Stephanie M. Jones can usually be found reading a book, most likely a fantasy romance. Writing stories of magic and happy endings was something she always loved doing, and now her author dreams have come true. Her latest novel, A Song of Death & Lies, is the second book in her Daughter of Time series. If she wasn’t a writer, she would have become an oceanographer. When she isn’t reading or writing, Stephanie loves sewing, dancing, office supply shopping, and sometimes hiking. She lives and works out of her home near the rocky mountains in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and daughter.
Describe yourself in five words
quiet, creative, kind, careful, faithful
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I’ve never travelled outside of Canada. (Can you spot my Canadian spelling in this interview?)
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
I talk to my husband about it (he’s a movie buff and understands story beats too), take a break from my manuscript, and/or read one of my favourite books again to remind myself why I love writing.
What makes you happiest?
Reading, kissing my husband, eating chocolate, hugging my daughter, and going to the fabric store (not in that order).
Have you always enjoyed writing?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be an oceanographer, but then my best friend in high school introduced me to her favourite books and told me about the novel she was writing. I wanted to write one too, and I was hooked!
What books did you love growing up?
Every book by Tamora Pierce, the Harry Potter series, and the Matched series by Ally Condie.
What is hardest–getting published, writing or marketing?
Definitely the writing, but it’s also the most rewarding.
What else do you do, other than write?
I’m lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
KFC cashier, housekeeper, amateur fence painter.
If you could study any subject at university, what would you pick?
I never want to go back to school honestly, but if I couldn’t be a writer, I’d go into oceanography.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
Not gonna lie, a decent income from my books would be amazing, but I mostly judge success by reaching readers and fulfilling my longing to share my stories with people who enjoy them.
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
I just published A Song of Death & Lies, book 2 in my Daughter of Time series. This is a planned 4 book series, as well as a prequel that’s already available. The first book in this series (A Song of Dreams & Demons) I actually wrote in 2010 and it was my “magnum opus” so to speak, the book of my heart. It’s been so much fun writing more about these characters and they’ve been such a part of my life as I’ve grown up, too. This is exactly what I love to read: magic and romance with a hint of danger.
If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?
I’d love to invite Lindsay Buroker, Dale L. Roberts, Bethany Atazadeh, and Kenley Davidson.
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
Reading, sewing, going on walks, baking desserts and eating too much of them, and visiting family.
Author Morgan Douglas was born on August 23rd, 1995 in Beaverton, Oregon. Where she was surrounded by a loving family comprised of multiple generations. Distorted Purposes; Electrified is her second novel and has been the focus of her creativity since publishing the first in the series. Graduating from Northern Arizona University located in Flagstaff, Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Chemistry. After receiving her degrees, she returned home to be with her family and friends. Currently, she works as a Clinical Research Study Coordinator and spends her free time writing as it is a passion of hers. In addition, she enjoys playing the ukulele while singing along and volunteering at a local farm that donates food to homeless shelters in the area.
Describe yourself in five words
A nerdy scientist and writer.
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
I tend to write these things out so I can get them on paper and then work through them head on. What scares you the most?
Other than spiders I would say not being able to reach readers with my writing.
Why do you write?
Put simply I enjoy writing, I like exploring a different world of ideas and visualize a story.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
I think so because when I was school I took essays head on and actually enjoyed writing them. What motivates you to write?
My interest is what motivates me and I feel like writing opens up many possibilities to connect with other artists and readers.
What writing are you most proud of?
I am proud to have published the two books that I have but I am also proud of the progress I have made on other works that are not published yet. I am also very proud of a paper I wrote in college for a scholarship that I won. What are you most proud of in your personal life?
Being surrounded by friends and family that are loving and supportive. I feel that I have plenty of opportunities to try new things and explore what I can despite the current pandemic.
What books did you love growing up?
My favorite book is called The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith, it’s a historical fiction book with ghosts and I always found ghost stories fascinating. I also really enjoyed The Heritic Queen by Michelle Moran.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
I grew up in Beaverton, Oregon and I then moved to Flagstaff, Arizona for six years but I came back home and I live in Oregon now.
How did you develop your writing?
Honestly just by sitting down and writing and making some mistakes here and there.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
Marketing by far has been the most difficult part.
What marketing works for you?
I would say Instagram posts have worked for me.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
I did at first but now I am not as shy about it.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
Yes, they are all supportive.
What else do you do, other than write?
I volunteer at a local urban farm where they grow food to feed homeless youth. I also play the ukulele and sing along when I get the chance. I will say though that since writing is such a long process that I spend a lot of my time writing.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
I have been a cashier several times, a baker, a lab assistant, a courier, a tutor, a temp, and now I am a Clinical Research Coordinator.
