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Awethors Event: Interview with Joe Compton

Apr 8, 2015 | Authors

Our eleventh awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Joe Compton. He’s an indie author as well as president of his publishing company Never Mind The Fine Print LLC. Check out the story of how he came to start his own publishing company!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

My book, Amongst The Killing, will be part of one of the bundled giveaways. I believe it will be in the thriller category. I also have a chat room on my website that I will be opening up for everyone on the 12th.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

It’s called Amongst The Killing, a crime thriller available at Amazon.com on Kindle and in paperback here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TYXGT36 and at Smashwords for all other ebook versions here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/521250.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I am fascinated and curious about human nature and the human condition. I always had this wild imagination, so I took the discipline I was taught and put it use in writing. It’s one of the few things I like to do that doesn’t seem like work, though anyone who knows me knows I put a lot into everything I do.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Short stories of Edgar Allen Poe. I read them a very young age and said I want to write like that. Of course I discovered it’s a lot harder than it looks, but the spirit of the way he wrote is very much a kindred spirit for me.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will be there as much as I can. I will have specific “hot times” to be in the chat room event I am planning, but for the most part I will be in and out at various times during the day.

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Author Bio

Writing has always been a passion. Published in his school anthology at an early age, Joe was able to get his first taste of self-publishing, having gotten to see firsthand what it took to publish and sell something on your own.

Right out of school Joe joined the Marines, and while serving his country, Joe wrote the first draft of Amongst The Killing. When Joe got out he began pursuing his writing dream in Denver. He got an agent and they actually got an offer from a publishing company. Alas, though, they wanted to groom this manuscript toward a movie of the week theme and were looking to change the entire concept. Joe didn’t want to go along with those plans and walked away.

Soured from his experience, Joe began pursuing a different writing avenue through screenplays and filmmaking, and they were as equally strong of a passion as novel writing. While still in Denver, Joe began making short films. He made three of his own, and though success would elude him in the traditional sense, he found another type of success. The relationships he forged and the avenues he opened up led him to realize he was not alone in his experiences, and thus he decided to build a publishing brand. A company that could help others like him be discovered. It took some time, but now Never Mind The Fine Print Publishing LLC is here. Their first effort is Joe’s book he wrote all those many years ago, Amongst The Killing.

Connect with Joe

Amongst The Killing at AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TYXGT36
Amongst The Killing at SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/521250
WEBSITE: http://nevermindfineprint.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/nevermindfineprint?ref=hl
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/Joedream73
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/Joe_NMFP/
GOOGLE+: +NevermindfineprintpubLLC
YOUTUBE TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFx3eEGocuY

Awethors Event: Interview with Cortina Jackson

Apr 8, 2015 | Authors

Our tenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Cortina Jackson. Cortina has a really original prize that will give you insight into her book as well as her inspiration. Read on to find out what it is!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I will have a free book giveaway; I will also give away my introduction to my book with background sounds from Hell on CD. I am getting a few more prizes to give away as well. I do plan on also doing a discussion, as my fiction thriller On Earth As It Is In Hell definitely sparks conversation.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My book is entitled On Earth As It Is In Hell it can be found on my website at on earth as it is in hell_cortinajackson http://www.cortinajackson.com/. It is also available at Amazon.com,

https://www.amazon.com/author/cortinajackson, Barnes and Noble.com, and Apple iBookstore.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

Writing is therapeutic for me. Everything that I want to express, whether it is sadness, joy, disappointment, or excitement, I am able to put my thoughts on paper and truly make the reader feel what I feel. I also want them to see it through my eyes, so I am able to paint a vivid picture.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

I really enjoyed reading a book by Mary K. Baxter titled A Devine Revelation of Hell; it was the first book that I read from cover to cover. It opened my eyes and intrigued me. I sought to write a book that would intrigue people without insulting them or forcing them to believe in anything. This is definitely that book, and it has been compared to Constantine and Devil’s Advocate, both starring Keanu Reeves.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I plan to be there all day!! I truly cannot wait to meet so many amazing people! Meet you there!

