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Author Interview ~ Michael J. Sahno

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I’d like to welcome Michael J. Sahno, author of Whizzers, to my blog.

author

Michael was born in Bristol, CT, where he began writing stories at an early age. He obtained a Master of Arts in English from Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY at the age of 24, then went on to become a full-time professional writer in 2001. Whizzers is his fifth full-length work of fiction.

Alright, lets get to the good stuff!

1. What is your name and do you write under a pen name?
Mike Sahno. No pen name, but I do use my full name, Michael J. Sahno, on my book covers.
2. Where do you call home?
Tampa, Florida, USA
3. 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 have been a full-time professional writer since 2001, so I’m rapidly approaching the point where I can’t imagine doing anything else ever again. I like what I do, and I’m very, very good at it. Lucky for me, as I’m not good at much of anything else!
4. What is your family like?
I’ve often referred to them as “my lovely dysfunctional family.” That’s accurate. They are dysfunctional, yet they are lovely.
5. If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like?
Middle class.
6. Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing?
Running, collecting music, attending concerts. Pretty boring.
7. What is your greatest dream?
Would it be too beauty pageant-ish to say “World peace?” How about just world tolerance and politeness?
8. What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?
I’ve reached the age where I don’t wish to be any other kind of person than the one I am.
9. Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love?
Oh dear, I’m afraid so. One of many minor errors in judgment, which were followed by many major ones. Thank God for my current wife.
10. What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?
In 2011, I developed tinnitus; broke my ankle; my first wife left me; and I had to have a parotidectomy surgery (don’t Google it; it’s gross). So, it wasn’t one thing, it was nearly an entire year of garbage.
11. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
Been writing since I was in high school. Inspired by so many: Kurt Vonnegut, William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Balzac, Dickens…a slew of classics.
12. 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 be a writer, and I’ve achieved it. I didn’t expect to have to work so hard on finding readers and making sales, but that’s evolved in a positive direction over time.
13. Who is your role model?
No one anybody reading this would know.
14. What is your greatest fear?
Being buried alive.
15. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?
I prefer paperbacks, but I’ll take an e-book. I don’t listen to audiobooks at all, and hardcovers are too hard to handle for me.
16. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so, what was it?
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.
17. What is your opinion of novellas?
I think they’re fine. People have such short attention spans these days, and a novella is not as much of a commitment as a door stop book. My latest novel is just slightly longer than a novella.
18. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
Probably not.
19. What is your favorite film based on a book?
Sophie’s Choice
20. What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction
21. What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
The Hook by Kathleen Doler is at the top of the list—because I just bought it!
22. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
Just about to start the above mentioned ebook.
23. If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia, Gandhi & Martin Luther King, Jr. Come on, who wouldn’t want to be here that conversation?

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

1. 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?
Whizzers. A recovering alcoholic, Mike, discovers his six-year-old nephew, David, travels through time as a whizzer to bring comfort to those in need.
2. Is the above book part of a series?
No.
3. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)?
My designer, Robin Vuchnich came up with a variety of concepts, and this one spoke to me.
4. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?
A lot of classic jazz, ECM label stuff, ambient. Mostly instrumental so I’m not distracted by lyrics while writing.
5. How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?
The subject matter of each is relevant to the titles. Nothing really weird or mysterious here.
6. Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it?
Not yet.
7. In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her?
The lead character is a thinly-disguised fictional version of yours truly. I’m really, really nice.
8. What is your character’s greatest strengths?
Empathy.
9. And what are his/her greatest weaknesses?
Empathy.
10. What are some of his/her favorite foods?
I don’t think Mike ever eats anything in the book. Probably Thai curry.
11. What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?
Courage.
12. Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?
They will absolutely love him, because he’s so much me. If they don’t like him, they can buzz off.
13. What first gave you the idea for your latest book?
A very interesting conversation with someone else in recovery.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

1. What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?
I am a plantser. First, I let the characters lead me down all sorts of dark alleyways. When I no longer have any choice, I do some planning.
2. Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time?
Platform building and finding the right audience. I did this time all the things I wish I’d done initially.
3. Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company?
Self-published/indie with my own publishing company (not Amazon-only).
4. If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?
I wanted to have complete creative control, and I don’t have any desire to give 15% of what I make to an agent.
5. What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? “Want to be writer?You’d better learn to dig ditches, too.”
6. Where can your readers follow you?
Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts.

https://msahno.com/novels/

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B018PTN964

https://twitter.com/MikeSahno

https://www.facebook.com/

https://www.instagram.com/MikeSahno/

https://www.youtube.com/chanel/UCDX22D5ZSrNL5Bw3UOGBRfA/

INSERT BOOK COVER HERE

Whizzers Book Blurb: A recovering alcoholic, Mike, discovers his six-year-old nephew, David, travels through time as a whizzer to bring comfort to those in need. Mike soon finds himself along for the ride, and while he gets the opportunity to bring solace to some of his greatest heroes, he must also confront his own greatest demons.