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?
Well, I want to continue on and get a graduate degree in Microbiology but it would be fun to take a class on Ancient History.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
I would like to live in New Zealand. I have heard it is an amazing place to live and the pictures are beautiful.
Tell us about your family?
Currently I live in a multi-generational household. We are all goofy and funny.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
I write with my laptop but occasionally with pen and paper. As far as location it can be at a desk, in bed, on the couch, or at a coffee shop.
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
At least seven.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
My family and especially my grandparents for their wonderful stories that they have told to me over the years.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
First of all, success in writing for me is to write for pleasure. Then if profits and people want to read my book that would give me an even greater sense of accomplishment.
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
I wrote my two books in the series as sort of an escape from some not so great things that were going on in my life before I published the first book. It gave me something fun to focus on, an interesting outlet.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I hope they will feel like they just read something new and fresh, something that they found entertaining. I want the book(s) to leave the reader thinking.
Stephen M. Resar is an American multi-genre writer known for writing strong female leads, scoundrels, hard-boiled cops, and femme fatales. He’s just like other writers, only more so; he enjoys writing tough talk and haunting dialog. For those of you who have the guts to ride along, load your gat, don your trench coat, and join us in the drizzly, treacherous world of Stephen’s fiction. Oh, and did we mention the paranormal goings-on. Stephen was born in Northeast Ohio, right next to Cleveland, which might explain a lot. His education includes a certificate in Feature Film Writing from the University of California Los Angeles and a diploma in Copywriting from the College of Media and Publishing Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. Stephen’s brand is Bonne Vie. He also self-publishes under Bonne Vie, Orlando, Florida.
Describe yourself in five words
I am Loyal, a Dreamer, an Inventor, and an insatiable Student.
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I like to paint landscapes. I’m still not very good, but I do enjoy every attempt.
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
I switch it off by centering myself with prayer and understanding the path forward.
What makes you happiest?
Being content with a job well done and being recognized for it.
Why do you write?
I can’t help but start, and I soon long to produce more. But honestly, I’m just a big outliner, and somehow a story comes out.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
Heavens, no. The early years were most painful. You see, I had no training. Even today, it’s more of a challenge (competition); who will win today, me or the lack of knowledge on a topic. A good researcher makes for a better writer, in my opinion.
What motivates you to write?
I don’t believe that is an earthbound force acting upon me. It’s something that I’m supposed to do. My success or lack of it does not diminish the personal connections I make. Those seem to hold the most importance.
What writing are you most proud of?
Right now, my screenplay dialog. Still my strongest and still un-shopped. Someday…
What books did you love growing up?
That’s part of my “no training” issues; I didn’t. You could not keep me still long enough to read something. I’ve never been a big reader to entertain myself. It’s all research to me now. I often get lost inside my mind’s eye, visualizing, and creating a story.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing; tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio but now reside in Central Florida. I paid my dues in the cold weather.
How did you develop your writing?
It’s an ongoing adventure with the help of teachers (UCLA) and other writing schools and groups, peers, and friends.
What is hardest – getting published, writing, or marketing?
Since I can pretty much control writing and self-publishing, that leaves marketing. Trends change fast these days, and it is hard to know where to invest your hard-earned cash and who to trust.
What marketing works for you?
Um, I’m still in the discovery phase here. So, I’ll get back to you on that, but honestly, a highly viewed YouTube channel willing to offer a shout-out has helped.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
Nope, not at all. Want to know more? My brand, including publishing, is Bonne Vie, Orlando, Florida. Please reach out, and we’ll chat! connect@bonnevie.news
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
Yes, and yes. Family and friends may not always understand, but they are supportive. But, let’s face it, writers are a bit curious.
What else do you do other than writing?
I like to paint and digitally create fantasy landscapes. Video editing is another outlet for me. Bicycle riding is my big getaway.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
My progression started as a Draftsman (Pencil, Pen & Ink on mylar) when it was indeed an art form. Then, promoted to Mechanical Designer, Parts Catalog writer (P/N Lister). Then branching out on my own as a Technical Illustrator and finally as a Technical Writer. I’m still actively working as an aviation technical writer. Of course, today, that includes code writing HTML, Java, CSS, and XML. My, how the world has changed.
If you could study any subject at university, what would you pick?
Ancient civilizations and the non-canonical books.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Perhaps somewhere along the Tyrrhenian and Medeterainian Seas. Spain, Greece, Monaco, or Italy.
