P.J. Berman's Blog

Hello all!

It's time for another author interview. Today's guest is poet Danielle Holian!

PB: Hi! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.

DH: Hi! I’m Danielle Holian, author of Beautifully Chaotic and The Dilemma. I studied media in college and have worked a lot of different media roles, but found myself always drawn to the art of writing.

PB: What made you decide to become an author?

DH: I wrote a few manuscripts from novels, short stories, to poetry...yet, nothing ever felt right as a first release. When I initially worked on Beautifully Chaotic I never truly imagined it to be published, but there was a part of me that knew my stories needed to be shared. I never had someone growing up relating to somewhat taboo topics, whereas now I use my art to express myself and find those who need it most.

PB: When did you first start writing?

DH: I always had an interest and would submit stories in competitions through school from a young age. I started taking poetry more seriously when I was 16, and haven’t put down my pen and paper since.

PB: What was the first poem that you can remember writing?

DH: I actually cannot remember - I do a lot of writing from songwriting, poetry, short stories - so if I were to give a guess it probably was something about feeling like an outcast.

PB: Tell us a bit about your writing process.

DH: My writing process is different every time. Sometimes I can sit down with a pen and paper and let my thoughts flow into story form. Other times I need to let my creativity find me. As of lately, I will set time aside to be creative like go out for a walk, read some inspiring words by other writers, listen to empowering podcasts and music, or just chill out watching whatever show I am binging to almost zone out to zone into my art.

PB: Tell us about Beautifully Chaotic.

DH: Beautifully Chaotic is my debut book. Writing this poetry collection was somewhat a healing process all while facing some demons. I do write about some hard topics, but there’s some self-love pieces that I think everyone should read. It was an empowering move to actually piece this book together and then release it. I didn’t really share or tell anyone about it until its release because it was something I truly wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue. . .but those feelings immediately changed once it was published.

PB: How would you describe The Dilemma to someone who hasn’t read it yet?

DH: The Dilemma is a poetry collection split into three parts of The Loving, The Breaking, and The Healing. It centres around a relationship that discusses love, some toxicity moments, and healing to moving forward. The story does come after Beautifully Chaotic, although it was written prior.

PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?

DH: This is a hard one. I am proud of all my achievements, but actually publishing my work and having books that are mine to own is the top right now.

PB: Of all the poems you have written, which is the most special to you?

DH: Right now, any poems that I write about that are centred around abuse and survival are the most special to me as I never thought I would be okay again, let alone have the courage to tell my story.

PB: Who are your favourite poets?

DH: Olivia Gatwood, Lauren Eden, Rupi Kaur, and Kayil York.

PB: What are your long term ambitions with regards to writing?

DH: I first wanted to be a songwriter, but now with the poetry I do feel anything is possible. I would love to tour with my work, expand into podcasts and film, and keep on enjoying the freedom I have with my writing.

PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?

DH: I work in media as a whole (check me out on LinkedIn), so outside media itself, I would love to venture into the business and hotel industry.

PB: What’s the next target for you?

DH: I am currently writing my third book, so planning after that, as I said, I do feel anything is possible. I would love to reach a larger audience with my work whether it’s working in film, podcasts, or doing some spoken word shows.

PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.

DH: I am a workaholic. If I don’t have something to do, I generally create work for myself. I cannot stand idle hands.

Thank you so much Danielle! It has been lovely talking to you today.

Until next time, happy reading!