OTHER BOOKS BY MICHAEL J. SAHNO

Click on the book title to purchase your copy!

Brother's hand

BROTHER’S HAND by Michael J. Sahno

“Engaging.” “Masterful.” “Radiant.”

Small town upstate New Yorker Jerome Brothers loses his hand in a tragic fall, then falls even harder for his physical therapist, Maria Santisia. Can even the most romantic one-armed man get the girl…if she doesn’t get his full cooperation in therapy?

If you like character-driven fiction written with humor, heart, and compassion, then you’ll love Sahno’s work. Discover the fictional world of Carverville, New York today.

*Mature audience. Contains scenes of violence, sexuality.

– “Sahno writes with humor, heart, compassion, and a radiant energy all his own.” – Liz Rosenberg, Beauty and Compassion
– “A deeply felt tale and one entirely worth the telling.” – Jay Lemming, Billy Maddox Takes His His Shot
– “Not only an engaging story, but a masterful piece of writing.” – Amazon review

* * * * * 

Miles

MILES OF FILES by Michael J. Sahno

“Riveting.” “Fascinating.” “Hilarious!”
In Miles of Files, the main character, Paul Panepinto, an employee at Flambet Insurance, learns that his manager Graham Woodcock is stealing from the company. Paul struggles with whether or not to report the boss at the risk of losing his position. Eventually, Graham fires Paul anyway and Paul is forced to pursue justice, but the story doesn’t end as expected. Readers move through a fast-paced adventure with many twists and turns, including high points, drama, comedy, and an edge that Sahno captures through his writing.

*Mature audience. Contains adult language and situations.

“This is great writing.” – Quill Ink and Parchment
“When it comes to prose, I recommend every writer read his work.” – Amazon Review
“A great author. You definitely don’t want to miss out on reading this one!” – Long and Short Reviews
“This novel is so well written, I was blown away.” – Amazon Review

* * * * *

Jana

JANA By Michael J. Sahno

“Lyrical.” “Evocative.” “Totally captivating.”
Because of her sexual orientation, Jana Odessi loses her child care job. It’s not until she is halfway across the country on a road trip with her partner that Jana realizes she must decide whether she has the strength to return home and fight for her right to be herself.

Jana appeals to the LGBT audience because it depicts the struggles of young gay people in the mid-1990s with humor and heart. Sahno’s second novel leads to a dramatic courtroom showdown that will leave you breathless.

If you like character-driven fiction written with humor, heart, and compassion, then you’ll love Sahno’s work. Discover Jana’s world today.

*Mature audience. Contains scenes of discrimination, homophobia.

“This book kept me turning pages.” – Amazon Review
“A journey of discovery.” – Amazon Review

Author Interview ~ Mansu Edwards

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I’d like to welcome Mansu Edwards, co-author of Plush Couches, as a guest to my blog.

Let’s start by just getting to know you a little before we dive into Plush Couches and find out what your story is all about.

  • What is your name and do you write under a pen name? Omar Glenn. My pen name is Mansu Edwards
  • Where do you call home? Brooklyn
  • 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’m a Brand Ambassador. It’s a freelance gig. I’m very good at what I do. It’s cool.
  • What is your family like? My father likes reading online news articles. My mother watches movies on the Internet.
  • If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like? My room was plastered with hip hop posters. I had the N.E.S. and S.N.E.S. consoles and video games. The apartment was cool. It was a typical apartment.
  • Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing? I enjoy reading and visiting new places in New York City. Also, I enjoy watching videos, listening to music and podcasts on YouTube.
  • What is your greatest dream? To leave a positive and powerful legacy.
  • What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you? Nothing is stopping me. Right now, I’m transforming into the person God wants me to be.
  • Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love? My first love is food. I love to eat.
  • What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you? I had an Asthma attack in the 2nd or 3rd grade. My Mother took me to the hospital.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? When I was young, I loved school writing assignments. It gave me the opportunity to use my imagination. I’ve been writing for 10 plus years.
  • 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 was a big wrestling fan. I wanted to become a Wrestler. I discovered that Wrestling was scripted and I think that’s what swayed me away from pursuing it. I eventually replaced it with video games and Hip Hop.
  • Who is your role model? Jay-Z, M.F. Doom, Jay Electronica
  • What is your greatest fear? Not having enough time to achieve all my goals.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? Paperbacks.
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? If so, what was it? Yes. “As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen
https://amzn.to/2YUVwxq
  • What is your opinion of novellas? I like an engaging story. A great story doesn’t have to be 200+ pages. Quality is key.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Yes.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? The Talented Mr. Ripley
https://amzn.to/30RROqo
https://amzn.to/2WwZhf0
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? I don’t have one.
  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? “Outwitting The Devil” by Napoleon Hill. I like reading self-improvement books.
https://amzn.to/2KhXkMO
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I’m reading, “How To Talk To Anyone At Work”. Paperback.
  • If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Nipsey Hussle, Jay-Z, Ghostface Killah, Bishop Nehru. I would invite them because they’re innovative risk takers. Our ideas can change the trajectory of the Art world.
https://amzn.to/2VYmItw

