What kind of books/stories do you write?
*Horror, fantasy, science fiction, and some good old-fashioned western. You know, the kind of thing at which a lot of people turn their nose up. I’ve never had much use for reading a book about someone getting up and going to work, then going home for dinner. Unless, of course, that person encounters an alien on the way to work, arrives home to find a slaughtered family member with an orc standing over the body. I have enough angst and worry in my own life; I don’t really have time to have it in my fiction. But, if that’s your thing? More power to you. I say live and let live. You write what you enjoy, I’ll write what I enjoy and we’ll (hopefully) both be happy.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
*I think it was sometime in the fourth grade. Mrs. Pardoe made a positive comment on something I had written. I’ve been seeking more of that praise ever since, as well as the fulfillment I felt at entertaining someone with the written word.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
*Man…that’s a tough one to answer. A lot of genre writers point to On Writing by Stephen King. I’m not going to, although it’s a good work. I think that The Phantom Tollbooth would be on that list, largely because of the brilliant wordplay and great message. Also on that list is Killer Angels (one of only a few books that has ever brought me to tears) for teaching me that well-written books could truly cause tears. The Shining (one of only a few books that has genuinely scared me) for, well, teaching me that the written word had the power to terrify. I’m also a Lord of the Rings fanatic; the prose, poetry, and world-building (including language creation) is truly amazing. I could probably go on for pages about my influences, actually.

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
Sheesh…where do I start? Who do I offend by leaving off the list (or, in some cases, putting ON the list)? I know I’ll forget someone (and if I do, it’s unintentional), but I’ll start the list with you, Cody.
 
Cody Langille: Expand my horizons.
D.J. Butler: Persevere; stand up for myself.
Tracy Hickman: It’s OK to reinvent myself; the need to listen to the voices once in a while.
Bob Defendi: Humor is perfectly acceptable in large doses as well as small ones.
Brad Torgerson: Shoot for the stars, you may just make it there.
Paul Genesse: Dragons are real.
Alan Bahr: Tiny things can be really powerful.
Michael Collings: Poetry is cool. Really cool.
Michaelbrent Collings: Make sure that you breathe in every time you breathe out.
Nathan Shumate: B movies aren’t bad.
Johnny Worthen: Tie dye is cool and badgers are awesome.
David Farland: Magic systems aren’t easy to create.
Terra Luft: Someone out there will always need your expertise, no matter how random or obscure.
Scott Forman: Don’t feel the need to go along even when everyone around you is…just be yourself.
John Olsen: Just because you stick a gear on it, it doesn’t mean it’s steampunk.
Lehua Parker: Never judge a book by its cover.
Al Carlisle: Real life makes awesome book fodder.
Charlie Harmon: What others see as an obstacle may not be.
Michael Darling: Good guys don’t always finish last.
David West: Someone else thinks smoking jackets look cool.
Larry Correia: Pick a card. Any card.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
*Largely I’ve relied on various forms of social media. I also have some blogging friends that have passed along the message. It’s worked well enough, but there’s certainly room for improvement. It’s not the “best” way, but right now the “only” way, based on time and life factors.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
*Name it. <laughs> Hours spent at the State Library. Ancient art objects found in online museum collections and galleries. Maps of all shapes, sizes, and types. Those ubiquitous internet searches that make most genre authors a little nervous about potential NSA monitoring. Most recently was a purchase of a vintage book filled with blueprints and sketches of Victorian houses. Inspiration and research can be found everywhere, so I have a hard time putting a time frame on my research. You could say I’m always researching, I just don’t know for what.

Any last thoughts for our readers?
*To date, much of what I’ve published has been with small presses (at least one of which is defunct). It can make for some easier publication, but more difficult distribution and marketing. But if you can get published, do it. Make sure you research the presses first, but be wiling to take a chance if the terms are in your favor. I’ve passed up some opportunities that I now regret. As with everything else, once an opportunity passes, it can be difficult to get it back.

What kind of books/stories do you write?
 
Most of the books and stories I publish fall into a literary genre called magical realism. Magical realism has elements of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, but its main focus is on presenting magic or the supernatural in an otherwise realistic or mundane setting. Characters don’t use magic spells or technology to interact with the supernatural; it simply exists. Magical realism is what happens when the real world is invaded by things too strange to believe and often has elements of fables, myths, and allegory presented through an indigenous peoples’ perspective. 
 