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Author Bio

Cortina Jackson is the doting mother of two sons. She received her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and has over 15 years of law enforcement experience. With Cortina’s experience and knowledge in law enforcement, she has seen firsthand that oftentimes, life is scarier than fiction. This has given her a basis for the material in her writing that often seems too detailed to be true. Cortina currently resides in McKinney, TX where she is working on her second Master’s degree and her next novel. She is enthusiastic about sharing her passion for writing with you.

For questions, scheduling, and ordering please visit her website at www.cortinajackson.com or email her directly at cortina.jackson@yahoo.com.

Connect with Cortina

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinathewriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10211550
LinkedIn
YouTube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VFHK-Mvt90

Awethors Event: Interview with Rachel Cotterill

Apr 7, 2015 | Authors

Our ninth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Rachel Cotterill. Visiting her social media links doesn’t just give you insight into her books, you’ll find scrumptious recipes and food photos!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’ll be giving away books, answering questions, and offering readers the opportunity to sign up for ARCs of new releases. Plus, naturally, taking part in some of the fun events like Cover Wars!

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My latest release is a fantasy mystery novella called The Falconer, which follows Roan’s attempts to uncover the truth after he witnesses a suspicious death. You can download it free from https://payhip.com/b/CKi2 or from most major ebook stores.

My most recent full-length work, also published this year, is Watersmeet – a tale of alchemy and romance set in the same world.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t tell stories; it comes as naturally to me as breathing. At least these days I get to share my work with willing readers, rather than getting in trouble for spinning tales to my (surprisingly gullible) school friends!

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Hmm, probably Dune. I read it when I was quite young and the sweeping mixture of space adventure and fantasy elements really caught my imagination. Frank Herbert is indirectly responsible for most of what I read (and write) today!

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I’ll be in and out all day, at least during reasonable UK hours. And I’ll have my phone in my pocket the rest of the time, if anyone wants to tag me to get my attention!

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Author Bio

Rachel Cotterill is professionally and perpetually indecisive, splitting her time somewhat haphazardly between writing, computing, linguistics, recipe development, and travel. She’s half of the feminist SF book blog Strange Charm (http://strangecharmbooks.co.uk) and her third novel, Watersmeet, is a romantic and optimistic fantasy published earlier this year.

Connect with Rachel

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachelcotterill
Facebook: http://facebook.com/rachelcotterill
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachelecotterill

You can find all of Rachel’s current work on Amazon, for Kindle and (for full-length works) in paperback. My Amazon author page is: http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Cotterill/e/B004778FRM/. Of course, my books are also available from other major retailers.

Awethors Event: Interview with Sunshine Somerville

Apr 7, 2015 | Authors

Our eighth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Sunshine Somerville (how cool is her name?!). She’s going to have some fun competitions at the Awethors event with multiple chances to win her books.

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I plan to have an ongoing Q&A discussion about my books in The Kota Series. I’ll pick my favorite question, and that winner will receive free paperback copies of books 1-4 (the whole series).

I’ll also have a “What actor would best play this character?” competition where I’ll post drawn pictures of my characters, and my favorite four winners will receive free ebooks of book 1.

(Psst: ebook versions of books 2-4 will be free on Amazon all day)

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

I just finished putting together an ebook box set for The Kota Series. That’s on pre-order right now for $4.99 and will release 12/18/2015 at: http://amzn.to/1CW9Yc7.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I’ve been writing The Kota Series since I was nine, so I’ve always had a lot of ideas in my head. I love creating anything, really, and world-building is my absolute favorite part of writing. I think, like most writers, there’s just so much in my head that I have to get it out there!

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

I can never pick a favorite! But The Chronicles of Narnia was definitely the first book I ever remember reading as a kid and thinking, “Aha! I want to make my own worlds,” so that series was pretty influential to my start as a writer.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I’ll definitely get my above-mentioned discussions/contests going by 8:00 a.m. EST. I plan to check every hour (at least) until midnight to keep things going. And of course I’m excited to interact with all the other authors (I hope to win book goodies for myself!), so you’ll probably see me around a lot all day.

