All Categories - Author Julie Whitley

Well this wasn't very nice...

11/25/2020

I received the following this morning sent as a new contact for my website. I don't like blackmail...and even if I didn't, I haven't a clue what to do about bitcoin. What the heck?! They're barking up the wrong tree if they think I have any kind of money to give. I'm an Indie writer, money flows out not in.

Name
Davidsox Davidsox

Email
somersb@yahoo.com

Comment
Your reputation and business are at stake!

We on your behalf in the message your website address juliewhitley.com and your contact information (including in social. Networks and messengers) will send:

+ on 15,897,318 sites, threats with insults to site owners, US residents, Europeans, LGBT and BLM.

+ 790,000 messages to bloggers with threats and insults

+ 2 367 896 public figures and politicians (from the USA and Europe) with threats and insults

+ 70,000 negative reviews about you and your website juliewhitley.com

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We are waiting for the transfer from you until November 27, on Saturday November 28, if payment does not come from you, we will begin to destroy your business and you along with it.

It's Here! The Stalker: Secrets of the Home Wood is now available

6/15/2020

At long last, The Stalker, second in the Secrets of the Home Wood series, has arrived! I am thrilled and a little let down at the same time, because with Covid-19, I am unable to have a proper book launch. Everything is still virtual. Nevertheless, here it is and already a 5-Star Readers' Favourite! I will be organizing some give aways. Keep an eye open! Thanks to the wonderful folks at #TellWellTalent for their invaluable help in getting my manuscript ready for publishing.
Below are the links where you can find The Stalker!
Amazon.com Paperback version. https://amazon.com/dp/0228816378
Amazon.ca Paperback version. https://amazon.ca/dp/0228816378
Kindle:: https://amazon.com/dp/B089QVCJBX
Chapters/Indigos https://tinyurl.com/yclg89vv
Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/yd68fe7y
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-stalker-22

Update! The Stalker is in the countdown to launch!

1/29/2020

Hello dear Readers! I have been AWOL for much of 2019. It was rather a jam-packed year between family obligations, birth of a second grandson and completing the sequel to the Secrets of the Home Wood: the Sacrifice. I'm excited to share it with you and very soon, I'll be planning the big launch. I hope you can be there!

Our hero, Jonathon, has been depressed that his parents went back through the portal without him. When the opportunity arises to guide a Grue woman, who has mistakenly come through the portal, back to her home, Jonathon takes full advantage. His grandfather is determined that he won't go alone. Unexpectedly, Jonathon's best friend Marly follows him to force him to tell the secret she knows he has been hiding.
Once through the portal, the easy task of guiding the visitor to the right path becomes a harrowing run for their lives.

#AmWriting #AmReading

1/22/2019

I just finished reading Virginia McClain's exciting book Blade's Edge. It was a rush to the end, because I couldn't put it down.
The story is a fantasy in a mystical land that resembles Japan in many ways, but not all ways. We follow Mishi and Taka from the time they were children in an orphanage. Their lives divide when their destinies take them on different journeys. An evil council rules the land, who has decreed in secret that female babies born with special power must be destroyed. Mishi and Taka had somehow escaped the fate of so many other babies and lived their childhood in fear of being discovered. Discovery meant instant death.
A plan to bring down the evil council and expose the decree is in place. Will the childhood friends be reunited? Against all odds, will the evil that has ruled for a thousand years be defeated?
You'll have to read it yourself to find out!

Happy New Year, Dear Readers! A warm hello to John Searancke who joins me today.

1/3/2019

Welcome to my blog couch, John. Tell us about yourself.
My name is John Searancke, aged 75, and I live with my wife Sally, partly in West Sussex, England, and partly in the Canary Islands.

What do you like to do when you’re not a writer?
As a retired couple, we enjoy travelling, eating out, and classic cars.

And what inspires you to write?
I always wanted to write a book, but there was no time until I retired. Now I have written three.

That's fantastic, John. Tell me about your journey as a writer.
The easy part is writing. Either you can or you cannot. The difficult part is then making any success out of it. Get the best editor that you can afford and learn from an expert.

