Category: Author Interview

Book: The Munchkins

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

Hi, I’m Candice Zee. I’m a teacher and early childhood educator and I’ve worked with Pre-K, Kindergarten, and school-age children for over 12 years. Also, I’ve been vegan for over 23 years and I’m a long-time animal and social justice advocate. I love to read and I’ve written most of my life, mostly essays and articles for organization newsletters, and The Munchkins is my debut novel. I’m from Wilkes-Barre, PA and I currently live with my wife Dana and our dog companion Solstice in Cleveland, OH.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Munchkins’ book?

Without a doubt, my key challenge was keeping the word count down. When I wrote the first draft of The Munchkins, I actually wrote the first and second book together. Then I took a look at the word count and it was over 300,000 words! That’s when I decided to split it up into two different books. But just getting the word count down to a reasonable level for the first book was very hard, and I spent countless hours editing. I think editing is much harder than writing because you have to make some tough decisions about cutting material you really like and want to keep, but you can’t save it all.

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

I read a lot of nonfiction in the social sciences genre, but when it comes to fiction I’ve been a huge fan of horror and thriller novels since I was a teenager. Two of my favorite horror authors are John Saul and Dean Koontz. My favorite author of all-time is probably Stephen King. I’ve read many of his books and short stories, and he’s definitely influenced my style of writing. The Munchkins is filled with elements of suspense, and Big Boss is like a villain straight out of a horror novel.

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

I would say anywhere near a large body of water, like a beach by the ocean or a cascading waterfall. I live by Lake Erie and I love to go there and just look out into the waves and the open sky. It’s a good reminder of how vast and majestic the universe is, and that humans are just a tiny part of it. It helps you instantly see the much bigger picture.

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

Not really. When I wrote The Munchkins, I felt like something was writing through me. I had the words typed out before I could even think of them. I’ve had the idea in my head since I was a kid so I guess in a way I was preparing to write this story my whole life. The only thing to do was open my laptop and start writing it.

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Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The Munchkins’ book?

Oh boy, it took me years. I think I started writing it in 2012. At first I wasn’t too serious about it, and was unsure if I’d even publish it, so it was just a little bit here and a little bit there, then a long period of time would pass before I’d go back to it. Once I finally decided I was going to publish it and write a series though, I banged it out rather quickly. I’d go into a zone and spend whole weekends doing nothing but writing, staying up all hours of the night, only coming up for air to eat (and sometimes I’d forget to eat). And remember I originally wrote the first and second books together, so I would have been done a lot sooner if I just wrote the first book. But on the plus side, now the second book is already written, so it shouldn’t take me nearly as long to publish the next one.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘The Munchkins’ book to buy?

The ebook and paperback are available to buy through a number of different sites and stores. There’s Amazon of course, but in addition you can find the ebook on Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, Scribd, and other digital retailers. If you visit books2read.com/themunchkins you will find links to all these stores. You can get the paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, Indiebound and Bookshop.org, and local book stores. You can also go to my website munchkinsbooks.com and find a link to order it there. I also want to encourage readers to sign up for the Munchie email newsletter list at https://www.subscribepage.com/p3s1g5 where you can stay updated on news about the book series and receive perks like book chapters, sneak previews, author Q&As, and book giveaway contests.

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

When I was a kid, my brother and I would make up our own make-believe stories and play pretend, acting them out. Our favorite one we made up was about kids with magic powers who never grow up and the bad guy who wants their powers named Big Boss, and we called it “Munchkins.” I can’t even remember now how we decided on that name. The idea has been in my head since I was a child though, and I always thought to myself I should turn this story into a book someday, until finally one day I decided to just sit down and write it. I also had a vision for what I wanted the book cover to look like. It was really important to me to feature the Four Musketeers (Capricorn, Allie, Breezy, and Hazy) on the cover, to show how close they are and then also to have light coming off of them to represent their powers. I originally wanted all of the kids on the cover actually, but quickly realized they wouldn’t all fit. Then I also envisioned Big Boss’s silhouette standing in the background as this ominous figure. I love the cover of the book and I think my cover designer, Jeff Brown Graphics, did an amazing job depicting the Four Musketeers and bringing the story to life.

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

I guess I’ll find out when I start revising and editing the second book. I’ll say this though: The second book is much much darker than the first one. It actually dives more into the YA category than middle-grade because of the very grave subject matter. So expect more of a YA novel for the second book in the series, titled Capricorn’s Journal: My Family’s Fight for Survival.

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

There are major limits to the Munch children’s powers. The biggest limit is that once they use a power, they have to wait for a certain period of time before they can use a power again. Their powers work almost like a battery and they have to recharge their energy after using them. This point becomes very important to the plot. Also, pay attention to Allie, a favorite character with readers. She is incredibly witty and has some of the best lines in the book. When things start to get too tense, Allie will make a sarcastic remark and bring instant comic relief.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

The Munchkins

Book: The Shayṭān Bride

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

I’m a writer, therapist, and public servant living in Ontario, Canada. I emigrated here when I was about six. My memoir, The Shayṭān Bride, speaks to my migration experience, among other themes. When I am not writing or working, you can find me exploring different towns and cities, trying out different recipes, hiking, or spending time with family.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Shayṭān Bride’ book?