Magical realism authors include people like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Alice Hoffman, and Salman Rushdie. A lot of the work of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Joe Hill crosses into magical realism, but since they write from a western worldview, they aren’t identified with the genre.
 
Many of my books and stories are set in the fictional town of Lauele, Hawaii. Lauele is set in contemporary Hawaii, but it’s a Hawaii where ancient deities and cultural expectations and obligations have resonance and power. The supernatural lives among humans and interacts with them, but most human don’t realize it.
 
The people in Lauele are a lot like the people I grew up with. In my stories, characters face real-world issues and challenges that arise from Hawaiian vs. western culture perspectives. The stories are centered around defining family, understanding cultural heritage, preserving the past, navigating clashes between traditional Hawaiian values and western society, fighting nature vs. nurture, destiny vs. free will, and learning how to define oneself with integrity based on an internal moral compass. 
 
 
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
I can’t remember the first story I wrote, but my mom has a few that I created when I was five or so. My first professional publication was an essay I wrote in the third grade that made it into the local newspaper. I’m not going to lie; autographing the copies to send to my grandparents was pretty cool.
 
Through my teen years and into college I had short stories, poetry, and essays published and a couple of plays and screenplays produced. At the same time, I was doing a lot of video work for cable tv as a writer, on-air talent, producer, and director. My parents encouraged me to follow the video path over the writing, so that’s what I did. (Actually, they wanted me to go to law school, but that’s another story.) I earned a BA in Communications by majoring in Mediated Message Design and Research with a double-minor in Creative Writing and Video Production.
 
My career has wandered like a drunken sailor. I’ve been a studio manager, television director, senior instructional designer, corporate director, ghost writer, copyeditor, theater critic, web designer, business and training consultant, and an English and history teacher—to name a few.
 
While writing and telling stories were always a part of everything I did, it wasn’t until about six years ago that I decided to go back to my first love and write fiction. It was snowing outside, so of course I decided to write about being at the beach. Without a completed manuscript, in 2011 I signed my first book contract with Jolly Fish Press for the Niuhi Shark Saga, a five-book MG/YA series.
 
 
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
 
This is like asking me which child is my favorite. (It’s you, sweetheart, the one who’s reading this. Shhhhh. Don’t tell your sibling.) I’ve read more than 20,000 books and short stories and read another 200 or so book each year. I couldn’t tell you who my favorite author is, let alone which book was most influential. I seldom read a book more than once, but the books I return to are those by Diana Gabaldon, Jim Butcher, Stephen King, Michael Crichton, Terry Pratchett, JK Rowling, and Amy Tan.
 
 
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
 
At this stage of my career, networking and collaboration are less about becoming a better writer and more about becoming better at business. I’ve gone from a shotgun approach to focusing effort on events that are highly targeted and aligned with my own goals.
 
But when I first started writing again, I got heavily involved with many different writing groups. I even founded some of them. I understood the power of collaboration and networking and devoted a lot of time to building communities and supporting newbie authors.
 
Slowly, I realized that in order to keep the writing groups cohesive and relevant, I was spending all of my time on projects that built community, but took me away from what I was passionate about. My own writing was taking a backseat to organizing groups and editing other people’s work. My family life was suffering. Something had to change.
 
Over the last few years, I’ve significantly reduced the amount of time I spend with local writing communities. Because of this, I’ve been more productive and have four new books in print, sold several short stories, and placed essays with literary magazines. While I have a solid group of professional writing friends, we support each other through email and only see each other at big regional conferences or events.
 
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
 
In May 2016, I received my rights back for the first two Niuhi Shark books from Jolly Fish Press. As Makena Press, I revised and republished them along with the third in the series in July 2016. I went from marketing as a traditionally published author to marketing as an indy press.
 
Marketing thousands of miles from my core audience is tough. By far the most successful marketing I’ve done was to take a few books to Hawaii and drop them off at libraries and schools. From those twenty donated books I’ve built a readership and following that is expanding across the Pacific. Schools are adopting the series into their curriculums, and I was nominated for a major children’s choice award. I do school visits using remote video conferencing and will be a featured guest at a children’s literature conference in Hawaii in 2018. Most of my sales are now coming organically from word of mouth.
 
