Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Clarity The Divine Potentials Series Book 1 by Ethan Stein Genre: Epic Fantasy


  • Something about myself and how I became writer

Not sure about others, but I actually started out hating writing. I found it to be a chore. I particularly remember rebelling against my assignments at school and my parents demand that I write something.

Then when I was in 7th grade, I was tasked with writing, I forget what, but I decided to write a scary story. It was pure horror – people dying, blood and guts everywhere – and people liked it.  It wasn’t Shakespeare by any stretch of the imagination, but it was the first time I found enjoyment in writing. I wrote a couple more horror pieces, but then my mom told me if I didn’t write something non-gory she wouldn’t read my stories anymore.  So I wrote a story about a lost puppy name Spaghetti and his attempts to find his way home.  I once tried to find that story but it was long gone from my home computer (this was back during the Apple IIe days).

And as the years passed and I became more proficient in writing, I found it easier and more enjoyable to write. Now I write far more than a few simple paragraphs even for a guest post like this.

 

 

  • Where were you born/grew up?

I was born in upstate New York in the suburbs, as unassuming and uninteresting as can be. When we first moved to the area it was mostly woods with a few houses, so my friends and I were able to explore large swaths of forest. As a I grew older, it was torn down for housing, which was sad because it meant less opportunity for adventure.

I feel like the world has become more concerned with safety (especially with the pandemic now), which has stilted children’s exploration capabilities. It was fine back when I was a kid to be out for hours and time without telling my parents where I was going. They were sure I would return. Now there is the fear of abductions and sex offenders and similar dangers, and I refuse to let my children out beyond the neighborhood block.

Also, they spend a majority of their time on technology devices making it less likely for them to explore outside. I’m grateful for technological improvements but at the same time I feel like it has impacted the extent and depth of childhood. Kids are just growing up way too fast.

 

 

  • How do you find time to write as a parent?

I don’t. When they were first born, it was easy because all my kids did was sleep.  And now that they’re getting older, it is becoming a little easier because they can mostly entertain themselves.  Unfortunately, that entertainment usually involves iPads and video games and I fear the anti-social behavior that will develop. So I have to give up the opportunity to write and instead focus on them. This is especially true with my son who needs a little more help with focusing than my daughter who is older. On top of that, all of their activities like Piano and Karate are online with the pandemic, making it even more important for me to be there to help them remain focused. It’s ironic, but I’m more involved with them stuck at home, then I had been when I was shlepping them to the actual location for their activities.  And despite me not going anywhere, I still feel exhausted. Writing is simply a luxury now I simply do not have. Maybe once the world starts moving again it’ll be easier, but for now, the kids come first.

 

 

  • Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

I am a diehard anime fan, and as a fantasy writer, I write with the view that my entire series can be made into an anime. I feel like that would be the epitome of achievement, were I to see my characters moving on screen. That being said, I feel like movies are too short a medium. I still remember how one of my favorite novels — Michael Crichton's Timeline — was absolutely bastardized on the big screen. They simply removed far too much to make it enjoyable. I couldn’t stand the thought of that happening to any of my novels. So I’d be more inclined to have it be a series, preferably animated, then as a feature-length film. Maybe a limited series at the least.

 



 

  • What inspired you to write this book?

This book is actually version 12 of the original manuscript. The original manuscript was over 115K words long and while it still had all of the same characters, there was no depth or substance to any of them. My earlier readers actually despised Daena (the main character) for her lack of growth. I am grateful that I wasn’t actually able to publish that first version because it forced me to go back and figure out how to make it more marketable (not only length-wise but character-wise as well). I split it into two stories and worked on the first half over and over again, giving Daena more depth with each pass and also making the story darker and real, until finally ending up with the version I published. You would be amazed to see the Daena’s transformation from that original story; I’m certain she wouldn’t recognize herself.

 

  • Do I have any “side stories”?

