Category: Author Interview

Book: Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall

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

Hello! My name is Despena Zouzas and I am a teacher, avid reader, and first-time author. I am the author of the children’s book Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall’ book?

I think that the editing process was the most challenging for me. Looking at my own work was difficult and caused me to miss things along the way, making it a pretty lengthy process. Second guessing different parts of the draft was also a challenge. I kept thinking too far ahead about what the reader may be thinking or feeling during different parts that made me want to make constant changes.

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

So many authors in both the children, young adult, and adult realm influence my writing that I can only list a few! Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, Kevin Henkes, Bill Martin Jr., Roald Dahl, and Shel Silverstein are just a few of the many authors in the children’s book space that I draw inspiration from for my own writing.

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

I live in New England, and love that I get to experience all four seasons! It is so hard to pick one spot, as I am a short drive from many local attractions. One place I love to visit is Portland, Maine. I love trying different restaurants (huge foodie here), sipping my way through the many breweries, and walking the local shops and beaches.

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

Before I really start, I like to have a lot of notes and ideas written down. Some ideas just fall flat and do not make it past the note stage. But the concepts I keep going back to are the ones I choose to move forward with. I am usually pretty busy with work so I try to dedicate time on the weekends for writing by blocking out a 20-30 minute window of time.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall’ book?

The idea for the book had been in the works for a while and was something I went back to quite a bit. I already had most of it written, so when quarantine hit my state I spent most of my time perfecting the story line and finishing the draft.

Q7. On what platforms readers can find ‘Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall’ book to buy?

All readers can purchase “Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall” from Amazon. Readers local to the Boston, Massachusetts area also have the option to purchase directly from me to receive a few fun goodies with their purchase by accessing the Google form in the link in my bio.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall’ ?

My own cat, Nala, was my inspiration for the book. She typically stays in during the day, and leaves through her cat door at night as seen in the book. She wanders through the backyard, and the neighborhoods surrounding my house. This is where I got the idea of basing the title off of her actual backyard “adventures”. For the cover, my amazing Illustrator, Maria Katinas, captured my vision perfectly.

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

To keep things fresh, I try not to put pressure on coming up with the most unique ideas or to come up with something that has never been done before. As much as I block out time to write or jot down ideas, if I have nothing to write, I simply just do not force it. Since I am a new author, I think keeping things fresh for the reader will start to become difficult as I complete additional books.

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Nala’s Backyard Adventures: Nala Stands Tall

Book: The Last Lumenian

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

I write under the pen name S.G. Blaise, which is a direct translation of my real name. I was born and raised in a Hungary and grew up in the last half of Soviet oppression. Although I always wanted to be a writer, I never imagined I’d be doing it in English.

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

One of the rewarding challenges was learning the craft while writing my book. I must have written five or six books, averaging 500 pages, as I developed my style.

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

There are many amazing authors who influenced me both professionally and as a reader. They include authors like Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Ilona Andrews, Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Danielle Steele, Sydney Sheldon, Robert Ludlum, Karen Marie Moning just to name a few.

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

One of the most amazing things growing up in Hungary was all the rich history that surrounded me. Each morning, I would walk past ancient Roman ruins as I headed to high school. The high school itself was located at the foot of one of the most world-renowned castles in Europe, visible from all its windows. Other times, I would pass by a famous mineral bath built in the 16th century by the Turks during their 150-year occupation. Looking at them, it never ceased to amaze me to imagine what it must have been like to live during those times.

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

I spend a few months developing the story and the world building before I start writing. I am happy to share that I am in the process of revising the sequel to The Last Lumenian, planned for release late Summer or late fall 2021.

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

It took over six years from start to finish. Plus one more year to get it published.

Q7. On what platforms readers can find ‘The Last Lumenian’ book to buy?

The Last Lumenian is available on Amazon in ebook, audiobook and paperback format. As an ebook it is also available at Barnes & Noble, GooglePlay, Kobo and Apple Books.

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

The book cover is the result of a wonderful collaboration with Dissect Designs. Tim Barber did a phenomenal job translating my story into a stunning cover that recently won an award at the 2020 Annual Best Book Awards in the category of Best Cover Design: Fiction.