Peter

Hello everyone!I hope you have been enjoying the summer despite the current circumstances. It's time for another interview, so let's say hello to Chinese-Filipino novelist Rin Chupeco!PB: Hi Rin! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.RC: I was born and raised in the Philippines, and lived here pretty much all my life! I've worked a lot of jobs, mainly in the telecom and travel industries, but their real purpose was to keep me afloat until I could write my way into a living. I also tend to resemble several variants of undead Asian ghosts, and have been mistaken as many of them in at least four separate instances!PB: What made you decide to become an author?RC: I think I was born wanting to be an author. I was hooked on books at two years old, could read by around four, and was already planning to write my own series of chapter books at seven years old. I'm a pretty private person, and books were a huge source of comfort for me growing up.PB: When did you first start writing?RC: Seven years old was when I decided I wanted to be an author. Ghost stories were my jam back then, and horror books my first love. When I was in fourth grade, I made up a ghost story for Halloween and wound up scaring my class. It was a great feeling, and further cemented the desire to have more people reading and reacting to my works that way.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?RC: That very ghost story I told the class in fourth grade! It was mainly about a boy who was lost in the woods, and was being shown the way home by some very strange girls who only appear to him by peeking out from around some trees to urge him on, only revealing their heads to him. In the end, he winds up arriving at the center of the forest instead of his house, and only then did he realize that surrounding one of the largest tree trunks were the headless bodies of those little girls. I had a pretty vivid imagination as a kid.PB: When you begin writing a new story, do you always know the ending?RC: I always know how I'm going to end a story as soon as the ideas for it manifests in my head, long before I'd even written a first chapter. It's always writing the middle part that stresses me out!PB: If you could meet any of your characters, who would you meet, and what would you say to them?RC: I would love to have personally known Okiku and Tark from The Girl From The Well. I would volunteer to go on their adventures fighting both evil unexorcised ghosts and serial killers. I enjoy ghost hunts and the running joke with me is that nothing ever happens when I'm around (a long time ago, a fortune teller once told me I had some kind of 'negative' aura that repels ghosts, though they'd still haunt the people around me) and it would be pretty funny to actually see if this could affect Okiku, too!PB: Tell us about The Bone Witch.RC: The Bone Witch is about a bard who encounters a girl living in exile in a lonely beach littered with the skeletons of dead beasts. Banned from the kingdoms she once protected, she narrates her life story, from learning as a child that she is a necromancer, a "bone witch", when she accidentally raises her older brother from the dead; to being introduced into a magical society of asha / summoners tasked with defending the land from undead monsters capable of resurrecting themselves at set cycles. But as she continues her tale, the bard slowly begins to realize that not all is what it appears to be, and that she may not be as innocent as she claims.PB: Where did the idea for Wicked As You Wish come from?RC: I read a lot as a kid, and that included ghost stories, as mentioned before, fairy tales from different countries, and different mythologies. Back then, I always assumed that these stories all had shared universes where the magic system followed a similar structure, that Peter Pan existed in the world of fables as Sleeping Beauty, or Momotaro, or Maria Makiling. That idea stuck with me, and I started thinking how things would go if they also were reworked as part of our actual world - if people like Robin Hood and the Snow Queen and King Arthur actually existed as authentic, validated historical figures. PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?RC: Getting this far as an author, really. There were a lot of hurdles I had to jump through along the way. Shipping was painfully expensive back in those days when literary agencies didn't accept emails, and most publishers weren't interested back then in looking at manuscripts about characters who weren't American or white, much less the authors who weren't American or white either, with no credentials to their name yet. I would like to keep it going, see how much further I can keep at this!PB: That's a very valid point. As a non-American author myself, I agree that even now, achieving greater diversity in the writing industry from the perspectives of both race and nationality is an important issue to fix. When you're not writing though, what is your favourite book series to read and why?RC: There's far too many for me to list here, but the books I keep coming back to, I think, are Agatha Christie books, but particularly Hercule Poirot. If anything, it still teaches me about great plot twists and how details are so important to the story. Another is the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, who is one of maybe three people who taught me humor, and shaped my sense of it for the better.PB: What are your long term ambitions with regards to writing?RC: To keep doing it for as long as I can! I suppose every writer's goal at this point is to have a TV series or movie adaptation of their books, though a personal dream of mine is to have an anime series, too!PB: That would be awesome! If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?RC: I genuinely had never thought about a different career path other than being a writer - everything I've done had always felt like stepping stones to get to this point, but people have told me in the past that I would probably make a good lawyer, though I'm not sure what that says about me. I think in another lifetime I would have liked to have been a graphic novel artist or a mangaka, which are basically writing-adjacent jobs as well.PB: What’s the next target for you?RC: Writing the third and final book of the Hundred Names for Magic series (the first book being Wicked As You Wish) and then finishing up some adult crossover books I've started working on - one about bi vampires in the vein of The Witcher and Castlevania, and another that's basically Swan Lake meets Untitled Goose Game.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.RC: My house is a cat sanctuary and not necessarily by choice. I adopted a stray orange tabby some time back, and he has been very clever at seeking out other stray cats and inviting them into the house to stay for good without my permission. I have had a succession of twenty or so cats so far - some I've managed to adopt out to good homes, but many with underlying health conditions that I've decided to care for myself. Every time someone asks if my superpower is cats, I often joke that I am instead the cats' superpower, because I mostly do whatever they want me to.Thank you som much to Rin Chupeco for speaking to us today. If you'd like to check out her books, you can do so via the links below:WebsiteAmazonGoodreadsWikipediaUntil next time, happy reading!Peter

Hello all!It's interview day, so it's time to meet romance author Preethi Venugopala.PB: Hi Preethi! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.PV: Thank you for having me over. I am an Indian romance author. I have a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters Degree in English Literature, which shows how mishmashed my life choices have been. My journey as a writer began in 2012 when I started a blog. I have published 8 novels and over 15 plus short stories until now.PB: What made you decide to become an author?PV: I became an author by chance. I came to know of a story writing contest via blogging and that win made me a published author. My debut novel followed, and I have been writing ever since then.PB: When did you first start writing?PV: I loved writing poems in my journal ever since I was in middle school. My creativity at that time was for my eyes only. I had compiled a collection of my handwritten poems in a scrapbook and had treasured it until I was in college. I lost it after my home underwent a renovation.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?PV: The first story I wrote was for a short story contest while in college. The Last Gift was the story of a mother-son duo. The story stressed the importance of organ donation and the happiness it can bring into the life of others. I surprised myself by winning the first prize. The story got published in our college magazine. That was the first time I saw my name in print.PB: When you begin writing a new story, do you always know the ending?PV: As I write romance, I know it is going to be a 'happily ever after' ending. But how I will take the characters there is always a work-in-progress. Even if I plot it elaborately, the characters sometimes have a mind of their own and go to places I never even considered.PB: If you could meet any of your characters, who would you meet, and what would you say to them?PV: Of the characters I created, I love the character of Jane Worthington, the protagonist of A Royal Affair, the first book in the Sravanapura Royals series.PB: Tell us about the Sravanapura Royals series.PV: The Sravanapura Royals Series contain the stories of three members of the fictional erstwhile Sravanapura Royal family. Three love stories loaded with suspense and intrigue. It began first as a short story, then a stand-alone novel and then became a series.PB: Where did the idea for Something Old, Something New come from?PV: Something Old, Something New is an anthology containing romance novellas written by 7 different authors. We all met via social media and the idea of creating a novella anthology was born.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?PV: After I published my debut novel, I went through a dark phase during which I almost gave up writing. I am proud that I came back from there and followed it up with 7 other novels and many short stories.PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why?PV: The Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn. They are a complete package of swoon-worthy romance, humour and history.PB: What are your long term ambitions with regards to writing?PV: I might want to try writing in other fiction genres and also perhaps write non-fiction in the future. As of now, I plan to publish more books in the romance genre.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?PV: I worked for a decade as a Civil Engineer. I would still be one if I hadn’t discovered the bliss of writing stories.PB: What’s the next target for you?PV: I have a book, Falling for Cinderella, about to be published and another one novel half done. Finishing the half-done one is the next target.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.PV: Apart from being a writer and blogger, I am also an artist. I love creating charcoal portraits and watercolour florals.Thank you so much to Preethi Venugopala for talking to us today! If you're in the mood for a little romance and would like to give her novels a try, you can do so via the links below:BlogFacebookInstagramTwitterAmazonUntil next time, happy reading!Peter