How do you write – laptop, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
Primarily sitting in front of the desktop PC. I use many software tools and a lot of handwritten notes. Tools include Office 365. But don’t limit yourself; I often cross over to screenwriting tools for outlines, character development, and some writing. Use what works best for you.
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
Six to eight hours, but I’m a night owl. 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM is my most creative time.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
Mr. Bill Taub Author, Writer, Producer, and Creative Troubleshooter. My teacher and mentor at UCLA. https://www.billtaub.com/
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is; what does success in writing look like to you?
When writing can sustain me, now that’s a success.
It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing; tell us about your marketing campaign?
I’m still working on it, and I’m not reluctant to say that I need assistance from a professional.
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
Sam Riker P.I. The Paranormal Case Files – I wanted to bring back a hard-boiled detective and noir intermixed with the paranormal. A dangerous brew of mood and emotions washed down with strong whisky amidst hazy cigarette smoke.
Who would you ask if you could have a dinner party and invite anyone, dead or alive?
Dead – Nikola Tesla. Alive – Buzz Aldrin.
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
I enjoy watching movies of all genres and catching up on the many new series. Screenwriters have far more opportunities these days.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I hope they think they were on a fun ride today and want to ride another adventurous roller-coaster story of mine.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. ” – Gandalf
Andrew Zellgert is a children’s author who grew up in St. Cloud Minnesota and attended Minnesota Virtual Academy.
His books are typically written in the sci-fi genre and deal with the calamities of real life in the form of sci-fi allegories. He currently has 6 in general releases – Nerdia, The Spectrum of Light, The Frozen Time, Split, The Adventures of Wally Winderkins, which was featured in a small art exhibition, and ICDA.
His latest book, A Night at the Cinema, is a collection of three novellas, two short stories, and eight poems. The concept is to provide the reader with an epic, cinematic experience while remaining engaging, heartfelt, and enjoyable.
Today, Andrew still lives in St. Cloud, with his pet cat, Edith. Currently, Andrew is building his own literary universe he nicknames the ZLU. You can learn more about it here: https://www.zellgertbooks.com/zlu
You can contact or connect with Andrew Zellgert at:
Imaginative, Adventurous, Curious, Mysterious, and Amusing.
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I am introverted
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
I convert them into stories. Self-doubts and fears are antagonists begging to be defeated
What scares you the most?
Spiders. I have to channel my inner Ron Weasley somehow!
What makes you happiest?
Seeing the look on peoples faces when a story I have written changed their life.
Why do you write?
One of the biggest things that many people lose as they grow up is their imagination. I want to bring that back to them. To embrace the impossible. To bring them places they would never have known existed!
Have you always enjoyed writing?
Oh yes! I have always enjoyed writing! I especially love the satisfaction of finishing a book (Though it’s a bittersweet moment)
What motivates you to write?
I find if the story is worth telling, that motivates me the most. I tend to write stories that involve the calamities of real life and learning how to overcome those challenges is always worth telling!
What writing are you most proud of?
I am proud of ICDA. This work was my first worldwide release and was overall the most successful! It was very imaginative, and I had a lot of fun writing it!
What are you most proud of in your personal life?
Figuring out a schedule that works for me. I have always struggled with routine, so having this established is a huge accomplishment for me.
What books did you love growing up?
Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Phantom Tollbooth, and The Little Prince
What do you hope your obituary will say about you?
That I ‘Made people laugh and smile’
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
I grew up (and still live) in St. Cloud Minnesota. It is my favorite place to gather inspiration and story ideas. The streets can be very quiet and peaceful which is helpful for writing ideas down.
How did you develop your writing?
Mainly through my creative writing instructor, Miss. R and librarian I knew named Lois.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
Marketing. It is true the other two options are hard, but marketing is very difficult. Convincing someone who doesn’t know you to purchase a book they know nothing about can be tricky, but very rewarding when it pays off.
What marketing works for you?
I find the best marketing that works for me are giveaways. I love them because I get to share my stories and the readers love them because they get something for free!
Do you find it hard to share your work?
Sometimes. It depends upon how personal the story is and how much I have worked on it.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
Yes! Ever since I started writing my family and friends have been there to support me and my work. I am really appreciative of the help they have given me!
What else do you do, other than write?
I love to design board games with my brother. Even if they are way too complicated to ever make it to market, we still enjoy creating them.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
I broadcast a youth orchestra in the St. Cloud area. I love seeing all of their hard work pay off and seeing the online community react to their talent!
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?
Creative Writing. I find no matter how old you are there is always room for improvement!
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
At first, I was going to say on an alien planet one hundred years ago, but I realized that is not on Earth. I would probably enjoy a small, quiet town such as Bufford MN.
Tell us about your family?
