Click on an Author Name to View an Interview:
* Ellwyn Autumn *
* Pooja Chilukuri *
* Ann Harrison *
* H. Corinne Hewitt *
* James Hockenberry *
* Jen Lowry *
* Donna L Martin *
* Karen Scheuer *
* Steve Scott *
* Judy Stavisky *
* Jeni Temen *
* Heidi Thorne *

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: STEVE SCOTT

I’d like to introduce you to Steve Scott. Years ago, when I started getting serious about writing and self-publishing, I discovered an online course called Authority Pub Academy (APA), and Steve was one of the instructors and creators of the course. Steve’s course literally changed my life and I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the APA course. Steve is also a bestselling author of over 100 books. Welcome, Steve and thank you for allowing me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Steve: I got into self-publishing back in 2012 as an extra way to promote my blog content. But I quickly fell in love with the platform and the numerous opportunities that it offered. I focused on self-publishing full-time in 2013 and it has been my primary focus up until last year (when I started experimenting with other platforms). At this point, I have 111 books on Amazon. Some are in my “habit line” of books. Others are small books that I experimented with back in 2013. And a few are part of foreign translations or book bundles.

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Steve: “Stack Your Savings” written with Rebecca Livermore. Lately, I have been fascinated with the financial independence (FI) concept where people focus on retiring years, even decades, before the standard retirement age. One major FI concept is how small adjustments you make to your daily spending can quickly add up – especially if you put that money into index funds through the Vanguard website. We wrote “Stack Your Savings” to provide a detailed list of the small and large strategies you can use to cut down your monthly expenses. Our hope is this will provide readers with a list of step-by-step actions they can use to save more and put this money toward their important goals.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steve: I have three books that have influenced me heavily:

#1. Principles of Success by Jack Canfield
This book contains 67 principles that are important for success. Each principle has a variety of compelling stories and anecdotes, but the real value comes from the specific actions and habits you can use to improve any aspect of your life. It’s the first book that showed how success in life really comes down to your choice in daily habits.
#2. The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ Demarco
I’ll admit that this book has a bit of a “get-rich-quick” title, but it’s the best business mindset book that I’ve ever read. What Demarco emphasizes is to build a business that’s free from your personal time. Specifically, I learned the value of creating “digital assets” that generate income even when I don’t work.
#3. The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
The basic idea is that you don’t need to do dozens of things in order to be successful. Instead, if you simplify your business (and life) to what’s essential, then you will achieve great results – in often half the time that it takes others.
The big lesson that I pulled from this book is to schedule time for the #1 priority daily related to your goal. Until you’ve completed this daily action, nothing else should get your attention. Bonus points if you do it first thing in the morning.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Steve: Although I’m working on a couple of books (mostly related to mindfulness), I’m also in the process of building up a YouTube channel where I can focus on a variety of topics like productivity, habit development, self-publishing, and running an online business.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Steve: Building an email list! Marketing to an email list helps you:

#1. Provide additional value to readers. You can give them extras like PDFs that help them take action on the principles you teach, videos that demonstrate a specific technique, and resources where they can additional information.
#2. Generate reviews from your street team. You can segment your “superfans” into a separate email list where they receive advance copies of your book. In return, you ask them to leave a review when it’s launched.
#3. Promote books when they’re launched. You can generate a surge of sales once whenever you publish a new book. Not only does this produce income, it also helps your book rank well on Amazon, which leads to more sales from people who aren’t part of your email list.
#4. Build other brands. If you want to start another brand (like a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel), then you can leverage these followers to create initial buzz and get traction on that platform. Since subscribers already like your books, they will probably like the other types of media that you create.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Steve: Couple of things:

#1. Find a niche and make sure it’s profitable. The strategy that I recommend is to look on Amazon and make sure people buy books about this topic. I like to look at the “Amazon Best Seller’s Rank” (or ASBR) of similar books. If I see multiple books with a rank of #30,000 or less, then I know it’s probably a profitable niche.
#2. Go inch wide, mile deep. Most readers don’t have time to read massive compendiums that cover an entire market. Instead, they prefer short, actionable books that provide an extensive solution on one strategy. Put simply, your book should focus on a single topic in your market, which provides an extensive solution to this challenge.
#3. Write multiple books in this market. The quickest ways to build momentum on a self-publishing platform is to continuously write for your specific market. With that in mind, I recommend you go back to your audience to discover:

• What other problems do they have?
• What strategies from your first book need to be fleshed out?
• What challenges are you seeing from your research that haven’t been answered?

