Tag: author interviews

Interview with Author Stu Strummasser 

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1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I have been writing–both songs and stories–my entire life.  I wrote my first song at six years old.  I still remember it.  I studied writing at Cornell and started my first novel, A Metal Sky, in my senior year there.  I think a writer simply needs to write.  It doesn’t stop.

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

Like 86% of other Americans, I am sick of a dysfunctional government and the two-party duopoly that enriches its members while doing little for the public.  I was daydreaming about what it might take to finally, one day upend that entrenched system and it occurred to me that it would need to be an accident.  It requires a regular person–like a modern Rosa Parks–to capture and articulate our collective frustration, and perhaps turn it into action.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

The opening line is “Ordinary people often do extraordinary things.”  That’s true.  And sometimes, people not much different than any of us, do something that they were told is impossible.  Change is not just possible, but inevitable.  So are big changes.

4) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

What a cool question!  I love that.  Vonnegut used to insert himself as a character into some of his books.  I would want to talk to John Campbell.  There’s this movie “Yesterday” about an alternate reality (as is the case with my book, “A Real Collusion”) and the main character goes to see John Lennon (one of my heroes) and I almost can’t watch it without crying.  I would want to ask John, “What next?”

5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

None.  I am just getting started.  @stuthemeddler on Tik Tok, Insta and Youtube.  WIP.

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

The answer to this is immediate and easy, but putting it into action is nearly impossible:  Think about the most embarrassing or difficult parts of the human experience, for you, and talk about that, but give it to us with as much honesty as you can muster.

7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Yes.  I think I have found a groove in writing novels that are literary, about characters with real depth and range of emotions, but with an underlying sociopolitical theme or mission.  I want to rake a little muck and help a few folks.  My next book will be called, “Divorce Lawyer Vampires.”  They usually take me about five years.  I still have a day job.

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About the Author

Stu Strumwasser studied in the creative writing program at Cornell University and then pursued dual careers as a writer and investment professional. His first novel, The Organ Broker, was published by Skyhorse (distributed by Simon & Schuster) in May of 2015 and short-listed as one of five finalists for the Hammett Prize for literary excellence in crime writing. Lee Child (NY Times #1 bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series) hailed it as, “Exciting and thought-provoking–the perfect package.”

His band Channeling Owen, for which Strumwasser was the primary songwriter and drummer, was featured on hundreds of college radio stations in the late 1990s and an episode of Dawson’s Creek when it was the number one television show in the world. The band was also featured alongside Blink-182 in a lengthy article in Forbes magazine in 1999 about how the internet was leveling the playing field in the music industry.

Strumwasser is also the Founder & Managing Director of Green Circle Capital, a specialized merchant bank focused on advising food brands and investing in food-related technology. Prior to launching Green Circle, from 1990-2005, Strumwasser worked at major Wall Street firms (including Paine Webber and Oppenheimer & Co.). In 2006 he left finance temporarily and founded Snow Beverages to make a natural soda. He served as the company’s CEO for six years.

Leading up to the 2000 Presidential election, Strumwasser, who has been concerned with broken government for thirty years, consulted on fundraising for the Committee for a Unified Independent Party. He is an articulate and passionate speaker and has been interviewed on the WPIX NY morning news, “The Closing Bell” on Fox News, for the cover page of the money section of the NY Daily News, a six-page article in Forbes ASAP, Crain’s NY, Timeout NY Kids (with his twins) and more. Strumwasser has also been mentioned or quoted in the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NY Post, Dow Jones, and been a speaker at NY Entrepreneur Week, Baruch, Columbia, Pace, NYU, and many more.

https://stustrumwasser.com/

http://www.realcollusion.com

Interview with Author Sherry Brantley 

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1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I fell in love with the written word, ever since I was introduced to Dr. Seuss! His books were so imaginative, and colorful with great illustrations and characters that I knew in grade school I would be a writer. I wrote poems and short stories starting in grade school and have been writing ever since. 

2) What inspired you to write your book?

