Author: cristinaisabelauthor

I love reading books as much as I love writing them. I enjoy drinking all sorts of teas and eating dark chocolate. When I need a trip back down to earth, I watch Seinfeld for comedy relief in this serious world. I'm a kid at heart that still enjoys receiving stuffed animals as gifts. I'm a Star Wars fan with the Nightmare Before Christmas as my theme music.

Holiday Guest Spotlight Schedule (Part 2)

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We still have some people sending me their information for their post.  Which is A-Ok!

Below are the added names to the Holiday Guest Spotlight Schedule.  Again, if you don’t see your name on the list, then it’s because I still don’t have the requested information.  Once you send me your information I will schedule a date. 🙂 

Hope you guys have been enjoying seeing new faces and networking with awesome authors.  Now that the first week of gifted authors have been posted, get ready for the second week of an awesome selection of authors coming up!

At least I’ve been helping you figure out what books you want to add to your 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge 😉

*Added names

HOLIDAY GUEST SPOTLIGHT SCHEDULE (PART 2)

December 15th – Robert Starnes

December 17th – D.R. Markham

December 19th – Betty Mermelstein

December 21st – Tenisha Collins

December 23rd – Karen Clark

December 25th – Diane Guntrip

December 27th – William Schumpert

December 29th – Aurelien Thomas

December 31st – Lissa Oliver

January 2nd – Joan Peck

*January 4th – Martin Wyatt

*January 6th – Angie Mangino

*January 8th – Beverly Willett

*January 10th – Jayna Newbold

*January 12th – Patty McCarthy

 

Holiday Guest Spotlight: Ed Green

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BIO:

I am a Former Native, “Over 30 Years,” of Rockport Texas, “Ground Zero of Hurricane Harvey,” and also a Graduate of Rockport-Fulton High School. 
I am an Ex Carnie who has traveled over 14 states, the Bahamas and Barbados in the West Indies. 
I’ve spent over 15 years in the lawn and landscape industy and in my youth bounced from the Fast Food Industry,Oil Field, Retreader in a Tire Shop, and a UPS Driver to Now a Published Author. 
My hobbies include Photography, Digital Art, “I do my own book covers,” Painter, Poet, Gardener, Reader of Great Novels, “Thanks to Mrs. Duggan and Mrs. Turner,” Asian Antique Collector and Lover of anything outdoors.
I Currently Live in Colorado with my Soul Mate, “the love of my life,” and our, “Akita/husky mix,” Loki. 
He has the most pale blue eyes I have ever seen.
I have written 3 Novels, “YEAR OF THE CICADA, FATHER MAY I & THE FLESHEATERS,” and 4 Short storybooks, “DON’T LET THE BEDBUGS BITE 1, DON’T LET THE BEDBUGS BITE 2-CRITTERS, JITTERS & SHIVERS and DLTBB 3 – OOEY, GOOEY AND CHEWY,THE GREENMAN’S BEDTIME STORIES plus JUST JELLIES. 
I’m so looking forward to many more years of writing and hopefully having Tons of Fans who will enjoy my work and who will Always tell their friends. 

AUTHOR Q&A:

 

  1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

EG: The first time the writing bug hit me was way back in High School during a poetry contest where I happily won 1st place.

My 2nd attempt was in 1993 at the American poet’s society competition in Washington D.C, sadly I don’t not win that time.

  1. How long does it take to write your book(s)?

EG: It usually takes me a few months if I stick with it and make it a priority over everything else.

  1. What is your work schedule like when writing a book?

EG: I usually start after my other half has left for work in the morning, “around 8am,” and end up wrapping things up between 3 – 5 pm.

  1. Where do you get your ideas or information for your book?

EG: The ideas for my books seem to just pop in my head at the most random times or while watching horror, documentary or investigative shows.

  1. When did you write your first book?

EG: My Fist officially published book, “YEAR OF THE CICADA,” was in 2019.  My first attempt and soon to be published novel, “M.A.D,” was started around 1990.

