Good Morning, Bookworms!

Today, I'm sharing an interview with Sandy Lo, author of the novella Decaf For the Dead. It's a great title. However, I prefer caffeinated or decaf! (FYI: That's my attempt at a joke! Remember, I'm a coffee lover!)

Now available to purchase on Amazon and Audible from Claymore Publishing is the fantasy adventure Dragonia: Rise Of The Wyverns, book one in the Dragonia Empire series, by Craig A Price JR..

The Resistance struggles to find a way to defeat the Dragonia Empire; all hope seems lost against the dragon riders, until they discover an island full of wyverns.

Devarius has lost everything. His parents murdered, his sister kidnapped, and the new village he called home: destroyed. The Dragonia Empire has gotten out of control, destroying anything and everything in its path searching for the Resistance.

Devarius is left with little choice but to find the Resistance, join them, and hope he can help them defeat the Dragonia Empire once and for all to bring peace to the land of Kaeldroga.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve been interested in storytelling ever since the first grade when my teacher gave us empty books made of construction paper and three-lined paper to write our own story.

What was your first book/story published?

The Crimson Claymore was my first novel published, and it is the first in an epic fantasy trilogy.

What inspired you to write Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns?

I’ve always loved dragons, but I always felt wyverns were left out of fiction and television. I wanted to create a world filled with dragons and wyverns. I also wanted to make it more believable by making wyvernriders more practical than dragonriders by being closer to the size of a horse. I also wanted a lot more than fire-breathing dragons, so I brought in several different elements, and to make it even more unique, I placed the land on the southern hemisphere on a world with two suns and two moons.

What character in Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Devarius has the same passion and energy to help others as I have, and Paedyn has the same odd sense of humor as me, though I don’t have the same passion for toy boats.

What is your favorite part in Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

11:18 p.m. Subject is checking into the Desert Palms Motel, accompanied by an unknown female.

Snapshot in the parking lot. Man and woman embrace. Betrayal, I see it every day, like my own reflection in the mirror staring back at me. Another case, another bottle of booze, life is no longer a mystery to me …

… Because I’m the private eye, hot on your trail; the top gun for hire. You’ll find me lurking in the shadows, always searching for a clue. I’m the bulletproof detective. I got my eye on you …

What’s a little sin under the covers, what’s a little blood between lovers? What’s a little death to be discovered, cold stiff body under the covers?

I’m digging you a desert grave, underneath the burning sun. You won’t be found by anyone. Vultures circle in the sky, and you, my dear, are the reason why.

… I was always easily influenced.

What group did you hang out with in high school?

The artsy, musicians, drama club, geeks & freaks. Or the real question is, what group hung out with me … 

What are you passionate about these days?

Helping aspiring authors survive the hurdles I had to jump ten years ago and making sure they land safely and successfully without being scammed. I run a Facebook group called Fiction Writing where that is my mission.

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?

My first two novels were not originally edited by professional editors. **THE PUBLISHED VERSIONS AVAILABLE NOW HAVE BEEN** (Just want to make that clear before I lose any potential sales.) But when they were first released into the world back in 2007 and 2010 respectively, they were “edited” by friends. What a mistake. Thankfully, I pulled all the copies off the market and when the books were released officially by Scout Media, they were edited by professional editors. I guess it didn’t really make that big of a dent in my career, but I still wish that I could magically replace every self-published copy of those two books that exist on people’s bookshelves with the professionally edited versions.

eBook or print? And why?

For me personally? eBook. I love my Kindle. I can fit a 2 million-page novel in my back pocket. I know the whole “the feel and smell of a book,” but the feel and smell of a book doesn’t help my carry-on luggage, or reading in bed, or reading when I’m shoved into the high school locker. Small, slim. No matter the size of the novel. Compact. Just like me. Now, with my readers? I still, consistently, sell more paperbacks 3-1 over eBooks. So, from a sales perspective, “Let’s print more paperbacks!!!!”

What is your favorite scene in this book?

The epicenter moment when the protagonist and antagonist make eye contact for the first time. It takes only but a moment, but it changes so much for both characters. Actually, it changes pretty much everything for the reader too. Writing a cat-and-mouse detective crime-noir story, you know there is going to be the scene where the detective and the killer come face to face. When it happened while I wrote it, I felt like the moment took on a life of its own, and I became just a backseat observer. It’s like saying your favorite part of a movie is a shot that lasts about seven seconds, but that is how I feel about this interaction.

Now available on paperback and Kindle is the historical paranormal romance Salem Burning by Daniel Sugar.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was 5 years old I saw a TV show called “Bewitched” and that was it – I was suddenly hooked on stories about witches.

