spot is somewhere along the southern coast of Long Island, a plain of soft sand, chalky cliffs, tufted with tall wild grasses awaiting the inevitable plunge of erosion. If that spot is still there and I don’t know its name. In Haiti, my favourite spot is shared between the view when perched on that grey rock in Labadee – its bright blue sea and its salted sea spray christening me – and the sight of the purple hills drifting in and out of the vetiver-charcoal scented mist on the way up the ‘monde’ to Fermathe.In UK, it’s the cascades of lush green, swathes of purple heather, giving way to white sands and a pale turquoise sea at Claigan in the Isle of Skye.

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

Research on the place where the novel is set, the political and social environment of the time and interviewing people who lived in the setting at the time to get a real sense of place and belonging. Making up the characters, giving them a personality, a physique, idiosyncrasies, catch phrases, psychological faults. Outlining the plot, as in the sequence of everything that will happen cover to cover. Breathing life into it, so it becomes an amalgamation of actual and imaginary experience.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Brown Girl’?

Three month of writing – one spring season (March 2020-June 2020). It took much longer to edit, over two years. Initially, I challenged myself to write 500-1000 words per day, but after a few weeks I stopped looking at the word count and just did what I wanted.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?

In bookshops, both small and large. If they don’t have it, just ask for it at the till because then they might decide to stock it. Online, including Amazon, Blackwells, Barnes & Nobles, Telegraph and Waterstones.

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

The title has to do with the protagonist Shelly’s rainy-day activity of fisting up a pile of earth to construct a brown girl which she then places in a hodge podge house made of broken sticks and pelts with mud balls. Shelly tells it best on page 91: “I gather my materials: leaves, sticks and bark. Her home must be made entirely of brown. Then I make a small figure by squeezing mud in both fists, then joining them at the tip and there she is – brown girl. A creature made from two fistfuls of wet earth. I extend my finger through the wooden bars of brown girl’s house to check its depth, then I carefully place her within. I used to only have time to make five decent mud balls of ammunition, but this year my motor skills are doing me justice. I can make a pyramid of 12 well-rounded mud balls before the buzzer sounds within my ears. Then I am pelting Brown Girl with the ammo, until she is drowned by the very earth that has birthed her. House still intact. I am getting too good at this. The bell, the one out there, has not yet rung, and brown girl is completely immersed in a sea of brown. She is beyond recognition. I have won.”So, I suppose it’s about being born on an earth that doesn’t want you to exist, which is very much like being born a black slave all those years slavery was the done thing and the aftermath of that – having to convince the world to stop seeing black people through the imperial prism of the racial stereotypes that have been nurtured to justify the slave trade. By contrast, the cover is redemptive as it depicts, Haiti – the land of Shelly’s ancestors. Although the bowl she carries is grey and empty, lacking colour, she with her mother’s favourite flower emboldened on her cheek, walks barefooted on stones, moving forward comfortably on the earth that carved her, supported by the backdrop of greenish purple hills and blue sky which for me represents hope.

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

I can’t control when I get to write, being busy as a mom, wife and schoolteacher (on the rare occasion that I get desk space in natural light, I soak in gratitude and dive deep in my story-making). But I can control what I write. Ultimately, I keep things fresh by not cheating myself out of writing what I want to write. I take inspiration from what I truly see – observing nature, plants, animals and people. Remind myself that my thoughts matter because they are potentially spiritual beings. And by connecting with my characters – I once read and sort of ascribe to the idea that your characters are ghosts from the past using you to tell their story.

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

Dolly is a plastic doll. Don’t tell Shelly!Thanks!

https://www.austinmacauley.com/book/brown-girl

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68001101-brown-girl?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=4H84A5PW70&rank=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brown-Girl-Leilani-Taneus-Miller/dp/139847391X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2GTIIKSV6IHAI&keywords=taneus&qid=1673216488&sprefix=taneu%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-3

https://www.facebook.com/ltaneusmiller

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Interview with author June Ross MBE

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

💥I am the Founder & CEO of Esther Community Enterprise.  We are a consortium of foodbanks across the UK. We are approaching 18 years of working within our local communities distributing surplus food.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “A Call by Royal Appointment”?

💥To be honest I didn’t experience any challenges in writing my book.  It felt very therapeutic and cleansing because it was my own story and my own words.  As a person of faith, l prayed every time l wrote a new chapter, a paragraph or even a sentence.  I wanted the book to inspire others that may have dreams and aspirations, but found themselves on the opposite side of what may be perceived as failure. The book depicts that dreams can become a reality regardless of the obstacles you may encounter in life.

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

💥I am not a avid reader of books. I tend to listen to generic podcasts of anything that may be of interest to me.  