All of my family members are artists so it should come as no surprise that I ended up in that category as well. My mother creates paper mache sculptures of geodes, my father plays and teaches violin, and my brother is still deciding what he wants to be.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
I write on a desktop computer at a desk. I find when I use this setup, I get more work done.
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
At least eight hours. Anything lower than that calls for coffee!
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
El Holly. She is a fantasy author, I met online. She is a great friend and has really helped shape my writing and get me to where I am now.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
Seeing the joy and happiness in my readers eyes when they finish a book or read something surprising. The little lightbulb inside their head that gives them the inspiration to write their own work. I have done my job if the reader feels immersed in the story and is happy to be immersed.
It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?
I write for children and young teens, so I tend to market towards parents with children. Though I primarily target kids, I have found many adults who have enjoyed my stories as well!
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
My new book is titled ‘A Night at the Cinema.’ It is a collection containing three novellas, two short stories, and eight poems. I wanted to create a volume of works that felt like the movies. In this collection there is a sci-fi epic, a thriller, and a fantasy story. I sprinkled in a mixture of different age groups and genres to create interest. I wrote it primarily to give a feeling of awe and wonder. To inspire chills and fear. To have the reader finish the collection and say: “That was epic.”
If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?
Norton Juster. He wrote one of my favorite books, The Phantom Tollbooth, and he just passed away last year.
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
I tend to listen to a lot of music in my spare time as well as keeping up to date with my author friends.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
A lot of my writing focuses on real calamities in real life. The one thing I hope people learn from my work is how to overcome them. From worry to depression. Anxiety to fear. I want children and teens alike to have the tools they need to face those monsters and inevitably defeat them.
Miles Davis-Majors is a 23-year-old first-time author from Long Beach, California. His debut book “A Basketball Story” is based on a true story. In 2017, Miles Davis worked for the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach/WRAP program. Where he got to coach basketball for the first time at Long Beach School District’s Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School in Lakewood, California. Years later Miles decided to make a children’s book about his experience with his basketball team’s season with a touch of life lessons for young athletes and kids.
1. Where are you from? Long Beach, California
2. Why do you write? It’s a way to express my creative
3. What do you write about? I try to write something people can relate to. Something they can picture in their head. I write whatever comes to mind. Whatever I think it’s cool.
4. What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? Writer’s block. It’s a real thing. Sometimes you just have to step away from the project and let your creative juices flow again.
5. What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work? I haven’t heard it yet since this book is my first but I can’t wait to hear it.
6. How long have been writing? About a year now.
7. When did you first realize you had become a writer? The beginning process of getting the book deal.
8. How long does it take to write a book? Like a couple of days being a children’s book and a real-life story. But two years to get the images together.
9. What does your family think of your writing? They like it. I think they think it’s better to cool I am doing something else creative.
10. Do you see writing as a career? I see it as a side job. I really want to be a successful entrepreneur but writing is very therapeutic.
11. Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers? I hope you like it. But I put a lot of thought into it. I hope this can stay with you like the true story will remain with me for the rest of my life.
They were just kids, barely not teenagers, madly in love and wanting to be a family, but WW2 got in their way. Three hundred ten days before Pearl Harbor, buck private Dean Sherman innocently went to church with a new friend in Salt Lake City. From that moment, the unsuspecting soldier travelled a remarkable, heroic path, falling in love, graduating from demanding training to become a B29 pilot, conceiving a son and entering the China, Burma and India theater of the WW2. He chronicled his story with letters home to his bride Connie that he met on that fateful Sunday, blind to the fact that fifteen hundred seventy-five days after their meeting, a Japanese swordsman would end his life. His crew, a gaggle of Corporals that dubbed themselves the Corporalies, four officers and a tech Sargent, adventured their way across the globe. Flying the “Aluminum Trail” also called the Hump through the Himalayas, site of the most dangerous flying in the world. Landing in China to refuel and then fly on to places like Manchuria, Rangoon or even the most southern parts of Japan to drop 500 pounders. Each mission had its challenges, minus fifty-degree weather in Mukden, or Japanese fighters firing away at them, a close encounter of the wrong kind, nearly missing a collision with another B29 while flying in clouds, seeing friends downed and lost because of “mechanicals,” the constant threat of running out of fuel and their greatest fear, engine fire. Transferred to the Mariana Islands, he and his crew were shot down over Nagoya, Japan as part of Mission 174, captured and declared war criminals. Connie’s letters reveal life for a brand-new mother whose husband is declared MIA. The agony for both of them; he in a Japanese prison, declared a war criminal, and she just not knowing