One challenge I faced was the “Islamophobic gaze.” I was very aware of the climate of hate crimes, especially toward Muslims. I often couldn’t help but feel the heavy onus of not misrepresenting my faith, ethnic or cultural background. I was overall quite anxious about my writing being misconstrued in some way to perpetuate irrational fears or stereotypes. I had to trust myself to speak about the topics I needed to and from my social location and experience, in a way where I remained as honest as possible, and also mindful of the impact of words. It was an interesting position to be in. Another challenge I faced was my schedule. I was working a full-time job while writing, so I had to find any and every opportunity to write. I had to balance all of my commitments.

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

Well, I have always appreciated literature about the South Asian diaspora or Muslim experience. When I was younger, if I stumbled across a book with such content, I would feel so excited, as I’d feel seen in some way. I looked forward to books by authors such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Arundhati Roy, and Michael Ondaatje. I also read a lot of classical works by Rabindranath Tagore, which was always refreshing. As a literature student in a Canadian university, I often picked up books by Margaret Atwood for analysis – I was drawn to her gothic style. I also appreciated reading thrillers and suspenseful stories, for example, books by Dan Brown. These days I am reading a lot more memoir, and I continue to be drawn to books about Islamic spirituality (Imam Ghazali’s classics, Yasmin Mogahed) and female, Muslim protagonists. These topics, and these authors and their styles have probably influenced me.

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

I don’t believe I have a specific, special spot in Canada that I like to visit. I generally enjoy stumbling upon small forests or woods that are tucked away in the most unexpected places. I find them so mystical and peaceful.

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

It depends. I’ll usually create a really loose outline of the entire book that I’ll use as a reference when starting to write the individual chapters. I like to make my writing area cozy, homely, grounding – once I’ve achieved this, it’s easier for me to begin writing. Once I do, my writing tends to flow and I keep going.

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Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The Shayṭān Bride’ book?

For years, I thought about writing it. It took me about three months to write the full first draft that I submitted for editing.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can readers find ‘The Shayṭān Bride’ for purchasebook to buy?

The Shayṭān Bride can be purchased through Amazon, Book Depository (for international orders), Chapters Indigo and independent bookstores (Bookshop, Indie Bound) as well as the publisher’s (Dundurn Press) website.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title of ‘The Shayṭān Bride’?

The amazing design team at Dundurn Press (publisher) used content from the first chapter to guide their selection of the cover image. The actual image is a painting by Rebecca Massey. This painting is an adaptation of the 1781 oil painting “The Nightmare,” created by Anglo-Swiss artist Henry Fuseli. After the cover image was presented to me, I made some recommendations to customize it more to the story and the protagonist, myself. For example, I asked for the skin tone of the woman in the image to be a little darkened, and for a ta’wiz to be added around her neck. I also asked for changes to the clock face. This process of creating and editing the cover was collaborative and I really appreciated the publisher working with me in this way.
“The Shayṭān Bride” was originally the title of one of the chapters. My editor and I decided to make it the book title as well because it best encapsulated the essence of the story, and on so many levels.
What I love about both the cover and the title is the sense of mystery, intrigue, suspense, evocativeness – and there is opportunity for subjectivity. The image and the title speak different things to different people; it’s hard to put your finger on what they are really trying to communicate. I love that. Readers can revisit the image and title and think about whether their original impressions have changed or not.

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

I love to read. Constantly reading and processing ideas, including those that are new and different from mine, keep my own thinking and creative processes flowing. I also like to travel, and often ideate and write while I travel. I find that being in new places, and exploring them with a sense of openness and wonderment keeps me engaged with the world, which in turn, inspires me to share my findings with others through writing.

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

The process of uncovering a secret is probably more interesting than being told one. So, I’ll leave it to readers to determine if there are secrets and what they are

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

The Shayṭān Bride

Book: Finding Sierra

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

My Name Is Sierra Clark I’m a native yet only second generation, of St. Petersburg Fl Author, Host of HeratsTalk Podcast, Creator of It’s A Heart Thang, Model, Motivational Exhorter, Coach & Mentor, Photographer, Daughter,

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Finding Sierra’ book?

*Choosing purpose over fear, *Doing unto myself as I’ve done unto others. *Breaking my own limited beliefs *Telling myself I can when the feeling of can’t is present,

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

My list of authors are not long, at this point. I’ve probably only ready a total of 5 books from cover to finish. Although I’m excited about increasing that number. Now that I understand my reading challenges. (being dyslexic) I’m excited to USE this as an opportunity to go beyond my discomforts and read more . If you include me listing to an audio book then three’s Chris Gardner, W.E.B Du Bois, N.K. Jemisin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ana Reyes

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

St. Augustine, Pensacola, and Key West. These are three of the 10 places in Florida with Lighthouses. These structures are not only mystical but very important. In the book I call them the traffic lights of the sea. They are reminder that I never have to feel lost at the sea of my own thoughts. My light within will always guide me from the danger. Or guide me safely home, when I’ve lost my way. I’ve became aware of self throughout my interactions. The ability to tap back into my experiences. At the junction of opposing forces light- dark, safety- parallel, calm-chaos navigating myself through life. Which has allowed me to recognize my strengths and choices. Making me the lighthouse of my power.