The title came to me in a brainstorming session with my editor. We were looking for a unique angle that would not only describe the first book but the whole series, too.

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

I try to create an immersive world for my readers so that they will feel like they have escaped reality when reading The Last Lumenian series. Adding details like specially made catchphrases make for unique dialog. Intriguing characters and humor sprinkled throughout the story are all designed to keep the reader entertained and the story to be a page-turner. As for myself, writing the best story possible is a reward in and of itself. I love coming up with new twists and turns, building the world and creating unique characters. It’s all part of the fun of writing The Last Lumenian series and I am having a blast!

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

There are many secrets in the book but I’m afraid I can’t share any without spoiling the story. The readers so far really liked the glossary at the end and found it useful to keep track of the characters and enjoyed the unexpected humor in it.

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The Last Lumenian

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

I love to write but haven’t always been a writer. In the past, I’ve had some pretty wacky jobs like lampshade maker, cigarette girl, and vocalist. I’ve also done some wacky things. I once spent a week in a Swiss castle with the Hugh Jackman of Cuba. I’ve climbed inside the Great Pyramid in Egypt. I’ve written and produced feature films. And I’ve been arrested for possession of a prohibited substance.
Most importantly though, I’m fascinated by myriad topics and like to use both beautiful words and broken characters to explore the human condition as well as to challenge the status quo on some of society’s most widely held perceptions.
I teach creative writing at higher education institutions in Melbourne. However, this year I’ll be launching my own online creative writing trainings called Your Writing Mentor, so watch out for that!

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘This Is Not A Lie’ book?

I really only had one challenge and that was time. I was juggling writing with work, study, and running a household, so it took me a long time to finish the book—around five years. Sometimes I’d get up early and write for an hour or so before work, then I’d try and write some after work.
When I was studying, I wasn’t able to write much at all. During those years, most of my time was spent writing academic content. However, I tried to write something every day even if it was just one line or one small paragraph. I figured writing something was better that writing nothing.
Hopefully, it won’t take me as long to write the next one!

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

Oh, goodness, this is a tough question. However, I’d have to say that Emily Bronte, Mary Shelly, Franz Kafka, William Burroughs, Toni Morrison, Tim Winton, Helen Garner, and Thomas Keneally have probably influenced me the most. These writers are amongst my favourites.

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

The beach. Any beach. Whether it’s the beach around the bay where I live, or somewhere else along Australia’s massive coastline. I love the water.

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

It’s really easy to lose focus or direction when you’re working on a manuscript that’s over eighty-thousand words. However, I’m a planner so I like spending time drafting an outline that will keep me focused as I worked. However, I also enjoy working organically and a lot of This is Not a Lie’s threads developed organically. The challenge is integrating those threads into the outline. It takes a bit of juggling, but it can be done!
The other thing I spend a lot of time on is research. Even though a significant part of This is Not a Lie is inspired by real people and events, I still had to do quite a bit of research. Most times I was able to find the answers I was looking for but when I couldn’t I had to get a little creative in order to fill the gaps.
Right now, I’m in the very early stages of a new book and it’s about the research. Good research really is the key to creating authentic characters and settings.

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

Open Wounds is a collection of short stories that I’ve written over the last twenty years. There’s no real thread or common theme to the collection other than the stories are all about characters who are desperately lost or damaged.
The first edition was published by Dixi Books in 2019. It’s my fondest hope that at some point in the future there will be a new edition that features several new stories.

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

As far as I know it’s currently available from Amazon UK, IT, and IN. It will be available in the US and Australia around April, I think. However, it’s also available to order from Book Depository, Waterstones, and a few other places. A quick search in your Internet browser will help you to find it.

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

The title was fairly easy because it comes from a line in the book that is significant to the main character. However, the process of coming up with a cover image was a little more challenging. The publisher had their graphic designer come up with a few ideas but none of them truly captured the essence of the book.
In the end, I sent the publisher an image that I had as an example and that’s the one they chose to use for the final version.