Actually, the book was drawn from my own life. I was the one that got the late night call that my mother had passed away even though she hadn’t even been sick. The antics that ensued afterwards were so unbelievable that I thought: You’ve gotta book on your hands with this craziness! Haha!  I also have a fun activity for readers and book club members for them to guess which parts are actually fictional! It’s so much fun when folks find out the truths behind the characters and the writing.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

First, that we, as individuals, understand that we CAN choose peace-no matter what the situation. That doesn’t mean we allow others to get away with treating us horribly, but that we make them aware that we won’t stand for that, and that unfortunately, that MAY mean getting to the same place they’re insisting on bringing to us, but ultimately, WE don’t have to Stay there with them, and we can gracefully choose to move on. That is why you see my characters all do some self-reflection throughout the series, to make themselves aware of the positions they’re in and own up to their own responsibility and accountability. 

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I actually write in several genres’ but fictional is my genre of choice, because you can make the story and characters go where ever you like. But I also have a Parenting book titled ‘Seven Successful Strategies for Divorced Parents,’ which was culled from my time of being a parenting instructor through a program called ‘Building Strong Families,’ at Michigan State University. In addition I have a Poetry book titled ‘All Kinds of Poems for All Kinds of People,’  a Self-help book titled: ‘Choices-The Power is Within You,’ and a Self-Empowerment book titled: S.T.E.P.P. which stands for: Start to Exercise Personal Power. In Addition to those, I also wrote the ‘From Brilliant Bitch to Dynamic Diva’ series of books under a pseudonym- Sady Belafontay.  I love writing about all kinds of topics and all of my books are available at Amazon.

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

Well, since these characters are from my life, I think I would LOVE to ask my readers THAT question. Haha! But since the character that is not one of the Fabulous Five group, I would like to have a conversation with Shauna regarding what she’d experienced and how it shaped her moral character. 

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Although my books were all written some time ago, I was busy with ‘life’ and wasn’t properly prepared to market my books, or make the connections needed to develop a readership base, but as I approach retirement this April, I decided to start completely over from scratch to manifest and create the life-long visualization of being a well-known, well read author.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Now that I have time to really focus on marketing-which is just as important on the writing itself, I would encourage aspiring or people that are thinking of becoming a published author, to REALLY take advantage of all of the modern tools, resources, and technologies at their fingertips that we have today. When I started, there was no internet, Facebook, Youtube or Twitter. It was grueling trying to connect with local bookstores as a local author, but even with that being said, I managed to get my First book-Choices- The Power is Within You,’ into the Barnes-N-Noble bookstore chain which was a major feat in itself as it was the largest book retailer in the United States at that time. And even THAT experience was highlighted in sessions I do with my readers today as it was quite interesting-to sat the least. Haha!

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Why of course! Right now, I’m working on a fictional novel titled ‘Greyhound Dawgs.’ It has 5 lead characters like my Best of Friends trilogy, but this one revolves around 5 male characters and covers their exploits after retiring from a military black-ops, regime. But for now, my goal is to market the books I currently have on Amazon and to build a great readership fan base for those at this time. 

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If you’re aware of any book clubs that would like to have a virtual ‘Meet and Greet’ with the author, please share their contact information with me, or share my information with them. I’m targeting Book Club members because as you know, they are ALREADY reading & recommending great books! 

https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsLearned-h5q?sub_confirmation=1

www.sherrybrantley.com

Interview with Author H.C. Turk 

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1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I began writing because I enjoyed it and found I was good at it. The fact that major publishers agreed is scarcely pertinent. In the end, I do this better than anything else, and it’s easy. It’s easy to give utter effort to writing day after day, year after year, because that is how magic is made, not by casting spells or incanting charms.

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

I wanted to write a novel that is warmer in the emotions the characters experience than is my norm. That entails developing settings and scenes less intense than my usual, but no less involving. 

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

“Pay forward” is a profound idea. If you’re a witch, you can extend the substance of your spirit centuries ahead to find a subject worthy of your suicide.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

See #2. Above and beyond that, the genre is literary fiction, the only type of writing I know, even when working on a kids’ book.

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5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

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I would ask Connie if she thinks she’s a brat, because a lot of people feel that way about her, including the murderous jungle denizens who keep her alive. If I asked her that, however, it would make her cry; and I would hold her hand and say that things are just fine, because she may be a brat, but absolutely she is a hero. Then she would cry again, but she would be smiling now.

