Eden Baylee - An Author Interview in the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author Eden Baylee. She is the author of a psychological mystery/thriller and three collections of erotic novellas and flash fiction.

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Poetry

Website: Eden Baylee
Author's Blog: Eden Baylee
Blog: Eden Baylee's Books
Twitter: @edenbaylee
E-Mail: eden (dot) baylee @ rogers (dot) com
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Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook


Author Description:
Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to write. Incorporating some of her favorite things such as travel, culture, and a deep curiosity for what turns people on, her brand of writing is sensual and literary.

She has written three collections of erotic novellas and flash fiction ~ SPRING INTO SUMMER, FALL INTO WINTER, and HOT FLASH.

On June 30, 2014, she released her first novel--a psychological mystery/thriller set in Jamaica called STRANGER AT SUNSET.

Eden loves hearing from readers, so connect to her via her website at www.edenbayleebooks.com and all her social networks.


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

Congratulations on your book: Stranger at Sunset. What do you have on the drawing board next? Rumor has it that we are going to read more about Dr. Kate Hampton. Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?

Thanks so much for having me on your great blog, James. I really appreciate all you do for authors. You are correct that I’m working on my next book. It’s called A Fragile Truce and is the second novel featuring Dr. Kate Hampton. It should release in 2015, though I don’t have a date yet.

As for a tease, I’ve included an excerpt of it at the end of Stranger at Sunset. I hope readers will want to read more about Kate following this first book. If you want to know what Stranger at Sunset is about, I recommend readers grab a sample of it or read the first couple of chapters available on Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature.

You have a great following on twitter. How important have your social media relationships been? How did you build your following in your niche? Do you see a carry over to your writing success?

I have diverse interests and whom I follow on Twitter is a reflection of that. It’s where I socialize and learn about people. I’m a strong believer in forming relationships long before I do any promotion of my work. More often than not, I’m promoting the work of others whom I enjoy and respect. Reciprocation comes naturally for me, and that’s how I prefer it.

Building a following takes time, and it’s not about the numbers. I’d rather have 5K followers who are interested in me than 20K who are not. I don’t pay too much attention to those who follow me until we have an interaction.

The success of my books requires that I let people know about them, so social media is a necessity to spread the word of my work, but Twitter can’t just be a soapbox. Ultimately, an author’s success is dependent on readers buying their books, and Twitter and other networking platforms are but a small aspect of connecting to readers. Over the long run, the biggest factor in any book’s success is the writing quality and the ability for the author to continue writing.

Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?

I have a mailing list that readers can subscribe to for new releases and author news, but my main connection is via my blog. It’s where I showcase my writing, author interviews, book announcements, and more. It’s difficult to find readers, per se. It’s easier to have readers find me, and the way to do this is to show them what I offer. Of course, I have to this via my social networks. I respond to all e-mails and comments on my blog too. It’s important to be engaged with readers as much as possible.

You do a lot of book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? When and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

I don’t have anything planned at the moment as I’m in full-on writing mode, so any interviews will be virtual only. Videos of past book signings are posted on my blog. If readers want to keep up to date with any events, the best way would be to subscribe to my newsletter.

You have great covers. They carry a theme and your brand with them. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?

Thank you for the compliment, James. I use award-winning designer, JB Graphics from Toronto. (http://www.john-beadle.com/). He designs my covers, website, and any other artwork I need. I am involved in most aspects of the design, mainly because visual art interests me.

I have a specific idea of what I want to convey and a cover sets the mood for a book since it’s the first thing a potential buyer sees.

I don’t involve readers for my book covers. I think it’s fun when other authors do, but its not for me.

You have written several short stories. Can you tell us if they had an impact on the sales of your novels? Are shorty’s one of your styles of writing or are they created to give readers a sample of your work? Do you feel short reads are a product of our email and smart phone age?

Before Stranger at Sunset, I wrote flash fiction, short stories, and novellas. I continue to do so and have a collection of shorts with poetry called Hot Flash. Also, one of my shorts is included in an anthology called Allegories of the Tarot. As my shorts are written in multiple genres – thriller, humor, romance, erotica – they do give readers a taste for my writing.