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

Oh, that’s a great question. I like to experiment with structure, from the small stuff like sentence structure all the way up to the big stuff like the structure of the plot. For example, This is Not a Lie is about a rock band, so I wanted the text to be rhythmic like a song. The main characters life is also fractured, so I wanted the chapter lengths to be uneven and fractured as well. I wanted them to mirror his internal struggle.
I’ll most likely take a similar approach with my next novel.

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

Hmm… I can’t think of any secrets per se as the blurb really says it all. However, if you read carefully you might pick up on some of the symbology that’s embedded in the text.

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This Is Not A Lie

Open Wounds

Book: Edward The Egg: Coloring Tales Of Adventure

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

Hello everyone. My name is Julia Fagundus and I am the author of Edward the Egg, Coloring Tales of Adventure. (Bilingual English-Spanish version also available). I am a North Carolina native who loves enjoying both the mountains, river, and beach whenever I get time away from teaching at our local community college or attending soccer, baseball or golf events with my three kids.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Edward The Egg: Coloring Tales Of Adventure’ book?

The main challenge were the many years between telling Edward the Egg stories to my kids and actually writing the stories down on paper. Jogging my memory back to all the details of each story took some time. The tales in the book were first told to my oldest son when he was four. He’s now 17. I wish I had written them all down as I told them, I have so many I couldn’t possibly remember them all.

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

My love for reading started later in life. It wasn’t until my 30s that I really started to enjoy sitting down with a book. One children’s book that influenced, or I would say confirmed to me that it was ok to include a drawing that you could color as my illustrations, would be Shel Silverstein’s books. My educational background in technical writing influenced the format and writing style I chose for the book.

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

My very favourite place to visit is the river right by my hometown. Wonderful memories of my family swimming, boating, tubing, wakeboarding flood my mind. It’s a place we all go and get away from the cares of the world for a couple hours and get to enjoy the breeze and sunshine on the water. The family time, that’s hard to find sometimes these days, makes it pretty special too.

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

When you are self-publishing I would say yes. I did SO MUCH research. I spent several hours watching videos to make sure I didn’t miss any steps I needed to take in order to successfully self-publish (and I’m still hoping I didn’t miss any!). Writing the first draft of the book ended up being one of the easiest steps. It was a little challenging but I eventually learned, through lots of googling and videos, how to: start my own publishing company, apply for copyright, write a copyright page, get ISBN’s, design and create my own cover, learn correct formatting to successfully upload my book to different platforms, and the list goes on.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Edward The Egg: Coloring Tales Of Adventure’ book?

Writing the first draft of the book took around one month. However, the entire process starting from typing the first story, to the day it went live on Amazon and Barnes and Noble was two and a half years. It took around one month to write the first draft of the book which contains five short stories. The editing process along with the other items listed above in question 5 attributed to the overall length of the process along with only being able to work on the book part-time.

Q7. On what platforms can readers find ‘Edward The Egg: Coloring Tales Of Adventure’ book to buy?

My author website, RoyalKIND.org; Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Itunes; Walmart

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Edward The Egg: Coloring Tales Of Adventure’?

My illustrator, Madi Mirra, is one of my daughter’s best friends. She spent many nights at my house and heard many Edward the Egg stories. When I told her I was going to put the stories in a book she asked if she could illustrate them. She illustrated the pictures inside the book and the title artwork. I took the title artwork along with the Edward the Egg graphic and used cover software to create the background they would be on. When I saw the window with the sky and clouds background option I knew it was perfect. The stories had always been bedtime stories for my kids. I wanted the cover to look like Edward was climbing out his bedroom window to go on an adventure, hoping that kids as they read the stories would feel that they were going on an adventure too.