#4. Run AMS ads. Amazon Marketing Services (or AMS) is a great platform for marketing your books to readers. That’s why, I suggest you focus on mastering this ads platform. The trick is to do extensive research and find hundreds, even thousands of keywords for each of your books.
You should look for three types of keywords: 1. Similar book titles, 2. Author names, and 3. Problem-centric phrases (like “how to ___”). Start at a $0.30 bid and keep tweaking your ads and cost-per-click until you find a few “winners” that you can scale up.

Steve’s Social Media Sites:
Develop Good Habits
Steve Scott Show (on YouTube)
Author Page

Bio: Steve Scott is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author with over 100 books in his catalog. He also blogs about habit development on his site DevelopGoodHabits.com and creates videos on his YouTube channel. When not working, S.J. likes to read, exercise, travel and spend time with his family.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: JAMES HOCKENBERRY

I’d like to introduce you to James Hockenberry, MBA. James and I met at an author expo author event held at a local library. Welcome, James and thank you for allowing me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
James: I’m a retired financial executive who has reinvented himself as a writer of World War I thrillers. I’ve self-published three award winning books in my trilogy: Over Here (covering German sabotage in American during 1915-16), So Beware (focusing on the 1919 Paris Peace Talks), and now Send the Word (centering on the U.S. military experience on the Western Front in 1918).

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
James: My latest book Send the Word, was released in 2020. It is the 3rd book in my WWI intrigue Series; I’ve always been fascinated on military history and stories of life-and-death: what I call Man at his brink. It is inspired by real events as I try to dramatize key events in America’s involvement in World War I.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
James: Louis Uris, Ken Follett, James Mitchener, and Frederick Forsyth

Amelia: What are you working on now?
James: Now that my 3rd book, Send the Word, has been independently-published, I’m working on promoting my book. I have an idea for a 4th WWI story, outside of the Trilogy, but I have much research and character / plot development to do first.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
James: Personal events, particularly historical lectures on WWI. I’ve entered a number of books contests, and the awards I’ve won give my books credibility and exposure. I have a handout of interesting facts for each of the books I’ve written and I give these away for free. I always say, “We don’t sell our books first. We sell ourselves.”

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
James:

• Learn by doing.
• Respect the craft.
• Keep writing, don’t be discouraged.
• Write because you love it.
• Write because you love it.
• Write about what you want to know about.
• Don’t be afraid to take chances.
• Physically visit the places you are writing about.

James’s Website: www.jameshockenberry.com

Bio: I grew up in the Westchester suburbs of New York City. With an MBA from Columbia University, I followed a career in operational finance until I left Corporate America at age 55. I have now reinvented myself as a World War I thriller writer and often say, “The journey is the reward.” Writing books is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done intellectually. It’s great fun too.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: JUDY STAVISKY

I’d like to introduce you to Judy Stavisky, MPH, M.Ed. Judy and I met at an author expo event held at a local library. Welcome, Judy and thank you for allowing me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Judy: I have written my first book with Sister Constance Touey and Sister Jeannette Lucey. Our book chronicles the journeys of immigrants and refugees who were welcomed to the United States by the predominantly African American students at a Catholic School in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Judy: Do It Better! How the Kids of St. Frances de Sales Exceeded Everyone’s Expectations. Sister Constance Touey and Sister Jeannette Lucey, IHM are two tenacious nuns who wrapped their arms around children who suffered unspeakable losses and launched them on a path to success. Not just a few children, but hundreds of students from around the world arrived at their Catholic School and were welcomed. Fiercely devoted to their students, we have written a moving and evocative book that chronicles the students’ triumphs over adversity. Do It Better! offers hope and optimism amidst today’s divisive conversations about immigrants and refugees.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Judy: A non-fiction book about the lives of Amish women. I have been visiting with Amish women and their families for the past seven years. I have learned that a life of hard work and simplicity is often anything but simple.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Judy: College Alumni Newsletters and regional magazines, educational newsletters, book store readings, and presentations at senior living residences.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Judy: Try to secure a book review in a local community online or print newspaper, include the name of your book in your e-mail signature (you never know who might be interested in your topic), and contact anyone you have ever met who might be interested in the topic you are covering.

