Featured Interview With Author Joseph Lewis

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Having been in education for forty-seven years as a teacher, coach, counselor and administrator, Joseph Lewis has semi-retired and now works part-time as an online learning facilitator. He is an award-winning author and uses his psychology and counseling background to craft thriller/crime/detective mysteries. He has taken creative writing and screen writing courses at UCLA and USC. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Lewis has been happily married to his wife, Kim. Together they have three wonderful children: Wil (deceased July 2014), Hannah, and Emily. He and his wife now live in Virginia. The books Joseph Lewis wrote have won almost 20 awards, including Maxy Awards, PenCraft Awards, and BestThrillers Best Action Fiction of 2022 for Blaze In, Blaze Out.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I've always been an avid reader, but didn't begin writing until sixth grade at the encouragement of my teacher. My first publication was a short story, Dusty and Me, in 1987, and my first book, Taking Lives, the Prequel to the Lives Trilogy, was published in 2014. I am the personification of the adage that one is never too old to chase down and capture a dream.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I generally read in my genre: thriller-crime-mystery, and my go-to writers are James Patterson (I write short chapters like he does), John Sandford because of his economy with words, David Baldacci because of his action and build up to climax, and Stephen King because of his ability to place the reader in a setting, along with his character development.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Blaze In, Blaze Out is different from my other books because instead of featuring my patchwork group of adopted adolescent boys, I feature the three cops who have been in each of my books. I tell their story, their background, their lives, and each cop, while friends and colleagues, are very different from one another. As in each of the titles for my books, there are multiple meanings behind it, and this one is no different. It centers on a hunting theme, but does not need to be a hunter to enjoy Blaze or get involved with the characters and action. It is based on revenge, integrity, and belief in one's self. Blaze has one five awards, including BestThrillers Thriller Action Crime Novel of 2022.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Joseph Lewis’s Website

Joseph Lewis Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Author P.D. Fertitta

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a native of Shreveport, Louisiana and grew up in the city’s oldest restaurant, Fertitta’s Delicatessen and Imported Foods. I graduated from The Centenary College of Louisiana in 2003 with a B.A. in Economics. After several years of working in the restaurant industry, the insurance industry, and the oil and gas industry I finally stopped running from an internal tug I’d felt all my life.

In 2009 I matriculated at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating with my Master of Divinity in 2014 I then spent the next six and a half years as a full time campus minister in the Lutheran Church. However, in 2021 the tug at my heart returned, this time it was home calling me. It was time for me to trade my vocation of Pastor for that of the vocation of a son once again. I returned to Shreveport from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to help my mother care for my stepfather in his ailing health until his passing in early 2022.

Since returning home I can now be found at the counter of Fertitta’s Delicatessen once again, but the story doesn’t stop here. I also founded Padre Fertitta Foods, a line of food products using old Family recipes.

As an avid fan of horse racing, I’ve also founded Omertà Thoroughbreds LLP, a Family partnership which holds stakes in several prominent and promising thoroughbred racehorses in the US and international racing circuits.

Most recently I have begun to pursue a long held dream of combining my love of literature and cinema to become an author and screenwriter by founding Omertà Entertainment. I am making my debut as an author with the Trinacria: The Blood Washes Blood Chronicles series of novellas. This isn’t the end, not by a long shot!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I found a love for reading at an early age with stories like The Hardy Boys Mysteries.y love for writing began to grow when I took a creative writing class as a high school sophomore. But my interest in storytelling wasn’t limited to the written word. Cinema has always been a big favorite of mine. I think I first saw ‘The Godfather’ when I was 15 years old and loved it. Loved it then – love it now. Being Sicilian, those sorts of stories of family and the saga and drama of all that resonated with me.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love many different genres and writers, but mostly mystery, crime and especially noir fiction. Any existentialist themes resonate deeply with me, and I read a lot of philosophy and theology. My favorite author is Dostoevsky, but I also love Kierkegaard and Jacques Ellul. You can also find authors like Flannery O’Connor, Frank Herbert, Mario Puzo, Steven King, David Baldacci, Lorenzo Carcaterra, Simon Scarrow, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, Dorthy B. Hughes on my bookshelves.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I have always loved the Mafia genre. There are deep philosophical and theological elements to those stories and movies. I thought I would like to do something like this and tie it in with my faith and find a way to put that genre on paper to tell a story of faith – a story of scripture – in a way that could be accessible to people that may not otherwise dive into it.

As a result I began working on what would become my authorial debut, a series of novellas titled, Trinacria: The Blood Washes Blood Chronicles.

It is a true epic Mafia family saga. It starts in Napoleonville, La., which is where my great-grandfather came into this country. It starts in the sugar cane fields where he started working. It follows a family from their great-grandfather and his owning a grocery store.