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

Writing Edward the Egg sparked the creation of RoyalKIND, my publishing company. I had no idea that once I chose the name RoyalKIND, an even bigger vision would be birthed. RoyalKIND became not only a publishing company, but a lifestyle brand as well.
In order to keep things “fresh” I wanted RoyalKIND books to go beyond the book. This lead to an Instagram page where readers can connect (@royalkind.edwardtheegg) with coloring contests along with encouragement for readers to write and share their own stories. Just like in the Edward the Egg stories, we can tape people up too! I wanted RoyalKIND to inspire others to encourage those around them.
RoyalKIND.org was created to help make this happen. I knew I needed a website to help spread the message that we are all RoyalKIND: chosen, loved, approved and powerfully equipped to positively change our world in an instant. Merchandise and stickers can be purchased at RoyalKIND.org to help spread the message! I am also working on a contest to post soon at @royalkind.take.the.time to win a RoyalKIND sweatshirt and stickers. My goal is for everyone to know they are Royal. I believe once when you know you are RoyalKIND you will be inspired to “Take the Time” to share the message.

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Book Is Available On Amazon

Edward The Egg: Coloring Tales Of Adventure

Book: Points Of Origin

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

My name is E. S. Fein. I think of myself predominantly as a psychonaut and perpetual student of reality, but most people know me as a writer and academic consultant. I graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Creative Writing. While bartending and working numerous odd jobs after graduating, my partner and I decided to travel to South Korea to teach English for a year. After operating a business for multiple years in Korea while teaching at a private school, we backpacked for a year across more than 150 cities throughout Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Since returning to the US, I have authored a full length novel called Points of Origin, along with a collection of short stories called The Process is Love. I am now hard at work trying my best to stop putting off the completion of my second novel. I am also putting the finishing touches on a short story that will complete my second collection of short stories, which will be entitled Ascendescension. You can check out several of my short stories in writing and audio for free at OfficialESFein.com.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Points Of Origin’ book?

The single biggest challenge was convincing myself that completing a novel was even possible for me. I have written many short stories, some of them bordering on novela length, but a novel always seemed so daunting, sometimes even impossible. This feeling of it being impossible continued throughout the writing process, even when I was near the end. It was very much like climbing and summiting a mountain. It was all a mental game, but I suppose most everything is!

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

I currently read multiple books per week and have read over 1000 full length novels and thousands of stories over the past decade, so there are too many to recount in full. I will just name some that come to my mind first in this moment:
● Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke
● The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. Leguin
● Anything by Philip K. Dick
● Eon by Greg Bear
● Diaspora by Greg Egan
● Anything by Stephen Baxter
● Anything by Ted Chiang
● House of Suns, by Alastair Reynolds
● City, by Clifford D. Cimak
● Solaris, by Stanislaw Lem
I’ll stop there!

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

Anywhere with an abundance of nature. Cities terrify me. Getting lost in the wilderness is a relaxing cake walk for me relative to even a short visit to a big city. I’ve travelled all over the world and lived outside my country for many years, but one thing appears to never change; no matter where I go, I really don’t like cities!

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

Before I dive in, I have to lay down or go for a walk and let the story play out in my head like it’s a movie–usually I see my stories as anime in my head. I never get the whole movie planned out in one go, but that’s part of the fun. For all of my stories, when I start writing, I don’t know exactly where my characters or plot will end up. At the onset of writing, I have only the vaguest sense of the story’s total terrain, so the details, even some of the major ones, are a delightful surprise for me too!

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Points Of Origin’ book?

It took me just under 2 years to write the book, and just over a year to go through the full editing process. So, from inception to publishing, it took 3 years total.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Points Of Origin’ book to buy?

Points of Origin is available from all online retailers, but most people get it from Amazon. You can also get it from me directly at OfficialESFein.com. It is available in both paperback and ebook, and it is also currently being turned into an audiobook by an incredibly talented voice actress named Betty Bat!

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

The title of the book was suggested by one of my beta readers, and though the title has been used before by other authors, I really do think it perfectly encompasses precisely what the story is attempting to convey and describe, both literally and figuratively. The title was too good to pass up!
As for the cover, I created it with the intention of it looking like a cosmic mandala. Each subsequent square is spaced at precisely the golden ratio. Each square is also made using an actual image of a nebula taken by NASA (they are completely public domain, but I did clear their usage with NASA just in case!). I really wanted a cover that wasn’t a run-of-the-mill scifi cover but that would still catch a person’s eye, and I think I achieved that.