Judy’s Social Media Sites:
Website: TheWelcomeSchool.com

Bio: Judy is on the faculty of the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health and a Senior Advisor to several non-profit organizations specializing in community outreach and organizational development. Judy’s interest in Amish women and their families has led her on a seven year quest to more clearly understand and document the riddle of Amish life.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: POOJA CHILUKURI

I’d like to introduce you to Pooja Chilukuri. Pooja and I met through an author group and discovered that we both like to write in different genres. Welcome, Pooja and thank you for allowing me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Pooja: I am passionate about health and wellness education and for being a voice for those who have experienced religious wounds that stem from distorted images of God and/or “church hurt”. I have written five books (4 print books and 1 e-book) which include my memoir (my journey of recovering from religion and discovering myself), reflections/devotional books and a guidebook for using supplements wisely.

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pooja: My latest faith-based books are the Unveiling Jesus series. It was inspired by the many stories of people who felt stuck in religious systems where they developed distorted images of Jesus, codependent relationships with God and church leaders. The devotionals were birthed from a desire to break free from “in-the-box” thinking of Jesus and use the gospel stories as a tool to reflect on his heart. My nutrition book is inspired by my working with those who are beginning their health journey and feel overwhelmed and confused about where to begin and what information to trust as they navigate the online world for answers.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Pooja: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic has inspired me on my author journey. Also I also love reading Agatha Christie’s work. Max Lucado’s writing style and content are also inspiring.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Pooja: I am working on historical fiction (trying a new genre, a series). It will be my first experiment with fiction.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Pooja: Thus far it has been through social media and networking. I will be experimenting with Goodreads soon.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Pooja: Your story/message is important, as Elizabeth Gilbert said, “It may have been done before but it has not been done by you.” Writing has aptly been referred to as a ‘solo sport’, but it takes a team to birth a book. Having a support system (family, writing groups, beta readers, etc.) can help! As you develop your craft, do not forget to keep the art in your writing alive and above all else, stay with the love for writing.

Pooja’s Social Media Sites:
Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/poojachilukuri
Website: www.poojachilukuri.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorPoojaChilukuri

Bio: Pooja Chilukuri is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), Health Coach, and a published author. Pooja’s mission is to empower individuals to navigate the often-confusing nutrition and health trends and take charge of their health to prevent chronic illnesses from taking a toll. In 2015, Pooja published her memoir, And Then There Was Jesus where she shares her journey of recovering from religion, healing from spiritual wounds and discovering herself. Her other books, Unveiling Jesus Through His Passion; Unveiling Jesus Through His Incarnation and Once There Was Jesus seek to uncover the heart of Jesus through the gospel stories. She is also the author of the e-book, A Beginner’s Guide to Using Supplements.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: JEN LOWRY

I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jennifer Ikner Lowry. Jen and I met through an author group and found that we have a lot in common, including writing in different genres and wearing different hats, all leading back to books. Welcome, Jen and thank you for allowing me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Jen: I’m a Literacy Coach for Wake County Schools, Author Coach, Homeschool “momma” by night, publisher of Monarch Educational Services, L.L.C., and author all the times in between. I’ve published twenty books and counting, with the platform, “Clean Books for All Ages.”

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jen: “Love Over Pizza” was published on January 25, 2021, and was inspired by my true love story. I met my husband online and creating a cast of characters, an online dating site, and all of the thrills and stress that comes with all of that piled on with grief, friendship, and pizza was one of my favorite books to write.

Amelia: What authors or books have influenced you?
Jen: The first book that really spoke to me as an author was “A Walk to Remember” by Nicholas Sparks. When I first read it, I said, “I want to do this.” I started writing in 8th grade, but never took it seriously until that book. I’ve never looked back. Kate DiCamillo is also my favorite author, and with each reread of her novels, it inspires me to write about hope. So many books inspire me that I could spend hours talking with you about them!

