Author Spotlight

March 12, 2021

An Interview with Author Jaroslaw Kotkowski (Free Kindle from 12th through 14th March)

Jaroslaw Kotkowski
Jaroslaw Kotkowski

For over the past 30 years, Jaroslaw Kotkowski is researching creating love, relationships, happiness, the spiritual connection. At present, he is coaching believers who want to learn love creating skills individually through his homepage: kotkowskiconsulting.com. Jaroslaw also started a group project through his other homepage: lovestepbystep.com. He hopes to help countries, world organizations to preserve world peace. His new programs aim at connecting humanity with spirits from the life part of the non-material world.

Free e-book promotion for the book below on Kindle starts March 12 till March 14th. These are three days: 12,13,14th.

Love Step By Step: Create a connection and a relationship with a man

Where are you from?

I am Jaroslaw Kotkowski, I was born in Poland and I am naturalized US citizen. I am Relationships and Love, mentor and coach.

Why do you write? 

I write so I can help people with Love and Relationships any way I can. Love and Relationships are immense phenomenon. These are the amazingly interesting an involving, and I experience abundance of Love in my earthly life and in my Spirit.

What do you write about? 

I write books about Love and Relationships, that combine information about Love and Relationships with practical ways to create Love and The Spiritual Connection between people on individual and global levels.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I write straight in English but English is not my native language. My goal is to find the way to explain Love and Relationships in the most simple way, because I want my information to have a practical use, so people can find Love and Relationships accessible to them and welcome Love and Relationships into their Spirits.

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

I have found in my earthly life that creating Love and Relationships is possible and fun, while many people struggle with it. The understanding of Love and Relationship I have discovered is new and different from the popular beliefs. Like anything that is new the obstacle is; how to point a readers attention she (he) can benefit from what I write in the major way?

Whats the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

This is my first book I am publishing on Kindle so at the end of my book I share a contact info to me. This way I hope to hear from my readers a lot of great things, because Love and Relationships are the most amazing phenomenon, and I feel I could talk about them forever.

How long have you been writing?

My writing started from me writing down my notes on Love and Relationships from my own life. I have noticed I am receiving too many information and my human brain will not remember it unless I write it down. Then like two years ago I started to write books, because the information I have can be divided into many categories.

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

I remember once my girlfriend said to me: “How do you know Love so well? You probably wrote a book”. At that moment something happened, and I felt I have to write a book one day. I just did not believe I could. I guess, I felt people might not believe in what I write, and I was afraid of being ridiculed. But I am not afraid anymore, because I have realized what I know might be important for many people.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I write at night. I usually wake up between 2-4 am. Then I meditate and I write when there is a complete silence around me.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I guess, this is combining writing with meditating.

How long does it take to write a book?

During the daytime I do not have the time to write books. If I had the time to write straight that could take much faster. I would need to find a secluded place for this. Sometimes I write half of a book and I forget about it, or where did I save my file. I want to stabilize my writing lifestyle. I will when I become more successful and known as a writer. For now, I just have to write whenever I can, so it is hard to say how long does it take for me to write a book.

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

I have no idea how to become a better writer. I am not even sure if I am familiar with English grammar in the first place. I just write the way it feels right. For now, my goal is to find the most helpful writing style, so I could help people to stop struggling with Love, Relationships and start becoming Love.

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

The worst that can happen when I write are two things: any noise coming from the material world, and if I have to stop writing for some external reason. Other than that, I could write without stopping.

What do you think makes a good story?

My stories are about one thing and that is Love. I have found that any good story must have Love in it. Our life stories also have to have Love to be good. I just found that Love is the story that never ends.

What does your family think of your writing?

My family think I am crazy and great. I am crazy because it is not possible to change the world for the better. I am great because they love me and I love them too, so we all act a bit crazy sometimes.

Do you see writing as a career?

I see writing as something I must do. Also, something I wish to support my family with. I am afraid; if I can’t support my family with writing I would have to choose between writing, and my family. But I want to choose; my family, writing, and my fans.

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

I love you and I am sending Love to you with my book

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

This is my first book right here. So, I guess I am in the process of becoming a writer.

https://www.lovestepbystep.com/

https://lsbscommunity.medium.com/

Hire Jaroslaw as your coach today here – t.ly/OBEo

March 9, 2021

An Interview with Author Dr. Juan Marcos Bejarano-Gutierrez

Dr. Juan Marcos Bejarano-Gutierrez
Dr. Juan Marcos Bejarano-Gutierrez

Rabbi Juan Marcos Bejarano Gutierrez is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas. He earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He studied at the Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland. He received a Master of Arts Degree in Judaic Studies. He completed his doctoral studies at the Spertus Institute in Chicago in 2015. He studied at the American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism and received rabbinic ordination in 2011 from Yeshivat Mesilat Yesharim.

Rabbi Bejarano Gutierrez was a board member of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies from 2011-2013. He has published various articles in HaLapid, The Journal for Spanish, Portuguese and Italian Crypto-Jews, and Apuntes-Theological Reflections from a Hispanic-Latino Context. He is the author of What is Kosher? and What is Jewish Prayer? and eighteen other books on Jewish history and interfaith dialogue.

  • Where are you from?

I am a native Texan.  I was born in Dallas and currently live in the suburb of Grand Prairie. I have traveled extensively in the US and abroad but enjoy living in Texas.

