An Interview with Faturoti Kayode Fattkay

  1. Where are you from?

I am from the western part of Africa, Nigeria to be precise. In case you care to know, my country is the giant of Africa and we are among the top 15 countries in the world with most freelancers.

  1. Why do you write?

I write to impart. I write to transfer knowledge and make others learn from me. It’s a tough street out there, people are suffering due to lack of knowledge. It hurts me when I get complaints and I see how humans struggle in search of survival. And this is just my own little way of helping the small populace that’s ready to be helped.

  1. What do you write about?

Most of my books are all on making money online or building a good internet profile, which I believe is what we need in this age.

  1. Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes I do. I have my own way of putting words together which seems quite different from the norm. I believe in making contents not too serious and inserting comic reliefs in my books.

  1. What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

Not knowing how to start is the major problem. Once I overcome that, it’s always an easy ride from there.

  1. What are most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

My readers coming back with testimonials on how my guide has helped them make money online is always a form of positive energy for me.

  1. How long have you been writing?

Let’s say 5 years now.

  1. When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

I think it all started when I started blogging. Writing random contents as a kid blogger and people would be like “damn! You can write”. Then I’d be like “Really? I can write”. Then I decided to put in more efforts.

  1. How long does it take to write a book?

It depends on how much information I decide to include and how dedicated i decide to be. My first book took a week. My last one too 2 months. So it’s really not predictable.

  1. Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

Yes. You keep writing and writing. With this, you get better by the day.

  1. Do you see writing as a career?

Lol. It’s already a career. I get paychecks from it. Check out my sales page.

Links: My blog is Hustle.ng and Eduregard.com.ng

The author can be contacted via:

Tel: 234-1-(0) 8149565292 (WhatsApp only)

E-mail: Hi@Fattkay.me

twitter: @Fattkay or @Fattbabakay

instagram: @Fattbabakay

An Interview with Gina Insinna Rice

Blurb of Finding Christ Through Chaos: A Mother’s Walk with Christ, Caring for Her Special Needs Son That Couldn’t

A JOURNEY AND TRIALS OF RAISING A SPECIAL NEEDS SON.

Over the years Gina has witnessed God’s hands in everything and some true miracles along the way. With her husband by her side they have walked a road many take for granted. A woman that has been blessed by her son but, still struggling to find balance of keeping her son alive.

 

Describe yourself in five words CARING, LOVING, SMART, SPIRITUAL, LOYAL

What fact about yourself would really surprise people? I AM A BLUE-EYED, BLONDE-HAIRED FULL BLOODED ITALIAN

How do you work through self-doubts and fear?  I PRAY CONSTANTLY. I TALK WITH THE LORD ALL DAY LONG , NO EXAGGERATION 
What scares you the most? ME NOT BEING ABLE TO CARE FOR MY SON

What makes you happiest? SEEING MY SON LAUGH AND SMILE THROUGH HIS PAIN

Why do you write? I NEVER REALLY HAVE LOL. THIS WAS MY 1st BOOK INSPIRED BY A WOMAN AT MY CHURCH.

Have you always enjoyed writing?  TO BE HONEST NO….HAHA. BUT, I REALLY ENJOYED WRITING ABOUT THIS BOOK !!!
What motivates you to write? MY SON !!! HE IS TRULY THE STRONGEST HUMAN I HAVE EVER MET.

What are you most proud of in your personal life? MY MARRIAGE. WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. ALMOST HAVE OF OUR MARRIAGE I HAVE SPENT WITH CHRIS IN THE HOSPITAL 

What do you hope your obituary will say about you? THAT I RAISED A GOOD DISABLED CHILD

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 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. GREAT CHILDHOOD!!! MY DAD WAS TRANSFERRED WITH THE AIRLINES TO TEXAS…I MARRIED A TEXAN LOL!!!! I GAVE BIRTH TO A BLUE,STILLBORN BABY THAT I HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP ALIVE FOR 24yr.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing? IT ALL CAME REALLY SIMPLE…I PRAYED OVER THIS FOR AWHILE AND I KNEW THE LORD WANTED ME TO SHARE OUR STORY TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES WALK WHERE WE HAVE WALKED. SO EVERYTHING JUST FELL INTO PLACE…HIS TIMING.

What marketing works for you? I DO ALOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IM A TALKER SO I BELIEVE WORD OF MOUTH IS THE BEST.

Do you find it hard to share your work? NO,I TALKED TO EVERYONE ABOUT OUR LIFE WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends I support you? I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY AND THE BEST LIFELONG GIRLFRIENDS ANYONE COULD ASK FOR.