When did you start and how do you keep the creative juices flowing?
When we had settled down after retirement, I sat down and started writing. My first book took a number of months to complete the first manuscript. It was no easier for books two and three, probably because they were so entirely different.

Give us the elevator pitch for your books.

My Father’s life in WW2 including Normandy and a POW camp.
Taking it easy (whilst working hard) on a sub-tropical island.
Thirty-five years as a hotelkeeper, from ruin to success.

Each of those had me hooked! Do you have a favourite character in your story?
Peter and his dogs. They made hilarious stories which some people have appreciated.

Who is most like you?
My son’s wife tells me that my son and I have similar attributes.

Do you have a favourite time of day and place to write?
I like to start after breakfast and do at least three hours. Sometimes that extends to most of the day if my wife is in a forgiving mood. Anywhere that is quiet and secluded works for me.

A lot of writers need continuity. Do you have a routine?
Type, tea, type, tea, repeat.

Perfect! What do you do to market your book?
I am using the services of the incomparable Margaret Daly of Margaret Daly Designs and Rukia Book Promotions.

Excellent! Who are your three top author crushes?
I enjoy reading Bernard Cornwell, Manda Scott and John Grisham.

Which would you most like to meet?
Any of the three named above.

What are your future plans for writing?
My wife has just informed me that I have none!

Sally sounds like a delightful person! What words of wisdom would you share with aspiring authors?
Stick at it. Someone, somewhere, will appreciate what you have to say.

True words of wisdom, John. Thanks so much for joining me today!

Dear Readers, I have some new books on my list! Please check out John’s sites
Website: www.johnsearancke.com
John Searancke Pinterest profile page: https://www.pinterest.com/johnsearancke/author-john-searancke/
John Searancke Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/john.searancke.1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnsearancke
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LB7WLZM

www.amazon.com/dp/B07LB7WLZM

Hello, Dear Readers! I’m thrilled to welcome author Fiona Tarr today.

5/10/2018

Thank you for joining me on my blog couch, Fiona!

So, tell us about yourself.
I am an Indie fantasy author with a passion for writing a style of fantasy that not everyone has heard of. My books have a lot of the usual epic fantasy elements; magic & turmoil, but I tend to categories them as more Theological fantasies.

Who are you and what do you like to do when you’re not a writer?
I am a part time writer, full time business owner, wife & mum; although my boys are both adults now, so life is getting a little less crazy. I live in beautiful Noosa Australia and when I am not writing, you will find me kitesurfing or stand up paddle boarding on one of the local beaches.

A busy life! What inspires you to write?
I started writing when I found myself with a little spare time. The spare time didn’t last long, but the passion to write hasn’t waned. I am inspired to write by many things, but the most internal pressure comes from a longing to explore social, cultural, political and religious thinking. These elements affect our tolerance levels and it is my hope that my fantasy writing can highlight the driving force behind these elements of our lives.

Tell us about your journey as a writer.
I started writing a little over 10 years ago. It took me six years to finish that first book but once I got that published, there was no stopping me. Every year since I have released a new book, completing that first series last year with a prequel novella.
Now I have moved on to a new series (The Eternal Realm) with the first book The Jericho Prophecy. I am currently working on drafting a mini series of novellas, so I can release smaller stories more often in the coming year.

How do you keep the creative juices flowing?
I have a really hectic work schedule during a lot of the year. This is one of the reasons I only get one full length novel out each year and why a mini series is on the horizon. To keep the creativity going I read, make notes, market and draft quite a lot, but I don’t write until I have the necessary time to finish in a 4-6 week window.
Staying creative while I am in this writing mode isn’t hard. By this point I have done the research, plotted the story and I am really in the zone.

Give us the elevator pitch for your book.
The Goddess Asherah is tasked with the impossible; To Ensure both sides win the battle for Jericho!

Do you have a favourite character in your story?
I always love my lead female characters (Rahab & Asherah in this novel), but in this book I found Iki, one of the Princes of Jericho really grew on me. He is the comic relief and he and I got into a real groove in this story.

