Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I'm sure some of this will be 'old news' to some people as I have done several of these interviews. Really just updating here. My official Biography:
Mary Elizabeth Fricke has lived her entire life within five miles of the Missouri River. She and her husband of 37 years have lived 34 of those years on a farm that has been consistently owned and operated by his family for five generations. They have two grown sons married to wonderful women and two beautiful grandchildren.
A graduate of the Writer's Institute of America and a member of the Heartland Writers Guild, she has published a number of articles in various forums and magazines, as well as Dino, Godzilla and the Pigs, My Life on Our Missouri Hog Farm. She is also a prolific ghostwriter.
Her stories, based in rural mid-western areas, concern the unique but quickly vanishing way of life on the family farm as well as other mysterious intricacies that evolve life from generation to generation. Romance is her preferred genre.

Previously published in the Birds the Peril Series:
Pigeon in a Snare (Lisa’s story)
Roses for the Sparrow (Jani’s story)
Plight of the Wren (Susie’s story)
Robin Unaware (Stephanie’s story)

Sept. 3, 2017: Demise of Innocence (Sweet Pea I)
Oct. 7, 2017: Time to Deceive (Sweet Pea II)
Nov. 30, 2017: The Price of Passion (Sweet Pea III)

‘Sweet Pea’ Gift Set (Books I, II, III) was published Feb. 2018

All are available from Amazon Kindle Select

The only connection between The Sweet Pea Trilogy and the Birds in Peril Series is their central Missouri location. All characters and most places are fiction.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sweet Pea Gift Set. When I published Sweet Pea as a Trilogy last fall, I felt it was too long to publish under one cover. So I published the story as 3 separate books. After the first of the year, 2018, I changed my mind and republished all 3 stories under one title. All are still available through Amazon e-books, whatever my readers prefer.
I actually began writing Sweet Pea in 1976 when all of the nostalgia habits, trends were In Style . I didn't change them over the years even though I rewrote, rewrote and rewrote the entire story. It, in a simple nut shell, is a story of growing up and living during the 1960's-70's and 80's. It is the story of one woman's love for two men and how her relationships with them, as well as other family members and friends, shaped her life. As the story begins, the primary character has been hit with a news bombshell she does not want to hear. The news (from a distant family member) causes her to rethink her life and how she has come to be where she is in this point in time. She is joined by her best friend and husband while the 3 voice their memories as well.
Official Sweet Pea Promo Blurb: Description of the Sweet Pea Trilogy: To one man she gave her virginity; to another, she gave her heart. One, she would mourn. With the other, she would share life's triumph and turmoil. With both, she would endure times of love, and passion and complete happiness as well as times of despair, confusion, and sorrow. One day at a time—each day, building unforgettable memories.
Sweet Pea spans from the late 1960's into 2009. Set in rural Missouri, it is a story for those who remember the profound cultural changes and historical events that took place in the later part of the 20th Century. It is is a nostalgic story of growing up; of forging lifelong friendships and loyalty within family that supports every life event, good or bad. It is a story of love that binds a man and a woman despite all odds. It is also a story of obsessive hatred and how such hatred destroys not only the innocent but those who hate.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I'm a night owl. Is that unusual? I write as things invade my brain. The thoughts that don't let go, the mind scenes that continue to haunt me, are the ones that usually evolve into stories

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My reading habits are eclectic. Erma Bombeck is a favorite because of her ability to poke fun at herself while still pointing out the important things in life. Romance is probably my most read genre. Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is my favorite book of all time. I follow authors like Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, Kerrilyn Kenyon, Newt Gingrich, Kim Harrison and John Bowers. Lately, I've been reading more first time or little-known authors just to give them the boost I also need. We INDIES have to stick together, you know. Actually, some of the Indie published books I've read are far better than well-known author's works.

What are you working on now?
Presently I'm in the rough draft stage of books #5 Wise, Bold Eagle and #6 Bluebird of Happiness of my Birds In Peril Series. The stories are so linked, I'm working on the two of them together. And, I honestly have no idea how long it will be before I publish them. Early in 2016, I experienced a profound/life-changing health scare and for months afterward, I fell deep into a dark, writers' block. When 'my muse returned' it drove me to once again rewrite and publish Sweet Pea. And then, I needed a breather to come down from the drive to publish Sweet Pea. Most likely, only another writer will understand this. It is a peril of authors. To write, write, write, endlessly, is nearly impossible and even the best achievements take a lot of the author. We all need time away from 'the muse'…that stubborn drive that decides when, where, and what we write. Anyway, as my muse decides to behave itself, I'm working on the final two books of my Birds in Peril Series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe websites such as these are the best place to advertise books. Awesome Authors got me started on doing these bios and advertising my work through them. Over time, I've joined several writers groups on Facebook, Goodreads, and so on. In addition to helping to advertise my work, these websites also create ways I can contact, share and discuss the writing life and dilemmas with other writers/published authors.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it. No one can take those words out of your head and place them on paper or computer page but yourself. The first draft is always the most difficult. After that draft is written, the rest is just improving what already is.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish it! Advice given to me many years ago from a well-known romance writer who was successfully doing/publishing like I wanted to.

