Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Hi I'm Elizabeth N. Harris and I'm an independent author. Aren't most of us!

In several of my groups, I've noticed how hard it is to get our names out there, so I decided to help my fellow authors along. Each week I interview an author and then for a week I post their interview on my website and then move them to my blog for four weeks. In addition, I blast my social media with the link to their interview and blog.

So I've started this topic so you can see the authors I've interviewed and hopefully support them.

Please note I'm not looking for any further authors to interview as I'm booked until June.

Thanks Elizabeth.

This week's turn is

Author of the Week Val Amant

This week I interviewed Val Amant, she has a great many titles under her belt, so please check my website for her interview!

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

Also, we have a new blog on Mileva Stankovic. Please check the link for her blog! Thanks, guys!

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/blog

Nicely written articles and blog, Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing. Good for you being proactive to bring attention to new/indie authors. Karen Lopez

Thanks Karen, I just believe in helping each other!

Sounds like a nice idea. Hope it helps. :)

This weeks author is P.G.R wright, his debut novel is a catching tale that keeps a reader interested. Read Philips interview at

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

And for this week, we have Jo Johnston and her debut novel Surviving Me!

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

You can still catch up with Mileva Stankovic, Val Amant and P.G.R Wright at

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/blog

It's not common to find and husband and wife who are both authors. So imagine my delight when I came across Michael J. Moore and his wife Cait Moore.

Michael gave me nightmares for a week, find out why!

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

Promoting disabled war vet C.A.Love

For this weeks interview, I interviewed a disabled combat veteran Chris Love whose pen name is C A Love. Now 35 years old, Chris lives in upstate NY with his wife and four children. Chris has been a stay at home dad since 2010. A hero receiving a purple heart, I talked to Chris about his debut book.

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

Glad you did this interview!

Lynn
www.writeradvice.com

Thanks Lynn. Well worth promoting people like Chris.

Hope he's doing okay. You too.

Author of the week is Michelle Bollom.

Come and find out how this ordained minister also became an author!

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

This week's Indie Author is Imran Omer and his book Entangled Lives. Come and see what Imran has to say on a variety of subjects.

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...
Entangled Lives

Raza, a poor orphan trapped in the slums of Pakistan, is sent to a strict madrassah where he meets and falls in love with Perveen. They attempt to flee the city to escape their respective fates but fail. Perveen, pregnant, is sent back to her family, and Raza is sent to Afghanistan to fight as a Taliban solider. American journalist, Rachael Brown, travels to Afghanistan to cover the political unrest. When she meets Raza for a brief interview, she sees for the first time the true face of the Taliban: poor and desperate young men with nowhere else to go. As the war unfolds, their paths cross again, and each must decide what they owe the other.

Love that you’re doing this work and supporting independent authors. Thank you!

Jody wrote: "Love that you’re doing this work and supporting independent authors. Thank you!"

Thanks Jody! As an independent author myself, I know how hard it is to start out!

This week we celebrate April Harper and her book Broken Essentials. This mother of nine has her work cut out writing and looking after the children! Below is a little taster!

Hi April, tell me a little about yourself for our readers!

I served in the United States Army for 8 years. I am the proud wife and mother of nine children through a wonderful blended family. My family has made its home in Austin, Texas. I love reading- to date my favourite book is “The Hate you Give” by Angie Thomas. When I have time, I love shopping with my daughters- They are the best shopping partners, or I can be found curled up on the sofa alongside my son for “Law and Order marathons. Other than that, I devote a lot of my time working with families in the Austin area to find and secure affordable housing.

​
I thought I had it bad with five children, I can't imagine how you're sane with nine! What got you into writing?​

Writing is something that I have always done. As a child, I would write poems as a coping mechanism. As I got older, I found that I had stopped writing and focused on other things. One day, in conversation with one of my daughters, she expressed her difficulty with writer’s block. Now, I must say she is a brilliant writer, but her mom is not all that into the genre that she writes. I have always been a firm believer with my children that the best way to parent is to lead by example. So, I picked up the pen for the first time in years and we began writing together.

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

What a great way to show support to our indie authors like me!!

Isabella wrote: "What a great way to show support to our indie authors like me!!"

Thanks Isabella!