Hello everyone,Today's interview steps into the world of non-fiction. Author duo Palak and Pooja are here to speak to us about their debut book, Is Life As We Know It? So, let's meet them!PB: Hi both! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your backgrounds.P&P: Hi. Thank you for your interest. Although we are Indians by birth, we live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai has been our home for more than 40 years now. We sisters have been discussing our thoughts, feelings, experiences, learnings, etc. with each other since childhood. Our mother often used to scold us to sleep as we both used to talk till wee hours of the morning. We still do that and can talk for hours with each other about various schools of thought, life, possibilities, etc. Now we share our discussions with our parents and children too. Not a day goes by when we both do not talk to each other. Ha ha ha ha.And now we are the authors of Is Life As We Know It?PB: What made you decide to become authors?Palak: We believe that this book is a gift to us.One day Pooja started writing awesome, thought provoking stuff in 2016 and till date she continues to do so. We fell in love with her writings and would discuss it for hours.Pooja: During a challenging phase of our lives, it gave us solace and a better understanding of life and a belief that there are endless possibilities in life. It made us relook at life and our existence and made us fall in love with life all over again.PB: As sisters, and also a novel-writing duo, you have one of the less common approaches to writing. How did that come about, and what is your writing process?P&P: Ours is a non-fiction book. It is inspirational and has multiple topics in it to ponder upon. Well regarding the process, as mentioned earlier Pooja gets an urge to write and words just flow on to paper. Then we both read it and discuss it further with examples and its application to our lives to understand it better. We try to look at it from different perspectives and share it with our close friends and family. This way the chapters expand and encompass everyone’s truths. It had started in 2016 and the book started in 2017.PB: When did you first start writing?Pooja: I started writing in 2016 and the book started in 2017. However, both of us were into writing since childhood, be it via letters whenever we were apart or Palak writing in diaries and journals all her life. She found it therapeutic.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?P&P: The first chapter of our book Is Life As We Know It? was the first chapter we had penned down however, the first writing that we were fascinated by was when Pooja had written a short piece on ‘what Palak was thinking about’. Yes, we have this strange relationship where either one of us gives the other an answer to the question that either one of us was looking for. So the piece was on – ‘there are two kinds of people: those who are Nice and then there are those that are Truthful’. Interesting isn’t it? Food for thought!PB: Tell us about Is Life As We Know It?P&P: This book helps us in understanding our lives and our existence. It nudges us to relook at our lives and think - is life really as we know it? It steers you back to your own truth and your strength. It makes us aware that we are a creation of The Master Creator, hence a Masterpiece.It also talks about topics such as:The importance of Diversity in Evolution - If everything and everyone is the same then what’s the point? Movement / evolution being the ultimate truth. The power of Imagination - Look where we have come from the days of the caves to now the era of the internet, The Burj Khalifa, etcBelieving and Trust will create more possibilities because there are endless possibilitiesThe importance of being true to oneself and that’s enough!Create your own recipe of lifeIt also talks topics such as:How to avoid u-turns in your life (i.e. avoid going back to the same difficult situation)When in fear, move ahead despite of fear and fear disappears eventually. When stuck, what questions to focus upon?We also have some thought-provoking topics:The importance of happiness and how is sadness serving you?You do not need to struggle to be a hero!Pain is never forever! What is reality?PB: I'm sure those are subjects that will stir up a variety of feelings and opinions! If you could meet anyone who has featured in you work, or in you research towards creating it, who would you meet, and what would you say to them?Palak: Oh My God, I would like to meet great souls such as Swami Vivekananda and Paramhansa Yogananda and would made them talk and just sit there and listen to them.Pooja: I have already met an author whose books got me into reading – Robin Sharma. We loved reading Dr Wayne W Dyers books too. Love the way he used to write – as if he was in conversation with you.PB: Where did the idea for Is Life As We Know IT? come from?Palak: From Pooja’s writings primarily. Her writings left us, our friends and family in awe of what was being said, that we decided to share it as a book so others could feel and experience what we did when we used to discuss its content. It helped us sail smoothly during our challenging phase.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?P&P: Well, bringing this book to reality and being able to find the right publisher, Austin Macauley Publishers UAE, for this book and being able to market it, I guess is one of our proud achievements.PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why?P&P: We used to love to read the Chicken Soup of the Soul books. Then we fell in love with Dr Wayne Dyers and Robin Sharma’s writings. Now Palak is in Love with Neale Donald Walsh’s books – the author of Conversations with God series.PB: What are your long term ambitions career-wise?Palak: No long term goals, career wise. I have had a career in the corporate world, as a journalist and now I am enjoying being an author. Let’s see what in life excites me next.Pooja: Same here. I have experienced the corporate world, am a Mosaic artist and am an Access Conscious Practitioner. I feel life has so much in it that I want to experience everything rather than stick to one thing long term. I am excited to try out something new now.PB: If you weren’t authors, what career would you be in?Palak: ArtPooja: Can’t pinpoint. Let’s see what else is possible.PB: What’s the next target for you both?P&P: Getting our second book published and third books finished.PB: Tell us a random fact about each of you.Pooja: I am an established Mosaic artist and have had my work showcased in various well-known venues in Dubai.Palak: I have learnt Reiki and am a Reiki Master.Thank you so much to Palak and Pooja for coming in for today's interview! If you would like to purchase a copy of Is Life As We Know It? and ponder the subjects covered, you can do so via the links below:GoodreadsYouTubeInstagramTwitterFacebookPinterestBlogspotWix BlogLinkedInUntil next time, happy reading!Peter