Who is most like you?
I don’t know that any one character is most like me. I guess most of the lead females have elements of me in them, but I also believe each one is quite different from me in many ways.

Who would you like to see play your characters in a movie?
You know I always find this type of question difficult. Although I see the scenes to my book unfold as I write, I always visualise the characters as I envisioned them, not with a particular actor in mind. I am also terrible at remembering actor’s names. I can tell you the movie but not the name 😊 I would be interested to hear what my readers think. I might have to ask them.

Do you have a favourite time of day and place to write?
I usually write in the evenings, after the evening meal. I write with my laptop, sitting on the lounge, next to my husband as he reads or watches TV. I love having background noise, it actually helps me leave the real world for my fantasy world.
Occasionally I get a day off work or a weekend without much on and I zone out for the entire day, writing prolifically in the coolest place which is usually my front or back deck at home.

Do you have a routine?
I release a new book every May. To do this my routine is to draft during the working year and once February hits, I take 4-6 weeks to buckle down and finalise my first draft. If I can write more, I do; usually a novella. Other than the over all annual routine, I don’t fixate on word counts or writing habits. I still work fulltime and when the day comes that I choose be a full time writer, well that’s when the routines will kick in.

What do you do to market your book?
I am constantly learning more about the marketing process, but I have a number of strategies that seem to work quite well. I currently give away the first in my original series free. Destiny of Kings gets some great reviews and gives readers a chance to sample my writing style before buying more books.
I write articles for other authors in similar genres and I do my best to seek out opportunities to work with like-minded authors, like yourself. Being an Indie author means we don’t have any big publishing houses doing the leg work for us. This is great in many ways; we get to choose who and how we align ourselves in the industry and I like that freedom and responsibility.

Who are your three top author crushes?
Wow, I have never thought about it really. I’m more of a writer than a reader, which is weird I know. I most enjoy reading David Gemmell and the Heroic Fantasy genre is still feeling his loss. There is yet to be another who writes as he did. There are a few authors whose career I envy just a little, but there are no real ‘crushes’.

Who would you most like to meet?
In my line of work, I sometimes get to meet famous people, including Sir Richard Branson. I have never really been obsessed with famous people; I’m the girl who could bump right into a leading actor and know his face, but struggle to recall his name.
That said, I would like to meet Obama, I think Mother Teresa would have been awesome to talk to and a conversation with Bob Geldof would be really interesting.

I like your choices! What are your future plans for writing?
I will be working on another novel for The Eternal Realm series, but for now I am focused on releasing the first book, The Jericho Prophecy and drafting a mini series of novellas that feature the Shiloah Priestesses from the later part of my first series. I hope to have the first novella ready before my work season gets busy again. Fingers crossed.

What words of wisdom would you share with aspiring authors?
I believe the first question any author needs to ask themselves is why? Why are they writing? For money, for fame, for posterity, for themselves. Once you have the true, real and honest answer to this question, you have the foundation to work from.

Thanks for chatting with me, Fiona! All the best with your new release!

Please check out Fiona’s links, Dear Readers.

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2JpHso0

https://www.books2read.com/u/mBMjrp

I am thrilled to welcome author Hunter S. Jones!

4/25/2018

Good morning, Hunter! Please tell us about yourself.
Heya! Thanks for featuring me today. Here’s my official bio via my publisher, Pen & Sword Books:
Hunter S. Jones is passionate about the history of romance, science and music, a.k.a. sex, drugs and rock & roll. She has a popular history blog, and is a historian for Past Preservers Casting. When she isn’t writing, talking or tweeting about kings, queens and rock stars, she’s living the dream in Atlanta, Georgia with her Scottish born husband.
I love that and believe it sums me up beautifully at this time.

Who are you and what do you like to do when you’re not a writer? Read, shop, travel, daydream for starters.

All my favourite things to do, too! Give us the elevator pitch for your book.

