C.J. Ives Lopez's Blog, page 8

Author Interview – Belle Manuel

Belle Manuel is a Sci-Fi and Fantasy author that revels in creating new worlds. We enjoyed having this Author interview – Belle Manuel for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Raised in the Deep South, Manuel is a Sci-Fi and Fantasy author that revels in creating new worlds. She moved cross country to be closer to the publishing world and is an editor for independently published writers. As a general book addict and wordsmith, Manuel often finds herself lost in daydreams and plot trees.

The Firenian universe now spans six books—the Twisted Fates trilogy, completed in 2022, and the ongoing Soul Stealer Saga. Of Ruin and Wings, the third installment in the Soul Stealer Saga, releases June 5, 2023. Coming September 2023, a thrilling new series with co-author Angelina J. Steffort releases.

Flames Like Darkness will be the first in this new series. Fall of 2023, a new series, the Shyal Chronicles, is being released in a new world. Stay tuned to social media for updates.

When did you start writing?

In middle school. It was always just for fun, and then I really got into it in my twenties.

Learn MoreWhat was it like growing up?

I grew up in Texas and Louisiana with a love of reading. I was always encouraged to read, and that’s where I’d spend what little money I’d save up.

How was your early life?

It was rocky. I grew up rather poor, and we weren’t financially stable until my teen years. I feel this added to my desire to write in fantasy and sci-fi.

What has been your biggest influence in your career?

Seeing how many people love my favorite books makes me hope that one day, someone will see my work similarly.

Tell us about your newest release.

Of Ruin and Wings is the latest installment in my Soul Stealer saga. It follows protagonist Arayna Gamon on her journey to collect the lost heirs to the Dark Throne. It’s a dark fantasy, and it has some painful twists in there that are sure to make readers cry.

Learn MoreWhich book of yours would you call your favorite child?

Of Blades and Shadows.

http://linktr.ee/BelleManuelWhat inspired you to write this book?

I wanted a book about a bisexual elven assassin that takes no shit from anyone. So I wrote it.

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

Watching The Office or listening to music.

What does your writing space look like?

Surrounded by books and chaotic notebooks.

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

Someone Gave Me a Book?: Tales From the Gutter of My Mind

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

It usually takes me about a year. I have the first draft, let it get torn apart by my critique partners, and then I start the second draft. From there, it’s revising all the way down until I’m finally able to get it where I want the story to be.

Favorite reads?

Blood Heir, Monsters Born and Made, Flowers for Algernon, Six of Crows

Do you have any book recommendations?

I highly recommend Monsters Born and Made and A Legacy of Storms and Starlight.

What’s your next big project?

I have a faerie world project I’ve been working on for a while now that I can’t wait to unveil!

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Keep writing.

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Author Interview – Caitlin Denman

Caitlin Denman is a Young Adult and New Adult author from southern California who credits her writing journey to her dreams and time spent in the library as a young child. We enjoyed having this Author interview – Caitlin Denman for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Caitlin lives and grew up in Southern California with her family and her three horses, three dogs, and a cat. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor’s in agribusiness.

Besides writing, she loves training and competing on horses. She has competed in barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping, and mounted shooting. She has owned and ridden horses since she was twelve years old.

When did you start writing?

I started writing in 2020 when I wrote my first book. I know most authors have been writing off and on most of their, lives but in all honesty I’d always been terrified to write a story. 2020 was when I finally conquered that fear.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlindenmanbooksWhat was it like growing up?

I grew up in the 90s which probably tells you more about me than anyone should know. But in all seriousness, I grew up in Southern California, where I still reside. Every summer, I would visit my family in a small town in Northern California. I always felt like I fit in more in a small town than I ever did in a big city. I was really into horses, reading, and old black-and-white movies.

Learn MoreHow was your early life?

At a young age, I was always encouraged to read. My great-aunt was even the head librarian for her local library, where she would bring me to help restock books on weekends. I never minded, though, because at the end of the day, I could take home however many books I wanted.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlindenmanbooksWhat has been the biggest influence in your career?

I think my life experiences have been the biggest influence on my career. I’ve written a lot of my life and things that have happened to me, good and bad, into every book I’ve written.

Tell us about your newest release.

My newest release was my New Adult fantasy book She Reigns. It was the conclusion to my first series She Awakens which is a mixture of Young Adult and New Adult fantasy. In this book, Attina finally takes on the nefarious Fae king, Henrik. In this book, relationships will be tested. Betrayals revealed. When the smoke clears, will Attina emerge from Shadow Mountain as queen? Or will Henrik see to it that she pays for her treachery with her life?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlindenmanbooksWhich book of yours would you call your favorite child?

She Awakens (book 1 in the She Awakens series) will always be my favorite child because it started my author journey.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlindenmanbooksWhat inspired you to write this book?

