Authors are listed alphabetically by LAST name beginning with H
*All the information/websites/links were current AT THE TIME OF INITIAL POSTING. As time passes, please be aware that the links provided might no longer be active.
Joan Hall
Name: Joan Hall
Genre(s) of your work: Suspense/Romantic Suspense
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
The Stranger – 2016
Unseen Motives – 2016
Unknown Reasons – 2017
Unclear Purposes – 2019
Anthologies (Collections with other authors):
Unshod – 2016
Bright Lights and Candle Glow – 2016
Macabre Sanctuary – 2016
Quantum Wanderlust – 2017
Bio:
Joan Hall writes mystery and romantic suspense with strong, determined female leads and enigmatic male characters. A lover of classic rock music, several songs have served as the inspiration for some of her books.
When she’s not writing, Joan likes to observe the night skies, explore old cemeteries, and learn about legends and folklore. She and her husband live in Texas with their two cats.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’ve always enjoyed a good mystery and once thought being a private detective would be a fun job. I didn’t start out with the intent of writing romantic suspense but it naturally found its way into my books. My upcoming series will also incorporate elements of folklore and legends.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Not really, but because of writing, I’ve met and made several new friends. I’ve found the writing community to be very supportive.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I’ve been a fan of Mary Higgins-Clark since I read her first book, Where Are the Children. I haven’t read any of her recent work, but her success speaks for itself. I also like John Grisham and Agatha Christie.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
Although I buy almost all my books online (and in electronic form) these days, I have fond memories of browsing the shelves of my local bookstores. I hate to see these brick and mortar structures go away.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
I’ve used elements real-life experiences/observations in my books. In my first novel, a teenage girl’s father dies. To capture her emotions when she learned the news, I thought back to my own father’s unexpected death.
What motivates you to complete your (writing) work?
The sense of accomplishment of seeing my books in print.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I don’t like the idea of censorship or banning books. If that begins, where does it stop? If I don’t agree with the subject matter of a book, I simply don’t read it.
Where can people find you and your work?
Darran M. Handshaw
Name: Darran M. Handshaw
Genre(s) of your work: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
The Engineer/2017,
The Quantum Soul (short story: The Machine in the Mountain)/2017
Bio:
Darran M. Handshaw is the author of The Engineer, his debut novel. In addition to writing , Darran works as an R&D Engineer at a technology company. There he designs and invents new products; he holds more than 15 patents in firefighting and data capture. Darran also volunteers as a firefighter and EMT with his local fire department, where he recently completed a two-year term as Fire Captain. Darran hails from Long Island, NY, where he lives with his wife, Stefanie, and son, Corwin, who fill his life with love, wisdom, and endless adventures.
Tell us a bit about your new release, The Engineer.
The Engineer is a story that follows the adventures of (you guessed it!) an engineer named Actaeon in the ruined, futuristic city of Redemption. When you think of Redemption, you could imagine what a city like Manhattan would look like six hundred years into the future. Then imagine it devastated by some cataclysmic event that also causes all the people (the Ancients) living there to disappear. The events that ruined Redemption are a mystery to the characters in The Engineer, who are part of a society that has established itself in the fallen city one hundred years before the story begins. The people that live in the city have quite varied opinions on the city and the artifacts left behind. Some fear the artifacts and seek to destroy them, others horde them to gain power, and others worship them as a god-like magic.
The people living in the bones of the ancient city have formed Dominions, which are like city-states – each with different beliefs, methods of governance, and distinct cultures. Much of life in Redemption is rooted in survival, politics of power, and battle for resources. Actaeon is a bit of an oddball though, because he’s more interested in how things work and how he can invent things that will help improve the world around him. His skills end up becoming quite valuable to many of the Dominion leaders and that draws him into all sorts of interesting situations that he needs to solve.