  • Why do you write? 

Writing is a unique vehicle to communicate the things I have learned. My undergraduate degree was in engineering. But my master’s and doctorate were focused on Jewish studies. I also received rabbinic ordination, and a vital part of communicating a lesson or class is through writing. Every graduate class required extensive research papers. My thesis and dissertation were challenging projects, but they helped cultivate my love of writing.

  • What do you write about? 

I write on three primary topics. The first is the history of Sephardic Jews, i.e., the history of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. The second is on the Jewish background of Christianity and Jewish-Christian interfaith dialogue. I believe this second topic is critical in today’s world as we seek to foster a better understanding of these two historic religions. The last area I write on is about general Jewish topics related to Jewish life, practice, and observance.

  • Do you have a specific writing style?

Most of my writing is academic because of my studies. However, I recently started writing fiction. It’s an adventure for me since I have not done this before.  I still do quite a bit of research for my novels, but obviously, creativity is essential here. The story is not “fixed” as my academic titles are.

  • What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

The critical issue is time. I am an engineer by day. I am a husband to a beautiful wife and a father of three little boys. I am also the rabbi of two small communities, so fitting in writing is challenging. It usually happens before everyone is up or while I am holding the baby.

  • Whats the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

A reader of one of my books titled Killing the Torah: The Origins of Christian Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism noted that they had reconsidered their previous theological assumptions after finishing the work. It was extremely encouraging because it highlighted my goal of thoughtful consideration and reassessment of age-old views.

  • How long have you been writing?

I started writing my first book when I was in college ~1993. I didn’t finish that book until 2004. I dropped writing beyond my academic requirements until 2016 and have been writing consistently since.

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

I was always an avid reader. I won an award for reading the most pages in the second grade, but I didn’t imagine my love for reading would translate to writing. Books have always been part of my life, and I have owned small bookstores in past years, so the jump to writing was not a radical one, I believe.

  • What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I am a full-time engineer, so my writing is limited to mornings before work, sometimes during lunch, mainly in the evenings. My time is rarely focused solely on writing. I usually have the baby in my arms, trying to give my wife a break. So it comes in spurts.

  • What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I suppose I set an unrealistic schedule for finishing a project. It makes me motivated to write more, and while no one is setting the due date, the pressure seems to add some energy to the project.

  • How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non)

This all depends on the type. I have one book that is 562 pages long. It’s a scholarly review of early Christianity in its Jewish contexts titled Forgotten Origins: The Lost Jewish History of Jesus and Early Christianity. I believe that one took me a solid six months. I have other works that are much shorter and can take roughly two months.

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

I think reading your writing aloud or having someone do that can be very helpful. I am converting many of my books to audio now. When I hear the narrator read certain sentences, they sound very different to me. I think it’s a necessary process to help the writer to improve the style of their manuscript.

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

In my academic writing, there is always a challenge in how much to include or how much to leave out. Some books are intended as a basic introduction, and then I receive comments about how the book needed more explanation. However, if I write a more in-depth work, it can be challenging for many people.

  • What do you think makes a good story?

As far as fiction is concerned, I think the unexpected. This is a new genre for me, so I am drawing from fiction writers that I like. Translating that to my stories can be complicated, but I feel that it’s a process like anything.

  • What does your family think of your writing? 

My wife is incredibly supportive. She also writes. My eight-year-old son just finished a short book which he published through Story Jumper. He was so excited to receive a physical copy. He was proud to show it to me and said it was just like the books I published.

  • Do you see writing as a career?

It’s a dream. I’ve sold ~20,000 books so far since 2018, so I am far off from that goal, but I feel I am making progress. I am working toward that goal every day.

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

If you are interested in the nexus between Judaism and Christianity in a respectful manner and yet also want something historically accurate which delves into complicated issues like anti-Semitism,  I believe you will enjoy my books.

  • When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Amazon has the Best Sellers Ranks for various categories. Once I saw my books appearing regularly on the top 100 list of several categories, I felt legitimate enough to say I was a writer. Of course, I want to see this consistently for more titles, but it gave me the confidence to continue writing.

March 4, 2021

An Interview with Author Kendra Williams-Manuel

Author Kendra Williams-Manuel

Hello, I’m your author Kendra Williams-Manuel, I grew up in Missouri and I reside there with my husband and son. God and family are so important to me, my life would be different without the two. I started my journey of writing when I was a young child trying to escape my world so I could push through hard times. Writing is my life, it’s my passion. Writing can expand your thought process and can unravel masterpieces if you allow yourself to be taken into the zone of creativity, I’ve learned that on my journey. I encourage all writers to work on their craft daily.