Even indy-published, I sell about 100 print copies for every eBook copy. That means that most of the successful marketing strategies used by small presses and indy publishers don’t work for me. To grow my audience and market share, I’m looking to partner with an international big press publisher or distributor.
 
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
In between writing the books, I read a lot of journals and non-fiction books about Hawaiian history, culture, native plants, ecology, migration patterns—you name it. I also read a lot of literature about Pacific legends and myths. I watch Shark Week reruns. I’m constantly adding to my resource library.
 
Before I begin a new novel, I only outline a very basic plot and rely on my characters to tell me the story—I tend to write by the seat of my pants. When I’m in the middle of writing a book, things pop up that I need to know, but never anticipate, like how to customize the paint on a surfboard or how long it takes an active teen to rehab after losing a limb or how stowaways could get on a cruise ship or which K-Pop heartthrobs are the hottest this week.
 
During the creation phase, Google is my buddy and nemesis—a great black vortex that sucks me down interesting paths that never make it into a book.
 
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
Writers by nature are a mercurial blend of chuffed ego, eternal optimism, and deeply held insecurities. The ones who are in it for the long haul are those who learn to define success by their own terms. They understand that as their career changes, what defines success changes, too. If you want to be a writer, write because you love it. Write because you have something only you can say. Fill your days with good books, movies, and music, but keep the most important things first in your life. Enjoy the time and season that you’re in. You may only be able to write an hour a day or in fifteen minute blocks. You’re still a writer. Compare less and enjoy more. The journey really is the destination.

Links: http://www.lehuaparker.com/ 

What kind of books/stories do you write?
I think they are all action-adventure but thrown in with fantasy, sci-fi, and horror.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Really hard to say, but I’ve been writing my own stories since I was a kid and just figured I would always write books once I got older.
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
That’s a very hard one. But the original Conan tales by Robert E. Howard are the ones that made say to myself, this is what I need to be doing.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
I’m friends with lots of great people, more than I can possibly name here, but Dave Butler has been a remarkable inspiration for creative productivity and a can do attitude, Larry Correia tells it like it is, Jason King because he has faith in me, and so many more. I have to give credit to Carter Reid for introducing me to “My People” though, because before I knew Carter I felt very alone in the local creative world. All of them make me want to UP my game, so that’s good because it makes you grow and try harder. I’ve always got to be innovating and pushing myself beyond the comfort zone.
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
It helps when you find a community, but on top of that, I had to finally ditch “Hope” as a marketing strategy and start learning what it takes to push books online. 95% of all my book sales are online, so I had to research and school myself on how to maximize that. And its something I’m still doing, still experimenting with. As the world changes, we have to change with it. I can’t say enough about utilizing Amazon Marketing Services – but you have to have things lined up just right. It is a science.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I’m often still researching while in the middle of the book and then even in the edits, I’ll be adding in things and tweaking it. So for me at least its an ongoing process. I usually have a pretty grasp on what I’m doinhg and where I’m going, but if something I find out “fits” I’ll find a place for it to heighten the story.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
I love this quote from Nick Cole, “Write the junk that you want to read.” I 100% agree with that, you have to love what you do.
 
Links:
My blog, www.kingdavidjwest.com

Because I think you're all super awesome and I want to share my work with you, I'm running a promotion for a number of my stories and books on Amazon. On April 14 and 15 only, the stories listed below will be absolutely free for Kindle users! Get them while they're hot, and if you feel like it, leave a review after you read them, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you and keep the lights on while you read...

Terrence and the Magical Sword of Courage
Terrence is a magical teddy bear charged with protecting kids from all the things that go bump in the night. The only problem is, Terrence is scared of just about everything. Things go from bad to worse when Grubble of the Toms shows up with his turkey-riding goblins in tow. 

The clock is ticking and Terrence joins up with an unlikely ally to quest for the Magical Sword of Courage, a mythical weapon said to give the owner unlimited bravery. Follow Terrence as he travels to UnderBed and Closetville in search of the sword, running into crazy characters like the Bird Brothers, hobgoblins, and even the King of the Boogeymen.

