PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'The Welcome Sign' Barbara Jean Weber⭐ #interview

 

 

 

Barbara Jean Weber lives in Skagit County with her husband and two daughters, where she works as a speech and language therapist. Her novel, The Welcome Sign, was inspired when she was gifted a mermaid welcome sign. The more she studied the sign, the more her story evolved. She is currently an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Visit her website at https://www.barbarajeanweber.com/. 

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Are you a full time author?

Sure, my (writers) name is Barbara Jean Weber. I’m 55 years old and love writing. I’m married, this year will be 29 years with my wonderful husband. We met in college and currently live in beautiful Skagit County, Washington with our two lovely daughters, a cat and 2 grand cats. I’m a full time Speech Language Pathologist since 2001 and enjoy writing in my spare time. Some of my hobbies include spending time with friends and family, reading, writing and being a pen-pal. I enjoy water aerobics, rubberstamping and any craft that involves a glue gun. We LOVE THE SEA and try to get to the Oregon or Washington coast at least once a year. When I was young my family lived in New Zealand. We lived there for six years and that’s where I gained a great love for mermaids and seashells. I am the youngest of three kids, having an older brother and older sister.

Can you tell us about The Welcome Sign?

The Welcome Sign’s creation began when I received a beautiful Mermaid Welcome Sign as a gift. I love mermaids and my parents had found a lovely sign with a Mermaid on it. The store was going out of business so they purchased the sign for me. After I received it as a gift, I had a series of incredible dreams that became the basis for the story “The Welcome Sign.” The Welcome Sign was written as the first book in a series of three. The second book is written but not published and the third book is still being developed and is in outline form.

The Welcome Sign begins when Molly Parmell’s grandmother mysteriously disappears. She and her mother travel to Cape Cod to take ownership of the house they inherited and begin to discover unusual things about the grandmother’s sudden disappearance. What they discover is more dangerous and life changing than they ever imaged. When Molly and her mother find a beautiful mermaid Welcome Sign in the attic and place it on the front door strange events start to happen and they are flooded with visitors who claim they knew the grandmother. They soon find out that the mysterious Welcome Sign comes with powerful magic and secrets are slowly revealed as Molly learns about her grandmothers involvement with a secret organization working to keep balance between the magical realm and the real world. The magical realms placed an invisible veil of secrecy over the world to hide their true identities from the human world allowing them to live among the humans in secret. An angry rebel group of magical beings, tired of living in hiding is tearing down and destroying the magical cloaking fabric between the two worlds. If they are not stopped the magical realm will be revealed and will no longer be safe from the rest of the world. As Molly and her mom embark on a dangerous and magical adventure throughout the magical realms to help stop the rebels, she learns of her own unique powers and her strong family heritage connected to the Welcome Sign. Along the way, she teams up with new magical friends helping to keep the realm of magic safe from the eyes of the world and discovers that her grandmother was right all along. The world she thought she knew no longer exists, but an amazing world of magic woven into their world has always been hiding in plain sight.

Can you tell us a little about the characters?

Margaret Ellen: Molly’s grandmother who disappears-In her 60’s. Descendent of the special bloodline of the first union of merfolk and humans. Molly and Angela do not know about her magical past. Margaret is a special friend to the magical beings. Worked undercover for the Rebels to find out their secrets. She has been hidden away due to the dangers increasing with the rebels. She has been working with the magical community for many years. Her husband was killed early on in their marriage in a battle with rebels.

Angela Parmell: Mom to Molly- In her late 30’s. Single/widowed mom, reserved, not adventurous at all. Very close to her daughter, very skeptical of the unknown. Angela enjoys a calm, peaceful lifestyle, nothing wild or adventurous. She also has some magical powers but doesn’t know about them. She is a very kind and generous lady. Very likable and encourages Molly to have a relationship with her grandmother.