I believe some readers’ attention spans are shorter, but avid readers will still read lengthy novels, even on their smart phones. It’s apples and oranges really. Despite that flash fiction and short stories have a lower word count than novels; they are not necessarily easier to write. If anything, they are sometimes more difficult because the author needs to be economical with words and still be able to tell a complete story.

What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

I’ve run free and 99 cent promotions with varying degrees of success. For me, they are mainly “loss leaders,” in that they draw a reader’s attention to my entire catalogue. That’s the hope anyway.

I think it’s important to expose my books as much as possible. I’ve done giveaways on Goodreads of my print books, and that has resulted in exposure for my books as well.

Of course, all promotion, no matter how trivial, requires time and energy in order to get the maximum result. This will take away time from actual writing, so I’d say one obstacle is to always maintain a balance between the writing and promoting.

You are published in several genres. Does changing hats create any problems? Any tricks you can share with us? Which genre did you enjoy writing the most?

I read my first book of erotic fiction when I was eleven, and it definitely affected my psyche, so when I began writing, it’s what I started with. I’ve always enjoyed reading well-written stories about love, romance, and sex as relevant to the story. The genre, however, works best as short novels, approximately 25K – 35K words. I’d written eight of them and compiled them into two anthologies. (Fall into Winter and Spring into Summer). After that, it was time to move on.

I’ve been a reader of many genres, and mystery/suspense novels have always interested me. I also needed a challenge. Writing Stranger at Sunset was challenging because it forced me to plot. There are intricate threads in my book that will be carried over to the next two books since it’s the first of a trilogy. The transition to writing a full-length novel really tested me. It made me feel much more confident about my writing, more so than for the fact that I changed genres.

When I write, I don’t think about the genre so much. I am invested in the story and where it will take me. So long as it’s a great story, it transcends genre.

You have a great blog. You do a great job keeping readers informed, marketing your books, and interviewing other authors. What is your primary goal? And where in the world do you find the time to create great novels, take care of the social media and maintain your blog?

Ha, James, you should ask yourself the same question! As an indie writer, it’s never just about writing.

Every day is a juggle to write, read, and promote.

I use my blog as my home base for much of it. From here, I create the social media that links back to me about my books and my interests. There are many things that need to be done to spread the word of a book before and after it’s written. Selling books is a huge part of being a full-time writer. It’s what pays the bills and allows me to keep writing, so it’s important to stay positive and persist.

What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?

I don’t pay for reviews, but I will never say never. Reputable reviewers such as Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly provide honest reviews for a fee. They don’t guarantee a good review. Theirs is a service and they are a business, so they treat it as such by demanding payment. I don’t disagree with their model.

Within the indie writing community, taking payment for reviews is frowned upon because it carries a sense of conflict of interest. Yet … authors review each other all the time. That goes for traditionally published authors too. There is value for buyers when a big name author endorses a book. It’s a sticky subject, so everyone has to do what they feel is best for them. I don’t cast judgment. I also believe readers are not stupid. They can be duped once by a glowing review, but chances are it will only happen once.

My preference is to seek honest reviews from authors, readers, bloggers, etc. I’ve sent out over 700 requests to book bloggers/reviewers. Some get back to me, some don’t, but its part of the process. There is no quick and easy method unless you are gaming the system. If you want two hundred 5-star reviews within a week, I’m sure you can buy them. It’s just not something I would do. I also won’t enter into quid pro quo arrangements. Aside from the fact that I don’t have the time, I only support specific authors. These are relationships with individuals I care about, not just for the purpose of exchanging reviews.

What authors need to understand is that getting only 5-star reviews skews the authenticity of their reviews. Even some of the most respected authors have 1 and 2-star reviews. It implies that their readers are diverse, which is a realistic sample of buyers of books.

Many thanks for your time and energy, James. I really appreciate being on your blog.



Author's Book List
Stranger at Sunset
Vacation can be a killer.

Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected psychiatrist, gathers with a group of strangers at her favorite travel spot, Sunset Villa in Jamaica. Included in the mix are friends of the owners, a businessman with dubious credentials, and a couple who won the trip from a TV game show.

It is January 2013, following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The luxury resort is struggling, not from the storm, but due to a scathing review from caustic travel writer, Matthew Kane. The owners have invited him back with hopes he will pen a more favorable review to restore their reputation.