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Author Bio

Sunshine Somerville lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She self-published her first book in college in 2004 and has been evolving The Kota Series since she was nine, basing the story on childhood fantasies derived from watching too much X-Men and Star Wars and reading too much Chronicles of Narnia and A Wrinkle in Time.

Connect with Sunshine

SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: www.SunshineSomerville.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kota-Series/423480655920
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kynacoba

BOOK LINKS:

Book 1 – http://amzn.to/1D6Fwda
Book 2 – http://amzn.to/1ji79Xu
Book 3 – http://amzn.to/RKf0lm
Book 4 – http://amzn.to/1CnziGL
Box set – http://amzn.to/1CW9Yc7

Awethors Event: Interview with Isaac Jourden

Apr 6, 2015 | Authors

Our seventh awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Isaac Jourden. Sales in the month of April from his debut novel will be donated to water.org, so if you don’t win a copy at the Awethors event, help a worthy cause afterwards!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’m promoting my first novel, Petty. I am giving away copies as part of the Contemporary Fiction bundle, but also, all the profits from sales on Petty in March and April are being donated to water.org, and purchasing enters you into a drawing (with a randomly selected winner) for cool prizes like an Amazon gift card, a Kindle, an Xbox One, and more!

Details on how to enter are all at http://www.isaacjourden.com.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

Petty is my first novel; it’s about a small-time con artist working in an amusement park Petty-Front-Full and trying to keep his social life and his underhanded activity separate. It’s out now and available on Amazon.com in ebook for $2.99 or paperback for $11.99. Reviews have been good – currently 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon!

My second novel, The Gravedigger’s Girlfriend, is currently going through the editing process and will hopefully be released this summer. I’d say the writing style is inspired in tone – if not in content – by authors like Chuck Palahniuk and Douglas Coupland.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I really enjoy strategy games and logic puzzles because of that “aha!” moment when you discover something that makes all the various pieces work to give you the correct solution. Novel writing for me is much the same – I like writing stories about characters whose lives interweave in unpredictable but inevitable ways, starting with things that seem unconnected but build to a big finish.

So for me, novel writing is kind of like a big puzzle, and finding that missing piece that ties everything together elegantly is incredibly satisfying.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

This is a tough one because so many books could fit that description. I’d have to say Dune by Frank Herbert is my all-time favorite. I love the way the story is focused on the characters much more than the plot. I love the way all the characters are weaving schemes nested within schemes and the way that all the characters are intelligent, self aware, and mostly amoral. The psychology of it is so engaging, and the heroes and villains all match wits well. I really appreciate that.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

As much as I can, off and on all day. I’ve put aside the day to focus on being at the event as much as possible!

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Author Bio

Isaac Jourden is a 33-year-old American living in Canada with his wife Stephanie, son Simon, and two cats, Darth Kitty and Cooler. His interests include Doctor Who, poker, Korean pop music, and writing things his mother will scold him for.

Connect with Isaac

He can be reached on Facebook, on Twitter (@isaacjourden), and through www.isaacjourden.com.

His novel, Petty, can be purchased on Amazon.com in paperback or ebook formats:

http://www.amazon.com/Petty-Isaac-Jourden-ebook/dp/B00PNLCVJO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1427673751&sr=8-6&keywords=petty

Awethors Event: Interview with Megan O’Russell

Apr 6, 2015 | Authors

Our sixth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is actress Megan O’Russell.