His child and their friend end up being the ones who fall into sin. They do it with good intentions, originally. But as things progress, their world gets darker and darker and deeper and deeper into sin. As sin does all things, it divides. Eventually, the two men who were as close a family to each other, something happens and it divides the families, and now they are out for vengeance. Blood washes blood. The capstone piece I have planned a screenplay which will dig deep into themes of hope, redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

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P.D. Fertitta Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Author Farzaneh Ghadirian

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello everyone!
My name is Farzaneh and I'm a writer. So far, I have written four books. They are titled “She Is A Spirit Now” (memoir), “It’s Just A Dog’ (Children’s book) and “One Heart” (children’s book). My latest book is called “Soulful Mastery”. This book is a beautiful compilation of uplifting and thought-provoking images and quotes that are sure to inspire readers.
I'm originally from Tehran, Iran, but I currently reside in Hobart, Tasmania in Australia. I am passionate about writing stories, poems, books, photography and other creative pieces of work. I find joy in crafting words and sharing them with others. Writing gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and I strive to improve my skills and techniques with each new piece of work I create.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, taking photographs, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends. I love being outdoors too and appreciating the beauty of nature in all its forms. I find a lot of peace and joy in spending time surrounded by natural landscapes, animals, plants, and other aspects of the natural environment. I often take time to appreciate the small details of nature and am always in awe of its complexity. I also believe that it is important to respect and protect nature so that future generations can enjoy its beauty.

Coco is my beloved Puli dog and an amazing companion on my outdoor adventures. She is always eager to explore new places, and I can always count on her to keep me company! Her intelligence and loyalty make her the perfect companion, and I'm so grateful to have her in my life.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
At age 8, I developed an intense fascination with books, which eventually led me to begin writing. After an intense spiritual transformation and awakening in 2021, I began to take my writing more seriously and started to explore new styles and genres. Over the past few years, I have been actively pursuing my passion for writing, drawing inspiration from my own life experiences and observations. I began journaling my thoughts and experiences and eventually started writing poetry and my stories. Writing has become an important part of my life and I am continually exploring new ways to express myself through the written word.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors to read are Dr Joe Dispenza, a New York Times best-selling author and lecturer in the field of neuroscience, quantum physics and epigenetics; Alan Watts, a British philosopher, writer and speaker known for his interpretations of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience; Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher and author of the best-selling books The Power of Now and A New Earth; and Dr. Wayne Dyer, a motivational speaker and author of many books including Your Erroneous Zones and Real Magic.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“She Is A Spirit Now” is a personal memoir and an exploration of what it means to be a human being and how we can use our own inner strength and capacity for self-transformation to reach our highest potential. It is also an exploration of the power of spirituality to help us foster greater peace, joy, and contentment in our lives. It took me an entire year to complete it; it was a difficult and emotional journey, but it also gave me a sense of peace and closure. My journey was filled with self-exploration, personal growth, and healing. I reflected on my life and questioned the beliefs that had been instilled in me. I opened my heart and mind to new possibilities, learning to trust my intuition and follow my own truth. I practised meditation and mindfulness, cultivating a deeper connection to my inner wisdom. I also studied spiritual teachings and explored different spiritual paths, which allowed me to gain insight into my life and explore the spiritual realms. As I moved through these varied experiences, I began to understand who I truly am and what my purpose in life is. Along my journey, I discovered my spiritual gifts, embraced my authentic self, and discovered a new level of personal power. “She Is A Spirit now” is written in an engaging, conversational style, making it easy to understand and relate to. It contains a range of stories, anecdotes, and reflections that provide insight into topics such as self-care, forgiveness and compassion, letting go of the past, and cultivating a lifestyle that supports one's highest good.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Farzaneh Ghadirian’s Website

Farzaneh Ghadirian Facebook Page

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Featured Interview With Author Barbara A. Luker

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born and raised in Saint Peter, Minnesota, my day job happens to be working for the City of Saint Peter in the City Administrator's Office. As a Certified Municipal Clerk, I am actively involved in all the goings on with the city and being a hometown girl helps make me really good at my job with the city. I am an avid supporter of several animal rescues and live that passion through my rescue cat Annie. She's an older dilute Tortie cat and like the famous cats of Ernest Hemmingway, she is polydactyl on three of her feet!

You can't be a true Minnesotan without a love for Minnesota sports teams and I am also a passionate supporter of the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Vikings. I'm fortunate to live in the beautiful Minnesota River Valley and the changing of seasons in the fall is stunning in my area.

Saint Peter is a historian's dream, and our entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. Saint Peter was originally planned to be the capital of Minnesota until a man stole the bill that would have named us as capital, but everything happens for a reason and Saint Peter is charming and welcoming and perfect for the 12,000 folks that call this home. Can you tell I am proud of my city?

Retirement is on the horizon, and I look forward to being able to spend many more hours writing and being able to more fully devote my time to meeting readers and talking about my books…especially my new book, "The Right One", that comes out in September, 2023!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My family loves books and I was lucky that even though our parents had little extra money to spare, there were always books in our house and frequent trips to our Carnegie Library. I remember being about five when my parents purchased a set of what we called the "upside-down books"; books that you started and when you got to the end of one story, you flipped the book over to read another. That's when I discovered the Babar series which were among my favorite stories as a child.