Yes. The ones I’ve written so far center around Asha Vahishtya, who is the main protagonist in the series, but not in each individual book in the series, which certain around specific characters that come in contact with him. The plot is either what Asha is up to between Divine Potential books (like how he got from Iburdeen to Keskt) or something related to his backstory, and are released a little ways before the main story it is associated with. I have ideas for other side stories but these are the main ones so far.

 

  • How did you come up with the title?

Clarity” is the name of one of the seven Divine Potentials, which are abilities that embody the powers of specific Mahrahspand Gods or Goddesses. Clarity embodies Aspen, the Goddess of Devotion and Pure Thought. Those with the Clarity ability are able to articulate and convey messages full of meaning and depth with relative ease. Many become public speakers in one fashion or another. Furthermore, they can construct definitive arguments and have a higher likelihood of swaying the minds of those spoken to. They are also capable of better understanding situations and how to respond to them (although this is not innate and must be worked at). Finally, those with this ability tend to be devoted to a higher cause, be it moral or immoral, and will focus all their intention and drive (and often their physical resources) on achieving that purpose. 

The other six Divine Potentials are: FarSight, Remedy, Fluency, Permanence, Transcendence, and Justice.  Each of the books in the series will focus on someone that has gained that ability.

 

  • Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

I wholeheartedly believe that my characters are living the story and I am simply recording events as they happen. I am no more in control of my story than a horseback rider is on a mountain trail: sure you have reigns and you can pull this way and that, but if the horse doesn’t want to go in the direction you tell it then you ain’t going that way. There have been times where I wanted my characters in the story to act a particular way, but when I attempted to write them into that situation, I either couldn’t figure out how to get them there or the result felt forced. There’s nothing more frustrating than writing a page worth of material only to realize that it is completely counter to how the character is known to behave. When that does happen, I reluctantly scrape those passages because I know it’ll be a better story if I let the character organically control where the story is going.

 

  • What is your favorite part of this book and why?

My favorite part of about Clarity is the bumblefruit. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

 

  • Have you written any other books that are not published?

The Divine Potentials series is slated to be 8 books. I have written four books so far in the series and am working on publishing one per year. Clarity is available now, FarSight is available for pre-order, Remedy will be available sometime next year, and Fluency: Awakening the year after that. I had to split Fluency into two parts because it was simply too long in its original format and I wanted to let the characters tell the story without being limited by time.

 




High Priestess Daena Vulatanne has spent more than a decade preparing to lead the Holy Order of the Water Goddess Anahita. The safety of the isolated community of women has always been paramount, but the arrival of a strange messenger forces her to question if their exposure is worth risking her role as the future leader.

Asha’s presence in the village threatens the secrecy the women have fought to maintain. While he carries a message for Daena’s people, he also holds the key to a rogue Order member’s lifelong ambition: revenge for the destruction of her brethren.

The purity and innocence Daena thought she knew soon gives way to evil and corruption. In a tumultuous time of deception, magic, and adventure, she must sacrifice something dear to her: her ideals, her devotion, or her life. 

**On Sale for only .99 cents!!** 





Ethan Stein was born in Buffalo, NY, where he developed a love for writing at an early age. While the beginnings were rather gory and incomplete, it was the start of something important. 

In college, Ethan developed a far greater love and understanding of writing, even taking a few courses on how to be a better writer. It was there that he also began to develop the world of Mahrahspand, which was the foundation of his Divine Potentials Series. 

His wife and two kids have been very supportive in his quest to further flesh out his fantasy world, and are eager to discover all that he has to offer. 







A $25 amazon gift card 

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Sunday, June 28, 2020

Knucklehead Fred by Arias Williams Genre: Children's Picture Book






Knucklehead Fred is a whimsical, rhyming story about a fun-loving, energetic boy named Fred.

His parents just can’t figure out how to make him sit still and listen!

But when Fred finds himself in need of a favor, Mom and Dad use it as a perfect opportunity to teach him a thing or two about responsibility. 





Arias Williams is a creative based in Los Angeles, CA. 

