Category: Author Interviews (Page 2 of 28)

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

J. W. Webb is an English writer living here in Georgia. Mostly he writes fantasy, though sometimes diverts in even stranger directions. His epic saga titled the Legends of Ansu blends the mystic grandeur of JRR Tolkien with the gritty realism of GRR Martin. Webb’s characters are three dimensional and flawed, their world a tapestry of vivid color and constant motion. All the books feature beautiful bespoke sketches by the late Tolkien Illustrator Roger Garland.

Library or museums? – I prefer a pub

Hunter or gatherer? – Hunter

Witches or wizards? – Witches every time

Ninjas or pirates? – bit of both

Mountains or beaches? Beaches

Plotter or pantser? total pants

Pen and paper or computer/phone? – I can’t read my writin, so computer

Standalone or series? – series

Book or ebook? – Book. Old School.

Hero or anti-hero? Anti-Hero

3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention? 

Anything gripping, I like Historical Fiction, Fantasy, SAS stories, occasionally thrillers.

4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

I write Epic Fantasy. Finished #13 in my Legends of Ansu series last September, but was very ill last year so am a bit behind. Working on the sequels to my latest mini thread – following on from Dreamslayers, and planning another 6 books to culminate the series. I’m also currently working with a fabulous cartographer who’s designed intricate maps for War Craft and G.O.T and many more – so lots happening.

5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

Dreamslayers is a spinoff from my latest trilogy featuring a few of the survivors (they’re weren’t many 🙂 Gujun – a killer accepts a contract to take out the hated Spymaster of Vendel whose currently MIA. Arraleen Caze, Spymasters daughter and also an assassin determines to stop that happening. I’ve presented this book as a standalone but some reviewers expressed that it would help to read The Berserker Trilogy first.

6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!

I like history, especially Dark Ages, and mythology – Celtic/Norse etc. I was soldier sometime last century. I’ve travelled extensively and once hitch-hiked from Alaska to Key West. I used to practice Kungfu and still collect swords to act out my fight scenes, though at 61 that can prove hazardous. Also, it stresses the cat. Books, films and music have all played a major part in influencing me as an author. I write about this in my blog: jimrae90.com

7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!

Well for the last 12 months it’s been a mess. But I usually write a book in 2 months, publish every 6. I’m totally organic and break all the rules. But on a regular day I’ll walk the dogs after coffee, get settled and stuck in, scribble away. I write 3 drafts before sending on to my editors. I’m primarily a story teller who learnt to write. I never used a computer before my 40th birthday. I drove big rigs. Basically, I’m a rebel. 🙂

8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?

Research and nail the marketing early

9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

website: jwwebbauthor.com

Amazon: http://bit.ly/JWWEBB

The Authors Show Podcast: https://bit.ly/AuthorsShowBloodFeud

Facebook: facebook.com/jameswebb61

Twitter: @legendsofansu

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

My name is Kirsha Fox. I’m a homeschooling mother of four. I am a gamer, book dragon, and certified massage therapist. I’ve been a hobbyist writer since I was very young, but it wasn’t until I created a young half-demon man called Tiberius Nook that I felt I had a story I was ready to share. I currently live in Florida. 

Tea or coffee? Tea, I don’t drink caffeine. I love herbal teas! I have a different tea for every mood.

Morning or evening? Evening, when everything is dark and quiet. 

Hunter or gatherer? Gatherer

Witches or wizards? Depends on the gig. What do you need done? I tend to see wizards as having a strain of genius, leaning towards academics, whereas witches are more intuitive and steeped in tradition.  

Ninjas or pirates? Pirates. I’ve recently fallen in love with Kennedy Sutton’s pirate romances. 

Mountains or beaches? I love the Ocean, but I hate sand. I despise sand. It gets into everything, it’s difficult to clean. You go to the beach and your car is full of sand forever. For that reason, mountains. Mountains with the shady trees and solitude. 

Plotter or pantser? I’m a knitter. I have a plot, but a lot of elements are discovered as I go. I write a lot of disjointed scenes and ideas out of order, and then knit them together.

Pen and paper or computer/phone? I use both depending on my frame of mind and what I’m trying to work out. Outlining a plot is usually on paper so I can draw lots of arrows and idea bubbles. 

Standalone or series? Series. I tend to fall in love with characters and one book is never enough. 

Book or ebook? Printed books! Then I put them on my shelf like a little trophy. 

3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?