Molly Parmell : Angela’s 10 year old daughter- adventurous, brown haired girl, always exploring, owns a cat: Cuddles. Dad left when she was 2. Very close to her mom and grandmother. Similar personality to her grandmother. She is always seeking adventure, action. Has powerful magic like her grandmother but doesn’t know it initially.

Michael Parmell (Merman)-had to leave the family due to danger of the rebels hurting them. Angela and Molly don’t know that he’s a merman. He was killed. Michael was a Protector sent to watch over Angela and Molly. Fell in love, asked to be reassigned as Angela’s guardian. When Molly was born, he knew he couldn’t reveal his true identity to them because it could potentially put them both in too much danger. Michael had just made the decision to tell Angela and Molly everything. He had even decided to stop working for the magical realm so they could finally be a real family. Died in a car accident.

Garreth Simmons: Protector of Molly and her mom. Molly and Angela’s landlord, mid 60’s, Owns the rundown house. More like a father figure to Molly and her mom. He has some history with Margaret and was asked to protect and watch over the Parmells.

Trista Deevins: One of the main Magical Guardians to Molly and Angela. She is a mermaid but now lives on land as a guardian. She is one of their neighbors-sent to keep an eye on the Parmells and keep them out of danger. Trista is stunningly beautiful and she has the same piercing green eyes as her son, Taran. Her long black hair is pulled to the side and braided over one shoulder.

Taran Deevins –Trista’s son. One of the magical guardians. He befriends Molly. Taran is very adventurous. He has long, black hair, eyes are green as the grass. He is about 11 years old.

Crystal Perkins — Investigative reporter-works for Warren Tracer. She has short, black curly hair. Crystal is tall and slender. In her early thirties.

Warren Tracer — He is investigating strange and unusual events happening in the city. He is in his mid-late 60’s. Beard, dark brown hair, handsome, rugged, in good shape.

Valis Tar — He becomes the leader of the rebel group. Tall, muscular, long dark hair. Dressed completely in black. He wears a long faded black overcoat that comes to his knees. He wears long, black boots worn and dusty, black, leather gloves.

THE CONCLAVE: Is the main council of the three magical realms (water, sky and land) .

Caylius Aquarus-Empress, Ruler of the Water Realm — Beautiful mermaid but can change to look human. Accompanied by 2 guards on each side of her. Long golden hair with highlights of light brown. Wears strands of pearls draped over her shoulders and entwined in her hair. As a human: Wears a tight fitted bodice shimmering with blue and green with a long flowing skirt of aquamarine. Attached to the back of the dress is a lightweight cape of iridescent, aquamarine colored fabric that trails elegantly behind her. She wears a small pearl covered crown, her hair swept up into a loose bun. The bun is entwined with pearls and seaweed like strands. Ringlets of hair hanging down, giving the Empress a soft, warm look. She wears a clear strand of beads like bubbles around her neck. Kind and elegant.

Atamos Nimbus — Rulers of the Sky Realm (MAN-husband to Cumular Stratus) Fairy (Ethereal figure. Graceful, exquisite and refined. His delicate iridescent wings are barely visible. Dressed in white and silver clothing, almost as if it was made from the very clouds they were traveling in and moved as if carried by the very wind itself. He wears a vest of silver against his white billowy shirt. He wears shimmery white pants and white, knee-high boots complete his royal outfit. Wears a delicate crown of silver and diamonds. He has wisps of airy clouds around them.)

Cumular Stratus Rulers of the Sky Realm — (WOMAN-wife of Atamos Nimbus) Fairy (Ethereal figure. Graceful, exquisite and refined. Her delicate iridescent wings are barely visible. Dressed in white and shimmering, flowing gossamer gown, almost as if it was made from clouds.

ProAsis Geofirma — Ruler of the Land Realm-Centaur (A regal looking centaur clad in a leather vest). heroic figure. An intricately woven crown of vines and twigs intertwined with emerald stones sits lightly on his head. Covering his back is a deep red cape and he carries a longbow over one shoulder with a quiver of red tipped arrows. Around his neck and chest hangs a necklace made from a single piece of curved wood, intricately carved with various charms. He carries a long staff of twisted wood and vines in his hands. He has long dark brown hair.

