Tag Archives: Author Interview

Author interview ~ Audrey N. Lewis

Posted on by
Reply

I am very excited to welcome Audrey N Lewis, author of Everybody has a story… These are ours to my blog. If you have questions for Audrey, that aren’t covered in the interview, please comment below and she will be sure to get you the answers. 

Let’s start by finding out a little bit about you…

  • What is your name and do you write under a pen name? My name is Audrey Lewis and I am very comfortable putting my own name on anything I write or create.
  • Where do you call home? I live in a Northern Chicago suburb, but any where I am with family or at one with nature is where I call home.
  • Obviously, we know you are an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have another occupation? Do you believe you’re any good at it? Do you like what you do? Besides writing, I refurnish and repurpose furniture with my family and I love doing it, I also am an artist/creator and while not perfect really do like what I do.
  • What is your family like? I have been married for 42 years and have 2 adult children whom I remain very close to.
  • If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like? I lived in a red-brick house that was always kept clean and I hated to get anything dirty or out-of-place.
  • Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing? I am a collector, I find interesting and lonely pieces of furniture and or art and repurpose them. It’s a great feeling when I find pieces that call out to me to save them. I like photography and building fairy houses and creating.
  • What is your greatest dream? This is a very difficult question. If I am talking about writing it would be that my written words are read and that good discussion might arise. My global dream is rather trite. It would be for a world without hate.
  • What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you? I think that I am the kind of person I want to be, kind, sympathetic, compassionate and generous.
  • What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you? Discovering the darkest sides of people I love.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I have been writing since I was 4 so it is a difficult question to answer.
  • What is your greatest fear? Losing the people I love.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? I personally like paperbacks or hard-cover there is nothing better than the feel of turning a page.
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? Many but the first one I can remember reading more than once was A Wrinkle in Time.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Probably at one point or another, but can’t remember what it might have been.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? To Kill A Mockingbird.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? General fiction
  • What book are you reading at the moment? My grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry. And in what format? Paperback

Let’s shift somewhat and talk about your latest story.

  • What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? My most recent book is a collection of short stories, “Everybody has a story… These are ours” that are full of everyday events with complex emotional issues that will have you questioning yourself.
  • Is the above book part of a series? It is not part of a series, however I am expanding the first story, “The Closet” and will see where it goes.
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? Creative Designs did the final book design using a photograph I had taken years ago that I felt was the title itself.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? It came to me, after all it was everybody’s story.
  • What first gave you the idea for your latest book? They were stories that followed me over the years, as if they needed a voice and I was chosen to give it to them.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

  • What is your writing style like? That is a difficult question, since it seems to change a bit with everything I write. I have just completed my first novella, a contemporary fiction “The Tapestry” and am working on a fantasy fiction as well as a literary fiction. Doing so many different styles at once somehow seems to keep me sane.
  • Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? I would make sure that I ALWAYS back up my writing!
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company? I am a self-published / Indie author.
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I think the fear of not completing a project helped make that decision for me.
  • Where can your readers follow you?
    https://www.audreynlewis.com/
    https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
    https://www.facebook.com/Everybody-has-a-Story-These-are-ours-by-Audrey-N-Lewis-951751178202620/

Author Interview ~ Todd Crawford

Posted on by
1

I’d like to welcome Todd Crawford, author of Young Adulterer, to my blog today!

author

Not the typical author photo, but hey… I suppose it says a lot about our guest author today.

