Ruchi Vasudeva

Location:  India

Question:  How long have you been writing?

     I seriously began to write about three years before I got published. Off and on I have been writing throughout my life. In some distant future I saw myself seriously taking up writing. Then one day, the question just popped at me: why not today? So I asked my targeted publisher, Harlequin, if they would accept Indian author submission and found that they were actually holding a contest for Indian writers. That was a lucky break. I submitted an entry and went on to win the contest as well as an opportunity to get published with them.

Question:  What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when was it published?

     My debut book is ‘Bollywood Fiance For A Day’ and it was published in September, ’13. It’s American edition is being released in June, ‘14

Question:  Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?

     It’s published under Indian AUthor Collection as print edition and is being released by Harlequin E as an eBook with a new cover.

Question:  Tell our readers about this very first book.  (For example:  What was the inspiration for writing it, and what was it about)?

    The story I wrote for the contest starred a Bollywood actor and a serious minded doctor who just had her engagement broken by none other than her own sister. When I wrote the book, Zahir, the hero, became a hotshot with a careless attitude who rubs the jilted heroine the wrong way. But beneath the surface, he has his own shares of troubles and hurts that life has dealt him. Will Vishakha find out the real persona beneath the reel one?

    I was inspired to write a Bollywood hero because I’m a fan of the song-dance-mix Bollywood films. Vishakha became a doctor, maybe because of my own medical background.

Question:  Can a person still buy this book?  If so, where?

It’s available at:

Amazon.in  = http://ow.ly/yn7Kp

Amazon.co.uk = http://ow.ly/yn7Ny 

Amazon.de =  http://ow.ly/yn7Ud 

Also at: Fantastic Fiction, UK 
http://ow.ly/yn7Ws 

Question:  How many total books have you published?

  To date: two.

Question:  List all of your titles 

• "Bollywood Fiance For A Day"
• "You Can’t Fight A Royal Attraction"

Question:  Any future writing projects in the works?  If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent dates to go with it.

    I have a story out in an anthology, to be released by Harper Collins India. I’m currently working on my third book.

Question:  What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little about it.

    I've named it "Second Chance" for now. It’s the story of two lovers getting separated after college because of their different goals in life. When they meet again, can they take another chance at love? That is the story question.

Last question, if someone comes across this interview and reads it, what would you like to tell them about why you think they should try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer them in the way of information or entertainment)?

    My books are romantic reads, with emotional twists and turns. My characters are usually conflicted and must find their way out of the odds presented to them while solving an emotional issue for themselves. The stories blend emotion with light touches of humour, ideal to relax with while keeping you turning the page.

Anything else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with our readers?  

    If you are interesting in writing and think I can help you with something, do contact me at summervasu@gmail.com I love to help out fellow writers. And of course, do check out my books. J


Blog Writer's Note to Author:  You sound like you are a pretty impressive writer.  Congratulations on winning the Harlequin Romance contest.  I'll definitely be checking out your book.  Good Luck to you with your future writing, and thank you for the interview.

Daniel Royer

Location: Michigan / USA)

Question:  How long have you been writing?

     
   40 years

Question:  What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when was it published?

   It was published in 2009', called “The Biography of an American Poet”

Question:  Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?

    It was published by Publish America.

Question:  Tell our readers about this very first book.  (For example:  What was the inspiration for writing it, and what was it about)?

   The inspiration was from, not knowing my own father, before he passed away. I wanted to give my children a biography of some of my greatest adventures, while walking through this life. The book is written in poetic verse, segmented into short stories.

Question:  Can a person still buy this book?  If so, where?

   Yes! Both books can be bought on line. The second book can also be purchased, which is a sequel of the first, called “Poetic Biography of an American BabyBoomer” My next book is due out in June of 2014, called “Secrets of the Egole’s Nest” a science-fiction, fantasy book series, edited by Holly Kothe.

Question:  How many total books have you published?

   Three, one revised.

Question:  Any future writing projects in the works?  If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent dates to go with it.

   In December 2015' “An Egole’s Roar” the second book in the series will be available in all online book stores. All books will eventually be available in ebook and audio form.

Question:  What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little about it.