What are you reading now?
I'm beta reading for good friend/authors who have yet to publish their stories so I won't name them.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the Bird Series

What is your favorite book of all time?
Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I have collected and read most, or all, of Mrs. Woodiwiss's historical romances. She had a knack for bringing the reader into her heart rendering stories as if we were bystanders/watchers of a time long ago

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Elizabeth Fricke Website
Mary Elizabeth Fricke Amazon Profile
Mary Elizabeth Fricke Author Profile on Book Daily

Mary Elizabeth Fricke’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I'm a paranormal romance author born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and living in Sacramento, California. I recently signed a publishing contract with Kingston Publishing Company, and I’m very excited to be working with Michelle and CK. We just released my first book Shattered with a sexy new cover and new series logo. Book 2, Avenged is with the publisher and is planned to be released September 13. The books are part of my Circle of the Red Scorpion erotic paranormal romance series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Shattered. I’ve been an avid reader since age 9. I love romance and all things paranormal, especially vampires. I watched the Dark Shadows soap opera every day with my grandma. Dark Shadow was the first book series I read. Over the years, I’ve read countless gothic, paranormal and contemporary romance books and book series. I had a lot of ideas for stories rolling around in my head and started writing them down. I’m a big fan of book series and wanted to try my hand at writing my own.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are not unusual, but I try to be very organized. I like to do a preliminary outline of the books I'm writing. It is particularly important with a book series. I’ve done some traveling and plan to do more. I'm also a big researcher. Since some scenes happen in different time periods or countries, I rely on research as a valuable writing aid. Travel, research, and life experiences are all important resources and I want the plot, the scenes and the details to be believable, accurate and consistent.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My top three favorite authors are J.R. Ward, Christine Feehan, and Sherrilyn Kenyon. These talented authors weave stories that draw me into their worlds. I love the characters and look forward to them appearing throughout the book series. I always hate to leave their worlds when the books end and look forward to finding out where the series go next. All three have been a big influence on me and motivated me to write my own book series.

What are you working on now?
I'm working on Returned, Book 3 in my series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try to cover as many bases as I can. I'm active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and MeWe. I have a Facebook fan page, Facebook group, and my own website and recently started a newsletter. I try to post photos, promos, mini-excerpts and book trailers often. I belong to many Facebook groups and try to post book links and promos weekly. I'm just starting a do author takeovers and I've been a signing author at some events this year and have two more scheduled in the fall. I have three events booked for next year so far. But signing with an awesome publishing company has elevated my book promotion to a new level.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let fear hold you back from achieving your dream of being a published author. I did that for many years. It’s daunting and scary, but perseverance and commitment is the key. Keep your eye on the goal. Get involved in some of the Facebook Groups. The groups offer a wealth of knowledge and good advice. Being around like-minded people will inspire and motivate you. Lastly, believe in yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To never give up and get yourself out there and be present. It hasn't always been an easy thing for me. I've always liked being in the background but you can't do that as an author.

What are you reading now?
I just started reading The Thief by one of my faves – J.R. Ward.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue working on my Circle of the Red Scorpion book series. I have a spin-off series in mind based on one of my series characters. I'm also working on a contemporary romance thriller with I hope to complete this year.

What is your favorite book of all time?
There are a lot of books that I consider as being a part of my favorites in the paranormal romance genre, but two immediately came to mind. I can’t read one without reading the other -Acheron and Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Both books are gripping, heartbreaking and a rollercoaster of emotions. I’ve read them several times and will read them again.

Author Websites and Profiles
Charlene Johnson Website
Charlene Johnson Amazon Profile

Charlene Johnson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a young author who began my writing career at only nineteen years old. I am now twenty one years old and have had three books published. I live in a small town and is attending college, majoring in art education. In my free time, I enjoy singing, dancing, painting, modeling Japanese fashion at local anime conventions, and studying foreign languages.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is The Skeleton Lady, which is a romantic suspense about a high school senior and his best friend, who get kidnapped by a beautiful and torturous woman who goes by the name of the Skeleton Lady. I got the idea for this book when I was only fourteen years old and suffering from depression. I had trouble expressing my emotions and so the Skeleton Lady came forth as a sort of human embodiment of those emotions.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I always write my story down on paper before typing it up. It's a little outdated, but I feel most comfortable writing things down first.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephenie Meyer and Neil Gaiman have influenced me at a young age, and I find that I prefer writing stories with darker themes and paranormal romances.