Where is this book set and why did you choose that location?

At the beginning of the story Molly and her mom are living in Popular Bluff, Missouri but as the story unfolds the location changes to the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod where the grandmother lives. As I was researching good locations for the book I read about Popular Bluff, Missouri and really liked the description of it being among the Ozark foothills, filled with spring-fed streams, having a national forest, peaceful lakes and lots of farmland. Just seemed like a nice, peaceful location for Molly and Angela’s home. For the main part of the story, I knew I wanted a coastal location since the basis of the story involved mermaids. Also, Ken and I both love the coast and try to visit our Oregon and Washington coasts at least once a year. I visited Cape Cod years ago and loved the area. I had never been to Barnstable, Massachusetts but as I was researching the Cape Cod area, Barnstable sounded like the perfect small town, coastal feel for the grandmother’s beachfront lifestyle.

How can people benefit from reading The Welcome Sign?

The Welcome Sign is a fun, magical story for young-mid teen readers who enjoy realms of magic, magical powers, interesting characters, strong friendships and adventure. The Welcome Sign is full of good versus evil, intrigue and action. This book will delight and entertain readers who enjoy unique and magical characters, secrets to be revealed and discovering amazing new places.

Is The Welcome Sign your only book?

The Welcome Sign is my first book but is written as the 1st book in a series of three. The second book is written but not published and the third book is still being developed and is currently in outline form.

Thank you so much for this interview, Barbara. What’s next for you?

I am continuing to work on and develop the 3rd book in the Welcome Sign series. I am also working on finishing a book I started co-writing with my mom before she passed away. I also have an outline I am working on for another book (not related to The Welcome Sign) called “The Cinderella Effect”

Where to purchase the book:

· Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F67CL7XZ

· BookBaby — https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-welcome-sign

· Barnes & Noble — https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-welcome-sign-barbara-jean-weber/1147362361?ean=9798350987294

Where to find Barbara:

For now, you can keep up with me at: https://www.barbarajeanweber.com/

Here you will learn about new books as they come out as well as other ways to keep up with me.

Inside the Book

Title: The Welcome Sign

Author: Barbara Jean Weber

Publisher: BookBaby

Publication Date: July 1, 2024

Pages: 218

Genre: Fantasy/Middle Grade/YA

Formats: Paperback, Kindle

When 10-year-old Molly Parnell’s grandmother mysteriously disappears she and her mother travel to Cape Cod to take ownership of the house they inherited and find out answers about the sudden disappearance. But what they discover could be more dangerous and life changing than they ever imaged. Molly and her mother find a beautiful mermaid welcome sign in the attic and place it on the front door. Unusual things start to happen and they are flooded with visitors who claim they knew the grandmother.  The true powers behind the mysterious sign are revealed as Molly learns her grandmother was part of a secret organization working to keep balance between the magical realm and the real world. The magical realms placed an invisible veil of secrecy over the world to hide their true identities from the human world but allowing them to live among them  in secret. An angry rebel group of magical beings, tired of living in hiding is tearing down and destroying the magical cloaking fabric between the two worlds. If they are not stopped the magical realm will no longer be safe from the world.  As Molly and her mom embark on a dangerous and magical adventure throughout the magical realms to help stop  the rebels, she learns of her own magical powers and her strong family heritage connected to the welcome sign. Along the way, she teams up with new magical friends helping to keep the realm of magic safe from the eyes of the world and discovers that her grandmother was right all along. The world she thought she knew no longer exists, but an amazing world of magic woven into their world has always been hiding  in plain sight.

The Welcome Sign is available at Amazon.

PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches' Kayleigh Kavanagh⭐ #interview

 

 

Kayleigh Kavanagh is a disabled writer from the North-West of England. Growing up in the area, she learnt a lot about the Pendle Witches and launched her debut novel around their life story. Her main writing genres are fantasy and romance, but she loves stories in all formats and genres. Kayleigh hopes to one day be able to share the many ideas dancing around in her head with the world.