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? The name of my most recent book is “Plush Couches”. On the way to a job interview, Rio Akuba experiences a critical and unsettling case of gas on the train after eating organic, Sweety Berry Bears.
https://amzn.to/2WdcDh3
  • Is the above book part of a series? No.
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? That’s a good question. I believe I left the idea up to the Illustrator.
  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? I didn’t listen to music while writing “Plush Couches”.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? God gave me the title.
  • Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it? I don’t have a book trailer.
  • In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her? The main character is Rio. He’s unambitious and lives with his parents. Rio is the type who needs external motivation to take action.
  • What is your character’s greatest strengths? His greatest strength is emotionally connecting with people.
  • And what are his/her greatest weaknesses?  He’s too dependent. He doesn’t trust himself.
  • What are some of his/her favorite foods? He doesn’t have any favorite foods.
  • What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has? He’s observant and perceptive.
  • Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? Readers will like the character because he’s charismatic and witty.
  • What first gave you the idea for your latest book? God gave me the idea.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

  • What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter? I’m a Panster. I prefer writing the story instead of using an outline. It’s more enjoyable.
  • Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time? My challenge is selecting the best idea from several. I’m still looking for a solution to the problem.
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company? I’m 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 spent an exorbitant amount of money with a Vanity Publisher which made me switch to self-publishing.
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Finish the story. It’s only a draft.
  • Where can your readers follow you? . www.twitter.com/Ohassa, Instagram: @mansuedwards , www.facebook.com/Ohassa

Author Interview ~ Chrys Fey

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I’m excited to introduce Author Chrys Fey to my blog. She is the author of the Disaster Crimes series. She was kind enough to answer a few questions about herself, her story, and her writing process. 

Chrys Fey - Cropped

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

1. What is your name and do you write under a pen name?

Chrys Fey is my pen name. Chrys comes from my real nickname Chrissy. It’s just a fun, condensed version. And Fey comes from the word “fey,” which means magical. When I came up with my pen name, I was writing fanciful, paranormal stories, so my pen name was a nod to those genres, but now my pen name is a nod to the magic of writing.

2. If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like?

My childhood home had a palm tree out front. When the branches would start to die and hung low, my brothers and sisters and I would grab onto them and swing around the tree’s trunk in circles. An oak tree beside my house was where I would climb up and sit on a branch to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Woods—tall pine trees and thick palmetto bushes—surrounded my house on all sides, and deep in the woods in my backyard was my fort, made entirely of pine needles and shaped like an igloo. That fort became my heroine’s fort in Flaming Crimes (Disaster Crimes Book 4), and many of her memories of her childhood home are my own.

3. What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

I’m not sure if I’d call it terrible, but I had spine surgery for severe scoliosis the day after I turned fifteen. I have fusion between my vertebrae and a titanium rod screwed to my spine. I’ve had many problems since then, and my whole body is out of whack.

4. What is your greatest fear?

Wildfire. More specifically, losing my home to a fire, because I had almost lost my childhood home to a wildfire when I was twelve years old. That fire, and all of my memories of it—from my best friend’s father saying, “It looks like it’s right next to your house,” to a firefighter getting burned, a brush truck getting stuck in the woods in my backyard, and one of my cats escaping outside and running toward the flames—are in Flaming Crimes.

5. What is your opinion of novellas?

I love them! I love to read them because they are fast, and I love to write them, too. I enjoy packing a lot of action and excitement into a novella, essentially dispelling the notion that you can’t write a fast-paced novella that is a complete story, with well-rounded characters. You can. And I have, with Hurricane Crimes.

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

FlamingCrimes_w12192_7501. 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?

Flaming Crimes: a fiery story with steamy love scenes, nail-biting confrontations with criminals, and heart-warming moments between a couple who go through a lot.

