Author Spotlight- Interview with Fiction Writer Jon Bolitho-Jones

What would you like to promote?

Well, I would like to promote my book When the World Falls Down. It’s a quirky YA Fantasy story – Douglas Adams meets CS Lewis and the film Labyrinth. Link found right here: https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/young-adult/when-the-world-falls-down/

I am also here to promote myself too! I am a writer/actor from the northwest of England. Here’s my Twitter handle: @JonBolihtoJones. and here’s my writing website: https://www.jonbolithojonesauthor.co.uk/

What does success look like to you?

Oooo that’s quite a question. For me, it would be making a full-time living from my books and my writing, interspersed with a bit of performance too. It’s also having people enjoy my work and being recognized as a writer.

What genre do you write in?

Fantasy. Well I mostly write YA fantasy but I’m also trying my hand at Science Fiction and Horror – the genres often being mixed together.

What was your favorite childhood book?

That would be the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Absolutely brilliant. If you know Animals of Farthing Wood or Watership Down, well it was basically that but with swords, lots of fighting, and classic fantasy tropes.

How did you get started with writing?

In some ways, I have always enjoyed making up magical, fantastical worlds, though it was only when I was 11 that I began to write them all down. After lots of false starts though I started When the World Falls Down, completed it and then wanted to share it with the world. When it comes to actually create a story and getting it down in a Word document I generally begin by coming up with an idea, or simply choosing one from my bank of ideas. I then write out a loose chapter by chapter plan and then start writing and getting it done. I do a bit each day, approximately 2,000 words, and so steadily it gets written. The first draft is usually a mess so then it goes to the editing stage, which is pretty long, but that’s where the real work begins.

How do you attract new readers?

Generally what I have tried so far is posting blog articles and free short stories. Along with that, I engage with people on social media when I can, especially on Twitter. Pretty much everything is done online really.

Do you connect with any of the characters in your book?

Yes. I tend to write from my own emotional experiences, so there are little parts of me found in almost all of my main characters. However, my lead is actually based on my wife.

What is your favorite thing about being a blogger, writer, or author?

It has to be when someone reads my works and really enjoys them. Positive reviews are great, though I also like sitting and chatting about the lore, characters, and mysteries of my book with anyone who is interested.

How do you make sales as an author?

I’m not quite sure so far. I’m still experimenting at the moment. I’ll let you know when I find out!

What are you reading right now?

The Hobbit. I’ve just finished Anthony Beevor’s book about the Spanish Civil War though. I know – very different material.

What is your favorite genre to read?

Fantasy, SciFi, and historical non-fiction

What is your favorite comfort food?

Chocolate, though on savory days cheese. I am also a sucker for charcuterie boards.

Who are your top three favorite authors?

Tolkien, Walter Moers, and Terry Pratchett

How do you come up with plots or characters for your book?

Happy accidents maybe? In reality, I draw inspiration from everywhere whether books, films, TV shows, videogames, moments, personal experiences, and then gradually ideas form into something tangible in my head. These are then written down in “ideas” documents so I don’t forget them. Some of these ideas actually get combined too. I have a character (and race) in my book who was originally intended for something else.

If you could learn how to make any food what would it be?

That’s another tricky one… My answer – all the food! I like cooking and it’d be nice to know how to make everything and know exactly what goes well with each other for dinner parties.

What do you like to do for fun?

I am a big geek really, in particular miniature wargaming. I collect Warhammer, and though I’m not a great painter, I like to put them together, create new characters and frightening new worlds. I also like board games, reading, and old-school video gaming (no Fortnite or Call of Duty for me!)

What advice do you have for new writers just starting out?

Get on that social media as soon as you can. Even if you’d don’t have a book out, start building up that author platform and making connections. Also, prepare for disappointment and rejection, find good reliable people to read the work that gives you honest feedback, and keep pushing on with your writing and creating.

What helps you to stay motivated and keep writing?

I would say stubborn determination and the thrill of creating new stories and worlds. I write for fun too sometimes.

What projects are you working on right now?