He is a father of two children, a husband, and currently teaches 7th Grade in South Los Angeles. 

When he isn't working on Knucklehead Fred, Arias can be found in his home studio making beats, hanging with his family, or working to educate the future of Los Angeles. 




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Saturday, June 27, 2020

365 Days of Writing Prompts for Romance Writers Savvy Writers Book 1 by Kim Knight Genre: Writing, Self Help






With 365 Days Of Writing Prompts for Romance Writers, there’s no need for additional notepads or places to store your ideas. For each day of the year there’s a dedicated space for plotting your ideas, with a writing prompt to create an outline for a romance short story, novella, novel or even flash fiction. All you need to do is adapt the characters or setting to your sub-genre of romance. For each day of the year you’ll find a creative, engaging, fun and challenging writing prompt, with situations or people to craft your next story. There is also a personal blogging challenge with writing prompts, for romance writers to engage with their readers, grow their following, find new readers and allow their audience to get to know them via their own personal blog or author site. With 356 Days Of Writing Prompts For Romance Writers you’ll never be stuck for a romance story idea, or blog topic again! Each month has a focus and fully adaptable to your sub-genre, dip in and out of each day, week, month as you wish. 


January- New Directions Love
February- Unexpected New Love
March- Fresh Starts and New Beginnings
April- Love in Unexpected Places
May- Historical, Regency and Multicultural
June- Contemporary Romance
July- Paranormal, Horror and Dark Romance
August- Christmas and Holiday Love
September- Mixed Bag of Goodies!
October- December Romance Writers’ Blog Writing Challenge Prompts
Award-Winning Romantic Suspense and Thriller Author Kim Knight, also shares her secrets on writing realistic, page-turning romance. Also her experience with writing prompts, which has allowed her to co-author two novels, and seventeen short-stories to date. So, romance writers around the world, grab your pen and your copy and get ready to write every day of the year and never run out of creativity. Note the paperback version will allow you to plot your ideas all in one space in the book, and let go of your hundreds of different idea notepads. 






Kim is born in 1983 and from London in the UK. She's a mother to a beautiful little boy, and a proud award winning author (awarded Best Romance 2017 title for A Stranger In France). Kim started her journey as a traditionally published author and later dived into self-publishing also.

As a reader she's head over heels in love with romance, historical fiction, crime fiction, African- American, suspense and thriller genre books. As a writer, Kim enjoys creating stories with a diverse and multi-cultural line up, within the romance, romantic suspense and general thriller and crime genres. When she's not reading, or writing stories of her own her other passions include practising her French, astrology, fashion, make-up artistry, drawing, spending time at her sewing machine dressmaking, watching make -up and beauty tutorials on YouTube, letter writing and being a mum. 






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Guardians of Erin by Judith Sterling Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal



The Cauldron Stirred 
Guardians of Erin, Book One 
by Judith Sterling 
Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal 


Ashling Donoghue never dreamed moving to Ireland would rock her perception of reality and plunge her into a mystery that brings legend to life.

At seventeen, she’s never had a boyfriend, but she feels an immediate connection to Aengus Breasal, the son of the wealthy Irishman who’s invited her family to stay at his Killarney estate. For the first time in her life, a guy she likes seems attracted to her.

But Aengus is secretive, with good reason. He and his family are the Tuatha Dé Danann, ageless, mythical guardians adept at shifting between this reality and the magical dimension known as the Otherworld. Evil forces from that world threaten the Breasals, the Donoghues, and all of Ireland. Ashling must open her heart, face her fears, and embrace a destiny greater than she could ever have imagined. 

**On Sale for only .99cents June 1st – 25th!!** 




The Stone Awakened 
Guardians of Erin, Book Two 


Since moving to Ireland, Ashling Donoghue has tackled one challenge after another. Now the mystery of her parents' disappearance seems unsolvable. Are they dead or only missing? No one—not even the godlike Breasals—has a clue. Hope and fear war inside her, but she's determined to find answers and stay strong for her siblings. Even as she hones newfound powers, her banshee-in-training sister Deirdre needs her support.