What are you working on now?
I'm working on a Christmas book about a girl named Audrey who is receiving different presents on her doorstep each day leading up to Christmas. It's up to Audrey to solve the mystery of who her secret admirer is!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don't have a certain method yet besides just submitting several review requests and interviews to various websites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, I would say just write what you feel like writing instead what you feel everyone will like. Even if your books aren't popular at first, it is much more rewarding to do what you feel is right.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I've ever heard is just follow your heart. I know it sounds a bit corny, but I'm always happiest when I do what's in my heart rather than going over things logically and making a decision that way.

What are you reading now?
I'm rereading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I read this book when I was around thirteen years old, so it has special meaning to me. I also really enjoy the story line and amount of detail in the book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I work for a publishing company specializing in romance, so I will continue to write romance books. I would also like to write for Chicken Soup for the Soul and write and illustrate manga (Japanese-style comics) and bilingual children's books.

What is your favorite book of all time?
My favorite book is the first book in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. This book has a special place in my heart because it came out when I was going through depression and the series helped me to cope with what was going on around me.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tori Wilson Amazon Profile

Tori Wilson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Omni, and yes, I love my name. I was born, raised, and still live in the Tulsa area of Oklahoma, even though I moved around a lot as a child. I have three teenagers who consistently make me proud to be their mom. We have two pit bulls, one a rescue and the other an 18yr old who thinks he’s still my lapdog puppy (which he is). We also have a cat and a rabbit, they can both be little assholes sometimes but we love them anyway. Since I am unable to work a traditional job, I became a caregiver for my grandfather and an author.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lily is the first of six women of prophecy. She is destined to sacrifice her heart to save the Guardian Dragon, but first, she must survive long enough to discover her abilities and the truth of her past. After losing her mother in a violent attack, Lily is forced to flee her home into the hidden land of the Eavalds, a people born of magic. As her past threatens to take everything she cares for away, Lily must find a way to fight for a world she never knew existed, with a man she doesn’t trust, and a destiny she can’t run away from.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I still write things down with pencil and paper before typing it out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many authors have a special talent for expressing their story. But I read such a wide variety of genre I couldn’t compare one to another. I read everything from urban fantasy, sci-fi and dramatic romances, to horror novels, true crimes, and classical dramas. There have only been a handful of books that were too dull or didn’t keep my interest enough to even finish it.

What are you working on now?
I have a series to finish and a horror novel in the future.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I tend to zone into my writing. I have found myself writing or typing away for six hours and it only feel as if and hour had gone by. I began by rough outlining the whole series, then rough outlining the first book. It wasn’t until ¼ of the way through when I did a detailed outline, but I was still learning. I attended a critique meeting group twice a month that helped immensely. Once the first draft was finished I did a hard edit. Re-reading the first few chapters made me realize just how much I learned in such a short amount of time. After a few rounds of doubt and “what the f**k is this crap?” did I get through the edit. Finally, happy with my work, and after a ton of research, I found Keidi Keating and along with her and her team, started the professional process of editing and publishing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Finish the first draft, then edit. Otherwise, you will get stuck re-writing the first few chapter forever.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Show, don’t tell”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on book two of the Elemental Guardian series and a stand-alone novel that is a psychological thinker.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Impossible to say.

Author Websites and Profiles
Omni Delano Website
Omni Delano Amazon Profile

Omni Delano’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of 19th century steamy historical romances set in North Queensland, Australia and explore the passions and hardships of unique characters.
There is corruption, deceit and murder, as well as cattle rustlers, slave traders and hell fire clubs. Explore townships of Jarvisfield and Inkerman, as well as Ravenswood and Bowen. One book even incorporates my great grandmothers cattle station 'Inkerman Downs Station'.

I currently have 11 traditionally published titles available.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Avarice & Charity is book number 3 in the Sins of the Virtuous series. The series itself explores the sins we are all tempted by and the virtues we aspire to portray. Book 3 shows the sin of greed and how the person possessed by it will go to whatever lengths to satisfy it, including destroy the innocence of a charitable heart.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do tend to watch a lot of musicals while I'm working on the first draft – very dramatic ones like Phantom of the Opera and Chess.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I take inspiration from many authors, especially those that got knocked back by publishers so many times like J.K. Rowling. As far as favorite authors go though, I love anything by Amanda Quick.

What are you working on now?
I'm working on edits for book 4 from Sins of the Virtuous and I'm in the middle of writing book 5.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love visiting book blogs as there are so many people willing to interact with you as an author.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try to take bad reviews constructively.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A bad first draft is better than a blank page.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing. I have a few more book to finish of for Sins of the Virtuous then I want to write a few more stand alone titles.

What is your favorite book of all time?
To Kill a Mockingbird
Surrender
Lord of the Flies
Ravished

Author Websites and Profiles
Faye Hall Website
Faye Hall Amazon Profile
Faye Hall Author Profile Other Bookseller

Faye Hall’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.