  • What motivates you to write? Ideas in my mind that needs to be written down, I’m compelled to write.
  • Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it? My new book, “The Mental Journal I Kept on my Sister’s Downfall”, is a memoir about my beloved sister who passed away last February due to abuse and cancer. I wrote this book to show awareness to  the abuse, the medical system, and to help others through death and forgiveness.
  • When you are not writing, how do you like to relax? Well, I’m a wife and mother to a ten year autistic boy so I spend time with them. They keep me young.
  • Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support? My readers and followers who have supported me through my books, my podcast Mystified, and  on my YouTube Channel Kenthetoryteller Williams-Manuel. I’m so grateful for them!
  • Where are you from? I am from Missouri, a Midwest baby.  
  • Why do you write?  I write because writing is my world, I’ve been writing since I was a young child. Writing helps expand my creativity.
  • What do you write about? I mainly write suspense and horror stories. I grew up watching the Goosebumps series and Steven King movies. I just love to get people’s blood boiling with a little scare. I sometimes scare myself in the process.
  • Do you have a specific writing style? I do, I write short stories and novels on purpose. I believe you don’t need a lengthy book or story to tell a great one. No disrespect to those who have them.
  • Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? Write every day, even if it’s not long. Expanding your creativity could get you a great story or stories one day. Perfecting your craft is the key.
  • What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story? I struggle with trying to create a perfect story, I guess because I am a perfectionist, but what I realized is; a story to me may be okay but great for someone else.

Purchase link: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/The-Mental-Journal-I-Kept-on-my-Sisters-Downfall

Follow me on Instagram as Kenthestoryteller (https://www.instagram.com/kenthestoryteller/)

Facebook Business Page: @ThrillinNovelist

February 11, 2021

An Interview with Author Royal Gatson

Royal Gatson
Author Royal Gatson

Royal Gatson is a preacher, author, supervisor, and landlord. He is passionate about helping people in various ways. He is motivated and believes all things are possible to him who believes that all things are possible.

Where are you from? I am originally from Texas, but I now live in Kansas City.

Describe yourself in five words? Hard-working, enthusiastic, dependable, motivated, sociable

Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it? The book I just recently published is Proverbs Man. We have heard about the Proverbs 31 woman, but I never saw anything for men. So after some studying and praying I realized I needed to write this book. It is a smooth read, but it is also deep at the same time. A lot of revelation mixed with practical examples. I know it is a book that can help anyone.

Have you always enjoyed writing? No, I haven’t. Of course, I had to do a lot of writing in college. However, it was never something I enjoyed doing. I didn’t hate it, but it was just what I needed to do for school.

Why do you write? Honestly, I started writing because I had a lot of information in my head and nowhere to put it. So, I would just write things down along the way. Now it has turned into something that I do more frequently.

Gatson’s Book

What motivates you to write? People, I know what write down is something that help so many people that I may never get the chance to meet. Also, I know if I write it down and publish it then it will outlive me. What I write can help someone 300 years from now. I just want to make a difference.

Do you find it hard to share your work? Well, it isn’t my nature to be a pushy sells man. Nor do I bring it up in the context of a conversation unless it is natural. But at the same time, I know what I wrote, and I know it’s good. So, I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t talk about it or share it occasionally.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success inwriting look like to you? Growth and consistency. As long as I continue to get better, that’s successful. Success is also doing everything I intended to do. Meaning, if I have 5 book ideas in my head but stop at 2 because I got discouraged or because I was content with my success then that isn’t successful to me. I was already writing other books before I released the first one. That is because I know what I am supposed to be doing. As long as I stay consistent and continue to grow then that is successful to me. Which in time will also bring “success”.

How do you work through self-doubts and fear? By continuing to tell myself what God told me. God sees the end picture so I can’t let what I see in the moment discourage me. You have got to keep saying it until you believe it.

Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? Just keep writing. The moment you stop is the moment you stop improving and start declining.

February 10, 2021

An Interview with Author Afonso Amaral

Afonso Amaral
Afonso Amaral

A practical and methodical professional with Lean Management, strong leadership and communication skills. A visionary with good eye for details particularly underlining performance improvement. A good planner skilled in gathering and analyzing information, used on development of strategies to achieve targets, maximizing profits.
Main objectives are to eventually open a business improvement consultancy company.

Hobbies:
Great sports lover, currently trying to finish writing my book( my own private challenge)

Where are you from?

I’m Portuguese, born in Sao Tome, my parents moved to Lisbon from my early age of 2, have then moved to England since 1996, so can consider myself a son of many countries, as I do embrace and consider all to be home

Describe yourself in five words,

Considerate, Self-critical, determined, friend to my friends, competitive

What fact about yourself would really surprise people? 

I’m quite shy, it takes time for me to feel at ease with someone

What scares you the most? 

If for some reason was no longer able to learn something new, to develop myself

What makes you happiest? 

Knowing that each day can bring a new opportunity, seeing my grandchild grow and smile, being able to help others expecting nothing in return

A book by Afonso Amaral

Why do you write? 

“Am I a Leader?” is my fist take on writing, my motivation and biggest driver into this book was the fact have seen so many bad or poor leaders destroying or negatively affecting the lives of people who under someone better equipped would have flourished to become good leaders themselves, have seen it for many years and lately started thinking that with a book like this I could actually help both sides, the leader and those who have suffered as they did not know how to deal with the situation, how to approach someone and talk about it.

What do you write about? 

My first book is about leadership, although more about the interactions and eventually mutual support between leader and follower, focused on the meaning and essence of leadership, however described by someone who has been on both sides and knows how bad a wrong decision or even posture can finish other’s ambitions

The book will be available for purchase on 22 February 2021

Do you have a specific writing style?

cannot say yet

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

finding the right things to say, as you write there is a need to be conscious about what is being said, how will it be taken, but as you realise that it will mostly help it becomes easier to relax and say it as it is.

How long have you been writing?

This is my first book to be published however have turned writing to my hobby for many years, at the age of about 20 use to write poems and kept it in a notebook back in Portugal.

