Author Live Chat with Fans

Sunday: Real-Life Inspiring Stories

27th July 2025 8 PM CST on Facebook page (International Book Promotion) – watch on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/InternationalBookPromotion/videos/1735328764010411

Author Live Chat with Ernest Randolph

About the author:

Ernest Randolph has been in ministry since 1986, working with youth and adults, pointing them to Jesus. After graduating with his master’s in Youth Ministry from Denver Seminary in 1994, he worked as a youth pastor, as well as a lay pastor in churches around the Denver area. For the last five years, he has followed a call to lead a Bible study in the local bar, teaching the Word of God to a whole new demographic. This opportunity has forced him to dig deep into the biblical message of salvation and discover how God has provided the perfect means to save everyone: rich, poor, strong, weak, young, old, sinner, or saint. The way of the cross kept screaming out to him as the only way possible to provide for the reconciling all people from all walks of life to God. He wrote this book to remind you of that same message of the cross, which is the life-changing power of God to everyone who believes.

Ranjit Kulkarni is an author with a penchant for portraying characters from the real world and weaving stories around their apparently mundane lives. He is the creator of Jigneshbhai and Swami.

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Kulkarni spent his childhood in the environs of urban, middle-class India. As an adult, he spent over two decades as a corporate executive in technology and consulting; and his writing is inspired from his experiences from the real urban world of work and life.

With his constant knack for observation and a deep-seated fondness of reflection, he loves crafting sensitive tales that entertain and provoke thought. When not writing, Kulkarni loves reading and going on trips with his wife.

Where are you from?

I am from Bangalore India

Why do you write? 

I write to entertain and to provoke thought

What do you write about? 

I write short stories and am the creator of the characters Jigneshbhai and Swami. My short stories are about urban characters and the hidden stories behind their apparently mundane lives. My Jigneshbhai and Swami stories and articles are topical, slice-of-life conversations between two friends that pack humor and wisdom

Do you have a specific writing style?

My writing is set in the real world of work and life, and my style is largely contemporary with a tinge of humor, satire and wisdom that leave you with something to think.

What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

When a reader told me that he could identify with the characters and relate to the situations faced by them in one of my works, it was a memorable experience.

How long have you been writing?

For five years, since it became one of my primary pre-occupations, and for over fifteen years off and on, part-time.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I write for a couple of hours in the mornings most workdays in a week, have a break around lunch, and then after a nap and coffee, start writing again for an hour or two in the evening

How long does it take to write a book?

I used to try to finish a collection every 4-5 months earlier. I wrote my first four books in less than two years. But now, for the past three years, I have learnt to take my time and try to write one book every year

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

Practice, practice and practice. You become a writer by writing. Spend your early time writing to discover your style and voice, and then get better at the craft and sharpen it using words

What do you think makes a good story?

A good story must have strong, well-defined characters that the audience can identify with, and at least major conflict – with a person or a situation or anything – that he or she is trying to grapple with.

What does your family think of your writing? 

My family is a big supporter of my writing. My wife is my first reader and critic, and my son perhaps my permanent audience. They have been big pillars of strength that a writer inevitably needs in the writing journey.

Do you see writing as a career?

I see writing as a hobby and a vocation that can become a second career. I spent over two decades as a corporate executive, which was my first career, and helped me make a living for myself and my family. Writing makes that living worth it now in my fifties and beyond.

What books did you love growing up? 

I loved reading books by PG Wodehouse, especially the Jeeves and Bertie ones, and I read a lot of Chekhov, Roald Dahl and Indian writers like Ruskin Bond and PL Deshpande

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

I was born and brought up in Mumbai, spending my childhood in urban, middle-class India. As an adult, I spent over two decades as a corporate executive in technology and consulting, due to which I travelled a lot enjoying the cityscapes in America, blend of nature and urbanity in Europe and the sights and sounds of Asian capitals. I now live in Bangalore, which is often called the Silicon Valley of India. My writing is inspired from my experiences in the urban real world of work and life.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing? 

Writing and getting published are relatively manageable for me. But I find marketing my work the hardest, partly due to the nature of the vocation, partly due to my introvert nature.

What marketing works for you?

I think engaging with readers who like my voice or style and those who identify with the characters and situations I write about, and providing them with snippets of my writing (from my blog, online or other channels) works for me

What else do you do, other than write? 

I am an avid investor in capital markets and am passionate about financial independence. I like to travel to and explore new places as well as trek in the Himalayas. I am a student of spirituality and a reader of scriptures.

What other jobs have you had in your life? 

I have worked as a corporate executive in the field of consulting and technology in the field of data analytics in different roles for over two decades. I also take up part-time consulting assignments in data analytics.

Tell us about your family? 

My family consists of my wife of 27 years, my adult son and my elderly father. My wife is a doctor, and my son is a finance professional working in consulting. My father, now 84, is a retired government servant.