What was your first book/story published?

“Salem Burning” is my first novel. It was published, (on Amazon), in Kindle form on February 20th, 2018 and in paperback form on March 9th, 2018.

What inspired you to write “Salem Burning”?

One day I thought, what if someone told a lie and it just happened to be true? And then I thought, and what if that happened in 1692? Once I started thinking about the Salem witch trials of 1692, I realized that that particular, well-known event in history would be an interesting backdrop for a discussion about the way men treat women. In fact, in one scene in “Salem Burning”, the heroine, Lilly Parris, actually says to the young man who has destroyed her life, “Is this the way you treat women?” That’s really what the book is about – the way men treat women. I wanted to turn the Salem witch trials upside down and so I did - and this time, the women win.

What character in “Salem Burning” is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Unfortunately, no one in “Salem Burning” is like me. I say unfortunately, because I’d love to be Lilly Parris. She’s so strong and brave and she has such amazing adventures. Her life is really quite cool. Who wouldn’t want Lilly’s life? I know I certainly would!

What is your favorite part in “Salem Burning”?

I really like the scene after the wolf attack when Lilly is alone in the forest. To me, that really shows who she is; a free spirit who really loves life.

What was the hardest part to write?

The only hard part was the first sentence. I thought about it for a very long time (months) because I wasn’t sure about tense or tone. Once I had the first sentence it was smooth sailing.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I’d like to work on sitcoms in any capacity – even sweeping floors. I love being around comedy, comedians – funny people. I’ve sold comedy to “The Tonight Show” and I write jokes every day on my Twitter page. You can find me at Daniel Sugar @1692SalemWitch.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Now available to purchase on Amazon is the fantasy/murder/romance Shadow of the Moon, book one in the Shadow Series, by Kwen D. Griffeth







When did you become interested in storytelling?

I was 14 and I read For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway for the first time. He took a farm boy from Idaho to the Spanish Civil War and allowed me to fall in love for the first time. I wanted the ability he had.

What was your first book/story published?

My first book published was Dear Emma. It is a novella about a small girl whose mother puts notes in her lunch box before sending her to school. The mother is killed in a car wreck, but the notes, from time to time, still arrive.

What inspired you to write Shadow of the Moon?

I read a story about a female werewolf written by a well-known author and I didn’t like the way the werewolf was portrayed. In human form, the character was intelligent, tough, determined and educated. When forced to shift shapes, she became little more than a wild dog chasing rabbits through the forest. I did hours of research on werewolves and the society of wolves. I wanted to develop a more complete character.

What character in Shadow of the Moon is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I would most be like Detective Gerald Meeker, NYPD. He is a 30-year veteran of the NYPD and he has investigated crimes for most of those years. I’m as old as Meeker, a grandfather like Meeker and I was a police officer. I hope I have a sense of humor like his as well.

What is your favorite part in Shadow of the Moon?

Not so much a part, but a character. I enjoyed writing about Miranda. Miranda is the protagonist’s niece as well as his assistant. She is smart, sexy, red-headed with long legs and she has a touch of rebellion in her against all things structured. She loves to drive her Miata convertible as fast as she can and when another character asks if she’s worried about getting a ticket, Miranda says, “What traffic cop is going to ticket me?”

She’s also a full werewolf and everything does not turn out right for her. She displays a deep character and courage later in the book.

What was the hardest part to write?

Writing a werewolf book requires a certain amount of violence. Which means, there is going to be blood. I was extremely cautious when writing those parts. The werewolf is dangerous and ruthless. I wanted the killing scenes to display that side of the creature, but not derail the story which is much fuller than just that small part of their character.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I was a police officer for a number of years and career military. Both were ideal at the time. I am reaching an age where if I couldn’t write I’d have to go fishing. Something I’m not very good at, so I work hard on my books.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

I track the review numbers as certain marketing opportunities avail themselves based on numbers. I actively seek reviews for that reason, but I don’t allow myself to get too excited about the good ones nor bummed about the bad. I focus on writing the best I can but I know not every reader will like my work.

What well-known writers do you admire most?

When did you become interested in storytelling?

My interest in storytelling has always been with me. My earliest memory was around the age of three. I spent the summer taking my dolls (in the basket of my tricycle) over to my neighbor’s house. I would ask him to babysit my dolls while I went to work and when I picked my kids (dolls) up, I would tell long stories about my hard day working at the factory. As my interest continued to grow, my stories became more elaborate. In third grade, was called to the principle’s office after spending several recesses telling kids scary stories about an abandoned house across the street. 