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

Being a writer is not something I can even imagine myself becoming to be honest unless I can see the work rewarded through be change on people’s lives, that is the reason have written this book, it was not about making loads of money, I would like to know that my book has had a positive impact on people, then would consider writing another and maybe at that stage consider myself a writer.

How long does it take to write a book?

It took me about 4 months to write this one but have had the manuscript in my head for some time therefore it was quicker to put pen to paper, otherwise believe that it would have taken about 6-8 months as there was quite some research done while writing.

What do you think makes a good story?

Anything that engages people’s minds, or hearts

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

Psychology, I’m passionate about the human mind, I do enjoy immensely to learn about other cultures, so anything related to human mind and the way it functions amazes me, hence the fact enjoying working with diversity, people from around the world, different cultures, ways of thinking, etc…

What does your family think of your writing? 

my family was quite supportive

Do you see writing as a career?

As previously mentioned, it depends on how this one goes, my book was written for the mass, written in plain English so it can reach all, will want to see the impact on others before considering another

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

First will say that many great authors have written about leadership, but most have done it based on research or academic studies, my book is based on life experiences, based on actual facts witnessed, added to some research.

Would then like that all those who purchase the book or not to know that this was done for you, and for me “you” are all those I have witnessed being bullied or pushed aside by poor leaders, those who feel undervalued, those who believe there is no way out or you will never be someone. But then again “you” are all those who manage through fear, authority or simply do not know how to lead. Really hoping that something positive will be delivered into your future lives.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I do not consider myself a writer, too early to say that

February 1, 2021

An author interview with Denis Brown

Denis Brown
Denis Brown

A Beautiful Mind Is Poetry Defined, brings you warmth, passion, heart, and more importantly storytelling in a refreshingly creative way.

The writer delves into the crux of what it means to be a human living in a turbulent and ever-pressing world. With humour in some of its undertones, this collection of poems comes from the unique inspirational mind of Denis Brown, who believes that poetry is the outward expression of an inward emotion.

Poetry is the inner voice that captures both jubilation and frustration, that wrestles with the enemies within. Whether angel or demons, your heart would sing. It’s the score of music of your life, filled with victories and filled with strife. It’s the silent chamber of your mind, where you as a person are defined.

With a deep sense of passion expressed in current topical issues and life in its entirety. His aim was to fan the flames of poetry once again. To release his inspiration, and energy into looking at life with new purpose new vigour, not just to take everything on the chin, but to stand up and be counted, to speak up and say, how he feels about his world today.

We are by far the most creative all of all the species known to man. There is nothing that we cannot do. This is what inspired me to write a book on poetry to be read by you. Thank you for hopefully touching your life in a real and wonderful way.

https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Mind-Poetry-Defined-ebook/dp/B08R2Z1WMT
A book by Denis Brown

Where are you from?

I was born in Calcutta India back in 1960

Why do you write? 

Mainly because I would like to feel inspired, or have something to say on an issue, or a particular matter. Sometimes it’s driven from passion, frustration, even anger. It’s a means of expressing ourselves.

What do you write about? 

Nearly anything and everything, for instance the injustice of Harry Dunn the young lad who was knocked off his motorbike and killed. Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Robert R. Kelly to name just a few. Churchill, Piers Morgan, Tara Arkle, Belly Mujinga… I also write about the bigger issues in life, like the Amazon Rainforest, or other Eco issues that we will soon be facing. For instance, “Permafrost” , The “Doomsday Glacier” that has recently been calved, A68a that has broken off and is putting eco systems at risk.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I have a mixture I would like to think. As I like light-hearted stuff as well. For instance, the W.H.O. is nothing short of being a white elephant in the 21st Century so I wrote it as a sketch to be performed as a comedy act. I also imagine what the future is likely to bring us, and that can be quite eerie. I’m not a prophet not would I claim to be one, but if you read some of my stuff, it will leave you questioning.

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

Far too many to mention here, but just to give you an example. Prejudice, and set views will always remain at the top. Barriers like stigma, and taboo, even down to religion too is on the list. One of the greatest barriers is trying not to offend anyone give group within your audience. It’s nearly impossible. Especially if you’re a writer who shoots from the hip.

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

When’s the next book coming out and let me know when it does!

How long have you been writing?

Since school, but I got more seriously into in my early twenties, thirties, forties, fifties and now sixties.

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

Last year really, and it caught me off-guard to be honest. Some people find it very natural to just drift in and before you’re know it, they are writing for all of England. But for me it was weird. I found myself having to defend a poem that I had written because of a term that was used that people thought was in appropriate. This poem is called “Tick Tock“ and it is the first poem that I put out there first. It’s a super little poem that describe life in under 60 seconds and that is the challenge I gave myself when I wrote the piece.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

Chaotic, and scary because when inspiration comes you don’t get to press the snooze button so to speak or wrap your pillow around your head and say go away to it! It’s quite infuriating but you always feel better for having done it afterwards. Even if it’s at 02:30am in the morning.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

As Einstein once said imagination is better than knowledge, now here’s a guy who is really smart and I have got the greatest respect for the man. In fact, I wrote a short story that he’s in called the Philadelphia Experiment. It goes way further than the original film does. The other quirk is that I can literally write about anything. For example “Cardboard” is one of the poems in my book “A Beautiful Mind is Poetry Defined” “Hair” is hilarious!