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

By allowing a large part of the characterization and plot to remain unknown even to me! As I stated before, I often allow my mind to go through numerous different scenes, like numerous potential plotlines of a movie, to see which will work best, and which my characters respond most interestingly to. I try to allow the process to be as organic and naturally grown as possible, rather than putting too much of my own conscious devisings into the creation process! It is a very paradoxical process — creating something that I want as little to consciously do with as possible so as to keep it as natural as possible — but it somehow works for me and many other authors as well, I’m sure.

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

Without getting into any spoilers, I will say, in the words of one of the characters in the story, “do not confuse linearity with causality.” The chronological order of the chapters might not imply a linear causal relationship, yet on the other hand, maybe it does. It depends on the perspective you view the order from, and it also depends on your view of order in general.
Also, chapter 4, short and strange as it is, is more important than you might realize — even after finishing the book! It exists as an easter egg for only the most astute readers!
Thank you for this opportunity!

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Book Is Available On Amazon

Points Of Origin

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

Shreyan Laha. 27 years old railway employee. I’m also one of India’s few science fiction authors. I have a masters in rural management as well.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘A Year Without Summer’ book?

Nothing at all. I wanted to write such a novel ever since I wrote my first-sci fi, “Not Worth Living For”, a novel which included a volcanic winter scenario with the twist of science fiction. On a personal front however, my father was admitted in a hospital. I had to face many disruptions while even writing a few paragraphs.

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

Lee Child, Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Eoin Colfer – there are lots I have been influenced by. Every author influences me in some way or another but these four, I feel have the most impact on my writing style.

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

Sindhudurg and Gaganbawada in Maharashtra. Daringbadi in Odisha. These are one of the hidden gems in India, if you ever find going to Himachal and Uttarakhand expensive. My mind is on steroids every time I visit there. I love everything about mountainous places: the scenery, the hills and the forests. Being such close to nature, you feel like being one with these places. I would be lying if I say every time though because I have only visited these places twice. Talking about similar spots which I visit often, it’s the Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.

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

Chapter Outlines are important. Chapter outlines are one of the most accurate things to do while plotting a book. It keeps you anchored about what to write in each of the stories. Also, research. The book shouldn’t look out of place.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘A Year Without Summer’ book?

I don’t remember. I apologise for my inability to answer this question.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘A Year Without Summer’ book to buy?

Amazon only. It’s Kindle version too.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘A Year Without Summer’?

I was determined that I would write a story which is a long read and contains certain elements which we can all relate to, but however- a plot which many may consider complex enough for the average audience. This is the challenge of every author. The first idea was “volcanic winter”. This was followed by the ideas of different worlds. I imagined how would the world be like if there was no summer for a year. What would be the effect on people’s minds? And how would people behave? Would escapism play a role? Or will they cling on to certain aspects? If they cling on, will they be affected by Stockholm syndrome and old methods? Or will they choose a new life? A lot of thoughts came up while crafting the initial chapter outlines. Coincidentally, this whole “coronavirus” happened in India days after I published my novel.
Since this story is set in Kolkata, I told my publisher to have a cover page related to the 1800s Kolkata. The environment should also look cool at the same time (cool as in, temperature).

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

Bring in new concepts which people relate to. For example, in this book I have introduced the concept of Stockholm syndrome, apart from the usual science fictional elements. A person suffers from Stockholm syndrome when he or she believes that his captor (or abusive lover or kidnapper) is his saviour. People in a toxic relationship especially face this. They believe that the man or woman who has left them may have actually loved them or they still do, somewhere.

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

This is a tricky question which may compel me to give away the spoilers. The book has a lot of internal messages. In this book, most characters have a backstory and Stockholm syndrome. This is what, I believe, makes this book unique. Even a few reviewers did not get this. They believed that a certain character is acting illogical. However, that was the very point of the story they missed. In Stockholm syndrome, a particular character is meant to act illogical.

About Author:

Shreyan Laha is a science fiction author who started experimenting with various novels before finding his niche through his novel, “Not Worth Living For”. He has hence, written its sequel “A Tiny Reason to Live” and another novel, “A Year Without Summer”.

