Lily's Delicious Cupcakes (Author Interview)

www.amazon.com/dp/1791620078/     

Lily’s Delicious Cupcakes looks like a great children’s book.  Any plans to make it into a series?

Yes, indeed it is actually the first of the Lily Chronicles. Many more exciting children’s stories coming in this series.

What do you think makes a children’s book?

I strongly believe that Children’s books should be made up of fun interesting concepts and themes, while also teaching valuable lessons. Beautiful eye catching illustrations are also very key. 

What inspired you when writing Lily’s Delicious Cupcakes?

I was inspired by the fact that someday I would also have kids. I wanted them to know that there are so much fun colorful things for a parent and child to do together. To foster relationships and capture meaningful beautiful moments.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?  Full time?  Part time?

I love writing it is truly my passion. If possible I would love to be a writer full time.

When did you decide to become a writer?

My entire life I have loved writing. I have always wanted to be a writer.

When writing Lily’s Delicious Cupcakes did anything stand out as particularly challenging?

I think that I was a bit scared that kids and parents would not be interested in kitchen content, that kids may not be interested in a book written about baking cupcakes.

How did you come up with the story in Lily’s Delicious Cupcakes?

It’s actually a true story of me baking with my God daughter. I saw how much fun she had and how much laughter and happiness it brought us both. I guess wanted to share the experience.

What do you like to do when not writing?

I love the outdoors and nature.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

My Instagram Account: kristenkaym

Follow and enjoy the journey.

The Moon Can Take His Time: A Collection of Poetry

www.amazon.com/dp/1730877613/

The Moon Can Take His Time looks like a great collection of poetry.  Any plans to make it into a series?

First of all, thank you so much! As of right now it’s not looking like it will be a series, but I definitely plan for more poetry collections to come out in the future.

What do you think makes a poem?

Now there’s a question that trips me up a bit. I think that all one needs to “make a poem” is words that tell what they need to get out and say. In my opinion, there should be less worrying about the rules and regulations of writing a poem and more of just writing and seeing what your mind decides needs to be on the paper.

What inspired you when writing The Moon Can Take His Time?

There were a multitude of things. My own life, the lives of family members and friends, news and media, and even a role-playing game I play.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?  Full time? Part time?

I’d like to make it as full time as possible, even though we all know how difficult that can be.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, and I’ve gone through several stages in my life where I claimed I wanted to be a writer, but it was my first semester of college in fall of 2016 when I knew that was what I wanted to do.

When writing The Moon Can Take His Time did anything stand out as particularly challenging?

I think just trying to get the poems to come together and flow naturally. I’ve changed quite a bit, so the poems I wrote in 2017 are coming from a different place than the ones I wrote in 2018. It’s all about finding that balance and the similarities. Another thing was sorting the poems into their sections. Several could have gone in more than one, for example.

How did you come up with the poems in The Moon Can Take His Time?

Most of them just come to me, which sounds strange, but it’s the truth. I find that if I try to force a poem it doesn’t sound as natural or right to me, and I have a feeling it might not seem natural to the reader either.

What do you like to do when not writing?

When not writing I enjoy watching shows on Netflix or Prime and also playing EverJane. It’s a textbased roleplaying game set in the regency era, perfect for my nerdy brain. However, when I’m not doing those things, I can always appreciate the time to just sit and think or lay down and relax. I also enjoy reading, but with college lately, it’s been harder to actually read for pleasure.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

The best place is to probably follow my Instagram @baleighrobertswriting as that’s where I tend to post the most writing updates. You can also follow my author profile on Goodreads!

TREPIDATION: Darkness and Light Can't Coexist

https://amzn.to/2Qhfw9E

What separates Heaven and Hell? Is it the goodness that lies in the deepest parts of humanity, some mystic gatekeeper ... or simply the power of an Almighty God, which many don't believe in? Once a child of light, Tyler is seduced into a world of evil and dark figures as the beauty of one girl blinds and dulls his Godly intuition.

Unleashed from the loud cracklings of Hell, Legion, an elite dark angel, ascends to the earth. Commissioned by his Dark Lord Lucifer to claim the souls of infidels, Legion finds it tempting to claim the soul of Tyler; a one-time young Christian prodigy who's now fallen by the wayside.