Even though she is haunted by her own demons, Kate feels compelled to help. She sets out to discover the motivation behind Kane’s vitriol. Used to getting what he wants, has the reviewer met his match in Kate? Or has she met hers?

Stranger at Sunset is a slow-burning mystery/thriller as seen through the eyes of different narrators, each with their own murky sense of justice. As Kate's own psychological past begins to unravel, a mysterious stranger at Sunset may be the only one who can save her.


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - KOBO
Summer Solstice
Can a pagan party ignite a woman's desire and heal her broken heart?

Cape Cod on the longest day of the year is the setting of SUMMER SOLSTICE. Ava Connors reluctantly attends a party thrown by her best friend and his lover, only to wonder if reality can ever live up to her own fantasies.


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble
A Season for Everything
A story about beginnings, endings, and the journey in between.

Claire Pelletier's life is changed forever when she meets an Oxford professor who teaches her an important lesson. Set in London, England, A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING is inspired by the Book of Ecclesiastes, poets, and the belief that to everything there is a season.


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble
The Lottery
A most unusual lottery occurs in the Land of Smiles.

Westerner, Sierra Zhao, travels abroad and finds herself immersed in a culture with values very different to her own. Set in an exotic red-light district of Thailand, THE LOTTERY explores themes of sacrifice, friendship, and eroticism.


Order the Book From: Amazon
Unlocking the Mystery
A mysterious key provides the clue to a woman's heart.

Evelyn Sutton goes in search of a man after a box is left to her by the former owner of her house. A story within a story spanning fifty years from America to Ireland, UNLOCKING THE MYSTERY has been compared to 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.


Order the Book From: Amazon
Fall into Winter
These unique stories follow the journeys of four women from the chill of autumn through the biting cold of winter.

FALL ... Ella Jamieson trades self-control for a stolen moment with a younger man in "Seduced by the Blues." In "Act Three," Stella Christy is taken by surprise in her fantasy play with two men.

WINTER ... Leah Jones isolates herself to complete her latest book in "The Norwegian" but is soon distracted by a man from her past. Ten years after Elena Lee's torrid love affair, she returns to the land of Mozart in "The Austrian and the Asian" and wonders why she ever left.


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - KOBO
Spring into Summer
With locations in England, Ireland, USA, and Thailand ...

These four unique stories span the quiet beginnings of spring to the burning heat of summer.

SPRING ... Life for Claire Pelletier is changed forever when she meets a professor who teaches her a most important lesson in "A Season for Everything." Evelyn Sutton goes in search of a man in "Unlocking the Mystery" and discovers the key to her own heart.

SUMMER ... With an open mind, Ava Connors attends a pagan party but wonders if reality can ever live up to her own fantasies in "Summer Solstice." In "The Lottery," Sierra Zhao sacrifices herself to numerous men to help a friend, fully aware of the consequences.


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble
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Check out the index of other Spotlight authors. Spotlight Index.

The Eye of Heaven by Clive Cussler and Russell Blake is featured in the HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

Today the HBS Author's Spotlight is showcasing The Eye of Heaven written by NY Times Bestselling Author Clive Cussler who has written several series including Dirk Pitt Adventures, The Oregon Files, A Fargo Adventures, The NUMA Files and Isaac Bell Series 

His co-author is best-selling Author Russell Blake who is the award-winning author of The JET series, Assassin series and BLACK series.

Follow this blog for interviews with outstanding Authors, their profiles and book lists.



The Eye of Heaven

A Fargo Adventure

AVAILABLE at Amazon
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Baffin Island: Husband-and-wife team Sami and Remi Fargo are on a climate-control expedition in the Arctic, when to their astonishment they discover a Viking ship in the ice, perfectly preserved--and filled with pre-Columbian artifacts from Mexico.

How can that be? As they plunge into their research, tantalizing clues about a link between the Vikings and the legendary Toltec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl--and a fabled object known as the Eye of Heaven--begin to emerge. But so do many dangerous people. Soon the Fargos find themselves on the run through jungles, temples, and secret tombs, caught between treasure hunters, crime cartels, and those with a far more personal motivation for stopping them. At the end of the road will be the solution to a thousand-year-old mystery--or death.