why his letters stopped coming. Lilliyana Shadowlyn’s review: This was an amazing book. This isn’t a look at war through rose colored glasses, but one that shows the reader what life was like for people from many backgrounds. A soldier, his love left behind on the home front, and those that were considered the enemy at the time. This was an intimate story that doesn’t focus only on the war and pulls the reader in quickly and easily. Historical fiction lovers, those with an interest in war history, and anyone just looking to take a few steps back in time will greatly enjoy reading this. Another reviewer explains: “I am a fan of historical fiction and this story did not disappoint. It was sweet, tragic, personal, and moving. Gradually and almost imperceptibly, the story of two wartime sweethearts begins circling the drain of a tragedy you know is coming. The book begins with the ending, but by the time you get there you have convinced yourself that it can’t possibly be the case. I enjoyed every moment, even the ones that left me in tears. The letters between Connie and Dean provided a fascinating glimpse into wartime life. Reading the experiences of people both at home and abroad was very engaging. I found myself eagerly awaiting the next letter, right along with the young couple! Lastly, the book left me with an overwhelming acknowledgement of the universal trauma and tragedy of war. The Sherman’s are not the only family we meet in the book and the weaving together of several different narratives added a depth to the story that’s hard to put into words. I definitely encourage anyone to read this book, especially if historical novels are not something you typically read. This is a story about people and you won’t want it to end.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Review:
If you love reading stories from the past and those on wars, you will enjoy this story. I love how the letters between Connie and Dean depict the love between them, the losses, yearnings and hard time during war. The letters are the real letters the couple sent to each other during the war. A mix between fictional story and true events based on research, this story hooks readers of the modern world, especially in the post pandemic time, when we have gone through separation and pain, that can evoke the emotions people would have felt back in World War 2. It also beautifully depicts the challenges soldiers go through in their daily lives, one that is full of emotional pain and the anxiousness in not knowing what is to come next in life, given the uncertain nature of war. As Connie becomes a mother, her husband goes through a difficult time and the letter exchange between them abruptly stops. This is when the readers are brought into a real emotional roller coaster.
Joey Salomone was born in 1984 in Kansas City, Missouri. Joey was home schooled, which allowed him a lot of free time to read and write. He began writing poetry as a teenager and continued to write throughout high school and college. Joey attended Northwest Missouri State University where he received a bachelors degree in Broadcasting and a minor in Creative Writing. After graduation, Joey moved back to Kansas City and made independent films for several years while working at several local area restaurants. He then became an educator and taught High School English in the Urban Core of Kansas City, MO for several years. After the school he was working at closed, Joey did sales for a few years then attended UMKC’s EMS Education program and received his Paramedic license. He worked for several years as a paramedic in Kansas City. After graduating from nursing school, Joey now practices as a nurse at a local KC hospital. He continues to read and write every day. Joey hopes to publish many more collections of poetry and prose, as well as several other projects he is working on. Joey and his brother Chris are currently writing a fantasy book series together and hope to release the first several books in 2020-21.
Joey writes weekly on his blog on a variety of topics, from healthcare to politics to movies & tv shows and discussion of poetry, short stories and novels.
What fact about yourself would really surprise people? I am sort of a jack-of-all-trades, I started out of college making low-budget independent movies and then moved into sales, then education and then healthcare.
How do you work through self-doubts and fear? Everyone deals with insecurities in one form or another. I think for me personally, I have cut out people in my life that I believed where toxic, those individuals that helped sow the seed of self-doubt. And I try to surround myself with people who are positive. Working in healthcare, this can be difficult because we deal with illness, patients dying and death often. And it is not just the seeing the patient suffer, but also watching the family watch the patient dying. That can be just as difficult, if not more. This gives me a unique perspective of one, being grateful for my health and my families health and two, I stare fear in the face at work all the time, I am not going to let a little fear or rejection or failing in writing stop me.
What scares you the most? Dying alone. I think this is a fear many people have.
What makes you happiest? I think this changes based on where you are in your life. Right now, the happiest I am is when I pick up my daughter and she laughs and squeals and kicks her legs.
Why do you write? I enjoy writing, I always have. And I think this probably stems from my joy of reading. I have been amazed, my entire life, by a wide variety of authors. Science fiction and fantasy writers can take you into a world they created, and to me, that’s amazing. Poets can make you think outside of the constructs of the written word. They can make you question everything, from love to even the meaning of a word. And I love that.
Have you always enjoyed writing? Like any creative, I have a love/hate relationship with my writing. Sometimes, I write something that I think is simply amazing. Other times, everything I write is garbage and I hate it all and I want to quit forever. I think finding a balance between the two is part of the process. And simply understanding that is part of the process: going through these stages.