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Jen: I’m super excited to share that my first thriller, police procedural novel, “The Sunday Killer”, will be released by City Limits Publishing in 2021! My Aunt Dot named the character, Heather Moody. I can’t wait for people to meet my detective and hope this becomes book one of many in a series from her case files.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Jen: My podcast, Jen Lowry Writes, has been an amazing way to connect with readers and other writers. I would’ve never imagined I’d build a strong platform with sharing out my author journey with others. It’s a blessing to have a writing community, so I challenge you to join or create one. Author friendships are powerful!

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Jen: Don’t stop writing. Don’t get discouraged. Honor your blank page and build your author community as you go. This life is a calling, not a hobby. It’s about following your passions and learning as you go. There’s always a starting place with everything we do in life. Get started today and embrace the challenges as they come.

Jen’s Social Media Sites:
Website: http://www.jenlowrywrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenlowrywrites
http://www.patreon.com/join/JenLowry

Bio: Jen Lowry lives outside of Raleigh, North Carolina and is a proud native of Robeson County. She is the author of a YA contemporary fiction novel, Sweet Potato Jones (2020 with Swoon Romance) and a list of other bestselling novels. Check out her twenty published books and counting. You’ll find her enjoying every second of life spent with her family (preferably in pajamas). If you ask her what she’s reading it’s probably more than one book. Learn more about Jen at http://www.jenlowrywrites.com and follow her online @jenlowrywrites.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: HEIDI THORNE

I’d like to introduce you to Heidi Thorne, who is a business nonfiction author and host of The Heidi Thorne Show podcast where she discusses self-publishing. Welcome, Heidi and thank you for allowing me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Heidi: I’m a nonfiction business author and podcaster. My main topics are self-publishing and small business. I have self-published over 20 books.

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Heidi: Networking for Authors: How to Build Your Fan Base and Book Sales through Networking (available on Amazon, Audible, and Apple Books)

Amelia: What authors or books have influenced you?
Heidi: Hands down, it’s business author and philosopher, Seth Godin. His work makes you think differently and clearly.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Heidi: I’m concentrating on building my YouTube channel and podcast where I discuss publishing issues.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Heidi: I believe the best way to promote your books is by building and engaging with your author platform, or fan base, on social media. I also use Amazon ads. Amazon advertising worked much better years ago. It can be competitive so it takes some experimenting over time to see positive results. I have several Amazon ad campaigns that I run continuously for my backlist titles.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Heidi: Decide if a book is really the best way to get your message to your target audience, vs. a blog, which may be a better starting point. In addition to a blog, you can consider a YouTube channel, podcast, events, online courses, or social media. It’s important to realize that initially, your book will not be your major source of income. This depends on how much you invest in advertising and networking. My survey research of self-published authors found that 73% make less than $1,000 a year from their books. The bottom line is to be very clear about what you hope to accomplish with your self-publishing efforts.

Heidi’s Social Media Sites:
Website: https://heidithorne.com
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/heidithorne

Bio: In addition to self-publishing, Heidi was a trade newspaper editor and advertising manager for 15 years. Heidi owned an imprinted promotional products business for 17 years. In sum, she has been in advertising, sales, and publishing for over 25 years. In addition, she taught at the college level for 5 years in adult career and computer education.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: JENI TEMEN

Jeni and I met through an online author group and quickly began networking and sharing ideas about our author journeys. Thank you, Jeni, for taking the time to let me interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Jeni: I’m a former long time real estate broker and real estate investor. I published 3 books so far and have several others in the works.

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jeni: My latest book is called “Credit+Budget=Control: Improve your life immediately!” My other books include: “How To Buy A Home That Makes You Happy. Don’t just buy a house, buy a home!” and “For Sale By Owner, It’s not rocket science, just follow the rules.”

I wrote the real estate books to help anyone who wants to buy or sell a home to make an informed decision. Over my long career, I learned that many people are making decisions based on their realtor, loan officer, or other helpful people’s opinion when buying or selling their most valuable asset. The books are giving readers a guide to proceed in ways that is beneficial to them, according to their own circumstances.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jeni: I was influenced by the lack of books written for consumers. There are many books about Real Estate on the market but they all are written for agents, not for their clients.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Jeni: I am working on a Credit repair step by step class and book. A manual with forms and guidance on how to repair your credit just like an attorney or credit repair business does it.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Jeni: So far, I use Amazon to promote my books by sharing my book links on social media.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Jeni: My advice is to learn how to submit and where to submit the book to be published before it’s published. Hiring others to help you can be a VERY costly mistake, so it’s important to do your research first. The more you learn about how to self publish, the better. Through trial and error, you can learn the best methods and save a lot of time.

