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Interview with M.A. Wardell, Author of Mistletoe & Mishigas

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Mistletoe & Mishigas?

I love holiday books and wanted to write an interfaith rom-com that relied sparingly on the holiday. They're more of a backdrop. I also wanted to feature two main characters who aren't often featured as the leads in rom-coms.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Yes! I adore queer rom-coms. Sadly, most are light on the spice. That's where I come in.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

AJ Truman's Hot Mall Santa and Max Walker's Curse of Scales and Flame.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Without spoiling anything, I'll say the nail painting scene. And the first spicy scene.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

My cat is often in my lap and I enjoy blasting loud music in my office, but not using headphones.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

You only live once.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

You are worthy of love.

M.A. Wardell is the author of the new book Mistletoe & Mishigas

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Interview with Marian McCarthy, Author of Murder and the Bookseller

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Murder and the Bookseller?

I'm fascinated by occult bookstores and also by writers in the fantasy genre. I also wanted to explore the presence of the Fae in my fictional small town.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Murder and the Bookseller, what would they be?

Perrie Spock, psychic mortician: "Spooky Litte Girl Like You"; Reg Woolaroc, Sheriff: "I Fought the Law and the Law Won"

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I like all genres, but ghost stories and paranormal mysteries are my favorites.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

"A Pipe for February" by Charles Red Corn, about the Osage murders in Oklahoma; "A Life on Fire" by Connie Cronley, a biography of Oklahoma reform activist Kate Barnard.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I liked writing the scene where Sheriff Reg gives Perrie a flower crown for the May Day festivities. It was fun showing the sensitive side of my stalwart sheriff, and having pragmatic Perrie be touched with emotion.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I write in sprints with classical music. Also, at times, I smudge my office with a candle to banish all the distractions.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Carpe diem. Seize the day and all it offers. It's the name of my self-publishing imprint.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Believe in magic, explore the mysteries of the natural world, open your heart to possibilities.

Marian McCarthy is the author of the new book Murder and the Bookseller

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Interview with Daryl Dittmer, Author of When I Stop Fighting

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write When I Stop Fighting?

I've lived an interesting and eventful life, complete with self-imposed problems, challenges, and the eventual solutions. My desire is to share my story so that I can help others through the challenges they face.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of When I Stop Fighting, what would they be?

Time by Pink Floyd

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Biographies & Memoirs.

Yes, I guess so.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Bhagavad Gita (again), Awareness is Evolution, Wizard: The Life and Times of Nicola Tesla.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

“Stay small” was what Jimmy used to say in those 12-Step meetings at the community center back in the late 1980s. Jimmy was a very slight, older black gentleman who was a little bent over when he walked. Jimmy didn’t speak often, but when he did, everyone listened. I think, at that time, he’d been sober for almost 40 years. To me and many of the young people trying to stay sober and reasonably sane early on, Jimmy was a bit of a deity. He would get up from the tables from time to time and refresh people’s coffee. Nobody did that but Jimmy. Incredibly selfless guy and he probably had more wisdom in his little finger than the rest of us idiots put together.

Jimmy used to say that if you want to stay sober, you must “stay small.” He was telling us that humility was a very basic building block of attaining wisdom and that if we wanted it, keep a cork in the pie hole and listen. At least that’s what I got out of it. Thank you, Jimmy.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I love to write before the sun rises, so about 4 AM is when I like to start. I sit in my writing space, light off, pajamas and robe on. Nothing better.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Once a wise man was asked, "What is the meaning of life?" He replied, "Life itself has no meaning. Life is an opportunity to create meaning" - Unknown

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That no matter where you begin, if you want your life to improve, and become better than you can currently imagine, you must start, and then not quit.

Daryl Dittmer is the author of the new book When I Stop Fighting: The Unexpected Joy of Getting My Head Out of My Ass

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Interview with Meg Kramer, Author of Amoura Awakened

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Amoura Awakened?