What motivates you to write? Anything. Love. Pain. Boredom. Excitement. Sadness. Feeling overwhelmed. I feel like any creative person can find any reason to share their work. For me, writing is a personal escape. Not that my life is all that bad, I have a great life in fact. But writing allows me to venture into unknown territories, and as a poet, I simply try to explore the fluid motion of the English language, while trying to bend and break some of the rules as well.
What writing are you most proud of? My first book titled “0% of Something” was a decent book, but if I am being honest, I rushed it in the editing process. “Drop of Atom” is finely tuned and I am extremely proud of it as a collection.
What are you most proud of in your personal life? Recently, my daughter turned one. And I have to say, this last year has been tough. However, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am working very hard to be a good father, and while I know at times I will surely make mistakes, as long as I keep working at it, I think I will do alright.
What books did you love growing up? As a young adult I read the poetry of Langston Hughes, Edgar Allan Poe and Sylvia Plath. I read a fantasy series called “Dragon Lance” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and I loved the Goosebumps series and Hardy Boys series. As I aged, I continued to read poetry, both the classics and contemporary, and I continued to read both fantasy and sci-fi. My book shelf is an odd combination of Star Wars books next to Kurt Vonnegut books next to Chuck Palahnuik books next to the Lord of the Rings.
What do you hope your obituary will say about you? I hope it says I was a good human being who touched many lives and will be missed by many.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live? I grew up in the Midwest and while I am certain that has some influence on my writing, my life experiences have more. Working in the service industry and working as a paramedic and nurse has allowed me to see how humans behave in all sorts of situations. One aspect of poetry is trying to discover and speak on human emotions and actions. I think my life experiences up to this point have allowed for the development of the type of poet I am today.
How did you develop your writing? I have been writing poetry off and on for nearly 2 years. I have taken a variety of poetry classes, both in person and online, and several years ago I decided the only way I was going to get better at writing poetry is to read poetry. And that is what I do, I read poetry nearly every day. I love classic and contemporary and foreign poetry.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
All three are hard in their own right. Getting published or self-publishing is an unique challenge full of disappointments and unexpected experiences. Writing, like any creative, has its up and its downs. Sometimes, I love everything that I write and other times I hate it. But the process of writing is what I love. Marketing is very difficult when you have little to know marketing experiences.
What marketing works for you? To be honest, I have not found a technique that works fully yet but I am trying a variety of strategies with this book.
Do you find it hard to share your work? Absolutely, poetry can be awfully revealing and it’s hard to think that family and friends will be reading some of the things I wrote, let alone complete strangers.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you? My family is endless supportive, both my immediate family and wife’s family. All the books that I have sold so far I am sure have been purchased by either family members or friends. And yes, I feel like I have a very large group of friends who have been extremely supportive.
What else do you do, other than write? I work full-time as a nurse. I am a father to a 1-year-old and a husband as well. My wife is finishing up an intense healthcare degree so I also am in charge of many things around the house, from cooking to cleaning to laundry. So needless to say, I keep very busy when I am not writing.
What other jobs have you had in your life? I made independent movies for a while and then I was high school English teacher for several years. I worked in sales and the service industry as well. I got into healthcare about 10 years ago working as a patient care tech in a hospital and then a paramedic for an ambulance service. After several years of that, my wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, convinced me to attend nursing school. And I currently work as a nurse.
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick? Anything in the creative world, writing or painting, theatre would be fun as well I think.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk? All of the above, I keep small notebook laying all around my house. And I use my laptop, desktop and iPhone to write small little notes and poems. Every 2-3 months I gather up everything that I have written from all these notebooks and such and try to squeeze some life out of them. That is how I start the process of writing my poems.
How much sleep do you need to be your best? Working as a nurse fulltime and being a father and husband means I have little time to sleep. I have accepted that I will simply be “perma-tired” for a while.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you? A personal goal I set for this book was to sell 1,000 copies. For me, that would be the ultimate success.
It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign? I have done a variety of advertising, from blogs, to press releases to video and podcast interviews, Facebook and Instagram ads, and amazon advertising campaigns. I am hoping that some of these things start to pan out and turn into sales.
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it? Drop of Atom is my second book of poetry that I started writing in 2020. When Covid hit the world and then America, the lockdown was quite the experience for everyone. I tried to capture what was happening in the country and in healthcare as well as personally. I believe I have a unique perspective as both a nurse and a poet. I touch on large subjects like the criminal justice system, racism, healthcare, the American government, and mental health. I also whittle down some of my poems and discuss things like love or loss, death and dying, pain or pleasure, things like that. I wrote this book because I wanted to write a second book of poetry and take my time doing so. I gave myself two years to write and edit this book and I am extremely proud of the final product.