Jeni’s Social Media Sites:
Website: www.RMoneyClub.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RMoneyClub
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/jenitemen

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: KAREN SCHEUER

In 2018, I had the pleasure of meeting Karen Scheuer at a local Author Expo. In addition to being a children’s book author, Karen also creates beautiful calligraphy. Thank you, Karen, for taking the time for this author interview.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Karen: I am a retired elementary school teacher, and a retired professor. I currently have two books I have published. A Bug and a Wish, is a story about bullying. In 2019, I released my second book, which is called I Know Something You Don’t Know. It’s a guessing book for young children. I originally wrote it while in high school, when I was 17 years old.

Amelia: What inspired you to write your book?
Karen: In regards to my book, A Bug and a Wish, as an elementary teacher, I wanted a way to introduce students to use powerful words to prevent teasing and bullying.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Karen: I like books for kids which teach a lesson.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Karen: Amazon is serving my book well. I do some author expos if the table is free or inexpensive.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Karen: Don’t wait to publish your book, and get started right away.

Amelia: Is there anything else you would to share to readers and other authors?
Karen: I love doing school visits where I read my book to the kids and do an anti-bullying activity. I live in Newtown, PA. I used my kids’ names as the two main characters in my book. I’m glad my book can empower kids.

Karen’s Social Media Sites:
www.SBPRAbooks.com/KarenScheuer
www.amazon.com/author/karenscheuer

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: H. CORINNE HEWITT

H. Corinne Hewitt (H. C. Hewitt author name) and I met online via an author’s group, and share a fondness of writing and cooking. Corinne is a quilter by day and an author by night. Welcome, Corinne and thank you for allowing me to interview you today!

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Corinne: Hello, I am a businesswoman, which I have owned my own quilt shop for almost twelve years now in the town of Hanna, Alberta. I have been married for thirty-one years and have four grown-up children and six grandchildren. I love to do many things, quilting, design quilt patterns, baking, fiddling, chalk painting, art quilts, junk journals, antique collecting, and best of all writing books. I have written five books, three novels, one cookbook, and one Bible study (which coincides with my first novel). All of my books are in The Abbington Pickets Series, beginning with “Jacob of Abbington Pickets”.

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Corinne: Letters from Jacob is the latest one, and is a continuation in the series of Abbington Pickets. The whole series is inspired by the Victorian historical village I grew up near, where my grandma worked at for eighteen years. I got to go there and tell people the history of the village and area just like she did. She even let me dress up, as she did. I loved that place so much I said I wanted to write a fiction book about it.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Corinne: I loved Anne of Green Gables as a teen and researched L. M. Montgomery, I was intrigued by her story. I loved Little Women, Little Men and Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott as well. And who doesn’t love Gone with the Wind? I can’t say any particular author made me decide to write a book, I always wanted to pen my story, and thought authors were the most famous and wonderful people in the world and I wanted to be one of them!

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Corinne: Right now, I am writing the fourth novel in the series, “Jacob’s Secret”, and after that I will be back at writing “Earnestly Waiting” which will be part of the series, with another character, named Ernest, from the second and third novels. Also, with my co-author, Karma Goodbrand, we will be doing another Bible study this year to coincide with my second book, Jacob’s Place.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Corinne: I do have all my books available online, such as Amazon, Chapters, Barnes and Noble and my website, but the best way I sell them is through my quilt store. I designed quilt patterns that relate to my novels and that helps with selling the book as well.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Corinne: Just start and don’t’ stop until you’re done your first draft. Don’t ever give up! I was there once and I remember how I knew nothing. In a hurry you learn a lot! Persistence is key.