If Legion wants to ascend and be promoted to the highest amongst his dark ranks, he must consume a child of light. With untapped supernatural abilities of his own, will Tyler be able to fend off Legion and his horde of internal-dwelling demons, or will he be easily consumed like many before him, and perish with no solace?

GRIEF: 5 Lives | 5 Stories | 1 Need....Acceptance (Author Interview)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LDLGPNF   

GRIEF looks like a great book with lesson on the impact of grief.  Any plans to make it into a series or publish similar themed books?

I tried to leave a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter specifically for that reason.  I think, if people respond positively to the characters in each chapter or in any of them, I could expand the universe of each story to break them out into individual projects around that characters life.  Being a nurse practitioner and a critical care nurse for the last 18 years has provided me with a wealth of material and knowledge to have similarly themed books but I will also explore other areas of writing as well.

What type of reader did you have in mind when writing this book?  

Well, if you can read and you understand emotions on a basic level, this book (GRIEF) is for you.  When I write, as much as possible, I want to entertain and educate across the entire lifespan.  I guess that’s the Registered Nurse in me.  That’s why I am also writing a children’s book series and why I don’t feel beholden to just one genre.

What inspired you when writing GRIEF?

I have so many stories floating around in my head and I've started and stopped over a dozen.  I just never had the desire to just completely finish one until I saw my husband doing the same thing but finishing.  He starts and stops stories all the time but he does it when he gets a block and he just moves to where his creativity takes him.  That method works for me as well so now it's like an assembly line.  Expect to see a lot of productivity from me in writing now.  A lot of my inspiration comes from everyday life.  Television shows I watch and some sports play a big part.  For some of the more technical aspects of sports I consult with my husband.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?  Full time?  Part time?

Well, I’ve been a critical care Registered Nurse for 18 years and I’m a new graduate Family Nurse practitioner.  So, that’s my full time wage earning work.  However, it’s hard to call writing part time.  I put my all into it and devote full time to it when I’m doing it.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I didn’t just decide to become a writer.  It’s always been there.  Just like stories in my head have always been there.  I just decide to tap into that and reduce it to pen and paper and out comes a book.  Hopefully it’s material that entertains and educates at the same time just like GRIEF.

Blithe of Prospect (Author Interview)

www.amazon.com/dp/0578422735/

Definition of Blithe of Prospect:

An untroubled and happy mental picture of your future and future self that is not governed by that which is considered realistic, likely, or reasonable.

Blithe of Prospect looks like a great self-help book. What type of reader did you write the book for?

 I designed the perception planner for anyone that is on the vibrational frequency to receive it. We are vibrational in nature and if the book comes in your path and you resonate with the concept it will serve its purpose in your life.

What do you think makes a great self-help book?  

A great self-help book encourages you to use the faculties of your mind to focus and declare triumph in your life regardless of the circumstances. It helps you to actively be involved in the process of designing the greatest version of yourself and serves as a tool that you can always relate to and change based on your personal experiences or becoming— a book that keeps on giving.

What inspired you when writing Blithe of Prospect?

My mother introduced me to my blithe of prospect at a young age. She placed the seeds of happiness in my hand and encouraged me to plant it in my imagination. She believed and trusted in my capabilities to transform and design the world I preferred to live in. My mother is my inspiration, and when I created this book, I thought of all the moments that she told me to keep my blithe of prospect intact.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?  Full time?  Part time?

Right now it is part time. Throughout my studies and experiences I discovered there is universal power in being happy and beaming a light on your personal preferences.  I Intend on designing creative beautiful books that will inspire others to live their truth and be happy.

When writing Blithe of Prospect did anything stand out as particularly challenging?  

Blithe of prospect is a system that I have used throughout my life to manifest the desires of my heart. It only took 2 months to create from start to finish using he mastermind principle by Napoleon Hill.  The book vibrationally already existed, I just needed to focus and put the pieces together. The process flowed smoothly with very little challenges.

What do you like to do when not writing?                 

I love to go out with my family. We milk happiness every chance we get.

How can readers discover more about you and your work? 