  1. What do you do when you’re not writing?

EG: The biggest consumer of my time when not writing is self-promotion and keeping my social media alive and interesting.

  1. What does your family think of your writing?

EG: My Mom is amazed that I’m able to achieve such an accomplishment that she considers a very daunting task.  My other family members, “other than a famous cousin who is also a writer,” see it as, that’s cool.

  1. What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your books?

EG: The biggest surprise to me, is that I actually have a knack for writing and storytelling.

  1. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

EG: To date, I have 8 books to my name and my favorite book is my unexpected children’s series DON’T LET THE BEDBUGS BITE.

  1. Any tips/suggestions on getting started?

EG: Take your time and realize that you’re not on a deadline.  Just breathe and let the story speak to you as it wishes to be written, dirty words and all.

  1. What do you think makes a good story?

EG: To me, a good story doesn’t over kill you in describing the scenes, reads as if an adult with some understanding of literature wrote it and I’m not inclined to put it down before finishing that first chapter.

  1. As a child, What did you want to do when you grew up?

EG: As most kids of my era, a fireman at first, then a doctor and finally a Pentecostal preacher.  Thankfully, I ended up becoming who I was meant to be E.A. Green / The Greenman.

LINKS:
PUBLISHED WORKS:
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Holiday Guest Spotlight: Michael Ross

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BIO:

I started writing seriously around four years ago. But essentially I am an actor, on TV and big screen, and in fact, have narrated my own audiobooks. I am also CEO and Developer of my own fitness company called KETTFusion, which is now a leader in the fitness world in the UK and it is also in four other European countries.

But writing has taken over, to a large extent, and I really enjoy it.

I’m a genre hopper, writing a comedy, a true-life story, an epic fantasy trilogy and have just self-published my own children’s book.

We all have moments in our lives that will change us, 13 years ago my wife was attacked and murdered and I was left with 4 and 6-year-old boys. I put it all down into a book called ‘Just Five More Minutes’ and in fact, the audiobook won this year’s Independent Audiobook Awards held in Kansas City in July. (It is published on Amazon) The book is important to get across how being positive can turn things around, and will leave anyone with a feelgood factor. It has and still is traveling around the world!

AUTHOR Q&A:

  1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

MR: Well, it was a visit to a clairvoyant seven years ago who kept insisting I write? I decided to act on it three years ago and haven’t looked back.

  1. How long does it take to write your book?

MR: It all depends on which genre of book  The Wand Chronicles Trilogy is 360,000 words in total, that took me 5 months in total from beginning to end, but the children’s book, half an hour, if that!

  1. What is your work schedule like when writing a book?

MR: I’m pretty industrious. But don’t write like many Authors. In other words, I type straight onto my laptop. In the early days tried writing out chapter headings, then detailed plots within the chapters and so on, but found it very difficult. It was stifling my creativeness. I work much better by having a few ideas and sitting down and creatively writing a chapter until I have finished. I will research as I am doing it, but so far this works very well for me.

  1. Where do you get your ideas or information for your book?

MR: I’m afraid to say, I have an overactive imagination, and certainly for non-fiction, ideas will fill my head and I can sit and write for hours.

I am very lucky so far, the idea of writer’s block is unknown to me. Of course for the children’s book, since it is one explaining ecological and green facts, I needed to research that.

But for my epic fantasy I find images on Pinterest, and if I come across an unusual character, could be an elf, I find a story builds up in my head as I look at the image.

  1. When did you write your first book?

MR: It was a comedy about local shoppers where I live in the UK. It is called Memoirs From The S.B.C.

That first book wasn’t that good with formatting and English grammar etc but it has done surprisingly well. I wrote that in 2016.

  1. What do you do when you are not working?

MR: With my youngest at home, I am chief washer-upper, cook, house cleaner, and then I still have work to do with my fitness company. I also play piano to relax and all the other time is spent on my book writing.