What was your first book/story published?

My new book Blooming Into Life is my first book published. I may have started storytelling early but it took me half of my life to find the courage and stamina to form my stories into the written word.

What inspired you to write Blooming Into Life?

As a wellness coach working with women for the past several years, I began to notice how many women were measuring their self-worth by the number on the scales, the price tag of their clothes and the status of the social groups they belonged to. After taking a look at my own behavior, I realized I was doing it also and it was all in the name of acceptance. So, I decided to write a story about a woman searching for acceptance.

What character in Blooming Into Life is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I identify a lot with the main character Colleen. I grew up in a rural area like Colleen and moved to a city where I had to figure out how and where I belonged. I spent many years of my life measuring my self-worth by my exterior and had to do a lot of internal work to look at my self differently much in the same way that Colleen does in the book.

What is your favorite part in Blooming Into Life?

There are several parts that stand out so I’ll say “one” of my favorite parts is the scene where Colleen is listening to Johnny Cash sing “The Man in Black” – “The words struck her. She was the woman in black. She had worn black or charcoal grey since Lyla put her in the ‘until my weight is gone’ outfit. Her appearance did have a somber tone but, unlike Johnny Cash, she wasn’t wearing the dark colors for all the darkness in the world. She wasn’t bringing attention to other people’s misfortune. She was highlighting her own misfortune – as her dad would say, ‘wallowing’ in her own darkness. Suddenly Colleen felt suffocated by the clothes on her body. She wanted to peel them off and throw them out the window as she drove.

What was the hardest part to write?

I struggled writing the part about being on bedrest and the fears of losing her baby since that I pulled that from my own life experience. 

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I’m a wellness coach in addition to being a new author. I love coaching and inspiring women in person and through my writing. So my ideal career would involve inspiring others to believe in themselves and to get out of their own way when it comes to reaching for their dreams. To give this a title, I’ll go with a coach, therapist/counselor, or teacher.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Now available from Escape Publishing (Imprint of Harlequin Australia) is the LGBTI speculative romance series "The Refuge Trilogy" by Annabelle McInnes.





The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about her book series.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve always been interested in writing stories. It is an innate drive for me. But, it wasn’t until the birth of my son did I release that I wanted to become a published author. I started the first draft of True Refuge, the first book in the Refuge Trilogy when my son was eight months old and having looked back.

What was your first book/story published?

Without Refuge, the prequel to the Refuge Trilogy was the first story I had published. The story was awarded a place in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Spicy Bites Competition. As a result, it was published in their yearly anthology. True Refuge, the first book in the Refuge Trilogy was the first full length novel I had published. It was released in September 2017 with Escape Publishing, the Digital First Imprint for Harlequin Australia.

What inspired you to write True Refuge?

The initial premise for the Refuge Trilogy was a simple notion; what does a good man do when all that’s left is decayed, destroyed or dead? That question drove the narrative and the characters through a post-apocalyptic landscape after a plague wiped out humanity. I have always loved science fiction and fantasy novels growing up, but I found the romance in those stories often lacking authenticity. It was later in life I discovered romance novels and I was drawn to writing speculative fiction concepts that aligned with romance tropes. I wanted to take my premise and ask how do those good men find love when compassion and empathy have been eradicated.

What character in The Refuge Trilogy is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Each of my characters represents a part of me. I would like to think that if the world were to be thrown into chaos tomorrow, that people like my characters would prevail. They represent humanity at its best. However, my characters are flawed like I am. They struggle, the second guess themselves, they bleed and they cry. But they love fiercely and passionately. They love with their whole hearts. They are brave, devoted and generous. I’d like to think that those notions came from small parts of me.

What is your favorite part in The Refuge Trilogy?

Now available on Kindle from Harmful Monkey Press is The Nightmare Room, book one in The Messy Man Series, by Chris Sorensen.

A boy in a basement, a man in a booth and a darkness that threatens to swallow them both...

New York audiobook narrator Peter Larson and his wife Hannah head to his hometown of Maple City to help Peter's ailing father and to put a recent tragedy behind them. Though the small, Midwestern town seems the idyllic place to start afresh, Peter and Hannah will soon learn that evil currents flow beneath its surface.

They move into an old farmhouse on the outskirts of town—a house purchased by Peter's father at auction and kept secret until now—and start to settle into their new life.

But as Peter sets up his recording studio in a small basement room, disturbing things begin to occur—mysterious voices haunt audio tracks, malevolent shadows creep about the house. And when an insidious presence emerges from the woodwork, Peter must face old demons in order to save his family and himself.