PROLOGUE

Somewhere in the Labrador Sea, A.D. 1085

Flashes of lightning seared the turbid night sky, illuminating the drawn faces of the men heaving on the long wooden oars of the Viking longship as it fought against the ravages of the unforgiving sea. The captain swayed in time with the relentless swell as he watched the wall of towering waves pounding the stern.

Sheer cliffs of black water driven by the icy wind threatened to capsize the hardy craft with each passing minute. Sheets of rain lashed the grim crewmen as they strained at their task, their survival depending on their unflagging effort. The captain eyed them with determination, his brow furrowed as the deluge tore at his skin, water running along the faint white battle scar stretching from the corner of his left eye to his blond beard. He'd grown up on the ocean, one of a hardened race of adventurers and plunderers, and nature's untamed violence was nothing new. Countless nights he'd hurled oaths on the treacherous North Sea, but, even for him, this was a once-in-a-lifetime storm.

The wooden vessel was now badly off course, driven north as it ran with the seas. Had it pressed on its intended route, one of the mammoth waves would have assuredly broken over the bow and capsized the ship, bringing certain death. The best the captain could do was to steer the boat with the wind at his stern and ride out the fury of the gale.

A flare of brilliance streaked through the roiling clouds, glowing momentarily before fading back into the gloom. Salt water dripped from his bearskin cloak as the muscles on his powerful arms bulged from the effort. Another bright flash lit the night. The glowering profile of a carved wooden dragon reflected the light just aft of the captain's head, soaked with the spray blowing off the angry sea.

From among the exhausted oarsmen, a tall man with skin the texture of leather and an untamed red mane lurched his way forward, his footing sure on the coarse oak planks beneath him even in these miserable conditions.


Author: Clive Cussler

Author Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Suspense

Website: Clive Cussler
Twitter: @CliveCussler_2
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Author Description:
Clive Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt(R), in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.

Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.

In September, 1998, NUMA - which turns over all artifacts to state and Federal authorities, or donates them to museums and universities - launched its own web site for those wishing more information about maritime history or wishing to make donations to the organization.

In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.

Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey, Black Wind, Treasure of Kahn and Arctic Drift (the last three with his son, Dirk Cussler) as well as The Chase; the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt (R) Revealed; the NUMA(R) Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death, Lost City, Polar Shift, The Navigator and Medusa (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch, Skeleton Coast, Plague Ship and Corsair (written with Jack Du Brul). Clive Cussler lives in Arizona.

Author: Russell Blake

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Website: Russell Blake Suspense Writer
Author's Blog: Russell Blake - Author Spotlight
Twitter: @blakebooks
E-Mail: books@russellblake.com
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Facebook: Check Out Facebook
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Author Description:
Featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Times, and The Chicago Tribune, Russell Blake is the USA Today bestselling author of twenty-nine books, including Fatal Exchange, The Geronimo Breach, Zero Sum, King of Swords, Night of the Assassin, Revenge of the Assassin, Return of the Assassin, Blood of the Assassin, The Delphi Chronicle trilogy, The Voynich Cypher, Silver Justice, JET, JET - Ops Files, JET II - Betrayal, JET III - Vengeance, JET IV - Reckoning, JET V - Legacy, JET VI - Justice, JET VII - Sanctuary, Upon A Pale Horse, BLACK, BLACK Is Back, BLACK Is The New Black, and BLACK To Reality.

Non-fiction includes the international bestseller An Angel With Fur (animal biography) and How To Sell A Gazillion eBooks In No Time (even if drunk, high or incarcerated), a parody of all things writing-related.

Blake is co-author of an action/adventure novel, The Eye of Heaven, with legendary author Clive Cussler, to be released by Penguin in September, 2014. Blake's novel King of Swords has been translated into German by Amazon Crossing, and his JET novel into Spanish by Reprobatio.

Blake lives in Mexico and enjoys his dogs, fishing, boating, tequila and writing, while battling world domination by clowns.
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HBS Author's Spotlight

J.T. Lewis - An Author Interview in the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author J.T. Lewis. He is the bestselling author of the The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic Series and the The Pepper and Longstreet Series.

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Author's Blog: J.T. Lewis Author
Blog: J.T. Lewis Author Facebook
Twitter: @JTLewis_Books
E-Mail: jt.lewis.books@gmail.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook
Pinterest: Check Out Pinterest


Author Description:
Mystery abounds in the books of Amazon Best Selling Author J.T. Lewis.

