1. What inspired me to write? I started writing about my cancer journey and it was so rewarding. My writing takes me on the most amazing journeys of discovery and recovery. 2. Am I a reader? I was an avid reader, however my cancer journey stole it away. My favourite authors were Stephen King, Colin Thiele, and Enid Blyton. 3. My newest work is the story of my 3G grandfather who was a convict transported to Tasmania. I’m also writing the history of the company my dad worked for and a history of shipbuilding in Tasmania. 4. Tips for indie authors? Write about what you’re passionate about. 5. What influences me? The importance of history
1) What inspired you to write? I went to a writing conference to support a buddy who wanted to be a writer and after a 4 days conference I figured ‘How hard could this be?’ and oh man, did I learn a lesson.
2) Are you a reader? What are some of your favorites? My favorite book of all time is Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. My favorite Thriller is Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy.
3) What is your newest work, and what is going to happen in the future? I am working on the second book in my Silver Coin Saga series titled The Animals. It is Wuxia (Woo-sha), basically Asian Fantasy with martial magic, Martial arts powered by magical energy and a heavy foundation in Chinese martial arts. Specifically, Xing Yi. This book is the second year at a school for martial magic fraught with intrigue and a sus history lesson the main character and his companions know is false.
4) Do you have advice or tips for Indie Authors? Make sure you understand story structure. Get My Story Can Beat Up Your Story and do the exercises at the end of every chapter.
5) What influenced you as a writer? David Eddings, David Weber, Robert Jordan, Tom Clancy
You can find Mark: – on Facebook at facebook.com/markwstallings – on the web at www.markstallings.com – on Patreon at patreon.com/markstallings – on Amazon at amazon.com/author/markstallings
What inspired you to write? – Tony and I have been writing for years (since we were kids.) We just have so many ideas and stories in our minds, we want to share them with the world.
Are you a reader? Whar are some of your favorites? – Yes! I love some of the old classics like Anne McCaffrey, Hickman & Weiss, and Stephen King honestly. But I also love dystopia. Margaret Atwood is a favorite.
What is your newest work, and what is going to happen in the future? Tony and I are working on the 2nd book in the World of Sanctum Series – Sanctum: Forests of Avalon. We have about half a dozen more chapters to write, then editing. We are aiming for a Winter 2021 release. After that? We already have Book Three mapped out!
Do you have any tips for Indie Authors? – Write. It doesn’t matter what it is. It doesn’t matter how many words. Writing is your craft, embrace it!
What influenced you as a writer? – How dated will I be if I say “Never Ending Story”, “Kull the Conqueror” and the original released box set of D&D? Seriously, I’m a gamer nerd gurl.
This is our book: Sanctum: Sands of Setesh – we have two awards for fantasy and we are really hoping that more folks will check it out to enjoy.
1. What inspired you to write? I had been helping friends start their own businesses for years offering advice as we went and issues arose. The back and forth was part of the fun, but I decided it would be far more useful to put the information in one place from the start. 2) Are you a reader? What are some of your favorites? I love to read! One of my favorite series is the Dresden Files, and I grew up reading HP, Tamora Pierce, and Brian Jacques. 3) What is your newest work, and what is going to happen in the future? My newest book is a business building journal for small business owners, with lots of information on things like setting up social media and websites, manifesting, pricing psychology, and more. 4) Do you have advice or tips for Indie Authors? Know how to market! That’s the biggest key to success. You may have an amazing book but without marketing there’s no way to have it seen. 5) What influenced you as a writer? I took a lot of feedback from fellow small business owners to help format my journal in ways they found most useful. It was so helpful having people guide me on how to help them better with my style of writing and organizing the information.
I bypassed kids books at school and went straight into adult adventure books and military history. Since then I wanted to write novels. It was deferred it until an enforced break from computer gaming, when the itch grew. I looked at seriously at it after I dinged 40. Then the learning process began.
2) Are you a reader? What are some of your favorites?
It depends on my mood. Old favourites are by Alastair Maclean, Black Company and Riyira. If I need a laugh I’d look at Sir Terry Pratchett.
Inspirational writers I’d look to are Michael Marshall Smith, Joe Abercrombie and recently Peter Maclean and Scott Lynch.
3) What is your newest work, and what is going to happen in the future?