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

I’d say no it’s not a lot to do before. My suggestion is be patient, forgive and true to yourself during the process. The key is to JUST start, and don’t stop until you’re finished. My book writing experience was divinely orchestrated. I had been told I should write a book. Yet I had no intentions on doing so. It was the best opportunity I could give myself..

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Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Finding Sierra’ book?

From start to finish my book journey was 8 months.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Finding Sierra’ book to buy?

It’s currently on Amazon paperback and an E book. Finding Sierra: A Journey to a Better Me, the Only Way Out is In https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C19363L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_8PC7ZDKXGCHXQ2Y7F513 It can also be purchased on my website https://www.sierraclark.life/products/book-for-an-appointment And found in a local store Gulfport Beach Bazaar (727) 381-8548 https://goo.gl/maps/NnRbR5YA1wxzDgr87

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

Its funny that you would ask this question because the final to get to the final book cover was definitely a process I think it was a total of five covers that I went back-and-forth with the first one my publishing company came up with I had a big smile on my face and I didn’t want to deceive the reader to thinking that the book was only about happy moments so I detoured away from it actually for several reasons. The other reason was I was being complacent with myself and I didn’t want to draw direct attention to me as far as the title of the book finding Ciara it almost was elementary because I was truly discovering new parts of me that I did not even know existed and that the revealing of who I was becoming

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

I’d say that if you speak authentically bringing clarity and truth together. You can’t go wrong. It always catches the attention of others.

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

Oh yes they are definitely secrets in the book that are not mentioned in the blurb. I’ll reveal two. You learn the secret to exactly what’s love has to do with it…. In my Tina Turner voice you also discover the secret, to how and why blue isn’t just the color it’s an attitude!

Book Is Available On Amazon

Finding Sierra

Book: Brothers Born A Month Apart: A Surrogacy Story

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

My name is Lisa Pontzious. I am a cardiac sonographer, meaning I do ultrasounds on the heart. My real job though, is being a mother. I am a mom to two beautiful boys who are four years old. I always knew I wanted to be a mother, it was just one of those things that was a must for me. After eight miscarriages, countless heartbreaks, and hundreds of shots, my dream finally came true, times two! My fiancé and I were doing IVF and had several embryos. We finally decided to turn to a gestational carrier- a surrogate. But I didn’t want to give up on my dream to carry a child to term, so I suggested that I try again and have an embryo transferred to me a month after our surrogate. Month after month I could sense my dreams coming true, until they finally did!

Q2. What is your inspiration behind your book “Brothers Born A Month Apart: A Surrogacy Story”?

While in the surrogacy process, we had to see a psychologist to have any of our questions answered and make sure we were ready for this big adventure. One of the questions that was posed to me was, “When will you tell your son his was carried by a surrogate?” I initially thought I would wait and see, figured it would know when it was time and when he was ready. The psychologist insisted that I tell him when he turned four. When the boys were around 3.5 years old I started hearing her voice saying, “tell them when they’re four….” I scoured the Internet for the perfect book to read and open up the conversation but couldn’t find the right one. So I decided to write my own!

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

This was never a dream of mine, the book was initially written for the boys and I was not even going to publish it. It wasn’t until the woman I had hired to do the illustrations said that I should get it published as this would help many other people.

Q4. Are you planning to release your next book soon?

I don’t have any other plans to write another book. I might see how they do with this one and if something else comes up, I would consider it as this was a fun process, but for now, nothing in the works.

Q5. For which age group your books are suitable?

This is a book for young children, ages 4-8.

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Q6. What is your favorite Quote?

“Mommy told Gavin he was going to be a brother. Gavin smiled. Mommy couldn’t help but smile too.” I love this quote because it really happened and I caught it on video! I was holding Gavin and got my phone out and told him he was going to be a brother the next day. His eyes were closed and he just smiled. It was so precious.

Q7. What do you like the most about your country?

We are so fortunate to live in california where the surrogacy laws are fair for both the intended parents and the gestational carrier. It’s not like the everywhere, so we were thankful that we could use our doctors, local hospital and stay close to home to do this.

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

Start young! Reading is so important as kids brains develop so rapidly. One minute you think they don’t understand, the next they are reciting the books or the facts you tell them. Kids are so amazing!

Q9. What does literary success look like to you?

I think that finding a book that you can read, understand and most of all, enjoy, you have found success. It’s not how thick the book is, or the material that you are reading that makes you a successful reader. It’s just about enjoying what you are reading.

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

I am inspired by my boys everyday. I think we can all learn a lot from children: how to see people for who they are and not their skin color, or what they can get from that person. They just love with their whole hearts and have the best energy.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Brothers Born A Month Apart: A Surrogacy Story

Book: Did You Roll Your Eyes

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

Hi My name is Hassanah White and Jaden Spencer. We are the authors of Did You Roll Your Eyes, Obedience and Wisdom God’s Way

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Did You Roll Your Eyes’ book?

I’m so grateful to say that we didn’t face too many challenges when writing this book. It was fun to dive into God’s word and learn what he says about Obedience and Wisdom. If anything, we were learning daily.

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

I’m (Hassanah) a poet and a big fan of Maya Angelou. Her play on words is art in letter form. Jaden is an artist and takes an interest in the complexity of streetart.

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

Our favorite spot to visit is the beach. The beach is peace, that’s what makes it so special. Our innovative thoughts are born when around theocean.