Living in Southeast Indiana with his wife, J.T. has always loved a mystery. Striving to bring readers a story packed full of action, adventure, and suspense has led to his current selection of titles.

His first full length novel, Murder! Too Close To Home, was the beginning of the acclaimed Adventures of Gabriel Celtic series, and was voted #1 on Goodreads Best Debut Mystery Series list. The thriller/adventure series continued with Gabriel's Revenge,followed closely by In Case of Death as well as The Book of Gabriel in 2014. The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic is as series about the life of Gabriel Celtic...an ordinary man caught up in extraordinary adventures!

Another new series, The Nick Behr Mysteries, starts with the story Kidnap Inc., where we get to meet Nick Behr...as well as all of the people that have crowded into his head! Fighting against the craziness of his life while trying to solve the murders of the current case sometimes leads the story to veer off-kilter a little. This unexpected result has caused the story to be labeled, "One of the funnest mysteries I've read in quite some time!"

Also added to J.T. Lewis' series list this year...The Artifact Hunter! Jesse Flanagan is just a guy who enjoys making a profit from the antiquities he buys and sells. When one of his discoveries suddenly puts him in the cross-hairs of assassins, he must change his whole life as he goes underground to try and reclaim his life!


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

First things first. What do you have on the drawing board next? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?

Thanks for asking James! I am about a month away from finishing the next Nick Behr Mystery, entitled ‘Falcon’s Pray’. (And yes, that is the correct spelling)

In it, Nick Behr is once again experiencing the hallucinations that plagued him in the last book while simultaneously trying to solve the murder of a young woman. Shot down while studying the Peregrine Falcon for her doctorate, it would seem that Amy Gondosh is but an innocent bystander that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But if that is the case…why did the shooter go out of his way to kill her?

As the investigation continues, Nick fights through the rabble in his head to find the answer…only to discover that it ultimately leads to an ancient Native American prophecy.

Excerpt:

The brown eyes in the scope show no fear.

The man takes another few seconds to look upon the animal in the viewfinder, admiring the sleek lines of the animal. This was their place in life: he the hunter, the deer the food.

Taking a final breath, he lets it out slowly until it is almost gone before patiently squeezing the trigger.

The sound of the shot.

The comforting compression on his shoulder.

The animal disappearing from the scope as it drops to the ground.

This was the way of things: the hunter…and the hunted.

Hearing something off to his right, the man quickly swings the gun…following the sound until he finds the source of the noise.

Binoculars…trained on him.

She lowers them when she sees him pointing the gun at her.

The blue eyes in the scope show fear. The man takes another few seconds to look upon her in the viewfinder, admiring her sleek lines.

He lets out a sigh…before slowly squeezing the trigger.

The sound of the shot.

The comforting compression on his shoulder.

The girl disappearing from the scope as she drops to the ground.

This was the way of things: the hunter…and the hunted.

While I am finishing Falcon’s Pray, I am anxiously awaiting being able to start on the next Gabriel Celtic Adventure! My favorite of all of my series, the fifth novel is entitled ‘Murmansk’ and should be out in the spring of 2015.

After saving mankind from the Antichrist in The Book of Gabriel, Gabe is finding it hard to discover a new niche. Now happily married to his oldest friend and a new grandpa besides, he is nevertheless anxious about his future.

The sudden appearance of the strange little man at his door one day quickly changes that however.

Patrick McGruder is a mysterious man that is secretive about what he actually does. Be that as it may, he offers Gabe and his crew a job…in Russia! Although Gabe is not at all confident that they are the right people for the mission, McGruder assures them that he has been “watching” them for quite awhile and has the utmost confidence in their abilities.

Finally accepting the offer, they set off on their adventure…only to discover the simple project that they had been promised quickly turn into a battle for life or death.

You have a good following on twitter. Since you started before the social media buzz, what impact has social media relationships had on your current success? How did you build your following in your niche?

Ah, the mysteries of acquiring a following…mankind’s eternal quest for acceptance!