The author has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about his new novel The Nightmare Room.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve always loved telling stories. My mother says that when I was little, I’d walk around with a stack of paper and a pen, plop down on the carpet and start scribbling picture books. I spent a book deal of my childhood in libraries (both our local library and the library on the college campus where my father taught) and in the movie theater. I studied acting in college and went on to pursue acting as a career in NYC. That came to a crashing halt when I was in a bus accident. During the year I took learning how to walk again, I turned back to writing. I’ve been writing ever since.

What was your first book/story published?

My first book was a middle grade story called The Mad Scientists of New Jersey. It’s about young Eddie Edison, the last of the Mad Scientists—a secret society that invented time travel, teleportation and a variety of other amazing things.

What inspired you to write The Nightmare Room?

I always knew I wanted to write a story about being an audiobook narrator (that’s my day job). I also wanted to see if I could touch upon my father’s death. He passed away seven years ago—I couldn’t bring myself to write about that kind of loss until now.

What character in The Nightmare Room is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Peter Lawson, my main character, is a close version of me. He’s trying to hold things together while dealing with a death in the family (and not always doing it so gracefully). Peter also has a lot of fears, unlike his wife Hannah. They’re a couple that seems a bit like oil and water, but it works—they prop each other up.

What is your favorite part in The Nightmare Room?

My favorite part of the story is something I can’t tell you about because it would give away the ending! I will say that mapping out a story’s structure is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I spent a few years as a screenplay analyst and came to appreciate stories that were well-structured.

What was the hardest part to write?

Again, anything having to do with the death of a loved one is a difficult write. This is the closest I’ve come to examining that part of my life, so…yeah, that was the hardest.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

When I was a kid, I wanted to be either a scarecrow or a magician. Not a lot of call for either in 2018. I’d say either illustrator or furniture maker. I’m pretty good with a pen, but I don’t know anything about making furniture. Would be fun, though.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Now available to buy on Amazon, BN, Kobo, iBooks, and Goodreads from Wild Thorn Publishing is the is the action-adventure The Last Line Of A Goat Story by Jonathan Doyle.

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Storyteller: When did you become interested in storytelling?

Jon Doyle: When I was about seven, my family’s TV set broke and we couldn’t afford to buy a new one. So my Mom would read to us every night from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. I fell in love. Soon after, I wrote my first story about a lonely tiger, roaming around Africa, looking for his long lost family. Sure, I got the continent wrong, but a writer was born!

RCAS: What was your first book/story published?

JD: This one. I’ve never tried to get any other book or poem or short story sold. Though I do have a self-published novel floating out there in the ether.

RCAS: What inspired you to write The Last Line of Goat Song?

JD: My book is about a stutterer rendered mute. I had a terrible childhood stutter when I was a kid and wanted to write about that experience which so influenced my life. I don’t think many realize how difficult it is to navigate through life without having fluency. This novel also deals with illegal immigration. I worked in bars and restaurants for years, so I know many “illegals”. I refuse to equate that with “alien”. These are people and I wanted to show that Maggie, my lead, is complex and flawed and wonderful and deserves respect.

RCAS: What character in The Last Line of Goat Song is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

JD: William is the most like me. Obviously, because of our stutter, but also our reclusive inquisitiveness. Who’s least like me? Probably Anna. She’s a go-getter, a bit of a game player. She holds grudges. I love Anna as a character, but we’re not built the same!

RCAS: What is your favorite part in The Last Line of Goat Song?

Now available Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo is the romantic novel In The Heat Of The Tropics by Christina Elliott.

Amid a sweltering Miami summer, a serial killer is haunting the city. Reporter Ingrid Sorenson is assigned the story and her primary source is brusque detective Rick Gonzalez. The pair clash, but sparks of passion ignite. They risk their jobs to give in to their desire, but mistrust of each other’s career motives wedges them apart. Then Ingrid gets a tip that leads her into the killer’s lair. She and Rick must choose between saving themselves or rescuing their love.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was about five, I won a prize for “writing interesting stories.” I have no idea what I wrote at that early age. They must have been very simple stories with one-syllable words but they obviously impressed the teacher! I’ve always been a bookworm and that made me want to write books since I was little. In high school I discovered journalism and that became my career goal since it was about writing.

What was your first book/story published?

I had a short story published in my high school literary magazine when I was in 10th grade so I guess that was my first publication. Then there was a huge gap until about 2007 when I started writing creatively in earnest. I brushed off a bunch of dusty old short stories and submitted them to literary journals. The Internet made submissions much easier!