Sexuality & Its Impact on History: The British Stripped Bare…
Learn of the scandals and romance that shaped Great Britain. This provocative collection of essays depicts the cultural and societal kinks of the British, from the Anglo-Saxons, Medieval, Tudor, Regency, and Victorian eras.
Discover the ménage that changed the course of the Anglo-Saxon throne, go undercover to explore Courtly Love, learn about the business of Tudor and Regency marriages. Read of a possible dalliance involving Queen Anne Boleyn, and the controversial marriages of Mary, Queen of Scots. Peek into the bedrooms of Victorian prostitutes.
Each story provides shocking detail about what was at the heart of romance throughout British history.
Would you swig a magic potion or plot to kill your husband in order to marry your lover? These are just two of the many romantic and sexual customs from British history that you will explore when eight authors take us through the centuries. From bizarre trivia about courtly love, to techniques and prostitution, you’ll encounter memorable nuggets of provocative info that you'll want to share with friends and co-workers because when it comes to love, we all know that truth is stranger than fiction.

Intriguing! Do you have a favourite character in your story?
Lillie Langtry

Who is most like you?
Lillie Langtry. She was as independent as any female I’ve ever read about and a true inspiration. She paved the way for today’s female media superstars at a time when women couldn’t vote and could rarely own property. She was a remarkable woman.

Who would you like to see play your characters in a movie?
Sexuality & Its Impact On History would make an incredible TV series.

Do you have a routine to write?
No, not at all. Life is to short to plan it out. Planning and organizing a book is about all I can do. My life is lived free-style and I’ve found that spontaneous always surpasses anything that’s planned.

What do you do to market your book?
They would be best described as an army blitz or a cavalry charge. My team & I go in with a no-holds-barred style, openly blitzing social media. I have a fantastic fan base, too, and I adore them. It’s a beautiful thing.

What are your future plans for writing?
Look for the U.S. launch of Sexuality & Its Impact On History in a few months. Once this launch is completed, look for the next thing.

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog couch, today, Hunter!

Dear Readers please check out more about Hunter S. Jones below on her media links.
Hunter S. Jones is passionate about the history of romance, science and music, a.k.a. sex, drugs and rock & roll. She has a popular history blog, and is a historian for Past Preservers Casting. When she isn’t writing, talking or tweeting about kings, queens and rock stars, she’s living the dream in Atlanta, Georgia with her Scottish born husband.
Look for her first collection of historical essays, The Impact of Sexuality in History: The British Stripped Bare, available March 2018 from Pen and Sword Books. She is delighted to work with the talented team of Emma Haddon-Wright, Annie Whitehead, Jessica Cale, Maryanne Coleman, Judith Arnopp, Gayle Hulme, and Dr. Beth Lynne.

To find out more, follow Hunter on social media:
www.huntersjones.com
www.Facebook.com/HunterSJonesPR
www.Twitter.com/HunterS_Jones
www.Instagram.com/hunters.jones

Purchase Links:

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Sexuality-and-Its-Impact-on-History-Paperback/p/14604

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sexuality-its-Impact-History-Stripped/dp/1526714493

Review by the Mail On Sunday can be found here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5589975/Queen-courtesans-charged-princes-dukes-MILLION-pounds-night-humble-Brit.html

Happy Spring greetings to author Marshalee Patterson!

4/22/2018

Hello Marshalee! Welcome to my blog couch this morning!Tell us about yourself, Marshalee! I am a Christian for many years now and started writing now for a little over two. I grew up with a large extended family which still is close today. I love nature- I find it very relaxing and peaceful. I love Spanish music and learned how to dance salsa and merengue very well when I was younger, although I don’t do much anymore. I always find Spanish music a lot more romantic and with more feelings than English song, but I never seem to be able to keep myself focused long enough to learn the language properly as I would like. Maybe in future I will. I am Jamaican and have love reading since I was a little child. I didn’t have a television at home until later, so my books were my dearest friends.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I am a Christian Romance/Thriller Author. Although I said romance, I don’t base books solely about boy-meets girl and fall in love. What I write are more dramatic stories that eventually end in a romance. So you will find a lot of tragedies and setbacks as we have in life and also how we overcome them, but all through the principles of Christ. I like to unwind with a good romance movie or a book when I am not writing. I have been growing more in creating covers and like to explore my creative side. I try to work on ads that reflect bits of my books to draw readers in.