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I have two books to give away: The Tethering and The Siren’s Realm, and both of their covers will be in the Cover Wars.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

The Tethering is currently available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and on the Silence in the Library website.

http://www.amazon.com/Tethering-1-Megan-ORussell/dp/1941650228/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427669072&sr=8-1&keywords=the+tethering

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tethering-megan-orussell/1120593353?ean=9781941650226

http://www.silenceinthelibrarypublishing.com/product/tethering-megan-orussell/

And The Siren’s Realm is currently available for preorder on Amazon, to be released on April 29^th.

http://www.amazon.com/Sirens-Realm-Tethering-Book-ebook/dp/B00V8RYJKQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427515629&sr=8-2&keywords=the+siren%27s+realm

http://www.silenceinthelibrarypublishing.com/product/the-sirens-realm-by-megan-orussell/

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I’m an actor by trade, so writing is just an extension of the storytelling I do onstage.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will be dropping in and out all day!

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Author Bio

Megan O’Russell is thrilled to have her premier novel The Tethering published with Silence in the Library Publishing. Book two in The Tethering series, The Siren’s Realm, is currently available for pre-order. Megan’s work can also be found in the anthology Athena’s Daughters 2.

Originally from New York, Megan is a professional actress who spends her time traveling the country for different shows. When not on stage or writing, Megan spends time with her beloved ukulele and her wonderful husband.

Connect with Megan

To follow Megan’s writing adventures, you can visit her website at meganorussell.com.

Website: meganorussell.com
Twitter: @MeganORussell
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ORussellauthor
TSU: https://www.tsu.co/MeganORussell
Goodreads links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21480311-the-tethering
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23445448-the-siren-s-real

Awethors Event: Interview with Simon Coates

Apr 5, 2015 | Authors

Our fifth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Simon Coates. Simon turned his love for bike riding and competing into a book, Bike Racing into the Red. In fact, he’s competing today!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

Not sure yet – merchandise is a possibility. My cycling story was foreworded by Paul Curran, two-time 1986 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, and I should be able to get some signed items. At the very least, ebook versions of the published books I have.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

The book I have just published is The Discovery of Love, which is a love story (obviously!) but not your typical romance. Yes, there are two people in love, but the title is about the discovery of love; these people have obviously found it, so it is not really about them…

I had a book launch last weekend in Saltburn, North East England. At the moment my paperback books are only available in my local area. I will be looking into making my books available across a wider area; I published with a local publisher, so I don’t use CreateSpace, which of course makes distribution a bit more difficult. However, my books are all on Kindle, so they can be downloaded from there. You can get more details on my website http://www.galactic-echo.com.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

Well it was originally a hobby, but I have since decided to see if I can take it to the ultimate level. I have found that I love writing, and going to events I get to meet people, which is great. In just a couple of months I have met some really famous people and I just enjoy the whole writing thing, from thinking of ideas, to talking to people, and everything else, really!

Also getting feedback is great. One person who read my cycling story said he used it as inspiration to climb a mountain he was riding up, which was quite humbling, really (it wasn’t Olympus Mons by the way…).

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Well funnily enough I don’t read much, believe it or not. I can’t think of any books that I could live without, to be honest! Other authors can’t believe I don’t read, but I personally don’t feel the need to. I don’t need to read others’ work to gain inspiration, and one’s own style is something you develop naturally, not by reading other people’s books.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

Well I have a bike race on the same day, so it will probably be in the afternoon. I will actually be Bike Racing into the Red, then talking about the book of the same name!

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Author Bio

I am Simon Coates, 41 years old, I live in Middlesbrough, North East England, UK. I have been writing for about seven years, around the general idea of what life might be like in the 24th century. My stories take a general concept and I then build a story around it. For example, with Bike Racing into the Red, it is around the idea that we live on planet Mars. Mars has the highest mountain in the universe, so it is inevitable that we would want to climb it to the top. A bike race is a logical extension to this. So I wrote a story about one!

When I am not writing, I am likely out on my bike; I compete in road time trial races, up to national championship level.

Connect with Simon

Twitter: @GalacticEcho
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Galactic-Echo/533091686779159?ref=bookmarks
Books are available from local bookshops (the shops are listed on my homepage www.galactic-echo.com) and also as ebooks from Amazon. Bike Racing into the Red is available to download from Amazon on the following link: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LAGXA32?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Go That Extra Mile!