What inspired you to write In the Heat of the Tropics?

I love both gritty crime fiction and romances so to me romantic suspense is a great genre that combines both elements. I used to be a newspaper reporter in Miami so that was my obvious lead character, Ingrid, and knowing that reporters often clash with cops over big stories, that formed the basis for the romantic and thriller plot. It seemed a natural fit and I knew about both cops (having dated two of them!) and reporters.

What character in In the Heat of the Tropics is the most like you, and in what ways?

Ingrid, the lead character, is based on myself. She’s an intrepid reporter, heads off to follow a story wherever that may take her. She doesn’t get scared easily. She goes to interview prostitutes on the street by herself and follows a lead on the killer. I’ve done many such things myself. As a foreign correspondent, I was in a number of dangerous situations doing my job, although I didn’t realize they were potentially dangerous until I was in them or until afterward and I thought “what was I doing?!” It can be difficult for some to understand that mindset but many journalists have a strong sense of adventure, and that’s what drives Ingrid.

What is your favorite part in In the Heat of the Tropics?

Early date scenes are always fun because there’s a lot of quick, light banter in the dialogue, plus a lot of discovery about the characters. It’s flirtatious and fun, with a lot eyeing each other up and down in the heat of the initial attraction.

What was the hardest part to write?

Any action scene of violence is always the hardest to write for me. You have to choreograph the struggle, where various limbs are positioned, the feasibility of one character being able to do something against the other’s reactions. Not having done a lot of physical fighting I my life, I find these scenes tedious. Maybe I should take a boxing lesson or two!

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I’d love to be a comedic actor. I took some acting classes some years ago and not only found them hugely therapeutic, but also that I have a knack for comedy. I find being zany and way out a huge release. It’s weird because I love reading, writing and watching drama, but when I act, it’s comedy all the way!

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Now available on Paperback, Kindle, and Nook is the hilarious novel Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja Toilet by K.C. Hilton. The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk about her newest book.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

Since I was young, I had always expressed my creativity through photography. "A picture says a thousand words," I was told, but I wanted more. A picture may say a thousand words, but a book will give you the details of the story. About ten years ago, I had a dream. Two months later, I decided to write about the dream in detail. It wasn't long before I realized I had a story to build on. So, I began researching and learning the art of writing. That story was 90 Miles to Freedom.

What was your first book/story published?

The first book published was actually the second book I wrote, which was The Magic of Finkleton.

What inspired you to write Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja Toilet?

I own and manage a used car lot with my husband. The experiences in my real life make for excellent material in the Julia Karr Series. I'm a used car dealer by day and a writer by night. I don't get much sleep. I was actually in the middle of writing another young adult book, when Barbie came to visit. That afternoon, I decided to write a book from the perspective of a female car dealer.

What character in Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja Toilet is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

That's easy! Julia is basically me, in every way.

What is your favorite part in Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja Toilet?

My favorite part would be Romeo and Julia's home life. The love they have for each other and the amusing things they say and do at home. It balances out the crazy stuff that happens on the car lot.

What was the hardest part to write?

That would be the story about the car jacker. Recalling that memory was one of the hardest things I've had to do. Just writing that chapter took me two days and had me shook up for a week. I wondered if writing it was even worth it.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

As a career, I'd choose to be a Dental Hygienist, because I literally fall short of the height requirements to be an Airline Stewardess. However, working at Disney World would be much more fun, in my opinion. Although, some people might consider that a job, not a career.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Now available to purchase on Amazon, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, ThriftBooks, and Target is the fantasy novel CrossTown by Loren W. Cooper.




The author has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about his new novel CrossTown.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

As early as I can remember, I hung on family stories, I read voraciously, and I told myself stories in play or for relaxation. It took me until college to think about writing for publication.

What was your first book/story published?

First short story published was Eyes of Yesterday in 1995.

What inspired you to write CrossTown?

The initial scene with the Jigsaw Man came to me after seeing a horror movie done badly. It made me want to write a scene with similar elements where it was done well.

What character in CrossTown is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

The White Wolf is the most fun to write. He captures my smartass element. Unlike me, he feels little need to filter his acerbity.

What is your favorite part in CrossTown?

The setting itself. All the myriad Ways of Possibility branching out through time and space.

What was the hardest part to write?

The setting. CrossTown blurs character and setting. Capturing the breadth and depth of it is impossible. You can only shoot and hope to get close to the target.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

Now available to purchase on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble is the novel The Chaos Stories by Charles O'Keefe.