What inspires you to write? I get inspiration from the Holy-Spirit. He gives me either just an image or a dream and from that I have to pray and trust the Lord to bring that story to life. I guess in doing so I am reminded that the story isn’t just about me even though he allows a lot of my own experiences to create the characters and story.

Tell me about your journey as a writer. I didn’t think of being a writer while growing up. I loved reading for as long as I can remember, but never thought about writing until 2003 when I went to Italy and came back with an idea for a romantic story. When I started it the Lord took over that story and turned it into something else. I wrote my first book-Predestined Love then and kept on my computer because I had no idea what to do next and left it in God’s hands to open the door for it to get published when the time was right. In a way I wasn’t sure of myself as a writer and thought this was a way to prove if it was God’s will for me to be a writer.

When did you start and how do you keep the creative juices flowing? It was until 2015 when my younger brother took sick and I went with him to the hospital, that I met an author-Claudette Brady-Beckford who shared a brochure of her books with me and we started talking, which got me introduced to self-publishing, amazon and all the works. I honestly can’t say how I keep my creative juices flowing. As I have said earlier, all the ideas come from the Holy Spirit. He gives me what I need to work on for a period and I work with it. Since I have been learning as I go I have five books overall written during these first two years. I haven’t published three yet. God is teaching me everything at His pace, and by teaching me I mean everything from writing the books, creating the website, promoting, to working on the book covers. But I know other books will be ready as soon as these five are all published and available for sale.

Give us the elevator pitch for your book. At present I am working on marketing The Path of the Chosen Warriors and this is the pitch I like most. “Who will triumph? Will the evil forces of Abaddon defeat the Christians? Will Ruth and Joshua escape from Sodom Shadows and return to their home in Shiloh City?”

Do you have a favourite character in your story? Well I like Hannah. She helps to build my faith when I find sometimes I want to let the things around weary me.

Who is most like you? Ruth is more like me in a lot of ways.

Who would you like to see play your characters in a movie? I never thought about whom, I only wanted persons who would best reflect the characters and what they represent.

Do you have a routine? Not really, I try to get everything else done first so I can work without having to think about what else I need to go do.

What do you do to market your book? That’s still a working process and still learning, but at present I use all the social media and my website to promote books. I use picture ads to help draw in reader and get their attention. I can’t say which is working the greatest for me so far but Facebook has been the place where I have interacted most with readers who have subscribed to my website and read and reviewed my books.

Who are your three top author crushes? I have always loved classic literature. My favourite authors are Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo and Emily Bronte. I liked Barbara Cartland too.

Who would you most like to meet? All my favourites are dead but I read a few romance books based on highlanders and liked Karen Marie Moning Highlander series. I would like to meet her.

What are your future plans for writing? To keep writing books as the Lord instructs me shining light in the lives of readers.

What words of wisdom would you share with aspiring authors? Perseverance, endurance and don’t let negative or critical comment cause you to want to quit, but use them to improve where you are criticised most. God has a way to use other to help us become better.

Thanks so much for joining me this morning, Marshalee!
Dear Readers, you can check out Marshalee's links and sites below!

Website: https://inspiringchristian.wixsite.com/marshaleepatterson
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Marshalee-Patterson/e/B00TOW21HU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1511551189&sr=8-1
Kobo:https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/search?query=Marshalee%20Patterson&fcsearchfield=Author
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authormarshaleepatterson/

I'm pleased to welcome author Billie Kowalewski!

4/11/2018

Hi Billie! Thanks so much for joining me today on my blog couch!