Milk happiness with me on my community site that allows you to release your happy thoughts into the universe.  When we beam a light on the simple happy moments of our life we transform and become our highest expression, living the vision in our heart.  Thank you Milkhappiness.com

Wild (Author Interview)

www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2FYCR6    

Wild looks like a fun romance book.  When is book 2 planned for release?

 Thank you. Book 2 is available now. 

What do you think makes a great romance book? 

When you have a heroine and hero you can’t help but route for you, have the ingredients to make a great romance. Sexy locations help as well. I also love good banter - there’s nothing better.

What inspired you when writing Wild?

I’ve worked in the industry for over fifteen years. Wild has always been percolating in my head.

When did you decide to become a writer? 

I knew I wanted to write when I was thirteen years old. I’d write short stories and you would always find me with my head in a book.

When writing Wild did anything stand out as particularly challenging? 

Wild is the fastest romance I’ve written. I wrote it in less than a month. It was easy and I had a lot of fun writing it.

What do you like to do when not writing? 

I’m doing more yoga and taking walks. And I love to travel. It’s hard for me to sit still.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Tweet me: https://twitter.com/ColetAbedi

Follow me on instagram @coletabedi
coletabedi.com

https://www.facebook.com/coletabedifan

When My Soul Bleeds Words (Author Interview)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578402327/    


When My Soul Bleeds Words, looks like a great poetry book. Any plans for a follow-up or series? 

Probably not. It’s basically based on a chapter of my life that is in the past. 

What do you think makes a great poem? 

How it causes the reader to feel. How well a reader can connect to what it is trying to portray.

What inspired you when writing When My Soul Bleeds Words? 

My own life experiences concerning my struggle with depression, suicide and bipolar symptoms. I wanted to raise awareness for mental health when it’s been such a taboo subject for so long, and to show there is hope despite all the hardships. 

What are your ambitions for your writing career? Full time? Part time? 

While writing is not my “bread winning” career, I do plan on continuing to write more books and publish them. My main reason for writing is not to make money. I write books to touch people’s hearts. 

When did you decide to become a writer? 

I didn’t really decide, per se. It just felt natural and so therefore it just happened. I wanted to express my ideas and thoughts, so I started writing. 

Creation I (Author Interview)

www.forsakenisles.com

Creation I looks like a great fantasy book. How many books do you plan for the series?

Creation I is an anthology of novellas I released for free to newsletters subscribers, and to fans paying attention to my blog on www.forsakenisles.com  By releasing them for free prior to publishing each, I’m able to generate buzz, grow my fan base, and give special treatment to those who are really into it. This one follows the good gods. I plan to do the same with Chaos and Warp, and just keep going as I have time. It’s a lot easier to write shorter stories around the bigger works. It’s like a vacation for my brain. Many times, while writing the bigger books and especially in editing, I find tangents that make great fodder for these novellas.

What do you think makes a great dark fantasy book? 

Let’s be real: it’s the anti-hero and the nature of the corruption. In our world, power corrupts and somehow our heroes in spite of their flaws, we know they’re going to triumph. Dark fantasy heroes triumph – maybe – not in spite of but because of their corruption. I personally think the best ones are where the character is not aware of or is caught off guard by their own corruption. In such a setting, villians drive the tone and they really get to shine. So much of fantasy is dominated by bright and shiny magic where rainbows, sunshine, and unicorns save the day. I have a four year old daughter. I’d never want to take that away from her. But, for me, I want my fantasy to reflect the deeper themes of what a world with magic would be like. I don’t think it would rainbows and sunshine. The temptation to use it for personal gain would drive many many of us towards megalomania. Heroes would be rare, not the norm. That’s what makes it dark: when a villain is forced to be a hero.

Through My Eyes: The USA (Publication Review)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQB9CYZ    

HUGEOrange Publication Review

Through My Eyes: The USA by Sandi Gorišek

Through My Eyes: The USA by Sandi Gorišek is written with an offbeat naiveté in this wide-eyed look at the US. It’s a short read spanning his travels through parts of the U.S. (mostly Washington, D.C.; NYC; and the Appalachian Mountains).