The author has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about his newest book.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I think it started for me when I was 13, back then I had this crazy idea that I could write the script for video games (and my friend would do the art). I think we did up at least one game, maybe two. It helped that year that I had a teacher I really liked who got the class to do some interesting writing assignments, showed me how to be a better writer and used to lend out comic books for me to read. The other big encouragement was I start playing Dungeons and Dragons then as well, which is a great way to stimulate anyone's imagination.

What was your first book/story published?

It was a long time before I got motivated enough (and organized) to do any serious writing. My first book was published in April of 2012 (I was 36). This was with Penumbra Publishing (who are sadly now gone) and I had been working on the book off and on for about 8 years. Even once it was accepted I was still waiting about 7 months for it to be published, I used my time wisely and had the rough draft of book 2 done by then.

What inspired you to write "The Chaos Stories"?

I had always loved to read short-stories and I had written a few before (I was lucky enough to even have one published at the back of a novel that Penumbra published). I had been reading a lot of short stories beforehand (along with Stephen King's book on writing) and to be honest I find I need to write, With three books published (all vampire) I was ready for a change. I know it sounds corny but my own life and my desire to write is all I need for inspiration.

What character in "The Chaos Stories" is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

That's an easy one for me. About 40% of the book is deleted scenes from my vampire books and one those characters, Joseph, is a younger version of me. That doesn't mean he's identical to me, I'm in my 40s and Joseph will be forever in his 20s physically (since he's a vampire). Joseph also makes different choices than me, never takes over the family business, never gets married, doesn't age, drinks blood and of course often has fights to the death with other vampires. Seriously though, Joseph does have most of the same ideas and principles I do, he's just a little more extreme and outspoken than me, I've mellowed out somewhat as I've gotten older. I agree with him on lots of things, we're both vegetarian, both against animal cruelty and hunting, both big geeks, we both enjoy nature, love women, always been fascinated with red heads, both love literature and both have strong family ties. Also, like Joseph, I often felt alone in my early 20s and longed for companionship, the big difference is how I met my girlfriend (now wife) and how now I enjoy time to myself more than I ever did in my 20s. He represents ultimately what my life could have been if I had made different choices and if vampires were real.

What is your favorite part in "The Chaos Stories"?

There is a moment in "Footprints Part 1" where Marlon, one of the main characters, makes two impossible shots with a rifle. He is blindfolded and still manages to hit two cans hundreds of feet away. I loved how it was something that actually could happen but is so unlikely that it means his skill is beyond human. It's a small thing in the story but it means a lot, when Marlon makes these kinds of insane shots he is indeed using a supernatural power. This supernatural power comes at a cost, when he uses it evil energy follows him and bad things can happen. It is also something that was originally not in the story and a great example of why you need to a good editor to make a story even better and more cohesive.

What was the hardest part to write?

Today, Val Muller, the author of the young adult novels The Man with the Crystal Ankh and The Girl Who Flew Away, has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his writings.

Buy Link: Amazon

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When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was very young, my dad read “The Night Before Christmas” to me several times each night. As the days and weeks went on, he left out one word here, then two words, then a phrase, until I had basically memorized the whole poem (with a little prompting). They were “big words,” and I wasn’t sure what all of them meant, but one day the meaning became crystal clear.

We were up in Connecticut, where I grew up, and it had snowed that day. It was evening, and I was in my pajamas. My dad called me to the dining room window and told me to look into the back yard. There, the pristine snow was sparkling as it reflected the full moon. He recited the line to me: “moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below.” We talked about what that meant, and it was at that moment that I realized how powerful words were. I realized I could be on the beach in the heat of summer, and that line would evoke this particular image in my head, one of a nighttime snowfall. It was then that I knew—subconsciously, at least—that I wanted to be a writer.

What was your first book/story published?

I always jokingly say that my first “book” was written in third grade. It was made of several pieces of notebook paper cut down into quarters and stapled together. I wrote an illustrated a mystery tale in which the neighbors engage in vigilante justice after their friend’s murder.

2008 is when I started taking my writing seriously. Although I always wanted to be a writer, it was something I assumed just “happened.” After college, I realized I had to make it happen. My first published story was written for kids and was published by New Moon Girls magazine. It was a spooky tale about camping inspired by my experiences in Girl Scouts.

What inspired you to write The Man with the Crystal Ankh?

I have played the violin since third grade, and I was always fascinated with the power of composers (like writers and artists) to reach beyond their lifetimes and inspire those who were born after their deaths. In Crystal Ankh, one of the characters takes that literally and prolongs his life using supernatural methods.