2. Is the above book part of a series?

Yes, it is. It is the fourth book for the Disaster Crimes Series.

Hurricane Crimes (Book 1, under 50 pages)
Seismic Crimes (Book 2, novel)
Lightning Crimes (Book 2.5, free short story)
Tsunami Crimes (Book 3, novel)
Flaming Crimes (Book 4, novel)

3. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?

For Flaming Crimes, I listened to Demi Lovato’s album Confident for Beth’s chapters (who is a self-defense instructor), and a lot of Daughtry while writing Donovan’s chapters (who is a monster truck driver).

4. How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

At first, I thought of calling Hurricane Crimes, (The) Hurricane Killer, but I didn’t like that, because I felt that it gave the wrong impression of Donovan Goldwyn. I certainly wanted readers to be suspicious of him—is he a murderer or isn’t he—but I didn’t want that in the title. Then, one day, Hurricane Crimes came to my mind.

When I realized that the story wasn’t quite done, that more stories would follow it, I knew I would keep the two-word title trend for each book, use a word to hint at the disaster that would take place, and pair it with the word “crimes,” because there isn’t a disaster that crimes don’t follow.

5. In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her?

Beth Kennedy is the heroine. She is a tough cookie who teaches others how to defend themselves, but she is also gentle and loving. She’s been through a lot but has come out stronger.

Donovan Goldwyn is the hero. He is strong, passionate, and protective. When someone threatens the woman he loves, he sees red. He will do anything to keep her safe.

Really, you don’t want to mess with either one of them. You want them on your side.

Where can your readers follow you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts.

Website – http://www.ChrysFey.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/chrysfey
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ChrysFey
Blog – http://www.writewithfey.com
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/ChrysFey
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Chrys-Fey/e/B00GWLZJ8O

Author Interview ~ Elaine Kaye

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I’m excited to welcome Elaine Kaye, author of Halloween Ride to my blog. She is a children’s author with 6 published books and so many stories to tell. 

Elaine Kaye Author

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

1. What is your name and do you write under a pen name?

Elaine Kaye is my pen name. Elaine is my given name, and Kathryn is my middle name, but I shortened it to Kay and added an “E” because it looked better. Pretty simple for me. Plus, it’s easy to remember for children’s books.

2. Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy all kinds of needlework, such as cross-stitch, knitting, crochet, and quilting. Also, on the craft side, I like to paint ceramics. Since I am retired now, I spend a lot of my time making bookmarks, reading, writing, and watching my favorite movies. I am a big fan of medical and cop TV dramas, like Station 19, New Amsterdam, The Rookie, and The Resident. I also binge watch Game of Thrones and Vikings.

3. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

Back in 1982, when I worked at a telephone company, an office worker, whose desk faced mine, told me about a novel she was working on. I mentioned to her how I’ve always wanted to write, and she told me to go do it, so I did. That changed my life.

4. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?

I prefer paperbacks and hardcovers because I like the feel of a real book in my hands. I like the pages, the weight, all of it. Also, I can use the many cute bookmarks that I make by hand.

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

1. 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?
Halloween Ride is about a boy and his teddy bear who take a ride on a broomstick on Halloween night.

Halloween Ride Cover.jpg

2. Is the above book part of a series?

Yes, it is the third installment of A Gregory Green Adventure series, although each book can be read as a standalone title, and they can be read in any order you wish.

3. How did you come up with the title for your book?

Well, it’s Halloween and they go on a broom ride, so quite simply it’s a Halloween Ride. Immediately you get an idea of what the story is about, what sort of adventure my characters will be having, which is best for children’s books.

4. What are some of Gregory Green’s favorite foods?

Pea soup! He eats a lot of it in Pea Soup Disaster, because he just loves his mom’s homemade pea soup, but something happens from eating all that pea soup thanks to the Green family curse.

Gregory also loves pizza, Cheez Balls, pickle-flavored chips, red licorice sticks, and raisins.

Sammy, his teddy bear, likes cookies (of all kinds), marshmallows, shelled peanuts, and…GUMMY BEARS!

5. What first gave you the idea for Halloween Ride?

I once had an idea of my characters flying up to the moon, which they almost do in Halloween Ride, and I wanted to start writing stories for each holiday, so the two ideas just meshed together on their own. The rest of the story unfolded naturally as I went.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

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

I self-publish all of the books for A Gregory Green Adventure series. After many years, and I mean decades, of not getting anywhere traditionally with my children’s books, and finally having the means and resources to self-publish, I took the plunge.

2. Where can your readers follow you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts.

Website: https://www.elainekaye.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16488350.Elaine_Kaye
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elaine-Kaye/e/B06X42CV9R
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElaineKayeAuthor/

If you enjoyed learning about Elaine and her story, please click like and share this interview on your social media platforms.

