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Winter Drying out Your Hands?

Here are some of the best solutions I’ve found. Please note this is an anecdotal article, and I’m not a doctor. If you have consistent or worsening symptoms not solved by over-the-counter products, I recommend seeing a dermatologist. (I have. I’ve tried all the prescription stuff too. This is just about OTC stuff.) Please note:…

Author Interview: MNR, Science Fiction/Crime

You might know me as “MNR” depending on when and where we’ve met. MNR is short for “Mark Niemann-Ross.” This drives the IT folks crazy when I ask for a corporate email address  like “mnr@somewhere.com.” They prefer mniemannross@somewhere.com, but seriously, who can remember how to spell that? My latest written work is a contribution to…

Author Interview: Cheryl Carpinello, MG/YA Adventure

Hi, I’m Cheryl Carpinello. I write MG/YA myths/legends adventures. The Atlantean Horse, book 1 of The Feathers of the Phoenix, officially released on Sept. 23, 2022. From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author:      After working with reluctant and non-readers in high school, I chose to target the younger…

Author Interview: Peter Marlton, Literary Fiction

Hi, I’m Peter Marlton. I write literary fiction. Eternal Graffiti, my first novel, is published by The Story Plant. From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author:   I’ve been writing one thing or another most of my life. Songs, poems, plays, screenplays, stories, and a couple of bad novels before Eternal…

Author Interview: Steve Brock, Mystery

I’m Steve Brock. My first novel is Half Moon Lake, which I would say falls into the mystery/conspiracy genre. From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author:      I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but life intervened when I was young. Last year I realized that at 61 years…

Author Interview: Jennifer Chase, Crime Thrillers

My name is Jennifer Chase and I write crime thrillers. My latest release is Silent Little Angels, which is book number seven in the Detective Katie Scott Thriller Series. The series revolves around a cold case detective, ex-Army K9 explosive handler, who is tracking down killers in a rural California Mountain town. From Planning to…

UNICEF Ukraine Donation: July 4th

Buy or read books by Strife and help out UNICEF in Ukraine. As we enjoy our day of independence in the USA, I think it’s only right to remember that others still fight for theirs. All royalties accrued on July 4th will be donated to UNICEF-Ukraine. I will estimate pages read, so those with Kindle…

Author Interview: Susan Berry, Romance

“Susan Berry spent her free time with her beloved grandmother, reading the latest novels they’d retrieved from a used book store, or the local second hand shop. That reading eventually turned into the writing of her own romance novels. Novels filled with characters who have not yet found love, but eventually find a way to…

Author Interview: E J Fisch, Science Fiction

Hi! I’m EJ Fisch—author, artist, gamer, and overall nerd. First and foremost, I write science fiction, but all of my sci-fi has a thriller twist. After all, they say you should write what you like to read, and those are my two favorite genres. I most recently published Embers (Feb. 22, 2022), the fifth installment…

Author Interview: Sonja Hutchinson, Fantasy/ Science Fiction/ Mystery/ Paranormal/ LitRPG

I’m Sonja Hutchinson. I’ve written seventeen books in the genres of fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, mystery, paranormal suspense, and LitRPG, but currently, only three of the Bond-Wolf Series (epic fantasy) are available on Amazon. I’m working on book four of that series, and it should be available at the end of summer 2022. I…

Author Interview: Cendrine Marrouat, Multi-genre/ Co-founder of Auroras & Blossoms and PoArtMo

Hello everyone! My name is Cendrine Marrouat. I am a poet, photographer, blogger, short story writer, and multi-genre author (poetry, photography, theatre…). I am also the co-founder of Auroras & Blossoms and PoArtMo, as well as the (co-)creator of several poetry forms and a type of flash fiction. My most recent works include In Her…

Author Interview: Allen Madding, Southern Fiction

Hi, I’m Allen Madding. I write southern fiction. My most recent project is Summer of ’82: Coming of Age in the Forgotten South. From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author:      I wrote my first short story in 1982 (my senior year in high school) called “The Bug” after reading The…