Ashling could use a little help herself. She's struggling to navigate her first romance, and while Aengus Breasal stirs her body, mind, and soul, his nemesis Lorcan does too. Both men harbor secrets about her past life as Caer. One has ties to Aoife, the scheming wind demon whose influence is on the rise.

As the Stone of Destiny awakens, so does the conflict within. 

**On Sale for only .99cents June 1st – 25th!!** 




The Sword Unsheathed 
Guardians of Erin, Book Three 


Ashling Donoghue is no closer to finding her parents than she was the night they disappeared. But hope returns as her brother Kian channels the Sword of Light, revealing past-life secrets and truths long suppressed. 

The more she learns, the greater she fears the darkness that drowns the Netherworld also drives her. Is Aengus her true love, or is it Lorcan? Does her future wait in shadow or the light? 

One point is clear: the threads of her past-self are woven inextricably into the tapestry of her soul. An impossible choice looms before her, and all the while, evil is poised to strike. 





Judith Sterling is an award-winning author whose love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Whether penning medieval romance (The Novels of Ravenwood) or young adult paranormal fantasy (the Guardians of Erin series), her favorite themes include true love, destiny, time travel, healing, redemption, and finding the hidden magic which exists all around us. She loves to share that magic with readers and whisk them far away from their troubles, particularly to locations in the British Isles. Her nonfiction books, written under Judith Marshall, have been translated into multiple languages. She has an MA in linguistics and a BA in history, with a minor in British Studies. Born in that sauna called Florida, she craved cooler climes, and once the travel bug bit, she lived in England, Scotland, Sweden, Wisconsin, Virginia, and on the island of Nantucket. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and their identical twin sons. 




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Friday, June 26, 2020

The Tess Series by Andres Mann

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

I do extensive research because the books reflect the contemporary international environment. I use the facts and events of the real world and insert my characters as participants. I also include a list of references at the end of each book.

 

Do you see writing as a career?

I am retired and not doing much else, so writing qualifies as a late career.

 

What do you think about the current publishing market?

It sucks. Amazon dominates it, and authors have no choice but to comply with them.

 

Do you read yourself, and if so, what is your favorite genre?

Serious novels, biography, and history.

 

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I write with Bach in the background. It helps to develop a mental rhythm that propels my writing.

 

Do you write one book at a time, or do you have several going at a time?

I write one book at a time because I don’t know where I am going. Once I achieve momentum, I have to say with it.

 

Pen or typewriter or computer?

The computer is the greatest tool for authors. I have a beautiful Mont Blanc fountain pen that I used to write my business books and articles way back. I keep the pen as a relic and haven’t used it in years. I keep thinking of the novelists and authors of the past, and how difficult it must have been to make revisions. I believe Balzac paid for printing various drafts, and because of that expense, he hardly made any money at all by the time the novels were published.

 

Tell us about a favorite character from a book.

Claudine Bisson. She is a killer violinist and leads the Valkyries Squadron in war games against the American Air Force. Like Tess, she is gorgeous, fierce, relentless, and unlike Tess, she has a wicked sense of humor and could charm the pants off anyone. The problem is that she is in love with Jake and creates havoc with the single-minded pursuit of her goal, which unfortunately involves attempts to undermine and compromise Tess by capitalizing on her weakness for Vaughn Wentworth, the conductor.

 

What made you want to become an author, and do you feel it was the right decision?

At this time in my life, being an author fulfills a long-term goal. It is the right decision.

 

What advice would you give new authors?

Don’t listen to naysayers. Just write, write, write until you find your voice.

 

What’s the most challenging thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

Writing about women is fraught with peril because no man can decode what is in their mind. Women always surprise me.

 

How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?

I don’t rush and let the stories develop at their own pace until the result makes sense. I usually take six months to write a book.

 

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I don’t know any writer that hasn’t experienced writer’s block at various times. I hate to finish a book because then I have to think of another story to tell. Sometimes, it takes a year to find a direction.