I was actually inspired to write this book by a dream. I had the same dream over three nights. One dream would end, and the next night my dream would pick up where the last dream left off, and so on. I’d never experienced that, and I loved the story, so something in me just knew the story needed to be written,

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

When not writing, I can be found on the back of a horse. I compete in many equestrian events and love just riding off into the distance, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Learn MoreWhat does your writing space look like?

My writing space looks like organized chaos. The place I write changes almost daily. Some days I write at a desk. Some days, on a couch, some days in a car on a road trip, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

I would definitely name it She Awakens because I feel like that story really awakened a fire inside me to continue writing.

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

My first novel took about a year and a half to write, and now I have that down to about three to four months. I always do a loose plot, usually a starting point, a midpoint, and an ending. I’m lucky enough to have a boyfriend who will let me bounce ideas off of him until I get the story the way I want it. Then, once the story is written, I self-edit. When I self-edit, I always do at least four rounds of editing the entire story, but I’ve also done seven rounds before. Then when I have everything the way I want it, I send it to my beta team, who help tell me where the story is a little weak or what they love about the story, etc. Finally, it will go to my editor, and once I get my story back from her, it’s ready for the world to see.

Favorite reads?

I love anything and everything by Emma Hamm, Belle Manuel, Laura Thalassa, Rebecca Garcia, Heather G Harris, Sarah J Maas, Elise Kova, Luna Joya, Kayla Maya, and Victoria J. Price

Do you have any book recommendations?

Besides my own, I always recommend the Of Blades and Shadow series by Belle Manuel and Heart of the Fae by Emma Hamm

What’s your next big project?

My next big project is a New Adult fantasy story called Blood Queen. It’s about a queen who does anything for her people, including murder. But when a prince from a neighboring country shows up, her world is turned upside down. Dead bodies start piling up, ones that the queen didn’t create. Could these murders have anything to do with the late king and queen’s murder? Has she trusted the wrong person for years, or is this handsome new prince to blame?

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

My biggest piece of advice is to write, write, and write some more. Write anything and everything. The best way to hone your craft is experience, and you’ll only get that from writing, even through the dreaded writer’s block

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Author Interview – Elizabeth Casanova

Elizabeth Casanova is from a small border town in Texas and began her writing journey at ten. We had the pleasure of having this Author interview – Elizabeth Casanova for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Elizabeth Casanova is from a small border town deep in the South of Texas, where Space X blasts Rockets and people travel for food and music. Brownsville, Texas, is home and where she gets her best ideas.

Writing had a passion of Elizabeth’s since she was a small child when she was published in a collaborative poetry book at ten. Inspiration was not in short supply ever since; however, it took her twenty more years before she gained the courage to publish her first solo book.

She hopes her stories will be the light for others to share their beautiful work and stories worldwide.

When did you start writing?

I started writing after a poem of mine was published in a collaborative poetry collection called “An Anthology of Poetry of Young Americans” in 2003. I was around ten years old. This inspired me to continue writing no matter what.

What was it like growing up?

I lived a difficult childhood and had to grow up fast. Mental illness, addiction, violence, and PTSD are things I was exposed to at an early age. Watching movies and reading stories was my escape from life’s cruelest moments.

How was your early life?

My early life was complicated as I lived through difficult times with my family, but I always tried my best to persevere. Holding on to my dream of writing movie scripts or publishing stories is what motivated me to continue my writing journey no matter what. It still keeps me moving forward to this day.

What has been the biggest influence in your career?

The biggest influence in my career has been my learning experience at SNHU. My professors and advisor have been so supportive of my work; they were the catalysts that gave me the courage to publish my work for the world to see finally. They gave encouraging words about my stories and told me I have the talent and drive to succeed. I need to believe more in myself as they do.

Tell us about your newest release.

My newest release is my picture book called “My Best Friend the Cat.” It’s about a cat I had and how we grew up together. The main topic is pet loss, and its theme is even though our animal friends leave this earth before us, they will always be with us in spirit. It is a book for all ages, as many people have experienced losing a pet and felt heartbreak.

Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?

“My Best Friend the Cat” book is my favorite because it means a lot to me as it’s dedicated to my first cat named Spikie. It comforts me as I know he is still with me in spirit.

https://elizabethcasanova01.myportfolio.com/What inspired you to write this book?

My cat appeared in my dream. In my dream, he walked over and sat on my lap as I was sitting in my room. I felt he was checking in to see how I was doing and telling me that everything would be fine. I was going through a tough time with my family, and this dream reminded me that I’m never alone, even when I feel I am. I wanted to tell the story that animals are loving creatures who stay by our side when we are kind and loving to them too.

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

I’m also a visual and digital artist. I’m either creating artwork or designing projects. On the other hand, I take care of my family, which sometimes takes up all of my free time.

What does your writing space look like?

My writing space is clean. I have a desktop with a few notebooks on the side when I prefer to write on physical paper. When I get inspired on the go, I type everything on my phone and upload it to my computer later.