Hello all,I have in inspirational guest today. American crime writer Kristina Naydonova has published her first novel, The Black Sisterhood Files, at just twelve years old. When I was twelve, I thought I was active in the writing industry by helping out at my school library (shoutout to Townsend School, Hertfordshire, England, UK!).So, to find out more about the story behind this incredible achievement, let's meet the author herself!PB: Hi Kristina! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.KN: Hello! Thank you very much for having me. My name is Kristina Naydonova - I am a twelve-year-old published author and aside from writing, enjoy studying science and playing the piano. I was born in Washington D.C. and have been living in McLean, Virginia for most of my life. I occasionally tinker with creating poetry or short stories that are quite similar in style to Edgar Allan Poe’s (although definitely do not serve as a comparison). I am very excited to have the opportunity to be featured on pjbermanbooks.com. It is a fantastically created site.PB: You're very welsome, Kristina, and thank you very much! What made you decide to become an author?KN: I truly believe that when one’s emotions are too cumbersome to bear or vocalize, it is most suitable to revert to the practice of writing, for writing and reading are situated within entire dominions of reality. With simply just a couple well-written phrases, one can travel to another planet altogether while remaining seated on their couch. For example, I recently finished reading Around the World in Eighty Days, an absolutely marvelous novel that made me feel as if, I, indeed, was venturing around the globe with Phileas Fogg and company. I wished to become an author cardinally for that reason: to inspire and move thousands of readers.PB: Writing and publishing a book at the age of twelve is an unusual and remarkable achievement. Tell us a bit about your writing journey, and what went into achieving that goal.KN: Thank you for the kind words. My journey towards publication was an extremely difficult one, but it taught me that perseverance is an empowering trait and possesses the capability to defy almost all self-doubt. When I was eight years old, I began to experiment with writing and at the age of eleven, managed to finalize a rough draft of The Black Sisterhood Files. After getting it professionally edited, I began to seek literary representation, which stalled completely at first. It was then that I decided to proceed with self-publishing, for that would present me with much more independence than traditional.PB: Tell us about The Black Sisterhood Files.KN: The Black Sisterhood Files is a thriller novel with some elements of a murder mystery. Naturally, almost all books have an implication or motto, whether that is veiled or indiscreet. The predominant theme of my writing is that no matter how malicious one may seem, they always have at least the merest slivers of love within their heart. My novel is most befitting for anybody who endears crime fiction and enjoys being frightened by books.PB: Where did the idea for the story come from?KN: To be quite honest, it was entirely arbitrary. However, I based the characters off of people with whom I am acquainted with in real life. For example, Lexie Torres, the main persona, was created in accordance with my older sister’s personality: courageous, kind, supportive, yet slightly obstinate.PB: What was the first story you can remember writing?KN: Back in second grade, when I was seven years old, I wrote a short fictional story that won an award amongst my peers. It was a picture book that told the story of a young girl named Samantha whose story is similar to Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but slightly altered.PB: When you begin writing a new story, do you always know the ending?KN: Not at all. To be quite frank, the ending for The Black Sisterhood Files was entirely unprecedented - I had already planned out the fundamentals of it, but added significant details during the writing process. This does not just pertain to the formation of my novel, but a majority of short stories I write.PB: If you could meet any of your characters, who would you meet, and what would you say to them?KN: I do not wish to say the name of the character I would meet, for it would spoil the identity of the unknown killer who serves as the antagonist of my novel. Nonetheless, I would say to them: “I am glad that you realized your dire mistakes by the end of the story. Before I even manifested you, I always knew that despite your diabolicy, there was good within the delves of your soul.”PB: Intriguing! Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?KN: I am beyond proud of the fact that I got directly in contact with Arianna Huffington, founder of HuffPost, who offered me the position to be a contributing writer for ThriveGlobal. If you would like to check out my recent article, it is here.PB: What is your favourite book series to read, and why?KN: I have adored the entire Harry Potter series since my early childhood, and am most fascinated by the magically jubilant community Rowling’s fans have created. It takes a great amount of creativity and resilience to write seven whole books, each as equally marvelous as the other.PB: What are your long term ambitions with regards to writing?KN: Ultimately, my objective is to inspire and engage with ambitious youngsters and aspiring authors all across the world. I desire to write a couple more books, as well as becoming a public speaker.PB: I think we can safely say that providing inspiration for others is something you have certainly achieved! What’s the next target for you?KN: As of right now, I am striving to garner as much exposure as possible, even with the proceeding pandemic. However, I am also working on my next novel, the second book in The Black Sisterhood Files series.PB: And finally, tell us a random fact about yourself.KN: My family and I hiked the entire Maryland Heights one time, with no water and simply flip-flops for shoes. It was quite a strenuous feat, but the ensuing view proved to be worthwhile.Thank you very much for having me on pjbermanbooks.com. If you wish to connect with me, please follow my Instagram, linked here.If you would like to check out a copy of my novel, it is available here.Thank you so much to Kristina Naydonova for speaking to us today! I really do reccomend you all follow the links above to try out The Black Sisterhood Files for yourself.Until next time, happy reading!Peter

