Book: Brothers Born A Month Apart: A Surrogacy Story
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.
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 youlike 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Jolly Walker Bittick. I am named after my father and grandfather, but we each have different middle names. I was born in Denver, Colorado, but raised in rural western Washington. I served a term in the Navy as a helicopter mechanic, but have worked in numerous fields since, most recently as a communications editor for the Federal Government. I love to write and I also keep a daily journal to log the details of my day. As I entered my 30’s I realized that my life experiences are unique since I have traveled so much and lived in so many different places, so I decided to begin writing about the experiences and people I have met over the years.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Cape Henry House’ book?
The book is officially fiction, but based so much on true events that I had to make sure to protect the identities of people and certain locations showcased in the book. As this was my first publication, I was unsure how much detail I could include as it pertained to brands. Ultimately, I kept details as vague as I could in that realm, and tried to do so without taking away from the overall story. I did some general research and determined that protecting the military elements of the story was most important, and ultimately a few of the locations were real places but as they are no longer in existence I was safe to name them as they were in real life. Professional sports teams are mentioned in the story, but vaguely enough that there is no legal issue. Second, the creation of the chapters was challenging. I originally wrote the entire story without any chapters and then decided that chapters would help readers, particularly those who would not read the book in one sitting. I feel like the chapters are aptly named and well placed, but the initial challenge of creating and placing them seemed formidable.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
First and foremost, Ernest Hemingway in general. I decided when I wrote this book that I wanted it to be written for those who do not read. Short, sharp sentences and raw details were heavily incorporated into the work to keep readers interested and compelled. I also like author Harry Combs, and his western novel ‘Brules’ in particular. The opening to ‘Brules’ inspired the opening to Cape Henry House, and I also intend to use similar formatting in future publications (in fiction).
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Olympic National Park and National Forest. I am from the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington but I find it to be a place I prefer to visit as opposed to a place I call home full time. Anyone that has visited the peninsula is taken aback by its natural beauty and grand geography. It remains a wild place, and that by itself makes itspecial.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
There can be. A writer must have a purpose in writing a book, and at least a vague idea of what they want the story to be about. I have written material in the past that ended up with meaning different than what I was intending, and sometimes that is okay, but only if the writer can shape the work into something they can finish and produce for an audience. I take after Stephen King, who is known to sit down and start writing something without any outline beforehand of what the story will be about. I find my work is better when I write and get into the story myself, because it takes me on a journey as well.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Cape Henry House’ book?
Cape Henry House was written in six weeks. I contacted a few old Navy friends and discussed the story with them, and then I went about writing it. I had fun with it, so much so, that before I knew it, the story was completed.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Cape Henry House’ book to buy?
All major platforms, and most brick and mortar stores. The book is also available via box retailers like Walmart and Target. In particular: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Google Books, Apple Books, Kobo, Books A Million, to name a few.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Cape Henry House’?
As the story is based on true events, it was an easy process to name the book as it is about a house on Cape Henry Avenue, a real street. My Navy friends and I have referred to the actual house as Cape Henry House over the years, the name was a natural fit for the book. I went through a cover design service and was provided with five cover designs based on specifications I provided. Ultimately, the cover of the book was the image selected. It was far and away the best of the bunch.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
Focusing on the plot of the story and using as few words as possible to describe the characters and events while ensuring that the word choice is sharp, this gives a jolt to the reader which naturally keeps them compelled to read on. For me as a writer, it is important that I enjoy writing the story. I had fun writing Cape Henry House, because as I wrote it, I was brought back to the real-life memories that form the basis of the book. In other works, I follow the same blueprint. I make sure to apply my feelings and imagination to the writing so that it remains raw, raw in the sense that the person reading it can sense, smell, taste, feel, and apply themselves as so they are in the story as well.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Two things: Every character in the book is based (some more than others) on actual people from the days of the late 2000’s. In some cases, there is one character that represents more than one actual person, or multiple characters that are extensions of someone I remember from the actual party days of the real-life house on Cape Henry Avenue. The other thing: Nearly all of the wildest parts of the story are true. In some cases, it would be hard to imagine someone writing about such things without having seen or experienced it!
