I am a wife and a mother of three.

24/02/2017

Author Interview With Anthony Thomas

Author Interview
With
Anthony Thomas




Hi Anthony, can you tell us a little about yourself 
and your work? 

I’ve been a doorman for the past twenty years and also work in security. I also run a paranormal team in my local town and run a few pages on Face book about my town’s history. I also have my own comedy channels called Valley Adventures with Bolt and Bass and the new Juggy and Shirl show.
 
Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

My first book was about the legendary bare knuckle fighter and bouncer from the East End of London named Lenny Mclean so being an ex-boxer myself and doorman the subject really interested me. I’ve just wrapped up a second book about Lenny with another Lenny fan Lee Wortley. That goes to print in September with Blake Publishing. I also finished my Paranormal book back last year but aint pushed for a publisher yet. I Jump back and fore book’s has the paranormal one I’ve worked on for ten years has it’s like a diary and I’m also working on a Roman book at the moment and contemplating writing my own bouncer-life story one has well. So I like to keep my brain active and just work on whatever book I feel is right at the time but the last year we have been flat out in finishing the second Lenny Book which has 100k word’s. 


 What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? 

Leaving school with no qualifications and having no skill’s in writing book’s and then year’s later after someone showed me how to make a word document on computer I was then surprised at how easy it was. I then started writing my bouncer stories down and then a mate of mine had a book deal and I thought well I can do this and then worked on my first book for a few years and then had a book deal after a few hours of sending an email. 

What is the first book that made you cry? 

I can’t remember any book ever making me cry although being this so called big hard bouncer I fill up at the littlest of thing’s and a few of the write up’s I’ve had off people regarding
 Lenny Mclean who passed away with cancer have brought tears to my eyes.
 
 What are common traps for aspiring writers? 

When you first finish your first book all you care about is getting it published and out there, but all I will say if your luckily enough to get a contract read it carefully, on my first book I signed away any film right’s and other stuff to do with my book and then a few years later was actually contacted by two film company’s interested in making a film but it was out of my hand’s. Another Merthyr Author Lynette Rees will tell you the same has she’s battled with one of her publisher’s for years to get her right’s back to one of her book’s which she recently has.


 
What has your experience been like as a indie author? Bruises, highlights, lessons. 

I’ve been lucky so far in that the subject I wrote about Lenny Mclean was quite famous so book company jumped at it has they had other books out on him. I know with my other book’s it’s going to be harder to find a publisher but hopefully get them out there one way or another.


 Does a big ego help or hurt writers? 

Most of the other authors I know are normal everyday people; I can’t be doing people with egos.
 
 What is your writing Kryptonite? 

 Face book most probably lol. I’ll have it planned in my head to do this many word’s and think to myself ill have a quick look on Face book and next thing you know the night’s gone and you put the writing off until the following day.

 Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? 

No, it’s never crossed my mind.
 
 If you could tell your younger writing self anything, 
what would it be? 

Just write down anything and save it in files, like I said I started off writing my bouncer stories down on A4 paper and had a file of all these stories, I’m going back 20 years and then when I finally had a computer I wrote them all out, I’m so glad I did now has reading back on them I would have never have remembered half of them, but I just wished id written more down of the last ten years down. 

 If you could spend the day with a character from one of your books who would it be and what would you? 

After writing 2 book’s on the late Lenny Mclean there is no other answer. My one regret in life I never met the man. I started his website which I have run a few months after he passed away 19 years ago and still run it to this day. What would we do? Well that would have been up to him but it would have been nice to have just sat down for a few hours with a cup of tea and a fag and listened to his stories. 

How many unpublished and half-finished books 
do you have have?


Like I’ve mentioned I have The Paranormal Quest finished which is a diary of my life the last ten years which I’m yet to publish. I’ve also been working on Roman Merthyr Tydfil for a few years which is about half finished. Then there’s the bouncer’s book I started years ago to update and that’s about half finished. I’ve also been asked by a few people to write their book’s so it’s just basically getting the time 

What’s the best way to market your books? 