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

💥I love driving in the countryside on a hot summers day with my music up (preferably in a convertible)  l love when the trees form a canopy over the road and the sun is glistening through the branches as l drive down the winding roads.  The freedom and solitude is refreshing when you want to clear your head and have some ‘me’ time. 

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

💥It depends on what type of book you are writing.  If it’s your own story in your own words then it tends to flow naturally and effortlessly.  Deciding which parts to leave out or put can be the tricky part – especially if the people that hurt you are still alive.  

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘A Call by Royal Appointment’?

💥It took around 9 months to finish the manuscript and then sent it off for proofreading.  The overall turn around took a year.  

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

💥Signed copies can be purchased at www.eceuk.org in the shop.  Alternatively, you buy a copy from Amazon 

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘A Call by Royal Appointment’?

💥I wanted the book cover to portray the biblical story of Queen Esther who went before the King.  Likewise, my own encounter in meeting the Queen of England was parallel to her story

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

💥Listen to podcasts or read other books that can give you ideas.  Do some research on the topic and make references to other authors or events that can add interest to your book

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

💥There are no secrets 

Buy A Call by Royal Appointment on Amazon

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Interview with author Cassie Brooks

1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know you better. 

In addition to being a full-time mom to a wonderfully goofy and energetic 7-year-old boy, Elijah, I am also an accounting analyst. My husband, Monte, have been married for nearly 15 years. He has always told me being married to me is an adventure; I have yet to prove him wrong. I’ve also become involved with groups and local charities within my community that spread love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community through visibility, resources, education and conversation.

2. What is your inspiration behind your book “Sticks and Stones”?

My son, Elijah – you know how kids are – they are always asking questions about everything. And the way they see things? It really makes you think. So when he told me other kinds were making fun of him at school, I shared with him something I had learned from my own journey.

3. When did you realize you want to be an author?

A part of me has always wanted to be an author. I’ve loved writing poetry and fanfiction since I was young and even was involved in a local writer’s group. A few years ago, I started to plot out a young adult trilogy novel and kind of fell down a rabbit whole. It turned my world upside-down and led to where I am now, writing children’s stories inspired by everyday life with my son.

4. Please tell us something about your book “I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me”?

This is the 2nd book that is going to be part of the Magick in Me series that I am working on. In this story, something is bothering Elijah, and while we don’t identify what that is, his mom reminds him that he is never alone.

5. For which age group is your book suitable for?

It mostly is suitable for children between the ages 4 – 9.

6. What is your favorite Quote?

“If you cannot be the poet, be the poem.” – David Carradine

7. What do you like the most about your country?

Naturally, I love our freedoms as a country, but we are a melting pot of culture and diversity. No matter the struggles we have as a nation, we are a diverse people intermingled with so many heritages. Of course, this also means we have some great food too!

8. What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?

Make it a routine with them. It can be reading a story with them each night at bedtime or finding a time to read a story throughout the day, but if you start this early with them, you will remember these moments as much as they will.

9. What does literary success look like to you?

Making a difference in someone’s life… Ideally, every author wants their stories to become bestsellers or to be recognized, but success to me is seeing it impact someone’s life.

10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

There are a few people that hold this spot for my inspiration. First and most importantly, it is my son, who inspires me every day. He is full of life and always teaches me something. He’s also the main character featured in each one of my children’s books. My husband is part of my ongoing inspiration and has pushed me to follow my dreams. And my biggest support and inspiration came from an unlikely friend that I met on my writing journey. Kyrja is a wildly creative, imaginative and larger than life author that has become a treasured friend. She has shared her stories with me and helped encourage me through every step of my own journey. I am not sure I would have found myself where I am without all their support.

Cassie Brooks – Author’s profile on Amazon

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Interview with author J.G. Schwartz

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

Good afternoon. I am Joyce Schwartz, a practicing pathologist and a writer of historical novels/alternative history.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “The Curious Spell of Madam Genova”?

Actually, there were no challenges to writing the novel. I love history and it was a wonderful journey to research the lives of many of my characters.

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

I have always loved a good mystery or murder. I began reading Stephen King novels when I was very young.

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

The national parks still take my breath away. I feel lucky whenever I am able to spot wildlife in their natural habitat or see a mountain capped with snow.

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

I don’t do a lot of preparation work prior to writing a novel, as each chapter often leads to a new idea. I do, however, have many sleepless nights when I am in the middle of writing my novel…listening to my characters’ conversations.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘The Curious Spell of Madam Genova’?

The whole process took about eight months. After I was happy with the novel, I proof read it about 10 times, had my friends proof read it, then I sent it to two professional editors and had them make suggestions/edits. Everyone’s input was very helpful.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book? 

The paperback is available on Amazon.com. A kindle version is also available. Many other book sellers (Walmart, etc.) also have the book available on line. Brick and mortar stores can purchase the novel through Ingramspark.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Curious Spell of Madam Genova’?