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

I would name it “Perseverance” because only God knows I’m trying my hardest to make it through tough times and accomplish my dream of becoming a successful writer.

Learn MoreHow long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

My picture book “My Best Friend the Cat” took a few minutes to write. The hardest part for me was designing the images for it. My artistic style is creepy, minimalist, and pop art. The picture book required a cute style far from my comfort zone. It took months to find a style that worked for me and even longer when I became very ill. It took me about five months to recover, delaying my book and pushing publishing into 2023. The original publishing date was June 2022. My book “Voices From the Gray: 13 Tales of ghosts, demons, and the Unknown” took a few weeks to write. It’s based on my memories, so I had no difficulty writing. The designing process was also swift, as it was in my creepy artistic style. It took me about six months to complete the entire writing, designing, and publishing process.

https://elizabethcasanova01.myportfolio.com/Favorite reads?

“Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell and “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett are my two top favorites. Anything pertaining to animals and nature calls to me.

Do you have any book recommendations?

I studied anthropology for a semester, and we had to read the book “The Forest People” by Colin Turnbull. I also like to read about people’s studies or documentaries, so I found this book interesting as the author wrote in detail about his experiences in the Congo.

Learn MoreWhat’s your next big project?

My next big project is to write and submit a script for a film and self-publish a poetry book. They both offer me a chance to express myself through writing and telling my stories.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Keep moving forward, and never doubt yourself ever. Follow your dreams and live your life the best that you can.

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Author Interview – Nancy LiPetri

Nancy LiPetri enjoys showing readers her favorite places through the settings in her novels. We had the pleasure of having this Author interview – Nancy LiPetri for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Nancy LiPetri now writes in south Florida after living on Lake Norman, North Carolina, for fourteen years. She enjoys showing readers her favorite places through the settings in her novels, so her first two are set on Lake Norman, NC, where realistic characters experience the culture, seasons and lake life along with relationship drama.

She also shares about the area at NancyLonLakeNorman.blogspot.com and uses a Sony Cybershot camera to fill her Lake Norman board and three In My Novels boards on Pinterest. Nancy loves a good road trip, so her second book, Across the Lake, also extends to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. And now that she lives in South Florida, Under the Palms, the third book in her Lake to Coast series takes readers into The Sunshine State for a whole new array of surprises. Her fascination with psychology, the subconscious, and relationship dynamics leads to themes of infidelity, mortality, morality, and love of all kinds.

Content is adult; romance may get steamy yet not graphic. Nancy’s writing is often called vivid, realistic, and relatable. Her characters often find themselves struggling with dark thoughts, confusion, and temptations. What will they dare to share and act upon?

She hopes her varied tales will reassure readers they are not alone in their own secret dilemmas. Readers are bound to recognize a bit of themselves or a friend in the cast of characters. Above all, her stories are intended to entertain. She writes a fast pace to keep you flipping pages and looking for more. When she’s not at her desk writing with her cat, you’ll find her at the beach (often with a camera), practicing yoga with neighbor pals, and working on her pickleball game (she and hubby play some mean mixed doubles).

She also enjoys connecting with fellow wildlife enthusiasts, friends, and readers on social media. Stop by her Facebook and say Hi.

When did you start writing?

I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid and could use my mother’s typewriter. My career was in copywriting for a California cataloguer, then when I became an empty-nester, I finally got time to put together my first novel, The Wooded Path, which was published traditionally by Oak Tree Press in 2014.

https://nancylipetri.wixsite.com/nancylipetriauthoWhat was it like growing up?

I was an only child in Iowa, the nerdy girl who always had her nose in a book. Loved school, my cat, and close cousins. Got to learn about the country on vacation road trips with my parents.

How was your early life?

High school and college years were terrific, a time of blossoming for me. Went to so many dances and concerts (thus, there’s always music in my stories) and ended up marrying my Todd shortly after graduation. We’ve enjoyed living on both US coasts and in between.

https://nancylipetri.wixsite.com/nancylipetriauthoWhat has been the biggest influence in your career?

In my writing career, I’d say my biggest influence would be the late Billie Johnson, my first publisher. She taught me so much about the book biz and pushed me out of my comfort zone when it came to building my brand and connecting with readers at events as well as on social media. I’m so grateful I got to start out with her.

Tell us about your newest release.

Under the Palms is the 3rd book in my Lake to Coast series and was just released in March 2023. It’s been an over-the-top fun release month with a cake and a party at my community pickleball courts. I didn’t expect the number of readers that showed up with stacks of my novels for me to sign, even my earlier books. Locals are just giddy over the story full of relatable, familiar details about Florida, the Treasure Coast, pickleball, wildlife, etc. One of the veterans was my guest of honor because he inspired me to develop a vet character which required me to research that experience.

https://nancylipetri.wixsite.com/nancylipetriauthoWhich book of yours would you call your favorite child?