#SupportingIndieAuthors

Come and meet Renee D. Burreson as she talks about her debut book, Breakthrough.

What’s the main thing you love and hate about writing?​

I love the creative process and the freedom in it. The ability to shape and create worlds and do things that otherwise I might not be able to is something truly profound. Especially in a world where we often find ourselves limited. While there are some elements of writing that are challenging, I am not sure if I can say I hate an aspect of the writing process and art form.

Who is the worst villain you’ve ever written, and why?​

Right now, society. In my recently published poetry book, Breakthrough, I touched on society's basic response to issues that are too often shirked at and the negative impact of such. As well as the importance of growth and the need for change. We, as people, have the power to change and shape the world around us in ways that we don't realize.

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

This weeks Author of the Week is Hunter S. Jones, as part of the Supporting Indie Author project. Phoenix Rising: A novel of Anne Boleyn

Here's a taster of the interview.

You said your husband was Scottish, I can imagine he's played a role in many of your books in one way or another! Are you as avid a reader as a writer?

Yes

What’s your favourite genre?​

Straight up History. That’s been my lifelong passion and one of the main reasons I have really enjoyed writing a time travel novel. I get to keep one foot in the contemporary world, and the other in the Reconstruction South of 1873.

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

For this week's Author of the Week interview, I was honoured to interview Fantasy Author M.H. Woodscourt.

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

Here's a taster!


What got you into writing?

My blood! I’m related to a lot of writers clear back to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Emily Dickinson. Stories have always been with me. Around 10 years old, I took up my pen and started giving those stories a voice.

​Impressive. What’s the main thing you love and hate about writing?

I love my characters most. Even as they sometimes stubbornly refuse the path I pave for them, I adore my characters like they’re my children. What I hate is not having the time to write even more than I do. I’m afraid I’ll never live long enough to jot down each story idea I get.

Who is the worst villain you’ve ever written, and why?

​‘Worst’ is a relative term, I think. I love diving into different villain types to try each out, and they’re all despicable, yet often likeable somehow. My least sympathetic villain is definitely Haeon from my Paradise series. He’s just a jerk, and he’s really petty.

​Remember you can read all about the other authors I've interviewed at https://www.elizabethnharris.net/blog

This is such a lovely way to show your support for us Indy Authors 😊

Rachel wrote: "This is such a lovely way to show your support for us Indy Authors 😊"

Thanks Rachel, as an Indie author myself I know exactly how hard it is to get established!

This weeks Author of the Week is Timothy K. Kiarie. An erotic writer Timothy has only just begun to publish under his own name, while he has several books released under a pen name!

Here's a taster,

It sounds like your travels heavily influenced you. What’s the main thing you love and hate about writing?

I wish I could get it down as fast as I think; typing is so slow! I love revising what I have written; sometimes I wonder if it was truly myself.

Ah, you must be one finger typing lol. My hands fly across a keyboard! Who is the worst villain you’ve ever written, and why?

A sleazeball who hit upon women at funerals. He preferred that they be recent widows.

​He sounds dreadful! What is next on your list to write/publish?

A panoramic historical novel centred on my village near Nairobi, from the dim history a thousand years ago to the present when high-rise dwellings give the lie to the moniker 'village'.

Come and find out why Timothy made me blush!

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

Thanks for support us indie authors. It means a huge amount.

Dougie Brimson

For what Twitter seems to call #IndieApril, I have been purchasing Kindle eBooks from other published writers based on their response to my Tweets. So far, I've done this three times, buying five books each pass. It's a lot of fun :)

I will be buying five more before midnight 4/30 (GMT), but you have to make the request through Twitter. If you don't have a Twitter account, get a friend to do it for you. Only Amazon Kindle eBooks qualify. Sorry :(

Check the pinned tweet @chaosity8 for details (or click here) and convince me to buy your book. Your comment will be your sales pitch.

Cheers :)

Dougie wrote: "Thanks for support us indie authors. It means a huge amount.

Dougie Brimson"

Your welcome hun, I'm an Indie author myself too! Got to look out for each other!