Along with this, he has half a dozen published short stories and acrostic poems. He has been the winner of Rajiv Gandhi Youth Literary Award, 2014 and apart from writing, Shreyan loves watching football and learning foreign languages.

He can be contacted here:
http://www.facebook.com/laha.scifi
twitter.com/Laha_Outbreaks

Instagram: @shreyanlaha

shreyanlaha@gmail.com

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Books Are Available On Amazon

A Year Without Summer

A Tiny Reason to Live

Book: Just Imagine

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

Hello, my name is Sharon Giannini and I am a wife, mother of two, and I live in a small town in New England. I grew up in the city of Danbury, CT right on the border of New York State. I was raised by a stay at home mom and my father is a musician. I guess you could say I inherited my love of writing from him. When I was little, I would spend time flipping through picture books. I loved the simplicity of the writing and the beautiful illustrations. I have always appreciated how children’s writers can communicate a concept so deeply using only a few words or sentences on each page. I can remember spending a lot of time writing my own short stories and poems. I still appreciate all of the wonderful picture books I have read and have in my kids collection at home.

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

I have to say the biggest challenges I faced while writing “Just Imagine” were coming up with the simplest way to communicate a very important concept (persistence), in order to accomplish ones goals/dreams. Also, trying to stay true to the conversation that inspired me to write this book in the first place.

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

I love books by Margaret Wise Brown, and Dr. Seuss. I feel they are two of the most brilliant story tellers. I just really love their style. I also love the series of picture books by Laura Numeroff. I love her characters and the flow of her books. I guess I would have to say her stories have influenced my style of “Just Imagine” the most. But the works of Margaret Wise Brown first made me fall in love with reading as a child.

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

It is hard for me to pick one spot in the United States that I love to visit. I love New England; it has been my home all my life and it is very beautiful, especially in the summer and fall. I love taking trips to Maine or Cape Cod in the summer, as well as Rhode Island. I also love Florida; Siesta Key Beach is beautiful and I have been there a few times. The biggest trip I have taken with my family so far was to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, two years ago. It is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places I have ever been and I would recommend that everyone see it at least once in their lifetime.

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

I put in a lot of “research time” and what I like to call “research field trips” when I first have my story idea. I start with a “blurb” and brainstorm anything I can think of. Then I go online and research my topic. I make sure it is something unique enough that will stand out from all the rest. I also go to my local library and book stores and flip through picture books in the age range I intend to target. I look at how the stories are written, how many words are on each page, what sort of style illustrations would I like for my own book, etc… I take my time. With “Just Imagine” I took the initial idea and put it in the center of my final book. I built the rest of the story around it.

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

I had the initial idea for “Just Imagine” back in 2011. I actually wrote my first paragraph after a conversation I had with my son; he was five at the time. I wrote the first paragraph and I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue. I literally tucked it away at my desk and didn’t pick it up again. Several years later, I found it in a pile and took it as a sign. I decided to have the idea copyrighted in 2016… then after many failed attempts at putting something together that made sense, I will admit I stopped for a while. I was also very busy with other creative outlets; I attempted to start my own business on etsy.com which was fun for a while, but I was always pulled back to writing. In 2017 I decided to give it another try. The illustration process from start to finish took a year and after many edits and some rejections from traditional publishers, I decided to give self-publishing a try. I picked up a book by the amazing Eevi Jones who helped me through the process. I would recommend her to anyone thinking about self-publishing. She is an award-winning author in the self-publishing realm. She was very encouraging and extremely helpful through the entire process.

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

“Just Imagine” is available on Amazon in ebook, paperback and just recently a hardcover format. However, I am in the process of revising my hardcover version, and will announce it’s availability again soon.

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

The title was actually the easiest part for me. I just kept thinking what would grab someone’s attention quickly and also capture the concept I am trying to convey to readers. The subtitle came much later as a recommendation by an expert. As far as the look of the cover; that was a lot of fun. I had the great privilege of being able to sit down in person with my illustrator, as we live in the same state. I already had an idea of what I wanted, but while talking to her, we just started bouncing ideas off of each other and with each new idea we both came up with all the details. I knew I wanted it to be whimsical and hand drawn. When she suggested watercolors, I loved the idea right away.