I’ve actually just finished the 2nd book of my other YA fantasy series. Only the first draft though, so it still needs a lot of work. Along with that I am also querying my manuscripts and reading a short story for a competition. Perhaps most importantly I am in the very early stages of publishing the sequel to When the World Falls Down.

Thank you Jon for a wonderful interview!

To connect with Jon and read more check out these links~

When the World Falls Down – https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/young-adult/when-the-world-falls-down/

Our Little Patch of Paradise – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0872XZPBM

The Clown in the Basement – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clown-Basement-Edimorian-short-story-ebook/dp/B08JK7SVKQ

Website – https://www.jonbolithojonesauthor.co.uk/post/10-things-you-need-to-know-before-visiting-edimor

If you are a fellow writer, author, or blogger and want  your own interview go to https://noshwithchefjulie.com/contact/

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Interview with Fiction Author Morgan Elbert

Tell us about yourself and how we can connect with you.

My name is Morgan Elbert and I am an author living in the midwest.  I graduated magna cum laude with a degree in psychology. Traveling,  reading, baking, and hiking are some of my favorite things to do when I am not being bossed around by my cat, Elsinora. 

You can contact me via Twitter @megasus90 or through my art page on Facebook under the name Megasus Designs.  My first published book is available on Amazon, and I will provide a link to that at the end of the interview. 

What inspires your writing?

Anything, really. Usually, it is inspired by an emotion or a feeling. Sometimes it is inspired by a scene I imagine in a daydream or even during one of my nightmares. My writing is inspired by whatever I encounter that begs to have a story told about it. 

What does success look like to you?

Success to me looks like happiness.  I’m not sure how to gauge that, and I’m not sure that it is a suitable answer, but I feel like if I can ever achieve happiness or at least contentment, I will have been successful. 

What genre do you write in? If more than one how do you balance them?

I almost always write fiction, typically with a twist of some sort. My writing is highly emotional and introspective with a sprinkling of science fiction elements, just for good measure.  I wouldn’t say that I find balancing my more realistic writing with my more elaborately imaginative necessary.  It is my belief that as long as something tells a compelling story, the genre doesn’t matter nearly as much as one might expect.  

What was your favorite childhood book?

My favorite childhood book was a series of books about a precocious little girl named Junie B. Jones. The B stood for Beatrice, but she just liked B, and that was all.  The author of these books was Barbara Park, who will always have a special place in my heart for the happiness she brought me through her writing.

How did you get started with writing?

This is a bit ridiculous to say,  but honestly,  I was writing before I knew how. My mom read to me all the time when I was a child, and I fell in love with stories. Mom likes to tell me about when I was a toddler, holding a pen and scribbling and “illustrating” things that I would later “read” to her.  Ever since then, it is all I’ve ever really wanted to be in life —  a writer.  

How do you attract new readers?

I haven’t quite figured this part out yet. I suspect I need to gain some method of advertising.  For now, I rely mostly on word of mouth and social media.  I’m hoping that this interview will be a step in the right direction.

Do you connect with any of the characters in your book?

Certainly, and in many ways, many of my characters hold parts of me inside their very core.  I assume this is true of every writer who has ever written a piece of fiction. I won’t tell you which characters in my book are based on parts of myself though. It is more fun if you don’t know.

What is your favorite thing about being a blogger, writer, or author?

My favorite part is that I get to write. I love stories, and I love telling them. Yes, writing is difficult at times. It is a struggle to find the right word, the right description.  Editing is dreadful. It is all worth it though.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished reading two books this evening, actually.  One is The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. The other is Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh. 

What is your favorite genre to read?

If I have to choose a favorite, I would say my favorite genre to read (and write) is speculative fiction. I enjoy books with science fiction leanings and love the way authors are able to invent entire realities.  Anything that ignites my imagination is a must-read for me. 

What is your favorite comfort food?

Potato soup.  Not just any potato soup, though. The way my gram used to make it. It is so wonderful and probably not even slightly healthy, but I have always loved that soup.  I tried to learn how to make it, but it is never quite the same as it was when she would make a pot and bring it over to surprise me because she knew I was having a hard time or I was under the weather.  There’s something naturally comforting about a bowl of soup.