  1. What does your family think of your writing?

MR: I have three sons, and epic fantasy is not their thing! They are very helpful though when it comes to making decisions on book covers I get back from my illustrator. The true-life story they have all read because that affected them directly and they ‘enjoyed’ the book if that is the right word.

  1. What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your books?

MR: The fact that I didn’t have to follow the normal Author rules. You know, plot out everything, the synopsis, the characters, the storyline the chapters and so on. It was only a well-known author who works as I do and convinced me to simply write and be creative and let your imagination work its magic. It was worrying at first, but once the great reviews started pouring in, I knew this worked for me.

  1. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

MR: I have written 6 books so far.

I suppose my epic fantasy trilogy The Wand Chronicles is my fav. I could let my imagination run amok!

  1. Any tips /suggestions on getting started?

MR: I’m an indie publisher, so publishing your first book can be absolutely free!

I do hear a lot about new Authors finding it difficult to getting started. All I would say is, de-clutter yourselves with all the rules on how to write, let your mind free, sit down, and write and remember to enjoy it. Don’t worry too much about the grammar at this stage, let it flow, you can always tidy it all up later. Have fun with it!

11.What do you think makes a good story?

MR: We all like reading a particular genre. Certainly, write a story within a genre that you like yourself. For my true-life story, that is one lots pf people wanted to read. It was a true story after all. Being a ‘story-teller’ helps. Imagine sitting around a campfire, with lots of friends and they are riveted to the story you are telling. Your imagination is your best friend.

  1. As a child. What did you want to be when you grew up?

MR: You mean besides being a spaceman, train driver or truck driver? I really didn’t know. What I did know is that I had a vivid imagination. My Mom used to lay a place at the dinner table for my special friend called John. I wouldn’t eat my meal unless a place was laid for him. Of course ‘John’ was my fictitious character in my little world. I’m surprised my Mom didn’t take me for some therapy counseling! But she nurtured the little world I lived in. Part of me still lives in that little world, even at 66!

 LINKS:

My website is www.thewand.me

Just Five More Minutes: https://amzn.to/35y59FE

The Wand Chronicles: The Prequel (a permafree book and introduction to the trilogy) https://amzn.to/2QXAugP

Is My World Happy? A children’s book for 4 to 8-year-olds https://amzn.to/2OUApbs

Published Works:

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Holiday Guest Spotlight: Margie Miklas

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BIO:

An award-winning author, Margie Miklas is a travel blogger, photographer, retired critical-care nurse and social media manager. Her passion for travel embraces a particular love of Italy. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and trying out new recipes. She makes her home in Florida and is a member of the Florida Writers Association.

Margie’s first book, a travel memoir, won a 2014 Royal Palm Literary Award by the Florida Writers Association. “Memoirs of a Solo Traveler – My Love Affair with Italy” details Margie’s three month solo travel adventure in Italy. Read Amazon reviews here: http://goo.gl/mzCOm2

Her second book, “My Love Affair with Sicily” recounts her experiences in her ancestors’ homeland as she returns again and again to the place where she feels so at home. Read Amazon reviews here: http://goo.gl/HNzlt5

Her third book, “Colors of Naples and the Amalfi Coast” is a coffee table/photo book capturing the spirit of Campania in southern Italy. Read reviews here: http://goo.gl/lXKqzN

Her award-winning novel, “Critical Cover-Up,” is a psychological thriller set in a critical care unit in Florida. The storyline addresses issues of hospital politics, corruption and cover-up alongside a murder investigation. Read reviews here: https://goo.gl/SCD7gs

In her fourth book on Italy, released October 9, 2018, “My Amalfi Coast Love Affair,” Margie shares her personal experiences and love for her favorite part of Italy through storytelling. It continues to be a bestselling book.

Released Oct. 28, 2019, “A Cure for Deceit,” her newest novel, is a sequel to “Critical Cover-Up,” and another gripping medical thriller. What happens when a top surgeon begins to crack under the strain of his personal life and patients start to die? A sudden spike in patient deaths drives an impassioned intensive care nurse to launch a clandestine investigation, targeting a powerful cardiac surgeon whose corrupt connections could destroy her career.