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

Before writing we must be focused, or we will get lost increativity

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Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Did You Roll Your Eyes’ book?

It took 9 months for the book to come tolife

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Did You Roll Your Eyes’ book to buy?

At this moment the book is available on Amazon.com and by email atdidyourollyoureyes@gmail.com

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Did You Roll Your Eyes’ ?

Jaden, the illustrator was strategic in making sure the book appealed to the youth. He made sure to add lots of color and a unforgettable image of the character on thefront.

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

First, we pray and ask God to help us. Once we have an understanding from God we follow His lead.

Book Is Available On Amazon

Did You Roll Your Eyes

Book: Sophie And The Shadow

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

I am Georgia, 25 year’s old and a life-long Londoner.
I’ve always loved writing. I was the type of little kid who wound up writing story ideas on napkins with crayon, or on my arm with permanent marker because inspiration struck when I was out, and I didn’t have a notebook and biro on me.
I fostered this love for reading by attending Bath Spa University, where I graduated with a degree in creative writing, and a completed draft of my first short story – Sophie and the Shadow. Since then, I have started work as an editorial assistant for a series of science journals in London, where I continue to spend my evenings writing stories about fantastical worlds and magical children.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Sophie and the Shadow’ book?

The main challenge of Sophie and the Shadow was the editing. Because picture books are so short, it was really hard to edit, without overworking it and winding up second guessing whatever I wrote. Luckily, I had a few really good friends who were willing to look it over for me, and make sure I took a step back when I started to nit-pick too much.

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

Ironically, I was certain that I didn’t want to be a children’s author. I wanted to be a writer, sure, but I had always been more interested in writing the story than figuring out the age range and genre. I wasn’t writing books for children; I was just writing books.

Then one of my Uni courses required us to write a series of children’s books, aimed at different age ranges. To my surprise, I fell in love, and the very first draft of Sophie and the Shadow was born.

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

I absolutely love visiting Oxford. I have friends who live in the area, so I travel there often, and I think that it is just a beautiful city. It is also, coincidently the home of one of my favourite authors, Phillip Pullman who I had the opportunity to meet!

Q5. For which age group your book is suitable?

Sophie and the Shadow is aimed at ages 3-4, but it is suitable for all ages.

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Q6. How did you come up with Sophie’s character who doesn’t like her shadow at first?

As a child, I always worried that I didn’t quite fit in. It felt a lot like everyone else had an instruction manual inside their heads, and I never got those instructions. With Sophie and the Shadow, I really wanted to create a real sense of someone who was different, but whose differences were necessarily a bad thing.
At the end of the book, Sophie’s shadow is still shy, and won’t play like the other shadows do. But Sophie and the shadow have come to terms with each other and found a middle ground. Sophie has accepted the limitations of her shadow, and the shadow has become brave enough that they don’t ned to cling to Sophie quite so closely.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Sophie and the Shadow’ book to buy?

My book can be found on Amazon and, of course, The Austin Macauley (publishers) website. It can also be found online on a variety of bookstores, including WHSmith, Blackwells, and Waterstones.

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

The first ‘novel’ I ever tried to write I wrote when I was about nine. It was very much cribbed from The Little Mermaid, but the important thing is that I wrote it on holiday, with the help of my younger cousin, Sophie. For about a year after, every time my aunt called, my cousin asked for an update on how the mermaid story was going. (Which I sadly never actually finished writing. Sorry Sophie).
While I’d always loved writing, that was very much what cemented my goal to be a writer and I really wanted to acknowledge that with my first book. So, the title is in many ways a thank you to my cousin, (and an apology for the mermaid story…)

Q9. What suggestion you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?

I know it sounds really obvious, but I would say just let children read what they like, without judgement. Nothing kills a love of reading faster than trying to make a kid read what you consider ‘appropriate’. I mean, obviously, don’t let your toddler read something filled with violence and drugs. But if they want to read above their age, or even under their age because those are the books they love, then let them do it. Forcing them to read certain genres, or certain age ranges because you think those books are more suitable, will only make a child reject reading entirely.

Q10. What does literary success look like to you?

To me, literary success would be my books having a positive impact on someone. Some of my favourite books as a kid are still with me today, even though I have outgrown them. Knowing that my books had the same impact on someone else would be the absolute height of success to me.

Book Is Available On Amazon

Sophie And The Shadow

Book: Audruhi

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

Hello everyone! I am Natty James, a rising author, screenwriter, editor, and proofreader well immersed in the world of creating works that lie in the genres of fantasy, fiction, romance, YA romance, adventure, paranormal romance, and more. I discovered my passion for writing at the young age of 11 where I fell in love with writing novels and carried my love for creating stories throughout my entire career.
From being bullied and teased in school throughout my entire childhood, both writing and reading became a natural escape and helped to fuel my imagination and creativity. It suddenly become clear that writing was a part of the calling God had over my life as I decided I wanted to introduce stories that featured more POC and diversity to audiences desiring to be uplifted and entranced by something unique that would fancy their psyche.
I currently have two stories published on the interactive storytelling app known as Episode where I have cultivated a total of over 27,000 reads and counting collectively. Outside of being a content creator, I am currently working on two novels and one screenplay where I am studying and learning all that I can to fully enhance my skillset and further my abilities in order to become one of the most prominent African American authors to date.