People that have read the story tell me that fans of Horizon: Zero Dawn, Stargate: Atlantis, MacGyver, Numenera, and Mad Max would enjoy the story.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
The great thing about science fiction and fantasy is that the possibilities are endless. The normal boundaries of setting, technological feasibility, or character capability are gone. The result is limitless creativity where the only boundaries are the ones written into a story. With science fiction, things can be more challenging, because technology used should be either rooted in fact, theory, or presented in a believable way to a reader. With fantasy, you have even more freedom, but it must be presented in a consistent and believable way to the reader, which can also be difficult.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I’ve always written for fun, ever since I was a child. Only a few years ago did I decide that I was going to finish and publish a book. Writing changed my entire life, because, through writing in a text-based roleplaying game called Redemption MUSH, I met another player who would eventually be my wife and give me a wonderful son. My debut novel, The Engineer, tells that story. You could probably imagine why it was so important for me to write that story! It also happened to be quite the epic, and unanticipated, adventure. It is something that I think others will enjoy reading.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
My favorite authors of all time are always those whose stories and characters stay with me after I read them. There are a few that really stand out for me. When Prince Corwin rediscovers who he is in Roger Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber. The gritty, but good-humored, war veterans Fiddler and Hedge in Steven Erikson’s Malazan Books. The epic, generational-spanning story of The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. Or the way Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 effortlessly moved between inept hilarity and shocking trauma.
All those authors and their works made me into the author I am today.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
Mainstream bookstores help to bring more books to people. Big book bookstores can afford to carry more books and open stores in areas where a small, local bookstore might not attract customers. Services like Amazon’s Createspace and KDP even allow indie authors to self-publish without dealing with a traditional publishing process that might change their work drastically. Benefits like this are great! However, there is still a big place for local mom-and-pop bookstores that carry a tailored selection, local authors or books that are no longer in print. I don’t think those big corporate bookstores will ever completely replace smaller bookstores.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
Most of all, I hope they enjoy a good story. It has been great to hear when readers enjoy scenes in The Engineer or in my short story. Comments like that make it worthwhile for me to have spent all that time writing the story. A big takeaway in The Engineer (without giving too much away) is how life can take you in the most unexpected directions. The main character, Actaeon, ends up going down some paths that are not at all clear at the start of the story. It is a surprise to him and he has to make some major decisions in his life because of it.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
As an R&D engineer that designs products, my experience came into play many times during The Engineer, since Actaeon needs to be creative in how he tackles the various problems that are thrown at him during the book. There are artifacts left behind in the ruined city of Redemption that seem like magic to many of the characters in the world, but they are workable pieces of technology that are so advanced that most characters couldn’t begin to comprehend how they work. It was important to me that these things weren’t just fantastical elements in the plot, and so I put a lot of thought into how they would actually work.
As a firefighter, past fire captain, and EMT, I’ve also employed my experiences in The Engineer. In emergency services, we are required to make quick decisions based on our experiences in a process called Recognition-Primed Decision Making. It allows us to make correct, intuition-based decisions to choose the best outcome in a life or death situation. In The Engineer, Actaeon frequently ends up in situations where he needs to make quick decisions in order to save his life or others. It was quite fun to write about his reactions in those situations, and the way he dealt with the dangers reminded me of one of my favorite characters of all time: MacGyver.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
In the case of The Engineer, it was how important the story was to me that helped me finish the book. I also realized that if I set aside some time every week to write, I’d eventually finish a project that seemed impossibly large at its inception.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
A lack of action or progression for too long. Scenes where characters hem and haw for chapter after chapter, or sit around discussing things to death while forgetting that they have something extremely important to accomplish – you know, the things I don’t have patience for in real life!
I’ve noticed that these issues tend to arise when authors (and yes, even very popular traditionally published authors) try to write scenes without outlining to see where the characters decide to go. This is a method called Discovery writing, and is pretty exciting to write (since the author has no idea what will happen), while allowing a more organic, natural progression to take place in the story. The problem arises though, when authors that use this technique and fail to edit out or parse down the boring scenes that their characters needed to go through for the writer to discover their motivations or feelings.
I prefer to write with a flexible outline myself. I like to see where the story is going and only write the essential scenes to get there, but I’m always open to characters surprising me, which could change the outline of my story.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
No way. Writing is an art that should be allowed as a freedom of speech. There are definitely things I don’t wish to read about, but I have eyes and a brain – I can avoid them!
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
My wife is my best editor, and she taught me how to avoid using present progressives too often in writing. It tends to be jarring for some readers, and without them, the story is much smoother. Now, when I read works rife with those present progressives, it irks me.
Where can people find you and your work?