AUTHOR Q&A:

    1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

     

  2. MM:  While I always enjoyed writing, including writing limericks as a child, working on the high school newspaper as a headline editor, and writing a comical newsletter at work, I did not know I wanted to be a serious writer until I started a travel blog in 2010.
    1. How long does it take to write your book(s)?

    MM:  It varies. The shortest time, from start to finish, including publishing, was about six months, but most of the time it’s a year, including editing and revising.

    1. What is your work schedule like when writing a book?

    MM:  I find I need to discipline myself, so I create a self-imposed time schedule, in order to write a specific number of words a week, based on when I’d like to complete the writing phase of the book.  I set time aside every day, if I can, when I unplug, and write. Some days I don’t have time, and then I make up for it on other days. I like to spend about three to four hours a day, at least five days a week when I am writing a book. Some of that time includes researching a historical place I may be writing about.

    1. Where do you get your ideas or information for your book?

    MM:  My nonfiction books are based on my travel experiences, since everything I write in those books must be truthful. I write those in first person, present tense, so my readers feel as if they are traveling alongside me. My two novels are medical thrillers, based in hospitals. I am a retired critical care nurse, and the storylines and characters are based on my experiences over my nursing career.

    1. When did you write your first book?

    MM:  I wrote Memoirs of a Solo Traveler – My Love Affair with Italy after I returned from a three-month, solo experience in Italy in 2011. I had written a blog during my experience, and after I returned home, I realized I had much more to say. I was humbled and honored to receive a Royal Palm Literary Award from the Florida Writers Association for that book the following year.

    1. What do you do when you’re not writing?

    MM:  When I’m not writing, I spend time with my family, going to the beach, reading, and trying out new recipes. I’m quite active on social media, and as a result, I admit I spend too much time on the computer and my cell phone.

    1. What does your family think of your writing?

    MM:  That is an intriguing question. While my family encourages my writing and tells me they are proud of what I’ve accomplished, my 93-year-old mother is the only family member who has read every one of my books. I’ve spoken to many other writers, who share similar stories.

    1. What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your books?

    MM:  I think the most surprising thing I learned was how the amount of time it takes to write a book worthy of publication. After the writing is complete, the editing and revising phase takes almost as much time as the writing phase. By the time I publish a book, it has gone through a minimum of five drafts, and many times, even more than that.

    1. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

    MM:  I have written six books now, and my last two are my favorite. My Amalfi Coast Love Affair, because it is the most personal of my travel books, is my favorite of the nonfiction books. My newest release, A Cure for Deceit, is my other favorite book. I think it’s because I feel my writing has benefited from the previous books. All of them are special in one way or another, though. I do take exceptional pride in my hardback book, Colors of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, since it features all original photography, and since I self-published, I had to learn Adobe InDesign to lay out the photos on each page before sending it off to be printed. It just proves that if you want to do something badly enough, you will learn it and make it happen.

    1.  Any tips/suggestions on getting started?

    MM:  The best advice I had when I began writing was from a friend who was a                    professional journalist. He told me to write as though I’m telling a story to someone sitting next to me in my living room, like I’m having a conversation. I think that writing style, for me at least, works well. I’d tell a new writer to just start writing in a notebook, anything you’re thinking about.

    1. What do you think makes a good story?

    MM:  Anything that keeps the reader engaged and connected to the character(s)…               Anything that makes the reader turn the page.

    1. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

    MM:  It’s weird…I knew when I was 6, I wanted to be a nurse.