He expresses confusion and shock over cultural differences.  Much of it funny, but also cruel at times. He doesn’t much like Americans as ‘their primary interest lies in how they can benefit from you’ (hope none of his stateside colleagues read that!). The ongoing theme is his distaste of American ambition for upward career growth, better houses, cars, etc.  Although he writes ‘the more books I sell, the sooner I’ll be back to America, and thus have an opportunity to describe the remainder of this or another country that I will have travelled to and/or worked in.’

The book has some other confusing contradictions throughout, possibly caused by cultural differences. For instance, he states he doesn’t like American houses because they are ‘built around a skeleton frame’ and won’t support extra stories for three generations of a family as homes in Slovenia do.  Yet, when his hosts for a barbeque in West Virginia live in proximity to other relatives, he labels that ‘creepy,’ however, it’s interesting to see the contrast and viewpoints of another culture.

There are some amusing restaurant observations: Visiting various fast-food and large-scale chain places, the author is quite shocked by so many menu choices, the (over) friendliness of servers, and free soft drinks (with ice and straws!). He’s saddened by the lack of a “culinary surprise” that’s given to diners in Slovenia. When seeing Starbucks, he’s driven almost speechless with amazement at, again, too many choices (!) and the baffling ID method of writing names on cups.  Many observations, having visited America myself, I agreed with and found funny. 

In a comment to Mom and Dad, he says he doesn’t know why Americans don’t walk their own dogs (he saw a professional dog walker in NYC). He disapproves of Americans changing jobs and moving to a new city and assures his parents that the Slovenian way of staying put is the only valid way, just as they’d told him.

He concludes no American has friends unless they can be useful to them. His interactions with different Americans are sometimes funny, and sometimes awkward.  After huffing over the capitalist schemes in a White House giftshop, he bravely puts that aside and asks a saleswoman there to sell his book. She kindly fabricates a reason to not purchase it, again something was lost in translation, and he is baffled when she won’t return phone calls, blaming American disorganization.  Americans often find it polite to be nondirect rather than answer with a no, both in casual business and social encounters.  It’s something the author trips over frequently causing some unique situations and interpretations.

If he goes back to the U.S., I hope he finds that America has wonderful coffeehouses, restaurants and people who are selfless, loving, and yes, literate. Most do not love guns or buy Trump wigs from giftshops.  Cultural differences can be both funny and interesting. The book is written in a lively manner with a mélange of humor, sour grapes, and a dash of artlessness. If you’re American, don’t expect to recognize your reflection within the pages, but you will find a unique look at American culture. 

Infernally Yours (Author Interview and Review)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LC1XDBY/

Infernally Yours looks like a great historical fiction book.  Any plans to make it into a series? Oh, absolutely. Infernally Yours’ protagonist (Phage Rustcut) is a demon and demons are immortal, so he’s not going anywhere. The next book is set in Paris, with the French Revolution in full swing. It’s one of the bloodiest moments in Western history, so naturally, Rustcut & Co. will be in the thick of it.

What do you think makes a great historical fiction book? For me, there has to be a fresh take on the dusty old stories, you know? George Washington is already a fascinating figure, right? But the tale of a demon sent to kill George Washington is even more interesting. It casts an even wider net. It exposes people to the real adventures and misadventures of a real American hero, but in a way that’s scary and funny at the same time. But best of all, it’s based on real history. Good historical fiction gives readers actual, footnoted facts, so they’ll know what’s real and what’s fantasy. A near-mythical character like George Washington accomplished such unbelievable feats and defied certain death so many times that it sounds made up. As the author, I’ve got to prove that these things happened. And I do.

What inspired you when writing Infernally Yours? The Screwtape Letters was an obvious inspiration. C.S. Lewis did the heavy lifting of inventing the original “devil by letters” storytelling device. But with Screwtape, the demons’ target was a nobody, just an average guy. And it’s a monologue, really. You only hear the words of Screwtape as he advises his protégé. I used to be an actor, long ago, and I also ran a film company for ten years. So, while Lewis wrote Screwtape Letters as a diabolical Dear Abby of sorts, I wrote this book as if I were watching the drama play out on a stage or in a film. With Infernally Yours, the devils’ target isn’t just some rando; he’s one of the most important figures in human history. That’s a huge difference. And instead of only one demonic voice, Infernally Yours shows letters from many different devils as they interact with our main character, Rustcut. Between the fascinating and largely unknown exploits of Washington and the hilarious, dastardly schemes of Team Rustcut, I like to think that you get a richer, technicolor experience. I like the way a friend of mine described it when he said that Lewis opened the door to a haunted mansion, but Infernally Yours gives you the guided tour.

