Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

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So, the 12th question is “How do you market and brand yourself as an author?”

This has been one of the hardest things for me, and I’m sure, other authors! One of the first things I’ve learned is to get involved in the writing community; other authors can be a great resource. I’ve gotten advice on building websites, newsletters, and social media, all to help me get my name out there as a fantasy writer. The most important thing is to really take in all you can from other authors, and use their skills. A close second is to know your genre. If you understand what fans of it want, then you know how to brand yourself to them. It’s these two things that really make up how I market and brand myself. If you want to see for yourself, check me out at https://www.facebook.com/enierstauthorfantasynovels/ https://twitter.com/NierstedtEric https://ericnierstedtauthor.com/

I try to be honest about who I am (an African American male) and what I draw my influences from (anime, manga, comics, books, movies, and trying to combine them into my literature.

I use social media, mostly Instagram and Twitter, to market my work, but I’m also in the process of working on an author website.

I have an active Facebook life, maintain a web site and blog, attend numerous fairs and participate in groups like this interview session. I also dabble in making book trailers for my books. My publisher does the catalog, funnel and Amazon work for me. At present, I am also pursuing transition to audiobooks and a podcast to go with it.

I’m learning something new about this every single day! It’s a journey, but I think consistency is key. If money for ads is a concern, then start off with something small, then gradually build. Learn what works and what doesn’t, so one day you can get the most for your buck.

I mostly use social media to market and brand myself. Hootsuite is a great program I use in laying out my marketing/branding over a week at a time across multiple social media outlets. I have to do a lot of it myself, which makes it harder, but it also puts the responsibility on me.

Famed for his G.A.N.G.S.T.A.R acrostic writing style (it stands for Generally Appreciating Notable Genres by Stating Their Applicable Relevance), Mr Ben, as he is popularly called, is a published author, poet, novelist, essayist, voice-over artiste and speaker

I don’t have the funds for lots of advertisements, and I don’t get invited to talk shows to talk about my books, so I mostly use social media.

Most of the marketing I’ve done has been via my website/blog, interviews, guest blogging, and social media. I’ve also sold my own books in person (book tables, and contacted brick and mortar stores to sell them on consignment).

My “rock singer, strippers, dark city life” pretty well sets the tone for prom copy and artwork.

Social media is a great way to network but also there is nothing compared to meeting people in real life. If you can sign up for a table at a book fair, definitely go for it. Same with registering for writers’ conferences.

By posting my books on social media, helping other authors promote their work and doing book reviews.

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Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 11th question is “Are your books standalone or sequels?”

My books generally turn out to be series; I’m not sure I could write a standalone at this point!

At the moment, they’re all standalone, but I do have a series or two planned for the future.

Sequels. My book is the first in a six-book series. The second is in progress.

Officially, they are sequels, but because the protagonist is different, and the former main character becomes a side character, or even an antagonist, they can stand alone. They also tend to take place at separate times and sometimes, decades later.

My book, Premonition, is the first in a trilogy.

I plan my novels as trilogies, working to spread the story out into one complete set. Series are better to work with when it comes long, drawn out stories.

Standalone

All my books are islands, but if one were to read them all they would see a pattern and some repeat characters who seem to jump from one book to the other.

The books are a trilogy.

This book will be a prequel to my dystopian series starting with Angel Hunt.

So far, I have my science fiction trilogy and my standalone road trip book.

Both. Chris Kringle’s Cops is a series, Captain Hook: Villain or Victim? is a stand alone and The Kamyla Chung Series is a compilation of stand alone books.

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Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 10th question is “What do you think about cliffhangers endings?”

I think they can be a great way to keep readers interested. I generally think of the end of each chapter as small cliffhangers to keep readers hooked on the story.

If done right, and if thought provoking enough, they can be excellent. Like all endings it depends on the context surrounding the cliffhanger.

I love reading and writing cliffhangers and it makes me feel really good when readers ask when the next book is coming out because it means I left a good cliffhanger.

I like hill-hangers, if I can coin a new phrase. In the Wise Ones, I have wrapped up the stories of the characters, but the new hill to climb is set up for the next book.