Thank you for the interview! (you’re welcome! 🙂 )
The Engineer is available in both Paperback and e-Book on Amazon, and in e-Book on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. You can find it here: https://books2read.com/Engineer
The Quantum Soul, which has my short story The Machine in the Mountain, is also available on Amazon in e-Book and Paperback. You can find that here: http://getbook.at/quantum
If you’re interested in what I’m working on now, you can follow me at the sites below:
Facebook: fb.me/ActaeonRellios/
Twitter: twitter.com/Engineer7601
Amazon: amazon.com/author/engineer
Goodreads: goodreads.com/TheEngineer
Christopher Hawkins
Your Name: Christopher Hawkins
Genre(s) of your work: Horror/Speculative Fiction
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Suburban Monsters (March, 2023)
Downpour (October, 2023)
I Contain Multitudes (April, 2025)
Bio:
Christopher Hawkins is the Booklife Prize and IndieReader Discovery Award-winning author of Downpour and the short story collection Suburban Monsters. His work has appeared in numerous anthologies and podcasts, including Cosmic Horror Monthly, Shortwave Magazine, and Tales to Terrify. He is currently the co-chair of the Chicagoland chapter of the Horror Writers Association. He lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two sons. His new novel, I Contain Multitudes, arrives in April.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I think it’s because I’ve always been drawn to darker stories. I grew up on reruns of the original Twilight Zone and books by Ray Bradbury and Stephen King. I remember watching creature features on a little black-and-white TV in my bedroom after everyone else in the house had gone to sleep, and when cable TV came along, I would watch horror movies five minutes at a time, daring myself and seeing how long I could last. I loved how raw and emotional and subversive Horror could be. So, when I started writing, those were the stories that I ended up emulating. Now it’s just a part of my DNA.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It’s allowed me to meet and become friends with some amazing people that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. The horror community is full of some of the nicest, most accepting and open people I’ve head the pleasure to know, and it’s really thanks to all of them that my career has begun to take off. My work as a volunteer for the Horror Writers Association, acting as co-chair for the Chicagoland chapter, has been a great way to give a little back to that community.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
King and Bradbury for sure. They were easily my biggest early influences. I discovered Richard Matheson through my love of The Twilight Zone, along with Rod Serling, who (though I didn’t realize how much at the time) became the magnetic north for my moral compass. Later favorites include J. Michael Straczynski, who created Babylon 5 in the 90s, along with some of the deepest and most engaging graphic novels that I’ve ever read, and Michael McDowell, who wrote amazingly dark, character-driven stuff, including Blackwater, which I consider his finest work.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
They’re definitely here to stay, but I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call them the wave of the future. Telling stories, and just as importantly, listening to stories, has been part of the human experience since before we had a way to write them down. We’re primed, through thousands of years of civilization, to absorb stories that way. Novels used to be like that too, being read aloud in groups as a primary source of entertainment. It only makes sense that we continue that experience, even if it’s more technology-driven. I know that I get to experience more stories every year by filling out driving time and chore time by listening to books. It’s a good thing.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I’ve found that advance reviews through NetGalley have worked really well for me. Ads have been hit-or-miss, but that’s just my experience. Like most things, what works for one writer might not work for another. If you’re trying to get your work out there, you should try as many things as you can and keep the ones that serve you the best.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Never. The problem with censorship is that someone else is making your choices for you. We should never surrender our ability to discover new ideas and expand our thinking to any individual, organization or government. In fact, I’d take it one step further and say that it’s part of our duty as thinking beings to seek out new ideas, measure them against our own morality, and keep the ones that speak to our souls. That’s how we grow as human beings. Censorship is an attempt to limit that growth, often with sinister intent. If some nebulous “they” is telling me there’s a book that I shouldn’t read, you can bet I’m going to seek that book out.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
I think it’s good that they exist for the people who really need them. There are websites out there that do a really good job of providing that kind of service, but I don’t think I’d ever put a trigger warning directly on my own work. First, I don’t think that I, as the creator of a work, would be a good judge of what other people might find triggering about it. But more importantly, reading a book is a journey of discovery, and taking away that chance to be surprised spoils it for everyone. Ultimately, reading should challenge us, intellectually and emotionally. Our limits should always be tested and expanded. I understand that, for some readers, that isn’t always possible due to mental health reasons, and it’s good that those readers have third-party resources to help inform their choices.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
I’m sort of a hermit by nature, so selling in person isn’t something that comes naturally to me. I’m getting better at it, though. Almost without exception, the people I’ve met at events and signings have been incredibly friendly and enthusiastic. It makes me want to get out there more.