   “Secrets of the Egole’s Nest” is a science fiction, fantasy, about a rebel child and his military father. They both face a universe filled with mystical masters, beasts and superhuman beings. Aben, the protagonist of the story, must adapt into a world of superpowers, while dealing with years of emotional neglect, after losing his loving mother. The characters are charismatic and entertaining for all ages.

Last question, if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell them about why you think they should try reading your book or books?

  My book is like no other book, it goes beyond the realm of imagination. It delves into the intriguing world of sensory perception. It will engage the audience into worlds of adventure and drama.

You can Follow me on Twitter:

@DanielRoyer6

You can find me on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/danroyerdotcom


Blog Writer's Note to Author:  Your book coming out in June of 2014' sounds really interesting, and I will definitely be checking it out.  It sounds like you have a real passion for what you write, and in wanting to entertain readers.  Good Luck to you, and thanks for the interview.

Richard Cezar

Location:   

Illinois / U.S.A.

Question:  How long have you been writing?

Nine years.

Question:  What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when was it published?

“MP” (Stands for Military Police)

Published – Dec 23, 2012

Question:  Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?

Published through Amazon Createspace

Question:  Tell our readers about this very first book.  (For example:  What was the inspiration for writing it, and what was it about)?

It was a semi-autobiography. I felt it had to be written, and that some part of me would be lost if I didn’t write it.

Question:  Can a person still buy this book?  If so, where?

Yes, at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, and online bookstores.

Question:  How many total books have you published?

I've published two books.

Question:  List all of your titles

“MP”

“An American MP in Korea” This second book was picked up by a publisher. It is an exhaustively edited and pace-adjusted version of my first book, with advice from a NY TIMES best-selling author.

Question:  Any future writing projects in the works?  If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent dates to go with it.

Yes, I’m about 100 manuscript pages into a new novel rough draft. I expect to be finished by end of 2014. However, expectations are often fickle.

Question:  What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little about it.

"An American MP in Korea" is the story of a young American military policeman’s personal growth and struggles in mid-1960s South Korea, during the reign of North Korean premier Kim Il-Sung. Known as the “Great Leader” and father of the communist movement in North Korea, Kim was the grandfather of its current leader, Kim Jong-Un.

Sex, murder, suicide, espionage and love are all intertwined in this work, based on true events during the “cold war” era.

The story unfolds as the protagonist is drafted into the army, trained as a military policeman and shipped off to South Korea. He believes that fate has spared him the horrors of a burgeoning war in Vietnam. Instead, he is thrust into a different kind of war; one that shakes his core beliefs and cripples his ability to deal with the tragic and deadly consequences.

Last question, if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell them about why you think they should try reading your book?

(So—do a sell-job). People are smart enough to know that every author thinks their work is simply grand. What I can say, in all honesty, is that after years of laboring over it and literally thousands of edits, I was concerned that it might seem chopped-up. So, I read it through one last time before its release. I put it down and said to myself, “Hey, that’s not bad!”

Anything else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with our readers? 

In "An American MP in Korea", I hope my words serve to paint a backdrop for escalating tensions in the world today and to suggest that there is always room for optimism.

You can Follow me on Twitter:

@richard_cezar

You can meet up with me on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/R.Cezar

Blog Writer's Note to Author:  Your books sound really interesting.  I always find that books that have some basis of fact surrounding them, generally have high value.  I will definitely check your two books out.  Good Luck and much success to you on your current and future writing endeavors.

Charles Gibson

Location: Minnesota / U.S.A

Question:  How long have you been writing?

   I've loved to write since I was a kid. I was 9 when I wrote my first short story. I started actively doing freelance writing about 15 years ago. I began by writing stories for an inspirational book series called God Allows U-Turns. It is similar to Chicken Soup for the Soul. I also wrote articles for a local Twin Cities newspaper.

Question:  What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when was it published?

   The title of my first book is called "Taking the Cross". It releases Aug. 1, 2014.

Question:  Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?

   It is being published by Koehler Books in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Question:  Tell our readers about this very first book.  (For example:  What was the inspiration for writing it, and what was it about)?

   I have always loved reading about history. When I was in college, I came across a book that was about the crusade against heresy in France in the early 13^th century. I had never heard of this crusade before, and it piqued my interest in this time period and the region of the Languedoc in Southern France where the crusade happened. It was the first time a crusade was unleashed not across the sea, but in the very backyard of the Catholic Church. It involved Christians fighting Christians, one side wanting to kill heretics and the other side seeking to protect the different groups of so-called heretics. My initial inspiration in writing "Taking the Cross" was an attempt to answer a question: Who were the real Christians in this horribly confusing time? I also wanted to bring alive a fascinating and important period of history that few people have heard about before.