Tell us about yourself, Billie. Who are you and what do you like to do when you’re not a writer?
Overall, I like to think of myself as an average, basic, human being just like anyone else. I am very outgoing, and love nothing more than meeting new people. It’s one of my favorite things because we are all so diverse and it just plain old fascinates me. Children are the ones I relate to the most. Which is probably why I’ve held on to being a school bus driver for as long as I have. The conversations I have with kids are what I’ve loved most about that job.
What inspires you to write?
This is really hard to nail down to just one thing. There is so many things that inspire me to write. Music is a huge part. Occasionally, one of the kids I drive say something funny and that will kick my imagination into gear. My love for a great, unique story keeps me going too. Life always has a funny way of working out just right sometimes to inspire you as well.
Tell me about your journey as a writer. When did you start and how do you keep the creative juices flowing?
I started officially writing in 2010, but I’ve been a story teller my whole life. I’ve been cooking up stories since I can remember. It was fear that held me back for as long as I did. But, thankfully I’ve overcome that and have many more stories to write in my future. Better late than never.
That’s wonderful. We’re glad you over the fear, too! Give us the elevator pitch for your book.
“Imagine waking up to discover that the life you thought was real never was. That your real life is actually lived somewhere else, and the love you thought was lost will go on forever.”
Intriguing! I like it! Do you have a favourite character in your story? Who is most like you?
Harmony is most like me. Well, the snarkier parts I have to suppress so I behave like a model adult. I have many favorite characters in Enlightened and have grown to love them all as my friends and I do think of them as real people. I often wonder if this is how other writers feel? If I really had to pick one certain character, I would have to say Luke. He is harmony’s spirit guide. He is extremely kind and wise, and at first glance doesn’t come across as a someone who would be a wise spirit guide. He’s very tall, muscular and has a rough outward appearance like a big bad biker. In Enlightened, it’s always what’s on the inside that matters most.
Who would you like to see play your characters in a movie?
The ones I’ve envision I have not seen yet in “real life” I don’t think they’re famous yet, 😉
That leaves the door open for discovery. Do you have a favourite time of day and place to write? Do you have a routine?
Anytime my house is quiet. I love curling up with my laptop, in my comfy recliner, getting lost in my imagination for as long as my life will let me. I do it whenever and however I can. I’ve also been known to take my laptop on the school bus during field trips.
What do you do to market your book?
For the most part social media like Facebook and Instagram, Twitter too. I’ve also done BookExpo and BookCon. I try to meet as many people face to face as possible to market my book, that seems to be the best.
Who are you three top author crushes? Who would you most like to meet?
Sophia Kinsella, my god is she funny! I enjoy C.C. Bolick’s books as well. Hers are full of imagination and humor. But the one I would most like to meet, hands down is Stephanie Meyers. Her twilight series was just pure genius.
What are your future plans for writing?
Currently, I am working on supporting myself as a fulltime writer. This goal has not been an easy one at all and has taken me many years to get to the point that I have. But, I have, drive, passion, determination, and a wild imagination. I think my chances are just as good as anyone else’s to reach this goal. I’m not a quitter (I’m working on publishing the sequel to Enlightened as we speak.)
What words of wisdom would you share with aspiring authors?
First, just because you think your story is good, don’t expect your writing to be right off the bat. No matter what stage you’re at there is always room for improvement. Also, DO NOT ASK YOUR FRIENDS for criticism. Although there will be signs that they were not happy with your story, most likely they will not be honest with you because they are afraid to hurt your feelings. There are plenty of online writing support groups that will help with this. Also take what some of these people say with a grain of salt. Not all of the criticism will be actually helpful. In the end, as long as you follow what your heart tells you with your story, that will always be the right way. Never give up

Thanks for visiting with me today on my blog couch, Billie!

Dear Readers, please check out Billie’s links below!

Amazon link for Enlightened: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VTBR36K

Amazon link for sequel Divided: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078JVJC6R

Also find
https://www.facebook.com/authorbilliek
https://www.twitter.com/enlightened31
https://www.instgram.com/kowalewskibillie
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/billie-kowalewski
https://www.amazon.com/author/billiekowalewski
https://www.goodreads.com/harmony31

Please help me welcome author S.W. Frank!