Her latest book is the historical fantasy, One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches. 

You can visit her on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and Tiktok. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I love stories. This is important because I don’t mind what format they come in—books, poetry, songs, films, podcasts—I love the content, not the medium. Writing is a natural way to tell stories and, as such, has caught my heart. I hesitate to call myself a writer or an author and think of myself more as a storyteller. 

My brain is filled with stories, and I one day plan to get them all out onto the page. 

I’m disabled through illness, which can make writing (and thinking in general) challenging. However, I love it, and even though I’m stuck in my room and writing from my bed, I keep going because this is a true passion of mine. Hopefully, this comes across to the reader.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book, One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches?

 I like to think it’s a little unique in the magical realism/fantasy realm. It's familiar enough for people to follow, but with a unique premise that should engage the reader. It's historical fiction, which gives another layer of atmosphere to the book. The story features magic, spirits, reincarnation, and old gods, which appeals to those who love all things paranormal. 

It’s set in the north of England (Pendle), and the living characters still have to navigate their everyday lives, despite dealing with things in the ether.

One of my favourite part was exploring the family dynamics and relationships, particularly between the women. From those connected by blood to those who choose to consider others family. I enjoy exploring these connections. Of found family and those you’re born with. With such strong personalities, it was a challenge to find the right balance, but I think they all stand out brilliantly.  

Is One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches your only book? 

No, it’s the 2nd book in its series, but also the fifth book I’ve published.

Can you tell us about the main characters?

 Demdike and Chattox were part of the original story, but as so much has changed for them, they as people have naturally evolved. 

Yana and Claire are new characters in the series, but there is a twist revealed later, which means they aren’t as new as they appear.

They’re the descendants of the Pendle Witches and have powers during a time when the cunning folk, and those who would have taught them, have all but been eradicated. This is on top of their general life problems, and trying to navigate a patriarchal society as women.

Do you see a little of yourself in the main character?

 Maybe a little in Demdike’s deadpan humour, but no, there’s little similarities.

Where is this book set and why did you choose this location?

 England in the latter half of the nineteenth century. I initially wanted to have the book in 1812, two hundred years after the trials, so it would be halfway between the next book (2012). However, as I was doing research, I realised just how much England advanced under Queen Victoria, and it made more sense to have the period later than I’d first thought.

What's the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

 A little cliche, but just write. You’ll never get better if you don’t. You’ll never get all those stories out of your head if you don’t start putting words on a page. Those big scenes which stick in your mind need the rest of the plot to make sense. Just do it. Know some of what you write will be terrible, but it needs to get out of you so you can get to the good stuff. Keep at it.  

 Thank you so much for this interview, Kayleigh. What's next for you?

 More writing, hopefully. This and learning more about marketing, so I can reach more readers. 

Inside the Book

Title: One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches

Author: Kayleigh Kavanagh

Publication Date: September 29, 2025

Pages: 400

Genre: Historical Paranormal Fantasy

Formats: Kindle

Demdike and Chattox, famed witches of Pendle Forest, might be dead, but they’re not gone. Bound to their bloodline, they’ve spent the past two and a half centuries watching over their descendants, waiting for when they’ll be needed. 

When 14 year old Yana comes into her psychic abilities and inherits the ‘eyes of the Chattox family’, she can see the long-dead witches, as well as an encroaching evil. But even with this foreknowledge, she’s trapped by marriage interviews and being unable to see her own future, and more importantly, whoever her future husband will be. 

Demdike’s healing gifts are alive and working in Claire, a mid-30s midwife well renowned for her skills and holding her tongue. The Secrets of Pendle are safe with her and her midwives. However, when surgeons looking to make standardisation the norm encroach on her territory, she soon realises how, even a respected woman is vulnerable in a patriarchal system. 