Well if you get a good publisher that help’s but with the power of Face book these days there’s also the chance to Self publish but then it’s down to you to promote. My mate Andrew Jones does a lot of this self-publishing but the sales of his books are low which is a shame has he’s a talented man. 

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? 

To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever looked, but I do get nothing but good compliment’s about my first book The Guvnor – Through the eyes of others.
 
 Do you hide any secrets in your books that only
 a few people will find? 

Obviously when you’re writing stuff about yourself or other’s then there’s certain stuff you can’t mention for obvious reasons.
 
Do you Google yourself? 

No, I have so much stuff on the internet I Know I’m
 on there so no point.
 
 What is your favourite childhood book? 

Honestly off the top of my head I can’t think of reading any book’s growing up.
 
Does your family support your career as a writer? 

Yes my family has always got behind me.



 
 If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do? 

Obviously I would have studied English in school has even though I’m now a book author I still need someone to edit it lol
 
 How long on average does it take
 you to write a book? 

Like I’ve mentioned I’m never working on just one book, even now I got 2 book’s on the go which I started over 5 years ago. I suppose a bit different if I took someone’s life story on then probably a few months.
 
 Do you believe in writer’s block? 

Yes definitely, I think it’s to do with the mood you’re in, Take for example I wrote pages and pages and was on a roll on the Roman Merthyr book a few months ago and then something happened and I just stopped and I’m yet to start again, but something could get me going again and I could start next week and be flat out for months.

23/02/2017

AUTHOR CATCH UP INTERVIEW WITH ELLIE WILLIAMS

AUTHOR CATCH UP
INTERVIEW
WITH
ELLIE WILLIAMS




Hi, Danni, can you tell us a little about yourself and what you been up to since we last spoke on 19th March 2015?



I am Author Ellie Williams. Also known as Danni Ellie Williams, Indie Author Editor. I have 5 out of 15 books published which are a part of my book series the A Broken Paradise Series. I also have my short story published in the Love, Lust & Scary Monster Anthology – it’s called The Craze. And I part released a short of my Nissa Will Fall in the Tales from Wales Anthology. I hope to complete another book for my Series which is going to be called The Gathering. I am working on a short story chronicles which I’ve called Discover the Imaginarium – I have completed 7 of 10 Stories in this collection. I also hope to finish the collaboration I have done with my mam (Author S.M Williams) called The Reapers.





Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

I started off with Paranormal Romance. I’m a sucker for it lol. I started writing my book series when I was 13; it’s grown with me. I have ventured out – I have a horror, thriller, crime, courtroom drama and Erotica on the go as well. As far as balancing them I just wing it lol

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

How my mind works, how it adapts to certain situations and how much I myself learn from my characters as they develop. I have over 17 Characters I write POV’s for. Each one has to be different, each one unique. It really isn’t easy and anyone who tells you it is – is lying lol, and most of all these people are
 friends who class themselves as family, they clash from time to time, but they’re family. You have to watch them as you write them and their POV’s because one little thing can change everyone. It’s fun lol




What is the first book that made you cry?

Oh, bloody hell. Ummm, I think it was Spindler’s List. I was very young, and I wanted to watch the film, but my sister had the book, and she told me to read it first, so I did. I balled my eyes out, and never watched the film.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Self-doubt. Over the years, I’ve got to watch and know many new Authors, and they all have the same problem – Just as I did. Self-Doubt. Don’t ever doubt yourself and don’t ever let critics bring you down. Listen to what they say, take it in, learn from it and grow. Not everyone is going to like your work but remember your work reflects your mood and your determination so always be ready, excited and pleased to shit about your work. It will show in your books, and there’s nothing more amazing than experiencing the Author through their words.

What has your experience been like as an indie author? Bruises, highlights, lessons.

Bruises – I had a rocky few years after I first published. I think I’m still picking myself up. Getting out there and finding me some readers.