I read a lot of everything. I’m a bit of a mood reader. I usually glance at the cover, and read the blurb. If that looks good, I’ll look at the first few pages. 

4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

I write high fantasy. My first book is called “Son of Deception.” It’s an adventure, but I enjoy adding elements of mystery and romance. I like to keep my readers guessing. I begin the book by killing the main characters. They wake up in coffins, without their memories, many years later. To earn a second chance at life, they are given a year to complete their mission to free a wrongfully imprisoned ancient being.

I’m soon to release its sequel, “The Whiteleaf Child.” My beta and arc readers have raved about it, saying it’s even better than the first. 

I’m also working on the third book, “Champion of Justice,” a prequel following the character Timothy Herrow, and a spin off series set in the same universe. 

5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

Son of Deception can be found online with most major retailers.

Signed copies at the same price and come with a unique bookmark at kirshafox.com.

6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!

There’s a lot of me and elements of my life experiences in there. Alyric the paladin was inspired by my best friend. I love Cassandra Claire’s flair for writing forbidden love. slow burn romance and love triangles. The main villain was inspired by Alan Walker’s song, Lily. I listen to a LOT of Sub-Radio while I work. They have a knack for singing about serious things in an upbeat, catchy way, just as my books often deal with deep subjects without getting too heavy. There’s a lot of D&D influence, particularly in the dynamics between fantastical races and in the mission-based plot. Growing up, I fell in love with Patricia Wrede’s Dealing with Dragons series, and I loved how she took a lot of old stories and turned them upside down, defying expectations. I also loved how she described magic as threads and fabric. And I love books that include a lot of humor, that stop and take a laugh to break up some of the tension.  

7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!

I don’t have a routine. I am a homeschooling mom of four small kids, so time to write is rare. I work out plot points in my head while I do other things during the day and then pour them out on the computer in the evenings when the house is finally quiet. I sacrifice a lot of sleep to get my books written. I don’t recommend doing that, but you have to do what needs to be done to live your dreams.  

8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?

Allow yourself more time than you think! My first book had a lot of hiccups and delays, everything from uploading errors to long shipping times, so it was released much later than I intended. 

9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

https://www.facebook.com/kirshafox

www.kirshafox.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1110134609670711

tiktok, twitter, and instagram: @kirshafox

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

C.K. Miller is a YA Fantasy author who can never get enough hot cocoa.

Much of her inspiration comes from her childhood years of playing in castle ruins, dense woods, and sloping vineyards of Bavaria, Germany.

After seven years of living in a bilingual household, and attending the local German schools, her family moved back to the U.S.A. It was a confusing time for a girl of fourteen just starting American High School. She’d left everything she knew behind: her friends, her home, and even her language. English did not come easy to her, nor did making friends. Everyone called her sweet, but quiet.

After making a friend who shared her love for stories, they began writing together, passing notebooks back and forth during lunch and after school. Eleven notebooks, and two years later, C.K. was struck with the desire to do more with her growing knowledge of the English language. She began writing her own stories in earnest, with a dream to become a published author.

In 2018, her debut novel, The Phoenix Host was released, and she hasn’t looked back.

Tea or coffee? – Can I choose hot cocoa instead? It’s my addiction. Add a dash of cinnamon and ginger in there and yum!

Morning or evening? – I would love to be an early bird. I get so much done, but I am 100% a night owl! I do my best work after dark.

Ninjas or pirates? – How about ninja pirates! I have a soft spot for both.  

3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?

I am drawn to fairytale retellings like the Lunar Chronicle series, but I am also a sucker for anything YA fantasy. Right now, I’m deep into Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.

4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

Where do I begin? I am currently working on finishing the final book of my Roanfire series, a YA fantasy story. This final book has been one of the hardest to write–trying to tie up all the loose ends without making it feel forced. I am currently on the fifth rewrite! But it is flowing well, so I am confident this will be the final version. I am also gearing up for drawing the cover, though I haven’t quite decided which character should make the cut.

5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

Yay! My latest release was The Glacial Rogue, book three of the Roanfire Saga. It came out on my birthday and was one of the most emotional, heart wrenching books I’ve written. Yes, I did cry when I killed off a very important figure.

It continues the story of my main character, Kea, and her quest to destroy the Phoenix Stone.

Here is the Amazon link.

6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!

Too many to list!