   The book follows the same format as "Cold Mountain", in that the chapters alternate back and forth between the lead male and female characters, who are apart from one another as a war rages. Though, I hadn’t even heard of "Cold Mountain" until I was nearly finished with "Taking the Cross". Also, Andreas and Eva, the two main characters in my novel, have not yet met as the books opens.

Question:  Can a person still buy this book?  If so, where?

  "Taking the Cross" is available for pre-order on Amazon: (Click Here)

Barnes and Noble: (Click Here)

  Like I mentioned before, it will be releasing Aug. 1 of this year in both printed and e-book form.

Question:  How many total books have you pub-lished?

  "Taking the Cross" is my first novel to be published.

Question:  Any future writing projects in the works?  If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent dates to go with it.

 What I originally envisioned as one novel called "Taking the Cross", ended up being over 600 pages long. When I submitted it to my publisher last year, they asked if I would be willing to break it in half, since the maximum length of the books they publish is around 300 pages. It just happened to work out that it does break very nicely in half. I didn’t plan it that way. So I have already written book two in what I hope will become the "Taking the Cross series". The publication of book two depends on the success of book one. I don’t have any dates for the second book yet.

Question:  What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little about it.

   While book one of "Taking the Cross" takes place during the summer of 1209, book two takes places during the summers of 1210 and 1211. It does not have a title yet. It picks up the story of the two main characters, Andreas and Eva, a year after the ending of the first book, as they seek to fight back against the continuing crusade against heresy, also called the Albigensian Crusade (one center of the heretics was the city of Albi in France, so they were called Albigensians, also known as Cathars. The other group of heretics in "Taking the Cross" is a group called the Waldensians). 

Last question, if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell them about why you think they should try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer them in the way of information or entertainment)?

  Reading the "Taking the Cross" will introduce you to what I like to call the most important period of history you’ve never heard about. Most modern movements of both freedom and tyranny trace their roots to this time. The crusade against heresy spawned the Inquisition, which was the original police state, in which a person could be tortured and severely punished merely for having the wrong beliefs or even sheltering those who did. It was also the time when people began to start to demand freedom of religion and freedom of speech and the other rights so many – but not all - enjoy today. People were starting to go to the cities for freedom, where it was said “city air makes one free.”

Anything else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with our readers? 

  My website is www.charlesgibson.net if you’d like more information. My e-mail is cg@charlesgibson.net.

Blog Writer's Note to Author:

   Your book sounds really interesting.  I am always fascinated with a book that deals with history in some form, especially, history that generally has never really been discussed because usually what we find in our present day has a lot to do with what was in the past. I'll definitely be checking out your book when it comes out in August of 2014.  Good luck with this project and thanks for the interview.

Alex Hammer

Location: Maine / U.S.A.

Age:  48

Question:  How long have you been writing?

   It seems like before I was born. Probably, since around age 6 or 7.

Question:  What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when was it published?


   "This Great State". It was a book about Maine politics, published in 2008'.


Question:  Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?

   I Self-published.


Question:  Tell our readers about this very first book.  (For example:  What was the inspiration for writing it, and what was it about)?

     It was inspired when I was preparing to run for Governor of Maine.


Question:  Can a person still buy this book?  If so, where?

  Yes, on Amazon.com 


Question:  How many total books have you published?

     I've published a total of (5) so far.


Question:  List all of your titles;

  Please see:
  http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Hammer/e/B00FGJEDOE

Question:  Any future writing projects in the works?  If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent dates to go with it.

   There will be a Sequel to "The Laws and Secrets of Success" - For those ready for the advanced course :)


Question:  What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little about it.

"The Laws and Secrets of Success"  http://www.thelawsandsecretsofsuccess.com/

Description of book: Think about this: With all of the success books out there, why don't we have more successful people? 

    Too many success books simply rehash conventional wisdom. The truly great success books, such as "Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich", instead enable life-changing success breakthroughs because they identify and describe in powerful detail the thinking patterns and principles of the world's most successful individuals. 