Hey everyone!I am honoured to be taking part in paranormal romance author Theresa Hedges' latest cover reveal! Today we will finally see the cover of Canis Maledictus, the third book in The Dominic Saga.Who better to describe this upcoming novel than the author herself. This is what Theresa had to say about her upcoming work:"Ahead of its 2021 release, here’s the exclusive cover reveal for Canis Maledictus: Book 3 of The Dominic Saga. After their recent trauma, the Carlton-Ross family are making the most of a little peace and quiet… while it lasts. One thing is sure when you’re a vampire: the past has sharp teeth, and it'll bite you when you least expect it."So, without further delay, here is the cover! Isn't it cool?!I can't wait to try it!

Hello all,I hope you are having a great day. We are going aquatic with our theme today, as we meet fantasy author Errins Stevens, creator of the Mer Chronicles.PB: Hi Errin! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.ES: I write paranormal romantic suspense and have created a world of ‘mermaids among us’ with a trilogy out: Updrift (#1) and Breakwater (#2), and Outrush (#3). I’d describe my style as warm, intimate and a little funny.PB: What made you decide to become an author?ES: Reading is what turned me into a writer… and I really can’t stress enough what an insurrectionist, rabid reader I was growing up. I was that stereotypical kid sneak-reading under the bed covers with a flashlight when I was supposed to be asleep, and I read everything I could get my hands on whether it was age-appropriate or not. I remember going bonkers over The Thorn Birds and Bloodline when I was twelve, even though I know now I didn’t have the maturity to really understand the character intricacies.In terms of writers I admire, there are so, so many. On the literary side, I’m most enamored with Ian McEwan (way loved Sweet Tooth), Ann Patchett (Bel Canto is a book I recommend again and again) and about a dozen others. Commercially, I’ve enjoyed a pretty broad spectrum, from Kresley Cole (I want to be Regin the Radiant when I grow up…) and J.R. Ward to Lisa Kleypas and Susan Elizabeth Phillips – who is so seriously funny and talented, I think every genre writer should read her as a matter of course. I could go on for pages, but I’ll take pity on you and stop here.PB: Haha! When did you first start writing?ES: I’ve written various things all my life – from journals as a kid to trade articles and 10K and 10Q reports after college – not scintillating, as you can imagine! I didn’t start taking a serious run at creative writing until I was about 35, though. As in other areas, I’m a late bloomer…PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?ES: It was about a family Thanksgiving dinner, and it was such crap. Seriously, even 9-year-old me knew it was bad. I literally burned it.PB: I certainly cringe when I think of my first attempts at writing too. When you begin writing a new story, do you always know the ending?ES: I wish! Nope, I always have an idea, but what drives the first part out of my head is a character or character interactions. The rest I stumble around on until I hit on something that makes at least a little sense. Then I write a loose outline… and often deviate from it. Yep.PB: If you could meet any of your characters, who would you meet?ES: Peter Loughlin. He is tortured and beautiful and so gifted, and he commits his whole self to his endeavors, even his follies.PB: Tell us about the Mer Chronicles trilogy.ES: It’s a series of romantic suspense stories for adults, focusing on a mysterious beach family and the humans they fall for. I’ve added in a couple of kidnappings and criminally insane folks to spice things up… and a little comedy, too. I aim to take y’all on an adventure with each edition; and my hope is that you come away feeling loved. And maybe better about humanity in general.PB: Where did the idea come from?ES: I can answer that! This is the letter to readers I wrote to front Updrift:'Updrift likely began in my girlhood—I’m thinking 1976—when the mythology of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid sunk its teeth into me and ate me whole. I honestly wonder at our decision to shelve fairy tales in the children’s section when so many of them are these brutal, brutal tragedies… and “Little Mermaid” is no different. Seriously, read The Little Match Girl or The Red Shoes at your local library and just try to walk away undevastated!I remained captivated with TLM’s mythology throughout my twenties, when the story simmered beneath my struggles to finish college, establish myself in a career, run the modern dating gauntlet and try to look breezy and confident during it all, which I did NOT accomplish. A husband and child and three jobs later, I finally sat down to try and make sense of modern life and modern womanhood; and Andersen’s fable helped me write it out. In this sense, Updrift was a way for me to knit up my own coming of age via a kind of corollary post-mortem.But Updrift is not an autobiography, and neither is it the Little Mermaid retold, although I’d love for you to see a reflection of the original in my book. Can you guess who most closely mimics Andersen’s heroine? When you’ve finished the novel, think back on who was most compelled to abandon friends and family for love, who in the end preferred his own destruction to that of his beloved. It’s twisted, I know, but hopefully in the right way.Happy reading, everyone.'PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?ES: Being a mother. During the 14 years I spent home with our son, I wrote the Mer Chronicles and volunteered at his school and tried to stay a couple of steps ahead of him with academic support and coaching so he would could move forward… and he’s just the best kind of human being. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever, ever done, mothering; but getting to know and help a child grow and thrive? It’s our highest calling as parents, and our richest reward, to be able to know and share this life with them.PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why?ES: This is a cruel, cruel question, Peter! I legit cannot answer it! There are so many great series out there, as well as stand-alones I covet and reread like a starved person with a banquet on offer. I love almost any good story (except for horror) from a person who has invested him- or herself assiduously in their narrative, who has done the hard work of refining their voice, and then used it like a scalpel to create something that envelops me, takes me clean away.PB: I am very cruel to ask that. Choosing a favourite book was much easier for me when I was a young and hadn't read many. Answering that question now would be another matter! Look at me. I'm digressing! What are your long term ambitions with regards to writing?ES: You can be the first to know: I’m going to write a few books I will distribute only on my web site. The idea of a more personal offering to those seeking my version of storytelling seems like a good and kind next move, and I’m going to do it. I’m also drafting a fourth in the Mer Chronicles series, parts of which you can peek at on my blog if you’re interested, errinstevens.com.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?ES: I think at this point I would run a community garden and maybe make soup for people. As you might guess from my answer to number 11, I increasingly want one-on-one human interactions, not so much the “big” attempts (arguments?) we engage in or get fed every day all day. I believe if we are all kind to each other individually, if we act with integrity in our dealings with one another, the bigger problems won’t exist.PB: I couldn't agree more. What’s the next target for you?ES: Professionally, I wish I could write faster and publish more often. But I really can’t. Anyway, I will continue to dream up stories and bring them forth; and I will continue to hope my novels reach people and nurture them. I’m relieved to think I’ll have something I can do when I’m old, something fulfilling and hopefully meaningful to my readers.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.ES: I’m afraid of the ocean! Isn’t that nuts?!?? I mean, I like looking at it, boating close to shore, and imagining lots about it. But I don’t enjoy swimming in it and I don’t like being without sight of land. How’s that for a girl who writes about sea creatures?PB: Haha! It certainly is surprising!ES: Peter, thank you for having me on your blog and for taking the time to interview me. If anyone has any other questions, please know you can reach out to me at any time.PB: Anytime! It's been a pleasure.Thank you so much to Errin Stevens for speaking to us today. If you would like to try out her work for yourself, you can do so via the links below:GoodreadsYouTubeAmazon Author PageUpdrift Purchase Links:AmazonAudibleBarnes & NobleKoboGoogle PlayBreakwater Purchase Links:AmazonAudibleBarnes & NobleKoboGoogle PlayOutrush Purchase Links:AmazonAudibleBarnes & NobleGoogle PlayKoboThree Book eBook Set:AmazonUntil next time, happy reading everyone!Peter