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax? Reading is how I relax and I cannot wait for the day when I have more free time so that I can read the giant pile of books I have building up on my desk and in my kindle.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I hope that anyone who reads Drop of Atom will simply find one thing inside the pages that they love.
17th May 2022 8PM CST on Facebook page (International Book Promotion)
Author Vince Baker
The Prophetic War of Words
About the author:
With over 30 years of prophetic hands-on training from God, Vince brings a unique and timely perspective from the Word of God for the body of Christ. The Divine Revelations Vince has received from the Holy Spirit are destined to enlighten and encourage others.
Vince Baker was born in Southern California and raised on 17 acres just north of Sacramento. As a child, Vince was raised as a Southern Baptist. Vince was always drawn to the Lord and even said he wanted to be a preacher at a young age.
Vince’s life was somewhat uneventful until one day he encountered God while driving in his car at the age of 17. God manifested Himself to Vince in such a powerful way that his life would never be the same. After this experience, Vince dedicated his life to the Lord and became a Christian. In that same month, Vince received a book from his Christian Grandma called” The Secret of His Power.” This book was about a famous miracle-working evangelist named Smith Wigglesworth. God used his testimony to prepare Vince for ministry. God also used the testimony of Smith to talk to him about things He wanted to do through him in his later years.
Vince decided to go to a Christian High School his senior year. He met a seasoned evangelist at this high school, who took different churches to feed the poor and evangelize. Vince found out he lived near the evangelist and started traveling with him. During this time, Vince became his right-hand man and saw many amazing miracles on the streets through this ministry. This ministry was called to train the church on how to evangelize with power. Vince was able to travel up and down the west coast ministering to the homeless and helpless while equipping the church. Vince has a big heart when it comes to the poor, homeless, and hurting people.
Within a short time, Vince heard from God to go to Bible College. Through confirmation from God and a miracle of his tuition paid for, Vince started to study the Bible more deeply at this Bible College. The training and foundation in the scriptures Vince received were priceless. Vince ended up graduating as the Valedictorian from this Bible College.
After Bible College, Vince started ministering to kids at a Christian school, taught Sunday School, and functioned in the local church. Vince later moved into full-time ministry and was an assistant pastor at a local church for five years during the mid-’90s.
As an assistant pastor, Vince visited a church where the Prophet Kim Clement was ministering. Prophet Kim Clement pulled Vince out of the crowd and prophesied over him. In that prophecy, God spoke to Vince through Kim Clement that he would use him and that he needed to prepare himself.
Vince later worked in the marketplace, where he is the CEO and part-owner of Agora Advantage. God called Vince to the marketplace, but Vince knew that he would be called back into full-time ministry later in life. Agora Advantage has been a fantastic position where Vince grew in many ways. Vince knew that Agora was where he was supposed to be. He was voted in as the CEO of Agora Advantage on the Day of Pentecost as a sign from God.
As Vince started nearing the prophesied time that God would bring him back into full-time ministry, he began seeking the Lord more deeply. During this time, Vince had another unforgettable encounter with God regarding the Ark of the Covenant. God gave Vince a vision of four men carrying the Ark of the Covenant into a church. The Holy Spirit spoke to Vince and said, “Wherever you read Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament think Holy Spirit. Wherever you read Holy Spirit in the New Testament think Ark of the Covenant. Put the two together and you will know Me.” Vince went and studied these two subjects everyplace he could find them in the Bible and he received tremendous insight into understanding the Holy Spirit.
Vince has a unique calling where he can preach, teach, prophecy, move in the gifts of the Spirit, bring healing, and perform miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. Vince is called to help the body of Christ come into their destiny and High Calling.
Currently, Vince resides in Northern California with his wife and their two dogs enjoying the blessings of God.
I have dedicated my life to helping others and have done so as a psychotherapist/clinical social worker. I am also a Certified Peer Support Specialist where I can use my lived experience as a survivor of trauma, injustice, and abuse to help others. I must heal myself so that I can help others to heal and find hope. I find writing to be therapeutic and a powerful part of my healing journey. I have written in both non-fiction and poetry.
Currently, I am resuming my career journey by pursuing employment opportunities in the mental health/psychiatric field with the ultimate goal of working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist drawing upon my many years of experience, education, and post-graduate training in psychology and psychotherapy. As a peer support specialist (PSS), I will use different skills and be filing a different role than that of a “therapist.” A PSS is not a therapist.
With all that I have accomplished, I believe anything is possible.