Where can people find you and your work?
First and foremost, you can find information about me and my work at my website, christopher-hawkins.com. From there, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I always share my most current writings and happenings. I’m also active on social media. You can follow me on Instagram and Threads @hawkinswrites, and on Bluesky at christopherhawkins.bsky.social.
You can also find my work on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christopher-Hawkins/author/B0075R0LC8
Heidi Herman
Name: Heidi Herman
Genre(s) of your work: Newly published novel women’s lit/chick lit, previous works in children’s and Icelandic folklore
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Her Viking Heart, 2018
Images of Iceland [Adult Coloring Book], 2018
The Icelandic Yule Lads: Mayhem at the North Pole, 2017
Happiness in Living Color [Adult Coloring Book], 2017
The Guardians of Iceland and other Icelandic Folklore, 2016
Homestyle Icelandic Cooking for American Kitchens, 2016
Yule Lads & Other Legends Activity Book, 2015
The Legend of the Icelandic Yule Lads, 2015
Bio:
I was born in Illinois. My mother is from Iceland, and she met and married a US serviceman who was stationed in Reykjavik during WWII. I grew up with stories of trolls, sea creatures, and brave fishermen. I once insisted to an elementary teacher that Leif Ericsson, not Christopher Columbus discovered America and that the history books were wrong. After a 30-year career in business, where I authored numerous magazine articles, white papers and technical assessment reports, I retired from corporate life and began writing full-time.
In the winter of 2012, my mom published her childhood memoirs, which some of Iceland’s folklore. I was again immersed in childhood memories of legend, lore and imaginative stories. The troll-like Christmas characters sparked the imagination of many and led to my writing my first book, “The Legend of the Icelandic Yule Lads”, in 2015, followed by two more books on Icelandic folklore and an Icelandic cookbook. I worked on my craft and expanded my writing into full-length novels, incorporating an Icelandic element to women’s literature and contemporary romance. I continue to work on more novels as well as new stories of the Yule Lads and other Icelandic mythological characters. I still live in Illinois with my two Schnoodles, Dusty and Thor.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I cross several genres. The children’s stories are to share my Icelandic heritage and my newest novel, as well as future novels in progress are more focused on a character’s emotional journey and overcoming life’s obstacles.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Writing has always been a part of everything I do. I find I communicate best in written form and truly enjoy writing full time now.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
There are so many authors whose work I enjoy and I seem to add more all the time, but I have a few all-time favorites. For romance novels, I really like Jude Deveraux. She has such great character development, fast-paced action, and does a lot of research for her historical novels to really give the reader a sense of the environment. Dean Koontz also is a favorite because he has such imaginative storylines and does a great job of executing the storyline with great tension and action.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
A new perspective, a new way of looking at things and appreciation for things around them. I want to write about things we all experience – life challenges, loss, emotional turmoil – and present different ways of dealing and overcoming the challenges through my character’s actions and choices. I believe happiness is a choice no matter what and sometimes people just need to see some examples of how to do that in order to apply it to their own lives. I think reading stories is part of how we learn, like parables or fables.
One of my favorite expressions early in by business career was “learn from the mistakes of others because you can’t live long enough to make them all yourself”. I think that’s great advice, but not only from the mistakes, but also the successes. We can copy the good behavior or smart choices of others to attain positive outcomes in our own lives and we can identify those things through the stories in books and movies.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
I would say it plays a lot. The Icelandic aspect is from my mother and much of it is inspired by her memories. In the novels, I think for any writer, your own personal experiences and life lesson are part of what you want to share and different elements are imbued into characters.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
For me, most of the storylines are complete before I start writing. I’m more putting the story on paper and filling in the details. The motivation comes from the next story demanding its turn in the spotlight.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
I love to read and really want to become immersed in the story. Anything that prevents that can make me stop reading. I might be bad dialogue, dull storylines, or underdeveloped characters that I have difficulty connecting with.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
It does drive me crazy when there are historical inaccuracies or time travel books where the author establishes rules and then breaks them in the storyline.
Where can people find you and your work?
My work is available on Amazon, Apple iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and other ebook online retailers, as well as directly from the publisher.
John T.M. Herres
Name: John T. M. Herres
Genre(s) of your work: Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy/Adventure. I’ve even dabbled with a children’s story.
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
My only novel to date is Hell’s Beginning, published Oct. 23, 2017.