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

The answer is none. I hate social media, and they hate me. If it weren’t made of pixels, I would like to burn SocialMedia down to the ground.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

First, read more. More than that. Read books and plays and poetry that are unfamiliar to you. Then, ask yourself why you want to be a writer. Because you want to do something pretty much like the last something you read? Because you can add to the world of expression and understanding? Because you grasp that the word “literature” wasn’t coined by authors who have created the most vital and valuable writings of their eras, but by their admirers? Because you wanna make a buck? The most important thing I can say is this: If you are truly a writer, you were born a writer. It has nothing to do with publishing.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I’m working on a series of children’s picture books starting with COLORBLIND DOGS: a kids’ book that kids would buy for their parents.

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About the Author

H. C. Turk is a writer, sound artist, and visual artist. His novels have been published by Villard and Tor. His short fiction, sound pieces, movies, and visual art have appeared in numerous magazines, web-sites, podcasts, and film festivals. He used to paint houses (not as an art form.)

Interview with Author Alan Warren

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Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

  •  After being interviewed on the radio alongside several crime reporters, a few magazines took notice — and that unexpected exposure marked the beginning of my writing journey. About a year later, Toronto publisher RJ Parker approached me with an opportunity to contribute four titles to a 22-book short-read series. One of those books became a hit, and I haven’t stopped writing since.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?

  • I’ve always been a history enthusiast, and my writing tends to focus on specific places and time periods. With Peace, Love, & Murder, that meant immersing myself in the mid-to-late 1960s — a cultural moment unlike any other. Charles Manson’s crimes didn’t happen in a vacuum; they were deeply tied to the atmosphere, attitudes, and social upheaval of that era. To tell the story honestly, the book had to explore the culture and daily life of that time and place, because the setting was as much a part of the story as the people themselves.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

  • There wasn’t an intentional message when I started the book, but one emerged naturally as I wrote. History, especially within our culture, has a way of repeating itself. During my research, I was struck by how many of the social issues people were protesting and debating in the 1960s are still at the center of conversations today. The parallels were impossible to ignore, and that realization quietly shaped the tone of the story.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

  • I tend to immerse myself deeply in the history of a particular place and time, and often a murder or major event rises to the surface — something that left a lasting mark on society and is still felt today. The true crime element isn’t something I force; it’s simply part of the human story, a reflection of what people do and how those actions echo through history.

5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

  • I am not sure if there is one in particular, as they all seem to capture a different audience. So, books that I have written on cults or conspiracies, such as the JFK Assassination, do really well on YouTube or X, while True Crime or History have a better following on Instagram or Facebook. 

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

  • Avoid as much of the noise out there as you can. Today is especially worse than years ago because of social media. There’s always somebody watching you, or so it seems. There will end up being so many comments made about you or what you’re trying to do, and if you get caught up in the noise, it’ll take you off the track and your goals. 
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About the Author

Alan R. Warren is a Canadian bestselling true crime author, producer, and lead host of the internationally syndicated radio show and podcast House of Mystery. The show airs across North America on multiple stations, including Los Angeles, Riverside, Palm Springs, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma, and Phoenix, reaching a wide audience of mystery and true crime listeners.

A respected authority in true crime nonfiction, Warren has authored 38 books covering serial killers, cults, human trafficking, history, and memoir. His work is published by major true crime publishers including RJ Parker/Vronksy Publishing (Canada) and WildBlue Press (USA). He has been a contributor to True Case Files Magazine since 2013 and continues to write for Serial Killer Magazine.

Warren’s bestselling titles have been featured on major television networks, including CNN, Oxygen, Reelz, Vice TV, and Sundance Channel documentaries. Notable works include Beyond Suspicion: The True Story of Colonel Russell Williams, The Killing Game: Serial Killer Rodney Alcala, and Doomsday Cults: The Devil’s Hostages. In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Writing from Reader’s House in London, UK.

Alan R. Warren is frequently sought out by media outlets for expert commentary on true crime cases, serial killers, cult behavior, and criminal psychology.

Interview with Author Cory V. McCray 

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1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?