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

I write on my laptop and have a writing desk where I write. I used to write on my mobile when I started many years back but not anymore. I have a diary and a pen that I carry to jot down story ideas but expand on them on my laptop.

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

Success in writing to me is to create a meaningful body of work that I feel satisfied leaving behind – as something timeless that entertains and provokes thought, even if it is for a small audience of readers who resonate with it.

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

Yes, it is vital – not as much for fame or money – but for the satisfaction of my writing impacting someone, and for the readers to resonate with it. I don’t have any marketing campaigns planned and would love any help on it 😊

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask? 

PG Wodehouse with Bertie and Jeeves, Chekhov, Ruskin Bond, Arjuna and Sri Krishna from the Mahabharata!

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

I hope people get entertained on reading my writing, and identify with the character and situations I write about. I hope my writing provokes thought in them, and brings a smile on their face, makes them laugh at themselves, and sometimes gets a tear.

My author website is https://ranjitkulkarni.com/

My Amazon author page is https://www.amazon.in/stores/author/B0881Z1QRS/

I share my writing often in the form or articles, stories and updates on my blog at this website. Readers may consider joining my WhatsApp group to get occasional updates on my writing at: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ETNcqMZ1f490vUkp20geLI or scan this code

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be…” ― Kurt Vonnegut

Milan Gotcher was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Falls Church, Virginia. He graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in English, with a concentration in Myths and Folklore, and from Louisiana State University of Shreveport with an M.Ed. in reading and literacy.

He then worked as a substitute teacher for two years before moving into administrative roles as a Government Contractor. He is currently employed as a Management Analyst for the Department of Homeland Security, CISA.

Away from his day job, Milan has been an aspiring writer for some time. He has just completed his first novel, which follows the central character, Damian Frost. The young man has always felt like a wayward soul and has been searching for purpose and a sense of belonging.

His first novel, When Fortune Knocks, debuted in late November 2024 and is now available on multiple websites, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Today, Milan lives in Front Royal, Virginia, with his wife, their two dogs, and one cat. In his free time, he enjoys writing, brewing his own beer, coaching high school football, and driving around the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Milan fully intends to continue writing more books that people can relate to and already has several other novels in various stages of completion, one of which is a sequel to his first.

You can contact or connect with Milan Gotcher at:

Twitter: @CoachG_GotEm

Email: milangotcher @ gmail.com

Where are you from?

I was born in Washington, DC, raised in Falls Church, VA, and currently live in Front Royal, VA

Why do you write? 

Growing up, I loved writing and the arts. However, it wasn’t until college that I began taking writing seriously and joined my university’s newspaper. I stopped writing for a time, then picked it back up and published my first novel last November.

What do you write about? 

I love what I call “Small Stories”—narratives about relatable events in people’s lives that often go unnoticed because they don’t impact the world as a whole. I think people have become accustomed to reading stories where the world is at stake or where some supernatural event needs to be stopped. They overlook the average person and how their small accomplishments can be world-changing, even if no one notices.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I would say I do. I use a lot of descriptions regarding the world or areas of my stories, and I feel that my dialogue is realistic and natural flow.

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

Time is a big one. I work as a government contractor, and depending on the state of the world, I can be fairly busy. I took a break from writing after graduating from college, and that was mainly to grind for money and earn references for full-time jobs.

What’s the most memorable thing a reader asked/said about your work?

Recently, Jeremy Page, a writer in the UK, wrote to me and said that he really liked the quality of my work. It was encouraging to hear that from someone who was published traditionally.

How long have you been writing?

Like I said, I’ve written on and off for some time now, but I’ve taken it more seriously in the last 5 years. Along with publishing my first novel, I’ve also participated in several short story and flash fiction contests in that time.

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

I really felt like I had a story to tell shortly after deciding not to pursue a teaching role and focus on the government sphere. It was a hard decision, but how I got there was a large basis for my first novel.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I mostly write at night when my wife is asleep on the couch. It’s quiet, and for whatever reason, my mind goes crazy with story ideas.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I leave subtle humor throughout my writing, even on heavier topics.

How long does it take to write a book?

Well, my first novel took me four years to write (and rewrite), then another few years editing it myself and with the help of editors, and also shopping it around to publishers and literary agents. That being said, I’m more than halfway done with several novels I started in mid-2024, and I will be done with the first drafts by early this summer.

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

Keep writing. It’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten. Also, enter short story competitions, especially free ones—a good way to tackle specific topics or different genres and flex your writing muscle.

What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

The middle is always a struggle for me. I come up with great concepts for a novel and complete beginnings and ends, but in the middle, I struggle with.

What does your family think of your writing? 

They love it. I didn’t tell them about it until I was getting ready to publish my first novel. But since learning about it they’ve been very supportive.