Let’s start by finding out a little bit about you…

• What is your name and do you write under a pen name?
I’m Todd Daniel Crawford. I write under the name Todd Crawford but if I ever publish anything else I’ll probably change that to avoid further confusion, since I was named after my father.
• Where do you call home?
I have a house in Pittsburgh with my friends and cats. In terms of where I go in the morning after getting home from work, that’s it. If not there, my family is spread across Mercer County, PA.
• Obviously, we know you are an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have another occupation? Do you believe you’re any good at it? Do you like what you do?
The good news is that writing is my day job; the bad news is that’s because I work overnights. I work full-time and am also struggling to pioneer my company, Long Shot Books. I suppose I’m perfectly mediocre at what I do, without getting into the details. I enjoy it well enough. I’m fortunate to have it.
• What is your family like?
I had two families. The family still in my life is pretty diverse characteristically. The unifying factor is that we’re all obsessed with sauerkraut.
• If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like?
I had a few. The earliest one had a basement where I could hang out with friends and watch TV. The upstairs had a living room where we’d have the Christmas tree and all that; it was connected to a kitchen. To the right of it was a hallway with everyone’s bedrooms.
• Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing?
I like talking with people more than anything. Exercising, watching movies, listening to music are also things I try to do as much as possible.
• What is your greatest dream?
I don’t think I have any concrete goals anymore. I just try to be the best person I can be and do the most I can do with my life. There are a few people I’d like to meet but I duno what I’d say to them. I look forward to marrying Rihanna someday.
• What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?
I just want to be a moral, responsible person. The issue is that theory is always easier than execution. You catch yourself acting less than your best before after you’re already midway through it. I try to cut down on those moments and learn from them so I don’t repeat my mistakes too often anymore. I just want to be an honest, reliable, kind person who is also a renowned good lay.
• Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love?
Yeah. I have nightmares about it on a weekly basis. Other than that, I try not to.
• What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?
I suffered a lot of extensive trauma as a kid, things that didn’t register until I was much older and put myself in the context of being an “adult” and realizing how evil some of the things imposed on me were.
• What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
I inspired myself, I think. I wrote because I lacked the resources to make movies and I got bored of drawing. Significantly, Clive Barker was a big influence. Of course, James Joyce, David Bowie, Max Bemis, Woody Allen, and Bergman are all pretty huge influences on everything I do. They’re the ones I always catch myself accidentally ripping-off when I take a step back.
• What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?
My dream was to act and direct in movies. I accomplished that to some degree with my old movie company, Renaissance Men. It was as rewarding as I thought it would be in some ways and it was also more taxing than I thought it would be. It was incredibly indie, guerilla filmmaking, which I loved. I don’t think I’d do it any other way. There was an honest, a desperation to that which was really charming. I think our limited resources challenged us and helped us bond in mostly healthy ways. I’m not proud of everything we did but I’m really thankful for those experiences and that I shared them with the people I did.
• Who is your role model?
My mom, my grandfather, my uncle, my high school teacher/academic decathlon coach, a few college professors. Lately, I’ve been listening to a ton of Chris Conley interviews to get me out of bad moods.
• What is your greatest fear?
At this point in my life I’ve lived through about three worst case scenario, worst fear things. I mean, on a less existential, simpler note, snakes.
• Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?
I have one paperback currently out, which is a book I wrote in 2016 titled Young Adulterer. I plan on releasing my whole bibliography for free on the internet at some point. I had a plan to rerelease everything in paperback and Kindle but I don’t like the Kindle formatting stuff anymore and don’t really give a darn about making money or the old books being widely accessible. I’ll probably throw them or the digital files on some site public and leave it at that.
• Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
I’ve read The Hellbound Heart about a dozen times and Weaveworld maybe four times. There are some books I definitely plan on rereading but I want to wait until I’m a bit older and can see them from a different perspective.
• What is your opinion of novellas?
They’re great. Artistically, it’s very liberating not to meet some arbitrary quota for the sake of sales. I understand the economics of it and why publishers shy away from them but thanks to Amazon and e-readers, we have the luxury of putting art first. Plus, as someone who struggles to read more than one book a year due to mental illness, it’s pretty nice to have fun-size reads that’ll only take up a night or two. I’m afraid of commitment when it comes to reading.
• Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
Yeah, it was a Ramsey Campbell book titled The Hungry Moon. It was great.
• What is your favorite film based on a book?
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which is also tied for my favorite movie.
• What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
I try not to discriminate based on genre but…”literary” fiction, whatever that means. I like seeing things I’ve never seen before and can’t fully comprehend. I’m one of those people to watch or read analyses after I get confused by something. I think it’s better to need help and be willing to seek it out rather than pretend like I already understand everything.
• What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
I’m getting ready to open up a contest for publication, just released a book, and am writing another, so I’ve been more about clearing my list than expanding it. I am hoping to get into nonfiction soon, though. Everything is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love and Loss is definitely going to wind up on my bookshelf at some point.
• What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
Finnegans Wake by James Joyce, reading a paperback. Well, intending to. I’m stuck because working ten hour long overnight shifts really kills my ambition to read. When it boils down to it, I’m either reading or writing, never both. If I’m neck-deep in a manuscript, I’m not gonna pull myself away from it to read. I do hope to finish that by 2020, though.
• If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
Ohh, boy. David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, and Kanye West. I wouldn’t even need to be at the party; I’d just like footage of them holding a conversation.

Let’s shift somewhat and talk about your latest story.

young adulter

• What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
Young Adulterer. Briefly, it’s about the possibility of forgiveness in a post-Christian society. Without forgiveness, how do we live with past mistakes?
• Is the above book part of a series?
Yeah, it’s kind-of the third in a series. It’s also a reboot. It’s the first time you see these character’s names and the framed narrative is constantly shifting in perspective, so this is a new interpretation of characters I’ve been writing since 2011. I’m writing the sequel, so, either the second or fourth, depending on how you look at it, titled Conditional Love, now.
• How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)?
I just thought of the image of a baby drinking a little bottle of alcohol and wanted a neon look to emulate those bar signs. I love the opening credits to the movie Re-Animator by Stuart Gordon. I sent all this with images from the aforementioned film to Amit Paul on Fiver and he was super generous and brought my crazy concept to live. He really gave it all the character and charm it has. I always say not to judge my book by its cover, because the cover’s really great.
• Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?
It all depends on the creative experience I’m striving for. If I want to be uncomfortable, I’ll blare music that I loathe to keep myself on my toes and edgy. Sometimes, I’ll play something like Sigor Ros if I just want to hone in on the writing (usually if I’m writing in public). Lately, I’ve been writing in silence. Always with earbuds in, though.
• How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?
I make lists of potential titles, sometimes dozens for each book. I boil it down to what makes the most sense thematically. When I know I’ve got a keeper, I usually know.
• Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it?
I do not and if I did, I’m sure it would be absolutely abysmal. I like book trailers in theory and enjoy the ones I’ve seen but I have no concept for one or means to execute one anyhow.
• In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her?
The main character is Wesley Thompson, named after Wes Craven and Nancy Thompson (the protagonist of A Nightmare on Elm Street). He’s an alcoholic who is mortified by the thought of objectivity. He cannot confront himself and he’s always weaseling out of responsibility through moral relativity or tricks of perspective. He’s heavily-based on Patrick Bateman and Humbert Humbert. I don’t really relate to the character or his actions but some of his fears are exaggerated versions of my own. He’s not the most reliable narrator but he does ultimately do the right thing, after about eighty pages of whining about it.
• What is your character’s greatest strengths?
He means well. Despite his self-destructive habits, he only wishes to hurt himself. He goes through a lot of change between the first book and second. He just wants to be redeemed in the eyes of others because he can’t forgive himself for the person he’s become.
• And what are his/her greatest weaknesses?
Well, he can’t forgive himself for his past, as I stated above, so he puts that responsibility onto others. He drinks to avoid his problems rather than meditating upon solutions. He isn’t the best lover or brother or cashier in the world.
• What are some of his/her favorite foods?
He drinks like Falstaff and eats like a goat in the first book. In the second, he undergoes a pretty serious transformation in terms of dietary habits.
• What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?
He forgets his own potential because he’s too distracted by the fact that he’s wasting it.
• Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?
I try not to judge people but instead judge their actions. I hope readers are mature enough to do the same with my book. He’s very often very wrong. He makes a thousand mistakes that I hope I would never do and that my readers never would. I think the readers’ interpretation of a character like this says a lot about how they view people. Do they accept that someone is trying to rehabilitate or crucify them to their past?
• What first gave you the idea for your latest book?
I really liked the idea of taking an epistolary blog book (the first two books in the series) and taking a few steps back while also keeping the narrative in first-person. You realize more and more about this person that they are uncomfortable sharing and you’re forced to read between the lines to see what’s really going on. I had the idea of having it take place at a five-year high school reunion that I’d write five years after the first book in the series (which takes place right after his graduation) since the first book; it just made thematic sense.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