My debut novel ‘The Tryphon Odyssey’ is available from Amazon, and is a nautical fantasy/adventure yarn. A further two books will follow in this trilogy, with plans for future trilogies and a couple of standalone novels. I’m currently working on Book two, which with one can be read as a standalone, with the final book wrapping the two together.
4) Do you have advice or tips for Indie Authors?
Patience. If I can do it, anyone can. The principal ‘but’ is you need to set time aside and work through the fun, the challenge and the frustrations. When time is the challenge, keep chipping away, the greatest source of stress will be yourself adding pressure.
5) What influenced you as a writer?
History, biographies and other fictional books. Worldbuilding the World of Sanctuary was a mix of Civilization & Warcraft gaming inspirations, with archaeological/historical references to keep it grounded as an evolution to ‘What if’. My novel is nautical fantasy in a medieval period, with a few twists due to environmental calamities. I’m hoping to explore other themes in later books.
Hi Samantha 1- what inspired me to write was to be a storyteller and create great characters that people remember long after they’ve finished the book. 2- I am a reader. I don’t read as much as I would like but some of my favorites are “weep no more my lady” by Mary Higgins Clark, almost anything by John grisham, and I also like to read classics – especially jane austen. 3- My newest work is Hush Now, Don’t Cry. It is book 2 in the Kathy Hamilton Mystery series. I am planning book 3 – No Good Deed – but its still in the writing phase. 4- My advice for Indie authors is keep going and stay positive. It’s really hard trying to establish yourself so I would say get some friends together and ask them to be your cheering section when you need an extra pickup. 5- what influenced me as an author was that I was looking at the mystery section in a bookstore one day and I noticed that some of the books were badly done. The story the author tried to tell wasn’t thought through. So I thought to myself, if they can publish a book then I can too.
1. What inspired you to write? Lifelong passion. 2) Are you a reader? What are some of your favorites? Revival by King and Anything Clive Barker 3) What is your newest work, and what is going to happen in the future? All my work is new, but guaranteed unique in their own ways. Nothing but good things in the future! 4) Do you have advice or tips for Indie Authors? Do whatever it takes to be seen and heard. A denial is just another reason to keep at it. 5) What influenced you as a writer? Stephen King, twice in my life. Each time, I felt the spark ignite.
1) I used to make up stories involving my stuffed toys. As I got older and saw the stories in movies and TV shows, I just had a desire to tell stories, too. 2) I am a reader, but not as much as I used to be. In my prime, I devoured Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, some Alastair Maclean, and of course Jules Verne. 3) My latest work is vol. 2 of The Nemo Chronicles, entitled “The Lone Captain.” In the future, I’m planning to complete vol. 3 as well as finish up a lite-scifi novella I began some years back. 4) No advice really. Just make your work the absolute best you can. 5) My influences were movies and TV more than writers, strangely enough: Star Wars, Star Trek, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mission: Impossible. I grew up in the TV generation, so that’s probably why.
1 To be honest I never set out to write a book. I was scribbling down the negative thoughts that were plaguing my life. One day I read through them and realised that they were a huge pivotal moment in my life. I combined them together and the words flowed… 2 I have to admit I’m not an avid reader. This made the whole process of trying to write my own piece of work even harder. 3 I’m working on a fictional prequel to Shane Sheba and Sky. This piece is proving emotionally draining. I intend on following the editing and self publishing route I previously went down. 4 Follow your heart and dreams. You are the one who has poured your soul into your work, no one else. Be in charge and remain true to your goals. 5 The truth is my passion for rescuing brutalised dogs, and mental health. I’m so thrilled that I opened up so honestly. I now find myself inundated with messages from other people going through the same.
1. My parents introduced me to books from a young age. I’ve been facinated by the worlds that stories can take me into. Ever since a child I wanted to write and create my own worlds.
2. An avid reader. My favorites – The Enchanted Wood and other books by Enid Blyton Harry Potter series Stephen King novels
There’s lots more…
3. I’ve published my debut novel Ixchel’s Secret. I’ve two stories in mind. I’m developing them now. I will be writing them soon.
4. Do not doubt yourself. Just take that first step. Only you can do it for yourself. Face boldly all that comes along. Accept critics. Improve if needed. Always be ready to learn new things.
5. My parents, my family, all the books me and my father would buy, the life of others around me, my life.
Samantha Evans--Author 