    The only way to do this is to study the world's most successful individuals, as Napoleon Hill has done. 

--And, as I have done as well. 

     For over two decades I have devoted myself to studying and interviewing the most successful individuals across varying fields, so that I could see and learn for myself the principles which set them apart in terms of their success. 

--And that is what I share with you here. 

    Get ready to throw out many of the things that you thought you knew about success! 

    Let's start at the beginning with a simple truth. Success is hard…Very hard, very, very, very, very hard. We all know that, once we have had a little bit of experience and are honest with ourselves. We all want to be more successful, but let's face it sometimes we just don't know how. It's because, as they say, "we don't know what we don't know". 

    So we make the same mistakes over and over again (often without fully realizing it until later). And, then we blame ourselves (or others) in regard to why things didn't turn out as we had hoped, or planned. 

     It's this simple: If you want to increase your level of success, read this book. We all go through the same struggles. This book - simply but powerfully - is your instruction manual on how to overcome them. 

    Read this book, and in 60 days you won't even recognize the person you used to be. And, neither will your family and friends. This is the type of change that allows you to get the things you really want in life. 

    The things that were previously outside of your reach; the things you saw others gain and achieve, but never seemed to be able to get for yourself. That can change today! 

    We all know that a few better ideas can accelerate one's success substantially. 

    Successful people take their better ideas and know how to leverage them further - and execute them better - than other people do. 

    Once you understand the processes that successful people utilize to do this, you can very quickly ramp up your own success as well. 

    Everybody struggles. Successful people struggle just like unsuccessful people, but they learn and use the success principles to overcome the difficulties in their lives to reach their goals. Success breeds confidence, making it easier over time. If you don't want to keep making the same mistakes over and over and over again, you need to understand and understand well what these success principles are. That is what this book will provide for you.

Last question, if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell them about why you think they should try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer them in the way of information or entertainment)?     

Many people have found that this book,  
"The Laws and Secrets of Success"  http://www.thelawsandsecretsofsuccess.com/ has greatly contributed to their increased success.

Anything else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with our readers? 

About me:
http://about.me/alexhammer

Background Website for:"The Laws and Secrets of Success"  http://www.thelawsandsecretsofsuccess.com/

Sample radio interview about the book:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chevaljohn/2013/12/17/the-laws-of-success 

Follow me on Twitter: @AlHammer

Blog Writer's Note to Author: I have to say that I was extremely amazed by your about me author page on amazon.com, and discovering that you once ran for Governor in your state of Maine.  I definitely had to purchase your book: "The Laws and Secrets of Success".  As a person who recently became unemployed and have been trying to become successful as a self-employed person, I'm hoping this book will help guide me along my path to success.  I hope others will check it out.  With a new year upon us I think we can all use a little guidance in the area of becoming successful.  Good Luck with your books, and thanks for the interview.

Michael Hammor

Location: Arizona / U.S.A.

Age: (31)

Question:  How long have you been writing?

I have been writing stories since I was a kid. I loved the horror genre. I would sneak Stephen King books off my mother's book shelf at 8 or 9 years old. I wrote for the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst for 10 years. Being laid off from my job as a DoD contractor at a major military installation gave me the push I needed to publish some of the stories that have been clawing around in my brain.

 

Question:  What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when was it published?

The first book I published was Book 1: "The Girl with No Name". It's the first book in my series called: "Bedtime Tales from the Apocalypse". I published "The Girl with No Name" on Sept 11, 2013'. I chose that date for the symbolism. That date changed my life. I intend for the series to go on for 6 or more books. I might put them together in a collection every 6 books or so.

 

Question:  Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?

I am a self-published author, but if the right deal came around, I might consider signing up with a publisher. I do value my freedom, although I can't be restricted, or forced. As a self-publisher I can do whatever I want. If the story was told in one page, that's what I would publish.

 

Question:  Tell our readers about this very first book.  (For example:  What was the inspiration for writing it, and what was it about)?

Book 1: "The Girl with No Name" had been clawing around in my head since my 2008' deployment. (Kuwait and Iraq were desolate). It really shocked me. I could imagine my home in southern, Arizona, becoming like that with just a few years of missed rain. The main character is based on several different people. I got the inspiration from her by thinking, what if the world ended, but I wasn't here to help my Daughter survive, how would she end up? I was counter inspired by "Twilight". Vampires are supposed to be brutal, hungry, destroyers. Humans are the prey, not the love interest.