Social media has been a big boon…and yet a mystery equal to any confronted by Gabriel Celtic. In fact, I can just imagine what Gabe would have to say about it all ;)

Be that as it may, it is actually quite refreshing to be able to have a platform to ‘announce’ a release and also get almost immediate feedback. The technology of eBooks is of course at the heart of the new age of independent writing, but were it not for the simultaneous emergence of social media, we as a whole would be left waiting at the alter as far as finding a following.

Were it not for people inviting us into their home (albeit on their computer screen or iPad), we would be quite inept at securing new readers…or any readers at all! And even though everything that we post will not be read by most, we can only hope that it will build to a small groundswell.

Having said that, we as a group need to monitor ourselves so that we don’t over-inundate the general public with all of our “must reads” and “breakthrough novels”. Keeping the attention of the reading public is at once both an exercise in self promotion and buffoonery. To over do is a death knell to keeping our social media relationships.

*Steps down off of the pulpit.

Ahem…anyway…where was I…oh yeah…how did I build a following? Unfortunately, my following has been built one follower at a time. There is no magic to buying 5000 followers for $20 that will guarantee any new readership. The most avid of my fans have either found me and then read one of my books or have read one of my novels and then found me.

I am a big believer in offering something of value to my readers however…value added content much as you do with here on your blog…something that isn’t necessarily pushing your writing at them constantly (see above). While I don’t do many interviews on my blog, I have been doing a ‘Quote Of The Day’ for a few years now, as well as posting funny or interesting information. I am also a big believer in using any automatic links available so that any post gets spread throughout as many other forums as possible.

It all comes down to being an entertainer…because after all…isn’t that the essence of why we write stories?

Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?

I do not have a readers list per se. Within Facebook I do a bit of posting on reader’s groups, as well as posting to my wall when I have something new to offer. Ditto for the blog, as well as Twitter, Pinterest and Wattpad. I do encourage readers to friend, like or follow me on those forums.

Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

I have no personal appearances scheduled at the moment, possibly due to my troll-like appearance and inability to carry on a verbal conversation past ordering food at McDonald’s.

I do have many ways to keep in touch with me…including email at: jt.lewis.books@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/The.Adventures.Of.Gabriel.Celtic
https://www.facebook.com/JTLewis.Author
http://jt-lewis.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/JTLewis_Books
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4729063.J_T_Lewis
http://www.pinterest.com/jtlewisbooks/
http://www.wattpad.com/user/JTLewisAuthor

You have great covers. They carry a theme and your brand with them. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?

My current collection of covers is all my own doing. Like you mentioned, I have approached it with the intent of creating a common look or brand, especially with the Gabriel Celtic series. My intent has been to use the black background with one bold element to draw your eye. I am very hands-on in developing the covers, working through in my mind the one element that I think can express a major part of the story. Of course the potential reader won’t know how that fits in until they actually read it, but it is always my hope that I can titillate their imagination with it. Also, if I can’t find an image that matches my imaginings, I have been known to create the image myself. The best example of this is the cover for Gabriel’s Revenge, a cover that is near and dear to my heart.

That is not to say that I don’t get help with the final setup. There are limits to my abilities (and patience) when it comes to photo-manipulation or cover creation software. I usually work with an amazing friend and fellow author on doing this type of work (Alexia Purdy).

You have written many short stories (See description of Circles below). Can you tell us if they had an impact on the sales of your novels?

Many of the short stories are prequels to the Gabriel Celtic series. Currently I offer these for free as an enticement to get people interested in the series…and yes, it has had a dramatic effect on sales of the novels.

Circles is the newest of my creations, one that has been rumbling around in my head for quite awhile. A sci-fi offering, it is the first of probably ten shorts that this series will have as it stands now. One advantage (to me as a writer) to producing shorts is to start to get the story out. Circles is not my main focus at the moment, so my ability to bring it out as a novel is limited by time on other projects.

Other short story series such as Pepper and Longstreet and The Adventures of Young Gabriel Celtic have been turned into collections once I reached the end of a story line (novel or novelette length). One thing I have gleaned from other successful writers is to keep writing! The more you have to offer the more interest you will glean from potential readers. And yes, I think every story you put out has the potential (and actual) ability to draw the reader to your other offerings. In my opinion, a short story series actually works better as a draw to one’s other work, verses using it as a means of income in and of itself. I feel that there is a limited number of people that will shell out money for multiple editions of a series spread over time unless you have the wherewithal to put them out every few weeks like a serial. Longer than that and your readership will lose their interest in your title.