What character in The Man with the Crystal Ankh is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I see parts of myself in the protagonist, Sarah Durante. In some ways, she’s like me: a little bit of a misfit, a little dorky, and loves the violin. But because of the nature of the tale, she gets into spooky situations that terrify me even thinking about them. So in that sense, I’m glad she’s not me.

I have had several spooky dreams and premonitions, and those was scary enough for me.

What is your favorite part in The Man with the Crystal Ankh?

I really enjoy the musical scenes. During these scenes, Sarah enters a trance-like state and is able to physically leave her body, wandering close by. In these scenes, she’s able to sneak upstairs or down into the basement to discover various pieces of the puzzle. There’s something chilling about leaving the body.

What was the hardest part to write?

In one scene, the antagonist possesses his dog so that he attacks the protagonists. The would-be kind canine thus becomes the enemy. My characters are literally up a tree and have to decide what to do. Their only option is to attack the dogs. With two corgis of my own and always having loved dogs, this scene was difficult for me to write because it contradicts the way I feel about dogs—both how they act and how people should treat them.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

Well, I’m a high school English teacher, and I love being able to talk about writing and literature all day. But if I could choose from absolutely anything, I would choose to be a photographer specializing in outdoor shots. I love being outdoors, and finding unique angles with a camera invigorates me.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Now available on Amazon and Smashwords from Devildog Press is science fiction horror novel Prey by Tim Majka.

The Other Side Has Broken Through

Following the mysterious death of his parents, Detective Eric Archer goes home to the idyllic Western New York town of Chadwick Bay. There, he joins old colleagues and makes new acquaintances in Jessica Benitez, Eliseo Gomez, and the enigmatic Dr. William Dirk.

They uncover decades-old family secrets that shakes the foundation of their reality.

Alliances are formed, friends become foes.

An ancient entity’s plan to enslave the people of Earth is about to be unleashed. With the fate of humanity at risk, Eric Archer and his friends must race to unravel the mystery of how to defeat a God-king.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

My seventh grade English Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Lynn Clarke got me hooked on storytelling. We had a unit of study in creative writing during which I wrote an episode of STAR TREK (the original series), she gave me an A on it and many positive accolades about pacing and characterization. I didn’t write much creatively for many more years, but as a history teacher I need to be able to tell a story to hook the students, as veteran teacher once said to me, “You have to perform five shows daily and you need to have as much energy in the last as you do in the first.”

What was your first book/story published?

Prey from Devil Dog Press in June of 2017 was my first published work.

What inspired you to write Prey?

I was having a conversation online with an old high school friend, who happened to be writing some horror short stories. I had recently hung up my whistle after 13 years of coaching high school football and didn’t know what to do with myself (it is all consuming if you want to do it the right way). I had always wanted to write, as we talked I got more excited at the prospect of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys, as it were). Searching through my desk, I found an CD-ROM with no label, I popped it in my desktop tower and it contained one Microsoft Word document titled PREY. It was three lines of a story I had started to write back at the beginning of my teaching career, how and why that disc was in the drawer at that time, I have no idea. I started writing from there.

What character in Prey is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

The main character of Prey, Eric Archer, loves his family and always wants to do right by them. He is intelligent, tough, sarcastic, and funny, but when there is work to be done, it’ll get done. In many respects he’s the most like me.😀

I am least like Sheriff Pontillo, that bastard. 😀

What is your favorite part in Prey?

Now available from HarperCollins Publishers is the riveting sequel to This Is a Bust, titled Snakes Can't Run by Ed Lin.

Purchase Link

The author has taken a few minutes of his busy schedule for a Q&A about his newest novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve wanted to write pretty much as long as I’ve known how to write, but the real storytelling aspect I think came from a grade-school librarian. She would voice the dialog and put the characters and story in my head, it was incredible.

What was your first book/story published?

My first book was called Waylaid, it’s a bit of a coming-of-age story.

What inspired you to write Snakes Can’t Run?

Issues of immigration and documentation have been on my mind. I wanted to have the discussion within a mystery as a way to make readers think about it, as well.

What character in Snakes Can’t Run is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I am probably most like John Vandyne, the partner of the book’s narrator, NYPD detective Robert Chow. Chow leads with his fists while Vandyne contemplates what he does and says, like me. I’m a thinker!

What is your favorite part of the book?

Now available on Amazon from Devil Dog Press is the horror novel Lycan Fallout: Rise of the Werewolf (A Michael Tablot Adventure) by Mark Tufo.


