Author Interviews

Sean Smith has written for a living for four decades, as a journalist and an editor/writer in academia. Transformation Summer is his debut novel. Sean lives in the Boston area, where he is known to haunt Celtic music events and jam sessions, and is trying to get the hang of tenor banjo.

Christopher Gould is a graduate of Nazareth College of Rochester where he earned a degree in Writing. His first novel, The George Stories, was published in 2019 and went on to be nominated for Central New York Book of the Year. Gould is a teacher by day and a writer by night. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and daughter.

Pete Benson was born in London in 1950. After obtaining a BA in Business Finance he pursued a career in Business. It was not for him, so in 1978 he became a film prop man. He worked on some of the biggest British-made films over the course of 25 years, during which time he started a successful prop hire company in 1984, before retiring in 2007.

Cara lives in Northumberland with her wife and menagerie of animals. She is currently working toward her English Literature Degree with The Open University and is also the owner of her own business Earth Soul. Cara was inspired to write Three People, Three Countries, One Path when she turned to spiritual practices due to her ill health. Suffering from Fibromyalgia and Hypermobility Syndrome, her writing provides her with escape and most importantly her dreams. Literature has always been her passion and one she now happily pursues.

That the problems facing our country are very broad, deep, and deadly, and that we may be 60-80% established as what is becoming a totalitarian socialism. Unless people see this clearly and find the courage to confront it, the American Experiment will be over in a decade or so. This isn’t my war—I’ll be dead—but it’s my fight. The perfect reader? Well, a bright conservative, and a courageous liberal who can see how dangerous liberalism has been for nearly two centuries.

Daniel Victor specializes in writing Jewish-themed fiction and has written three novels, two novellas, and a collection of short fiction. The Evil Inclination is his first published novel. He practiced law for more than forty years, concentrating on international media transactions (including fifteen years as a senior executive for Sesame Street). He is a father and grandfather and lives in New York City with his wife, Ester Fuchs.

I’m the author of two backstage novels, The Voice I Just Heard (Amazon, 2012) and One More Seat at the Round Table (Atmosphere, 2023). Prior to tackling fiction, I ran a promotional writing business in Washington, D.C., creating publications for banks, hospitals, and schools, and I also freelanced for magazines and newspapers. Earlier in my life, I did public affairs and/or marketing for Goodspeed Opera House, Syracuse Stage, and The Joffrey Ballet/NYC. I’m now based in Baltimore, Maryland, where I live with my husband, a senior care executive. We have a gifted daughter who is training for a career in theater production. When I’m not working on my fiction, I can often be found in New York City with my husband attending Broadway musicals, an avocation we share.

Deborah Harkin holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Dr. Harkin has worked and studied with William Peters, a leader in the field of end-of-life studies, founder of the Shared Crossing Project, and author of AT HEAVEN’S DOOR: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach about Dying Well and Living Better.

I was born and raised on a cattle ranch in southern Colorado. Although I have made my home in the Pacific Northwest for many years, the unique history of the American Southwest fascinates me and have written several novels on the subject.

Robert was born in Hollywood, California, and moved with his parents and sister to Utah when he was six. He grew up in the Orem-Provo area. He attended BYU, where he studied science, mathematics, and education. He also studied medical transcription and office management.

Rey De La Garza is a writer and spiritual advisor. Her debut novel The Oracle: Foundation was a love letter to her inner child. After being a daughter, friend, employee, wife, and mother she has embarked on a journey to release fulfilling roles and performances in other’s lives and learning how to live for herself. She is building a life she wants and enjoys. Sometimes it is unclear what that looks like or where it will take her, but she knows writing inspiring stories is a staple on this journey.

I have been writing romance for over 18 years and published over 100 titles. In 2019, I moved all pen names (Cara, September, and Echo North) to one website. I write in a variety of subgenres, I am a USMC veteran, and work in higher education as my day job. I host affordable writing workshops once or twice a year, attend conventions and signings as available, and enjoy collaborative projects.

Cynthia Dawn Griffin is passionate about learning. Her favorite way of doing that is through reading and writing. She’s done a lot of different kinds of writing over the years, but her favorite has been working on her EthiaVerse stories.

Kristin Helms is the author of Grace + Oak: Inspiration in Poetry and Photographs from Dover Publications (2020), and From Boardroom to Baby from Career Press/RedWheel Weiser (2018).

Audrey Wilson is an award-winning writer of both screenplays and fiction, as well as an Emmy-nominated producer. Audrey’s first novel, Wrong Girl Gone, was published by Dreaming Big Publications in 2021, and her next novel, Only Human, will be released on February 1, 2024, from Flashpoint Publications. A Chicago native, Audrey has also spoken professionally at numerous writing events in and around the area, including the Independent Writers of Chicago, the Southwest Michigan Writers Conference, and in 2024 she is honored to be speaking at the Let’s Just Write! Chicago Writers Conference. As a professional screenwriter, Audrey is represented by Aligned Talent Group.

Jan Peppler is a public speaker, workshop leader, and writer who earned her PhD in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology. She has lived in twenty-four homes in twelve different towns and cities, not including the old train stop house she is renovating in Castelvetrano, Sicily. Jan currently resides in the Wood River Valley of Idaho, where her husband was born and raised, along with their two dogs.

Carol Potenza taught biochemistry at New Mexico State University before transitioning to a full-time mystery writer. She loves the combination of strong women sleuths, paranormal and murder, mixed with science or, as she likes to call it—BiocheMystery. She sets all her books in the beautiful state of New Mexico, where she lives with her husband, Leos, and her extremely grumpy chihuahua, Hermès.

Prior to writing Recovering Maurice, which is my first work of fiction, I completed a PhD in Economics at the University of Chicago, and spent many years as a professor of economics at schools including Northwestern University, Duke University, and Australian National University, where I received teaching awards and published numerous articles and book chapters in places including Michigan Law Review, Journal of Health Economics, and Harvard Review of Law and Public Policy on unusual topics including love, suicide, sex, and divorce, among others.

Bailey is a multifaceted creative. She is a mixed media fiber artist, poet, and vocalist. In all her creative endeavors, her goal is to bring peace, harmony, and joy to her audience. She is committed to making the world a better place through her art. She frequently performs her poetry in East Tennessee where her fellow poets have given her the moniker of “Haiku Queen.”

Micheal James Bradley is an award-winning ex-journalist and feature writer (BBC, Birmingham Mail, Mirror Group), and is currently a full-time therapist and occasional audiobook narrator.