I’m a proud son of Baltimore, an electrician by trade, and now serve in the Maryland State Senate representing the 45th District. My journey started with an apprenticeship — it gave me not just a career, but a path to stability, leadership, and service. Writing wasn’t my first language; I was used to working with my hands. But over time, through op-eds, speeches, and listening to the stories in my community, I realized writing was another way to build — not with wire or tools, but with words that could help shape futures.

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2) What inspired you to write your book?


The book grew out of a simple truth: apprenticeships saved my life. I wanted to create a guidebook that would demystify the process for parents, students, and mentors — to show them that the trades aren’t a fallback, they’re a way forward. I’ve seen too many young people miss opportunities because they didn’t have access or exposure. This book is my way of pulling back the curtain and saying, “Here’s how you can get there.”

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?


That second chances are real, and pathways to the middle class come in many forms. Apprenticeships are the other four-year degree. I want readers — whether they’re young people figuring out their path, parents trying to guide their kids, or counselors advising students — to walk away knowing that opportunity is closer than they think, and that hard work plus access can change everything.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?


Memoir with a “how-to” spine felt like the right fit. I wanted to tell my story honestly — the good and the challenges — but also leave readers with practical steps they can act on. It’s not just about my journey, it’s about creating a blueprint others can use.

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5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?


Instagram has been powerful — it allows me to share visual moments, connect with young people, and engage directly with readers who may not follow traditional political spaces. But I also lean on LinkedIn, because so much of this conversation is about workforce development, policy, and leadership, and that’s where those communities live.

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?


Stay true to your voice. Writing can feel intimidating, especially if it’s not your first craft, but authenticity is what resonates. Be disciplined about putting words down — even if it’s just a page at a time — and surround yourself with people who will push you to finish. Most importantly, write the book you wish you had in your hands years ago.

7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?


Right now, I’m focused on bringing The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life into as many classrooms, libraries, and communities as possible. But I also see this book as just the beginning of a larger conversation.

On a personal level, I’ve got a 10- and 11-year-old in the house — both boys — and time is flying. Writing this book gave me space to reflect on the disciplines and lessons I’ve learned through life, and I want to make sure I pass them on early so they don’t fall into the same traps I did. With my wife, our focus is on raising our four children to be good human beings — the kind who contribute to making this world a better place.

So while I’m already thinking about ways to expand on this project — companion guides, lifting up more apprenticeship stories, and maybe another book down the road — my deepest priority is what’s happening inside my own home, and making sure my kids grow up with the tools, values, and exposure they need to thrive.

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About the Author

Cory V. McCray is a husband and father of four from Baltimore who believes deeply in second chances and creating pathways to opportunity. An electrician by trade, he now serves as a Maryland State Senator, representing Baltimore’s 45th Legislative District. Cory is the author of The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life, a guidebook and memoir that shows how apprenticeships are “the other four-year degree.”

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Interview with Author Roshana Ariel

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1)     Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I always enjoyed creative writing throughout school. I took a class in high school that helped nurture that little spark. My mother was an unofficial editor—as a medical librarian, she would edit doctors’ papers for medical journals. She would sometimes edit my school papers too, and they were always so much better when she touched them. That’s how I learned how powerful editing can be.

Later in life, I became an editor at daily newspapers in the Midwest, and in that role, I started writing a weekly column. That continued for many years.

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2)     What inspired you to write your book?

I wrote a Christmas column one year, in 2012, which became this book, “Merry Christmas, Cosmos.” I remember waking up over and over one night as another line of text came to me. It sort of wrote itself that night. I was inspired by the idea of evolution and some of the books that were coming out around that time—“Evolutionaries” by Carter Phipps was one.

3)     What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I would love for people to recognize that we’re all one big family on this planet, evolved from tiny creatures swimming about in primordial pools. And that Earth is our common home. I would love for the divisiveness in the world to decrease and the understanding of our shared heritage to grow.

4)     What drew you into this particular genre?

It grew out of the inspiration from the Christmas column I wrote. From that place, I just wanted to illustrate it. One of my favorite books is “Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One With the Universe,” by Yumi Sakugawa. It came out a year after my book. I love short books with a powerful message.