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

Oh goodness! Where do I begin? LOL. I would have to say it’s hard to say, especially since Audruhi is still a work in progress. This story, whose setting lies in a mythical world located within Africa, has characters that are native to the region of Kenya. Outside of that, the main characters live in New Orleans and then are thrust into this foreign world where all the mythical creatures of Africa reside. With that begin said, I would have to admit that world building and writing from the perspective of those characters, which live in places that I have never even visited yet, has been quite challenging for me. It has caused me to do twice as much research on New Orleans, Kenya, Africa on a whole, etc. so that’s been something that been a bit difficult as I desire to make the connection with readers to the setting itself as authentic as possible.
Overall, writing has presented quite a few handfuls of challenges as I have had to restructure my old writing practices in order to appeal to audiences on a wider scale. In the past, I used to believe that my old way of writing would automatically win the hearts of many, however I found that my habit of writing sentences that are long and lengthy has proven that I need a bit of practice in terms of my delivery.
For Audruhi, especially, since this story is a YA fantasy romance I want to be able to connect with readers who are fans of novels such as Harry Potter, Legendborn, Blood Like Magic, etc. As this is new for me, it has been taking a bit of time to grasp the concept of the plot, execution, dialogue, and many other factors that would go into making this story excellent. So, there has been this pressure on myself to do better and deliver this story in the best way that I possibly can in order to do it justice and move audiences with a unique storyline that they have yet to read about.

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

Oh my gosh! Stephanie Meyers, the author of the Twilight Saga, and J.K. Rowling have been my two biggest inspirations and role models when it comes to writing. I became obsessed with Twilight when it was first published and fell in love with the characters, the way Stephanie Meyers was able to write them so vividly it’s like we became to know them personally. My obsession with Twilight helped to encourage my imaginative process and come up with books that were tailored to the paranormal romance genres.
Outside of Stephanie Meyers and J.K. Rowling, I would have to say that one of my all times favorite influential authors would have to be Nicola Yoon. I was so inspired by her amazing magnitude of creativity and feel good, fun-loving stories for young adults that her work (Everything, Everything, one of my faves) encouraged me and motivated me to get back into the writing game after years of being on hiatus.
Other authors who are not as mainstream have had a huge influence on me as well. Tia Sirrah, the author of Unrequited and Broken is one of my favorite authors ever! Her book, Unrequited, is my absolute favorite book of all time. Other authors such as USA Today Bestselling Authors Shyla Colt and Koko Brown have had a tremendous impact on my writing career in terms of their intriguing plot delivery and outstanding writing styles.

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

My favorite spot to visit in my country, the USA, would be New York. I love the fast-paced atmosphere, the food, the places to visit and sightsee, and I can go on forever lol. I was born there and moved to Georgia at a young age, so NY has always had a special place in my heart for that reason especially since there is so much life in the cultural arts there such as Broadway and other parts that make visiting fun and brings you that lively sort of joy.

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

Yes. Yes. And YES! LOL. There is actually a whole lot to do before diving in and starting to write a book. I would say research is necessary, especially if you’re writing about a topic that’s foreign to you. Also, it helps to brush up on your skillset by practicing as that will help you to better your craft. Reading is also an essential beginning part that must take place before you consider writing a story in order for you to learn from those who have published before you.

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

OMG! LOL. I can’t even really say. Again, since Audruhi is still a work in progress it has not fully been written and I honestly can’t even state when I think it will be completed. I actually came up with the idea for Audruhi when I was about 14 years old and that was X amount of years ago LOL. I won’t say exactly how long ago, but it was a pretty long time ago. I mean, it’s nice that I’m finally taking the initiative to get the ball rolling on bringing this amazing story to life, but low and behold it has taken me a long while to get here.

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

Readers who are interested in reading the novel can find Audruhi, when it is ready to be published, on applications such as WebNovel, Wattpad, Inkitt, Dreame, and in the future Amazon Kindle.

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

Well, the book cover, illustrated by the wonderful @mystery.artistz, took quite a bit of time and detail. The goal behind it was to bring life to all the main characters by having them drawn together on the cover in a way that detailed each of their personalities. The pose was something I had in mind for a while; however it took a bit of back and forth with Mystery about certain aesthetics and styles that would be incorporated. God rest her soul! LOL. I know at times I wasn’t the easiest person to work with when she was drawing the cover, but it required a high attention to detail which she delivered with excellence. I had the idea going for the cover since I was a kid and she absolutely came through!
As far as the title goes, I literally started to throw around names in my head by taking a syllable from one thing there and another syllable from another thing here because I wanted the name of this character and this story to be absolutely unique. Since Audruhi is an African genie, I wanted his name to reflect the fact that he is this flamboyant, atypical, extraordinary character whose essence is an amalgamation of various factors that caused him to be made into the being he is.

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

When writing I try to keep things fresh by throwing in things that the audience would least expect in addition to adding content that is guaranteed to keep readers engaged and on their toes by even stirring a bit of controversy. For example, in Audruhi, since it is a YA fantasy romance, there are parts of the story where the two main characters, Audruhi and Zarina, are pushed and tempted to go all the way in taking their romance to the next level of intimacy. However, since Zarina is still a teenager those boundaries, although they will be pushed and tested, will not entirely be crossed.
I try to keep my readers guessing and leaving some portions of the story to their imagination for them to visually process what they feel might happen next.