The seeds for this story were planted when I moved to San Francisco in 2004 to attend the University of San Francisco. I fell in love with the city where you could be anyone, love anyone, and find a community, no matter who you were. I fell in love with the architecture of the Victorian and Edwardian buildings; I remember learning the ornate facades of each home didn’t extend past the faces of each building—they were simply giant rectangles wearing gorgeously detailed masks. It made me imagine hidden worlds behind the walls, and I remember walking through my neighborhood and thinking that if magical creatures could coexist peacefully with humans, it would be in San Francisco. That was the world I wanted to exist in myself!

That idea marinated in me for several years until one day, while walking through the panhandle in Golden Gate Park, a snarky, fiery, big-haired teenage witch popped into my mind, fully formed. I knew what she looked like, what she sounded like. I knew her name and history but didn’t know WHY she was important. She told me to write her story, yet I was unsure at the time what that was, and that fact terrified me. I assumed it meant I wasn’t creative enough to write the story she wanted me to tell. And so, I shoved her away, ignoring her requests to start writing. Lucky for me, that little witch, Amoura Renly, was incredibly patient with me, and she hung out in my heart until 2020, when I finally decided it was time to set her free.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Amoura Awakened, what would they be?

"Truth" By Alex Ebert is the song I associate with Amoura’s journey in this book. It's a song about the shadow self and how we all have darkness within, and by embracing that darkness, we can find connection with others.

don’t have theme songs for other characters in the book, but “Heartstruck (Wild Hunger)" by Hamilton Leithauser and Angel Olsen inspired the dance scene between Amoura and Kjell at the Beltane Ball at the end of the book. I actually wrote the song into the scene because I love it so much and I listened to it countless times while writing the scene!

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

YA Fantasy is my bread and butter, but I also love a light beach read, a great mystery, or thriller. My daughter is eight-years-old, so I also read a ton of Middle Grade books.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

“Daughter of the Moon Goddess” by Sue Lynn Tan, “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros, and “The Fragile Threads of Power” by V.E. Schwab are my holiday season reading goals!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The Samhain party scene was my favorite to write! I loved imagining a teenage witch party and the traditions that would come with a secret event like this. Teasing out the romantic tension between Kjell and Amoura was super fun, and I LOVE the moment when Amoura decks Ingrid. It felt very satisfying to write.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

My son was six months old when I began writing “Amoura.” I don't have an office or dedicated workspace, so writing at home felt nearly impossible. My mother-in-law would come over and spend a few hours with my son, and I would go write in my car outside my local Barnes & Noble. I wrote the whole book in my car, and now I can't write anywhere else!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“There is no greater burden on a child than the unlived life of a parent.” Glennon Doyle. I read “Untamed” at the beginning of the pandemic and was deeply moved by this quote. At the time, I felt stuck in a career that made me desperately unhappy because it felt “legitimate” by societal standards. Deep down, I knew I wanted to write Amoura’s story. Still, I was too afraid to explore the idea because I didn’t believe myself to be an artist and was desperately afraid of disappointing everyone. My five-year-old daughter’s eyes were on me, though, and I had to ask myself what example I wanted to set for her; did I want her to see me stay in a career that made me unhappy because it was “safe,” or did I want her to see me choose my own happiness and chase a dream, even though it felt scary and unconventional? When I asked myself that, the answer seemed obvious, and I began shaping a new path for myself that led right to Amoura.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I hope readers walk away with an understanding that the parts of ourselves we fear the most can become our greatest gifts when we embrace and accept who we are. It’s the lesson I had to learn myself in order to write this story.

Meg Kramer is the author of the new book Amoura Awakened

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Interview with Shauna C. Murphy, Author of Animalia

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Animalia?

One night I dreamt of one of the opening scenes of the book, where Sunday sees Seraphim for the first time in the street. It was a vivid dream and I saw all the aspects of it, the colors, the sounds, and the perspectives of the characters. When I woke up, it was snowing, just like in my dream. I was delighted. All the roads were closed so I stayed in and wrote down my dream in this kind of whirl of inspiration. I felt I knew everything about the world of Animalia. I was so excited and could not stop, and the rest is history.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I’ll read anything with magical realism or fantasy. I also love alternate histories or retellings. I like to imagine how our world could be. My favorite stories connect lines between the miraculous and the mundane.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I really like the scene where Ori confesses who she truly is to Sunday. It’s still one of my favorite moments in the story. I also loved writing the Sorority of Exceptional Women, as well as writing the backstories with Viktor, how he makes a snowman for Sunday outside her window when she’s sick and can’t go outside, or the music box he gives her. These little details are my absolute favorite. I enjoy discovering how my characters relate to each other. It’s one of my favorite aspects of writing.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