5)     What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Social media? I haven’t even posted my book yet on Facebook. But I will. I don’t do much social media-ing.

6)     What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Read your writing out loud; that helps a lot with hearing the rhythm in your writing. And go with your heart, and edit, edit, edit until it feels just right.

7)     What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Since I published this book, I wrote a song to go with it: “Merry Christmas, Cosmos (the song).” I’ve gone into the studio and recorded my parts and have spent many hours tweaking it for release. It should be uploaded to streaming services any day now.

And I do have a book on the horizon, tentatively named “Your Big Self.” I hope to bring clarity to what people mean when they talk about a true self, higher self, unique self, local self, etc. It will probably be in the same kind of picture-book style.

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About the Author

Roshana Ariel is a writer, editor, and musician who weaves wonder into everyday life. She’s the author of “Merry Christmas, Cosmos,” a holiday book for families that blends science, sacred storytelling, and a sense of belonging in the cosmos.

Her life’s path has taken her from playing in bands and as a solo performer across the United States, to working as a radio announcer, and eventually to journalism, where she worked her way up to managing editor at a daily newspaper.

Now living in North Carolina, she performs regularly at her local Unity fellowship and creates memes, meditations, and music that celebrate conscious living and our shared origins in a vast, unfolding universe—all in service to Goodness, Truth, and Beauty.

https://roshanawrites.medium.com/

https://amzn.to/4r88pSR

Interview with Author Harper Carr

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1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

Writing feeds my soul. I started putting particular words to paper when I was a young teenager, thirteen or fourteen; in fact, I still have my original notebook. It’s filled with angsty poems describing my torturous world. “It’s a maze, it’s a haze, it’s a crazy place. It’s the world each day I have to face.” My teenage years were challenging. For example, my father, who was a lay minister, set me up to be arrested for hosting a pot party when I was fourteen. He’d heard some kids talking about it at church. I was trying to get to know the boy I liked—who was the reason for the gathering—when police suddenly appeared, blocking my bedroom window and doorway. We were all drive down to the station in separate vehicles. I had to attend court and was sentenced to two years probation. It was a little like Footloose in rural Canada without Kevin Bacon) and it didn’t end well. Parents, do not do this to your children.

Later, I wrote a piece called “Bad Girl: Legacy of the Father-Daughter War.” I was never able to rectify that relationship, which is a shame. I think that’s why I’m drawn to writing Young Adult fiction. I want my characters to overcome their challenges and get their happy ending.

2) What inspired you to write your book?

In 2013-2014, I took a year leave from teaching high school English to work for the Canadian Coast Guard as a relief lighthouse keeper. I learned much about the rigors of lighthouse keeping from the principal keepers at various locations around Vancouver Island. I also heard stories of hauntings and experienced some strange incidents myself. 

At times in my life, I’ve seen and felt the presence of spirits in my bedroom. Often, I’d wake up and feel that someone was staring at me. I’d reach out and flick on the light to find no one there. One Christmas Eve, I awoke to see a shadowy presence standing at the foot of my bed. And at one lighthouse where I worked I felt the spiritual presence of a lightkeeper who’d passed on. He wasn’t happy about me being in his house and wanted me gone as much as I wanted to be gone. 

The Shadow Man combines family trauma with my lighthouse experiences and my interest in psychic phenomena and mediumship. Here’s the back cover blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Gracelyn Lassiter has been hiding in her aunt’s house for four years—since her mother plunged from the cliffs at Feroz Lighthouse, leaving her without her home, her best friend, or answers.

Now her father’s burned to death in his sailboat and left a confession: “Your mother didn’t jump, I pushed her.”

The trauma triggers Gracelyn’s ability to see spirits so real she can’t tell who’s human and who’s a ghost—except for the gray-veiled Shadow Man who begs her to return to Feroz Island and find her mother’s journal.

When her cruel cousin posts the confession on the Internet, Feroz seems like a safe place to escape. And if Gracelyn can see ghosts, she can conjure her mother’s spirit and hear the truth from her own lips.