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

How to keep things fresh.. hmm.. well I would have to say by researching..if I think of a topic that has already been done, I try and think what would be a much more unique way of doing this? I like to create a character/s kids can really relate to and they want to root for. Also one my younger self could’ve also related to… I like to put a little bit of myself in the story.

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

My son inspired my story idea. When he was five, I was tucking him into bed one night and he asked me while giggling if he could “taste the clouds”. I said what an interesting question and I immediately had a visual. That conversation is towards the middle of my book and I built the rest of the story around it.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Just Imagine

Book: Apex

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

Hello, I’m a film and video game enthusiast who has recently shifted to writing fiction. As an author, my goal is to great fast-paced stories that take readers for a ride. APEX is my debut novel, and is available on Amazon.

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

I think back to one of my favorite action film series, Die Hard. The first was a claustrophobic rescue romp through a building that had some implausible sequences, but also those that made the protagonist believable. Fast forward to 2007, and we had the same protagonist jumping onto a hovering fighter jet, and crashing it while clinging to the aircrafts tail. Long winded story short, I wanted to make sure APEX kept the suspension of disbelief in a reasonable place. I knew the story would require escalation, and some high-tension sequences, but I wanted to make sure their execution wasn’t egregious or relying on extremely unlikely conclusions.

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

My writing has been influenced by a number of authors – Crichton’s epic storytelling, Dan Brown’s pacing, Stieg Larsson’s sense of dread, and Andy Weir’s timely comedy – Just to name a few.

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

If I told you, then I’d have to kill you.

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

I spend more time in design and prep than writing. I have endless pages of notes, whiteboards, and scattered drawings of sequences throughout my office. I prefer not to write a single page of a book until I have every character fleshed out and every chapter mapped.

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

The end-to-end process was about five months – Storyboarding, Writing, Editing, Publishing. Truth be told, I wrote the initial manuscript for APEX in 17 days. Once I know what I want to write, and I have a blueprint, I go.

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

Paperback is available across a number of online retailers, Amazon and Barnes and Noble are the most notable. APEX is currently part of Amazon’s “Kindle Unlimited” program, so the eBook (right now) is exclusively available on Amazon.

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

I knew the cover had to reflect the setting of the book while not giving much away. The painted hills from the island provided a literal depiction from within the story, as well as an “APEX” allegory. The cover looks pretty simple from a distance, but if you look close, it’s actually brought together with strokes of white paint, which also ties back to a major event in the book. I don’t remember where the idea came from, but my cover designer, Astrid Burke, did an amazing job bringing it to life.
The title itself, comes from the main antagonist organization in the book. Also, plays into the notion that humans are the planet’s apex predators.

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

My secret sauce is limiting the amount of information readers have at certain spots in the book. Imperfect information creates tension. Additionally, though APEX is a violent book, I spent a ton of time working through when and how it would be used. I knew early on being careless with violence would create a numbing read, but if you’re strategic, it can be the most effective character (thank you, Quentin Tarantino).

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

I recommend reading the book. At face value, this is a “shoot from the hip” thriller, with the single goal of sending readers on a good time. That being said, I tried to layer in a few different themes and concepts that hopefully give readers pause to think twice.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Apex

Book: Born From A Wish

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

Well, hi there. I’m Dino Jones and ‘Born From A Wish’ is my debut novel. It was a dream of mine to write a novel and I accomplished that dream! Follow your dreams, readers. At times I didn’t think I could do it but now look at me.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Born From A Wish’ book?

I’d say the biggest challenge was motivating myself to write sometimes. I didn’t know if anyone would enjoy what I’d written. Other challenges I suppose I had were at the very beginning of the novel with deciding how things would begin. What’s interesting is the prologue I wrote came much later in the writing process. It came towards the end, actually!