Terrence and the Magical Sword of Courage is the first book in the Teddy Bear Saga. Readers both young and old will enjoy this heartwarming tale of adventure, friendship, and finding the strength to face one's fears.
​
All Aboard: Tales from the Storm
A set of railroad tracks appears overnight in a sleepy Utah town. Some residents find themselves trapped while others mysteriously disappear. Things take a turn for the worse when those left behind start receiving tickets to a train scheduled to depart very soon. Get your tickets ready for the conductor and find your seat for this fast-paced, supernatural thriller that will take you places you'll never be able to leave.

​Brine & Blood: Tales from the Storm
In a storm-ravaged Salt Lake City, private detective Bartholomew Morgan is on the case to find a missing person. During his investigation, he begins to uncover strange things, and the deeper he digs, the darker it gets. Follow Morgan through the twists and turns of this occult tale and see if he can save the world from drowning in darkness, brine, and blood.

Horishi Tom: Tales from the Storm
Utah Territories, 1867

Jeremiah Redford lost everything when his family was brutally taken from him. His quest to bring them back from the dead lands him in the abandoned mining town of Angus, Utah. What he finds in the town tests his sanity and his very soul. 

Be careful what you wish for because you might just find it.

The Spot: Tales from the Storm
Don't fall asleep. Avoid touching the spot. Don't stare at it the whole time, only once or twice an hour for measurements. Measure three times for an accurate reading. It shouldn't grow... 

Graham travels through a blasted wasteland to take up his turn at the watch, monitoring the status of a mysterious spot in the basement of a crumbling hotel. Getting there is harrowing enough, but will he have enough energy, or sanity, to watch the spot?

Tales from the Storm Volume 1: A Collection of Horror Stories
The storm rages on, leaving death and destruction in its path. With the chaos comes strange tidings and wicked ordeals. 

From C.R. Langille, author of the Dark Tyrant Series comes a collection of weird and horrifying stories spanning all across history: the Spanish Conquest; the Old West; present day; and even a desolate, apocalyptic future.

Haunted hotel rooms, mysterious, mind-bending spots, infernal cargo, and misplaced wishes abound in this collection. 

Stories Included:
The Spot
Brine & Blood
The Deep Well
All Aboard
Damned
The Scratch
Horishi Tom

Only one thing is certain when the storm passes by--nothing will ever be the same again.

Things have been pretty crazy in the Langille house as of late. For one, my kids picked up a virus at day care, RSV to be exact. I'm pretty sure RSV translates to, really shitty virus. Here's the funny thing too, I don't even need to take my kids to day care. My mom lives with us and helps out tremendously by watching the kiddos while my wife and I work. She's a godsend. That being said, my kids are in the house most of the day and don't get to interact with anyone outside of family, especially other kids. My oldest, who is three years old, LOVES playing with other kids. Whenever we go to the park, or Kangaroo Zoo, or anywhere else another kid could possibly be, she lights up and wants to play. Enter the day care....

I've been wanting to get them to a place where I could have them play with other kids. We found this day care that seemed pretty good and safe, so we took them there for 1.5 hours. Both my children had a blast! Loved every second of it and still talk about wanting to go back to this day. However, they brought back a special friend named RSV. This virus has swept through our house taking us all out one by one. Plus, RSV likes change. It can't just be a simple virus, no it changes into sinus infections and ear infections. Double plus, it doesn't know when to leave. It gets its grubby little talons hooked into you and won't let go. We've been dealing with thing in one form or another for two weeks now.

Coughing, puking, infected eyes, fevers, crying, ER visits, Insta-care visits...the whole shebang. #partofit. #nosleepfortheweary #OMGcanweallstopbeingsicknowplease

Basically what this translates into is, go to work, come home take care of sick kids, rinse and repeat. Progress on much else has come to a halt. I'm hoping there is a bright side, that perhaps they are growing antibodies to this particular strain and won't be affected again. 

Meanwhile, my writing has come to a slow crawl. The time I used to find is fading away and I haven't found a new groove yet. The shitty thing, is that I've got a deadline looming so I need to kick it into new gear and get the words flowing again. Along with that particular deadline (book three of the Dark Tyrant Series by the way), I've got so many other projects I want to start it's insane. I need time. Which brings me to my next point: the future (future, future, future, future....echoes).