Until the next interview… Happy Reading! 

Want to know more? Comment below with your questions and Elaine will answer.

Author Interview ~ Tammy Ruggles

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I’m excited to introduce author Tammy Ruggles to my website. If you have any questions for her, that I don’t cover in my interview, please comment below and she will respond.

tammy

  • What is your name and do you write under a pen name? Tammy Ruggles, but I’ve written as Miss Tammy for my children’s book, and some fan-fiction too.
  • 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 used to be a social worker in the child/adult protection areas, and I loved that job, but had to retire from it due to becoming legally blind. That’s when I started writing professionally.
  • If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like? Trailers mostly, but a couple of apartments and houses too.
  • Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing? Cooking.
  • What is your greatest dream? To be remembered fondly by my grandchildren.
  • What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you? I wish I could be a perfect person, but making mistakes stops me.
  • Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love? Yes, he died, but I still think of him often.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? No certain person inspired me to write, I just started on my own at about age 12.
  • 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? Yes, I had 3 dreams come true. One, to be a social worker. The second to be a professional writer, and the last one was to become a mother.
  • Who is your role model? Jesus Christ, though I never measure up.
  • What is your greatest fear? Losing loved ones, which is always hard.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? Back when I could read regular print, it was print books. But the larger fonts of eBooks makes it easier. And audiobooks are SO wonderful for a visually impaired person.
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so, what was it? The King James Bible. And “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy.
  • What is your opinion of novellas? I love them, as I lean toward shorter works.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? No, I don’t think so.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? I don’t have a favorite.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? I don’t have a favorite.
  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? EL James, because she started in fan-fiction too.
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I am on hiatus from reading, but it would be audiobook most likely. My most recent is fan-fiction by various authors.
  • If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Edgar a. Poe, Emily Dickinson, Peter Benchley, Harold Robbins. I like their writing.

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? Starsky and Hutch Next Gen Series, Episodes 1-8. The sons of Starsky and Hutch carry on the legacy in their own unique way.
  • Is the above book part of a series? I’m not sure yet. It could stand on its own.
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? I tried to find pictures that matched the characters, and I put it together myself.
  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? No, I prefer silence when I write, but if I like music when creating in other ways, like A Perfect Circle, Beck, Bob Marley, Tool, and some southern gospel. Even American Idol’s Wade Cota once in a while.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? Based on the characters being the next generation of Starsky and Hutch.
  • Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it? 

  • In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her? There are two leads, Davis Starsky and Kent Hutchinson.
  • What is your character’s greatest strengths? Davis’ would be his resilience and willingness to learn and change. Kent’s would be his empathy and willingness to help others.
  • And what are his/her greatest weaknesses? Davis’ would be that he’s impulsive, and Kent’s would be that he feels guilty about things he has no control over.
  • What are some of his/her favorite foods? Davis’ would be pizza, and Kent’s would be Triscuits with goat cheese.
  • What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has? Davis doesn’t realize his inner strength, and Kent doesn’t realize that it’s okay to be vulnerable.
  • Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? I hope readers like them and see them as individuals instead of copies of their dads.
  • What first gave you the idea for your latest book? I wanted to explore the world of the next generation of Starsky and Hutch.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

  • What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter? I’m somewhat of a plotter, but not heavily so. I start with a beginning, middle, and end, then write a scene list of things I’d like to have happen, and them fill in the blanks as I go. I am definitely open to change, though, and have made some eureka changes along the way that take the story or character in a completely different direction.
  • Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time? I think writing is the easy part. It’s promoting that’s hard. I think if I had it to do over again, I would just hire one PR person instead of trying to do it all myself. It’s very time-consuming, but it has to be done.
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company? I am a published Indie author now, but my very first book was a paperback traditionally published.
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I have so many books, I think it was just easier and faster to go the indie route. I’m kind of impatient, and put out a lot of work, so Indie works better for me.
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Write for yourself. It may be cliché, but it works for me.
  • Where can your readers follow you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts:
  • You mentioned fan-fiction writing. Do you think it helped your journey to publication? Not really, since I kept my fan-fiction writing separate from my professional writing. I even wrote under different names. In the early days of fanfiction, it wasn’t something to put on a resume or discussed in an author interview like this. But the success of EL James and others has made it easier for writers to discuss it.

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Interested in writing your own novel? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel

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Author interview ~ Audrey N. Lewis

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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

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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

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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.

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

Author Interview – Brenton Porter

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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.

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Author Interview – Jordan E. Lasater

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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.

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Thank you for your response. ✨