 

 

Are your characters based on real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

My characters are based on real people that I had the privilege of knowing during my career. I took literary license, but I believe I have done an excellent job of portraying remarkable individuals, good and bad. I just speculated what they would do when faced with the challenges in the stories.

 

Do your characters seem to hijack the story, or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

My characters absolutely hijacked the stories as my writing progressed.

 

Convince us why you feel your books are a must-read.

I believe that I have created remarkable characters and great stories that transport readers to fantastic locales. Themes of the novels include action, intrigue, deceit, obsession, sensuality, the use of wealth to achieve one's goals and highlight the eternal struggle between good and evil.

 

Have you written any other books that are not published?

No.

 

What did you edit out of this book?

Some sensual scenes were controversial and unnecessary to propel the narrative.

 

Is there a writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

I would love to have met Umberto Eco, the author of The Name of the Rose, Foucault’s Pendulum, and other history-based esoteric titles. His erudition is astounding, and I always learned much from it.

 

 

Tess Awakening: The Complete Story 
The Tess Series Book 1 
by Andres Mann 
Genre: Adventure Romance 


Tess Awakening - The Complete Story combines two previously published novels: Tess Awakening and Tess Valkyrie. Since the second novel is a sequel, the combination provides the full story of Tess’s confrontations with the fascinating villain Amir.
Tess and Amir continue to square off in an epic struggle to define their destinies. Aided by Jake, Tess’s friend and co-pilot Carmen and their colleagues, Tess must overcome Amir's vicious attacks motivated by his continuing obsession with her. They repeatedly clash in a succession of encounters taking place in Baghdad, Amman, Istanbul, Sorrento and New York. Tess's friend Carmen finally meets her soul mate in Nicola, who helps her overcome the traumas of her youth and becomes a valuable member of their team. The two women respond to their challenges by drawing on their skills as fierce warriors, battling Amir, who not only hurt Tess but plans to take over the Iraqi government. Their struggle leads to a series of violent and bloody battles in the air and on the ground. A heartbreaking loss at the end is redeemed by a final poignant resolution. 




Tess: The Abomination of Human Trafficking 
The Tess Series Book 2 


A powerful exploration of global human trafficking
After rescuing a child prostitute in Cambodia, Tess persuades Jake, Carmen, Nicola and the Team to tackle human trafficking worldwide. Sponsored by the United Nations, she creates a team of Valkyries, six remarkable women that alongside the men of the Team embark on a Herculean effort to rescue victims and pursue traffickers, starting with a degenerate financier that controls a multinational sex enterprise. The team then takes direct action by unleashing their military skills in battles against powerful slavers, Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Mexican cartels. The action turns to combating child trafficking, rescuing captured women abused by the terrorist group ISIS, probing Nigerian prostitution in Europe and Russia, and confronting the appalling sex trade in Mexico, Afghanistan and in the U.S. In a whirlwind series of actions, the story transitions from Phnom Penh to New York, Houston, Miami, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Buenos Aires, and Las Vegas. The deeper the Team gets involved, the more challenging their task becomes. With all cards stacked against them, Tess and Jake must find a way to address the fundamental causes of human trafficking and attempt to formulate a solution to intractable problems. 




Tess: Day of Reckoning 
The Tess Series Book 3 


In this epic adventure, Tess and Jake continue to fight terrorists and try to address the overwhelming refugee crisis in Europe. When ISIS terrorists acquire two North Korean nuclear bombs, Tess and the team must change priorities to prevent a worldwide calamity. The stakes are high — the potential obliteration of European cities and possibly the destruction of Israel. The CIA asks Tess and Jake to use their special talents to find the weapons, forcing Tess to deal with her nemesis, the dissolute Laurent Belcour who is still obsessed with her but may know where the bombs are hidden. Personal complications arise when Tess meets a captivating symphony conductor who persuades her to play a piano concert in Moscow and introduces her to the Russian President. Their musical collaboration leads to temptation and turmoil, affecting Tess’s relationship with Jake, who has challenges of his own in fending off the stunning and talented Claudine Bisson. Spanning the globe, the frantic search for the missing weapons takes them to Bulgaria, Ukraine, the South China Sea, Syria, Israel, Tehran and Moscow. Racing against the clock, Tess’s team must pursue every lead no matter how tenuous and fight a host of enemies in a desperate attempt to ward off nuclear Armageddon. 