Bio: H. C. Hewitt grew up on a farm in southeastern Saskatchewan, where she developed a deep appreciation for the rural prairie landscape and the people who live there. She has been passionate about reading and writing from an early age and always knew that she would someday write a historical romance. Her grandmother’s extensive knowledge of Saskatchewan history and her grandfather’s collection of antiques sparked an enduring love of history, especially of the era in which her story unfolds. Her story’s setting, in the series of Abbington Pickets, was inspired by a historic park near where she grew up, founded in 1882 by an Englishman who set out to create a Victorian village in Canada. H. C. Hewitt’s other passion is quilting; she owns and operates a quilt shop, where she designs and makes quilt patterns. Her four children have grown up and moved away, giving her more time for writing and quilting. She also has six grandchildren and loves to spend time with them. H. C. Hewitt lives in rural eastern central Alberta with her husband, dog, two cats, and nine miniature donkeys.

Corinne’s Social Media Sites:
www.hchewittauthor.com
@hchewittauthor for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: DONNA L MARTIN

Donna L Martin is the author of 10 books and she has more books coming soon. I had the pleasure of meeting Donna through an online author’s group and we quickly found that we had a lot in common. We both enjoy reading and writing in different genres, and the mascot in her HISTORY’S MYSTERIES book series is named Amelia Earmouse. What a lovely name for a mascot! Thank you Donna, for taking the time to allow me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Donna: I have been writing for over 45 years, but professionally for only 10 years. When I’m not running my martial arts school, I’m writing books in a number of genres, including inspirational, picture books, historical fiction chapter books, and young adult fantasy. The last ten years have been good to me. I have ten books published as of 2020. I have three more books scheduled to be released throughout 2021.

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Donna: My latest book, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Hunting Gris-Gris, was released March 2020. It was inspired by my love of both uncovering little known historical events and encouraging children to explore the past.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Donna: I have an extremely eclectic taste in reading. My reading list includes everything from Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter series, all the way to nonfiction like books exploring the assassination of President Lincoln. I read Reader’s Digest to stay up to date with a variety of topics and read over 200 picture books and chapter books every summer to gage the latest industry trends. A great story that touches me can come from any genre, so I enjoy them all.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Donna: I’ve almost completed the research for book four of my HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: President Lincoln’s Balloons. It will take place during the Civil War and allows me to introduce my readers to the men who helped the North win the war from high in the sky. It’s scheduled to be released by Story Catcher Publishing by the summer of 2021.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Donna: I do everything from author visits, Facebook promos, bookmarks, postcards, Instagram advertising, library visits, emails, newsletters, and school visits. They all are good methods for me, depending on the particular readers I’m trying to reach…sometimes librarians, bookstores, teachers, children, parents, etc.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Donna: Have a plan. Fine-tune your goals. Write the strongest story you can and then build the best network you can to give you feedback on how to make that story even stronger. Research your genre so you know exactly what the world expects from your story. Know your publishing options and don’t skimp on your cover. Attend as many physical or online workshops as you can and never stop learning how to improve your storytelling skills.

Bio: Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Donna’s Social Media Sites:
Website: www.storycatcherpublishing.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays
Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/donnalmartin

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: ANN HARRISON

Ann Harrison is the author of four books, including The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at Heart, Maggie’s Gravy Train Adventure, Inner Vision, and A Journey of Faith: A Stepping Stones Mystery, which is currently under revision. Thank you Ann, for taking the time to allow me to interview you today.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Ann: I am an author, a freelance writer and I run a podcast called Inspirational Journeys. When I’m not writing or podcasting, I love to sit out on my front porch and listen to my wind chimes while brainstorming. I’ve written several books, but four of them are currently published. Three of which I’m promoting, and one I’m rewriting. 

Amelia: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ann: My latest book is entitled The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at Heart and can be purchased at the following link:
https://books2read.com/TheSpiritOfCreativity. A friend inspired me to start focusing on my poetry writing through prompts she shared on her podcast. However, the Holy Spirit gave me many of my poems, while a few poems here and there, were inspired by other writing prompts. Most of my poetry comes to me when I’m sitting out on my front porch.