How long does it take to write a book?

ABM = A Beautiful Mind is Poetry Defined, actually took 40 years of my life to research and less than a year to write from start to finish. ABM, is quietly sitting in the wings as with another project of mine that will take the world by storm.

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

Yes’, pay more attention in your English classes, and strive to be the best, look at what other writers are doing and get a sense of what the world is craving for at this time. I didn’t do any of that. I think it was down to arrogance and ignorance, coupled with an ego the size of a small planet, not even sure if stupidity is somewhere lurking in the background, at that is also likely. But, heck what a journey. Now I know what it means when they say out of the frying pan and into the fire!

January 31, 2021

Author Interview with Lisa Fedel

Lisa Fedel
Lisa Fedel

I just your average font fanatic English major who has a traumatic brain injury and an interest in everything serial killer, conspiracy theory, and veganism. And I would definitely know what to do if the zombie apocalypse happened tomorrow.
What am I like as a person? Imagine if Benson from The Regular Show and Q from Star Trek had a baby. That would be me. I like order and need things to be done a certain way by a certain time, but if there’s nothing going on or I have time to myself, chaos is my thing. Which is why I love writing, to be honest. There’s order in how one writes a book, but having full control as an author allows me to do whatever I want to whomever I want.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and I went to school in Adrian, Michigan.

What fact about yourself would really surprise people? 

I’ve lived a strange life, having gotten a traumatic brain injury at the age of five. I think this is reflected in my writing in a lot of ways. 

Why do you write? 

I try to write stories based upon my own life, though the plot might not be anything like I’ve lived through. 

Do you have a specific writing style?

I’d describe my writing style as fairly casual, so even though my book may be a few hundred pages long, it won’t take forever to read the entire thing. I’m all about entertainment and character development.

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

For me personally, fatigue gets in the way of my writing. Whether it be physical or emotional, when I get burn out, I get burn out. It’s especially bad if I’m out at a coffee place, since I’ll need to get myself home and coffee doesn’t do much in terms of giving me energy.

Another issue I come up against is perfectionism. I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (actually I enjoy every minute of it), which kind of explains a lot about what I go through when I’m writing: if I don’t know I can do something 100%, I just won’t start on it at all.

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

If you look at the first page of my book, you’ll see I dedicated my book to a college friend. I was giving her a ride to the ice cream place one day, and she asked if she could take a look at the thing I’d been working on. Fully expecting she’d think it was terrible, I gave her my laptop and tried to focus on the road. She got through a good chunk of it and exclaimed how much she was enjoying it. Every time she and I hung out after that, she’d ask when she could read more of it. That feeling never left me, even after spending three years after graduation going to school for something completely unrelated to writing.  At some point, I just felt like it was my purpose in life to finish and publish my book so that she could see what it became.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve always loved writing, but I think I really got serious about it in middle school when I started working on a story in which I went back (as a tween) to my childhood to stop a traumatic event from happening. At some point, I had to stop working on that because I knew it was fictional and I was stuck in the situation I was stuck in, but I discovered that I enjoyed the ability to create a world and a situation that had never happened.

Book by Lisa Fedel

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

So, when I was little, I decided that I wanted to be “famous” when I grew up. I mean, I know being an author doesn’t guarantee that, but I took what I love and ended up doing it. The funny thing is I had fully planned on being a stand up comedian for quite a few years, but then after writing my zombie novel, I realized that working in horror was much closer to my heart.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

When I’m hard core in writing mode, it’s basically the only thing I do. I’ll take breaks every now and then to watch something on Netflix or Hulu, but whatever I’m writing will always be in the back of my mind, and I’ll keep pausing whatever I have on in order to work on whatever idea pops into my head that I like. There was one time I was on a 7 hour train ride, working on the final draft of my book, and I got an incredible amount of work done that didn’t save because I didn’t have internet access, but since I was in such a writing phase, it was pretty easy for me to duplicate what I had done.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I write the characters before I write the story. When I was plotting out my first book, the first thing I did was write down the names of the characters, what their job was, their relationship status, and what their quirk was. That way, as I was writing and would have a character do a certain thing, I could plug in the name of whatever character was most likely to do that based upon personality. It does eventually turn into writing short stories about them earlier in life, but that’s also something we had to do for some college classes.

How long does it take to write a book?

So unfortunately I have a plethora of medical conditions, so I might declare one day “I’m going to get x amount of stuff done tomorrow” but then wake up to find my body isn’t up to that because I have to go to urgent care, or I haven’t waken up in time to do anything productive. That being said, I do have a lot of motivation when I want to do something, so just because I have one off day doesn’t mean I won’t get more done the next day that might be even more than I would have gotten done the day before if I hadn’t been sick.

My first (and only so far) book required four years to write, but I didn’t really know I was going to publish, so didn’t put a lot of care into it being great for the first draft, and I was still in college at the time. If it had been my one and only focus, I believe I could have gotten it finished much sooner, as I’m hoping I can for my future novels I plan to write.

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

I learned that it’s important to go with the flow. When I started writing my book, I had planned on a straightforward horror novel, but it became more of a satire in the vein of the John Dies at the End series. To me, this made it more fun to write (although like they teach in improv classes, the funny came naturally and didn’t need to be forced) and helped set me up with the opportunity to do a series. More serious horror novels tend to have a real closer at the end, whereas in my book, I left some things unanswered, which hopefully means readers would look forward to my future books. Also, there were certain characters I really liked, but in a zombie novel, people die.