I would like to thank the author for taking the time out of his busy schedule to do a Q&A about his novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I wrote a bit in College. I’ve been interested in it ever since.

What was your first book/story published?

The first book I put up on Amazon Kindle was Indian Hill. The first book that sold more than one copy was Zombie Fallout. 😀

What inspired you to write Lycan Fallout?

Lycan Fallout came about after a conversation I had with my wife on a coffee excursion to town.

What character in Lycan Fallout is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Probably Michael Talbot. Im always getting myself into some sort of trouble.

What is your favorite part in Lycan Fallout?

Being released this month from WordFire Press is the monster mash-up novel Monsterland by Michael Okon. The book can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

Welcome to Monsterland—the scariest place on Earth.

The last couple years of high school have not been fun for Wyatt Baldwin. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An on-going debate with his best friends Howard Drucker and Melvin over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance.

But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can rock out with vampires at Vampire Village, be chased by actual werewolves on the Werewolf River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

The author has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about Monsterland.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve been writing since I’m 15 years old, albeit poorly. I really fell in love with the craft of screenwriting in high school and college. I started self-publishing novels under my pen name Michael Phillip Cash and finally got a publishing deal this year.

What was your first book/story published?

In 2017, WordFire Press picked up my books Monsterland 1 & 2, in a two book publishing deal. So it took me about 20 years a 15 minutes to get published.

What inspired you to write Monsterland?

I always wanted to write a monster book, but I couldn’t come up with something original. I was binge watching an 80s/90s movie marathon with my son and it just popped into my head, why isn’t there a theme park with zombies. I called my brother immediately and he said it has to be werewolves, vampires, AND zombies. I started beating out the storyline that night.

What character in Monsterland is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

The character least like me is Dr. Vincent Konrad – the mad evil genius of the Monsterland universe. Vincent is using the theme park for nefarious purposes. I could never deliberately try to overthrow anyone or anything. I don’t even like killing ants, let alone trying to take over the world.

Being released on October 17th is the science fiction romance antholoy Other Worlds, featuring stories by Allyson Lindt, Award-Winning author A.D. Trosper, Cheri Schmidt with Tristan Hunt, Akaria Gale with Award-Winning author R. A. Steffan, Jennifer Rose McMahon, Award-Winning author Amy L Gale, Shawnee Small with K. R. Fajardo, Award-Winning author Lea Kirk, Mychal Daniels with Laura Hysell, Shawna Romkey with Elizabeth Ryder, E.A. Weston, Award-Winning author Lindsay Avalon, LaVerne Thompson with Starla Night, and Jayne Fury with Isadora Brow.

Author LaVerne Thompson has taken a few minutes to answer a short Q&A.


When did you become interested in storytelling? 

I’ve been creating stories from my imagination for as long as I can remember. As a child, I’d make up a story about the sky.

What was your first book/story published? What inspired you to write Zeus- Lost Gods? 
 

Promises was the first book I ever published. I’d begun writing it in a creative writing class in college and a million years later finished it and it was my first book published. It’s a story loosely based on my cousin who married someone she’d known all her life. 

What character in Zeus- Lost Gods is the most/least like you, and in what ways? 

Dragon’s Heart Story of the Brethren, Maya only in that I would have totally embraced the idea of being a dragon shifter. Lol I do after all wear a tattoo of a dragon on my back. 'Can you hear my dragon roar?' 

What is your favorite part in Zeus- Lost Gods? 

Zeus-Lost Gods. ***spoiler***When Kassia dies and Ze has to remember who he once was to save her.   

What was the hardest part to write? 

Being publishled on October 3rd from NES Publishing, LLC is the supernatural-horror novel The Darkness: Giger, Texas by Joe M. Solomon. The book can be preorderd on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was five or six and used to buy comic books, I never read the books. I would pick and choose images from the comics, cut them out, and create my own story. I actually didn’t come to know the story of Batman until I saw the movie Batman that starred Michael Keaton.

What was your first book/story published?

The Darkness: Giger, Texas is my first published book.

What inspired you to write The Darkness: Giger, Texas?

One night when I was about to go to bed, I turned off the lights in the den and headed for the bedroom. Once there, I realized I had left something behind. So I went back to the den and turned on the lights. Something black—like a shadow—swept by in front of my face, startling me. I assumed it was just one of those weird visual things that can happen when you abruptly shift from shadows to bright light. But the notion of the darkness coming to life when we go to bed popped into my head and wouldn’t leave.

What character in The Darkness: Giger, Texas is the most/least like you, and in what ways?