Amelia: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ann: Jen Lowry, Terri Blackstock, Karen Kingsbury, Janette Oke, and so many throughout my life.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Ann: As I mentioned above, I’m rewriting my novel entitled A Journey of Faith: A Stepping Stones Mystery. I thought I only had four books in this series, but it’s bigger than I could have ever imagined.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote your books?
Ann: To be honest, I’m still working on that one. I put my links up on social media when people in the writing community ask for them, or as pieces in specific threads or using the hashtag #ShamelessSelfPromotion in certain Facebook groups. I have also put the latest one on a couple of promotion websites. However, for the most part, I talk about my process on my podcast.

Amelia: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ann: Listen to the experts, but be mindful of what works for you. The writing process isn’t a one size fits all approach and each person’s process is different.

Amelia: Do you have an author website, or other social media links?
Ann: My website and social media links are as follows:
My website: https://annwritesinspiration.com
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/annwritesinspiration
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/annwritesinspiration
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annwrites75
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/annsmusic1
My podcast: https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys

Bio: In addition to writing four books, she has also been published in several anthologies and she contributed to a devotional entitled God Things: Hope for the Hurting, alongside Jen Lowry and fifteen other authors. Aside from her work as a Christian fiction author, Ann is a professional freelance writer. She also hosts the Inspirational Journeys Podcast, where she gives authors, creative artists and entrepreneurs a platform to share their stories. When she’s not interviewing special guests, she hosts solo episodes providing book reviews, reading selected poems, and sharing tips and encouragement for aspiring authors.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: ELLWYN AUTUMN

In 2018, I had the pleasure of meeting Ellwyn Autumn at a local Author Expo. We quickly shared our marketing ideas as we discussed our love of writing and self-publishing books. In 2019, we worked together, offering storytime readings in our local community. Thank you, Ellwyn for taking the time for this author interview.

Amelia: Tell us about yourself and how many books you’ve written.
Ellwyn: I’m a former Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten teacher. I taught for twenty years, 17 of them were with The School District of Philadelphia. Nowadays, I write children’s books, blog, and write book reviews on Lemon Drop Literary.

Amelia: What is your latest book and what inspired it?
Ellwyn: My most recently published book is a children’s book called Teddy Bear Tea.

Amelia: What authors or books have influenced you?
Ellwyn: J.K Rowling is my all-time favorite author. Her Harry Potter Series will forever be my number one series to read. The worldbuilding and character development in the stories are superb. But what I enjoy most about her books is the way she writes. Her word choices and descriptions are genius! Another favorite author of mine is Jan Brett. Her picture book illustrations are phenomenal.

Amelia: What are you working on now?
Ellwyn: I’m reviewing books on Lemon Drop Literary and writing a story about a wizard who works in a hospital. I don’t have a title yet.

Amelia: What is your best method to promote books?
Ellwyn: To be honest, I’m still figuring this out. I find marketing and promotion quite tricky. From what I’ve learned, an email list is one of the best ways to spread the word about your work.

Amelia: What advice do you have for new authors?
Ellwyn: Read, write, repeat! After that, join a writer’s group and be open to an honest critique. If you’re serious about developing your craft, you must listen and follow through with people’s suggestions for improvement. Write what you know, and what you’re passionate about.

Social Media:
Website: https://www.ellwynautumn.com/
Blog: https://lemondropliterary.blogspot.com/

Bio: 
Ellwyn Autumn is an American author/blogger/ghostwriter and a certified teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education. She writes children’s picture books, middle-grade novels, and Young Adult fiction.
Ellwyn’s first self-published novel, Chris Kringle’s Cops The First Mission, was a Finalist in the 2016 Reader’s Favorite International Book Contest. Her Kamyla Chung picture book series addresses difficult issues facing young children. Kamyla Chung and the Classroom Bully is on Jedlie’s Certified Great Reads List and earned Story Monster Approval.

Ellwyn discovered her passion for writing in second grade when she had to write a book report for school. She was so excited to write the report, until her mother told her that she had to write about someone else’s book and not her own story. Ellwyn became indignant and decided that once she finished the book report she would most certainly write her own original story. She has been writing ever since!

Ellwyn lives with her family in Pennsylvania. She loves all things magical, curling up with a good book, writing stories, and almost anything with chocolate in it.

Click HERE to visit Ellwyn Autumn’s Amazon Author Page

Click HERE to visit Ellwyn Autumn’s Book Shop Page