The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Author Interviews

Karyn Almendarez – Reaching Amazon Best Seller Status

by

Best selling author Karyn AlmendarezI’m trying something new today: a recorded interview with Amazon best seller Karyn Almendarez. We’ll be talking about her book, Tragedy’s Treasures: A Mom’s Journey Through Grief and what Karyn did to reach the Amazon #1 best seller spot for her book.

You can view the video or read the post that follows. The post is not a verbatim transcript, but the highlights of our interview.

Karyn Almendarez is a second-grade teacher, writer, and blogger. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Albert. When she is not teaching or writing, [Read more…] about Karyn Almendarez – Reaching Amazon Best Seller Status

Author with Myasthenia Gravis Offers Hope to Others

by

Donna Whittaker, author
Photo by Amy L. Whittaker

I wrote earlier this month about the things that drive us to write the books we do. This is especially true for author Donna Whittaker, who this month reaches a milestone of sorts,  60 years of having myasthenia gravis (pronounced my-as-theen-ee-a grav-us).

The word comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning “grave muscular weakness.” The most common form of MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by fluctuating weakness of the voluntary muscle groups. It can be quite debilitating. There is no cure, and life with MG is [Read more…] about Author with Myasthenia Gravis Offers Hope to Others

Renee Reid says lay your marketing groundwork early

by

Renee Reid interview Lay your marketing groundwork earlyI’m interviewing author Renee Reid today. Her debut book, The Courageous Woman’s Guide to Recovering Life’s Joy: Using Your Spiritual Weapons to Reach out to God, releases September 25.

No doubt, Renee is very excited and I’m glad to have her here today to help launch her book. Her mission is [Read more…] about Renee Reid says lay your marketing groundwork early

Leaning on God for His Direction for Your Book

by

Leaning on God for His Direction for Your BookWelcome to this month’s Friday Feature Author Interview. Today I’m visiting with Dr. Stephanie M. Carter. She is an author, bible teacher, ordained minister, and women’s life coach of a ministry called Grace to Live Coaching. Her journey of God’s direction in writing this book is inspiring.

Grab your java or tea and then let’s dive in.

How do you keep yourself motivated to write? [Read more…] about Leaning on God for His Direction for Your Book

Capturing life events for your book ideas: an interview with Melody Schaefer

by

Capturing life events for your book ideasI’ve got children’s author Melody L. Schaefer here with me today. I met Melody at my local writers group, and we’ve had a good time getting to know each other. Besides writing her books, she does all her own illustrating.

Melody’s newest release, Penny the Parakeet and the Solar Eclipse, is the perfect example of capitalizing on life events.

A total solar eclipse happens next month, and the best place for viewing it in its totality is none other than where we each live, St. Joseph, Missouri. Here in St. Joe this event has been a topic of conversation for over a year.

Melody realized early on this was an event she could tag onto by [Read more…] about Capturing life events for your book ideas: an interview with Melody Schaefer

Research and What Happens When You Get It Right

by

Author Catherine Ulrich BrakefieldI’m pleased to have award-winning author Catherine Ulrich Brakefield here today. Her inspirational historical romance, Swept into Destiny, released this week. Swept is her fifth book and the first of the four-book Destiny series. Visit Catherine’s blog and learn more about her and view her books.

Catherine, what or who inspired you to write this book?

Swept into Destiny is a work of fiction; however, my grandmother and mother inspired the story.

My grandmother was of Irish English descent with a little Scottish peppered in for good measure and a hint of Cherokee Indian. Through my grandmother I learned [Read more…] about Research and What Happens When You Get It Right

Indie Publishing: One Man’s Journey, an interview with Dave Driver

by

Indie author Dave DriverToday, I’m visiting with author Dave Driver about his experiences with independent publishing.

Dave says, “I should probably start with a caveat. I am much more abstract in my approach to most things I do in life than concrete-sequential. So, what you read below might resonate with abstract thinkers and not so much with concrete-sequential thinkers. I do not believe either approach is superior to the other except as where it best serves each individual. I do believe all approaches can and should be handed off to the leading of the Holy Spirit.”

Learn more about Dave at his website.

What factors did you consider in your decision to publish independently? [Read more…] about Indie Publishing: One Man’s Journey, an interview with Dave Driver

Moving from Journalism to Novels: How One Author Did It

by

author Marie Wells CoutuToday, I welcome back author Marie Wells Coutu. My first interview with Marie was shortly after her debut novel, For Such a Time, which won the Books of Hope contest. Thirsting for More, the second book in her Mended Vessels series was a finalist in the 2016 Selah Awards Contest and a semi-finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Awards sponsored by Florida Writers Association. You can find more about Marie and her novels on her Facebook page, at her website (MarieWellsCoutu.com), or follow her on Twitter (@mwcoutu). Now, Write Integrity Press is releasing Marie’s third book in her Mended Vessels series.

According to your bio, you wrote your first book I Came from Venus when you were in the 8th grade. Did it get published? [Read more…] about Moving from Journalism to Novels: How One Author Did It