I also have 2 poems and 5 short stories published, 1 each in 7 anthologies.
Bio:
John T. M. Herres is a multi-genre Author and sometimes Poet.
He was born an “Air Force brat” in California and settled in Texas in 1973, where he lived for the better part of 38 years before moving to North Mississippi.
John began concentrating on writing in 2010 and self published a book of poetry at that time.
He has, at this point, five short stories and two poems published; one each in seven anthologies. His first novel, Hell’s Beginning, released October 23, 2018.
In his words, “I write fiction. Excitement and action are what reading is all about! #WRITEON!”
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
To be honest, I don’t always know what genre I’ll be writing when I start. I do have projects I’ve been invited to join with specific themes, so those I have to keep a particular genre in mind. For my ‘inspired’ writing, the first sentence starts bouncing around in my noggin until I write it down, then more follows. Usually sentence by sentence, like it’s being dictated to me almost. I tell you, it’s an interesting way to discover the story.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Unlike so many other Authors, I didn’t really grow up reading or writing. When not in school, and times I just happened to not be on restriction, we were encouraged to go outdoors. “Get out of the house,” is how I believe we were told.
I think the first books I read for pleasure were the TOR paperbacks of the Conan tales by Robert E. Howard, later involving Lin Carter and L. Spague de Camp. That would be right around the time I first decided to try to write a story. I got four chapters and stopped. Many people who read it said it sounded real interesting, but I didn’t pursue it and have since lost it.
In later years, I read Stephen King, Dean Koontz, a couple by John Saul. There were probably others. The early works of SK, though loaded with religion-related themes, were enjoyable at the time. I found that if a story didn’t enthrall me, I wouldn’t give it a second glance. I do remember times of reading 3 completely different books and being able to keep the details for each in mind. (ah, the good old days…)
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
Though I am unable to frequent an actual book store, I believe them to be beneficial. I could say the prices are a bit high, purely from my financial outlook. I am not really able to consider purchasing books, nor have I been for a very long time.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
A sense of awe.
The feeling that something is following, making them peek over their shoulders.
That tingling sensation from reading something and feeling the events described.
Maybe even an occasional chuckle or belly laugh.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
A whole lot more than I would want people to realize.
I’ll leave it at that and let everyone’s minds dwell on it.
Where can people find you and your work?
‘Indigo Matters’ is available in “Full Moon Slaughter 2; Altered Beasts” by J. Ellington Ashton Press
My poem, ‘Silent Screams’ is available in “Beautiful Tragedies” by Hellbound Book Publishing
‘Duplicate Counterpart’ is available in “Demons, Devils and Denizens of Hell Volume 2” by Hellbound Book Publishing
“Super Sick: Tales of Twisted Superheroes” by Plague Pirate Publishing published another of his original poems
‘The Interview‘ is available in “Mystery Monster 13: An Anthology (Creature Feature Book 5)” by J. Ellington Ashton Press
‘Deadly Cavern’ is available in “Trick-or-Treat Thrillers- Best Paranormal- 2018” by J. Ellington Ashton Press
‘Harold’s Revenge’ is available in “Trick-or-Treat Thrillers- Best Horror- 2018” By J. Ellington Ashton Press
First full novel, “Hell’s Beginning” published by Hellbound Book Publishing
Jeffrey James Higgins
Your Name: Jeffrey James Higgins
Genre(s) of your work: Thrillers, creative nonfiction, essays
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Furious: Sailing into Terror, 2021, by Black Rose Writing. (Debut novel)
The Interrogation, 2021, Kindle Direct Publishing. (Short Story)
Find more short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays at http://JeffreyJamesHiggins.com.