I lived in Europe for a good portion of my youth. Castles, cobblestone streets, ruins, crumbling walls! You name it. I saw it. In fact, there was a time when I lived the medieval life in a house with no indoor plumbing or heating for two years. Let me tell you, using an outhouse in the dead of winter wasn’t fun. My dad would always get up early and build a fire so we wouldn’t freeze when we got out of bed.

I also draw on Tolkien, both movies and books, Pirates of the Caribbean, Brandon Sanderson, Marissa Mayer . . .

Oh! And the composer who always accompanies my writing sessions is Ivan Torent. My new favorite song of his has been Lionheart. 

7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!

Hmm. I typically make a cup of hot cocoa, open my laptop, sigh, say a prayer, flex my fingers, then scroll back a page. After rereading and editing a bit, I find myself back in the story and can move forward to the next goal. Once I finish a scene, I lean back, crack my spine, and take a break.

8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?

It’s not a barrier to have an ending in mind. In fact, it is a goal for your characters to work toward. It’s a signpost that can keep your writing on track. The best part is, if you find a better ending, you can detour.

9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

Facebook – www.facebook.com/roanfiresaga

Instagram – www.instagram.com/ckmillerbooks

Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@c.k.miller

Website – www.ckmillerbooks.com

goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18242565.C_K_Miller?ref=nav_profile_l

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

Hi! I’m Em McDermott, author of dark epic and fairy tale fantasy. I was raised in New England, and currently live in upstate New York. I love the privacy of the forests up here, and have so many wild deer in my yard every day that I almost consider them pets! My ideal pet would be a dragon, but in lieu of that, I have a flock of chickens. They have names like Buffy, Khaleesi, and Dobby, and they certainly have the draconic attitude down!

2. Tell us 5 fun facts people might not know about you!

1 – I am obsessed with fingerless gloves. I wear them all winter (the fuzzier, the better!), and I can’t write a first draft without wearing a special pair that’s covered in words from one of my all-time favorite stories, Peter Pan.

2 – I knew in elementary school that I wanted to be a writer. I still have a yearbook from the fourth grade (why were there yearbooks in fourth grade?!), and listed beside every child’s picture is what they wanted to be when they grew up. So I have proof!

3 – I am a huge sci-fi/fantasy nerd. I have a tattoo of the Stargate symbol for Earth on my right foot.

4 – I write every day in a cabin that I built myself (okay, my partner helped a little). It’s deep in the woods, beside a stream, and it was definitely part of the inspiration for my latest release, The Woods!

5 – I think mayonnaise belongs on everything that is not already covered in jam.

Plot-driven OR character driven?

I am a character-driven writer and reader. I come to a book to read about a person’s journey. For me, plot is just what happens to a character while they’re on that journey. I love to watch people grow in confidence and skill into people I can admire. Sometimes characters even feel like friends. In my writing, I focus on the character first, and build a plot that is right for them.

Zombies or dragons?

Dragons! Honestly, you could ask me “literally anything OR dragons?” and the answer would be dragons. Since middle school, when I first read Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series, dragons have been my favorite creatures in the world. Go House Targaryen!

Music while reading OR silence?

Silence while reading. While writing though, I have the music blaring! It really helps me get into flow, and I design playlists that mirror the energy of each project.

TBR list OR mood reader?

Well, there’s a list…but let’s just say the order is very flexible.

4. If you were to describe your writing style using 3 words, what would they be?

Epic, character-driven, atmospheric

5. So what do you write? Tell us a bit more about your chosen genre, style and ongoing projects/WIPs/series!

I write dark epic fantasy and fairy tale fantasy. I fill my worlds with heroes you can root for. There’s always an element of romance and steam in my stories, but the world-building and character journeys take center stage.

My most recent release is a dark retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. In addition to a full-length standalone novel, The Woods, the Cursed Woods collection includes a prequel novella and a short story (which you can read for free when you sign up for my newsletter).

My current WIP is a Game of Thrones style epic with heavy elements of dark romance. It’s a lush, steamy political fantasy, perfect for fans of Kushiel’s Dart. It features dragons, demons, magic, kings, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that fans of dark romance will love.

6. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

What if Red Riding Hood liked what she found in the woods? My most recent novel, The Woods, answers that question. You’ll find some familiar characters within its pages…Red, Gran, the Huntsmen, and the big bad wolf…but I promise my versions are nothing like you remember from the fairy tale. It’s full of dangerous monsters, family secrets, magic and curses, plus a broody hero and a heroine who finds she can thrive in the dark.