Hello all,Today I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my fellow Welsh-based authors! My guest today is paranormal romance writer Thérésa Hedges.PB: Hi! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.TH: Hello! Thank you for the kind invitation! Right then... I’m based on the Carmarthenshire coast, though I’m originally from Cardiganshire, on the west coast of Wales. I’m from a longish line of writers and bards. I originally studied psychology, always joking that I wanted to be a Ghostbuster! Well, half-joking... I then went into teaching and finally went into writing full-time 3 years ago.PB: What made you decide to become an author?TH: I don’t think it was ever that conscious a decision, to be honest. It was just something that had always been going on in the background but, bit by bit, it started coming more to the foreground until it was inescapable. I’ll always remember my mum phoning my great uncle (who was an author) to tell him (in the way only mums can) that I was going to be a writer. He said “About time we had another writer in the family!”PB: When did you first start writing?TH: I’m told I used to always be wandering around as a little kid, making up stories and poems and trying to get anyone to stay still long enough to listen! I think everyone must have been relieved when I learned to write and could just scribble it all down instead! But then it kind of drifted into blank verse when I was about 7. And then into short stories. Then longer stories. Then short plays & films, then longer... you get the idea.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?TH: It had all been poems and nonsense but when I was in the sixth form, I got asked to contribute to the school magazine by my English teacher. Apparently, being asked was pretty rare, so I jumped at the chance. I’d been reading a lot of science fiction and horror (still my favourite genres), so it was a short story about a girl who gradually destroys the world by having all her wishes come true,PB: When you begin writing a new novel, do you always know the ending?TH: Not always. In fact, rarely. Sometimes I think it’d be nice if my characters would let me in on what they’ve got planned! And often, the ending will change dramatically from first draft to final draft. In one book in particular, if I’d gone with the original ending, there wouldn’t have been a second book.PB:Tell us about Diary of an Everyday Vampire.TH: If a vampire ever did observational standup comedy, you’d have the Everyday Vampire. The idea behind a lot of science fiction is examining what it means to be human. And what better character to make fun of the vagaries of humanity than a vampire? This will probably sound odd, but it’s largely autobiographical. I am literally writing what I know. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be silly and blow off steam. You don’t have to be a vampire to find life weird, but writing from that viewpoint is a lot more fun!PB: Where did the idea for the Dominic series come from?TH: It started off as a dream (as did another book - Trash). I’ve always had a bit of an obsession with vampires. And there is so much stuff out there that I challenged myself to do something completely different within the genre. So, couple that with an obsession with Oscar Wilde (the style of Dominic is influenced by The Picture Of Dorian Gray), and I ended up with the story of a naive young Welsh medical student in Victorian London whose life is turned upside down by an attack that turns him into a vampire - something that is at odds with everything he is trying to do with his life.PB: If you could meet one of your own characters, who would you meet, and what would you say to them?TH: Dr Dominic Ross! No hesitation there. I’d give him a massive hug and invite him to dinner. After all, I know exactly the sort of things he’s able to eat! Then we’d have the opportunity to discuss science, philosophy and his latest research.PB: You have also done some work in the independent film industry. Tell us about your recent release, Like Glass.TH: I was approached by the director Adam Spinks who had wanted to write this particular story for a long time but was looking for a writer who would ’get’ what he was trying to do with the story. We kind of already knew each other and he knew I’d written screenplays in the past. So, as we got chatting, something just clicked and we knew exactly what needed to be done as a team to make the most of the story. We tend to spark off each other quite easily, and we’ve since collaborated on other short and feature projects, including a upcoming full-length version of Like Glass.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?TH: Probably winning a writing award for Like Glass. While I’m a big believer in keeping your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground, sometimes it’s nice to have other people acknowledge your work and have that affirmation that perhaps, possibly you might just be okay at doing this writing thing. The thing about writers being full of self-doubt is probably only a cliché because it’s probably true!PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why?TH: I’m probably supposed to say Lord Of The Rings, and yes, I do love it, and have done since I was a child but my favourite is actually The Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy books. I like the silly humour, and the way the ridiculousness of life is pointed out totally unapologetically. Plus the fact that Douglas Adams worked on some of my all-time favourite Dr Who stories when I was little.PB: What are your long term ambitions career-wise?TH: I would love to see my books adapted for the screen - large or small. Apart from that, I just want to to keep on writing. Films, books, plays - I don’t mind, as long as I can keep getting the stories out there.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?TH: Acting. Definitely. I’ve done a fair bit of stage acting and recently collaborated with Adam again on a YouTube drama series called Containment. This time I was not just co-writing, but also playing one of the characters.PB: What’s the next target for you?TH: To get book 3 of the Dominic saga written! Plus I have a children’s adventure series based on TheMabinogion that I really need to get started on...PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.TH: I can’t stand mirrors. Absolutely hate the things.Thank you to Thérésa Hedges. That was fantastic. If you'd like to purchase her books or find out more about the auther herself, you can do so via the links below:Author pageDiary of An Everyday Vampire 1Diary of An Everyday Vampire 2DominicFortior ConcordiaLike GlassContainment - Episode 1Until next time, happy reading!Peter