How do you come up with plots or characters for your book?

This may be cliché,  but I rarely do any specific plotting for my stories. I have tried it a number of times but found myself wandering down unexpected paths to the point of ending up in entirely different destinations than I had originally planned. My stories usually begin with a scene. I imagine a scene: A woman at a pottery wheel, her partner watching her. A boy lost at a circus, finding solace in music.  As I write that scene, the rest of the story blooms, and I type until I’ve managed to capture as much of it as I am able.  

What does a typical day of writing look like for you?

A typical day of writing for me starts with coffee and pacing near my computer. I procrastinate and try to figure out which scene I want to work with on that particular day. Eventually, I sit down and stare at a blank screen for a while and feel like my brain must have fallen out of my head because I no longer know any words.  After long enough, something magical happens, and I start a sentence. Usually, it is a faltering one, but it is the beginning.  After long enough, I’m a few paragraphs or pages deep, huddled in my chair like a gargoyle, trying to type fast enough to keep up with the story my mind is telling me.  

What do you like to do for fun?

I love hiking. I paint and draw and play video games as well, but I love hiking. There is something grounding about being outdoors for me.  It almost feels like if I stay inside for too long, my mind starts to suffocate, and if I am able to go outside, it starts to breathe again. 

What is something about yourself most people don’t know?

If I answer this, then they would know. Ha.

What has influenced you the most as a writer?

Reading. Hands down,  reading, and being read to since birth had the most influence on me as a writer. It fostered my love of stories and helped me learn how to tell them.

If you could live in any book what would it be?

Do travel guides count? 

What projects are you working on right now?

I have had a work in progress novel I’ve been trying to gain traction on for years, but honestly, instead of working on that, I’m working on another collection of short stories. Oops.

Any other information you would like to include to our readers?

My book is available on Amazon. If you are interested in checking into it further. It is a collection of short stories titled Honest Inventions by Morgan Elbert.  The stories range from deeply emotional stories about loss and mental health to straight-up science fiction.  One of the reviews accurately stated, “there’s a genre for everyone” in this book. 

Here is the link!

https://www.amazon.com/Honest-Inventions-Collection-Short-Fiction/dp/B089TS39HZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=morgan+elbert&qid=1604023718&sr=8-3

Thank you Morgan for a great interview!

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Author Interview with Horror, Fantasy, and Queer Fiction Writer Sarah Edmonds

Tell us about yourself and how we can connect with you.

Hello! I am currently a Dual MFA Creative Writing and MA English student at Arcadia University. I started the program after a few years working in independent film and public television—I’ve worked almost any position you can think of at one point or another. I’ve had films win recognition in a few national and international festivals and recently had a few poems published as well. While I do still work in film—mostly through writing my own screenplays and occasionally working as a script consultant—my main roles now include technical writer at an immigration law firm, Poetry Editor for the 2020-2021 Marathon Literary Journal, and Co-Chair for the Communications Committee of the American Public Health Association’s International Health Section.

As a writer, I specialize in horror, fantasy, and queer fiction and usually pull elements from all of them into my stories. Currently, I’m in the revision stage for a Young Adult Fantasy novel that I have high hopes for. It’s a lot different than my previous work—a lot more “low-key” for lack of a better word—but it’s been a great project to work on. I’ve also been working on an epic fantasy trilogy in my spare time but that’s more of a pet-project than anything I think will take off professionally.

You can connect with me through social media (I’m @SarahEEdmonds on both Instagram and Twitter) or through my blog For Page and Screen at https://forpageandscreen.home.blog/!

What inspires your writing?

The main thing that inspires me to write is a desire for greater representation in fiction. The first thing I ever seriously wrote was mainly a spite-piece after reading a book that was quite racist and misogynistic. Since then, I just love pulling in characters of all different identities with all different backgrounds to kind of push back against the problematic themes that have existed—especially in genres such as fantasy and horror—for so long.

What genre do you write in? If more than one how do you balance them?