Highlights – Reviews. I must say there’s nothing more amazing when someone gets you, gets your work, gets what you’re trying to accomplish. Brilliant like.

Lessons – Don’t rush and don’t fold. I rushed a lot of my work to get it out there, and it wasn’t ready. I’ve revamped all my books now and made them bigger and better. Folding – Some people give up on their writing after bad feedback. Like I said above. Never doubt yourself, take critics on the chin, listen to what they say, take it in, learn from it and grow. Don’t fold.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

I see a lot of writers who become arrogant over time. I say be humble, be helpful, be caring. You were where your new Indie Authors are, remember what it was like for you. Being an Indie Author isn’t easy, it’s hard. I think these people who forget themselves hurt their careers and their reputations. Traffic to their sites and other social media links are the only thing that will help if they’re a-holes. A woman (who shall remain nameless) Posted something the other day about Indie Authors, bad things, nasty things. I can only imagine the traffic
 she brought to the site she published her post on. Not to mention her own personally media outlets. 
But I’d say her rep among many has been damaged. I guess many would ask “Was it worth it?”.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Facebook. Lol

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I do. Ellie isn’t my name. Although when I publish my children’s books, I’m actually thinking of using my real name. We’ll see when I finish them; I’m looking for an artist at the moment.

If you could tell your younger writer self anything, 
what would it be?

Patience. Finish your BA Honours, finish your Lvl 3 and then go backpacking lol

If you could spend the day with a character from one of your books who would it be and what would you do?

Sheriton from my ABP Series. And We’d totally go shopping then hit the beach. And then when we got back after sundown it would be party time on North La Peer Dr, West Hollywood at Factory nightclub lol

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

I haven’t really I’ve only ever bought a cover that was designed for one of my books lol

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

17 unfinished and half-finished lol

What’s the best way to market your books?

I dunno the best but I just plaster myself over as many 
media outlets as possible lol

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

Well, men think differently to women. I guess it’s easy to talk, but it’s hard not to sound like a woman while you’re doing it lol

What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult)

Young adult.

How do you select the names of your characters?

At random sometimes. I sometimes look at Origins; I like to know the origins of some names but also the meaning.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal 
with bad or good ones?

Thankfully I’ve not had a bad one yet. I love to read my reviews, helps me a lot. Feedback helps a lot. I love to hear what people think of my work.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a
 few people will find?

I think if anyone really knows me they’ll find me in all my books. Secrets not so much but experiences defiantly.

What was your hardest scene to write?

There’s been a few. I hate killing off characters. It’s horrible.

Do you Google yourself?

No, but I’m going to now …

Lol cool

What is your favourite childhood book?

Gotta be Roald Dahl books – but my fav … umm, Charlie and the cholate factory, Dirty Beasts, Matilda, The Gremlins, The Witches, Boy and James and the Giant Peach. And my second fav Author as a kid was Sue Townsend. I loved The Secret life of Adrian Mole Age 13 ¾, The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole. True confessions of Margaret Hilda Roberts age 14 ¼, The Great Celestial Cow & The woman who went to bed for a year.

Does your family support your career as a writer?

Yes, of course. They have always supported my love of writing. If anything they’re the ones trying to convince me to go further with my writing and make TV or Movies out of them lol




If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Same answer as I gave for the question about what I’d say to my younger self. I wished I’d finished my BA Honours and was more patient with my work.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Used to take me a week lol These days though I take my time. I’d say two months the most. That’s with two rounds of edits, proofreading and gutting and changing lol

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Hell yes. I suffered it for four years lol When it lifts though bloody hell does it feel good. It’s horrible. There’s nothing worse than having so much to say and no voice to say it.

03/02/2017

Author Nikki Ash 2017


AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
WITH 
NIKKI ASH


 Hi Nikki, can you tell us a little about yourself and your work?