I like the idea of bundling a series of novels and short stories. You have put together two sets of your shortys called The Adventures of Young Gabriel Celtic and The Pepper and Longstreet Mysteries (see below). What was the impact on your other sales? What was your main objective in bundling your short stories?

I have bundled them for a couple of reasons. One is, as I mentioned above, there is a limited market of people that would buy a whole series of individual short stories…especially once the series is complete. If you can hold their attention by releasing a new story in a serial every few weeks you might capture their interest. After the rush is over however…

The second reason, which I also alluded to above…is that I am now ready for them to read the whole story. I may have been too busy to concentrate on the whole of the series before, but now I am ready…and I think that people in today’s world like the idea of a collection. They may not read it in one setting, but the short stories within handily lend themselves to periodic reading…and they have them at their fingertips when they are so inclined. Additionally, the two series that have been bundled so far are targeted to a younger audience (Middle Grade and Young Adult respectively), who are more apt than not to read a short story versus the whole of the book.

What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

My first novel in the Gabriel Celtic series, Murder! Too Close To Home is now perma-free…and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Offering that, along with the prequels free has been a great boon to my readership. It does need to be done right however, as in you must have a few other titles out there that make it worth giving one away. The secret number (I have been told) is to have four or more novels available before you offer one for free.

You have published several different genres. Does changing hats create any problems? Any tricks you can share with us? Which genre did you enjoy writing the most? Does moving from one to the other give you some breathing room?

I do enjoy reading as well as writing any sort or mystery/thriller…it’s what got me in to writing in the first place. I also enjoy delving off into a different genre now and again though…it awakens your thought process to new ways of looking at stuff. I have always been somewhat of a techno-geek, so sci-fi is a good fit. I also have a great interest in the paranormal and spirituality, which lends itself well to all sorts of things.

What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?

I have a great collection of Alpha and Beta readers…the best actually! For the most part, I do depend on them for an honest review when they are done with the book. I have in the past entered writing contests that usually come with reviews, but other than that, I have only depended on the whim of the reader for a number of years now.



Author's Book List
Circles
Annie Chang has finally arrived! Receiving an engraved invitation to interview for the job of her dreams, she is startled to find that she is the only one that has been invited!

Accepting the strange position offered at the new high-tech company, Annie feels like she has finally found her niche…until she discovers the mysterious subroutine 606. Hidden in the code of the supercomputer, her discovery is quickly dismissed by her suddenly nervous boss.

Already having misgivings about what they want to do with the new technology, the added mystery that they are trying to hide from her makes her even more determined to get to the bottom of it.

Although hired for her amazing skills in both psychology and computer science, she soon realizes that they also expect her to go in the field with the strange private detective, Jeremiah Sparks. Thinking he is half crazy, she finds herself suddenly depending on the wisecracking gumshoe when her life is threatened on their very first job.


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The Pepper and Longstreet Mysteries
Meet Pepper Jones and the mysterious Jacob Longstreet... Neighborhood burglaries, snobby cheerleaders, hidden clues, missing children, haunted houses, historic bank robberies, secret codes, ghosts, eerie graveyards and all the usual suspects. Pepper and Longstreet are on the case in the Young Adult mysteries that fans say, "Hearkens back to the stories of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys."

Stories:
The Wolf Creek Bandit
The Mystery at the Mall
The Missing Clue
The Roadside Rescue
The Haunted Mansion
The Unsolved Robbery
The Mystery of The Rose
The Haunted Camp
The Apple Junction Payroll
The Legend of Ol Red Eyes
The McGruder File
A Christmas Tale


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The Adventures of Young Gabriel Celtic
The Adventures of Young Gabriel Celtic is a Middle Grade/YA series that focuses on the misadventures of Gabriel Celtic as a youngster. Always inquisitive, he follows his intuition in search of mystery and adventure. Unfortunately, things don't always turn out quite like he planned.

Stories:
The Great Plane Robbery
The Russian Coin
The Abandoned Mine
Hiawatha's Treasure
No Man's Land


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The Book Of Gabriel - The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic 4
Gabriel Celtic is confronted with something that he never thought he would have to deal with...Saving the world!