Do you see writing as a career?

Right now, no, it’s a hobby that brings some passive income, but who knows, one day, it might be. If I keep working at it, anything is possible.

Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

I just want to thank anyone who orders my novel. I hope they understand that each read and purchase isn’t about money for me; it brings me joy that others enjoy my work. Also, reviews go a long way, so please leave them (haha).

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I wrote for my high school newspaper, “The Jagwire”.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-fortune-knocks-milan-d-gotcher/1146610618?ean=9798218554460

I currently live and work on a remote cattle ranch in the canyon land wilderness of Northern New Mexico— a job I have had since year 2001. You may find my writing projects at my web site http://davidmichaelrice.com

Where are you from?

I am from Planet Autismtah, where neurotypical people are welcome to visit as long as it is understood that when they are invited over for dinner, they will be the main entrée. Before moving off-planet, I lived in some of the Southern California beach cities.

Why do you write? 

I have an ego the size of a typical gas giant, such as Jupiter: I crave attention, ergo I write. A few people in online writers’ forums have asked me why I write, and when I have told them, some have said “Well, at least you’re honest about it.”  But, why else would anyone write? I also have some difficulty communicating with everyone who is not my brother, and I find that I do the best job of communicating using the written word.

What do you write about? 

I have enjoyed / suffered from a few adventures that would make a sane person blanch as white as Taylor Swift; along the way, I have grown wise in some aspects regarding how to be a human here on the killing floor called “Earth.” I also write humor, and I am currently writing a humorous Cozy murder mystery.

Do you have a specific writing style?

My writing style is “sarcastic:” a type of stand-up comedian approach that teaches a lesson while keeping the reader engaged and entertained.

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

Real life keeps me busy, as I am a ranch hand on a cattle ranch in Northern New Mexico. A day of work under the harsh summer sun leaves me with little enthusiasm to write, but I manage to soldier on.

What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

The writer Douglas Preston read my memoir twice, which I still find amazing, and he wrote of the memoir: “It’s a cynical, outrageous, politically incorrect, foul-mouthed and absolutely hilarious modern-day Walden.” This, of course, increased the girth of my already obese ego.

How long have you been writing?

I had my first professional sale in year 1985, for the handsome sum of $87.50 to American Astrology Magazine. I was perfectly fine whoring myself out to write that which I knew damn well just ain’t true. I am a slut.

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

Around age ten I discovered Louis La’mour books, and they were so amazing that I wanted to be him; later I wanted to write like him; later still I wanted to write like no one else. This seems like the proper progression for a writer. (By age sixteen years, I had read the encyclopedia set that my grandfather had given to me and my brother.)

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I first eat a hearty breakfast of milk chocolate and potato chips, as this is the most important meal of the day (when I can afford such extravagant, yet proletarian, fare). I then go back to bed and let the newly ingested minerals and vitamins permeate via my caffeine stream while what little blood I have gets out of the way: this is because I only write when I have a day free from other labors. After the dog drags me out of bed, I review what I had written a week earlier, tell myself that it is excellent, and put half of it in the digital trash bin because it is crap. I then bleed words out of the keyboard and onto the hard drive that does not hold the porn. Often, I will get off of my ass and pace the cabin floor while I verbally abuse myself with loving advice such as “Who the fuck said you could write? Moron! That paragraph reads like a penguin stoned on meth and peyote dictated it to a wanton tart in some honky-tonk dive bar while “servicing” Latter-Day Saint elders at five bucks a go.” And so on. I then sit down, calm down, take another hit of chocolate, and write until my eyes hurt.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Gosh: I was born this way.

How long does it take to write a book?

Generally, it takes me about nine months to write the first draft, the developmental edit, the second draft, and then shelve the manuscript for a few months. The MS then either ripens into a glorious pizza dough, or rots into something my dog might find in the forest and eat.

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

Persevere.

What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

Like most people who wish to write, my greatest challenge is finding free time to write.

What do you think makes a good story?

A writer needs to know how to start a novel with a hook that forces readers to keep reading. Each scene must place the reader into it via the five senses: show what the environment looks like, smells like, sounds like, tastes like, and smells like. Each chapter must end with a sentence or two that compels the reader to turn the page. If a word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, or chapter is not necessary to move the story forward, delete it. I write as if I am sitting at a camp fire and telling stories to my friends: no gimmicks, no attempts at flowery prose—- just the raw story.

What does your family think of your writing? 

My brother is my greatest fan.

Do you see writing as a career?

What? A writing career? Hell, no! I want a singing career, like John Denver’s.

Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

I treat readers as adults, and that means I write for intelligent readers. Often I have read books where the writer seems to have uneducated, dim-witted, juvenile readers at the target audience: this is greatly insulting to their readers.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I was suddenly a writer when I saw the positive reviews come flooding in. Woo hoo!