You can find The Woods on Amazon (in paperback, eBook, or in Kindle Unlimited) at:

7. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

Visit my website and sign up for my newsletter to receive a FREE short story from the Cursed Woods collection: https://emmcdermott.com/

Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmcdermotts/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_em_mcdermott/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17986903.Em_McDermott

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/em-mcdermott

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

My name is Ramunas Micuta, and I go by a pen name of Atucim Sanumar. If it sounds weird, that just means you are reading it wrong. It is actually my real name in both instances. Only my author’s name is my full name spelled backwards. Surprise 😊

I started writing in 2020. To be honest, I never even thought of becoming an author. For whatever reason I decided to sit down and get a few crazy fantasy stories out of my head and on to the paper. I thought I could write a few short fantasy erotic stories, publish them somewhere online and maybe (big if) make a few bucks in the process.

Long story short, each story I wrote was just a continuation of the previous chapter. So after I got more than 30 of them, I started to think maybe a book might come out of it. And here I am, released my 5^th book right before Christmas. Who could’ve thought, eh?

Cat or dog?
Dog – but a real dog, like a Dobermann for example. I wouldn’t keep a dog as toy, but as a dog. If that makes sense.

Tea or coffee?
Tea – if I could find a really nice tasting tea. I drink coffee too but extremely light, or milk coffee.

Morning or evening?
Morning – I am a morning person. I could get up quite early and I write from morning to afternoon mostly. I get sluggish and lazy in the evenings. And I usually feel better when I get what I need done earlier.

Library or museums?
Museums – I wish I would go visit them more often. I love history museums.

Hunter or gatherer?
Hunter – more exciting.

Witches or wizards?
Witches – I’m a guy, so. 😀

Ninjas or pirates?
Of course ninjas. Why? Because they are cool, and they are stronger than pirates.

Mountains or beaches?
Beaches. Because when it’s hot, it is really hot. 😊

Plotter or pantser?
I had to look up the meaning behind those, lol. One of the meanings of pantser caught me by surprise. But in writing terms, pantser.

Pen and paper or computer/phone?
Pen and paper all day long. I write drafts in journals using a pen.

Standalone or series?
Series. There’s always more to the story than meets the eye.

Book or ebook?
Book. If I want to read, I would always buy a paper book.

Hero or anti-hero?
I’d say hero, but that depends. Some anti-hero qualities sometimes work better, and I can relate to them as a writer.

3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?

Fantasy. But I must admit I don’t read novels really. I would rather watch a movie (not many good movies nowadays unfortunately) or some anime series.

4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

I recently released my 5^th book in Circle Star Adventure series. It’s a fantasy romance novel series with some gamelit and litrpg elements. I grew up on video games, and that made a huge impact on my writing. I watched many fantasy movies and animations too. I’m on to writing sixth book in the series. It will be so cool, lol. I love getting exciting about writing.

5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

Latest release – The Birth of Onyx. Circle Star Adventure series.
Link:

Short presentation: The elven forest is crawling with demons, and their numbers are growing every day. The elven villages are being destroyed and the elves are ruthlessly slaughtered by the demons.
To make matters worse, a Demon Lord appears, which is not only strong and fierce, but seems to be unkillable as well.
Luna, the little elf girl who was saved by TC from the Forced Pact during the Five Star Tournament, appears out of nowhere with the plea for help.
Will the elves change their ways and accept a human’s help? Will the demons, with the unkillable Demon Lord at the front, prevail and destroy everything in their path?

6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!

I would say video games were (and still are) the main inspiration for my fantasy world-building. Two of them that stand out are Final Fantasy 7 and World of Warcraft. There are many more, which most of them I don’t even remember. I watched lots of fantasy movies. There where some good ones 20 years ago, lol. Conan the Barbarian with Arnold Schwarzenegger would be one of the few that made an impact on me. I loved that movie, watched it more than twice. I watched many fantasy anime too. Isekai genre is one of my favorites.
I must say, I didn’t read fantasy books, like at all. I didn’t like reading when I was growing up. And when I started reading, it wasn’t novels. I read mostly educational books, biographies, etc.

7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!

I write in the mornings. And I leave my house to write, haha. I’m a regular at the coffee shops where I live. I have to have a snack and a drink when I write. Don’t know why, but it helps me focus.
The best I can do being at home, is re-write my drafts from my journal into computer. Only because I have three kids and I hate interruptions. I need to be able to stay focused or else I just get frustrated.