I’m guilty of writing cliffhangers, but I think if they’re not done well, then you might frustrate your readers. Ultimately, I want my readers to continue reading the series, not quit because they’re annoyed, so it can be a bit of a risk.

I love them because it makes the reader anticipate what’s coming next. It makes them hold on and wait for the next book. you hook more of them into reading your next book in the series.

The advent to the world as they exert their advantages and dis-advantages

I don’t like them, but if I ever decide to write a trilogy or series I suppose I might have to reconsider.

For a book in a series, I think it’s okay. I mean, at least the reader will eventually have closure. I’m not sure about stand-alone books. I guess it depends on the type of book and the purpose behind the cliff hanger. Still, I think it’s best to offer the reader some kind of closure at a book’s end.

A book should be independent with enough drama at the end to make you want to advance.

They definitely can set you up for the sequel.

I like them. For me, as a reader, it builds anticipation and gives me something to think about.

Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to follow this website via email to get notified when new posts are being made.

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Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 8th question is “Do you have beta readers to provide you feedback before you finalize your manuscript?”

I have given the story to friends and family, largely for different reasons. Some are really good with grammar and technical stuff, while others are better at story and character. Luckily, I also have fantasy fans to help me with genre-specific stuff as well.

Yeah, family and friends look over it and help edit mistakes and typos. They also provide feedback on the story itself.

Yes, which was the most nerve-racking part of the entire process.

I use four beta readers who have been good friends and helpful. One is a stickler for grammar and word choice. The others are ones who I use to check on logic and continuity. I have been guilty of making leaps of clarity and they catch me at this. I have an editor for the final work. However, if the story isn’t up to snuff after everyone going through it that many times, so be it. The publisher won’t be interested and it’s in their slush file.

I do, but I’m always open to having more!

I have friends from my Navy career who help me with editing and feedback on my manuscript. They could be considered my beta testers.

No

I do now, but initially I didn’t know anything about them, so I just did my best, said a prayer, and crossed my fingers.

I had plenty of beta-readers for the first two books. They were extremely helpful.

A talent agent went through my work–and a publicist.

Yes, I would love to get more input from beta readers.

Yes

Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to follow this website via email to get notified when new posts are being made.

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Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 8th question is “How do you deal with constructive criticism/reviews? ”

I’m always looking for feedback on how I can improve. It’s not always easy, but I encourage people to be totally honest when they talk to me, or review. That said, there are occasions where I feel the story doesn’t need a particular change, but I would much rather hear suggestions and ideas then have someone be less then honest.

I try to see where they’re coming from and what I can take from the criticism to improve not just the story itself, but my writing as a whole, and all future stories.

I just try to remember that they’re trying to help and I will be grateful once I’m finished.

I think of criticism as a stepping stone. I usually cannot go back and change things, but I can avoid that pitfall the next time I write a book. I don’t get depressed. None of my books are perfect.

I think it’s something to listen to criticism, especially if it might help make my story better, or in the case of a series, help the reader in the subsequent books, but it’s important to tell your story the way you know it needs to be told, too. At the end of the day, if I’m proud of what I’ve created, then that’s what matters most. People can be mean just for the heck of it.

I know I’m not a perfect writer and I’ve made mistakes in my manuscript and on my earlier published works. I don’t take it personally, I take it to heart and use it to make myself a better author.

Keep improving my writing skills

I realize they help me to become better at what I do. I know I have plenty of room for improvement so I welcome constructive criticism and advice.

They prick the ego, for sure. No one likes to hear the faults in their story. But no story is perfect. Even masters have gone back to revise books they’d published. So, the trick is to take it for what it is, and to learn from it.

I’ll listen to anybody who isn’t just trying to trash me.

I definitely try to learn from it.

I respond to all of them with courtesy and professionalism. You have to take the good with bad and apply comments that work to help develop your craft.

Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to follow this website via email to get notified when new posts are being made.

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Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 7th question is “What is the most memorable feedback you’ve had so far from your readers?”

One of my beta readers said that he visualized Danny Trejo when he read a certain character. Writing a role that can be played by Machete is pretty damn cool!

With one of my books, Run, it got a five star review and deeply touched the reader as something that seemed so real and that was so engaging. All positive reviews stick with me, but that one sticks out the most.