Whatsoever Things (Author Interview)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/099696617X/    

Whatsoever Things looks like a great inspirational book with beautiful illustrations and formatting.  What type of readers did you write the book for? This little gem will easily and truly appeal to an established Christian audience but could be a spark to anyone looking for a spot of positivity, beauty, and inspiration.

What do you think makes a great faith based inspirational book? I think there are two kinds of inspirational writings. There is the motivating, self-help type with good advice for improvement upon oneself, one’s life or one’s faith. And then, there is what I call “contemplative,” work. It’s more like a painting, or a song that you just enjoy. You find its beauty or some aesthetic quality to it almost mesmerizing, thus inspiring at some deep, intrinsic level. It helps you to connect with things you didn’t realize you were even missing. These kinds of projects are authentic displays of the human heart, its struggles and joys, and its best creativity to cope with it all or to try and make some kind of sense of things.

What inspired you when writing Whatsoever Things?My grandmother had a proverbial museum – I mean house, strewn about with poetry and art books. She also subscribed to bird magazines, like the Audubon Society, and other periodicals that celebrated the gentle beauty of the natural world. Many of these were laced with lovely, classical poetry or in the least, themes of prose that waxed poetic. I just remember perusing these for hours – and sometimes even copying down my favorite quotes or poems. I would trace the little scenes, especially the birds – I just found them all so lovely and inspiring. It really stuck with me as a tender memory of my childhood.

The Sponsored (Author Interview)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D5LK27M/    

The Sponsored looks like a great adventure romance book.  What type of readers did you write the book for?

 I wrote The Sponsored for readers who enjoy action-packed superhero stories with lots of twists, turns, and surprises. As a reader, I enjoy a fast-paced book that's impossible to put down, and that was my goal with The Sponsored. Romance ends up in all of my books, but that's not the primary focus of The Sponsored, at least not from Grey's perspective. She's not quite sure what to make of Julian most of the time. You'll have to read and see how that plays out. Part of The Sponsored is set in the past, so readers get to see Grey's parents meet and fall in love. Theirs is a great love story. It was a pleasure to write. 

What do you think makes a great young adult book? 

 Great characters make any genre of book great, but I especially think it's important for young adult books. Readers want to love characters, they want to hate characters, they want to feel what the characters are feeling, and go through the story either with them, or as if they are them, and that is why it is so important to write great characters. Grey is a great character, one of my favorites. She's wonderfully flawed, but readers can't help but root for her. 

Did anyone in your life inspire the character Max?

 The short answer is no. I don't know anyone who's exactly like Max. But he would make my list of datable characters. Max is a good guy. I'm a fan of good guys, guys who aren't perfect, but know when to apologize. The shaved head and tattoos? That's just a bonus. =) 

What inspired you when writing The Sponsored?

 While writing, I listened to the album Baptized by Daughtry on repeat. Every morning, I'd take a walk and listen to Matt Nathanson's Come On Get Higher album. Music inspires me. It keeps the words flowing. I imagine the characters in the songs, being tossed around by their emotions, and it gives me insight into who they are. 

Stan The Awakening: A Gripping Psychological Thriller

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FZ32IFC/    

The battle between good and evil begins with Stan

Stan Foster wakes up after a suicide attempt with no idea who he is.

Stan is the story of the fall and rise of a controversial artist. Soon he finds out he’s an up-and-comer in the New York art scene, and he tries to make that life work for himself and for Lilith, his very headstrong manager, who pushes him toward success and fame.

˃˃˃ Plagued by visions of death and destruction...

Stan comes to find he can’t tell whether they are omens of things to come or memories of his past. With the help of his psychiatrist, Abigail, he struggles to recover his lost identity and finds that what lies underneath is darker than he had ever imagined.

Scroll up and buy the #1 Bestseller, STAN: The Awakening, Today!!!