I recently have found my calling as a creative non-fiction writer. I believe this is what has been calling me my whole life, but I didn’t know if there was an audience or how to reach others. I write to communicate something to others. Poetry seemed easier because people gather for people gather for readings and poems are brief/succinct. Today there might be a more obvious market for fiction, but I hope to reach an audience with creative non-fiction – memoirs.
The ideas for writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry are similar. We want to evoke a response from or in the reader. When I say creative non-fiction, I am mostly talking about memoirs. In one book, I felt like I had several “stories” to tell and ended up putting together an autobiography. I’m not sure how much market there is for an autobiography of someone who isn’t famous. One can find that I have written other books that are shorter and more focused on the broad array of topics presented in my autobiography.
Question: Where are you from?
Answer: I grew up in a small rural town called Southington, CT, USA. At 18, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). I chose that school because I thought I wanted to be an engineer. After graduating from Georgia Tech, I had already figured out that I was going to go into psychiatric social work. I ended up by chance getting a job as a technical writer in Wilmington, North Carolina. I would come to call Wilmington my home and if I am asked, I’d say I am from Wilmington.
Question: Why do you write?
Answer: I write to be read. Writing can be a solitary activity, but I envision a reader when I am writing. I envision telling a story and having an audience. My creative non-fiction has places where I directly address the reader while at other times within the same book, I try to immerse the reader in the story. I strive to evoke a reaction. I also find writing to be therapeutic and cathartic. It’s part of who I am. It’s how I make sense of life and process the events of my life.
Question: What do you write about?
Answer: I write about personal experiences or the experiences that I have overserved others to have described to me. I work in the psychiatric/mental health field. I am fascinated by the psyche, psychology, and people in general. I write life stories and I try to help the reader to get inside the mind and body of the character whether writing a poem or a memoir.
Question: Do you have a specific writing style?
Answer: I suppose I have answered that already. In terms of poetry, I only write free verse. I discovered an affinity for poets when I first started writing and build a social circle around the poetry scene in Wilmington. As noted above, I would end up calling this home and this is where my life really took off. The people in the area I met all had English degrees and I felt like just a dabbler in poetry. I chose free verse because I don’t have an ear for rhyme or meter. I suppose that is why it is fitting that I turned to writing creative non-fiction (prose).
Question: What are obstacles that come in the way of writing?
Answer: Motivation and writer’s block are problems. I think that because I am a mental health professional and enjoy working with others, writing can be a problem because it is a solitary activity. I might have doubts that my words will be read by anyone, and this will hold me back.
Question: What’s the most memorable thing said by a reader about my work?
Answer: There are a couple of things. Two recent readers reported that they couldn’t put down my books when they first picked them up and that is memorable because I wrote long narratives. One of my books is over 530 pages. However, the most memorable and touching comments were from my dear friend Thomas Child’s who died in 2010 from an unexpected heart-attack. I am including a photograph of him and what he wrote for my book.
I do have some additional books that I am currently writing. One is titled “Prosecuting the Victim, Gender Biases and the Psychological Impact of Injustice” which is available on Wattpad at this link:
Set in the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, this is the coming-of-age story of José Alfaro, a young refugee who forms a powerful bond with the mysterious Pirate Captain Toledano. It’s also a dynamic pirate adventure on the high seas, with hand-to-hand combat and ship-to-ship action, and the powerful story of a dark time in history when people took different paths to survive.
José Alfaro is a cocky, rambunctious teen in the 16th-century colony of Santo Domingo, pulling pranks and dodging the authorities. One day, José’s mischief lands him in serious trouble.
Hoping for a fresh start, he stows away on the Laqish, not knowing that it’s a pirate ship. From his hiding place, he watches the pirates divide their loot and plan their attacks on long days at sea. He also takes note of the respect they have for their captain, the intimidating Toledano.
But the captain has a secret―like José, he is a Jew. For him, piracy is not about the gold; it has a different purpose.
Under the tutelage of the ship’s quartermaster, José learns the intricacies of pirate life. But when he can, the captain finds ways to pull José away from the crew, to teach him about his ancestors.
José finds his community. His place. His voice. His purpose.
This is a pirate story, but also a story of survival―a story of a young man’s deep need to know who he is, where he comes from, and where he’s going.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
A great read for kids who love reading about pirates and histories. I think it is suitable for older school kids due to the length of the book, which is close to 100 pages, but it has interesting illustrations to keep the kids invested in the reading process right until the end. I love how the author has chosen to explain about the Jewish culture in ways that kids would understand and this is an excellent way to introduce cultures to kids. If you are Jewish or would want to expose your kids to new culture, this is an excellent read.
International Book Promotion 