That’s hard to say because each book explores separate issues I feel passionate about at the time of writing, so each is my favorite for different reasons. Book 1 for its messages about midlife and marriage as well as lake life; Book 2 for the playful, quirky new main character as well as numerous tidbits about my musician son; and now Book 3 for its messages about family dysfunction, ties and more on the life’s short theme.

What inspired you to write this book?

After years of collecting notes, I was out on the lake with friends for a nighttime boat ride during which we realized the depth finder wasn’t working…and the what-if’s inspired me to tie my ideas together with an inciting incident. That was the start of my contemporary intertwined series.

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

Playing pickleball, swimming, bicycling, and birding with my camera.

What does your writing space look like?

My iMac sits on an old oak desk in my home office decorated with family photos and pics we took on our travels. Glass doors block me from the rest of the house, and there’s a powder puff bush outside the window. My tuxedo cat is often crowding my keyboard.

Learn MoreIf you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

Hmmmm, maybe Positivity and Perseverance. (Ha, this retired copywriter can’t resist the alliteration.)

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

Each of my novels has taken about 3 years from start to finish. That includes putting my many notes/ideas/sparks into some sort of order in a Word file I bring up on one side of my work-in-progress. Some of my ideas have to be brought over from snippets I dictate into my phone at all hours and locations. Then because I’m influenced by the great John Irving, I do as he has said he does and get my ending in mind, then write toward that intended end.

Favorite reads?

Anything by John Irving…loved Where the Crawdads Sing…just reread The Storied Life of AJ Fikry…thought Gone Girl was terrific. Recently was amazed by The Personal Librarian. I have eclectic taste.

Do you have any book recommendations?

That SO much depends on one’s preferred genre(s). I learned over the past decade of being an author that you can’t recommend a book blindly without knowing a person’s taste. I’d recommend any from question 12, yet a fan of sci-fi or pure romance (for example) might not enjoy those. I have a Pinterest board of “Books I’ve Enjoyed” Anyone is welcome to peruse.

Learn MoreWhat’s your next big project?

Book 4 in the open-ended Lake to Coast series. It will be in the note-gathering stage for months, no doubt. I’m presently just enjoying this current release and taking a mental break from having a manuscript tugging at my mind.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Write to express what you feel passionate about. And study the craft. Read, read, read the genre you want to write.

Follow Nancy:

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Author Interview – S.N. McKibben

S.N. McKibben writes Dirty Stories with Underdog Heroes revolving around Social Taboos. We had the pleasure of having this Author interview – S.N. McKibben for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Slave to a dog-pack of five and the slowest computer ever that she calls “Dave”, Stephanie AKA ( S.N. McKibben ) writes Dirty Stories with Underdog Heroes revolving around Social Taboos. You’ll find her strolling the twenty-seven-acre property in Central Texas she, her main squeeze, and her dog-pack owns when she isn’t writing.

When ever asked, she’ll reply her whole life has all the elements of a graphic novel—sometimes twisted, sometimes funny, but always beautiful and its title is adventure. Come play!

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/s-n-mckibbenWhen did you start writing?

2012

What was it like growing up?

You’d have to turn the Way Back Machine to 1984 in Sunny California. It was a blast at the time. Fun under the sun. I got to do so many things like scuba diving, ballooning, 3rd Street in Santa Monica, the Pier, good food, travel and there was always Disneyland and Six Flags. Me and my friends were never bored.

How was your early life?

I moved for a lot of my early life while my dad got promoted in the broadcasting industry. During that time it was about live television. We were always experiencing new places, living in different states and finding new friends.

What has been your biggest influence in your career?

I’m a 3rd generation author so those in my family that came before me where a positive influence on my writing career.

Tell us about your newest release?

My latest release is called THE SILENT ROAD. I started writing in the gay romance genre in 2016 and have a few books that were well received. I still love and write in traditional roles of romance. But one of the reasons why I write is for the story. Here’s the book description for THE SILENT ROAD: Marriage, parenting, and making ends meet is a long road to haul – and I’ve screwed it up. My ex thinks I’m a deadbeat – I’m worried my daughter does too.

As a long-haul truck driver, I haven’t been there for either of them. Then I got caught driving my rig without a license and proved them right. Now I’m on probation, forced to take a co-driver on the road and show that I can safely pass my commercial license.

Like I haven’t been doing this for a decade! It’s my last shot to prove myself to my broken family. I’ve missed a lot but I’m going to make it up to my daughter. I’m not going to blow it. Not this time. There’s even a financial bonus in it that will get my daughter the money she needs – that’s if I can persuade my rule-following probationary officer and co-driver, Jake, into finishing the job early.

Jake and I travel the long miles and somehow the road brings us close together – closer than I thought I was comfortable with. Suddenly, I’m feeling things I never thought possible with another man. Could Jake be the “ride or die” I’ve been yearning for my entire life? Is the road less traveled the one I’ve always needed? Am I scared? Hell, yes!

Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?

The one that I’m writing. I love them all at the time I’m writing them and then let them go once released into the wilds of Amazon. I pour the love into my current work and that’s always been the case for me!

What inspired you to write this book?

Most my books are inspired by people, conversations and real world matters. At least one of my characters is based on a predicament I’ve found myself in. Once the initial embarrassment, outrage or the like fades, I over-think things and go from there!

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

Playing with my puppies, cooking, or gaming

What does your writing space look like?

I have 2 screens on my standing desk. There’s pens, books, cups, and a deck of oracle cards.

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

Life is uncertain, Eat dessert first: A memoir

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

My process is that I’ll have a kernel of an idea. So, as I mentioned, a predicament I find myself in usually starts the idea. I’ll write the idea down. I will then out line something to see if this idea has any merit. I usually work through the story before I go through the process of creating characters other than the main ones. Things pop into my head, I write them down, incorporate them into the story and finally, when I feel like this is something viable, I’ll put it on my schedule to draft.

Favorite reads?

The High King’s Golden Tongue (Megan Derr), Far From Neverland (Rylee Hale), My Dangerous Pleasure (Carolyn Jewel), Natural Law (Joey W. Hill), Storm Front (Jim Butcher)

Do you have any book recommendations?

Anything from Megan Derr, Carolyn Jewel, Jim Butcher

What’s your next big project?

The Sequel to The Silent Road, a Dragon Shifter Romance and a Demon Romance

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Remember that if you never ask, the answer is always no

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Author Interview – Linny Lawless

Linny Lawless is a bookworm, biker chick, and international best-selling indie author. We had the pleasure of having this Author interview – Linny Lawlessfor our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Linny grew up, lived, and worked in the Northern Virginia area, close to Washington, DC. She’s a bookworm, biker chick, and international best-selling indie author. Linny published her debut novel, “Salvation in Chaos,” in January 2018, and she’s very passionate about writing suspenseful and action-packed stories.

If Linny is not busy traveling, working, and writing, she spends her days at home in Front Royal, Virginia, with her husband, Norman, and 2 Brussel Griffons named Verdy and Simon.

When did you start writing?

I started writing in 2017

What was it like growing up?

I grew up as a “latch-key” kid in the 1970’s. It was a confusing time for me as a kid, and I remember feeling anxious at times. I have some good and bad memories, but don’t we all?

How was your early life?

My younger years were during the 1980’s – the decade of excess, neon color, and great music. Some of the stories I write are set in the 1980s before cell phones, the internet, and social media.

Learn MoreWhat has been the biggest influence in your career?

My mother. She raised my younger sister and me as a single mom, and she worked as a “word processor” in publications for a big company typing up proposals for government contracts. I remember times when she would stay in the office 48 hours straight to work on a high-priority project. My mother’s work ethic and drive were a big influence on my professional career.

https://linnylawless.com
Tell us about your newest release.

My newest release coming 4/13/23 is titled “Ambitious Bastard,” about a young man who is the bastard son of a mob boss in New York City. His name is Salvatore Falco, and his ambition is to become the next high-ranking mob boss; and the choices he must make – love or power?

https://linnylawless.comWhich book of yours would you call your favorite child?

My debut book that was published in January 2018, “Salvation in Chaos.”

https://linnylawless.comWhat inspired you to write this book?

I’ve been riding with my husband Harley Davidson motorcycles for over 17 years. We were at an annual bike week event in Maryland, and a story started to develop in my head about a young woman running from some bad people and a big biker coming to her rescue.

https://linnylawless.comWhat are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

I’m out riding with my husband on our Harley in the summer in Northern VA, which can inspire me with new stories and characters to write. We also enjoy the ocean at our beach condo in Ocean City, MD, with our two Brussel Griffons, Verdy, and Simon.

https://linnylawless.comWhat does your writing space look like?

My writing space is a desk with a few reference books, a laptop, and a monitor, located in a small balcony loft above our living room. Sometimes I play music while I write or have the TV on for background noise.

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

“Chapters of My Life“

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

It took me about six months to write my first novel, “Salvation in Chaos“. I had the help of a developmental editor and learned that you need Goals, Motivation, and Conflict in a story to keep the readers engaged.

https://linnylawless.comFavorite reads?

“The Clan of the Cave Bear” by Jean M. Auel is my all-time favorite book. I read it when I was 12 years old.

Learn MoreDo you have any book recommendations?

The Earth’s Children Series by Jean M. Auel

What’s your next big project?

My next project, to be released in October 2023, is titled “Outlaw Redemption.“

https://linnylawless.comDo you have any advice for aspiring authors?

1: Editing and proofreading are more important than a fancy and expensive book cover.