Bio:
Jeffrey James Higgins is a former reporter and retired supervisory special agent who writes thriller novels, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received both the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN Newsroom, Investigation Discovery, CNN Declassified, New York Times, and Fox News. He was a finalist Adelaide’s 2018 Best Essay Contest and a quarterfinalist in ScreenCraft’s 2019 Most Cinematic Book Competition and 2021 Cinematic Short Story Writing Competition. Black Rose Writing will launch his debut thriller, Furious: Sailing into Terror, on May 20, 2021. Kirkus Reviews called it, “A taut and suspenseful tale on the ocean.” Discover Jeffrey’s writing at http://JeffreyJamesHiggins.com.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’ve always loved reading thrillers, and I’ve identified as a writer since I was five or six years old, so when I started writing fiction, choosing the thriller genre made sense. Writers should be passionate about what they write, and if they pick genres for other reasons, like chasing the market, it shows. My twenty-five years chasing criminals and terrorists also gives me insight into thriller writing. I’ve been in many life and death situations, and those experiences inform my action scenes.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I’ve wanted to publish books since I was a child. After working as a reporter, I entered law enforcement and enjoyed it so much, I stayed for decades. I retired four years ago and have been writing full time since then. It has taken me years to learn the craft, and I’ve made many mistakes, but now that I’m getting published and receiving great reviews, I feel like I’m finally following my calling.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I enjoy many authors, and I discover new writers all the time. When I was young, I devoured the Hardy Boys, but quickly moved to adult books. I traveled the world through the writing of Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Arthur Conan Doyle. For nonfiction I love Mark Bowden and Sebastian Junger. I like many thriller writers, but Michael Crichton and Dean Koontz top the list. Michael Connelly is the king of police procedurals. For pure prose, my favorite writer is Cormac McCarthy.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
Audiobooks are selling in record numbers, and while the pandemic may have had something to do with that, I think they are here to stay. I listen to audiobooks when I run. It’s a great way to consume more content. My parents told me stories every night, and I credit them with firing my imagination. Audiobooks may seem new, but they are really the oldest form of storytelling.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I love all bookstores, and I enjoy spending afternoons browsing, but bookstores need to provide expertise, coffee shops, author signings, or other events to offer readers something they can’t find online. I also love Amazon. Many authors criticize them for dominating the market, but true monopolies don’t exist in a free market. Amazon will remain on top as long as they meet customers’ needs, and right now, they do that. Their search engine is the best way to explore titles and clicking a button and having a book show up on my doorstep the next day still seems like magic.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
Marketing is much different from writing fiction, but it’s a necessary skill for authors, and I’ve been training myself. I’m trying the basics, such as social media posts, ads on Amazon and Facebook, giveaways, interviews etc. Furious is a nautical story, so I’m also targeting unconventional markets, like marinas and sailing schools. I’m making many mistakes and learning the hard way, but hopefully, I’ll become more effective.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I believe nothing should be censored. People have agency in their lives, and they can choose not to consume books that offend them. While we’re not experiencing much government censorship, there has been a dramatic increase in book banning and shutting down dissent by social media platforms. Amazon has taken down books it finds offensive, bookstores have refused to carry titles under threat of violence from angry mobs, and New York publishing has tried to silence people with whom they politically disagree. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, “I believe in free speech, but . . .” Everything after the “but” is anti-free speech. We live in dangerous times.
Where can people find you and your work?
My debut novel is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The early reviews have been great. I self-published The Interrogation on Kindle Direct Publishing. It was a was a quarterfinalist in Screencraft’s 2021 Cinematic Short Story Writing Competition. My other short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays are free to read on my website, http://JeffreyJamesHiggins.com.
Beth Hildenbrand
Name: Beth Hildenbrand
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Horror
Title- Cain Heretic Son
Bio:
Beth Hildenbrand lives in Ephrata, Pennsylvania with her husband Matt and her sons. Beth enjoys hard rock/heavy metal music and loves going to concerts. She has a passion for vintage black and white horror movies.
Why Genre:
I was greatly influenced by classic horror. Books as well as movies. I was raised in a very religious family. The two combined to help me write Cain Heretic Son. It’s a modern day story with Biblical elements turned into a Supernatural Fantasy.
How has writing altered my life?
It’s been wonderful! I am self published. The Indie Author Community is amazing. They have really welcomed me with open arms and I have made a lot of really great friends.
Fab. Authors and why:
I have always been a big Barbara Michaels fan. I Love her books with the mystery and elements of the supernatural. I also enjoy Bentley Little and Graham Masterson. Lately I’ve been reading other Indie Authors. There are some really good writers out there.
Audio book?
I see a definite growth in audio books. I’ve been considering it for mine. People are so busy in today’s world. I can absolutely see audio books getting bigger in the future. Personally I’m still a paperback girl but I must admit I’m learning to appreciate my Kindle.
Mainstream bookstores:
I believe they still fill a need. Who doesn’t enjoy a bookstore. The racks and the smell of books. It’s easy to order online now but I still enjoy feeding my need for exploring a bookstore.