I'm less than 18 months away from retiring from my current career. If things work out, the stars align, and Cthulhu wakes from his dreamlike slumber, then I can step away from the grind and focus on raising kids and writing books. I find the future to be exciting and scary as F#&K! I've got no idea how it's going to turn out. I suppose nobody does really. What I'm hoping for, is that with the new time I can really kick my writing in to high-gear and fully embrace that part of me. I know it is going to take discipline to make it happen, but I also know that I can do it if I put my mind to it. Which is why I need to get back into the groove NOW. I can't keep waiting for the proverbial later. I think to keep me honest, I'll post regular updates on my works-in-progress.

Finally, on top of all of this, I found out that I drew out for a Black Bear hunting tag! About three or four years ago I got an itch that I wanted to hunt and eat a bear. I'd done a lot of research and found tons of info saying how tasty they are and how incredibly hard to hunt they are. I started putting in for the draw. Well fast forward to now, three years later, and I finally drew a tag. My reasons for wanting to hunt a bear go deeper than mere curiosity. There's something about it that draws me in. Bears are elusive, and the particular hunt I've drawn means I either have to use dogs or spot-and-stalk. I don't have bear dogs, nor do I know anyone with dogs, so it means I've got to spot-and-stalk which also means that my hunt just got that much more difficult. Bottom line, I'm looking forward at the prospect of getting into some new wilderness, pursuing new game, and putting my hunting skills to the ultimate test. (Given my track record, the bears will probably be very safe around me)

I'll keep you all posted on what happens with this, and it may be the only time I ever go bear hunting. If you don't approve of hunting, I can understand that and respect it. It's definitely not for everyone. I'm not here to argue my point. I'm just here to share my experience. 

Final thoughts...stay healthy, stay active, keep writing, and beware the Really Shitty Virus!

What kind of books/stories do you write?
 
First off, thank you so much for the interview, Cody! I write in all kinds of different genres (action/hero, inspirational, young adult, police/crime, etc). However, the one common theme of all my works is that I try to write books with strong themes/messages that will stay with the reader long after they put the work down.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
The story goes that I actually realized that I wanted to be a writer in the 2nd Grade. The main catalyst for my writing was my 2nd Grade Teacher at AP Beutel, Mrs. Scott. When I was in her class years ago, she gave me a homework assignment to write a one-page story. This was the first time I ever wrote anything, and I was inspired with the dream to be a NY Times Bestselling author one day! That experience breathed the love of writing into me and I’ve never stopped since!

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
 
The biggest influential books I’ve read is Og Mandino’s The Greatest Miracle in The World & The Choice.

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
 
I get invited to a lot of local Comic Cons, so that is definitely one of my better opportunities to network with other authors. However, one of my best influences has been my former English Professor, Dr. Joy. She is a short story writer and her works have appeared in numerous publications. She was one of my major encouragements and inspiration to begin writing professionally.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
 
The best way to market books is to just be steady. There is no gimmick that will automatically make a book go viral and sell millions of copies. Instead, a writer builds their audience one reader at a time. I’ve found that doing a combination of a lot of techniques (reviews, interviews, guest posts, etc.) is the best way to build an audience.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
It depends on the work. For historical works, obviously there is a ton of research done to ensure the work is authentic and factually accurate. My award-winning historical novel, Memories Of My Future, included months of research before I started writing it since I wanted to make sure that all my historical facts were in order. However, most of my novels may take a month or two at max for research, since those all take place in more imaginative worlds.

Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
Thank you again for the interview, Cody! If anybody has any follow-up questions, please feel free to reach out to me at ahabibwr@yahoo.com

Links/promotional things:
 
My books are available at:
https://www.amazon.com/Ammar-Habib/e/B00MMQVI9C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Ammar+Habib?_requestid=950803
 
I can be found at:
www.ammarahsenhabib.com
https://www.facebook.com/ammarahsenhabib 
https://twitter.com/AmmarAHabib1
https://instagram.com/ammar.a.habib/

hat kind of books/stories do you write?
 I am an audio dramatist and love the medium.  I enjoy all kinds of stories that are driven by dialogue, sound, and music.  For about five years I produced a zombie horror serial called HG World which told the story of a diverse group of survivors and my favorite part was developing the voice of each character and how they were able to weave exposition into action and natural conversation. 