2: Writing and publishing are only half the work. The other is promoting, marketing, and networking with others in the industry.

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Author Interview – Krysten Lindsay Hager

Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. We had the pleasure of having this Author interview – Krysten Lindsay Hager for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. Her work includes YA contemporary, middle-grade fiction, and adult and young adult rom-com.

She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like, Competing with the Star, Dating the It Guy, Can Dreams Come True, In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety, and Cecily in the City.

When did you start writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid hiding a notebook under my math homework. I knew in grade school that I wanted to be a writer.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/What was it like growing up?

I was always the kid creating little storylines for my Barbie dolls. I used to read a lot and loved trips to the library.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/How was your early life?

I got to spend a lot of time with my grandparents, who greatly influenced me. My grandfather wanted to continue pursuing his musical career (he had been in a band and an orchestra), but his parents wanted him to follow a more traditional career path. His love for music and the arts stayed with him, and he encouraged me to continue on that path.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/What has been the biggest influence in your career?

Great teachers that both encouraged me and inspired me. I was introduced to some great books in class, and so many professors really took the time to encourage me.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Tell us about your newest release.

Cecily in the City is a young adult contemporary novel about a high school girl who has her dream come true of getting an audition for a TV soap opera her family grew up watching. She thinks all her dreams are coming true getting to be an actress while still in high school and also dating her favorite singer/songwriter. She soon learns things are different in the spotlight and how to stay true to herself.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?

In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety is the one I re-read the most. It makes me laugh and smile. Landry in Like is also one I re-read, as well as Dating the It Guy. The epilogue in Dating the It Guy brings happy tears to my eyes.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to continue Cecily’s story of having her dreams come true, but seeing that the reality of having a big, fabulous life wasn’t what she expected.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

I love watching movies and journaling. I even watch YouTube videos of other people setting up their journals with cute stickers.

[image error]What does your writing space look like?

I have bookcases filled with books and cute toys like Funko Pops. Currently, my desk has stacks of papers and notebooks on it, but I also have some Wonder Woman toys and a polar bear stuffed animal on there.

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

Tasteful, Yet Chaotic

Learn MoreHow long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

Cecily in the City took a little longer because a few things I put in the book that happened to characters ended up happening in real life, which threw me off! Every once in a while, life will imitate art, but this was really something. I ended up taking some of those scenes out and rewriting the novel. I listened to a lot of music while working on this one.

Favorite reads?

If I’m working on a book, I tend to read a lot of non-fiction, Currently, I’m reading Rick Rubin’s book on creativity. If I’m stressed, I like YA mysteries to take me out of my head.

Learn MoreDo you have any book recommendations?

Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act

What’s your next big project?

I’m doing a spin-off of the Cecily Taylor Series. It’s called Stars in the City, and it will feature an actress on the soap opera Cecily’s on, and Cecily and several of the characters in Cecily in the City will be in the book.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Keep a notebook of your thoughts as you write because you never know what might inspire you. The time before you publish a book is the last time you will write freely without the weight of critics looking over your shoulder, so enjoy it and try not to pressure yourself. I see many writers who feel getting published is like getting the keys to the executive bathroom. Just take your time and, most importantly, enjoy the process.

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/Follow Krysten:

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Author Interview – Theresa Halvorsen

Theresa Halvorsen is the author of multiple spec-fiction works, including Tiny Gateways, Warehouse Dreams, Lost Aboard, and River City Widows. We had the pleasure of having this Author interview – Theresa Halvorsen for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Theresa Halvorsen has never met a profanity she hasn’t enjoyed. She’s generally overly caffeinated and, at times, wine-soaked. The author of multiple spec-fiction works, including Tiny Gateways, Warehouse Dreams, Lost Aboard, and River City Widows, Theresa wonders what sleep is.

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Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

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Because she didn’t have enough to do, she also started No Bad Books Press as the co-owner and chief editor. When she’s not writing, editing, publishing, or podcasting with the Semi-Sages of the Pages, she’s commuting through San Diego traffic to her healthcare position.

In whatever free time is left (ha!), Theresa enjoys board games, geeky conventions, and reading. Her life goal is to give “Oh-My-Gosh-This-Book-Is-So-Good!” happiness to her readers. She lives in Temecula with her amazing husband, occasionally her college-age twins, and the pets they’d promised to care for. Find her at www.theresaHauthor.com and on Tiktok and Facebook.

When did you start writing?

When I could hold a pen, my first story was about a princess whose plane crashed, and the animals in the woods (who could talk) helped get her back to her family’s mansion.

What was it like growing up?

That’s a very broad question. It was fine; we were a middle-class family in Sacramento in the 80s. Probably the most notable was having a brother born with many birth defects. Much of my childhood was spent in doctor’s office lobbies while my parents attended appointments. I read a lot of books during those times and can probably credit part of my love for reading to those lobbies.

Learn MoreHow was your early life?