Thanks for getting this started! I would take Jim up on his offer but I do not have a twitter account... barely making it in the modern world of social media as it is! I feel lucky to have managed my website (awbaldwin.com) and facebook. Cheers to all indie authors, no matter how much or how little you swim in the social media stream!

i am patient with this modern system as an indie author.

A.W. wrote: "Thanks for getting this started! I would take Jim up on his offer but I do not have a twitter account... barely making it in the modern world of social media as it is! I feel lucky to have managed ..."

You're welcome A.W. I know how you feel around social media, I only had Facebook. Since taking the Indie route I've had to learn so much about social media, even finding sites like Medium that I hadn't heard of! It's definitely a minefield for self-marketing!

This was just a simple idea I had but now another author is doing the same as me! We don't charge or ask anything except that once your interview is published, you spam the hell out of it on social media. In other words, we do the work and the interviewee reaps the rewards!

Beth

Don't have Twitter. Why? Don't have an Android device. No cell service out here in rural remote mountain far west Texas. Nor do I have Instagram. Oh well, too bad for me.

Elizabeth wrote: "A.W. wrote: "Thanks for getting this started! I would take Jim up on his offer but I do not have a twitter account... barely making it in the modern world of social media as it is! I feel lucky to ..."

Self-market on Medium? How?

As an indie, I find marketing very difficult.

Elizabeth wrote: "Hi I'm Elizabeth N. Harris and I'm an independent author. Aren't most of us!

In several of my groups, I've noticed how hard it is to get our names out there, so I decided to help my fellow authors..."

Great job! ...We can wait till June.

Deborah wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "A.W. wrote: "Thanks for getting this started! I would take Jim up on his offer but I do not have a twitter account... barely making it in the modern world of social media as it is..."

Open a Medium account and you can write your own articles, I use Medium to promote the authors I read, and then I also use Medium to promote my own books.

Here's two of my articles on Medium.
https://medium.com/@elizabethnharris7...
and
https://medium.com/@elizabethnharris7...

V.L. wrote: "As an indie, I find marketing very difficult."

My website has a few tips that might help you...

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/help...

This isn't set in stone, don't forget I've only been self-publishing since December 2019! But those steps are ones a well-established author gave me!

This weeks Author of the Week is with Edgar Ramirez, Edgar also bought into the idea of Author of the Week and now runs his own weekly interviews with Indie Authors. I am proud to introduce Edgar through his interview to you all!

This week I interviewed Edgar, a grandfather of two, with two books already under his belt. Shall we see what Edgar's been up too and what he has coming up! Fancy a taster of this kind gentleman? Here you go!

Hello Edgar, welcome to your interview, it's time to get nosey! Let's start with a little bit about yourself!

I was born and raised in New York City, and am currently living in Livingston, New Jersey with my wife, Jeanne. I have two grown sons and recently, the wife and I became grandparents for the second time. They are the biggest reasons I wanted to get my books published. I work as a computer specialist at a public-school system by day, and I write at night. I consider myself a storyteller, more than an author. The distinction, I would prefer to be amongst the crowd, telling the story, instead of alone in a room, writing it. During my downtime, I enjoy photography, fishing, and nature walks. During fishing trips with my dad, I would often go off on nature walks on my own. Whether on the sand dunes by the seashore or in the woodlands by a lake, I enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of nature. These experiences inspired the settings for my books.

Nature sounds like it inspired you greatly. What got you into writing?

I am the youngest of four brothers and as a youngster, they encouraged me to draw. I enjoyed taking what was in my imagination and putting it to paper. As I got older, books opened a new world to me where I could see the places and characters, that authors wrote about in my imagination. My favourite genre is fantasy, and a close second is sci-fi. I remember picking up a copy of The Hobbit and being transported to the world of Middle Earth. From that point on I was hooked. I found that drawing what was in my imagination only provided a snapshot of a scene. What I wanted to do was tell the whole story my imagination had conjured up. I started storytelling my ideas to my young sons and noting what worked and what didn’t. Before I knew it I had my first short story.

Catch up with Edgar at https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

and if you wish to see how Edgar's interviews are going check out his website at https://www.edgarramirezauthor.com/in...

That’s a really good idea

Elizabeth wrote: "Hi I'm Elizabeth N. Harris and I'm an independent author. Aren't most of us!