• What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?
I’m a plotter, I suppose. I spend years establishing a thematic framework and outline for my books, usually. Each book is approached differently. Usually, I’ll outline a lot of plot details so that when I’m actually writing them, I can improvise and freestyle within that sandbox. Occasionally, I’ll expand or cut things. In Young Adulterer, I cut a lot of things in the third act but expanded the mid-section. With the current book, for each section I’m writing, I’m coming up with two more I didn’t plan on.
• Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time?
There are always gonna be challenges and I think the approach should always be a little different. Specifically, today, I think that there’s so many talented writers and publishers, so much competition that it’s very difficult to get noticed. I accept that I never will. I’m not gonna wind up on an Amazon best-seller list and I’m fine with that. I don’t write for recognition or praise. I write because I believe in a concept and I hope to see that through. The book is my reward. I sat on this one for a few years before deciding to release it; so long as the book is in existence and those who want to read it can, I’m happy.
• Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company?
Yeah, I’m self-published.
• If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?
I shopped a ton of agents and publishing houses but aside from a few I never heard back from, it didn’t feel right. It felt like I was dating around just to avoid feeling lonely. I just wanted someone to rep me. Then, it hit me that nobody knows my book like I do. If I’m not wholly comfortable with these people I’m submitting to, why not just do it myself? I don’t say that in a mean-spirited way. It just felt more appropriate. That idea really felt like what I had to do when I decided not to take any profits for this book.
• What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
I don’t know if I was ever given this or if I’ve just been giving it for so long I can’t remember. I just say to be honest and keep it real. Don’t sell yourself or the audience short and don’t commit to anything you can’t answer for.
• Where can your readers follow you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts.
I’m not really anywhere on social media anymore. I used to run a YouTube, which I’ll provide below. I’m more of a person who writes books than I am an “author” these days. I don’t necessarily want a platform of elevated speech at this point in my life. I have a Twitter I hardly use and I run the Twitter for my company that I post on semi-regularly and try to share things to help other writers as much as possible. I also write blog posts on the company site every now and again.

https://twitter.com/longshotbooks

https://longshotbooksllc.weebly.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuPAz5297wTKU449izqoeKw

https://www.amazon.com/Young-Adulterer-Todd-Crawford/dp/1790742455/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=young+adulterer+todd+crawford&qid=1550495306&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

 

Author Interview ~ Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D

Posted on by
1

Featured Interview with Professor M. S. Rao Ph.D.

So, Professor Rao, where do you call home?
I live in India.

Obviously, we know you are an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have another occupation? Do you believe you’re any good at it? Do you like what you do?
I am a fulltime author. I deliver keynotes and training programs upon request.

What is your family like?
I have a wife and two sons.

If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like?
It was a hut. I hailed from a poor family background. I rose from humble origins.

It’s impressive that coming from such a poor background, you’ve been able to do so much with your own success. Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing?
I go to the gym every day because I am a fitness freak.

That’s great. Like most people, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to get into the gym more. I’d love to just be passionate about working out like you. So, tell me, what is your greatest dream?
To become the President of India.

WOW, those are so high expectations. Obviously, you feel you are the right kind of person for that job. So, what kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?
I want to become a global ambassador for peace and prosperity. It is always the external challenges that prevent me from accomplishing my goals.

Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love?
My first love is reading books.

Well stated. What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?
Many terrible things happened to me since childhood.

I can understand if you don’t wish to go into detail, I will respect your privacy on that one. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
My passion to share knowledge with the world free inspires me to write. I became an author from the year 2010.

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?
I had a dream to serve my nation since my childhood and I served in the Indian Air Force.

Who is your role model?
No role model but Abraham Lincoln is my inspiration since my childhood.

That’s very interesting. You don’t hear a lot of people name Abraham Lincoln as their inspiration. What is your greatest fear?
Most times, things don’t happen the way I want. My life is full of struggles and sufferings.

I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and more often than not things don’t turn out how we hope they will. So, as a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?
Paperback.

Have you ever read a book more than once?
Sometimes I read books a second time if I don’t understand the essence or if the book is very good.

What is your opinion of novellas?
No opinion.

Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
No.

What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
Management, Leadership, and Self-Help.

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
My award-winning book, ‘21 Success Sutras for CEOs’ URL: https://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Ceos-Rao/dp/162865290X

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
Work is Love Made Visible by Frances Hesselbein, Marshall Goldsmith, and Sarah McArthur. Hard copy.

If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, and Barack Obama because they inspired the world.

Four amazing choices, thank you.
What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
“Soft Leadership: An Innovative Leadership Style to Resolve Conflicts Amicably through Soft Skills and Negotiation Skills to Achieve Global Stability, Peace and Prosperity” URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628655909 This book introduces and explores soft leadership to achieve global stability, security, peace, and prosperity. It explains the causes, effects, and remedies for global conflicts and wars. It draws a blueprint to resolve conflicts amicably. It offers innovative negotiation tools and techniques for soft leaders to resolve conflicts amicably. It illustrates with inspiring examples of great global leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela. It emphasizes Mahatma Gandhi’s twin principles of truth and non-violence. It implores to replace religion with love to build a better world. It implores to love your mother but don’t hate another person’s mother.

perf6.000x9.000.inddIs the above book part of a series?
It is exploration of ‘Soft Leadership’ from the perspective of global peace and prosperity.