Author Interview: William Joseph Hill, Sci-fi/Action

William Joseph Hill,  Sci-fi/action author of CYBER FIGHTER, adapted from his original feature film screenplay From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author:      I actually began writing stories in second grade, writing my own sci-fi stories inspired by my favorite TV show Space: 1999.  Most of my elementary school stories dealt…

First Audiobook Now Available

I’m super stoked to announce: I finally have an audiobook! Sugar Pine Holiday is my first title to be published in listen-only mode with Google Play. I’ve used Google’s auto-narration by Madison, a medium tone, gentle voice I think reflects a better version of my book than me reading it myself on Anchor. (I’ve since…

Author Interview: Freya Pickard, Fantasy

I’m Freya Pickard, a Fantasy Author, who’s recently published Fire Daughter. From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author:     Stories have always bubbled up inside me and have to be written out. I enjoy the telling of stories and enjoy telling others my stories. I’ve found that if I don’t write,…

Author Interview: Matt Holmes, Non-Fiction

My name is Matt Holmes (Pen Name: Matthew J Holmes) and I write non-fiction books around the topic of advertising for self published authors. My most recent book is The 7 Day Authors Guide To Facebook Ads. From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? I have been writing blog posts about…

Zedger’s Book Cover Animation

I want to give a special shout out and say thanks to Morgan Wright for animating Zedger’s cover. She is a stellar book cover animator and person. She’s also working on her own books and stories. (See more below) I’m working on a short story prequel to the Hybrid Genesis series that will be out…

Author Interview: Milan Oodiah, Fantasy

My name is Milan and I write fantasy. I’m currently getting ready to query End of Oblivion, a story full of magic, spaceships, and confrontations with inner demons. Currently I’m trying to find the time to bring another idea to life called And Her Name Is Fury, where Fury has a kill list and the…

Tips for Book Series Writing

My first book was never supposed to be a series. I’m now on my third series and starting a fourth soon. If you want to save yourself a lot of headache, check out these tips from what I’ve learned about writing series intentionally and unintentionally. Let me also clarify that these series I’ve written are…

Books that Inspired Zedger

I wrote Zedger’s first draft in two weeks I was that excited. I’ve never written a novel that fast. Until now, I’ve never written a book because it was inspired by another, but Zedger came to me after reading The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey. It’s been deeply reworked since with influences from other works…

If I Could Start Over as an Author…

I would have a better plan. I often interact with new writers who are anxious to be authors, and I regularly say the same things. Build your author brand, your author platform, a collection or series of books to release, and a marketing plan… because I wish I had. What I’ve experienced since my first…

Writers: Great Books to Help You Show Not Tell

Fiction thrives on the emotional journeys of characters as much as the physical quests to hunt down murderers, slay a evil kings, or jump across galaxies to rescue survivors of an alien infestation. The way characters talk to one another can open the reader up to characters’ motivations and personalities, or it can push readers…

Author Interview: Amber Clement, YA and MG Fantasy

Hi! I’m Amber Clement and I write YA and MG fantasy. I’m currently querying my upper MG fantasy about magical girls.      From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author: Back in elementary school, I loved creative writing assignments. I could never get enough of them, but every time, my story idea…

Author Interview: Raven Eckman, Dark Fantasy

Hi everyone! I’m Raven Eckman, book editor and author. My debut novel, entitled Shadowspeak, comes out February 23, 2021. I predominately write Dark Fantasy. From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author: I started writing after I read Twilight and wanted something more, something that reflected my thoughts on vampires and…

Author Interview: Joshua Loveday, Literary, Contemporary, & Poetry

My name’s Joshua Loveday. I write literary and upmarket contemporary novels and short stories, as well as the occasional poem. I’m in the beta-reading stage of a character-driven upmarket contemporary novel in which an alcoholic wife must choose between finding sobriety and dealing with her husband’s Alzheimer’s or continuing to drink and miss out on…