What else do you do, other than write? I TAKE OF MY SON!!! HE IS A FULL TIME JOB,WHEELCHAIR BOUND. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO FISH !!!

What other jobs have you had in your life? I AM A LICENSED COSMETOLOGIST AND WORKED IN SALONS FOR 8YRS PRIOR TO. HRIS BEING BORN.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I WOULD LIVE BY THE OCEAN. WATER IS SO HEALING.

Tell us about your family? I COME FROM A HUGE, LOUD MOUTH ITALIAN FAMILY LOL.

How much sleep do you need to be your best? .OMG… I LOVE SLEEP !!!!! MY BRAIN WILL FUNCTION ON 8 HRS BUT, IM REALLY ON MY GAME WITH 10. BUT, I AM LIGHT SLEEPER AS CHRIS HAS SEIZURES.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support? MY HUSBAND!!! HE HAS MADE MY DREAM OME TRUE BY BELIEVING IN ME ENOUGH TO SHARE OUR STORY.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you? A SUCCESSFUL WRITER IN MY EYES IS ONE THAT SHARES PASSION IN REAL LIFE EVENTS.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign? I HAVE A GREAT AUDIENCE . I TARGETED THEM AND SELL ME NOT ONLY MY BOOK.

Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?  I WROTE THIS STORY ABOUT MY SON SO PEOPLE IN OUR SAME SHOES CAN HAVE HOPE THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT. YOU CAN KEEP A HUMAN ALIVE AND LIVE A NICE LIFE.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask? DOLLY PARTON..LOL. SHE IS A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax? I FISH AND PRAY ON MY DOCK.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel? WITH GOD THINGS REALLY ARE POSSIBLE!!! I WANT THE BROKEN TO HAVE HOPE.

 

To learn more about Gina, visit her website and Amazon page

http://christthroughchaos.com/

http://amzn.to/2wyLSSx

An Interview with Thomas Lowrie

Author Bio:

You just never know what you can do once you set your mind to something. Ray has been picking at my brain for years and I finally did something about it. My first thoughts were to write comedy but someone said I was too warped for that.
Ray was as real a person as I am and to this day I don’t quite understand how he and I became the same person. Book two is getting close to going to edit so please watch for it.
I don’t always write, I try to do other thing too. If I can fish it, fly it or fix it I will be doing that as well.
I want to take this time to thank all the English teachers from George West Texas and Boulder City Nevada who fought with me and never gave up, it was all of you that got me to this point.

 

Describe yourself in five words. Loyal to those who care.

What fact about yourself would really surprise people? My wife says I’m a big teddy bear.

How do you work through self-doubts and fear? Railroad through them and pick up the pieces later.

What scares you the most? Not being loved.

What makes you happiest? Simplifying my life.

Why do you write? At first it was Ray telling me to but now I write to share the things I have learned with others.

Have you always enjoyed writing? No, I was in my upper forties before I even thought about it. I didn’t think I could do it.

What motivates you to write? Thoughts get stuck in my head and won’t go away until I write them down.

What writing are you most proud of? All of them. The finished and the ones yet to come.

What are you most proud of in your personal life? I have some good people around me.

What books did you love growing up? Tom Sawyer, western or sports books.

What do you hope your obituary will say about you? Not a thing.

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live? I grew up in south TX and now live in Southern NV.

How did you develop your writing? It is still slowly developing.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing? Marketing.

What marketing works for you? Will let you know on that one.

Do you find it hard to share your work? Sometimes.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you? My wife is very supportive. Others are happy for me.

What else do you do, other than write? I love 2 things and do them whenever possible. BBQing and fishing.

What other jobs have you had in your life? Aircraft mechanic, RV tech, various other things.

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick? Culinary Arts.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Not sure but it will be right here in the USA.

Tell us about your family? They are a widely varied bunch.

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk? All of them but it all gets to the desktop in the end.

How much sleep do you need to be your best? I can’t remember.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support? Yes, My partner in silliness, Tina Lowrie

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you? If you can persevere and make it happen, you have succeeded.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign? I am actually learning from others as to how to market.

Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?  Out of time is the second in the Ray Lafayette series. There is much more to write about him.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask? All the great loved ones I have lost in my life.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax? Movie night at home.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel? The feeling that they were part of another time. Maybe another part of the world. Maybe anything their imagination wants to be.

Check out Lowrie’s work at:

www.thomaslowrie.com

http://amzn.to/2wyUgS9

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/he-was-thomas-william-lowrie/1119687508?ean=9780990362616

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/He-Was-Ray-Lafayette-Novel/Thomas-William-Lowrie/9780990362616?id=6025076222321

An Interview with KJ Blocker

Blurb of Treasure of the Magical Mine Moppets:

Enter a magical world where corn grows as high as the clouds and salt can be worth more than gold. A world where a mile beneath the earth live wondrous, iridescent little creatures, happily working and playing. Completely unaware that someone “upside” is plotting to take it all away from them!