How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)?
The publisher designed it.

Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?
I write books when there is peace and tranquillity.

How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?
It is based on the content in the book and search engine optimization.

What first gave you the idea for your latest book?
I wrote articles on global peace and prosperity. Since I am known globally as the father of “Soft Leadership” I applied this innovative leadership perspective to achieve global peace and prosperity.

That is interesting that you are known globally as the father of “Soft Leadership”. You must be a renowned expert in your field. What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?
A plotter. I create a tentative outline of the book and write. I take deviations during the process of writing and retitle the book accordingly after completion of the book.

Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time?
Publishing books is a big challenge as I have to search for publishers. Getting timely endorsements and forewords from apt celebrities globally is another major challenge.

Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company?
Traditional publishing company.

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
I have not received any advice from others to write books. However, I advise upcoming authors as follows: Be passionate about writing. Be patient and persistent. You cannot expect results overnight. It takes years of efforts and energies to excel as an author.

That is excellent advice, thank you for sharing it with our readers. If my reads are interested in following you, where can they find you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts.
I am very active on social media platforms. I share lots of articles on my LinkedIn and my blog ‘Vision 2030’ freely without any charge. When you google my name as ‘Professor M S Rao’ you will find my social media platforms. You can follow and read free articles. My books are also available on Amazon. Here are the links of my social media platforms to join and share with your connections.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM
Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/professormsrao
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+ProfessorMSRao
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professormsrao
Soft Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628655909

Can you explain your Vision 2030: One Million Global Leaders?
I served in the Indian Air Force due to love toward my nation and passion for the uniform. I served for some years and acquired several qualifications including DME, BSc, MA, PGDCLL, PGDBM, and MBA. After I left the Indian Air Force, I pursued research and earned a Ph.D. in Soft Skills in 2011. I led a painful life both in defense and civil as I was born into a poor family and encountered innumerable challenges in my personal, professional and social life. Additionally, I encountered some rogue relatives who were responsible for financial challenges to me, my wife and two sons. While serving in the Indian Air Force I acquired knowledge on leadership as military makes the best leaders due to the kind of tough training soldiers receive and the kind of unique challenges they encounter during war and peace. Hence, I developed a passion for leadership. While serving in the Indian Air Force, I did not appreciate the way things were happening in India due to the unscrupulous politicians dividing society in the name of region, religion, caste, and communities. Additionally, lots of money goes into the private coffers of politicians rather than reaching to the poor people in India. I was very much disturbed with the conditions in the Indian society. In fact, corruption has become cancer to the Indian society. Hence, I thought to train leaders with a global mindset to enable them to develop the nation, promote fraternity and work for global peace and prosperity.

I entered into the teaching profession as educational institutions are the ideal places to shape students and equip them with leadership skills and abilities. Second, I focused on students as they are in teenage, and they can be molded easily as leaders the way military recruits the young cadets and grooms them as soldiers and leaders. I started getting overwhelming support from students as they were inspired during my teaching and training programs in educational institutions. Students loved me and crowned me with a title, ‘Professor M.S. Rao is Born for the Students’ URL: http://professormsrao.blogspot.com.

As a leadership researcher, I do a lot of research on various leadership styles and how leadership can be used for the benefit of global society. During my research I came to know that there is a looming leadership challenge globally due to the retirement of baby boomers (old people) and the Gen Y who is also known with different names including millennials (young people born between 1980 and 2000) are not geared up with global leadership challenges due to lack of effective leadership development training programs. That means when the experienced leaders exit from service there is an alarming leadership vacuum globally as the young inexperienced people are not ready in the leadership pipeline to take up the leadership roles and responsibilities. Although it is a threat globally, I viewed it as an opportunity to contribute my best. I decided to train students as global leaders to enable them to grow with leadership skills and abilities. So far, I have taught and trained more than 35,000 people. I started taking the support of social media to articulate my vision and share my articles and videos regularly URL: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com on my social media accounts. Since I belong to Gen X (middle age) I can serve as a link between the baby boomers (old people) and the Gen Y (young people) to bridge this global leadership deficit. I considered my age and experience in military and academia, and above all, my interest in leadership and passion for students an opportunity to serve students to groom them as global leaders. Hence, I pray to God to give me health, knowledge, wisdom, strength, and lifespan to build one million students as global leaders by 2030.

authorAuthor Bio:
Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D. International Leadership Guru
Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D. is the Father of “Soft Leadership” and Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India. He is an International Leadership Guru with 38 years of experience and the author of over 45 books including the award-winning ‘21 Success Sutras for CEOs’ URL: http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Ceos-Rao/dp/162865290X. He is a C-Suite advisor and a sought-after keynote speaker globally. He brings a strategic eye and long-range vision given his multifaceted professional experience including military, teaching, training, research, consultancy, and philosophy. He is passionate about serving and making a difference in the lives of others. He trains a new generation of leaders through leadership education and publications. His vision is to build one million students as global leaders by 2030 URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html. He advocates gender equality globally (#HeForShe). He was honored as an upcoming International Leadership Guru by Global Gurus URL: https://globalgurus.org/upcoming-leadership-gurus/. He serves as an Advisor and Judge for several prestigious international organizations including Global Leadership Awards in Malaysia and Middle East Business Leaders Summits & Awards in Dubai. He coined an innovative teaching tool―Meka’s Method; leadership training tool―11E Leadership Grid; and leadership learning tool―Soft Leadership Grid. He invests his time in authoring books and blogging on executive education, learning and leadership. Most of his work is available free of charge on his four blogs including http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. He is a prolific author and a dynamic, energetic and inspirational leadership speaker. He can be reached at msrlctrg@gmail.com.