How much personal:
I definitely put a lot of myself in my writing. The setting for the book takes place in the small town where I grew up. The tavern where a good deal of action happens is a real place. The characters are loosely based on people in my life. I lost both of my patents while writing the book. I can honestly say I put my pain, anger, and frustration into the pages.
Censored:
I am totally against censorship of any kind. Writers put the hearts into their books. Anyone who creates does as well. If people don’t care for your writing they can put your book down. If we censor things we can never have open conversations we can’t grow or learn from others ideas.
Where to find book?
My book is available on Amazon Kindle ebook and Paperback. Free on Kindle Unlimited.
Website-https://bethshereticpages.wordpress.com/2019/11/29/beths-heretic-page/
Fiona Hogan
Name: Fiona Hogan
Pseudonym : F.B Hogan is my horror name. Fiona Cooke Hogan is the name I use for all other genres.
Genre(s) of your work: Multi-genre – Gothic and contemporary horror, humorous, romance, contemporary women’s fiction, supernatural, faerie and ghost story.
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
The Lights Went Out and Other Stories – 2015
What Happened in Dingle – 2016
Death Comes Calling – 2016
The Nightmare – 2017
Bio:
Fiona Hogan is a writer, blogger and editor living in the beautiful midlands of Ireland. She has published four books of fiction on Amazon – The Lights Went Out and Other Stories; an eclectic mix of supernatural, humorous, dark faerie and romantic fiction, and What Happened in Dingle, a hilarious pub-crawl of a novella. Both are published under the name Fiona Cooke Hogan. She has two collections of gothic horror – Death Comes Calling and The Nightmare by F.B. Hogan. Fiona is a Tolkien obsessive, is addicted to any Medieval/Fantasy series with a broadsword and has a fondness for zombies.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’m greedy, I write horror, humorous and romantic fiction, supernatural tales and dark faerie. I also write poetry, prose and am currently adapting a short story to the screen.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It’s given me focus, now that I have finally let loose the writer, there is no stopping my creativity, my only problem is that I have too many projects on the go at the one time. I set up my own editing business – The Editing Hub so that I can be involved in all aspects of the creative process and love helping other writers on their journey, being a writer as well as an editor gives me a better selection of skills to apply.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I grew up with Hardy, Austen, the Brontes and am addicted to Poe, Lovecraft and the contemporary horror writers such as King, Koontz and Connolly. It’s hard to just name a few, I’m also a huge Neil Gaiman fan and the highlight of last year was getting to talk to him at a signing.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I love bookstores and am in the process of becoming traditionally published, but I have had the great delight of seeing my book of short stories – The Lights Went Out and Other Stories, upon the shelf in my local bookstore.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
An escapism, I’ve been told that my work is very descriptive and lyrical and also cleverly crafted, I would hope to draw readers into my own world, sometimes disturbing (my horror) and often thought provoking.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
A couple of my shorts were loosely based on my experiences – Blood Orange from ‘Lights’ is similar to my own experience of living in a squat in London in the early 90s. I think there is a little bit of me in most of my work, either through dreams or people I knew, or just a situation I found myself in.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
With my horror, it tends to come as a complete idea, the novel I’m writing at present is a case in point, although it is putting up a fight. My collections of short horror just came into my head over periods of weeks, which was fabulous. My mixed genre short stories came about over a period of years and I compiled an anthology from various notebooks and scraps of paper! The novel that is being considered for trad publishing came into existence because I had my leg in a cast and had nothing to do but rest and I thought I might enter a competition.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Good question – Not really, I think a great writer can write on any subject if he/she writes well, but there will always be sensationalist writers who are just interested in notoriety and don’t care if people might be hurt along the way.
Where can people find you and your work?