I’m a natural introvert, so I spent a lot of time reading and daydreaming in my bedroom.

What has been the biggest influence in your career?

I’m going to go in a different direction than some with this one. The biggest influence is that I have problems saying no. So I began wanting to write books, then I pivoted into editing, publishing, marketing, and YouTubing/podcasting

Tell us about your newest release.

My newest release is Tiny Gateways. It’s a collection of portal short stories because I’ve always wanted to fall through a portal, and I’m frustrated one hasn’t opened for me yet. So that collection explores women who either voluntarily or not, fell into portals. Some of these women become trapped, and some of these women are excited for their new lives.

Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?

I still love my debut, Warehouse Dreams. Like most debuts, it took years to write and I love the social commentary in it. Warehouse Dreams explores the concept of if you could spend enough money to choose the perfect child–would you? And then what happens to those “less-than-perfect” children?

https://linktr.ee/TheresaHalvorsenAuthorWhat inspired you to write this book?

I always wanted to fall through a portal and explore a new world, perhaps very different from this one.

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

Working. I have a day job that helps to pay the bills. I also spend time with my family, and pets and at geeky conventions or concerts. And reading, of course.

What does your writing space look like?

I actually move around a fair amount. My eyesight is going, so if I’m editing, I need to plug into a big monitor so I can see, and that’s at my desk, surrounded by sticky notes and notebooks. If I’m working on a new outline, I’ll sit in a big comfy chair in my office where I can curl up, or I’ll sit outside in the backyard.

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

Saying Yes to Everything

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

It takes about nine months to a year to write a novel for me. I start with an outline and go from there. My happy space is in editing, so I usually try to get through the first draft as fast as possible and then edit from there.

Favorite reads?

Ilona Andrews, Neil Gaiman and Seanan McGuire are my favorite authors and I’ll read anything by them.

Do you have any book recommendations?

I’m super into Ilona Andrews Innkeeper series lately. For writing, I like the Story Genius by Lisa Cron

What’s your next big project?

My publishing house is about to publish Singing all the Way Up. For me personally, I’m going to take a few Vellas and publish them. I’d also like to finish the way overdue sequel to Warehouse Dreams.

Be on our BlogDo you have any advice for aspiring authors?

It takes time to see your dreams come to life. There’s going to be a lot of frustrations and a lot of wins. Enjoy the good times and push through the disappointments and frustrations. Work on your craft always. Read a lot, even stuff you don’t like. Join a book club so you can talk about books with others to study what works and doesn’t work. Make friends with other authors, at about the same point in your career and make sure they’re your cheerleaders. And don’t forget why you do this. If it stops being fun or fulfilling a need for you, take a break.

Follow Theresa:

https://linktr.ee/TheresaHalvorsenAuthor

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Author Interview – SM Stryker

SM Stryker is an author who delves into steamy romantic fantasies and examines deep themes through heart-breaking tales, and we had the pleasure of having this Author interview – SM Stryker for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Deep themes through heart-breaking tales. By day, she works as a mortgage broker, but by night she crafts thrilling and inspiring stories. Her characters are strong, intense, and larger than life, while her happily ever afters stem from real events.

Born and raised in Oregon, SM Stryker still calls the state home with her husband, four adult daughters, and many grandkids. She might be quiet by nature but loves to hear from her beloved readers. Reach out to her on (Website/Socials).

When did you start writing?

2014

http://www.smstryker.comWhat was it like growing up?

dysfunctional

How was your early life?

loved but dysfunctional

What has been the biggest influence in your career?

My childhood

Tell us about your newest release.

Hudson thought she’d be walking down the aisle with one man but instead found an unexpected surprise. She learned that sometimes the best things in life come when you least expect them. But when she receives a series of incriminating photographs of her fiancé cheating the night before their wedding, her dreams of a perfect life are shattered. Their Honeymoon was planned for Hawaii… and with her relationship in shambles, Hudson seizes the chance for a much-needed getaway. But after she accidentally oversleeps, she’s left scrambling to make the flight in time – and she stumbles into a charming and handsome man in the hotel lounge. Imagine her surprise when they’re double-booked into the same room. Caught up in an embarrassing situation, Grayson poses as her boyfriend to ward off her fiancé… but nothing can cool off the simmering sexual tension between the pair. There’s only one problem. Hudson is about to make a shocking discovery – and when she does, it could blow apart her budding relationship with Grayson forever.

Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?

The Sins of a Child

What inspired you to write this book?

The abuse I suffered as a child and young adult

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

Working as a mortgage broker

What does your writing space look like?

It’s my quiet retreat of an office.

Learn MoreIf you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

How I became me.

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

About six months. I was fired from my job because of this book, so I used all my time writing and rewriting this book.

Be on Our BlogFavorite reads?

Romance

Do you have any book recommendations?