When my friend read it, she got really angry with me near the end when the climax happened, which I obviously can’t talk about.

The best feedback I’ve gotten was from a publicist. She read Talismans and suggested I needed to move my crisis to the front of the story. I was puzzled, because, for me, losing ones memory and coming face to face with a dragon, that was the overarching crisis in the story, and that takes place in the first three pages. No, she corrected me. That crisis is completely cerebral. You need the crisis to be tangible and dramatic. Stealing the runestones and finding a thief needs to be far earlier in the story. I managed to get it into the second chapter, rewrote it completely and was able to get it published because of it.

All my feedback is memorable! The good, the bad, the meh, all of it!

They love my characters, which means a lot to me. I based the family in my story around my own family. Their appreciation for these characters gives me a heartfelt appreciation for how I perceive my own wife and children.

”Great Job!”

“I love your book,” or “I love the way you write.”

One reader said they were ‘in love’ with The Purple Morrow. That was nice 🙂

They like my hook: A rock singer faces the world of magic with the help of three stripper/hunters.

When a reader told me they wanted to hurt my villain — that’s when I knew I made him successfully hateful, lol.

That my picture book series, The Kamyla Chung Series, was very helpful to a teacher during her lessons. I write the books with teachers, parents and counselors in mind. It was nice to hear that my books were making a positive impact in classrooms.

Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to follow this website via email to get notified when new posts are being made.

Be sure to Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 6th question is “What kind of inventions do you write that could feasibly be science fact?”

I’m primarily a fantasy write, so I don’t have any inventions like that.

Some that are mostly just improvements of current technology, like a weapon making use of sound or electricity. Or a laser gun of sorts, or even gloves/gauntlets that can project things like fire and electricity. Those don’t seem to farfetched.

I’m a fantasy author, so most of my world is based around magic. There aren’t many scientific inventions featured in my novel.

I am hoping that someday I will invent a way to pay employees based on the calories they burn (mental and physical labor). That way, on a day when I come home exhausted, working as a middle school teacher, after making a million decisions on the fly, I’ll get a paycheck worthy of all the work. Also, maybe then they’ll believe teaching is a career on the par with being a doctor and a lawyer. By the way, no one can use my idea. I have already written it into my sci-fi manuscript called Dual.

Premonition doesn’t have any inventions, since the world is based in magic.

I created a weapon called a Gunstar which fired rounds created through alchemy. It’s not 100% science fact but since a lot of alchemy is based on our own science today, it’s feasible.

The possibility of another earth existing alongside ours

Thought control and mind enslavement.

Probably none. That wasn’t something I thought about.

I’m a firm believer in psychics and tarot card readers–that maybe?

I’ve seen a lot about proving the multiverse theory to be true and how particles could move between dimensions, something explored in my trilogy.

In Chris Kringle’s Cops The First Mission, I added a weapon called a Bitter Ball. It sucks the jolly (their life essence) out of people. I could see a twisted politician searching for a weapon like this.

Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to follow this website via email to get notified when new posts are being made.

Be sure to Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 5th question is “What goes into building a world?”

I primarily write urban and contemporary fantasy, which has fantasy taking place in the modern world. That means the surface world is the one we know, and my job is to create the world beneath it. So I have to decide how big this hidden world is. In some cases, it’s a whole realm, which means I have to think about where it’s located, how it’s hidden, and what kind of people populate it. In other cases, it’s more like hidden pieces of another world, buried in the fabric of modern society. In that case, it means figuring out how the world coexists in secret with our world, and just who the people that keep it secret are. It all depends on what kind of story you want to tell.

A lot of naming, some unsaid world history and rules of the setting, making characters that act according to their personality and not the plot, and a decision on the types of cultures that’ll be meshed together and explored in said world.

What I do is I plan a world that I would want to live in because I know that my readers would want to live there too.

I love the work of Karen Azinger, who wrote about how a world has architecture, religion, government and many other facets, just like our world. Mentioning those things within your writing makes it seem more real, even if that architecture is floating from the bottom of a cloud and the government is run by rodents. Making a deliberate effort to sprinkle those pieces into the adventure creates a world for me.