Author Interview: Erynn Crittenden, Poetry

My name is Erynn Crittenden, and my main genre is poetry that explores the darker sides of our nature, though I also dabble in flash fiction, short stories, and professional articles. My poetry collection, By the Bones, is full of monsters and madness. It was recently released and is available on Lulu, Amazon, and Barnes…

Author Interview: B.B. Reed, Fantasy/Mystery

I am B.B. Reed, a fantasy/mystery author, and my most recent publication was DEMON EYE, book 1 of the Blood Witch Saga. Book 2 is currently in editing and forecasted for release in mid-2021! From Planning to Published When did you start writing and why? Author:      I started writing fantasy in middle school after getting…

Self Pub Book Checklist

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the tasks you need to complete to self-publish your book, and you’re having trouble finding that sticky note with that “thing you were supposed to do…” I’ve compiled a Word document I use as a guide for what to get done to prep my self-published books for launch. It lists…

AMS Ads and CPC Help for New Authors

So I posted this to one of my lovely FB groups and thought I’d share it here in case anyone is searching for help on this topic. I don’t speak for Amazon. I’m just another writer who’s been trying to understand how to work Amazon ads and was hoping this could help some of you…

30+ Character Clothing Styles

I haven’t found many straight forward lists available online that cover different styles of dress. I studied this some in college but really wanted to lay it all out in a way that I could compare them in a condensed form. Occasionally, I’ll get an idea for a plot, but won’t know which style, setting,…

Fiction Novels: How Creating a Language Can Enhance a Story

I originally wrote this as a guest post for Blogging Authors. You can view it here: https://bloggingauthors.blogspot.com/2020/01/fiction-novels-how-creating-language.html How weird would it be if all aliens spoke English? Or witches and warlocks had no spells? We all know that creating believable characters is a critical component of successful storytelling. As authors, if our works are fantastical,…

Wildfire Gets 5-Star Review – Readers’ Favorite

“THE suspense romance to read if you’re looking for something fresh and exciting.” – Tammy Ruggles, Readers’ Favorite (5 Stars) I thoroughly enjoyed writing this book, and it brings me great pleasure to know others enjoy reading it. I hope if you take a chance on this, you’ll let me know what you think! Tammy’s…

Reblog: Author Interview with Lori’s Reading Corner

You can find the original post here: http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/2020/01/interview-virtual-tour-stellar-fusion-by-e-l-strife.html Is there anything in your book you’d go back and change? Since I first published Stellar Fusion, I have changed the beginning of the book. Originally, I was told to avoid prologues. But after publication, the book just felt like it was missing something, a hint of…

Reblog: Author Interview at Sybrina’s Book Blog

You can view the original post here: https://sybrina-publishing.blogspot.com/2020/01/pump-up-your-book-blog-tour-stellar.html Can you tell us a few things about yourself? I’d love to! I’m a self-published author of (currently) four novels. I’m not stopping there! But I actually prefer to be outside, rain or shine. I enjoy bodybuilding, snowboarding, hiking, four-wheeling, camping, gardening, and working on cars. I’m…

Reblog: 5 Things You Should Know About Stellar Fusion

This post was originally featured on Literarily Speaking. You can view it here: http://literarilyspeaking.blogspot.com/2020/01/5-things-you-should-know-about-stellar.html Stellar Fusion is a blend of science and magic with cyberpunk, apocalyptic and alien elements. It features a military organization that protects all people of Earth, post the Three Hundred Year War. There are no countries, only topographical zones. It follows…

Reblog: Interview with The Writers Life eMagazine

I had a great time and am grateful for being included in their ezine! You can find the original interview here: https://thewriterslife.blogspot.com/2019/12/stellar-fusion-author-q-with-el-strife.html Today’s guest is scifi fantasy author E.L. Strife. Her new book is Stellar Fusion (Infinite )Spark Book 1 and she is on a virtual book tour this month with Pump Up Your Book!…