Book 1 opens to southern, Arizona a significant time after the world has collapsed. Nothing modern remains. Cars no longer operate for lack of gas and rubber parts, like hoses and tires. Batteries have long gone dead. The Girl is wandering around Benson. Then she gets ambushed by raiders. Read the books to find out what happens next.

 

Question:  Can a person still buy this book?  If so, where?

Book 1: "The Girl with No Name" is available on Amazon.com.

 

Question:  How many total books have you published?

So far I have published two volumes of six in the Series "Bedtime Tales from the Apocalypse".

 

Question:  List all of your titles:

 

Book 1: "The Girl with No Name"

Book 2: "Aluminum Butterflies"

Question:  Any future writing projects in the works?  If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent dates to go with it.

I am going to release Book 3: "By Lantern's Light" around Nov 11, 2013. I am trying for an installment a month. When I have the first six installments released I may put them together in a novel and release that at a later date.

I may do a side project or two, but it will still be in my genre, dystopian post apocalyptic, but most likely will be independent of the series.

A good buddy of mine wants the privilege of writing the prequel series about what ended the world. That is something that doesn't really matter in the current series; since to the characters, it happened so long ago.

 

Question:  What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little about it.

The current book is Book 2: "Aluminum Butterflies". I am very proud of the artwork for this book. I contacted an artist in Mexico named Steph. She came through with very little notice. While not a photographer like me, she responded to my coaching very well and produced the perfect image I was looking for.

Book 2 picks up a day or two after Book 1. It's set mostly in Huachuca City and Bisbee. We learn a lot about the existing characters, and I introduced a new one. Book 2 sets the stage for the last four books.

 

Last question, if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell them about why you think they should try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer them in the way of information or entertainment)?

I don't follow formulas. I write the story how the story wants to be written. I'm a soldier, not an English major. My books have been well received by those who have read them. I use my words to paint a picture. I take you into the character's world. You stand next to them, see what they see, smell and taste what they smell. You are not going to find a Vampire, werewolf, human love triangle in my books. They are mature content but not Fifty Shades mature.

I write what I know. I try to include some useful survival or prepper tidbits in the books. I use actual locations, I include people from my life as characters, and I try to incorporate events that really happened to me into my work. If you ever find yourself at the intersection of HWY 90 and I-10 you will find the old farmhouse from Book 1. Walk the streets of old Bisbee at night, and you will see what the Boss sees as he emerges from his fortified lair. In Book 6, "The Lavender Mine" will play a pivotal role in the climax of the entire series.

 

Anything else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with our readers? 

I'm just a normal guy. I have been a janitor, a soldier, a father, a photographer, and most recently a DoD Instructor. Life will hit you hard; just go with it. What you do in the face of adversity defines who you are. Do you lie down and give up, or do you keep fighting? Writing is my way to keep fighting. The career I built for a decade since I joined the U.S. Army in 2003' was basically eliminated by the government. I have enough duty related injuries to get a nice disability check. I just can't do that. I can't give up. We have had to move into an RV with a small child. Cool, I love camping! We are losing the house to the bank. They can have it.

My writing reflects what I face in real life. It's about fighting and not giving up, no matter what. It doesn't matter how hard life beats you down, you stand back up, and say “May I have another?”

I will be a successful writer because I won't stop trying. I can't. I think there is something wrong with me. If you read my books, you will be certain something is wrong with me.

 

You can connect with me at the following:

My Blog:

michaelhammor.com

Book Website:

Bedtimetalesfromtheapocalypse.com 

My twitter:

@michaelhammor 

My email:

michael.hammor@gmail.com

 

Blog Writer's Note to Author:  First, I want to thank you for your service to our country. Your book series sounds like it would make a great television series.  I'll definitely be buying both books since I live in Arizona, and I am curious to see how you interweave the various locations in your book with the state. I like your positive attitude about when life knocks you down that you need to get back up. I think you should consider writing a book on this subject.  I'm sure after being in Kuwait and Iraq it would give a person a whole different concept on the value of life and what one values the most; such as family, friends, and home.  I'm sure you will become a successful writer with the determined attitude that you have, and I wish you all the very best in that pursuit.  Good Luck and thanks for the interview.