Carol Shay Hornung
Your Name: Carol Shay Hornung
Genre(s) of your work: LGBTQ Mystery
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Slips of Yew: A Dez Duchiene Mystery, Book 1 (2021)
Bio:
Born in Chicago, raised in Madison, Wisconsin, and a graduate of Ripon College, the upper Midwest is my home. I’ve marched in protests, hung a Pride Flag on the door of the Little White Schoolhouse (the birthplace of the Republican Party, in Ripon, WI), and enjoyed many a glass of wine at my favorite theater or overlooking a beautiful lake.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I like fun, adventure-type stories with a message. Slips of Yew came about after years of frustration. I’m drawn toward writing male protagonists. But my critique groups would often comment “a guy wouldn’t do that.” So, I felt the need to step up and write a strong female character … but I’d get the comment “a girl wouldn’t do that.” When Dez Duchiene appeared in all his fabulous glory, I found a voice that let me say and do what I wanted, without gender stereotypes and expectations.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
The ease of writing this character led me to articulate what I’ve really known since I was a small child, but didn’t have the vocabulary to express – I am gender nonconforming, and delight in seeking out stereotypes and kicking them to the curb.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I have a love/hate relationship with literary authors. I love the craft and care used in developing character and story, but get frustrated by the inevitable angst and tragic endings. Dennis Lehane has always been a favorite of mine. I saw him on an author tour long before he hit the top of the best seller list and he said his goal was to write genre mystery with a literary sensibility. While writing this book, I also came across Rebecca Makkai. In The Great Believers, she depicted gay characters as wonderful, fully developed, real people … but with the AIDS epidemic as the setting, tragedy befell most of the characters. It’s a heartbreaker. Beautiful, but a heartbreaker. With my series, I promise two things – there will always be a happy, satisfying ending, and Dez’s marriage to Stevie will survive every challenge it meets.
Where can people find you and your work?
In addition to Slips of Yew, I’ve published a paranormal mystery, the Ghost of Heffron College, and a more traditional mystery with a protagonist with autism, Asperger Sunset. All three books can be ordered through your favorite local bookstore or ordered from Amazon. You can find out more on my Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Shay-Hornung/e/B00DV3VZJS/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
Rebecca Howie
Name: Rebecca Howie
Genre(s) of your work: YA, Mystery
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
2016- The Game Begins
2017- A Woman Scorned
Bio:
Rebecca Howie is a procrastinating writer from Scotland who prefers spending her time in fictional worlds rather than the real one.
Her first book, The Game Begins, was released in February 2016, and reached 16th in the Teen and Young Adult Detectives category on Amazon within a month of its publication.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I love mystery novels, and I’ve loved the YA genre since reading The Hunger Games, so there wasn’t really a decision to be made about what genre The Game Begins would be.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Writing the first draft of The Game Begins made me realize that I hadn’t dealt with a lot of the things I’d been going through at the time, and since I’ve started using writing as an outlet, my whole opinion on art and creativity has shifted completely.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
J.K. Rowling, because although she was unemployed and couldn’t afford heating and had every publisher she wrote to rejecting her, she kept writing, and now has another four films based on her books being released soon; Agatha Christie also needs to be on this list because she’s awesome, and her writing stands up even after all this time, and Ian Rankin, because he’s one of the few authors I’ve read recently whose work has had a lot of hype and actually been deserving of it.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
A lot. I wrote The Game Begins just a few months after school, so everything was still fresh in my mind and I was trying to get used to having graduated and not having to get up for eight o’clock every morning to catch the bus.
Some of my ideas for future books are based on things I’ve gone through or just fictionalized versions of them, and I like being able to see those events from another perspective and writing a different ending.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
With my first book, I wanted to finish writing it because I’d never written a full length novel before and I wanted to know that I could, so that kept me pushing on until I had it finished. Writing the sequel was a lot more difficult because it was a sequel and I had so many boxes I wanted it to tick, so a lot of that motivation was just me refusing to give up.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
Sometimes it doesn’t take much, like if it’s had loads of hype and I’m three chapters in and don’t see what all the fuss is about, or if I’ve had to put the book down to do something else and start finding ways to avoid going back to it.
If it doesn’t interest me and I’m not particularly bothered about the characters, I probably won’t finish reading it.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I don’t have a problem with people writing about whatever they want. Obviously there are some subjects that would be uncomfortable to read, but if someone wants to write about something, let them write about it.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
My biggest pet peeve is when the first chapter is basically just the character introducing themself, and giving us their whole life story up until the point the story takes place.
I recently started a novel which had hundreds of 4 star reviews on Amazon and it had a really interesting premise and the first chapter promised it’d be a good read. Until I got to the second chapter which involved the main character telling us their name, where they worked, and every single thing that I’d just read about in chapter one.
Needless to say, I put the book down and walked away with a migraine, but I still can’t physically make myself keep reading books that do that.
Where can people find you and your work?
Sue Rovens 