What do you think makes a good story?

I think in order to write a good story, you need to write characters with whom your reader can connect. A guy working a boring job to pay the bills, or a mother who has a kid with a lot of health problems. Just normal people who aren’t particularly talented but have that one thing they really care about that keeps them going.

What does your family think of your writing? 

When I first declared that I wanted to be an author, the family gave the “not everybody is as successful as Stephen King or Dean Koontz” lecture. They preached this in college as well, and that wasn’t really why I wanted to do it, so I just dove deep into my work and wrote the best book that I could. Now that the book is published and my family has read it, they are incredibly supportive and I think they realize that their hesitancy of my doing this wasn’t helpful or necessary.

January 23, 2021

Author interview with Sean Clarke

Sean Clarke

Sean Clarke is an author, blogger and freelance writer who lives in Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

He writes fantasy and supernatural horror fiction.

When he’s not writing, Sean enjoys gaming, swimming, and spending time with his family and friends.

Describe yourself in five words

Ambitious, Imaginative, Reliable, Funny, Creative.

What fact about yourself would really surprise people? 

Hmm, that’s a tough one. I love musicals. My favourite is Grease. Although I have a soft spot for Calamity Jane and the Sound of Music.

How do you work through self-doubts and fear? 

Sometimes, I get motivated by self-doubt and fear, but other times it can be debilitating, and I’ll have no choice but to wait until it passes. Support from others is a big help when this happens.

What scares you the most?

The prospect of eternal darkness after we die, oh and spiders!

What makes you happiest?

Being a good dad and stepdad.

Why do you write? 

It’s hard to explain. I guess for me, it’s like an addiction. I love putting words on a page, telling stories, creating characters and putting my innermost thoughts for others to read. It helps to make sense of my jumbled up thoughts and feelings.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

By and large, yes. There was a period in my life where everything was chaotic and I didn’t have the energy, but I missed writing everyday. It’s a process that has always made sense to me in some way. Once I sorted myself out, I returned to writing in a big way.

What motivates you to write? 

I treat my daily writing as a job. Being passionate about a particular subject will usually get me writing in no time. In terms of fiction, I get an idea and I can’t get it down quickly enough. If I’m out and about I’ll record my ideas into the voice recorder in my phone. I often wonder if people think I’m talking to myself.

What writing are you most proud of? 

My debut novel, Cresmore: The Lost Elmkey. It’s a wonderful mix of fantasy and science fiction that took me six years to complete. I learned so much during those six years that will stand me in good stead for the future, but proving I could go the distance and complete a full-length novel makes me feel proud. I proved a lot of people wrong as well so that’s a bonus

What are you most proud of in your personal life? 

That’s an easy one. My two kids, Jodi (16) and Kyle. (6)

What books did you love growing up?

I was obsessed with the young-adult X-Files books which were written by Les Martin. Each one was based on a particular episode. (and a lot less scary) Also, Jurassic Park and The Lost World by Michael Crichton. I remember my sister bought the goosebumps books and although I pretended to hate them, I would read them in secret. They were fantastic.

What do you hope your obituary will say about you? 

“He couldn’t play the piano but my goodness, give him a microphone and he was some chanter.”

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

I grew up in Ardrossan which is a small town in Ayrshire, Scotland. It’s a fantastic place where you can get a ferry to the Isle of Arran, take a stroll along the beautiful promenade at South Beach, or check out the ruins of a medieval castle. Ardrossan has a very interesting history. The people are generally lovely as well. Nowadays, I’m living in Saltcoats which is also a great wee town. Even so, I’ll always be an Ardrossan boy at heart.

How did you develop your writing?

Practice! Practice! Practice!

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing? 

Marketing by far. It’s like this whole other industry that I don’t understand.

Book by Sean Clarke

What marketing works for you? 

I wish I knew. Sadly, I’m very much in the trial and error stage right now. Maybe, I’ll be able to answer that question in a few years.

Do you find it hard to share your work? 

Yes! My new novel is being read by beta readers right now, and the thought of them seeing my work makes me feel physically ill. Not because I think the book is bad but because writing fiction is like an extension of yourself. If a writer doesn’t have his blood, sweat and tears in a novel then they are doing it wrong. I’ve been told sharing work gets easier. I really hope that’s true because it’s not healthy to worry so much about something that’s out of your control.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you? 

My partner, Samantha is by far my biggest supporter. She’s a diamond. Also, my sister Stephanie has always believed in me. My friends are generally supportive but in that typical depreciative Scottish way. It’s not meant to be harmful, it’s just what we do.

What else do you do, other than write? 

I love gaming. Anything from Fifa to the Final Fantasy series. I enjoy swimming and plan to get back into it when this terrible pandemic is over.

What other jobs have you had in your life? 

I worked as a labourer in a sheet metal workshop. My workmates were great but I was horrendous at the job. It wasn’t something I could turn my hand to. I’m much more suited to retail. My last job was as a supervisor in a local shop. It was a great place to work. The manager was supportive and made us all feel like a team.

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

Psychology.

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

I don’t think I could move away from the town I grew up in. It might sound strange but we all have our comforts.

Tell us about your family? 