8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?

I would say, start writing earlier. Like years earlier. Of course, I probably wouldn’t had listened to that advice because of who I was.
If the question was – if you could go back in time being current you… Now that would be different. I would do so many things… 😛

9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
Facebook would be your best bet – https://www.facebook.com/AtucimSanumar

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

In the picture, you can see Carl James Anderson with his editor, Pippin. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BA in English.

3. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

I write Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children’s Stories, Poetry, Essays and Humor.

4. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

Arcive Four in my The Song of Tarkyrion series. Amazon Ebook:B084PXTPFF, paperback: B0851MXW25.

5. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!

J.R.R. Tolkien, Katherine Kurtz, Edgar Allan Poe, Isaac Asimov.

6. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

Facebook: Page for The Song of Tarkyrion, Carl James Anderson’s Poetry Realm. carljanderson@comcast.net

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

Hello! I’m a Christian speculative fiction author originally from Pittsburgh, PA. I currently reside in Florida with my wife, our 1-month-old son, and our 1 year old golden retriever. Writing is my passion, and I’ve always admired/modeled my style after inspirations like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and George R.R. Martin. My writing style is fast-paced, action-packed, and teeming with deep allegories and insights.

Library or museums? Museums

Hunter or gatherer? Hunter

Witches or wizards? Wizards

Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas – the Pittsburgh Pirates have been disappointing me for too long to choose pirates

Mountains or beaches? Mountains

Plotter or pantser? Both. I keep an outline of key events, but leave wiggle room for how I get there

Pen and paper or computer/phone? Computer

Standalone or series? Series

Book or ebook? Book

Hero or anti-hero? Hero

3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?

Anything with an epic scale. Classic good versus evil, preferably with a supernatural, paranormal, or magical twist. Tragic heroes are a big draw as well. Seeing heroes struggle with their own shortcomings and battling with themselves as well as their enemies makes for a deep, relatable character.

4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

I delve into apocalyptic, fantasy, horror, paranormal, and thrillers, often blending these genres in a captivating concoction. My debut novel, The Shadow Gospels, is an end times thriller that blends political thrills, demonic horrors, and ferocious action. My fantasy series Chronicles of Yeshu: Fellowship of Faith (yes the title is an ode to Lewis and Tolkien) releases in 2023. My sequel to The Shadow Gospels, The Shadow Gospels: Fall of Man, is also slated for a 2023 release.

5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

The Shadow Gospels is my only current release, which can be found here: The Shadow Gospels. You’ll follow a vengeful vigilante, supernaturally gifted exorcist, conflicted child soldier, and a powerful prophetess as they combat political powers, demonic princes, and, secret societies bent on igniting Armageddon’s torch.

6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!

The Bible is my biggest influence. For The Shadow Gospels I lean heavily into the Book of Daniel and Revelation. These serve as inspirations for global events, though I’d never claim the story itself is prophetic, rather a captivating allegory designed to enlighten, encourage, and entertain readers. You’ll find many scriptural references and faith-based allegories, without being clubbed over the head by it.

I adopted George R.R. Martin’s style of following a diverse cast of characters by their point of view. You’ll also find Martin’s influence in my nuanced plots, clever foreshadowing, and grandiose narrative. However, I also favor Dan Brown’s short chapter length and well-paced storytelling.

7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!

It varies day-to-day depending on my work schedule and my son’s naps. I typically find time between work meetings and family time. When I know I’m going to have a slow day or find breaks in the day, I block my work calendar for at least an hour for writing. If that’s the case, I just take a working lunch, which is nice since I work from home. However, inspiration strikes at all hours of the day, so I have an extensive notes section in my phone to make sure I don’t lose anything good!

8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?

During the editing process, if you’re struggling reading your own book, readers are going to struggle to read it as well. My first attempt at The Shadow Gospels was a 175k word, unmitigated mess. While there were fundamental elements to the story, the execution of writing it was fluffy, redundant, and far more tell than show. I eventually began to reach out to agents (LinkedIn is weirdly effective at doing this) and working to network/gather feedback. I wish I hadn’t waited 5 years to do this, scrap the original manuscript, and restart. So, don’t be afraid to network and ask reputable people for help. Most of them are nicer and more willing to help than you’d expect. Also, don’t be afraid to scrap what isn’t working and try again.

9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076846429504

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattdluke/

Feel free to DM if you’re a reader/author. Always happy to engage with readers or help other authors on their journey!