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

I would say prepare to be amazed in a way that you would never think to be possible. This story is incredibly original and is not only set to keep readers on their feet with anticipation, but it’s also set to touch their minds and melt their hearts. Audruhi might also be the first of many books to come.

Book: The Destiny Of The Wolves

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

Hi, I’m Paola Giometti, a Brazilian who lives in northern Norway. At 11 I was the youngest writer in Brazil and I write books related to Arctic nature, folklore and Scandinavian culture. I have already published 8 books in Portuguese, and The Destiny of the Wolves was translated into English and was published by Underline Publishing and soon its Spanish version will also be available. I am also a biologist with a PhD in Natural Sciences and I work in cancer research. in the free time I write, walk in forests and mountains, and study ancient Scandinavian magic.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Destiny of the Wolves’ book?

First the book was written in Portuguese. Writing and publishing The Destiny of the Wolves was a very complicated process. I had already published a book when I was 11, but I didn’t know anything about the literary universe. It was at age 30 that I officially published the book and it was a painful process as some publishers asked me who I thought I was to be able to write a book about wolves. They even said that I only sold books because I have green eyes and that my literature was very weak, that it would never be sold to schools. I don’t know how literature works in your country, Sassy, but in Brazil there is a huge bonfire of vanities and I had to keep my head firmly on my goal, otherwise I would have given up there. But in six months I sold 1000 books, alone and working in events. It wasn’t easy as I did most of the work myself promoting my book standing at 7 or 11 days, twelve hours per day, not having enough money to eat properly, and I was always sick afterward. I wore contact lenses like a wolf’s eyes and did artistic makeup to help me in this marketing process. It really was a lot of work. Today I have a publisher to support me and only this year they sold more than 25,000 books to schools and readers in Brazil.

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

My biggest literary influences are the Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho, whose perseverance was able to publish his books in several languages and today has more followers on Twitter than JK Rowlling. JK Rowlling with Harry Potter, Tolkien with Hobbitt and The Lord of the Rings, Philip Pullman with The Golden Compass, Rick Riordan with Percy Jackson, Dan Brown with all his books, Michael Ende with The Neverending Story, Bernard Cornwell with his series of historical books.

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

I post a lot of landscape pictures on my Instagram and TikTok and also on Youtube so I’m guessing you’re asking about Norway, right? I believe the place I most enjoyed visiting was the Horseid valley located in Lofoten. You can only get there by boat, and you have to go up a mountain, reach the plateau and go down the other side, so you can have the view I’m talking about. From there, it is possible to see a wonderful valley, with a lake at its deepest part, and a small paradisiacal river that descends in steps towards the sea. Walking through this valley surrounded by high mountains, we get the impression that we are very small, and that we are in the house of the gods. Further on, we then see a kilometer of dunes to finally reach a beach with very fine white sand and super green water. All landscapes in Norway inspire me to create landscapes and universes for my stories.

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

There is a long process between working on an idea and bringing it into a book. It needs a lot of research, references, and that makes your book more believable to the reader, even if we’re talking about a fantasy story. Structuring the text is important so that you don’t waste so much time after fixing the book’s problems, leaving unnecessary characters, objects and scenes. I always do a research and one big scripting process before writing the book.

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Q6. Could you talk about your new book Symbiosa and the Threat in the Arctic from Nordika Publisher?

Symbiosa will be published in English in December and will feature the story of a girl named Emma who became very ill as a child, but who was saved by a mystical procedure called Symbiosa, which connected her soul with a falcon. At the same time that Emma was saved, she developed very good eyes. In the book I bring the Sámi people, one of the oldest peoples in Scandinavia, who are devoted to the forces of nature and have a great connection with reindeer, as well as being known for their fabulous mysterious chants called joikes. The plot also brings an investigation into strange events that have been taking place in the city of Tromsø, with missing people and people who think they are animals. Anyone who likes books of mystery, adventure and mysticism will certainly like Symbiosa and the Threat in the Arctic.

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

They can be found on Amazon and Abesbooks

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

Today, all covers are made by professional cover artists in the field of literature and there is a work in group to build this image. Usually the publisher puts me in contact with the artist and I tell the essence of the story so she or he can work creativity on it. My book titles are usually the last thing I create when I finish writing a book, as I already know the entire trajectory of my characters and the essence of the story. Even though I planned the book, the process of writing it does bring some changes along the way.

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

Different ideas and little explored usually bring me more satisfaction and interest in developing a story. I usually say that all the stories have already been told, and that the difference is the way they are told. I usually use the adventures I do in the mountains to make some new story born, as I see the stories written in the bark of the trees in the form of faces, just as I see my characters in the shape of the mountains and rocks. If I walk through a valley and realize that it could be in my story, my imagination, during the journey, I will put the elements of the story in the middle of the way, such as a castle of alchemist scholars, a portal among the trees, the “sound” of the northern lights and shapes, whether the northern lights are happy or sad… I sometimes draw maps based on the mountains here, marking territories for tribes made up of animals or other creatures. All of this is a way for me to feel that I’m adventuring very deeply into nature here and at the same time I’m brainstorming for a new book.