I guess I kind of already gave this away, but I work primarily in horror and fantasy writing. While I do like to try different things, as well—my grad school cohort was subjected to everything from detective fiction to scifi and even a historical epistolary romance—I always find myself coming back to horror and fantasy. Honestly, I tend to favor horror when working in film and fantasy when in prose but horror is my first love and the things I’ve learned from it do and always will seep into everything I write. When I incorporate horror into other pieces it becomes not so much about scaring or grossing out the reader but just knowing how to be honest. I try to never shy away from the unnerving or unsavory events of life and I think writing about them instead of glossing over them is an aspect of horror writing that will always make my work that much more visceral.

What is your favorite thing about being a blogger, writer, or author?

I think my favorite thing is just being able to create life. I know that sounds a bit abstract but I mean it seriously. When writing these characters they really do grow into people with their own identities and being able to imagine a whole world of people and to be able to share their story with others—and possibly having complete strangers feel connected to and invested in those people—is just such a surreal experience. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.

Who are your top three favorite authors?

I appreciate that this question doesn’t just ask for one! Currently, I’d say that my top three favorite authors are Indrapramit (Indra) Das, Mohsin Hamid, and Gail Tsukiyama.

What do you like to do for fun?

I spend most of my free time reading manga and webcomics, honestly. I used to be really serious about becoming a manga writer (I’ve never been great at art so just the writer) back in middle school but I’ve actually recently been spending more time practicing manga-style art. If you check out my Instagram page you’ll be able to tell that I have not made much progress, but it’s still fun to try! Other than that I enjoy knitting and crocheting and playing several instruments.

What helps you to stay motivated and keep writing?

I have to admit, writing is almost compulsory for me. There have been times when I’ve stopped writing—either because of other responsibilities or to get distance from a project that’s causing me trouble—and I swear my mental health suffers for it. That being said, I do often have moments of self-doubt when writing. Because I focus on writing diverse casts of characters, I often write characters with different identities from myself. I’m always, always anxious about misrepresenting people but I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful support group of friends who either help me with sensitivity reads or by connecting me with people to understand the lived experience of different groups. Without my friends, I’d probably be too anxious to write about the issues I really care about.

What projects are you working on right now?

Outside of fiction writing, I’ve actually been working on revamping an old blog of mine (renamed: For Page and Screen) and that’s been taking up a lot of time just because it’s such a learning curve. However, I hope to turn it into a place for novice writers and filmmakers to find the tips, connections, and motivation to jumpstart their own personal journeys.

As for fiction projects, as I again let slip a bit earlier, I’ve mostly been working on a YA Fantasy novel. It’s actually my grad school thesis project but I’ve grown so attached to it that I want to try and put it out into the world. The novel itself also does borrow elements from horror and queer fiction; I tried to use them to put a spin on the coming-of-age fantasy story. It deals with a lot of darker topics like discrimination, abusive households, and childhood abandonment; however, I’d still venture to say it’s the “cutest” story I’ve ever written. Don’t ask me how that makes sense (I swear it does!) but I hope one day you’ll be able to read the book and find out!

Thank you Sarah for a wonderful interview!

To start your own interview- https://noshwithchefjulie.com/contact/

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Interview with Fiction and Poetry Writer J. D. Graham

Tell us about yourself and how we can connect with you.

My name is J. D. Graham. I write short fiction, poetry, and essays about writing. The best way to connect with me right now is through my Twitter (@jd_graham_) or by joining my newsletter to get free access to exclusive content: https://www.subscribepage.com/jd_graham_ I’m going to be sending a poetry chapbook to my newsletter subscribers very soon! I won’t be sending that out again; instead, I’ll be publishing it for a fee. Now is your only chance to get a free copy of that collection. Sign up for my newsletter now! 

 What inspires your writing?

Classical Mythology! I studied Latin and Greek in undergrad, and I love the gravity of the old myths. In all genres of my writing, you can find influence from the old Greek and Roman myths. Right now I’m reading through Ovid’s Metamorphoses and working on stories inspired by his work. 

What genre do you write in? If more than one how do you balance them?

For fiction, I usually write horror or fantasy. Those genres allow me to play with the same themes as are found in Classical myth. In poetry, I write a wide array of genres, usually focused tightly on form. My non-fiction is pretty tightly focused on literary criticism. 