* * * * *

Comment below if you have additional questions for Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Author Interview – Brenton Porter

Posted on by
Reply

I’d like you to meet Brenton Porter, the 5th and final teen author included in the A Door To Our Minds anthology.

Brenton

 

What name do you write under and is it a pen name? Brenton Porter is my real name and what I write under

How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing about 2 years now

What is the name of your most recent story? It is called The Trials of Gebhuza

 

 

Trials of G.

How would you sum up The Trials of Gebhuza? Amerellius and Amy are just two ordinary citizens serving the empire and living a normal life. That all changes when the emperor comes to town. After a failed attempt to take the emperor’s life, the Gebhuza, an elite force, is tasked with protecting the emperor and his empire from any and all threats. The time to put that force to use comes sooner than expected when trouble brews within the kingdom’s borders. Can Amerellius and Amy lead the Gebhuza and save the kingdom from utter desolation or will it fall in flames?

 

 

Is The Trials of Gebhuza part of a series or anthology? It is, it is one of the five stories in an anthology called The Door To Our Minds. The other stories are The Spark by Lilly Brown, The Peculiar Case of Matthias Chase by Bethany Martin, Years in a Blink by Bearcina, and There is Love in War by Jordan E. Lasater.

ADoor-Final - FRONT COVER

Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your story? Just whatever mood I was in is what I listened to

How did you come up with the title for your story? The title was just a random thought that sounded cool to me

As a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? I prefer either paperback or hardback because it’s physically there

What is your favorite film based on a book? The Chronicles of Narnia series would probably be my favorite book movies

What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Fantasy is my favorite generally

What authors inspire you? Rick Riordan and J.R.R. Tolkien inspire me

If you are interested in reading The Trials of Gebhuza and purchasing your own copy of a Door to Our Minds, fill out the information form below and I’ll be sure to email you more information as soon as the anthology is released.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Author Interview – Jordan E. Lasater

Posted on by
1

Jordan BookWhat name do you write under and is it a pen name?
I write under Jordan E. Lasater, it isn’t a pen name.

What or who inspired you to start writing?
It was less of an inspiration and more that author Amanda Porter forced me while in a teen writing group she was leading.

How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for four years now.

What is the name of your most recent story and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
The name of my most recent story is There is Love in War. I’d sum it up by saying, Gods and Goddesses turn into werewolves and griffons and fight for love against each other.

Is the above story part of a series or anthology?
It is not part of a series but it is included in the anthology a Door to Our Minds with four other short stories. A Door to our Minds is set to be published later this month or early December 2018.

ADoor-Final - FRONT COVERHow did you come up with the cover design idea/concept?
I just used what my mind thought of and Amanda Orneck, the cover artist, made it way better.

Love in War - Jordan LasaterDid you listen to any particular songs while writing your story?
I listened to a lot of Taylor Swift and also some classical music.

How did you come up with the title for your story?
I was acting stupid with my friend, Bethany, and it just came to me.

As a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?
I prefer hardcover.

Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
Only one, The Shadow and it was only because of editing.

Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
Oh yes!

What is your favorite film based on a book?
The Outsiders

What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
Fantasy/Romance

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
Evermore! I read Everless and Fell In Love! Shout out to Sara Holland, I need it!

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
I’m reading some random werewolf Wattpad book right now.

If you could invite any authors (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite?
J.K. Rowling and Jane Austen

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Shut up and write what you want, you can always fix the messes later.

What authors inspire you?
All of them! It is really inspiring to me, for someone to write a book and have it published for the whole world to see. It is very vulnerable and I appreciate it so much because I love books.

If you are interested in reading There is Love in War and purchasing your own copy of a Door to Our Minds, fill out the information form below and I’ll be sure to email you more information as soon as the anthology is released.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Author Interview – Bearcina

Posted on by
2

Beth - HeadshotWhat name do you write under and is it a pen name?
I write under the name Bearcina, and yes, it is a pen name.

What or who inspired you to start writing?
I think what really inspired me to start writing was reading terrible fan-fiction on websites such as Wattpad and FanFiction.Net

How long have you been writing?
I want to say I’ve been writing for at least five or six years now.

What is the name of your most recent story and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
The name of my most recent story is Years in a Blink, and I’d say that if I had to sum it up, it would be, “A sci-fi horror book about the strangest creatures finding their own home.”

Is the above story part of a series or anthology?
No, I didn’t plan on it being part of a series, but it is part of the anthology a Door to Our Minds which includes four other stories by authors who are all close friends of mine.

ADoor-Final - FRONT COVERHow did you come up with the cover design idea/concept?
I think, the cover design was inspired mostly by the concept of Artemia’s desk, having little antiques, such as their equivalent of a polaroid picture of her laboratory. 

BearcinaDid you listen to any particular songs while writing your story?
While writing Years in a Blink, I listened to a lot of noir jazz and swing, and in particular I listened to Blues For You by Gabriel Pares, and Swing Doors by Allan Gray.

How did you come up with the title for your story?
Honestly, it’s all I could think of that made sense with the point of view from the antagonist.

As a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?
I like reading paperback the most, but hardcover is just as nice. I don’t like e-books, and audio-book was just not appealing.

Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
I’ve read the Harry Potter series more often than I can count, and the Leviathan trilogy from Scott Westerfeld was always a good re-read. Other than those two series, I enjoy reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern every time I pick it up from the library.

Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
Yes, I read ROOM by Emma Donoghue, and The Night Circus’ paperback cover.