In this magical world, you meet wonderful characters.

Tom, the farmer who hopes to feed the world with his Ubercorn.

Tom’s wife and son, who sometimes get left behind as he works.

Mr. Withers, the greedy town banker, who wants everything Tom has and will stop at nothing to get it.

Tom’s Dad, Pappy, who Tom has been angry with for years, but is more like him than he realizes!

Like the Magical Mine Moppets, Tom’s family will lose everything if they don’t find a way to defeat the evil Mr. Withers, but they must learn that family and love are the only things that can destroy evil. Join us in a breathtaking, wide-eyed adventure into a land that you’ll cherish.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books:

The magical mine creatures will no doubt fascinate children. Older readers may well be reminded of the Munchkins from The Wizard Of Oz. Plus Jimmy’s bug pal may well have parents reliving their own moments with Walt Disney’s Jiminy Cricket … Morals are abound in Blocker’s book. The virtues of honesty, loyalty, friendship, and belief in one another take center stage with the all-encompassing value of love. His is a story meant to teach as well as entertain … For both the young and the young at heart, Treasure Of The Magical Mine Moppets is a fun and family-friendly adventure.

Author interview with KJ Blocker

1 Describe yourself in five words.  

Kind, compassionate fun and witty guy

2 What fact about yourself would really surprise people ?

When some people see my penmanship, there’s an amazement in their eyes ,when they discover I’m a writer . When treasure of the magical mine moppets, was released I had a boss look me dead in the eye . Wow! I’m shocked !you write?

3 How do you work through self doubt and fear ?

I learned long ago when I was a child  I was put down so many times, and yes I was bullied, and made fun of, because of our income status, or social status. I could never measure up to the kids in the community. I feared my peers so strongly as a kid. I had what I called running scared syndrome so much, now the self doubt, of what others will think, or the fear that I’m not good enough is no longer A hurdle for me .

4 What scares you the most?

Losing someone close to you you care about the most, and I’m not just talking about death, but a divorce or disagreement fall out, over something that means really nothing in the long run, for example, politics I need not say no more. Instead we need to care and love for each other more, and worry less about the things that are out of our control.

5 What makes you happiest?

Knowing that I’ve gave my all to help someone in need. Mainly food.. I like food, yep definitely food .

6 Why do you write?

It’s hard to answer that question. My oldest daughter inspired me because of her wisdom,, my kids seem to give me reality checks. Or keep me in reality as they refer to it. On treasure of the magical mine moppets, I got inspired after learning about my past,, where I came from, The mystery behind my last name, and the relationship ,,struggle between  my great-grandfather and grandfather, I was so overwhelmed by all kinds of emotions, happy, mad, sad. You name it. Until one day my daughter goes Dad you can’t change the past. After a little thought I said you know you’re right, but I can help somebody else in the future .

7 Have you always enjoyed writing?

Art to me comes in many forms, i’m the founder of the product, i’ve written songs, or even on my job… it’s an expression I believe to help others in need of whatever their individual or families case maybe.

8 What motivate you to write?

The story has to be real, relatable, and fun, sad, but most of all, the story has to make you feel like there’s hope, and my writing goal is that if there is a character that you can identify with, either good or bad, and that character can cause you to stop and go well my situation isn’t so bad after all. Then that character has done his or her job.

9 What writing are you most proud of ?

Treasure of the magical mine moppets series

The story was just so rich, and whether you are a child or adult you can relate between slapstick comedy,  a troubled family, with a wounded past, then all of a sudden the Band-Aid gets ripped off ouch that hurts. There’s a lot of deep meaning, adventure and fun. In both above and below ground. Magical I suppose but you want to relive your childhood through the pages .

10 What are you most proud of in your personal life ?

That even though I was told I was a poor, motherless child. Beaten down by society, I would not bow, instead I fought back and did not give up I faced my fear and though it’s been a hard Row to hoe I’m proud to have not given up on my dreams, or my purpose in life. Even though I don’t know the outcome, I was never afraid to try.

11 What books did you love growing up?

Alice in Wonderland, three little pigs, Lion witch and wardrobe, and Mary Poppins .

12 What do you hope you’re a bitch wary will say about you ?

He was not afraid to try.