I don’t spend a lot of conscious time balancing writing different genres. Because writing is a bit of an escape for me, I allow myself the freedom to write whatever genre I am in the mood to write. I’m sure I would be a more effective writer if I scheduled out my time, but I enjoy the freedom too much right now — the rest of my life is already so structured, this feels like a good place to let myself play a bit. 

What is your favorite thing about being a blogger, writer, or author?

My primary goal and greatest joy as a writer is to entertain readers. Especially when it comes to fiction, I don’t write to be “literary” — whatever that means. Instead, I want to write a good story that keeps people entertained. That’s one of the reasons I like formal poetry. Formal poetry holds another layer of meaning for poets to employ in rhyme and structure, and thus offers more depth of meaning for a reader to draw out of the poem. 

What are you reading right now?

I’m writing this in October, so I’m in the mood for short horror right now. I’m reading a collection of short horror including authors like Ambrose Bierce. I’ve been planning on re-reading the Lord of the Rings, and I think I’ll start in on that next. 

What does a typical day of writing look like for you?

I write early in the morning (around 4:30 am) on non-gym days. I used to set very firm wordcounts for myself, but now I just focus on moving the needle on whatever I’m working on at the time. Sometimes that’s revision, sometimes that’s starting something new, sometimes that’s cranking out a couple thousand words — it just depends on the situation. 

If you could learn how to make any food what would it be?

I love to cook! I worked in restaurants for a long time, so I’m always trying out new recipes. I would love to learn how to make a perfect Beef Wellington. 

What projects are you working on right now?

Right now, I’m finishing up a poetry chapbook. Like I said earlier, I’m also working on a series of short stories connected by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. I’m going to be releasing selections of that on my newsletter, so readers can get sneak peeks and early access there! 

Thank you J.D. for a great interview!

If you are a fellow writer, author, or blogger and want your own interview go to https://noshwithchefjulie.com/contact/

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Interview with Author H.G Ahedi

What is your favorite genre to read?

I love reading mysteries and medical thrillers. I began reading at a very early age and started with books like Famous Five and Hardy Boys. Furthermore, I read Erle Stanley’s mysteries for a long time and then was hooked to Robin Cook and Cliver Cussler. Nowadays I read both fiction and nonfiction. 

How did you get started with writing?

When I was in college, I would share with my friends all the stories that I had read. One night I happen to dream a plot and shared it with a friend. She liked it so much that she suggested I should write it down and perhaps publish it. That was my first book and I called it Black Moon. I published it, just for fun but didn’t market it or anything and it was hard during that time. After writing this book I never stopped writing, although I only decided to publish my books in 2019. 

What helps you to stay motivated and keep writing?

Several things. Reading other people’s work, joining writer’s groups, and interacting with other authors/writers. My friends are my main source of motivation. They encouraged me to never give up when I was struggling to publish Haunted (my second book). Sharing the stories with trusted friends improved the development of my books to a lot of degrees. Most of all, I think what keeps me going is writing or trying to write every day. 

What genre do you write in? If more than one how do you balance them?

Well, I began with writing mystery thrillers, and honestly, I enjoy writing them. It comes naturally to me. Since I always read mystery suspense thrillers, I thought I would only write in this genre, but I was wrong. In 2018, I came up with an epic Sci-Fi Fantasy (Fall of Titan) and this book is scheduled to be released this December. It was a complete surprise, but I am glad to be able to write different kinds of books. 

Tell us about yourself and how we can connect with you.

It will be my pleasure, I am H.G Ahedi. I was born and raised in India and I moved to Australia a decade ago. I am a researcher with a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and I am also a fiction writer. Visiting beaches and traveling are the two things I really love to do. I write on my couch with a cup of coffee. 

You can find me here: Facebook: AuthorHarbeerAhedi
Twitter: @harbeerahedi
Instagram @harbeerahedi

Links to my books: https://www.amazon.com/H.G-Ahedi

H.G AhediFollow H.G Ahedi and explore their bibliography from Amazon.com’s H.G Ahedi Author Page.www.amazon.com

Thank you for a H. G Ahedi lovely interview!

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