What is your favorite film based on a book?
I think Coraline would have to be a favorite, since finding out there was a book along with the movie.

What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
Sci-Fi.

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
Coraline by Niel Gaiman, the movie was a strong favorite and I want to read it. Along with that, I want the new Vampire the Masquerade sourcebook, currently that’s the 5th edition, for my collection of Vampire the Masquerade books.

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
As of writing this, I’m not reading anything, but I do have a few paperbacks I plan on reading.

If you could invite any four (4) authors (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
I would invite Scott Westerfeld, JK Rowling, Edgar Allan Poe, and possibly Shakespeare. It would be a mismatch of authors, but all of them are some of my favorite writers.

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Don’t edit as you write, just write everything in your mind, and then go back and look at it.

What authors inspire you?
I feel like I’ve been very inspired by Scott Westerfeld. His books have been very influential to my writing style and genre.

Where can your readers follow you?
▪ Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/88362351-beth
▪ ArchiveOfOurOwn: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Bearcina
▪ Tumblr: Bearcina.Tumblr.com
▪ Instagram: @Bearcina

If you are interested in reading Years in a Blink and purchasing your own copy of a Door to Our Minds, fill out the information form below and I’ll be sure to email you more information as soon as the anthology is released.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Author Interview – Lilly Brown

Posted on by
2

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be introducing you to some amazing young adults who will be releasing a short story anthology in the next month or two.

Today, I am very excited to introduce you to Lilly Brown, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last 7 months. She has been working hard to finish her short story, The Spark, which will be included in an anthology being publish within the next couple of months. I promise to keep you posted on the publication details as we have them.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Lilly Brown, author of The Spark.

Lilly BookWhat name do you write under and is it a pen name?
I write under the name Lilly Brown and no it is not a pen name.

What or who inspired you to start writing?
I don’t really have a specific inspiration as much as I’ve just always wanted to write a book. However, another author and my former writing coach, Amanda Porter, was the one who gave me the opportunity to write.

How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing tiny little stories probably since I could write, but I’ve been seriously writing for about three and a half years.

What is the name of your most recent story and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
My latest story is call The Spark and I would describe it as a group of moody teens who don’t want to do what they’ve been told to do.

Is the above story part of a series or anthology?
It is in an anthology called a Door to Our Minds, which includes my story and four other stories. However, The Spark is also the first book in a series that I’m planning to continue with now that the anthology is getting ready to be published.
ADoor-Final - FRONT COVER

What or who inspired you to start writing?
I don’t really have a specific inspiration as much as I’ve just always wanted to write a book. However, another author and my former writing coach, Amanda Porter, was the one who gave me the opportunity to write.

How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing tiny little stories probably since I could write, but I’ve been seriously writing for about three and a half years.
The Spark - Lilly Brown
How did you come up with the cover design idea/concept?
The basic idea came from one of my favorite scenes in the book but my cover artist, Amanda Orneck took it and made it so much better.

Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your story?
I listened to a lot of Broadway soundtracks. I listened to many video game scores and plenty of Star Wars as well.

How did you come up with the title for your story?
My main character is firey and I like to think of this book as the beginning of the story so I thought “The Spark” was fitting.

As a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audio books?
Hardcovers all the way. I kind of hoard them but they’re just so beautiful that I can’t help it.

Have you ever read and book more than once? And if so what is it?
Yes I have read a book more than once–seven times, I’m pretty sure and it the Warriors Super Edition, Crookedstar’s Promise.

Have you ever read a book based on its cover?
No. I don’t trust covers alone. There have been so many times where I see a cool cover and then I read the blurb and it sounds super boring so I always double-check books.

What is your favorite film based on a book?
The Phantom of the Opera is definitely my favorite film based on a book, as well as musical.

What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
Fantasy. It’s my favorite right now and I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t.

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
Bright Burns the Night by Sara B Larson is at the top right now. I found the first book in her series at a used bookstore and I loved everything about it, especially how she explained the lore of the fantasy world.

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
I’m reading Part of Your World by Liz Braswell and it’s a hardcover.

If you could invite and four (4) authors (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
This may sound totally basic but the first would be J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter is one of my favorite book series and I have always admired Rowling for the way she wove every part of each book together. The second would be Erin Hunter. Even though Erin Hunter is a pen name for the group of authors behind the Warriors, Survivors, and Seekers series, I’m still going to use them as my second author. I’d love to find out how they are able to write and publish so many books and keep every character and timeline in order. The third person I would invite is, Liz Braswell. She’s is one of the two authors of Disney’s Twisted Tales series and I admire her ability to take classic stories and rewrite them. The fourth author I would invite is Leigh Bardugo, the author of the Grisha Trilogy and Six of Crows Duology. I love the way she connected these two series and I really admired her world-building skills.

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
To not edit as I go. I would end up editing things out that I really liked but I would get rid of it because I thought I didn’t need it. I finally learned to let my editor edit.

What authors inspire you?
The list is very long but I’ll cut it down to just a few. Obviously, the four I would invite to a dinner party inspire me. Also on this list is: Kendare Blake, Ashley Chappell, Stephanie Garber, Marissa Meyer, Amanda Porter, Nina Soden and Tui T. Sutherland.

If you are interested in reading The Spark and purchasing your own copy of a Door to Our Minds, fill out the information form below and I’ll be sure to email you more information as soon as the anthology is released. 

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Author Interview – Jared Barlament

Posted on by
Reply

Every now and then, I have the pleasure of welcoming another indie-author to my blog as a guest. Today, I am excited to introduce all of my readers to Jared Barlament, author of The Agony of an Age.