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

I love putting secrets in my books. Yes, there are a lot of them in The Destiny of the Wolves, but I’ll just tell you two of them. My family and I took many dogs from the streets and helped lot of dogs. We’ve had great packs. The characters are wolves inspired by my dogs: Kushi wanted to be the alpha, and after a few years she lost her leg. Dingo was a very clumsy and noisy dog, and Tuska was an old brown. I tried to give the behavior characteristics of my dogs to Kushi’s pack. The other secret is that The Destiny of the Wolves belongs to the Fables of the Earth series, and it was the first book published. However, it doesn’t matter the order in which the books are read, as they all connect and crossover with easter eggs that are revealed during the reading. Soon I hope to be able to bring the other books from the series into English, so that everyone can have access to these surprises.

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Book Is Available On Amazon

The Destiny Of The Wolves

Book: The Descendants

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

Hello! My name is Destiny Hawkins and I am the author of a dystopian fiction series called The Descendants. I live in Cleveland, Ohio where I work on my book cover designing business, Vibrant Designs LLC, and spend my spare time either walking around in nature, or with my family.

Q2 – What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Descendants’ book?

I would say my key challenges were writing the more violent scenes, and explaining the terminology. When writing the violent scenes, I wanted to really get across the reality of the Lytonians so that readers could understand the actions and motives of the characters.

When it came to the terminology, there felt like no clear way to explain something like a Level 1 Soma Bright, and I didn’t want to give it all at once so I explained the levels, social classes and ability types as basically as I could. Those are the things that help make up the identity of a Lighter. Right, what does Lighter Mean? That is a person. Think of saying Lighter as calling someone human. They cover the majority of the earth, while Lytonians, A type of Lighter, only live within the walls of Lytonia. Then you have your Wild-landers, Defects, Vessels, and Depleters…but I won’t get into all that right now.

I wrote The Descendants five years ago, and I can still remember struggling over this part. Don’t worry though, continue reading and there’s a bit of repetitiveness in different ways to help readers remember & catch on. Eventually, they should be able to come up with their own favorite type of Lighter.

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

For The Descendants Series, I would say that Jeff Wheeler & Jonathan Renshaw influenced the more in depth parts of the series. I started the Descendants before reading Jeff Wheelers Harbinger Series and Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw, so the series wasn’t inspired by their writing. It was just that I had begun to have a deeper understanding of the art of writing. Where I used to only read for entertainment, I now enjoy reading for small messages, writing style, clever plot twists, and so much more. Both authors were great in these areas, influencing me to write with words that the readers could feel. I enjoy giving hints, insight, small messages, and even important information that I sneak in between the lines so readers won’t think too much about it until its relevant to the scene.

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

My new favorite spot to visit is Colorado, somewhere where there’s mountains. Recently, I took a trip to visit my boyfriend while he was staying out in Colorado for MMA training. I didn’t pay attention to location, but he took me to the mountains he’d been out to climb and wanted to show me what he saw. The mountains were absolutely beautiful, some either being all rock or having trees poke out from them. I had never climbed a mountain before, so I was fascinated by everything. There was even a particular silence that just screamed peaceful. Accept for when I could hear how loud the bees actually were.

The Colorado mountains are now special to me because they brought back memories of running through the woods with my siblings and having adventures in nature the way that we did. I wasn’t aware of how much I appreciated nature when I was a child. Back then, I was just in it, listening to birds chirp and hearing the leaves rustle. I guess I appreciated it all without knowing, because the mountains were nostalgic. Being with my boyfriend and experiencing that with him made my first mountain hike a beautiful trip.

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

I take my time before starting a writing session. Usually, I do a bit of cleaning, meditation, and some exercise to get things moving. I need to be in a clean space, and meditation helps focus my thoughts after a little working out. Not too much, but not too little.

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Q6 – How long did it take you to write ‘The Descendants’ book?

The Descendants took about a month. I just finished the third book, which took about two years.

Q7 – On what all platforms readers can find ‘The Descendants’ book to buy?

As of right now, you can find The Descendants on Amazon.

Q8 – Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Descendants’ ?

Honestly, I can’t remember how I came up with the title. I think it just came to me. When I was working at this awful boring debt collection agency, we weren’t allowed to use pens and paper for security reason. We had these dry erase boards, so in between calls I just started getting creative and thought up The Descendants plot. There was no title yet, but I believed that once I put everything together, a title had just come to me.

As for the book cover, I wanted to create something that represented the story in several different ways including, cover color, background, fantasy elements, and character. Even the sparkles around the border mean something…and it doesn’t mean anything nice. Keep in mind that sparkles don’t mean a good thing in The Descendants. I did, however, stick by my slogan: Where beauty can be found in darkness. The beautiful sparkles read about in The Descendants are called Diamond Ashes.

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

When writing, I like to keep things fresh by sneaking in a little information here and there. That way there are always rising questions waiting to be answered.

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

As far as secrets go, I would say that the description doesn’t give the exact feel of how dark the story could go. I don’t make anything in the world exactly ugly, but beautiful. It’s just that there are some crazy things that happen in those beautiful places. And some of those crazy things may pull at your heart strings. It can get emotional, so I’ve been told.

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Book Is Available On Amazon

The Descendants

Book: The Forgotten Gun

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

My name is John Reid, born in Scotland more years ago than I care to remember (73 years young) and am currently enjoying retirement with my wife of over 50 years Liz splitting our time between Scotland and Portugal. Now that I am finally retired, and both children grown up, I have had time to concentrate on writing and bringing the ideas that I have carried around for years to life!!!