My name is Nikki. By day I am an English and writing teacher, and a mom to two amazing kids. By night I am a reader and writer. I have written two novels: Fighting for a Second Chance which is out now, and Fighting With Faith, which will be available for preorder February 11th and releases February 22nd. They are both standalone novels in my Fighting series but it's recommended they be read in order.


Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

My novels are Second Chance fighter romance, one or more might be secret baby ;) It is honestly my all-time favorite genre to read. One day I was looking for a book with a certain story
 line in mind and when I felt like I have read them all,
 a friend suggested it would be fun to write it. So I did. 
And it was a lot of fun!


What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

The most surprise thing I learned when creating my books is how much work there is to the business side of it. The writing was fun. It happened naturally. But when it came time to "share" my work, I had no idea all it would entail.

What is the first book that made you cry?

Undefeated by Scott Hildreth. It was my first fighter romance 
and even after reading it dozens of times, every time I read it,
 I can't help but cry.


What has your experience been like as a indie author? Bruises, highlights, lessons.

The biggest lesson I have learned is to write for myself. People are going to love you and many are going to love to hate you. If you love what you do it will never feel like a "job". I love reading and writing, and I can't imagine my life without either one.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

I'm not really sure I would call it a big ego. I think confidence helps an author. The more you are sure of yourself the more others will be sure of you.


What is your writing Kryptonite?

My writing weakness is writing what I enjoy to read. I see so many authors write a variety of work and I am not sure I could do that. I guess only time will tell.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Technically I do ;)


If you could tell your younger writing self anything, 
what would it be?

I just started writing and I like to think I'm still young! Hehe! Umm... I want to say I would tell my younger self to just write. I spent so many years reading and never even thought to write. However, I believe everything happens for a reason, and I think I started writing when I was ready to.


If you could spend the day with a character from one of your books who would it be and what would you?

Geez! I have not written two books and my issue is the character I would want to spend the day with would be Ashley. She's not heavily in the first two books but will be in the fourth book. She is a single mom and so damn strong. She puts her son first. I actually hate that I have to wait so long to write her story.


How many unpublished and half-finished 
books do you have?

None. I am a little OCD. I can only read one book at a time and I can only write one book at a time.

What’s the best way to market your books?

No idea... LOL I am still learning. Blogs are freaking amazing. I think them sharing my books has helped tremendously to get the word out. After that, It's the reader's word of mouth. I know as a reader when I love a book I want to tell everyone I know, and some of my readers are really awesome and do the same.


What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters
 from the opposite sex?

That's so funny because I actually relate more to the male characters than the females characters. I suck at relationships and being nurturing. :(


What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult)

My novels begin at 18 but less to 25-30 years old.

How do you select the names of your characters?

Honestly, they all just came to me, except one. I don't want to give away anything in Fighting With Faith but one of the names is my daughter's middle name.


Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with
 bad or good ones?

I did at first but when I felt like I didn't want to continue to write because of the negative ones I decided not to anymore. However, I feel the good ones and ones that offer feedback and not just negativity deserve to be read so my best friend reads them and sends me the ones she feels I should see.


Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a 
few people will find?

Yes :)

What was your hardest scene to write?

The epilogues. Epilogues are my favorite part of the book when I read and I feel like I never do them justice. I'm no longer so hard on other author's!

Do you Google yourself?

No

What is your favorite childhood book?

As a little kid: The Giving Tree
As a teenager: The Giver

Does your family support your career as a writer?

Yes! Absolutely! My family has been so supportive every
 step of the way. They are truly amazing.

 If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Nothing. I don't look at the past, ever. I live with no regrets.

 How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Well I've only written two... my first one I wrote in less than 2 weeks! It was kind of crazy. It's just all came out. The second book took a little longer. The characters continue and I had to make sure it all made sense. It took about a month to write. I haven't started the third book yet.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I believe you have to be in the mood. For me, it just needs to come to me. I know several authors who write every day and I think that's awesome but I can't do it. I have to be in the mood to read or write.