Author-J.-W.-Barlament-174x300

  • What is your name and where do you call home? My name is Jared Barlament, and I reside in the midwestern United States.
  • Do you have a pen name? I like to fashion my name as J. W. Barlament, because J. W. just sounds so much more formal and classical than Jared does. I don’t bother with any pseudonyms, though, because I don’t see the need for me to hide my identity like a secretive superhero.
  • What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? The title of my most recent book is The Agony of an Age. It’s an immense fantasy saga that tells three interwoven tales of power, warfare and incessant torment.
  • Is the above book part of a series? Indeed it is. The first book in the series, The Plight of a People, was published on October 16th of 2017. The aforementioned successor is coming this October 16th of this year, and I hope to have the final novel out on October 16th of next year.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I’m still making my way through high school, so I haven’t had as much time to develop my craft as others. I’ve been writing creatively for as long as I’ve been able to, though. Ever since early childhood, I have always been able to feel a thunderous need within me to write down the ideas inside my mind.

book

 

 

How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? Originally, my covers were going to be far more elaborate, but I was wary of hiring anyone. My sister, who is excellent at that sort of thing, volunteered to do the first book’s cover. She wasn’t entirely reliable, though, so my girlfriend ended up teaching herself Photoshop just to make my covers for me. If that isn’t dedication, I’m not sure what is.

 

 

  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? Typically, I listen to classic rock or jazz, but writing has made me appreciate classical music so much more than I used to. Nowadays, I listen to a wide variety of classical while I write, but Tchaikovsky and Holst have always been my favorites.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? My first book’s title was its working title for a long time, and I figured it was unique enough to keep. Turns out, people weren’t fans of it, so I attempted to make the second book’s title much snappier within the same format.
  • Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it? As much as I would love to display great armies of men, beasts and deities battling to the death, I’m not quite that good with a computer.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? For reading, I definitely prefer hardcovers. They have a more classic vibe to them, and they’re certainly much less flimsy than a paperback. I tend to zone out on audiobooks, and my eyes just can’t take the monotonous screen gazing necessary for an e-book.
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author? That I am. I attempted to get into the traditional industry for my first book, but I quickly found it to be a soul-sucking process. Thus, I chose to go my own way.
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? In addition to the reason listed above, I also enjoy the freedom of it all. I get to choose how much I make off of each book. I decide how to edit. I decide what the cover will look like. It’s certainly a big bonus to have that kind of creative control.
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? I read The Art of War a few times before realizing that I would be reading it and forgetting its material until death if I didn’t take notes. Since then, I have taken notes on the content and notable quotes of every book I read. Hopefully, this will prevent me from having to read anything else a second time.
  • What is your opinion of novellas? They aren’t my cup of tea, but to each their own.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? I can’t say that I have. I have picked up books based on their covers, but I always read the back cover and take a peek inside before I decide to buy.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? Without a doubt, Jaws. Very few films are even as good as the books they’re based off of. However, the film version of Jaws is vastly superior to its literary counterpart. There’s a reason barely anyone knows it was originally a book anymore.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Classic literature, hands down. There’s just something so aesthetic and downright magnetic about reading a story written in a faint period of the distant past.
  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? I don’t have a wish list at the moment, because I have a massive pile of books on my nightstand waiting to be read. Thus, I have sworn to hold off on getting any others until those are done.
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I just began The Divine Comedy in a beautifully decorated hardcover format.
  • If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? I don’t care much for today’s celebrities, but there are plenty of historical figures I would love to have for dinner. A grouping of Baruch Spinoza, David Hume, Carl Jung and Friedrich Nietzche would certainly make for an interesting discussion.
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Self-discipline is key. Anyone can begin to write a book, but very few people can ever finish one. Being overly harsh on yourself will do no good, though. The goal is to keep your mind under your control and prevent it from being seized by distractions.
  • Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? You know, I never realized how much my life revolves around those two activities until I came across this question. I do enjoy taking spontaneous walks in nature, as well as biking, drumming, and map-making.
  • Where can your readers follow you? I do believe that’s what the links below are for. I would especially recommend checking out my website. It is there that I post a whole host of intriguing articles on political, philosophical, spiritual and societal topics.
    Blog: https://jwbarlament.wixsite.com/anindividualmind
    Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17243214.J_W_Barlament
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/anindivmind
    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/J.-W.-Barlament/e/B076J36J31/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Do you have questions for Jared? Comment below so he can answer all your questions. If you’re an author and would like to be interviewed, check out the author interview submission here! 

Author Interview – TM Blayte

Posted on by
Reply

Being an indie-author is hard… amazing, exciting, and so much fun, but it is HARD!!! Getting your book in the hands of readers is often draining. So, for that reason and because I believe that we indie-authors need to help each other out, I welcome all authors to my blog as guests.

Front Cover

Therefore, I’d like to welcome TM Blayte, author of Until We Are Free, to my site.