But her lighthouse haven is crawling withs spirits, secrets, and lies—and the closer Gracelyn gets to the truth, the more she realizes the dead aren’t the only ones who want to keep the past in the past.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

When Gracelyn returns to Feroz Island, the old lighthouse keeper says, “Home is a place you love, where you know you belong. A place you never want to leave, and if you do, your heart’s not quite right until you return.” This theme resonates with me and many people, I think. We leave home for various reasons but it feels like there’s always something missing. Maybe it’s the place. Maybe it’s the people. Maybe it’s just that feeling of knowing you truly belong.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I was an at-risk teen who ended up working with teens. A big part of me is still that rebellious kid searching for truth and belonging. I also love YA because it’s exciting and there’s plenty of freedom to move between genres, settings, and time frames. The Shadow Man is contemporary, but I’ve just completed The Rum Runs Red, which is set in 1920s British Columbia during American Prohibition. I enjoy exploring how teens “lose their innocence” as they encounter people and situations that push them to the edge. YA is messy just like life is messy. It’s a maze of voices and shadows coming from all directions, while there you are trying to listen to your heart and find your truth. 

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

Amos Moses is a secondary character but he plays a huge part because he’s Caleb’s uncle and Caleb is the young man Gracelyn loves. We know some things about Amos—he’s Indigenous, he’s a master carpenter, he’s absolutely caring—but I’d like to know more. I’d ask him about his spirituality and his relationship with … Oops, I can’t give that away. 

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6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

I have a TikTok presence but I really love Instagram. I seem to be there the most, watching videos and posting photos. It’s my happy place so I hope my readers find me there @harpers_books.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Read. Read. Read. Then, unfetter yourself and write. Write about your passions. Write about your fears. Write the book you’d like to read. (That’s how I wrote “The Man in Black” series. Write the best story you can, and then get other eyes on it. Not friends and family. Ask someone who will give you an honest opinion and don’t get defensive. I know it’s hard but when you’re learning it’s important to listen and learn your craft, and we only do that through experience.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

But of course. The Rum Runs Red will be my next YA release. I also write under another pen name, W. L. Hawkin. Next summer, I’m working with an Indigenous editor on a sequel to my romantic suspense novel, LURE. It’s called The Silent Girl. I’m very excited about that. 

With three books written and awaiting publication, I find myself staring at a blank page. It’s a delicious feeling. Ideas are arising and I’m listening to my muses to see what develops. I love this time.

Thank you Anthony. Blessings. 

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About the Author

Harper Carr finds magic everywhere, so naturally it lands in her books. Her Man in Black series, combines genres—mystery/thriller, urban fantasy, sci-fi (time-travel), and historical fiction. The stories support the LGBTQ community, are edgy, and suit older teens (16+ and adults.)

The Shadow Man, her new YA paranormal mystery was a finalist in the Northwest Pacific Writers unpublished writing contest in fall 2024. Watch for the launch in February 2026. She’s also working on The Rum Runs Red, a YA historical novel set in the 1920’s Prohibition era near Victoria, B.C.

Harper writes reviews for books that affect her profoundly, but focuses on Teen books. You can find her reviews here and on Goodreads.

She loves to read aloud and would be happy to visit your school or local library. She enjoys presenting workshops about writing. Find descriptions here.

Harper finds inspiration in Nature. You’ll often finds her walking in woods or by water with her released therapy dog. 

http://bluehavenpress.com/

https://www.instagram.com/harpers_books

https://amzn.to/3YKRYi8

Interview with Author Michael Ede

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I am 68 years old now. I come from a family of 9 children, 7 boys and 2 girls. I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and lived there my entire life. I have been married to my wife Lynn for 36 years. We have two adult children, Michael and Shannon. We have 3 grandsons- 4 year old Jack and 3 year old identical twin boys, Parker and Henry. The children and grandsons are our world! I attended Catholic elementary and high schools and completed almost 2 years of college at Miami, Ohio, Kent State and Akron University. After various boring jobs I became an East Cleveland  firefighter at the age of 31. I spent my entire 26 year career in East Cleveland and retired at the age of 58. I got started in writing almost by accident. I never really had  a desire to write a book. After working in East Cleveland for a few years I decided that, because of all the unusual and outrageous events that seemed to occur on a regular basis, this story needed to be told. I felt like I was a decent writer so I decided to give it a go. I decided that the book would be a start to finish compilation of a career firefighter. I knew that the book would take years to write. Little did I know that writing a book was not so easy. I gained a new respect for authors. I now understand what writer’s block is. It took me over 20 years to get this book done! 