Hello all,Are you in the mood for an author interview? Yes? Good, because today we are meeting Indian novelist Anjali Roongta. PB: Hi Anjali! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.AR: Hey! I am Anjali Roongta and I come from India. I am a twenty-something studying Liberal Arts and hoping to have a future in research and psychology as well as writing.PB: What made you decide to become an author?AR: The fact that when growing up it was books that made me feel like I wasn’t completely alone. The fact that I wanted to share everything I felt and remember with others also helped.PB: When did you first start writing?AR: I started writing when I was nine.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?AR: The first story I remember writing was an adventure story about a bunch of kids stranded on a fantasy island and then the first published work was a fanfiction.PB: When you begin writing a new story, do you always know the ending?AR: I usually have some idea of the ending but it changes as the story progresses. PB: If you could meet any of your characters, who would you meet, and what would you say to them?AR: I would love to meet Siya and apologise for everything I have put her through and then I would for tips on how to live and be happy with BPDPB: Tell us about The Diary of a Twenty-Something.AR: The Diary of a Twenty-Something is now a duo! The first book, A Collection of Teenage Musings, tells the story of Siya’s world. It talks about how she fell into depression, the heart-real and setbacks she suffered, and how she grew out of all the pain. It talks about issues like chronic pain, mental health, teenage angst, growing up, and much more. The second part, A Tryst With Hope, talks about Siya’s intimate journey with healing and acceotance of her pain and disorders. PB: Where did the idea come from?AR: The idea came from my novel, Siya, which is about psychological disorders. I wanted to write about Siya from her perspective and how she sees the world.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?AR: Finishing the first draft of my novel, Siya.PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why?AR: I will be torn between Harry Potter and the Infernal Devices. Harry Potter is close to my heart as it introduced me to this whole world that I have never been able to leave since. It has shaped a lot of my personality and beliefs. The Infernal Devices I love because of the Victorian setting, the liberal mention of poetry and the characters whom I have fallen for.PB: What are your long term ambitions with regards to writing?AR: I want to continue writing, sometimes for pleasure and sometimes for work. I want my words to give people a voice and help them understand each other better.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?AR: PsychologistPB: What’s the next target for you?AR: I want to finish my novel, Siya, and then write something light hearted.PB: Tell is about your upcoming anthology. AR: Our upcoming anthology is called Realizations in Quarantine. It is a very personal poetric account of how quarantine affected us. It talks about food, philosophy, longing, beauty, and much more. The fact that the book talks about such lofty ideas also highlights how differently the quarantine affected the different strata of the society and how ours was among the better off ones. The book has wonderful art in it as well as personal musings. It was Co-written with Adrika Roy, Pen Dragon, Dibya Patranabish, and Arpita Maji. The art was created by Aditii T, Shubhr Aakriti, Sohom Banerjee and Mullberry Grafiti. PB: What’s is like writing as part of a group of authors? AR: Working as a group is exciting and tiring. There are a lot of ideas that compliment and clash with each other. It requires patience but brings a lot of happy memories and teaches one management skills.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.AR: I ship Throin and Bilbo in the Hobbit fandom.Well, thank you to Anjali Roongta for a most insightful interview! If you would like to try her work for yourself, you can do so via these links:AmazonLulu - Siya seriesLulu - Realisations of QuarantineGoodreadsUntil next time, happy reading!Peter