Ancient scrolls found by Gabe’s friend Julien Taylor in present-day Iraq have foretold the end of the world, as well as the man tasked with trying to prevent it….Gabriel himself.

Presented this unbelievable revelation by his old friend, Gabe is unwilling to accept the massive responsibility seemingly thrust upon him…until the Beast of Biblical prophecy goes after him and his family with a vengeance!

Forced against his will to get involved in the far-fetched prophecy, his faith is relentlessly tested as he raises a ragtag army to combat the man that calls himself Wolf.

Doing so will put everyone he loves in added danger…but to do nothing…risks even more!

The End Is Near!


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In Case of Death - The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic Book 3
Men are dying mysteriously all over the world, but as Gabriel Celtic soon discovers…The killer lives in his own back yard!

Having started a new journey in life with his new-found daughter, Gabriel Celtic soon learns that the life of a private investigator is not always what it’s cracked up to be.

Arriving home late one night from a long and tiring trip hunting a bounty, Gabriel is confronted by a mysterious message from an old friend. The mystery expands the next day when he discovers that two women from his past want to hire him. Having once been in love with both, he is at first hesitant when they ask him to find the murderer of both of their husbands!

At the same time, a mysterious man suddenly shows up in Gabriel’s life. Known only as Preacher, Gabriel first has to decide if Preacher's fantastic tale is believable, and then convince his daughter Abby to bring the mysterious man in on their new investigation.

Together, the three of them delve into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murdered husbands, only to find that they were only two of many that have met a similar fate.

Tracking the murderer becomes cumbersome as he hides in plain sight, his name hidden behind the gibberish of a mysterious book. When they finally do start getting close…he brings their world crashing down around them!

Set in southeast Indiana, In Case of Death weaves a global story of action and suspense that will leave you begging for more!


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kidNAP Inc. - A Nick Behr Mystery Book 1
Detective Nick Behr is called back from an extended stay in the Nevada desert. A woman has been murdered, and there are no leads except a single word written on the wall in her own blood.

Unfortunately, the murder isn’t the only thing he has to work through. He has a mental condition, his stay in the desert a medical retreat. What he has going on in his head may be tougher to solve than the murder!


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Gabriel's Revenge - The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic Book 2
Working at a dig in South America, Gabriel Celtic’s dreary existence is shattered by a one page telegram from back home, asking him for help on a murder… the murder of his friend!

Meeting a mysterious woman on the flight back, she seems to be trying unsuccessfully to drag him out of his dark mood. He is unnerved however, by the feeling that this “girl” seems just a little too familiar with his past. Starting his investigation as soon as the wheels hit the tarmac, he soon finds help from an unexpected source… the mysterious woman from the plane.

Coming to his rescue in the nick of time, her competence and bravery are undeniably familiar.

Meanwhile the investigation into the diabolical murders of his friend and others will soon lead him on a journey that will end at a place that he had never expected… the darkest corners of the Catholic Church!

JT Lewis is the author of the new YA series, Pepper and Longstreet, exciting mysteries that hearken back to the old Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mystery series.


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Murder! Too Close To Home - The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic Book 1
The sleepy little county in southeast Indiana is suddenly awakened by a series of murders, leaving local law enforcement unsure where to turn.

Seeming like professional hits, the victims are nonetheless normal every day people, with no ties to each other or anything criminal. Of the scant clues left at the scenes, there is one that kept showing up, a business card identifying their perp only as the 'GHOST'.

Gabriel Celtic and the other members of the Major Crimes Taskforce have been tasked with finding the ominous man, but soon discover that they will be thwarted at every turn. The revelation of another's involvement also involved in the murders, the mastermind of the killings, sends the investigation yet again into turmoil as this person easily eludes their efforts to identify and locate...her, a woman!

As the murders continue, it also becomes apparent that Jasmine, the beautiful blonde mastermind, has it out for the County Sheriff's Department, implicating its involvement with each new body found.

Having never been involved in such a bizarre series of crimes, Gabriel soon learns that solving the investigation would cost him the ultimate sacrifice.


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The Artifact Hunter!
Jesse Flanagan is just a guy who enjoys making a profit from the antiquities he buys and sells. When one of his discoveries suddenly puts him in the cross-hairs of assassins, he must change his whole life as he goes underground to try and reclaim his life!


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