Tess: Clash of Civilizations 
The Tess Series Book 4 


Tess and Jake have fought bitter battles against ISIS and Boko Haram Islamic terrorists, but now they have an unusual dilemma. Their adopted daughter Aara received a huge inheritance from Tess’s nemesis, the deceased Amir al-Saadi. The fortune comes with an unsettling condition: Aara must marry into a Muslim family within one year. This forces Tess and Jake to overcome their prejudices and assess whether such a condition is acceptable. 




Tess: The Flight of the Valkyries 
The Tess Series Book 5 


In a story of high passion and conflict, Claudine Bisson returns to the Valkyries team. She persuades Tess and her colleagues to provide adversary services to the Air Force, a plan that requires learning how to fly jet fighters. The Team acquires surplus aircraft and hires a team of Russian specialists led by the abrasive Colonel Peter Brusilov, a hard taskmaster. Laurent Belcour, the notorious villain, is back and continues to create obstacles. Claudine further complicates things because she has an ulterior motive: to get Jake back by undermining Tess. While the team struggles to prepare for the upcoming operation, they must deal with the destructive collision between Claudine and Tess, leading to unpredictable consequences.
This is an illustrated version of the book. Why? I thought that by providing pictures of the many aircraft in the story would help the reader better understand the scope of the challenges faced by Tess and her friends. Once I started searching for appropriate images, I couldn’t resist adding pictures of venues, people and other material that might be of interest. The choice of illustrations is entirely arbitrary. 





Andres Mann was an Army Officer and a business executive. He graduated with degrees in Political Science and International Relations and published three management books and various business articles.
The Tess adventure novels are based on real contemporary events and explore the challenges posed by international political developments and the issues that professional women face in today's world. The setting of the stories starts with the second Gulf War in Iraq and continues up to the current era.
Andy had the good fortune to meet remarkable people from all over the world, most of them good, others not so much. Some were extraordinarily talented, able to perform well in multiple endeavors. The novels are based on the actions of real people he observed dealing with challenging situations. He believes that it is interesting to understand multi-faceted personalities that are fascinating and sometimes evil, making it difficult to make quick judgments about right and wrong.
Action, intrigue, deceit, obsession, sensuality, the use of wealth to achieve one's goals, the struggle between good and evil are a constant theme. 




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Thursday, June 25, 2020

The Truth About Sista Brianna a by Shelia Bell Genre: Women's Fiction

  • What are you passionate about these days?

I’m passionate about animal rights, about saving the lives of animals, and continuing my vegan journey of ten plus years. This is my tiny contribution to saving them and saving our lives at the same time.
  • What do you do to unwind and relax?

To unwind and relax I like kicking back, getting up in my bed, and surfing channels for the next best reality show! I watch a little Netflix, do a little reading and of course spend precious time with my grandkids. With the isolation due to COVID-19, of course I have to talk to them via Facetime or Duo. I miss them.
  • When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I believe I considered myself a writer before I even wrote a book. I wrote poems and as time passed I realized I had a story to tell. Now 25 books later, here I am!
  • Do you have a favorite movie?

My favorite movies are The Other Sister, City of Angels, You’ve Got Mail, Love and Basketball, Best Man and Best Man Holiday
  • Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

I can see every last one of my novels turned into film whether it be in the form of a movie on the big screen, a TV series or a Netflix movie. They all are great stories that I believe viewers would enjoy.
  •  What inspired you to write this book?