Hello all!I have another interview for you today. Please welcome South Korea-based Scottish fantasy fiction author Rachel Pudsey!PB: Hi Rachel! Welcome to pjbermanbooks.com. Tell us a bit about your background.RP: Hi all. Thanks for having me here. My name is Rachel Pudsey, and I am an International Bestselling Author. I was born and raised in Scotland and lived there until 2011. I studied psychology in university but after graduating worked in management. At some point I gave that up and became a part-time barista to have time to write. But after a few years, I had such itchy feet. I studied a course to teach English as a second language and I now live in South Korea teaching English to adults in Seoul. When I am not teaching or writing you’ll find me walking, in nature, reading, meeting friends and going on adventures.PB: What made you decide to become an author?RP: Well, it was always a dream since primacy school when I picked up my first book at the library. Throughout my university years and working I continued to write, but I never really took it seriously until 2010. I just kept writing and rewriting and working and gaming and just not progressing. BUT, I got a terrible case of the flu that almost killed me. After that I reassessed my life and started making some big decisions based on thoughts that had seemed nothing more than pipe dreams. Travelling the world was one, writing a novel was the other. So while recovering, I looked through old writing notes and the Aronia Series began to take form. The experience of writing the series really made me see that it is writing in which my passion lies. Now more than ever I am working on making this into a career.PB: When did you first start writing?RP: I guess primary school. Not sure what year, but I think around fifth or sixth year. I was reading goosebumps and point-horrors and wrote my own horror story. I think the characters were the people I went to school with, which sounds highly morbid.PB: What was the first story that you can remember writing?RP: That would be the point horror story I mentioned in the previous question. I remember little about the story. I drew and coloured a cover for it with a severed hand. I think I called it something like Eight Down, One to Go—not sure though. Unfortunately I no longer have that document (it was hand written and tossed out a long time ago).PB: When you begin writing a new story, do you always know the ending?RP: No. I am a big panster. I try to be more of a plotter now, at least have a general plan going forward. But most of my stories come from scenes or snippets in my head and then I expand them. So sometimes I write from an opening scene or a middle point and add around it. Now that I take it more professionally I write general outlines and am taking some courses to be a better plotter.PB: If you could meet any of your characters, who would you meet, and what would you say to them?RP: Well, my readers unanimously agree that the character Clay is hot and likeable romantic interest in the story. So, I guess I’d like to meet him just to hang out and see.PB: Tell us about Aronia series.RP: The Aronia Series is an adventurous YA fantasy-romance series that follows a girl through a journey into realising one must be careful what they wish for. It starts off with a girl in a small town wishing on the stars for love. But, the stars are cursed. The morning after the wish, seven suitors appear at her door willing to do anything for her love. So she spends the series trying to clean up the mess that arises from her wish but she ends up pulled in a fight against a far bigger threat to the land she lives in.The Watcher of the Night Sky, book one in the series, was a finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Finalist (2018), TopShelf Indie Book Awards Nominee (2019), and winner of the IHIBRP five-star recommended read award. The Faelti, book two of the series, won the New Apple Summer Young Adult Fantasy Official Selection Award (2019).PB: Where did the idea for the series come from?RP: I am not sure. My ideas come from inspiration from all over the place. Sometimes randomly while walking in nature. Sometimes from watching movies or reading books. Sometimes from conversations with friends or students. Ideas are everywhere, we just have to see them.PB: Of all your achievements, which are you most proud of?RP: That’s hard. I’ve achieved so much in my life in and out of writing. High school me was so proud to be Head Girl of school or graduating university when so many from my home town never went. Becoming a manager at twenty-one years old. Winning awards for my novels. Getting the Teacher of the Year award at my school. These are all great achievements. I suppose the one that gave me relief would be that I finally completed the Aronia Series story (for now—I have reader’s requests for shorts). That took me longer than it should to write. So finishing what I started is something to be proud of.PB: What is your favourite book series to read and why?RP: Hard question! Does it have to be one series?? Then I guess my answer is one of the most usual ones to give for this question: Harry Potter. The world building and diversity of characters is inspiring and just hooks you in every time.PB: What are your long term ambitions with regards to writing?RP: I have spent the last few years building my platform and portfolio and bettering my skills. My next goal is to get a bigger publisher to accept me and from there aim to turn writing into a career without the need of a second income. Alas, I am not so close to that goal but looking to achieve it within the next couple of years.PB: If you weren’t an author, what career would you be in?RP: Tough one. Perhaps I would progress with psychology and go back to school to do my masters. Then I would be a psychology researcher or lecturer, I suppose. Otherwise I am destined to be an ESL teacher for the rest of my life.PB: What’s the next target for you?RP: I have three projects I want to develop. A paranormal romance set in Scotland, a shifter novel inspired by Hansel and Gretel, and a modern fairytale retelling series. Not going to say more at this point, but I am super excited about that. All of these will be pitched to publishers back home with the hope that they get picked up.PB: Tell us a random fact about yourself.RP: I have a book tattoo on my arm that is a quote connected to The Outsiders.Thank you so much to Rachel Pudsey for taking the time to meet us all today. If you'd like to find out more about her or try out her books, you can do so via the links below:WebsiteInstagramFacebookLinktr.eeUntil next time, happy reading everyone!Peter