The two descendants must come together to protect the ones they love from an ancient evil, all whilst balancing their lives and the cruelties of being a woman in a man’s world. Set in late 1800s NW England, this book has all the elements of the area: strong, hardy people, atmospheric horror and days as unpredictable as the weather.  

One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches is available at Amazon.

PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea' Richard I. Levine⭐ #interview

 

 

Richard I Levine is a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations and a one-year coast-to-coast wanderlust trip, This one-time auxiliary police officer, volunteer fireman, bartender, and store manager returned to school to become a chiropractor.

A twenty-five-year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts. In 2006 he wrote, produced, and was on-air personality of The Dr. Rich Levine Show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five-year chiropractic practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop at the end of 2016 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O.

While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a Honolulu City Councilmember, a Hawaii State Senator, and volunteering as an advisory board member of USVETS Barbers Point, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-seven 5-Os, Magnum P.I.s, NCIS-Hawaii, and several Hallmark movies. In 2020, he had a co-star role in the third season episode of Magnum PI called “Easy Money.”

While he no longer lives in Hawaii, he says he will always cherish and be grateful for those seven years and all the wonderful people he’s met. His 5th novel, To Catch the Setting Sun, was inspired by his time in Hawaii.

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is Levine’s first foray into the romance genre.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜ http://www.docrichlevine.com  

X ➜ https://www.twitter.com/Your_In8_Power 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/RichardLevineAuthor/ 

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/rilevinedc 

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea offers romance, contemporary fiction, trauma, strength and growth. Which of these traits were the hardest to write about?

To be perfectly honest, none of those things were hard because when I write, I am writing and creating it is a form of personal entertainment that comes from life experiences and heartfelt expression—be that in the form of character development, which is always taken from people I have known, or from events that I’ve actually experienced, personally witnessed, or learned about from eyewitness accounts. Of course, I do take creative license to embellish if it fits the situation and/or to protect the innocent. But when I’m writing and I’m in the zone, the story’s path or the character’s arc almost always comes organically.  

Which of the characters from Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea do you most closely identify with and why?

That is something I haven’t given a lot of thought to. I consider myself an observer who is standing on the sidelines watching the world pass by. As such, all of my characters are made up of composites of people that I’ve met throughout my life. Some of those characters are additionally infused with some of my own personality traits that allows me, as the creator, to enhance or denigrate that character as I see fit.  

What do you think sets Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea apart from other books of the same genre?

Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Grant Leishman sums this up perfectly in the review he posted just recently. Here is a very short excerpt from his commentary: 

“Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is a powerful, emotional rollercoaster that captures readers from the beginning and takes them on a journey of love, loss, and redemption...Levine has a remarkable talent for evoking story arcs and emotional dramas that will tug at readers’ heartstrings. The character development is superb. I am a sucker for a good romance and all the elements were present but there was so much more depth, conflict, and suffering than you would normally find in a romance. This lifts the story well above others in the genre. The descriptive prose is wonderfully rich and complex...”

Surprise me. What is something that happens in the book that would make my mouth drop without giving too much away? 

Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea is more than just a love story between Mitch Brody and Jess Ramirez, and with all sincerity, I did not set out to weave a tale with hidden messages. But those hidden messages are there throughout the book and it will be interesting and fun to see if readers can find them.

Who is your favorite romance author? 

I’m sorry to say that I do not have one.

Do you think writing a romance is more complex than writing books of other genres?

I certainly cannot speak for other authors, but generally, I don’t think so. It comes down to what you know of human nature and what it is you’re trying to accomplish. If your experience writing fiction, in any genre, only comes from what you’ve read in other fiction books, or if it only comes from watching a movie, then I suspect you’ll have a hard time trying to create a story. I believe crafting a quality narrative should come from a combination of reading the works of others, watching a screenplay unfold before your eyes, reading non-fiction accounts of human events, and your own desires; all of which are combined with a fertile imagination and life experiences which should include personal triumphs as well as heartaches. Fantasy, desire, and personal experiences that are too uncomfortable to openly talk about with others can be carefully woven into each of your characters without revealing which of those are actually you. It’s quite therapeutic. As with anything else that deserves your best effort however, it’s important to take your time, never force the process but have fun with it, and write for an audience of one which is yourself. You are the writer, the creator, the producer, director, the primary talent, the background actor etc.