This latest book release is part of standalone books I call “Shorts by Shelia.” These books are meant to be quick, entertaining, reads for readers on the go. I have other Shorts by Shelia stories such as “Forever Ain’t Enough” and “Cross Road”. I plan to release more of these Shorts by Shelia later this year.
  •  What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m working on more books that I call “Shorts by Shelia.” These are smaller books fewer than 125 pages that are meant to give readers a short, entertaining read while they’re sitting in a doctor’s appointment, standing in a long line, or just taking a lunch break.

  • Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

I would say my characters hijack the story. For me, this is a good thing. It pulls me totally outside of ME and allows my characters free rein to act, do, and speak as they so choose. I don’t like holding the reins because it might restrict what the characters have to say and it would put more of ME into the story when it’s not about me. I’m just the messenger.
  •  How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since I was a preteen. I wrote poetry, speeches, loved writing essays and now that has evolved into me being a published author
  •  What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

I do most of my research during writing. I research whatever I need to research to enhance the story and make my book as realistic and believable as possible.
  •  Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, writing is already my lifelong career--and editing.

  •  What do you think about the current publishing market?

 I think the current publishing market is oversaturated with authors or those who say they’re authors but put out less than tasteful, high quality work. As an editor, I know the importance of a well edited story. It saddens me that so many people believe in slapping words on paper, putting a cover on it, and publishing it. On the other hand, the publishing market has given an open forum to any and everyone who has a story to share. No more pleading, begging, praying and hoping for that big publishing contract.

  •  Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

I read but not as much as I’d like to. As an editor I read a lot of manuscripts so hardly ever do I read for pleasure anymore. My time is so busy with editing and writing, making it more difficult. I like nonfiction, suspense and general fiction.

  •  Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I usually write one book at a time. I put my all into that one book before moving to the next. It works better that way for me.

  •  Pen or type writer or computer?

Definitely typewriter/computer. I can’t see myself writing in longhand.

  •  Advice you would give new authors?


I cannot emphasize enough to new authors: Please take your time to produce a quality story that has been professionally EDITED.


Smart, sassy, and single middle school teacher, Brianna Madison, hides behind the mask of her disability. Bound by a wheelchair and held hostage by her emotions, Brianna's self-esteem is shot, and her belief in love is non-existent. Will she ever stop running from herself and from love? Is love the cure-all or will her web of lies and secrets destroy any chance Brianna has to heal from her past and claim what the future has for her?

History teacher Trey Hollister's first year at Augustine Prep is already off to a good start when he enters the prestigious halls of the private academy. Handsome, and newly divorced, Trey is not looking for a relationship. Fresh memories of how painful heartbreak can be keeps him grounded. Things change quickly when he sets eyes on his co-worker, Brianna. But Brianna's tough shell is almost more than he cares to handle. Will he keep pursuing Brianna or give in to the growing demands of an ex-wife who wants him back. 





Shelia E. Bell (formerly Shelia E. Lipsey) is an award-winning, national bestselling author with 20+ books published in christian fiction, women’s fiction, nonfiction, and young adult genres. Her books have garnered numerous awards and accolades, including 2017 Christian Literary Readers' Choice Award, 2015 Rosa Parks Award, 2014 Christian Literary Award, AAMBC Nate Holmes Honorary Award, Kindle Award, OOSA Book of the Year, numerous SORMAG awards and more.
Shelia began her publishing career in 1999. Since then, she has set the literary industry ablaze with her dynamic, true to life stories that she calls "perfect stories about imperfect people like you...and me."
Shelia is passionate about helping others and encourages and promotes people to ‘live their dreams now.’ In 2012, she founded a non profit organization "Black Writers And Book Clubs (BWABC) Literacy Association" with a mission to promote literacy one community at a time. Shelia is also a well-respected freelance book editor.
A much sought after inspirational speaker, Shelia travels near and far sharing her inspirational messages of how to overcome the adversities of life. Having had polio since the age of two, she accepts no excuses and is determined not to let her physical imperfections keep her from her life’s purposes. 






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