But I didn't start writing until much later. I was always good at composing correspondence, but it wasn't until much later in life, when I was about 50 years old, that I actually wrote my first manuscript. It came after having a vivid dream night after night that just had to be written down and before I knew it, I had written a complete story.

That was about the same time I discovered that my grandmother, unbeknownst to anyone in the family, had secretly been taking creative writing classes. Written on a manual typewriter, on onion skin paper only those of us of a certain age may remember, we found dozens of short stories she had written. At first those stories were covered in the dreaded red editing pencil marks, but by the time we got to the bottom of the box she had improved dramatically. It impacted me so much; I honor her secret by including her name Lillian somewhere in each of my books.

My first book, "Remembering You", was published in 2020, just two weeks before the COVID pandemic shut down Minnesota. For a first-time author it was disappointing as there were no book signings, no launch party, and, unfortunately, very few chances to promote other than word of mouth. If you get a chance check out Remembering You. I think readers who enjoy a good love story will enjoy it.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Pinning down a favorite author is like naming a favorite child! When you are brought up exposed to all genres and a diverse stable of writers, your tastes become quite varied and that is the case with me. In romance/woman's fiction, the categories I happen to write, I am a big fan of Kristin Hannah. Her work, Winter Garden, was my first exposure to Hannah and I have been a fan ever since.

As part of my job with the City of Saint Peter, I serve as our Election Official which has led me to have a strong interest in politics and politicians. A great way to learn more about the people who represent us is by reading memoirs. My personal library has a large number of memoirs on everyone from Abraham Lincoln to those who currently occupy the White House.

But I am also a big fan of thrillers and the work of the late Vince Flynn, the author of the Mitch Rapp books, is my favorite. Vince tragically passed away much too early in life, but he was a prolific writer and since his death an author name Kyle Mills has taken over the series. Vince was a fellow Minnesotan and when I began trying to find a publisher for my books, I was inspired by the journey he took to publication. He suffered through rejection after rejection before he finally self-published and became what seemed to be an overnight best-selling author. Of course, there was a lot of hard work that went into that "overnight" success, but his story inspired me to not give up before I was published.

In my own work, I am inspired by people, their emotions, their failings, and the hopes of so many of us that someday love will come our way. I am inspired by families and secrets and the unpredictability of life. No two of my stories are the same, but I always describe them as love stories with a twist. Most are set in modern day and many have Minnesota connections.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I Carry Your Heart, published in 2022, is a dual timeline story full of love, heartbreak, family secrets and mistakes. Set between the 1960s and today, it spans three generations of the Ward family and delves into the interactions between mothers and daughters, husband and wives, and what we are willing to do for love. It's a story of undying love, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the unbreakable strength of family.

Someone asked me after the book came out where the idea came from, and I had no answer except to say I woke up with the idea. Like my first manuscript, it was something that needed to be put down on paper and it virtually wrote itself. I couldn't stop thinking about it until the words "the end" appeared on my screen. From start to finish it took just three months. Sometimes, and trust me those times are rare, it is just that simple.

Readers who have visited with me after reading the book, or those who have left online reviews, have suggested setting aside plenty of time to read because once you start you won't want to put it down. Others have suggested reading it with a box of tissues. Both are high compliments to this author as it tells me the story engaged readers and touched their hearts.

I'm proud to say that I Carry Your Heart was a finalist in the 2022 American Writing Awards in the Women's Fiction category and while that's wonderful and humbling, the best reward for me is when complete strangers reach out to tell me how much the story meant to them. I hope that you will be one of those strangers!

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Barbara A. Luker’s Website

Barbara A. Luker Facebook Page

Barbara A. Luker Twitter Account

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Featured Interview With Author Randall Snyder

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Colorado, but grew up in San Antonio, and have lived in Arizona for 27 years. I currently have two dogs, Buddie and Clyde, and write on multiple topics, including a historical non-fiction about my great-grandfather, my own memoir about my experiences as a 20 year deputy sheriff and I am finalizing two more books, a true crime novel and a YA book I am co-writing with my daughter

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have been an avid bibliophile all my life, but it wasn't until my retirement from law enforcement, and numerous comments from friends and coworkers, that I should write about my experiences that I took it seriously. I enjoyed writing classes in college, and now I am loving putting all of my ideas down on paper. If only it paid better, lol!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I read almost anything. Sci-ci covers the gamut of Robert Heinlein, Douglas Adams and the entire Star Wars collections, through fantasy of J.R.R. Tolkien and Jim Butcher, and modern writers , Patterson, Cussler, Clancy, and W.E.B. Griffin, and non-fictions and histories. I try to take elements of many authors' writings, and use it to help inform my own writings.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My most recently published is Hellbent Anthology, a collection of journals kept by my great-grandfather and his friends from a road trip they took from Ohio to California in 1923. My personal book, Cyber Creeps, is about my cases and experiences in law enforcement, and specifically Internet Crimes Against Children. My upcoming book is a true-crime novel, and I am writing a YA romantic/fantasy with my 12 year old about a zombie in love.

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Randall Snyder’s Website

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