I did spend weeks trying to decide on the perfect cover for the book. I tried to find an image that I would be attracted to…for a book that I would want to pick and see what was inside. Of course, the entire book centers around the character of Madam Genova, an amazing clairvoyant, and the spell she casts.

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

I try to write a book that I would love to read. My goal is to make each chapter so exciting that the reader feels compelled to see what happens next.

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

I went to a fortune teller to have a reading at a sideshow of a circus when I was 12. She told me, among other things, that a close friend of mine would break his arm. The next day, my neighbor, Jack, while wearing his Superman cape, jumped off his roof and broke his arm. Since that time, I have had an interest in fortune tellers.

Buy The Curious Spell of Madam Genova on Amazon

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Interview with author Mariah Johnson

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

  • Hi! I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where I grew up with two older brothers who definitely gave me the full “little sister” experience. From a young age I let my creativity grow through writing and reading and I even tried to write a book in elementary school titled “Pepsi Can” that was lost with time (probably for the best haha). Writing was not my only outlet; I also picked up singing, violin and piano in elementary school and still enjoy playing for fun in my free time. However, being an author is second to my primary goal of being a physician as I am currently a first year student in medical school. With a great interest in Psychiatry and Pediatrics, I learned that I could combine both my passion for medicine with my love for writing and aspire to continue writing while being a doctor.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Surviving You”?

  • The hardest part of writing “Surviving You” was accurately portraying the mental illnesses possessed by Mama, as well as predicting how those disorders would affect her daughter, Sophía. I bought books written by authors with Ph.Ds, researched scholarly articles, and tapped into my own knowledge from my studies and working in a research lab for Eating Disorders in Adolescents. At the same time, I was applying for medical school and experienced much self-doubt. What if this makes people with this given disorder feel worse about themselves? What if it’s not interesting enough to readers? Grief and mental illness are such important but difficult topics to illustrate because they are subjective and yet still so universal. I believe we can all take something away from this story.

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

  • “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” – Gail Honeymoon
  • “Daughter of the Moon Goddess” – Sue Lynn Tan
  • “The Great Divorce” – C. S. Lewis
  • “Alone With You in the Ether” – Olivie Blake

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

  • There’s this trail on part of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania. The further you walk from the highway, the quieter it gets and, eventually, you only hear the nature around you. Bright green sprouts of grass and colorful short wildflowers line the trail with tall, lively trees standing plentiful around with birds and squirrels moving swiftly through. It’s so peaceful I can actually be present.

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

  • YES! Before I can start anything at all, I need to know the theme. What is this book going to be about at its core, its central message? From there, I create characters and the relationships between them. Next is conflict, then we can begin outlining the plot. All of this happens before I can write a single sentence. The only exception is when I feel a bout of inspiration and write down an excerpt that I will incorporate later into the story.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Surviving You’?

  • 6 to 9 months.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

  • Amazon.com 

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

  • I came up with a few different titles, but I like this one because it is a play on words. Surviving You as in literally surviving her father, and figuratively surviving her difficult childhood.

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

  • When I plan out the plot I only include major plot points and just begin writing so that scenes and character development occurs as I feel the characters’ decisions are naturally putting them on that path. This really connects me with the characters so it’s like I feel what they feel and I do my best to capture that.

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

  • Mama has a backstory that wasn’t explicitly stated in the book, but is hinted at. I would consider writing a prequel of her story if readers would want it.

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Interview with author Jakcub Anthonnie Young

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

My name is Jakcub Anthonnie Young, I grew up in Prince William County VA, I’m the second oldest of four. 

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Regent Alpha”?

I had a few challenges, but the biggest challenges were adding new elements to the werewolf story while also giving it that feeling of familiarity.

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

Morgan Rice, and James Patterson.

Q4. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

None that wouldn’t ruin future installments.

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

Yes there is, I personally like to do research on my story to keep it as accurate as possible while also making it a fun read.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Regent Alpha’?

The book it’s self about four months. But the story actually started as a script for a TV movie, and that took me about five years to get right.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

Amazon, Barns & Noble, Google play books.

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

The cover is to convey the main character of the book is getting ready to start on a new journey, and is in unfamiliar territory.

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

Just by continuously thinking of ways to add new elements. and going back to see what works with what.

Buy Regent Alpha part one on Amazon

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Interview with author Martin Nuza

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

My name is Martin Nuza and I live in Gibraltar. I am 53 years of age and for the past 30 years I have been involved in the film industry as writer/producer and director on many audio/visual projects, everything from music videos, to documentaries, shorts and feature films. My website has a full breakdown of my work and many International festival awards through the years. https://martinnuzaproductions.com/ and IMDB profile is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796333/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise”?

Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise is based on real events and crimes onboard cruise ships, so the main challenge I had was to gather factual evidence of all the crimes before putting pen to paper and writing this book. I contacted the International Cruise Victims Association in the States and thanks to them and their lawyers, they presented me with all the research into their database from logged crimes, so I could gather the correct information during a three year research span.

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

That is a good question as there are many, but my main influence for writing a crime novel such as Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise is from Stephen King, who I believe to be the master of modern day crime and mystery novels. Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise touches Mr King’s novels like “Misery” “The Shining” “Christine” and “The Green Mile”

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

As you know I am from Gibraltar, which is located in between Morocco and Spain, so we get the best of both continents. One of my favorite spots is to be at the top of the Rock of Gibraltar on a crystal clear sunset evening, and watch the magnificent sunset, stretching all the way between Africa and Europe, divided by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a magical sensation to watch and experience.

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

Obviously before I dive into writing a book, the first thing I need is to get the facts correct, so here is where “Research” comes into play and you should get right. Then once you are happy with the information gathered, you need to then structure the book and I like to do it into three parts. How will the book begin? How will the book end? What will the middle of the book reveal? Once I have answered those three questions, I then do a breakdown of the main characters of the book and write their history, so I understand and know everything there is to know about them even before I begin writing them into the book. Once all that work is done and I have researched all the locations I want to introduce in the book, then the writing of the first draft can commence.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise’?

Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise took three years of extensive research before I even began to write the first chapter. Once all the information had been gathered and I wrote breakdowns for the main characters I then began the writing phase, which for me comes naturally and I wrote the first draft of the novel in just 2 months. The published novel is draft 9, and came 7 months after I first started to write, so to answer your question, 3 years of research and 7 months to complete the book.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise has been published by Michael Terence Publishing in the UK and can be found on any of the Amazon sites worldwide as a Paperback or Kindle format. It is also available on “Barnes & Noble”

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise’?

The publisher “Micheal Terence Publishing” in the UK works with an amazing designer called Karolina Robinson Zammit who I was introduced to by the Editor of the publishing house Mr Keith Abbott. I explained to Karolina what the vision was for the front cover of the book. It was basically an empty cabin, to give rise to the fact that someone has gone missing. Then it was smooth sailing from then on until she came up with the current design which has been published. As regards to the title, well it clearly describes the fact that someone is taken “Snatched” and their ordeal, as the ordeal of their family members becomes as an “unforgettable cruise” hence the title Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise because they will always remember their ordeal after being subjected to crime on board their ship.

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

This is why the book needs to go through many drafts and in each draft you realise and understand what is working and what is not. I like to write as an author and then read the draft as a reader, so this will always keep things fresh and in perspective.

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

Oh yes, there are so many secrets from true crimes and ordeals in this book that it will make the reader think twice about going on a cruise again, as the harsh reality is that crimes continue to happen and people, both passengers and crew members, vanish and go missing without a trace. So this book will open up the reality to the reader of what the situation is really like, if you are not careful on a cruise ship, especially if you are travelling by yourself or with small kids.

Buy Snatched on Amazon

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Interview with author Colleen Canning

Q1 Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know both of you better.

I wear many hats – like most women:

1) Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, Daughter, Colleague, friend, mentor
2) Love everything and anything to do with being outdoors
3) I embrace the ability to move my body, every day
4) I love high learning curves
5) I have travelled to over 56 countries for work and pleasure
6) I am a firm believer that all of us can learn to use our Breath to positively alter how we feel and respond to challenging and stressful situations – at any age.

Q2 What is your inspiration behind your book “Bellies to the Sky – A Bedtime Breathwork Book”?

a. Two-part answer:

i. I had a desire to “put out into the Universe” the vision that came to me during mediation

ii. I wanted to create a “tool” to teach children and adults how to use their breath to create a healthier environment for their minds and body.

Q3 When did you realize you want to be an author of Children’s Books?

December 2013 following a meditation session at a Bahamas Yoga Retreat.

Q4 Are you planning to release your next book soon?

a. I have two book ideas in mind, but I have not created the complete storyboard.

b. Most likely, I will launch two new books in 2024

Q5 For which age group is your book suitable?

Ideally, ages 3-8. That said, the benefits of practicing breathwork are highly beneficial for all ages.

Q6 What is your favorite Quote?

This is an easy one: “Eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure”. A Tibetan proverb.

Q7 What do you like the most about your country?

Freedom

Q8 What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?

a. Visit your local library, often.
b. Have their “book bags” easily accessible for them to use
c. Read to them every night.

Q9. What does literary success look like to you?

Very good question: One I need to work on in 2023.

Q10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

McKenzie Scott (ex-wife of Jeff Besos). The way she is “giving” away her millions to create a better world, is very inspiring to me.

Buy Bellies to the Sky on Amazon

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