Everything that might exist within our own! Government, religion, culture, language, fashion, etc. But like I said for the second question, I try and only include what’s necessary to understand the plot and/or character(s).

You have to mix it up, from terrain to names of towns and cities. The first world I designed was the island of Avalon, so it was a little easy to reuse some traditional names from the British Isles for it, but I also created some of my own names in there. you have to match the personality of the creatures with the names and the terrain. Goblins like dark, dank places, as do Dwarves, but you need to add in grand architecture to show the difference in the races. The one good thing with world building in a fantasy world is that the sky’s the limit. If you want a floating island, you can have a floating island, as long as you can explain why it floats.

Words on paper and its translations

A lot of imagination.

Lots! You have to think about languages and their evolution across time and cultures, about people groups and their interwoven histories, about how they dress and speak and what makes them different from the other peoples populating the world… It’s a lot of intricate planning and development, but it’s worth it.

Creating imagery that really puts you there. In my book, you truly feel like you’re in the dark underbelly of Atlanta.

I feel setting the scenery is important, so the reader can sense your surroundings with you.

Imagination, organization and flexibility.

Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to follow this website via email to get notified when new posts are being made.

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Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion

Hello everyone! It’s time to reveal the answers for all 12 questions answered by 12 author participants in the April Group Author Interview, in the 12 genres, 12 authors, 12 months and 12 questions series! The support from Fantasy/Sci-fi authors was amazing as we have 12 authors participating in this group author interview.

If you are an author and would like to participate in our upcoming interviews, check out this link, sign up and get your fans to ask their questions to the participating authors! The goal of this author interview is to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and to expose authors to new group of readers.

We are now a registered book publisher too! Sign up for our newsletter and CLAIM your FREE book trailer today!

So, the 4th question is “How do you develop weapons with magic?”

I try to find weapons that really fit the kind of magic I’m using. For example, I’ve used magic based on elements (water, fire, etc.) so I try to think what kind of weapon would fit them. A trident works great for water, but not so much with wind. I also have to think of how the weapon can be used. I’ve used a hammer to control the earth because it’s easy to imagine it breaking the ground apart. Currently, my stories are based more on mythology, so there are examples for me to use and build on.

I gauge the power level of the world, how it’s operating and what kind of magic is being used. Then I give certain weapons different properties based on the type of magic available, and scale the power to that. I also think about what would make sense in that world as far as weapon development.

Every weapon from my novel is forged from the blood of people with magical abilities.

Talismans can be weapons. They focus power more than go into battle. For example, Vamilion, the main protagonist in Ley Lines, uses his ax and pick to split the earth open. A canyon suddenly opening up in front of them tends to stop invading armies. In my subsequent books – written but not yet published – there’s a sword that can read the secret names of demons, a bracer that will block invasions and a staff that can move its wielder to another dimension. My magic weapons are usually only defensive, at least in the Wise Ones series.

The magic in my first book, Premonition, gives everyone special and unique abilities so that the weapons themselves are imbued with spells, rather than the weapon having its own magic.

Magic is a tool, like science is in our world. Keeping that in mind helped me develop magical weapons. I didn’t want a magic sword for the the sake of a magic sword, it had to have a purpose and a power behind it. As for spells, I wanted to create magic with a language based in our world. For that purpose, I used Latin for my spell-casting, but Dwarves (being from Scandinavia) use Old Norse for their spells. I tried to connect the myth with the language as appropriate.

Visualizing the possibility

I tend to write characters who think magically, so their actions and motives create the magic in their interactions with others who they seek to control.

There aren’t many magical weapons in the books, but the ones that exist are inspired by the traits of the character using them as well as how the weapon influences those characters. They are, essentially, extensions of the character.

My stripper/hunters use throwing knives, spellbursts, and silver stars.

I just think about what weapons would be most used in the time periods. In medieval fairy tales, it was swords, for example. In modern times, we have guns.

When my characters have a need for one I try to come up with something that’s effective and follows the rules of the world.

Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to follow this website via email to get notified when new posts are being made.

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Best regards,

Jasveena

Founder of International Book Promotion