2/26/2018

I'm thrilled to chat with S.W. Frank, today!

Tell us about yourself? Who are you and what do you like to do when you’re not a writer? I write crime and romance stories with multiculturalism. I've always loved reading. Over time, I realized the shows and books I consumed featured predominately hero/ines with milky skin. I believed there was a need for stories featuring diverse hero/ines. The world I encounter is multi-ethnic and multi-dimensional. I wanted to read books which expanded beyond narrow prisms. Finding very few, I began writing romance stories with inclusion. Two decades ago I hoarded these tales after experiencing the rejection of mainstream publishing. Around 2009, with the encouragement and support of my family I chose the route of independent publishing and allowed readers to determine each novels' fate. I suppose the former years as an emergency medical worker with FDNY and writing for my law school's journal prepared me for the good, bad and the ugly side of the literary business. I learnt a lot in the course of my writing and publishing journey. I can attest with certainty -I remain in love with a vocation which continues to feed my soul.

That is so cool! I really like your outlook. What inspires you to write? Everything and nothing. I simply write what I enjoy reading, combining entertainment with life's joy and its pain.

Tell me about your journey as a writer. When did you start and how do you keep the creative juices flowing? The journey of writing started young. In my bedroom, the scribbling and reading past my bedtime to fulfill a curiosity or to explore places I'd never been. Sometimes, the stories surfaced at odd times, like in school and I'd dawdle in class with these beautiful gifts of prose. To nurture creativity I paint and engage in activities that spark the imagination. However, observing people, engaging with other cultures, travel and staying in tune with the world events can do that too.

Painting, I believe, too, nurtures creativity and enhances writing. Give us the elevator pitch for your book. My elevator pitch would have music in the backdrop, an orchestral tune. I'd begin with my most popular book, a series that I started nearly two decades ago that I continue to write amid other novels. That book is Alfonzo. There's a young man out there, I'd say, and a young woman. They have yet to meet. Fate determines if they ever will. They are both dreamers; the man wants a life without bullets and homage to the dead libations. The woman dreams of escaping an impoverished setting killing her dreams of a happy future. They have in common, death and dreams. And in tragedy fate intervenes. They are brought together, to be one another's comfort in the world of organized crime, where cold hearts rule the loveless.

Do you have a favourite character in your story? Who is most like you? I have many favorites: Selange from the Alfonzo series, Jade from Sisters of Cain and Abel, Aubrey from Missing Person and Evelyn, from Evelyn's Cross. I believe each of these characters possess a quality of perseverance and hope. I suppose each have pieces of me.

Who would you like to see play your characters in a movie? If any of my books were to become a film, I would love to see a new actor in the roles. Someone fresh and talented. But, if I must choose someone well-known, I'd settle for Manu Bennett to play Nico (Alfonzo series).

Do you have a favourite time of day and place to write? Do you have a routine? I do have a routine, when writing. Usually it consists of soft music playing and a comfy spot.

What do you do to market your book? Marketing consists of ads, but most importantly a good story is spread around via readers (fingers crossed readers enjoy the adventures).

Who are you three top author crushes? Who would you most like to meet? Judy Blume (childhood crush), Alex Haley, Toni Morrison. The person I most like to meet is Former First lady Michelle Obama.

Oh, I agree with you totally! What are your future plans for writing? My future plans for writing is to continue writing and mentoring burgeoning young writers.

What words of wisdom would you share with aspiring authors? My advice for aspiring authors is to read many different books, observe and engage with other cultures and enjoy the process. For me, writing is a soul journey. Sometimes, we get lost in following the advice of others and lose sight of our purpose. Why do I write? What compels me? What can I share that might touch someone? I believe, if we write from a loving and honest place, our stories will resonate. But, whatever you do, continue to write.

Thank you so much for chatting with me, today! I’m looking forward to checking out your stories and hope that my dear readers will too!

Please check out S.W. Frank's website: 1swfrank.wixsite.com/authorswfrank