While HGW was horror, I also love the pulp adventure stories, noir and hard-boiled crime tales, westerns, and character-driven genre fiction.  
I spent the better part of the last three years researching social interaction and group behaviors in virtual worlds and interviewing long-term, hard-core residents of those worlds to learn why they “escape” into these worlds. The result of this is a novel series that follows in the style of Neal Stephenson and Ernest Cline echoing the hard-boiled style of Raymond Chandler and the fun of Gregory MacDonald’s Fletch series. 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 I really can’t remember.  There’s a photograph of me in 1982 with a Smith-Corona typewriter.  I remember being able to make that beast sound like a machine gun (with a cow bell signaling to change the magazine). I was 11 and translating my Dungeons & Dragons adventures into stories and writing dungeon crawls for my friends.  Later, I’d write plots for Call of Cthulhu, RIFTS, and Marvel Super-Heroes.  I wrote weird, little stories in different genres as I grew more confident in building a story structure and dialogue independent of role-playing games.  When those stories started making people laugh or react the way I intended (especially girls) it was a great feeling.  I just kept writing.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
There are several books that influenced me or changed how I write.  Growing up, I was inspired by the Choose Your Own Adventure books and Encyclopedia Brown series. I read a lot of short stories and loved the usual gallery of great, dead white men like Bradbury, Poe, Bierce, Lovecraft, Ellison.  I consumed every Arch Oboler, Orson Welles, Jack Webb, and Carlton Morse story I could find from radio’s golden age. Hunter Thompson’s work inspired me as a teenager as did Somerset Maugham’s “The Razor’s Edge” – both igniting a political and spiritual exploration beyond the fantasy worlds I hid inside most of the time.  Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories turned me on to that subgenre as much as Shea & Wilson’s “The Illuminatus! Trilogy” blew me away in terms of sheer weirdness.  Of every author I’ve ever read?  Douglas Adams remains the one who inspires me most.  His humor and his wordplay are like great jazz or psychedelic rock symphonies.  His satire, humor, and optimism inspire me

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
Sheesh.  I’ve been friends with Keith DeCandido for a number of years and he has taught me a lot about what it takes to dedicate yourself to a profession.  There’s a lot of work involved in not only producing the word count and telling a great story, but getting it and one’s self out into the market and building relationships with readers. Podcasting and social media have brought me together with many writers, all of whom I've learned from.  Without naming names, I would love to steal the talent or work ethic of at least three of them.
Dirk Maggs is an audio dramatist I’ve come to really admire as a person and a professional.  His writing is what inspired me to pursue audio productions where I have the most fun.  His interpretations of Superman and Batman for radio were exceptional in terms of writing and production and I cannot think of someone better suited to continue Douglas Adams’ radio adventures.  He taught me different tricks how to tell a visual story with sound.  
My fellow students from Seton Hill University - I learned as much (if not more) from them than the actual program.  It is such a diverse, generous group of writers in various stages of a professional career.  The instructors are working authors as are the administrators so this isn't just an English course taught by career academics, the people I've come to call my friends in the program have experienced every kind of challenge and failure in the industry.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
Even if you are represented by an agent and published by an established house, you will still need to market yourself through creative opportunities.  Marketing should be part of your budget and that budget should be tied to specific expectations.   Even when you buy business cards, consider how many sales it will take to offset that cost, who should get those cards, and what you will get in return for using them.  
While you, the writer, are a great human person you are also a “brand” representing an ever-growing line of products.  Who is your author brand?  That’s a complex question unless you are the brand you present to the world.  
Network.  Go to conventions to learn from writers.  Engage in workshops.  Get your work out there.  If you have a story you’re excited about but isn’t finding a publication that fits, consider sharing it with people as a sample of your work.  
Have a simple but attractive web site with key information that makes it exciting and EASY for a visitor to learn about and then buy your products.  Keep it up to date with your appearances, releases, and other writerly things.  Provide value in the form of tips for writers, reviews, blog posts – anything to encourage repeat visitors and build your audience.
Get to know convention programming directors and try to get added to the guest lists.  Even small cons can earn you a few new readers and fans.  Build your public speaking skills because that’s what will help you market.
Keep writing.  Even when you can’t write.  Write something.  Research.  Imagine new ways to tell your stories.  Take risks.  Don’t give up when all the voices inside and outside your head are telling you to give up and herd goats in the Shetlands.  Just write.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
​For The Diary of Jill Woodbine, I pretty much had years of world-building and production completed in the audio drama, so I knew how the zombies (“eaters”) worked and how society was pretty much a mess.  I didn’t have to do a lot of research except when it came to the heroine.  Jill’s character revealed itself to me as I wove her into the mythology of HG World and since the story is told from her perspective, with insights and observations that are very personal, I came to the conclusion she was a lesbian.  This wasn’t a shocking revelation because she made subtle, almost apologetic references to being inspired and interested in various women through the book and that interest went beyond the “young feminist” I originally conceived.  When the character of Red Molly is introduced later on, she had become something of a hard-boiled character and Molly the femme fatale.  It made sense for the two of them to fall into an awkward but passionate relationship.  Being a CIS heterosexual male and in my early 40s at the time, I had limited perspective on what a millennial lesbian feminist would truly think or feel, so as I wrote the book, I had to read and talk to people who helped guide the character’s path through the story.  I guess it worked because, while I never intended the story to be an LGBTQ romance, it found a small niche as such among New Adult readers.
For The Resurrection Pact, I have always been fascinated by the intersection of story and interactive gaming.  After reading Janet Murray’s “Hamlet on the Holodeck” back in the 90s, I’ve been excited to see her predictions about intelligent and immersive gaming technology coming true.  Talking with people designing the next generation of virtual gaming, augmented reality, simulators, and especially adaptive story line algorithms that alter the game based on the preferences and actions of the player(s) I learned that it will become very easy to get lost in the vivid “reality” of a gaming environment.  
Lurking in the now-sparsely-populated realms of Second Life, I learned how people use open world technology to create a world that is emotionally as real to them as the meatverse.  With the population of SL dropping since its peak in the last decade, the remaining denizens are hard-core players, many of whom have formed groups to role-play new communities.  Some people use the platform as a digital model train set to distract or unwind from the stresses of reality.  Others use it as a tool to explore different sides of themselves, psychologically and sexually. Interviewing players in SL and other free play environments helped me understand some of the characters playing in the open world of Aeternus.  