There’s my fiancée Samantha, my son and daughter Kyle and Jodi, and my stepdaughter Tia. I love them all.

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

I use a desktop computer at my desk. Writing with a pen and paper isn’t an option. My writing is so bad that I can’t read it.

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

A good 20 hours a day. No seriously, it depends on my mood. Usually 8 is enough.

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

My fiancée, Samantha, my sister, Stephanie and my best friend Marc,. If it wasn’t for them I would never have got so far with the book. The rest of my family have been pretty awesome since the book went on pre-order as well.

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

I’ll settle for some nice reviews and for my work to make readers happy. Of course, if writing happens to make me rich then I won’t be cursing the gods.

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

Well, there’s author interviews like this one. I’ve got some fantastic content for my Facebook author page coming up as well. I’m targeting readers who like fantasy/science fiction. I believe Crestmore: The Lost Elmkey, is a good read for those who enjoy that kind of book.

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

It’s a real labour of love. There are some great characters in this novel who have their own story to play out. In many ways, Crestmore: The Lost Elmkey is a good old fashioned page turner, filled with action and adventure. I wanted to write an urban fantasy, coming of age, adventure novel that showcased the themes close to my heart. In that respect, it’s EXACTLY the book I set out to write at the start. I’m immensely proud of the finished product and hope readers enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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

That’s an easy one. Laurel and Hardy. Has the world ever seen such comedic genius before or since? Not for me.

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

I don’t have much time to relax but when I do, I’ll usually be on the PS4.

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

I hope people enjoy my work. Yes, it would be great to write a book that changes the world but realistically, I’ll be happy if just one person comes up to me and says, “I really enjoyed your book.” That will do for me.

Link to my book – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crestmore-Lost-Elmkey-Sean-Clarke-ebook/dp/B08TKN6RP7/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=crestmore&qid=1611273997&s=books&sr=1-3

My website – www.seanclarkeauthor.com

My Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/seanclarkeauthor

January 17, 2021

An Interview with author Yolanda Oliver

Yolanda Oliver
Yolanda Oliver

Yolanda Oliver, God agent, super blessed MOM, Leader, Entrepreneur, Domestic Violence Advocate, Community Volunteer, and Servant. Yolanda lives in New York City with the heart of a southern bell. Retired from corporate America in 2018 after years of successful leadership, God planted a seed of purpose in her to serve women and children who are in crisis, which led to Yolanda becoming the founder of Live Fearless Inc. in 2019.

After developing a successful coaching program with Live Fearless Inc., Yolanda developed her for-profit coaching business, Purposed Gems Consulting Services, in 2020. Supporting victims of violence requires heart but also skill. Yolanda is a Domestic Violence Advocate as well as a Certified Master Coach. Research shows an urgent need to have a judgment-free zone to release the impacts that life experiences have had on women’s lives. A safe place to finally unload the weight of guilt and fear to move forward in life with purpose. And that is Yolanda’s mission.

Establishing herself in her community is important to Yolanda. She works with organizations that allow her to support women and children—serving as a Scout Den Leader, a Youth leader for her church organization, and a community health worker for Columbia University’s InTOUCH program to name a few.

“I believe in my purpose and I know that God has given me so many gifts and a heart to serve and support women just like me. I am excited and look forward to the opportunity to serve you!”

Describe yourself in five words

Purposed, Motivating, Compassionate, Strategic, Supportive

What fact about yourself would really surprise people?

I danced at the academy awards when I was 9 years old.

How do you work through self-doubts and fear?

Prayer, Setting Goals and Executing, Positive Self Talk using Personal Declarations and Affirmations

What makes you happiest?

Spending time with My Son, Family, and Friends

Why do you write?

This is the first book I have written. I was giving this visionto write this book as a testimony of hope for women who might be just like me.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

Actually, NO! I started to embrace writing when I started on my healing journey. Journaling was a fantastic outlet for me.

The author’s book on Amazon

What motivates you to write?

Sharing my story to support other women as a light of hope and transformation that whatever situation they are in, they are worth every effort to fight for better.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

My son is my greatest accomplishment.

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grewup and where you now live? I grew up in NYC and have always lived here in different parts. I love the South, specifically Alabama where most of my family lives. I spend my holidays down there and it is the most amazing time.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

I self-published so once I learned the process it was easy. The writing wasn’t hard, once I created
a strategy for getting it done. I first created an outline, which for most can be the hardest part. Once I did that, the process because easy. The other thing I did was set a specific time to write and stayed committed to that schedule.

Do you find it hard to share your work?

YES, I had so many feelings about producing this work, I didn’t feel worthy enough for the task since I am a
first-time author. I felt no one would be interested in my story. Once you put down painful memories on paper, it is a forever stamp so I had to be mindful of how it might impact my family. Thank God they are amazingly supportive in all of my work so my fear erased away once they read it and gave me feedback.

January 14, 2021

An interview with author Clay Cowan

Clay Cowan

I’m Clay Cowan, the author of A Guide to Raising Sons to Manhood, Daily Affirmation for Men, and How to Find and Marry the Girl of Your Dreams.  I hope you’re all keeping safe and well during these troubling times. In the meantime, please feel free to explore and enjoy my online home.

Stay safe. Thanks for visiting. Here you’ll find a collection of book s and journals that I have written or designed. Please check me out and give my books a try. If you like one buy, and leave me a review on Amazon.com.