  1. What is your name and where do you call home? My name is TM Blayte. I call Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa home.
  2. Do you have a pen name? Yes. TM Blayte is my pen name.
  3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Until We Are Free. It is about a teenage rebel, working against his organization’s enemies, and against his own organization, which is led by his father.
  4. Is the above book part of a series? Yes. It is the first in a planned trilogy.
  5. What or who inspired you to start writing? I liked history in school. Using stuff we were taught about colonial Africa, the Vietnam war, and the French revolution, I was inspired to add revolution elements to a mandarin vampire story. And then remove the vampires.
  6. How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing since before I was sixteen.
  7. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? I’m published by a small press. Their department took care of everything cover related.
  8. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? No. I like working in silence.
  9. How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? The original title was Revolution Until We Are Free. It felt appropriate, because an overall theme of the trilogy is we are never truly free. So any successful revolution actually never ends. After I signed my book with Alban Lake Publishing, the editor suggested changing the name to Until We Are Free.
  10. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? Whenever I can get my hands on them, I love audio books. They don’t come cheap, so I mostly read e-books.
  11. Are you a self-published/Indie author? I am published with a small press, Alban Lake Publishing. No agent.
  12.  Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? Yes! I read all the Harry Potter books over and over again, until I knew the chapter names of all seven books. I’ve also read Frost Bite by Richelle Mead a couple of times. However, as I’ve had more to spend on books in the past year, I almost never repeat books anymore.
  13. What is your opinion of novellas? Awesome. I love reading and writing them. I think they are perfect. As a university student, I usually want something I can start and finish on a Saturday. In comes this wonderful literary invention.
  14. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Never. Ever. Ever.
  15. What is your favorite film based on a book? I would have to say Game of Thrones. It is a show a reader can appreciate, but the film guys take artistic license as well. It has the perfect balance.
  16. What is your favorite book genre at the moment? That is a tough question. Very tough. But let’s go with Fantasy.
  17. What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, #1) by Tomi Adeyemi, and The Fallen by David Baldacci. The first two, because they are what everyone is talking about in YA circles. The Fallen, because I am a longtime Baldacci fan.
  18. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer. I’m listening to the audio version.
  19. If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Lecrae. He is my favorite rapper. Celine Dion, she has the best vocals in the game. J.K. Rowling, come on, who wouldn’t? Beyoncé, it’s not what you’re thinking. I used to be a rapper in my teenage years. I simply want to pass on one of my old demos, so she can pass them onto J.
  20. What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Wait. The business is subjective.
  21. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? Yep. I enjoy listening to good music. Genre doesn’t matter, as long as it is good. I also love binge watching series. My favorites are the Blacklist, The Big Bang Theory, Bosch, and Game of Thrones.
  22. Where can your readers follow you?

■ Blog: https://www.tmblaytespeaks.wordpress.com
■ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tmblayte
■ To purchase a copy of Until We Are Free: https://www.infiniterealmsbookstore.com/product-page/until-we-are-free-by-tm-blayte
■ Newsletter: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDnT36u5d62e0CwQhWLyW2NAjL5NE6UvLnBZPD_qlXCeOiqg/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link

_____________________________________________________________________________

Front CoverUntil We Are Free

If sixteen-year-old human, Nyl Jayms fails to kidnap the Elder Princess, in order to force her brother, the king, to negotiate with humans, the only other option is a war that could lead to the annihilation of one or both races. It has been nearly six hundred years since the war of the gods, and humans are still second class citizens, in what the characters believe to be the last shred of civilized earth. The Riders, a group of human rebels now have enough resources to stage a full-scale war, but want to try negotiations to spare human lives. Why then, does it seem some council members, including Nyl’s dad, want a war, and will do anything to disrupt negotiations? 

Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing!

Posted on by
1

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT BIG THING

(When you post this interview on your blog, don’t forget to substitute your book image and answers for mine.)

Awaken - Cover Beginnings_-_Cover Revenge_-_ResizeCover Sector C Book 1 Front 3.25.15

* What is the title of your book(s) (or story/stories)?

My Blood Angel series books are titled: Awaken (book 1), Beginnings (book 2), and Revenge (book 3)

My SECTOR C Series books are titled: The Chosen (book 2) and The Hunted (book 2 – coming soon)

* Where did the idea come from for these books?

I have always loved the supernatural/paranormal stories. I’m a huge fan of horror films that include vampires, witches, shapeshifters, zombies, and anything out of the realm of normal possibilities. Because of that, my writing doesn’t sway too far from the supernatural and paranormal.

The Blood Angel Series takes place in Atlanta, Michigan, a small town in the northern part of the lower peninsula, where I spent most of my summers as a child. I have always had a very active imagination and spending so much time camping and being outdoors I think my childhood plays a big part in how I write.

* What genre do your books fall under?

Young Adult Supernatural/Paranormal Fiction

* What is the one to two-sentence synopsis of your book(s)?

  • Awaken: What if everything you thought you knew about yourself and the world turned out to be wrong?
  • Beginnings: Would you give up everything and everyone you knew in life, just to survive your destiny? What if you didn’t have a choice?
  • Revenge:  Dying in her father’s arms only to awaken in a pool of blood, surrounded by the mutilated corpses of those she loved most, who could blame Alee for what she did next? Wouldn’t you seek REVENGE?
  • SECTOR C ~ The Chosen: When your only choices are vampirism, lycanthropy, breeder, blood donor, or banishment to the Wastelands, what choice do you really have?

* Will your book(s) be self-published or represented by an agency? I self-published all of my books through Create Space (paperbacks) and BookTango (eBooks).

I self-published all of my books through Create Space (paperbacks) and BookTango (eBooks).

* How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

The first book in the Blood Angel Series, Awaken, took about one and a half years from start to finish (published). The others came a bit more quickly, but I have published one book per year since 2012 when Awaken was published.

The first book in the SECTOR C Series, The Chosen, took one month to write the first draft, but from start to finish (published) it took five months. I am working on book 2, The Hunted, right now, and I am about 22 chapters in writing my first draft.

* What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

With the Blood Angel Series I would say; The Vampire Diaries, the House of Night Series, the Morganville Vampires Series, and other YA supernatural books.

With the SECTOR C Series I think a quote from one of the reviews I received says it best: “Think of a recipe that has a dash of Hunger Games, a pinch of Mystic Falls and a splash of Divergent. Then mix it all thoroughly with Nina’s flair of the supernatural and you have a great novel called Sector C.”

* Who or what inspired you to start writing?

I started writing poetry when I was pretty young. Then, as I got older (college and after) I started acting. The idea of becoming different characters, be it through theatre or film, helped to expand my writing from just poetry into screenplays. After I had left Los Angeles, I began writing short stories and then novels.

______________________________________________________________

Don’t forget to add at least five more authors to the network by linking to them on your blog.

You can contact me at BloodAngelSeries@gmail.com.

Good luck with your marketing!