Any last thoughts for our readers?
Be kind to one another. Relax. Do one thing every day that scares you, one thing you MUST do but keep putting off, and then one thing you love.  Every day.

Also, check out my books.  And audio drama shows.  I have student loans to pay and would like to entertain you so I can pay them.  Kthnks.


Links/promotional things (include any photos you would like)

• www.jaysmithaudio.com
• www.goodmorningsurvivors.com
• www.hiddenharbormysteries.com

What kind of books/stories do you write?
All the kinds! What you should ask is what kinds of stories I write well. Ha! I’ve written young adult, science fiction, horror, mystery (my favorite), fantasy, romance, and even a comedic mystery.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Funny story. For two years my husband and I couldn’t have kids. By the time I was the ripe old age of 23, I figured I needed a backup plan, so I decided to write a book. A handful of fertility treatments later and my body got things figured out. I went on to have five kids, attending writing groups regularly during each pregnancy. I wrote slowly. I finished my first book when I was 27. I finished it again when I was 31. It was better the second time, really it was, but I wanted to write a book with more spark to the plot. Something more like my favorite TV show, Veronica Mars. Something edgy, with conspiracy and a smart female lead and emotion desperate enough to push my characters to their limits. That book became my debut through Cedar Fort.
  
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read? 
Why do you torture authors with questions like this? Mostly stuff I read when I was young. Little House on the Prairie, Trixie Belden, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, The Brothers Karamazov and other Russian books—I went through a whole phase—everything by John Steinbeck and Leo Tolstoy, Babysitter's Club books, D-Day by Stephen Ambrose and hundred other nonfiction histories, and anything YA that shows up in my house even the ones I hate. I just make goals on how to avoid hating my own stuff.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
Let me roll up my sleeves. Okay, here we go:
Eric James Stone got me into my first writer’s group, which he formed. Becca Fitzpatrick taught be to write cool and fast. Spencer Ellsworth knew how to make characters so interesting you didn’t even need plot (which caused me to not bother with them for a few years). Later I started meeting with Kathi Peterson, Kathleen Doughty, Maureen Mills, Ann Chamberlin, Char Raddon and others. They really hammered in the idea that plot, you know, wasn’t a bad idea. Plus taught me how to create one—a years-long process of gentle nudges during critiquing. Heather Clark and I raised our kids with one hand so we could use the other to call each other and expound on every single piece of writing teaching we ever learned so we could embed it properly into our souls. I can’t begin to list all the people at the Storymakers conference and tribe who influenced my marketing ideas and general enthusiasm for the profession of writing. Scott Forman and others in the horror sphere took me under their wing even if I do like happy endings and kissing. Just dozens more people than I can name, really. The writing community is really accepting.
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
That’s the question of the year! I tried a big in-person launch party and loved it, but it didn’t pay for itself. I speak at lots of schools and conferences. I make sure my friends and family know they can get the book from the library. I’m working most on making fans, not sales, that way I have a platform to work with during my next release. I volunteer to help with conferences and writing groups. I give free writing webinars with Heather Clark on YouTube at 50FirstChapters. We’ve got a few thousand views over there, so that’s fun. Again, it might not make me money now, but I like doing the webinars and they’re free. If I ever start to make a name for myself, I have all these online landing areas for readers to go and become fans.