My quirky creative habit is that I listen to a ton of instrumental and atmospheric music. It helps me stay present in the world I’ve created and especially during developmental editing or drafting, it falls into the background and helps me focus.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

It’s important to stay true to yourself. I feel thankful that I’ve been true to myself in writing Animalia. It’s important to go through life actively, creating your own wonderful life, instead of being passive or reactive.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I hope they know they are loved, and that they have agency in their life to be the hero of their own life story. My wish for them is that they carry hope in their hearts and feel a sense of wonder, freedom, and possibility.

Shauna C. Murphy is the author of the new book Animalia

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Interview with Joseph Tristan, Author of The Secret Gift

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Secret Gift?

Seeing the daily headlines and articles highlighting the crimes of hate, the prejudiced actions against people because of their race, religion, and even their political party affiliation. I shake my head and ask myself, what has happened to our great country? I sensed the necessity to pen a story that would immerse the reader in a period when individuals lived in harmony and embraced love, peace, and happiness within their world. “The Secret Gift” is a story that exemplifies the positive and good virtues of life.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Secret Gift, what would they be?

Adele- Angels among us- Alabama, Landon Heal the World- Michael Jackson.

Judy Kennedy, Alex Jon, Cathy Diroll, Benjamín Connor, Claudia, Kenny -Don't Stop Believing- Journey

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Crime and Mystery

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Song of the Fae ( 4 books) A Blind Eye, Big Lake Assault, and A Soldiers Wife.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The section titled Ireland, and then Scotland.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life, you will have been all of these.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

To have a love for life is expected, but to have an undying love for the people in your life is a gift.

Joseph Tristan is the author of the new book The Secret Gift

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Interview with Lee Mitchell, Author of The Divine Darkness

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Divine Darkness?

I drew inspiration from the growing divide and the demonization/deification we see so often now, particularly in politics, but also on personal fronts. I asked myself, "What would it look like if people really became those monsters?"

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Divine Darkness, what would they be?

Randy's song would probably be Madonna's "I'm a Sinner"; Alisha's would be Pink Floyd's "Us and Them."

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Psychological horror would definitely fit both of those categories.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson; Where All is Night, and Starless by John Linwood Grant, and Changing Everything by Jaime Johnesee are next on my list.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

It would have to be one of the scenes featuring vampire Kristen. She was great comic relief and served well to break up all of the dark and heavy horror.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I used to need music to write. Now, I usually prefer silence.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

This is probably going to sound corny, especially coming from a horror writer, but my philosophy is love everyone and everything, even if I don't agree with them. I want to be a peaceful presence, even to the spider living in the corner of my living room. Life is awesome and precious.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I hope the question of who the demons REALLY are sticks with them most.

Lee Mitchell is the author of the new book The Divine Darkness

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Interview with Mark W Sasse, Author of Lady Trieu and the Demon Warrior of Hanoi

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Lady Trieu and the Demon Warrior of Hanoi?

I lived in Vietnam for ten years, learned the language, studied the culture, and just fell in love with everything about it. This novel is my attempt to honor their amazing history and resilience with a contemporary fantasy adventure that is steeped in their culture and folklore.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I like to read things steeped in history or economics. (Thomas Sowell anyone?) I do like to write historical fiction, but I don't write that exclusively.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I'm still working on Atlas Shrugged. It's amazing.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Probably when the magical part of the book comes to life and the ancient turtle of the sacred lake takes the three main characters underwater in a crazy cool scene!

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Not really. But I'm a session writer. I max at about two hours then I need to do something else for a while.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Create not consume. (though I still consume my fair share)

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I would want readers to walk away with a new appreciation of the people and country of Vietnam. I think there's a lot that can be learned in there.

Mark W Sasse is the author of the new book Lady Trieu and the Demon Warrior of Hanoi

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