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

I think what inspired me most to write the book was the unique and unusual events that took place at the emergency scene as well as inside the engine house. The average Joe would never experience events like these. I remember a fellow firefighter remarking that “you can’t make this shit up” and “working in East Cleveland is like writing a book that writes itself”. That was so true! So I decided then to compile information. I wrote down as they occurred, unique and unusual fires, rescues, extreme emergency medical runs, as well as comedic instances, as there were many. As I gathered information I realized that it would make the most sense to make this a story of a new recruit firefighter and what he experiences over his entire career and finally into his retirement.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope that readers will gain an appreciation of what a firefighter goes through on a daily basis. The nights when they get no sleep and are called to fight multiple fires, wearing wet carcinogen laced, stinky gear, in the dead of Winter, and it takes a couple days for your body to recover. The call for an infant not breathing or choking on a foreign object. The shooting of a young man who is tossed to the sidewalk in broad daylight. The numerous horrific vehicle accidents and car fires where bodies are burnt up so bad that they are unrecognizable! The list goes on. I didn’t want the readers to think that I felt like all firefighters were heroes, because they are not. They need to earn the label of true hero. I just wanted people to see inside our world and gain an appreciation for what firefighters go through on a regular basis.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

 I was drawn into this genre because it was the perfect fit for me, being a career firefighter. I probably could have written a book on golf or painting houses, two things that I am quite familiar with, but who cares about that? Writing about firefighting seemed like a no brainer. Firefighting is hardly as simple as ” putting the wet stuff on the red stuff”. It is much more complex and strategic than most people think. I realized that most people don’t know much about what the life of a firefighter is all about. So I chose this genre because firefighting is both informative and extremely exciting at times. I knew that there is an audience out there for this type of book.

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5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

As far as social media promotion of my book goes, Facebook has helped sell the most books. Friends and familiy and Facebook posts/shares, have been the most helpful to me. I realize that social media marketing would really give the book sales a nice boost but I haven’t been very active on Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok. It takes a lot of followers to move the needle and I dont have the time or desire to try to gain followers. I know very little about how to promote a new book on social media.I may try to hire a freelance social media marketer to promote the book if I can find a reputable one who is fairly priced. If not I am OK to market the book here and there as opportunities arise. Regardless I am pretty much ecstatic to finish the manuscript and get the book published. I can now proudly check this one off my bucket list. It feels good to call myself an author.  

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

The best advice I can give to a young aspiring author is to never give up. If writing a book is what you want to do, then realize that it is not easy but anyone can do it. If you put your mind to it and persevere you will get it done. I am a prime example of that. There were many times during the course of writing this book that I put it on the back burner for months at a time. Sometimes I wanted to give up. But I always eventually got back to it. Realize that you will get writer’s block and when you do, just take a break and don’t get stressed out. Have fun with it and enjoy your creation. Read it over and over and continue to edit the manuscript. Hire a professional editor when you are finished. It will be money well spent. But most of all don’t give up if you truly believe in your story. The same goes for publishing the book. Don’t quit until you find the right publisher. There are many great helpful publishers out there just waiting to share your story. Don’t give up! 

7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I am most likely “one and done” as an author but you never know. I cannot rule out writing another book but it isn’t in my near future. I realize that writing a book is quite challenging, probably more so for people like me who kind of got into the role of author unexpectedly. I enjoyed writing my book but I really enjoyed it when it was finished and sent to the publisher. Then to see the covers and photos and book in print was quite amazing. I am proud to be a part of the group called “author”. It was not easy but I am extremely satisfied to hold the finished paperback in my hand and realize that I accomplished something pretty cool!

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About the Author

Author of the book, Working Fire in East Cleveland, lives in AKron Ohio with his wife, and has two adult children… one of them is a firefighter.

Working Fire in East Cleveland – new firefighter book

https://amzn.to/44uTpEI