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I research as I go. I like to write about subjects I’m already a semi-expert on. My book Shatter has a murder in the orchards of California where Hispanic workers are on strike against white land owners. Lots of gang activity goes on. That setting is pretty much my childhood. I have a story in an anthology called Under a New York Skyline where a dancer and a CrossFitter go head to head to prove who is in better shape. My husband owns a CrossFit gym and I Zumba. We tease each other all the time about who is burning more calories. However, every story needs research. I love Google, obviously. I also ask on Facebook for expert advice. It’s been relatively easy to link myself to professionals like fire fighters when I need to explode stuff. J
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
How about an excerpt? Those are always fun. Thanks for letting me come on and participate!! 
Excerpt 
The class is dead silent. Mr. White’s lips tighten. He swallows. There’s something dangerous about the new guy. The teacher leans over AddyDay’s desk and spins her packet so he can read the list of partnerships. “Fine. We’ll break up the threesome. You’ll pair with . . . Salem Jefferson.”
At the sound of my name, I turn to look at my new partner.
The guy near the door is tall. He has the kind of incredible good looks that invite stares, but that’s not the only reason he’s getting them now. The cursive lettering of a tattoo rises from the opening of the guy’s worn flannel shirt. Two gold chains hang from his brown neck. A guy accessorized in gang paraphernalia, not caked with it. His only completely visible marking is an upside down V inked onto his right cheekbone, black and distinct. The tattoo calls my attention for some reason, even though I’m sure I’ve never seen a symbol like that before. An upside down V . . . it seems so familiar.
His expressionless, dark eyes dart to meet my gaze from under a stiff, backward-facing ball cap. My classmates watch him stare at me.
“Salem Jefferson,” he says slowly, putting a slight emphasis on my last name. He waits for my response.
I realize he knows exactly who Salem Jefferson is. Exactly who I am. I’m Carrie’s sister.
Terrified, I whirl back around to face forward. Gang members targeted Carrie, made her frightened. Was he one of them? The skin between my shoulder blades tightens. Why were gang guys after Carrie?
 
 
Author BioNikki Trionfo lives in Riverton, Utah with five kids, a CrossFit-training husband who writes computer code, and lots of hip hop background music. Her teen murder mystery, SHATTER (May '17 from Cedar Fort), won grand prize in LDStorymakers’ First Chapter Alongside Heather Clark, she hosts free writing webinars on YouTube at #50FirstChapters.

A committed party-girl, Nikki serves as the public relations director of LDStorymakers Conference. Other notable stuff includes an honorable mention in Writers of the Future and a spot in Utah Horror Writer's shorty-story anthology. This all sounds really serious, but if you run into her, she gets down. 

Shatter Links

• Cedar Fort Webpage highlighting the blog tour. http://blog.cedarfort.com/blog-tour-shatter/
• Amazon link to purchase Shatter. https://www.amazon.com/dp/146212013X/
• Shatter landing page. www.nikkitrionfo.com/Shatter
• Shatter Book Launch and Dance Off. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/shatter-book-launch-dance-off/
• Shatter Playlist, with songs that inspired my writing. One song per chapter. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/shatter-playlist/
• Inspired by Shatter contest for $50 and 5 books donated to your local school. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/InspiredbyShatter/
• Dig into the Shatter World. Books about unions and reformed gang members. Blogs about my experiences writing with diversity. Some of the posts are League of Utah Writers award-winning essays. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/shatterworld/