13 Location and life experiences can really influence writing. Tell us where you grew up and where are you now live.

As a boy I  lived at 1212 E. 9th St. In Shawnee Oklahoma. My father was a loaner, after Mom left, he become distant, sad and alone . One day a boy came to play, after sweeping him off the porch with a broom The neighborhood kids become angry and took out there vengeance on me, I had impetigo on numerous occasions. I cried a lot, ran and jumped fences to get away from the kids, survive was the only option, it toughened me writing short poems and keeping a job restocking beer shelves, kept me from thinking about my situation well I guess it worked I’m still here.

14 How did you develop your writing?

Songs in short poems. I’ve done since I was a boy. But 10 years ago I started to write a song and just kept on writing and thanking and writing. And I thought oh wow I’m pretty good at this, so then I created a whole world. That would help this world. Lord knows we could use the help.

15 What is the hardest getting published writing or marketing?

Marketing by far I think is the hardest, and I made some pretty stupid marketing decisions, you know one thing for sure that is how do I reach my potential audience, but actually reaching that audience well now that’s a whole different story.

16 What marketing works for you?

Word of mouth, if you write something that touches people’s lives and the characters you create can make others feel better about themselves then they will share. I’ve learned you can never force your work on anybody or your ideas for that matter. It’s all about the characters and how the characters make you feel.

17 Do you find it hard to share your work?

I find it an absolute honor to be able to share what you’ve been given, when I see the smile on either a child’s  or adults face, and they tell me how much a character has help them, it’s an honor to have been able to share. Now to answer your question no it’s not hard to share what you’ve been blessed with.

18 Is your family supported do your friends support you?

I suppose when you’re an inventor/ writer and you do out of the norm things as my kids would say . About their dad, they just expect it, it’s normal to them. My wife on the other hand super supportive been from day one. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the love and support from my wife . Friends they support you …as long as it’s free

19 What else do you do other than write?

I own an interactive entertainment business, Jaf industries LLC, I own a small HVAC company, I am founder and inventor of A roof product, and work full-time at OSUOKC . .

20 What other jobs have you had in your life?

Well let’s see. Chopping cotton, pulling radishes, pick blueberries in Arkansas Michigan cashier, Cook, sales representative, roofer, appliance installer, HVAC technician, owner of a novelty food Booth for fairs and festivals, songwriter, fast food cook, and that’s before breakfast.

21 If you could study any subject at University what would you pick ?

Business degree and marketing

22 If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be ?

I don’t know at this point, just depends on where the opportunity takes me right now Oklahoma’s doing fine by me.

23 Tell us about your family

My dad was the traveling Preacher, my mother drifted from pillar to post,, when I was growing up . Always promising to come home but she never did, my mother and father got divorced when I was five. Dad was never the same again . I have three sisters and two brothers, im the second to the oldest,, and I have more than that . . Well that’s a lot

24 How do you write laptop pen paper in bed and read it?

All the above when an idea comes you write it down no matter where you are. Because that idea may never come again, and you will forget, it or at least I do

25 How much sleep do you need to be your best ?

As little as possible I have a lot of energy, 4 to 6 hours on average.

26 Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?

My wife, she’s been there for me when nobody else would.

27 Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is. What does success in writing look like to you?

The very first novel I wrote, was falling apart, co wrote by my wife. We went to LA, to a book signing, and sold one copy.that was the happiest day of my life because the family who bought the book. A man his wife and a teenage daughter. The man said this book will save our family. We had traveled 1300 miles and it was  well worth it.. To me that’s the greatest success you could ever ask for.

28   It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing. Tell us about your marketing campaign ?

Billboards SCO, Book signings, OSU OKC funraiser, and schools, or 20% of the proceeds  goes back to the school, Tulsa state fair, September 28 through October 8, 2017.

29 Tell us about your new book why did you write it ?

I feel like just some degree we have gotten away from the basics, of telling a good moral story, we’re good  try umps  over evil, a story that’s direct to the point, and adventure that takes you away from the every day Norm . Treasure of the magical mine moppets is a three-part series. In part one, The concept came after learning the story of my great grand father and grandfather’s struggles . Then we mixed in the boy  and the bug, its my way of dealing with everything that happened bad in the family’s past creating a wonderful timeless story, of hope love and. Rekindling faith in mankind

Check out KJ Blocker’s book on the following sites:

www.kjblocker.com

http://amzn.to/2wyK1gx

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/treasure-of-the-magical-mine-moppets-kj-blocker/1126822686?ean=9780999150740

 

An Interview With Author Sandy Smith

Author bio:

Sandi Smith spent her time as a young girl combing the shelves of the public library. She has always enjoyed the magic that books have to offer and was inspired by her high school English teacher, Mr. Coolidge to embrace the arts. The author found her calling as a writer early one morning as her first story came to her in the form of a poem. Since then she has written more than 15 children’s books, with her most popular series about the adventures of an adorable spider in the A.R. Achnid series. Sandi is happily married to her inspiration and husband of 40 years, John. She continues to write for her two precious grandchildren. When she’s not penning a new story, Sandi and John like to camp, kayak and to enjoy the simple life in their home in Pembroke, NH. To learn more about Sandi go to: http://www.authorsandismith.com

Where are you from? New Hampshire

Why do you write?  I love words and books. I always have. When I was young, I spent a very good part of my time in the public library. About ten years ago, when I suddenly started getting words and sentences in my head, day after day, night after night, I actually thought that maybe I had better go visit a doctor. Once I put the words down on paper, though, I discovered that the words could be made into a story. My stories made my grandchildren laugh, and things took off from there. I write hoping that one of my stories can bring enjoyment to someone, or that maybe it can bring inspiration into someone’s life.  I have read so many books that made me smile, and I am hoping I can do the same for someone else.

What do you write about? I never know what words are going to come to me. It can be about anything. I have written about a spider, a grasshopper, and a special magical bakery, but mostly, though, I like to write about people. Most of my children’s stories have been about different characters and what is happening in their lives, and how they handle certain situations. In my first novel, I wrote about the loss of a woman’s husband, and how she handled her anger and depression. In my second novel, I wrote about a group of different people, and how they became connected to each other.

Do you have a specific writing style? For my children’s books, I always write in poetry.

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? Sometimes trying to connect the beginning of the story to the end of the story was a bit of an obstacle. It took a lot of hot tea and cookies to help clear my mind and figure everything out.

What is the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work? I had one reader say that my novel, Sitting at the Kitchen Table with God, should be on the Best Sellers’ List.  That was pretty awesome to hear.

How long have you been writing? It has been about ten years.

When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer? It was ten years ago.  Actually, it was by accident. I am very much afraid of spiders, and one night a spider fell onto our dark rug and I couldn’t find him anywhere. I didn’t want to stay in the living room, not knowing where the spider was, so I went to bed, but once I fell asleep, words and sentences kept running through my mind. I got out of bed and wrote everything down.  The next day, I put the words all together, and a story was born. I haven’t stopped writing since then.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing? In the beginning, I wrote most of my stories at night, because the words would come to me while I was sleeping. I would get up and write down all of the words. The next day, I would put the words together to make a story.  I always had a pad of paper by my bed so I could write the words down when they came through my mind. I didn’t want to lose any new sentences or phrases. Eventually, the words slowed down at night, and I started getting more words during the day. When this all started, I was on my computer seven days a week. Some days I would write for a few hours during the day, and then sometimes I would write all day and into the night. Over the past ten years, you could usually find me in the computer room typing away.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I love to write with loud music. It inspires me. I put music on, and before I know it, my fingers are flying. 

How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non) Because the words come to me sporadically, it is a little difficult to put a time frame on my books, but I would say that my children’s books took anywhere from three months to four months. My novels took anywhere from four months to a year.

Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? I am still so new to writing that I really do not have any suggestions for anyone, except to enjoy the ride. Sometimes when I was writing, and I would get stuck at a certain point, I would get so frustrated. I couldn’t move on with the story, and that could be terrifying. I would just sit and sit at the computer waiting for words to come to me.  Then I changed my way of thinking. I learned from all of my writing, that the words would come through sooner or later, so I would just close the document and wait for the answer to hit me, and it always did.  Sometimes it would take a day, and sometimes it would take three months, but I stopped getting anxious over the block. No longer was I getting frustrated.  So, I would say relax if you feel you are not getting anywhere, because the words will come to you eventually.

What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story? The biggest challenge I face with every story that I have ever written is that I am never happy with the book.  I am always changing it around, adding new paragraphs, etc. I have my sisters read the story over and over again to make sure it all makes sense, and then I make changes and ask them to read the book again. When I am writing, I can be a bit of a challenge to my family.

What do you think makes a good story? I love a lot of different characters. They add color to the story, and make it so interesting.

What does your family think of your writing? My grandchildren love my stories, and my children are very proud. My daughter-in-law has been very helpful, also. She is a teacher, so she has been of great help with my children’s stories. My husband is my biggest fan, and is so supportive. I could not do it without his support.

Do you see writing as a career? I love writing. Right now, I am working on two new novels, but self-publishing can be very expensive, so I am not sure if I will be able to publish any future books.

Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers? I am just very grateful for the opportunity to write my stories, and I hope that when someone reads one of my books, they will get lots of enjoyment from reading the story.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? It was when a small boy asked me to sign his book, and when I did, he told me he loved my story. I was hooked from that moment on. His face was so sweet and happy, and I was overwhelmed that something I wrote could make someone that happy.

Visit Sandy’s website and Amazon page to learn more about her or to purchase her books.

http://www.authorsandismith.com

http://amzn.to/2fdd1YJ

Book Review: Three Leaves by Steven LaVey

Three Leaves

Blurb:

Three Leaves chronicles Steven LaVey’s struggles as a young man as he comes to terms with his life after fledging home from an overbearing and dominant mother. Split into three parts, each leaf of the book concerns the budding and falling of the author’s tragic romances. Throughout his search for his identity as an adult, he experiences the madness of love and an inability to control his violent emotions. This poignant memoir is the true account of a broken man nearly destroyed by his pent up rage and inability to trust anyone including himself. Three Leaves is the disturbing tale of a fight to the other side of madness and self-destruction. It reveals the man behind the trauma, the pain behind the rage, the heart behind the hatred.

Review:

The human mind can be a breeding ground for greatness or destructiveness. This true story tells us how a young man struggles with his emotions and pain due to several failures in love after leaving home. I love how the book is split into three parts, highlighting the author’s rise and fall of romances. These parts show how this man progresses from one chapter to another chapter of his life and how he mature and handles love, emotions, anger differently as he faces each failure.

I believe anyone who has gone through failures in life would be able to relate to Steven to an extent, and that is what makes this book an interesting read.

4 stars for this book

About the author:

Steven LaVey gains sustenance entirely from bits of string and came forth into existence in a vacuum down the back of a settee in 1982. His main interests are solving crimes in his kegs and searching for Japanese prisoners of war in car parks around England. He lives and works in a small puddle.

From his Novocastrian lair he has contributed subversive articles, misanthropic short-fiction and vulgar poetry towards several print and digital magazines. He lists his interests as sex, the occult, eastern and western philosophy, the attainment of the perfection of the male human-animal form through physical trials, paleolithic cookery, the art of ancient brewing and the uses of mead in ritual, the writing and wisdom of Henry Miller, and the word-magic of William S. Burroughs. Steven LaVey describes his writing as an ongoing exercise in the attempt to understand the human-animal condition through empirical evaluation.

Link to Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Leaves-Steven-LaVey/dp/1539324079

 

Author Interview: Lonna Enox

Lonna Enox is a former high school and college English instructor. She grew up on a ranch in New Mexico, where she learned to love critters, reading, and “wide open” spaces. She is a wife, mom, and grandmother, as well as the proud owner of 4 rescue pets–3 cats and a dog. Aside from an early stint as a newspaper reporter, she also spent 10 years as a freelance magazine writer. She is happiest exploring a wildlife refuge, cuddling little ones and critters, or snuggled up reading a good mystery.

We are glad to be interviewing her on our blog. We hope that you’d enjoy reading this interview. 

Describe yourself in five words:

Sensitive   Sentimental   Reserved   Kind   Hardworking

How do you work through self-doubts and fear:

I jump into the project, telling myself that I can only fail.  And failure will never define me.  Because when I fail at something, I keep working a different way until I get there—or I try something else.

What scares you the most?:

Some of the same things that scare my characters—dark corners, things that go bump in the night, losing those I love,  storms…

What makes you happiest?:

An evening at home with a good book, a kitty snuggled beside me, the dog at my feet, the sounds of little ones giggling, and…chocolate.

Why do you write?:

I write because write.  When not writing novels, I’m writing to a variety of pen pals, I’m writing lists of ideas for writing, I’m writing love notes, I’m writing in my journals…..

Have you always enjoyed writing?:

I not only cannot remember when I began writing, but it would be like not breathing to stop.

What motivates you to write?:

The greatest motivation for writing is that my mind is always busy and people tire of listening.  I see something in passing, and it inspires me.  I would be an insatiable chatterbox…and chatterboxes interrupt the lives of those around them.  So my “chatter” is written.

What writing are you most proud of? :

I am proud of anything I write that is enjoyed by the readers I am targeting.  Before writing my novels, I wrote and published a variety of magazine articles.  They had first held a place in my journals, and I labelled them “Reflections”.  When someone commented, “I have felt like that!  But I didn’t know someone else had!” I was proud to have shared that moment with them. 

What are you most proud of in your personal life?:

Besides my children and grandchildren?  I am proud of the students I taught who tell me I made a small difference in their education.  I am proud to be an American.  I am proud of the parents who not only taught my brothers and myself to value our lives but also to love.  And as I’m now writing novels, I am proud to have a husband who is a computer person.  When he hears me cry, “Oh no!”, he appears, touches something, and the chapter that had just disappeared magically returns.

