I’ve had the chance to explore your work, and it really caught my interest. I’d be curious to hear what you’re working on now or what sparked the idea behind your latest book. Always enjoy connecting with fellow authors in the same space.
What inspired your approach to your stories or themes?
Thank You...I am currently writing my second poetry/short story book. It is a work in progress...living life and observing people always inspires my approach to my next story...and what inspired your approach to your stories?
That sounds like a meaningful project poetry and short stories are such powerful ways to capture the human experience. I can definitely relate to drawing inspiration from observing people and life around us; that’s where the most honest stories often come from.
For me, much of my writing is rooted in personal experience particularly my time in the Marines and the complexities of war, identity, and memory. I try to explore the emotional and psychological layers beneath the surface.
What do you find as the most intriguing or compelling aspect of your writing that keeps you engaged as a writer?
Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more. There’s something truly powerful about creating characters and placing them in a world where they can explore truths that sometimes feel too complex to address head-on in real life. Fiction gives us that freedom—and that responsibility.
And I have to say, engaging with readers has been one of the most rewarding parts of writing. Hearing how a story resonates or opens up a new perspective for someone is deeply humbling. How has your experience been with your readers since you published your first edition?
Totally hear you self-publishing definitely has its challenges, especially when it comes to visibility and getting reviews. I've been working with a marketing agency that's been really helpful in getting my book in front of more readers. If you're interested, I’d be happy to connect you with them. No pressure at all, just thought it might be something worth exploring!
Hello Charles...All is well, thank you...I am currently working on my second poetry/short story book. A work in progress... and you? Are you working on anything at the moment?
Hey there, glad to hear all’s well. A second poetry and short story collection? That’s a rewarding kind of work, plenty of room for precision and punch. I’m deep into the next Caine Riordan novel and juggling a few side collaborations that keep things interesting.
What themes are you exploring in this new collection?
Actually I belong to an online global writing community called "Spillwords" (Spillwords Press), and they have a variety of themes writers may submit to. I am using a lot of my submissions for my next book.
That’s a great idea, Spillwords has some really strong themes to work from, and it’s smart to build your next book around pieces that already resonate.
If you’re open to it, would you mind connecting via email? I’d love to chat more about your work and mine also.
Totally understand, and no problem at all. I’m equally fine continuing the conversation here. I also took a moment to check out your Amazon listing, really impressive body of work.
Hi there! I thought it might be lovely to chat a bit about our writing journeys. I always enjoy hearing how fellow authors got started. What first inspired you to begin writing?
Hi Julia. I was inspired to write at a very young age, through a school assignment. We were asked to write a poem about our pets. From then, I was intrigued and continued to write poems, short stories and novels over many years in my spare time. In retirement, I decided to take that passion and self-publish my writings...And what first inspired you to write?
Hi, I'm Monna Awad, a historical romance author with 19 published books. I've been writing for many years and am passionate about storytelling.
Here’s a link to one of my books:
https://a.co/d/7knb31Y
I’d love to learn more about your book and your writing journey. Feel free to share a link to your work—whether it's on Amazon, Goodreads, or your website!
I'm Judith Hermann, I love connecting with fellow writers it’s always fascinating to hear how others found their way into storytelling. How did your writing journey begin?
Hi Judith: I always had a passion for writing since I was a young girl in grammar school. It started with one class assignment where we were asked to create a poem about our pets. I suddenly fell in love with rhyming. Later on (in my spare time) I became interested in writing fiction (short stories, novels), which I now have time to do in retirement. Creating characters and bringing them to life is magical...and you?
Absolutely! I feel the same, there’s something truly magical about bringing characters to life and watching them grow on the page. It’s wonderful that retirement has given you the time to dive back into that passion!
For me, writing started as a quiet kind of necessity like something I couldn’t not do. It began with short stories, trying to observe the world in silence.
Did you always feel confident calling yourself a writer? Or was that a title that came later?
Out of all the books you’ve written, is there one that holds a particularly special place in your heart? If so, what makes that book so meaningful to you?
Good Morning: Yes, one book that holds a special place in my heart is "The Hand She Dealt to Me". It is a New York story written in a "dialogue-only" style. Coming from New York, each character has that New York grit, and the plot falls in line with my vision. Thank you for the question. Have a wonderful day.
Thank you for sharing that, I can imagine how deeply connected you must feel to The Hand She Dealt to Me, especially with its New York voice and grit. That kind of authenticity always leaves a lasting impression on readers. Have you found a preferred balance between your writing time and the promotional efforts, like marketing or social media? Or is that still a work in progress for you? I know for many of us, especially when we’re pouring ourselves into the storytelling side, the promotional part can be a tough rhythm to master.
Yes, promotional efforts are always a work in progress. That is the hard part - the writing is the joy. Self-publishing is rough, but it is part of the journey for me. I use social media, Amazon marketing tools, AllAuthor, Spillwords Press, Blogger, etc... I see you are an accomplished writer - A "bestselling military historian and author with a passion for telling the human stories behind war." Admirable for sure. You are also on the New York Times Best Seller List. Wonderful. All the Best to you. May you enjoy continued success. Write on! Thank you for reaching out.
Thank you for the kind words, I truly appreciate that. You're absolutely right, the writing is the joy. Promotion, especially as an indie, can feel like a whole separate mountain to climb. Out of curiosity, have you done a Book Blog Analysis (BBA) before? It’s an incredibly useful tool that helps you see how your book is being received across blogs and online platforms. It gave me a much clearer picture of who was connecting with my work and where, and helped shape my marketing strategy in a much more targeted, efficient way. If you don’t mind, I can share the contact info of the specialist who guided me through the process. Let me know, happy to connect you.
One thing I found eye-opening was realizing how many blog mentions and reviews I was missing because they weren’t tagged directly. That meant I was overlooking some ideal outreach opportunities and potentially missing readers who were already halfway to becoming loyal fans. BBA helped me bridge that gap. Let me know if that sounds helpful.
Thank you for the thoughtful response, I completely understand. It sounds like you have some promising options on the table, and I truly wish you the best as you explore them. I’d love to continue our conversation via email when the time is right. I'm not actively on this site, so I’ve just sent my email address to you through the contact form. You might want to check your spam or promotions folder, just in case it landed there.
Looking forward to staying in touch, and wishing you continued success with your work.
Absolutely, like any other writer does. So when "Writer's Block" shows its nasty face and sits beside me, I take a step back and let it run its course like a bad flu - and it does. Before I know it, it's gone and I am back in my creative world. It's all about the passage of time and patience. As they say - "patience is a virtue".
The most difficult part of my artistic process is getting started. For me, it all starts from just one word which leads into one sentence, one paragraph, one page, one story, one poem - and then I am home free. So I need to find that one word; which can come from a dream, a walk in the park, an encounter with a stranger, a conversation with a friend, etc. That one word will always be found by living life each day and paying attention to my surroundings.
I have been writing since I was a child in grammar school when my teacher asked everyone in the class to go home and write a short poem. So I wrote about the family dog and discovered that I loved putting my thoughts into words, and I had loads of fun making those words rhyme. Little did I know, that was the start of my journey as a poet. Throughout my teens to adulthood, I tried my hand at short stories and novels as well. Today that passion is an extension of who I am and I am quite happy when I am writing. I love writing stories and developing characters in a world I get to create.
When you feel emotionally drained or stressed out from writing, just have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and relax. Take a time-out. Call a friend, watch your favorite tv show, take a nap - Whatever you need to do to relax and clear your mind - do it. You will feel calm and refreshed in no time; and the passion you possess as a writer will get you back on track. That is who you are. So write on!