Book Review: Shattered Glass by Skip Schmidt

Five Stars An extraordinary blend of historical and science fiction… Schmidt’s work delves into past and present day Germany with vivid descriptions and deeply woven political plots. Shattered Glass is full of unexpected twists and suspense that will keep you turning every page. Anyone that enjoys time travel and mysteries, will find this entertaining. A…

Book Review: The Teleporter By Lee Hall

Book Review: The Teleporter By Lee Hall (4 Stars) A humorously crass story of a drunkard turned superhero. Hall has created a realistic world in which corporations hold the power and the common man has little control over his own life, until fate elects a portion and hands it over in the form of teleportation…

Book Review: Asrian Skies By Anne Wheeler

Book Review: Asrian Skies By Anne Wheeler (4 stars) (Shadows of War Book 1) If you like clean, character-driven, female protagonist Sci-Fi, you will enjoy this! Wheeler has done an amazing job throwing in twists and betrayals like no other. She is a master of interrogation sessions and politics. A perfect blend of easy-to-read sentences…

Book Review: Imprint By Nicholas Adams

Imprint By Nicholas Adams (5 stars) If you liked Ex Machina, you will like this. Overview: (spoiler alert) Imprint follows Malcolm as he tries to find a solution for a debilitating and life-threatening side-effect of the synthetic organs he designed. His wife is the last remaining test subject in a world that destroyed itself thinking…

Book Review: Deep Cosmos

Book Review: Deep Cosmos by Project Kyle Available on Amazon November 10, 2018 Deep Cosmos follows two main characters, Sophia and Nerd, as they struggle to escape the grasp of Dr. Crimson, Experiment 1, and the lasting effects of the inhumane experiments conducted at Cosmic 5. Nerd has a secret past, buried in betrayal, something…

Review: Rise and Run by R. J. Plant

Rise and Run by R.J. Plant Delightfully engaging and humorous, packed with action… Plant describes the post-apocalyptic world in such vivid detail, you’ll feel like you’re the third consciousness. Rise and Run follows Felix and Conor on their journey to uncovering their past as they struggle within themselves for dominance while simultaneously fighting for their…

Stocking Stuffers for Kids

Kids already love this little book. I’ve even been asked to read it to students back home. If you need a stocking stuffer or just a cute holiday read for young kids, A Wet Nose Christmas on Amazon is perfect. It’s paperback and fits inside a stocking, and at $6.99 costs less than the other…

United by Differences

We don’t all have to agree to achieve unity. Balance is the way of most spiritual guides and a basic scientific principle (equilibrium). This means we must have two or more opposing things that ‘reach a common understanding.’ Without sides, without different perspectives, we cannot see the entire picture (of our situations) to make the…

The Fate of Earth

In our hands sits the future, home, our planet. Following our self-deconstruction, an apocalypse of conflicting opinions that sets us off through three hundred years of unrest, Stellar Fusion arrives. It is my call to you, as soldiers of peace, and civilians for change, however fantastical, (a fun twist). The Shepherds, our guiding soldiers, are…

Master List of Colors

Though it’s often not the most important part, the right color can invigorate any description. I made these lists for myself, to help me pick color names that were exactly what I was searching for. Depending on the content, you might consider selecting recognizable names within a specific category to supplement your theme.  –Metals Emanate…

The Spark

There is nothing more liberating than taking your own path and knowing no one can tear you down or derail your plans unless you let them. Because you’re the boss. If you don’t allow them investment in your life, their words have no clout, and their scoffing remarks become a mere whisper of wind in…

Our Purpose

Like many, I have struggled with discovering my purpose in life, what I can give this world, and what I will find in it for myself. I discovered a simple, generic answer: Humans have a unique gift, and every single person is capable. It is to generate things from nothing. To design, dream, compose, create,…