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Author of three books, Scars of a Magician, a fantasy novel, Josh and his Superhero Booger Friends, and The Adventures of Olivia and Molly also a children’s book. I started writing short stories in a writer club in high school. I wrote in my yearbook that I wanted to be a writer one day, who knew sixteen years later I would publish my first book.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing Scars of a Magician’s book?
Keeping my manuscript in order with the storyline and names.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your writing?
I don’t have a book or author that influences me. I wanted to write a novel, so while I sat on a school bus waiting on a school chapter to be done. I started writing my story, but I eventually rewrote it. I’m glad I did.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I live in the U.S. I don’t have one yet, but I hope to have one soon.
Q5. Are there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
Yes, because I had to plan out the events step by step.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Josh and his Superhero Bogger Friends’ book?
It took me about three months to finish the first draft.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find your books to buy?
Amazon and my website: robertherringjr.com but I soon will have it on kindle and more.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover and the title of your books?
I imagine what I want and then try to sketch it out then send it to my artist to draw. My title comes from my character having issues with his family and reality, also being a street magician.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I have a big imagination that helps plus I do research and act my story out.
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Taea Edwards, I’m a full-time student at the University of Central Florida with a passion in writing and politicals. I dream of doing book-signings for my novels, strive to connect with readers so they feel less isolated in this crazy world, and aim to one day travel all over the world for my writing and humanitarian aid work!
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Grief’ book?
The biggest challenge I faced was poor organization. I started at a very young age (8th grade) and because I was evolving so much over the years I had to entirely redo the novel over four times, which stretched out the process by six years. I wouldn’t ever change the oitcome, however it proved quite challenging to fix and alter.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I would absolutely say Sarah J Maas was one of the greatest influences on my writing. I looked up to her for so long, and going to her book signing was one of the greatest turning points in my writing, because I knew immediately all I wanted was to be on the other side of that stage and signing table.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I have not been to enough places consistently to have a favorite! I have always moved around and never spend more than a few years in any one place, so a lot of areas are nostalgic to me, but none is a consistent favorite as I haven’t been back to enough places! But any beach is always a safe haven for me!
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
I would say there is quite a bit to do before diving in, however there can be times when I will spontaneously add a new exceprt as well. For example, on the novels I have yet to write, first I need an idea (which comes quite easy for me), than a base plan for characters (they usually evolve on their own eventually, but a solid idea is still needed to start), and some decent plot lines/development plans for characters and plot. With those few things in mind, I generally let the idea sit for a minute as well, because I know over a few months’ time (whilw focusing on other novels), dozens of new ideas will come to me, which I can match to a certain novel, and build on it in that way beforehand so there is less revisions later on.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Grief’ book?
It took me (as previously mentioned) six years to finish Grief. This was because the final version and the original are pretty kuch entirely different concepts. I’d say to write the most recent concept took about 2 years max, however as I was younger I never wrote very consistently.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Grief’ book to buy?
Currently, it is not published yet, though once I do publish it the novel will be accessible on Kindle/Amazon, Audible, my personal website, and IngramSpark for sure, though I’m still looking for other places to add it to as well.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Grief’ ?
I have had the book cover for Grief in mind for years, as well as the next two novels. I am currently looking for an artist who cen help bring that image to life. As the trilogy centers around Amara and her development, I always wanted her to be a direct part of it, which is why I always wanted a half-face realistic drawing of her along the edge, each cover will have her primary emotion of the novel to show visual progress, and will have her magic slowly growing around her, as symbolism again for her progress throughout the novels. The title came to me as I was about halfway through writing the book. I’ve had it set for years, I can’t quite remember how it hit me, but I believe I had just finished writing the climax for one of the very early versions and the sheer agony and grief that would tie the readers to the pace was just so heavy, I knew nothing else would fit the description more.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I would say I keep things fresh by truly knowing the ins and outs of my own novel. By knowing every little detail of lore, backstory, history, charavter, in and out, it always leaves something else to pepper in or add that will for sure add to the story, so even if it is just a simple chapter of the characters having fun and takinf a break from the stress of their situations, they are leaving something with the readers. At least, that is what I hope to accomplish.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Not quite secrets, but as all of mh novels take place in the same universe, there is a lot of different opportunities for crossovers, so readers should keep their eyes peeled for character descriptions, sayings, or visuals that may seem out of place… They might come up later in the series, or even in another world.
Sassy Reviews 