LINKS:

Follow or message Margie on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MargieMiklasAuthor/
Follow Margie on Twitter https://twitter.com/MargieMiklas
Follow Margie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/margiemiklas/
Visit her blog, Margie in Italy at https://margieinitaly.com/

PUBLISHED WORKS:

Holiday Guest Spotlight: Hannah Herrera

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BIO:

Hannah Herrera (Cir. 1993) is a young author who specializes in poetry, short horror stories, novels, and women’s rights. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida and has been a Florida native her entire life. For four years, she attended college to obtain her Nursing degree but dropped out when she heeded the call to pursue the writing career she has coveted since she was a child. She has a huge love for animals, especially cats. Her hobbies consist of gardening, Marvel movies, cooking and creating new recipes, writing, and slapping paint against a canvas. When she isn’t doing these things, she’s spending time with her son and husband.

AUTHOR Q&A:

  1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

HH:  I would always make up stories inside my head when I played as a child. While I was growing up, I did well in reading and English classes in school; it was my best subject. I started writing short stories for my English college professor, despite going to school full time to be a nurse. During clinicals, I would spend hours with the elderly listening to their stories and that’s all I wanted to do – tell stories. After a lot of stress during nursing school, I eventually dropped the program and started writing while working at a local Wal-mart.

2.  How long does it take to write your book(s)?

HH:  It depends on how invested I am in a story. If I am writing a short story or a poetry book, it will take about a month or two. If it’s a novel, it takes around 6 months.

3.  Where do you get your ideas or information for your book?

HH:  I like to travel to new places, eating at new restaurants, or enjoy nature. I feel that constantly changing my environment while interacting with different people is a good thing for me. It helps keep the creativity flowing. Rich experiences often produce rich writing results.

4.  When did you write your first book?

HH:  The first book I wrote was back in 2018. I have written several short stories but never had them published. Publishing this story sort of made everything feel more official to me.

5.  What do you do when you’re not writing?

HH:  I love to garden, it is my go-to hobby to unwind. There’s something peaceful about having your hands in the dirt. I also like creating  new recipes and cooking them in the kitchen for my family to try. I like to go to movies together with my husband and son, or go out to new places for new experiences. I also paint in my spare time and play with my cats.

6.  What does your family think of your writing?

HH:  My husband is 100% supportive of my writing journey. He is so encouraging and has seen the good and the bad when it comes to writing and publishing books. I have other family members that I have told about my writing career and they didn’t support me like I feel families should. Not a lot of them understand my fascination with writing poetry or horror but that’s okay. I have my husband and my immediate friends, they are my biggest cheerleaders and I can’t spend my time wondering why I don’t have the support of most of my family. I like what I do and that is all that should matter. So I just wanted to say thanks to Nathan, Shannon, Mason and Michelle, you guys are the best if you’re reading this.

7.  What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your books?

HH:  There is a lot of editing and a lot of work that goes into publishing a book. I self publish, so I have to do everything from being my own editor to being my own publicist. It gets crazy and stressful sometimes but I enjoy doing it. People who do this professionally for a living need more credit.

8.  How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

HH:  I have written five books and several unpublished short stories. The book I recently published, The Lovely Wild In Me, is my favorite piece of work that I have written so far. It’s a piece of my soul wrapped up in two-hundred pages and it was quite the journey to write it.

9.  Any tips/suggestions on getting started?

HH:  Just write, don’t listen to others especially yourself. There will be times when you will be too hard on yourself and will want to edit things out all of the time. Don’t do this, just write to your heart’s content and get the story out there first.

10.  What do you think makes a good story?

HH:  The ability to make someone feel the emotions that you want them to feel makes a story a great story.

11.  As a child, What did you want to do when you grew up?

HH:  I always wanted to be a writer. I diverged from my path a bit because I listened to the negativity of others but coming back to writing is like coming back home after being gone for so long. I am the happiest I have been in years.

LINKS:

https://www.hannahherrera.com
twitter: @hnnhherrera
instagram: @hannah_herrera_
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19084684.Hannah_Herrera
Amazon Author account: https://www.amazon.com/Hannah-Herrera/e/B07Q5KMBRY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

PUBLISHED WORK (RECENTLY):

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