Whispers in the Wind is my best-selling, but my favorite is The Sin of a Child… if you can get through the first chapter. It deals with sexual abuse.

http://www.smstryker.comWhat’s your next big project?

Play me a memory

http://www.smstryker.comDo you have any advice for aspiring authors?

The more you write, the better you will become.

Follow SM:

https://www.facebook.com/Author.S.M.S...

www.smstryker.com,

https://www.amazon.com/stores/S.-M.-Stryker/author/B00MR0AU1K

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Author Interview – Stephanie Sanders-Jacob

Stephanie Sanders-Jacob is a horror and weird fiction author from Sandusky, Ohio, and we had the pleasure of having this Author interview – Stephanie Sanders-Jacob for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Stephanie Sanders-Jacob is a horror and weird fiction author from Sandusky, Ohio. Her short fiction has been featured by Hearth & Coffin, Mixer, Mosaic, and Ether Arts. Her debut novel, Singing All the Way Up, is set to come out in July 2023 from No Bad Books Press. She can be found online at sandersjacob.com.

When did you start writing?

I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil. I wrote my first “long” piece of fiction in second grade for a school assignment. It was only supposed to be a few paragraphs, but I couldn’t stop until the story was through. It ended up biting me in the end, though. The teacher graded it based on how many errors it had and, because it was so long, there was a lot.

What was it like growing up?

I had a really great childhood. Some might look at my life and linger over the rough spots, but I never wanted for anything. My dad took great care of my sister and me. He encouraged me to read every day and never censored my book choices. I spend a lot of time thinking about being a kid. I took everything good about my life and turned it inside out for my debut novel.

How was your early life?

I have always been very curious, and I spent much of my youth learning and asking questions. I took every literature and writing course I could. I grew up in rural New London, Ohio, and always felt the need to explore bigger towns and cities, so I went to the biggest university I could. At Ohio State, I studied business and creative writing. Taking those writing courses really affirmed every feeling I’d had about my craft: I loved it, I was decent at it, and I wanted to do it professionally.

What has been the biggest influence in your career?

Honestly, I am very motivated by everyone who has told me I couldn’t or shouldn’t. I like challenging myself and proving people wrong. I’m not oppositional, but I don’t let anything keep me from my passions.

Learn More
Tell us about your newest release.

Singing All the Way Up is the story of a young girl who may or may not have been abducted by aliens. Her parents say it happened, and she was singing while she hung in the alien ship’s beam, but she can’t remember the incident around which so much of her life revolves. She’s desperate to learn the truth, but her family falls on hard times, and she’s sold to a freak show. This novel is set to come out in July 2023.

http://www.sandersjacob.comWhich book of yours would you call your favorite child?

Singing All the Way Up is so close to my heart. I poured my everything into this one.

What inspired you to write this book?

I am very interested in ufology, and I woke up one morning and realized I had an awful lot of UFO knowledge and I’d better do something with it. I considered a podcast or a YouTube series, but writing has always been my calling. I decided that I wanted to take the trope of the horrific alien abduction and subvert it—turn it into something almost beautiful. The aliens in this book aren’t the bad guys—the people are.

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

I work full-time as a jewelry designer, so I’m often at the computer drafting up new designs or cutting pieces on my lasers. I enjoy spending time in the yard looking for toads and interesting plants, but I also like settling in on the couch to read or play a video game with my husband and daughter.

What does your writing space look like?

I write all over. I wrote Singing All the Way Up in bed and edited it on the couch. I have a backyard office in a finished shed and while it’s primarily used for my small business, it’s a great creative space; I write there too.

Be On Our BlogIf you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

I think it would be self-titled, like a debut album. Stephanie Sanders-Jacob by Stephanie Sanders-Jacob.

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

Singing All the Way Up took 4-5 months to write, but the editing process has taken a lot longer. I tried to write for two hours every weekday. I had a very loose outline of some key events, but I just made the rest of it up as I went. I wrote a big chunk of this novel during National Novel Writing Month, which was very motivating. I found that sticking to a strict schedule really helped keep me focused.

Favorite reads?

I read a lot of 70s and 80s horror. Basically anything you can find in Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks from Hell. I also collect old ufology books, most notably from the 50s and 60s. It’s interesting that people seventy years ago had the same questions and theories we have about UFOs today.

Do you have any book recommendations?

On Writing by Stephen King, Passport to Magonia by Jacques Vallée, Communion by Whitley Strieber

What’s your next big project?

I’m about halfway through a satirical horror novel about vampires wrapped in a pyramid scheme. I don’t know if it’ll go anywhere, but it’s been fun to write.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Read daily if possible, and don’t limit yourself to one genre. Explore fiction, nonfiction, short stories, poetry, and anything you can get your hands on. I’m a big fan of the “write now, edit later” school of thought. Just get it onto the page. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. If you’re writing, you’re a writer.

Follow Stephanie:

www.sandersjacob.com

Tweets by StephSandersJ

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