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

I have been influenced by a fair number of people. All of them aren’t authors. I was influenced heavily by music and various other mediums throughout my writing process. The music of Droid Bishop, a synthwave artist, influenced me a great deal. I was also influenced quite heavily by the Genesis album ‘Duke’. If you want to know more of my influences in depth I’ve created an entire series devoted to that featured upon my Instagram!

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

There’s this walking track not far from my home that I quite like to visit. I tend to walk around the track four or five times, losing myself in my thoughts. That’s where I go to think about various upcoming scenes in my writing. It’s a pretty tranquil place on the edge of the woods so it offers a great place to think.

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

I tend to create an outline in my mind of what I want to do first. Once I’ve done that I usually just sit down and start typing and the words come to me. Sometimes it surprises me how things just flow. Of course another thing you must do is decide what the overall message of your story will be. What kind of lessons will your character learn and how will they grow, etc.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Born From A Wish’ book?

It took me about ten months. I wrote it between early January – late October 2019. I did have some breaks scattered about in that time where I didn’t write and I also wrote during my free time from my job. It’s physically/emotionally draining for me to write so I tended to only write about once or twice a week.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Born From A Wish’ book to buy?

You can find ‘Born From A Wish’ for sale on Amazon via Kindle/eBook ($7) or paperback ($10). I hope you’ll snag yourself a copy and please leave a review!

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Born From A Wish’?

I collaborated on the cover with a very talented local artist named Jalen Morris, (@osoamazingart). He was a co-worker of mine and I would see him on his breaks creating these awesome pieces of art. I got with him about the possibility of him creating the cover for my novel. I basically described to him what I wanted for the cover but allowed him artistic freedom to add elements he felt would add to it. The main elements I wanted were the three palms along with Albert & Elly on the beach at sunset. He came up with the rest and didn’t disappoint. I’m planning to work with him again on the next one. As for the title, I got it from a sub-scenario within the game Silent Hill 2. I loved the title and I felt it fit rather well with what occurs within the novel.

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

I keep things fresh I suppose by taking characters to places they hadn’t been before or expanding upon characters back stories. I also want to write in a way that the reader wouldn’t be able to guess how things would play out. That’s precisely what I’m doing now with my next novel. The next story will delve into a supporting character featured within ‘Born From A Wish’. It will be about their struggles and take the reader places they’d never see coming. I can guarantee that.

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

Secrets? I suppose the biggest secret of ‘Born From A Wish’ is whether or not Elly truly exists or not. The answer to that question is…I can’t reveal that! Haha! You’ll have to read the novel and find out yourself. I promise you’re in for a wild ride though!!

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Born From A Wish

Book: The Final Wielder

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

I go by The Creator Mal but my Real name is Jamal Charles. I chose the name The Creator Mal due to the Universe I have created via my business Artistic Realm Creations LLC.

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

While writing I really didn’t face any challenges truthfully, but while putting it together I ran into issue with funding, getting the artwork, and printing of it. I did learn a lot but I expected it due to it being my first book, but Issue 2 will be a lot smoother.

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

May sound a little cliché but Stan Lee and Todd Mcfarlane; both for different reasons. I feel my writing kind of reflect that.

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

Again cliché but home, New Orleans. Its just in all my travel nothing compares.

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

Of course, some of the things I like to do is sit and think of what will make my story stand out. Some other things I like to plan out is my End Game. I truly like to plan an ending before having the beginning.

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

Took about a week or 2. Mostly due to working and having a family. It took about 8 months though to get the art done and all the other bank end stuff.

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

Right now it’s available on Amazon in both paperback and kindle. I will be launching artisticrealmcreations.com really soon and you will be able to find it there as well among my other projects and merch on the website.

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

The title is usually the last thing I write, because how can you title something when you don’t know completely what it is. Same with the cover I got all the other art and tought whats the most iconic part.

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

I read a lot of other comic, but I think its my drive to stand out mainly. There’s a lot of superheroes, so I have to be interesting

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

I`m not going to say much but the holes in the story can be filled by other book under Artistic Realm Creations. Which will release before the sequel.

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Book Is Available On Amazon

The Final Wielder