Describe yourself in five words.

Loyal, Creative, Innovative, Visionary, and Honest.

What fact about yourself would surprise people?

That I’m a very analytically minded person. I can see numbers in the air, and I can add or multiply them without writing them down. This is the main reason I had a career in Engineering.

How do you work through self-doubts and fear?

I pray about it and try to remember times that I made it thru. I often meditate on things that I have doubts about.

What scares you the most?

Dying without finishing all I need to do. Also, I have a fear of heights, I mean the very tall ones, like looking out over the grand canyon.

Daily Affirmation for Men

What makes you happiest?

  I love bowling, when I’m in the zone, nothing feels better, watching that ball roll off my hand and it feels like the strike is an extension on my hand. It’s simply wonderful. I also enjoy spending time with family, reading, and writing.

Why do you write?

I have gained so much knowledge and experience doing my life, I believe it would be such a waste to not share my inner thoughts and help with the world. I feel I have so much to give the world from my life experiences.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

Yes, just never had the time with work and raising a family. I have had to study hard to work through the grammar that is needed to be a good writer. So I was late in life before I started writing as a career.

What motivates you to write?

I feel I have many stories and events that need to be told. After publishing my first book, I knew I wanted to do many more.

What writing are you most proud of?

My first book; “A Guide to Raising Sons to Manhood, which is a book on guiding your sons into manhood. Since there are so many broken families today, and many where there is no male figure in the boy’s lives, I felt this was necessary.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

Most proud of my children. Who are well established in their own lives. They make me prouder every day. I love them so much.

What books did you love growing up?

I grew up reading many types of books. I truly loved all sci-fiction. I loved “A Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” by Jules Verne. My favorite fiction authors were Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury.

What do you hope your obituary will say about you?

That I will be remembered for all the good times my family and friends had together. That I have very few regrets in my life areas. That my books helped someone with their problems.

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

I grew up in a small town in North Carolina. Growing up in a small close-knit community helped me adjust to living in a bigger city. Knowing most of the people in town, it was a big adjustment after I moved to the city. I currently live in Stone Mountain, Georgia now.

How did you develop your writing?

By studying many courses, I am an avid reader and hired a writing coach.

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

The hardest is marketing. Marketing was something I had never dealt with before.

What marketing works for you?

Amazon ads, then Pinterest and Facebook. Social media is still a challenge for me. I’m getting better at using it for marketing.

Do you find it hard to share your work?

No, I do not. I write to help people, so sharing is easy.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?

Yes, family and friends are very supportive. I could not be a successful writer without their support. I wish to especially thank my wife for her support.

What else do you do, other than writing?

I still do engineering contracts as a side job. I have become a worker of wood. I’ve built raised garden beds for the family to grow gardens in the city.

What other jobs have you had in your life?

I‘ve had a variety of jobs, mainly as a design engineer. I’ve worked in retail, sold vacuum cleaners, pumped gas, and construction.

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

If I went back and study something else in college, it would be English. I was always good in math and sciences, but in English, I did just what I needed to get by. I never thought I would need it for writing the way I do now.

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

Either Hawaii or Destin, FL. I love the beach, not necessarily the water. The cool breezes and soothing waves just totally relax me.

Tell us about your family?

I’m married with three children two boys and a girl. I also have 4 grandchildren and 1 great-grand. They are my pride and joy.

A guide to raising Sons to Manhood

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

I write on my computer, I use Microsoft word for my books. I make notes on paper when I get ideas or see something I want to remember for future writing topics.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

I try to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night.

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

My wife and children, my sisters, and their families.

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

Success is to reach enough people through my writing to make a difference in the world.

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

Marketing is hard work, I use Facebook as my main source of connection with my readers. I use Pinterest as a lead magnet and for book pre-sales and promotions.

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

My new book is a book on marriage rules. It is part of a series of books I’m writing. I wanted to help young (or older) married couples understand just what it takes to stay married as I have over 40 years with my wife.

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

I would invite Jesus, Martin Luther King, King Solomon, the Obamas, Maya Angelou, and Michael Jordan.

How to Find and Marry the Girl of Your Dreams

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

I enjoy listening to music and watching music videos and concerts. I have over 700 music CDs. A collection of music concerts and music videos. Reading and watching sci-fiction shows. I am an electronic geek.

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

My unique perspective on how things work together in our world. I want people to feel my passion for the subject.

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

Staying on course, dealing with constant distractions. I do all my research myself, which sometimes hinders me from writing.

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

How it gave them insight into another point of view on raising boys.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for about 1 ½ to 2 years.

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

After I retired from engineering, I wanted to do something with my time that was meaningful.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I try to write at least 3 hours a day,  5 days a week, min.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My point of view on many different subjects. I’m an introvert, so this is my solution to expressing myself.

How long does it take to write a book?

It takes me anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months. Since I do all my research it may take longer than I wish.

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

Find your niche first, the rest will fill in. Write every day,  don’t worry about what you write the first time, editing will correct most errors or mistakes.

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

I often write several books or articles at the same time, thus I don’t always finish a book when I planned to.

Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, I have turned writing into my second career. It is so rewarding to get great reviews on my books. I wish the reviews I get in person or online could add it to add to my website on Amazon review pages.

Visit Clay’s website at https://claycowanbooks.com/books/