In several of my groups, I've noticed how hard it is to get our names out there, so I decided to help my fellow authors..."



This is a great idea, I hope someday I am on your list. <3

Sijdah wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Hi I'm Elizabeth N. Harris and I'm an independent author. Aren't most of us!

In several of my groups, I've noticed how hard it is to get our names out there, so I decided to help..."

:-) all you have to do is send me an email. You can reach me at elizabethnharris74@outlook.com. Do mention Goodreads!

Beth.

Elizabeth wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "A.W. wrote: "Thanks for getting this started! I would take Jim up on his offer but I do not have a twitter account... barely making it in the modern world of socia..."

Thanks for the info, Elizabeth! I will open a Medium account likely soon. I love to write about pop culture and spiritual issues. What my trilogy is about.

Elizabeth wrote: "Hi I'm Elizabeth N. Harris and I'm an independent author. Aren't most of us!

In several of my groups, I've noticed how hard it is to get our names out there, so I decided to help my fellow authors..."

I appreciate writers trying to help other writers. It is very easy for new writers to get lost in the mix. I started my own blog sharing things I learned about self-publishing although I think the author interviews are a great idea to help writers looking for more exposure. Even though you are not taking any requests at the moment I am open to the idea whenever you decide to open that door again.

This is a great idea!

As an Indie romance (steamy) author, like most of you, I find that marketing is the single most time consuming (yet vital) piece of the publishing puzzle. I currently have 4 books out and a cookbook and am working on my 5th. Marketing is even more difficult now with the pandemic so I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and am very grateful for the support!

I am a strong proponent for new authors as well and recently started a podcast called A Writers Life where I share some of the ups and downs of my journey, offer tips where I can, and occasionally share a short story about growing up in East Texas. My blog is an eclectic mix of topics from writing to recipes to funny stories (www.danawayne.com/blog)

Great idea, wish you all great success!

Hi Elizabeth,
What a wonderful support for Indie authors! I have a new book, Tavi Tails - The Diary of a Dog. It has been on Amazon since April 20th, 2020 and has garnered 48 five-star reviews so far. I would love the chance to talk about this book. It has been incredibly gratifying to see how Tavi helps people smile, and think, and look at life from a unique perspective. If ever there was a time the world could use more laughs and warm fuzzies, this is it, and I believe this book can make a positive difference.
Thanks,
Lisa Richman
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Lisa wrote: "Hi Elizabeth,
What a wonderful support for Indie authors! I have a new book, Tavi Tails - The Diary of a Dog. It has been on Amazon since April 20th, 2020 and has garnered 48 five-star reviews so f..."

Hi Lisa, at the moment I don't have any spaces, but in a month or so I'll be opening up august onwards. If you're interested in an interview with me then please shoot me an email at elizabethnharris74@outlook.com and I'll add you to the list!

Beth

This weeks author of the week has a twist. Candance hasn't actually released a book yet but she's had a story published and is working on her new book now. Come and find out more about Candance at
https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

What’s the main thing you love and hate about writing?

The main thing I love about writing is the ability to create different worlds that I get to slip in and out of and it’s fun, relaxing and exciting to create these characters. The main thing I hate about writing is when I become stuck or my concentration is broken for any reason.

It's frustrating when your characters develop their own personalities and go in a direction you don't want them too.. mine often do that! Who is the worst villain you’ve ever written, and why?

My villains are still in the works and I can’t say right now because I’ll give it away, but maybe on my next visit here.

Exciting! What is next on your list to write/publish?

I am working on a romance novel, so if you love reading romance novels from author, Jasmine Guillory, then you will LOVE reading my novel.

This weeks author of the week is D.A. Charles. Dee has her hands full being an essential worker in this time of need and also writing and managing her family life. Dee's book series has been published courtesy of Stories About Us, a very special project initiated to bring diverse voices to entertainment by Michaels.Adams. Dee says that Jd Michaels and Alec Frazier are a wonderful team to work with. The Storiesaboutus team publish books by disabled and deaf authors, concentrating on getting their art out there.

https://www.elizabethnharris.net/post...

Come and find out more about Dee and what led her into writing!

Thanks Elisabeth for what you are doing ! I really appreciate people helping other people...

Revelations - photographing and telling the invisible