My early years were spent in the army serving in the Royal Corps of Transport on a Short a Service a Commission, serving in both Northern Ireland and the Middle East. My working career began in management trainee positions and ended in CEO positions working in venture capital and fund management. I was fortunate to travel widely before the world became so accessible, seeing different cultures first-hand and learning as you go – there was no Trip Advisor in those days!! I’m still not sure of the origins of several meals to this day, but slow flights and hotels in deserts gave me plenty of time to read!!

I’m also delighted that I can use writing to benefit Sense, a, a great charity that supports anyone living with complex disabilities. For anyone who is deafblind. Sense helps people communicate and experience the world. The believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential, just as I do.

My only regret is that I waited this long to start writing, it has become a real passion. There are times when I wish I could type with more than finger though!!!

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Forgotten Gun’ book?

Starting. I had a blank piece of paper and an idea for a story that I had thought about for a lot of years, but once I got that first paragraph down it immediately started to flow, with a sense of excitement at finally getting the nuances and subtleties of the story down on paper. Each book has been referred to as a ‘screenplay’, and that is exactly how I write.

The central plot for “The Forgotten Gun” is based on something that I had often thought about and intrigued me as an idea – The idea that someone can be killed, it looks like a shooting, but there is no bullet or any obvious firing point. Woven around this central story is an introduction to the main character in the series – DCI Steve Burt. A decorated but disgraced officer with a final chance to save his career, hindered by an impossible case to solve a newly formed team of misfits to manage.

The success of every story is getting the characters right. I wanted to create characters most people could identify with. Real people doing a real job, but to never become boring, predictable or disappear as in some books. Every character has a story, and I try to make the reader struggle to predict their next moves.

I also wanted to show a working policeman doing his job 24 hours a day with no padding out of the story line with statements such as “the following week etc. etc. ” Real policemen work their cases each day and my readers follow their time-line.

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

I’m an avid reader and have a wide and varied reading history. I wouldn’t say that any author in particular has influenced my writing style, but there are many authors that I admire, and I respect every single author who has had the courage and commitment to get their words into print. I have a style all of my own and deliberately do not follow any formula or other authors works – it keeps it fresh, orginal and a pleasure to write.

There are a number of incredible series from the likes of Lee Childs and Ian Rankin, and my guilty pleasure of Rumpole from the Bailey by John Mortimer, and I hope that the DCI Steve Burt series can emulate these fine bodies of work.

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

My wife and I live in both Scotland and Portugal. In Scotland our favourite spot is Loch Ness. The scenery is spectacular and you can still find places unspoiled by tourism and as nature intended. Finding lovely local bars, cafes and restaurants off the beaten track is one of our favourite hobbies!!

When in Portugal on the Algarve we enjoy walking the cliff tops and taking in the outstanding rugged, natural scenery with views out to sea. The choice of restaurants in the Algarve is incredible and my wife and I together with other friends enjoy eating out and trying different restaurants, all in the name of research obviously.

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

I think I am lucky in that I have a very productive imagination.

In all seven books to date, with the exception of “The Forgotten Gun”, I have started with only a vague idea for a plot and have allowed the characters to write their own script. So in answer to your question – no. There’s not a lot to do. I find if I give the characters the outline of a plot they then take over and I follow. I know it sounds weird but that’s how I write.

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Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The Forgotten Gun’ book?

I had the idea for “The Forgotten Gun” for decades in my head. I was lucky in that my way of writing was instant. As I said I allow the characters to run the story. “The Forgotten Gun” took me six weeks to write and my wife another six weeks to proof-read.

On each subsequent book I always have a vague idea for a plot-line, and once I sit down and weave in a series of sub-plots, characters and intrigue the stories flow naturally, growing and evolving with the characters.

I find it really enjoyable, quite absorbing, and a relatively quick process. The stories keep getting better and better too, although my publisher might just be saying that!!!

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘The Forgotten Gun’ book to buy?

I confess that today’s communication technology is beyond me so I am grateful for my in house support. I am reliably informed that ‘The Forgotten Gun’ is available on Amazon and the Austin Macauley website as the main channels. Other bookstores are available.

We also have a dedicated website for the series – http://www.steve-burt.com – and profiles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram if anybody wants to take a look.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Forgotten Gun’ ?

The book cover was started by our publisher and as a family we discussed it and came up with a few suggestions that were taken onboard. We wanted to create a mystery and not design a book cover that gave too much away. As to the title, as the story line evolves we could see only one title. The Forgotten Gun. The novel is after all about a gun that was forgotten.

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

The simple answer is I don’t know. I devise plots with multiple layers of intrigue and find making notes surrounding the characters activity help me keep abreast of the action. Because the characters set their own agenda I feel the stories are always fresh. If I as the author don’t know what an individual character is going to do next, then the reader cannot possibly guess. It is always fresh and unpredictable.

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

I am sure there are but giving too much away in the blurb would spoil it for the reader. All I can say is that the identity of the killer, the reason he has selected his victims and his means of killing all become clear towards the final chapters of the novel. DCI Steve Burt and his misfit team uncover a web of events the reader could never imagine. I have been told it is a real page turner.

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Book Is Available On Amazon

The Forgotten Gun