What books did you love growing up?:

I love the Louisa Mae Alcott books (Little Women, Little Men), the Nancy Drew mystery books, books set during historical periods like the Civil War or the American Revolution, and books where animals were main characters.

What do you hope your obituary will say about you?:

Besides that I’d died writing my latest book at 102 while writing my next book?  Seriously, I hope it will say that I believed in education, love, and read as many books as possible.

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?:

I grew up on a cattle ranch that my great grandmother had homesteaded (widowed and mother of 6 kids) in west Texas…only 6 miles from the New Mexico border.  Except for the years I attended college in southeast Missouri, I have lived in New Mexico or Texas.  At this moment, it is in Roswell, NM.

How did you develop your writing? 

By doing it until it felt “right”.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?:

Marketing is—by far—hardest.  Writing takes tremendous energy and time, but marketing takes creativity, opportunity, courage, and luck.

What marketing works for you?:

My facebook page helps tremendously, scheduling book signings or fair booths or book club talks—anywhere I can speak to people about writing, and having a large family to buy them.

Do you find it hard to share your work? :

My articles are difficult because they are so personal.  My books are difficult because they’re like children—you adore them and know they’re the best…but you realize there may be some ‘uninformed’ people out there who may not have yet realized that.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?:

Oh, wow, yes!!  My father’s sister’s whole church ladies’ group reads them, my brothers read them, my children promote them among their friends and come up with innovative places for me to appear, my granddaughter’s teachers read them, my pastor not only advises me on police procedure but also reads them…

What else do you do, other than write? :

I read voraciously, I love to decorate anything…everything…anywhere…everywhere…J  A blank wall is a challenge waiting to be taken.  I love to travel to the beach, to wildlife refuges, to anywhere that I don’t have to be “on water”.  I love to bake at Christmas.  I’m a past leader for Girl Scouts, I lead various children’s activities in church, and survived countless slumber parties at my house.  Now, I decorate for adult activities at church, rope my husband into decorating projects, knit, bake, spoil the numerous critters I add to the pet menagerie, go to concerts, and walk.

What other jobs have you had in your life?:

To get through college, I cooked in a Dairy Queen, worked as a secretary in the college offices, babysat, cleaned houses, and even worked one summer for a weekly newspaper writing obituaries and church news.

After I graduated, I worked as a reporter on a newspaper.  After that, I taught high school English and Sp-anish.

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?:

I picked it.  I studied English and American literature and Spanish.

 If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? :

I’d live right where I was “planted”—in the American Southwest.  I love to visit other places, then come home to the forever skies, sandy plains, and people who say “yawl” and help when you need it.  But I’d go back to Hawaii at least once a year to the beach!

Tell us about your family?:

Mama was a nurse and Dad was a cowboy.   Both taught us to love what we did, to love each other, to dream, and to work to make them come true.  My mother’s dream was 3 college graduates.  People laughed at her…until she had 3.  My brother Russ is a natural born artist whose sketches and paintings are real enough to talk.  He also is a rancher and does ranch work all over the Southwest with his helicopter.  My young brother Ben spent his younger life teaching kids to play band instruments.  Now he volunteers in his community in musical activities and is a happy “grandpa”.

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?:

I write with a laptop anywhere…even outdoors.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?:

I’m not sure, as I find I sleep less with the years.  Maybe I am afraid I won’t get everything written if I sleep too much.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?:

My family—the parents who gave tirelessly to ensure I would be educated, the grandparents who told stories to make me realize there is more than the written word, my children who are never embarrassed by my writing, my grandchildren who have read my first book even as they are still quite young.  My husband tirelessly tramps through the wilderness, takes photos, help with the computer, and discusses all sorts of technical problems with me.  But most of all, I’d thank Mrs. Sloman, my first grade teacher, who said, “Write?  That’s easy.  I can show you.  Then you can write for always.”

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?:

Success is when a complete stranger spends their money on your book, or takes the time to send you a note to say they enjoyed it, or shows to a book signing.  Success is the joy deep inside when you hold each new one in your hands.  Success is the warm spot inside when you know you’ve touched a dream and snuggled it into your heart.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?:

I blog on my facebook page, I book numerous appearances including fairs, book signings, talks to book clubs, talks to civic groups, talks to schools, etc.  In all of it, I focus on why this book, these characters, this story will appeal to them.

Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?:

My new book is a sequel to the first two.  Currently, I am writing book four, which may or may not be the end of this series.  I’m writing it because they are still “talking” to me…and they still have a part of their story that hasn’t been told.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?:

I read, watch a movie or television, walk the dog (Maggie), tramp through wilderness, browse through a book store, go to a concert or play.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?:

I hope they will enjoy the characters—smile at their humor, cheer for their success—and appreciate my Southwest culture and beauty.

Do you have links that you’d like to share for others to read? 

Lonnaenox.org – Website

www.facebook.com/lonnaenoxauthor – fan page

Check out her books at http://amzn.to/2wqfKR4 

Thank you for reading and do connect with her on Facebook.

Author Interview: Margaret Segal, Author of ‘The Adventures of Harry the Inside-Outside Cat’

It’s our pleasure to be interviewing Margaret, a children’s book author. Her book, ‘The Adventures of Harry the Inside-Outside Cat’ is currently ranked #2732 on Amazon.

#2732 in Books > Children’s Books > Animals > Cats

Check out her interview below.

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Margaret Segal

Margaret Segal, Author of “The Adventures of Harry the Inside-Outside Cat”

Blurb:

Harry the Inside/Outside Cat, who lives on the corner of a strip shopping center in a busy town, is beloved by virtually every business owner and customer who shops and strolls that corner.  Then, he disappears for 3 weeks. The community that loves him puts out flyers and phone alerts. When he comes back safe and sound, everyone is happy, but very curious and concerned: where did Harry go? And will he disappear again?

A portion of the proceeds from this book’s sales will be donated to the Jackson Galaxy Foundation, which supports the welfare and well-being of cats around the world.

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The Adventures of Harry the Inside-Outside Cat

 

  • Where are you from? Philadelphia, PA, but I currently live in Cary, NC.
  • Why do you write? To express myself and to respond to the real world in a way that I hope will engage, inspire, entertain, or move others.
  • What do you write about? Commentary on the state of the world, everyday experiences that touch, inspire, or even upset me, and now, fun, cute, sweet stories, one of which relates to a real-life cat named Harry.
  • Do you have a specific writing style? Actually, no – I’ve written in many different styles, as you can see from my response to the above question. 
  • What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work? A reader told me that my book about Harry touched her deeply, because she had recently lost her beloved cat, whose name was Timmy, and Harry’s looks and personality reminded her so much of him.  She shared that reading my book helped her to reach a sense of closure about her cat’s passing.
  • How long have you been writing? Off and on for 25 years.
  • When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?  It’s hard to pinpoint a specific “when”, but it probably was when I entered an essay contest many years ago in a local paper where I was living, and it won first prize and was published.  I remember thinking, “gee, maybe writing is something I should really get into.”
  • How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non) Harry’s book is my first published book (though I’ve had many other pieces published – essays, poetry, humor, commentary, etc.).  It didn’t take a long time, because the story was such a delight it sort of flowed.
  • Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? Find a balance between motivating yourself in a healthy way rather than putting undue pressure on yourself. Writing is like life – it ebbs and flows, and sometimes you just have to “go with it” and try not to drive yourself crazy about your motivation or productivity level when it comes to your writing. 
  • What do you think makes a good story? Appealing characters (including the non-human ones, like Harry!), good dialogue, enough action to keep the story going, but also enough quieter moments that can reveal something about the story or character(s).
  • What does your family think of your writing?  They love it, thank goodness.
  • Do you see writing as a career? No – I see writing as a special part of my life that I’m able to interweave with the other parts.

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Check out her website page at:

www.harrytheinsideoutsidecat.com

Link to Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/HarryTheInsideOutsideCat/

Link to Amazon:
http://amzn.to/2eTcAyV

Book Review: The Tattoo by Ronald Destra

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The Tattoo by Ronald Destra

Review:

This book is yet to be published on Amazon. It has 32 pages with illustrations. This story is about Stacie who wanted to get a tatoo for herself so badly but was warned not to do so by her mom. Stacie later learnt from her grandmother that her mom is against the idea of getting inked for a reason. Upon knowing it, Stacie realizes that life can be complicated and dangerous.

A 5-star for this well-written short book.

Author Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Ronald-Destra/e/B009QQBL48

Looking for Group Author Interview Participants from the Religion, Spirituality & New Age Genre

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Pic credit: https://www.careers.govt.nz/job-hunting/new-to-new-zealand/job-interviews-in-new-zealand/

At International Book Promotion, we host group author interviews where we group-interview authors from different genres every month and gather the answers for each question from all authors. We will then post each question together with the answers from all participating authors. This time round, we have decided to interview authors from the #Religion, #Spirituality & #New Age genre.

To sign up or to read more, please visit this post

All you have to do is to share this post with authors who may be interested to join us for the interview.