Sep 8, 2014 | Writing

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

Your book is edited, polished, published, and out there for the world to enjoy. You’ve got it listed on Amazon, its beautiful cover (that you agonized over getting just right) beckoning readers with its siren call, “You want me!”

Is that enough? No, it’s just the beginning.

You need to write a good come-hither summary for your Amazon listing. Something that whets readers’ appetites for your story, a real teaser that shows them your characters are interesting and your story is one they just must read.

And while a good summary is important, people also want to know something about the writer behind the words. Too many authors miss this prime opportunity to connect with potential readers. They forget about Amazon’s Author Pages, a great way to introduce yourself to your readers. It doesn’t need to be a lengthy life story – nor should it be – just enough information relative to you as an author.

If you want, you can also include a short paragraph at the end about your next work in progress, but remember to update that part when the work in progress becomes a published book. Make sure to include a good picture of yourself with your bio, one that suits the types of books you write.

With both the summary and your bio, double check, triple check, and quadruple check for errors. You can lose lots of sales if readers see obvious mistakes; they’ll naturally figure the book will be poorly written too. And we’ve read endless accounts, from blogs all the way up to the New York Times, about how much readers hate seeing too many typos, misspellings, and other mistakes, not to mention plot and character inconsistencies and other errors. In fact, many books have been returned to Amazon with complaints about numerous errors – and Amazon has refunded the buyers’ money. Don’t be that author.

On the other hand, books that have been well proofread are noticed and appreciated. In a review of book Proof Positive proofread, the reviewer wrote, “I appreciate that she gave her readers clean spelling and punctuation.”

Reviews are important to sales on Amazon, so ask for them from friends, family members, and readers who are willing to write reviews in exchange for a free copy of your book.

Go the extra mile and you may be rewarded with extra sales!

Free Giveaway Contest Results!

Jul 14, 2014 | Offers, Proof Positive Updates

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who participated in Proof Positive’s 20-page critique giveaway, and another big thank you to everyone who congratulated us on our new website! We’re so glad you love it as much as we do.

Congratulations to the winner of our giveaway – William Struse, author of two books and blogger at http://www.the13thenumeration.com/Blog13/. Connect with him on Twitter or Facebook.

Looking forward to working with you, William! Follow us on Twitter so we can private message you, or email us at ProofPositivePro [at] gmail.com.

Contest This Weekend! Free Giveaway!

Jul 11, 2014 | Offers, Proof Positive Updates

Exciting news, authors! Proof Positive’s website is being redesigned, and the final product will be revealed today, July 11 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. Not only will you love the new website, but you’ll find great new offerings like video game script editing and blog post proofreading! You can also get to know our editors better.

To celebrate this big event, we’re going to give away a FREE 20-page critique of your manuscript – any genre.

Enter the competition in two ways:

1. On Twitter: tweet or retweet our announcement of the new website (https://proofpositivepro.com), making sure to mention our owner, @ChristieStratos, as part of your tweet. It’s that simple!

2. On Facebook: like our page and post on our wall, making sure to tag at least one friend or fellow author in your post. So easy.

3. On LinkedIn: follow our page and like an update we’ve posted. I cannot get easier!

Do either of these things Friday, July 11 – Sunday, July 13, and you’ll automatically be entered into the competition! The winner will be chosen via Random.org.

Thanks for celebrating with us!

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Awethors Event: Interview with Joe Compton

Awethors Event: Interview with Cortina Jackson

Awethors Event: Interview with Rachel Cotterill

Awethors Event: Interview with Sunshine Somerville

Awethors Event: Interview with Isaac Jourden

Awethors Event: Interview with Megan O’Russell

Awethors Event: Interview with Simon Coates

Go That Extra Mile!

Free Giveaway Contest Results!

Contest This Weekend! Free Giveaway!

Our Website Got a Redesign!

How to Choose Comp Titles: Mix and Match Multiple Aspects of Your Novel

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