What’s next for you?

I will say that there is a new adventure that I’ll be embarking on very soon. It may or may not wind up being incorporated into my next novel. But for now, that next adventure shall remain a mystery. 

Inside the Book

Title: Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea

Author: Richard I. Levine

Publisher: KDP

Publication Date: June 1, 2025

Pages: 396

Genre: Romance

When they met in the fourth grade, it was love at first sight for Mitchell Brody and Jessica Ramirez. He was the freckle-faced kid who stood up for her honor when he silenced the class bully who’d been teasing her because of her accent. She was the new kid whose family moved to San Juan Island, Washington, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and whom Mitch had thought was the most beautiful girl in the world.

She was his salvation from a strict upbringing. He was her knight in shining armor who had always looked out for her. Through the many years of porch-swinging, cotton-candied summer nights, autumn harvest festivals, and hand-in-hand walks planning for the ideal life together, they were inseparable…until 9/11, when the real world interrupted their Rockwell-esque small town life, and Mitch had joined the Marine Corps.

This is not just the story of a wounded warrior finally coming home to search for the love, and the world he abandoned twenty years before. It is also the story of a man who is seeking forgiveness and a way to ease the pain caused by every bad decision he’d ever made. It’s the story of a woman who, with strength and determination, rose up from the ashes of a shattered dream; but who never gave up hope that her one true love would return to her. As she once told an old friend: “Even before we met all those years ago, we were destined to be together in this life, and we will be together again, because even today we’re connected in a way that’s very special, and he needs to know about it before one of us leaves this earth.”

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is available at Amazon.

Here’s what reviewers are saying about Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea!

“It isn’t easy to edit when you’re crying, let me tell you! But I’m not complaining! This was so beautiful and emotional. It really struck a deep chord in me. It’s an impressive book, and I truly enjoyed it. Thank you so much for the opportunity (to have been your editor)”

– Bryn Donovan, Amazon

PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'Jury Duty is Murder' Kate Damon⭐ #interview

 

 

When Kate Damon is not writing, she and her husband enjoy RVing, spending time with family and friends, raising Monarch butterflies, and playing a wicked game of bridge.

Writing as Margaret Brownley, she has published more than 40 novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, she is a two-time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist.

Not counting the book she wrote in sixth grade, and the puzzle of the missing socks, this is her first mystery.

Website ➜http://margaret-brownley.com/

Twitter ➜https://www.x.com/katejuryduty

Facebook ➜https://www.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/ and https://www.facebook.com/p/Kate-Damon-61565155275435/

Instagram ➜https://www.instagram.com/katedamonbooks

BookBub➜https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-damon

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4072660.Kate_Damon and https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/163681.Margaret_Brownley

Before you started writing your book, what kind of research did you do to prepare yourself to write it? 

I normally write romance novels under the name of Margaret Brownley, so when I started jotting down ideas for the book, I thought it was going to be another romance. For that reason, I didn’t think any research was needed.  However, when the story took an unexpected turn and became a mystery, things changed in that regard.  For example, one of characters—CeeCee—is a pole dancer, and I knew nothing about that.

Did you pursue publishers or did you opt to self-pub? 

I queried the publishers of my romance novels, but none were interested in having me change genres. For that reason, I put the book aside for a while.  But then someone suggested I try The Wild Rose Press.  I was so delighted when they chose to publish it.

How did you choose your cover?

My publisher asked me for cover ideas, which was a bit of a challenge.  I’m used to having an embracing couple on my books, but I knew that wouldn’t do. I considered showing a jury, but since the book takes place after the trial, I knew that wouldn’t work.  I finally settled on the gavel, and Lady of Justice.  Some mysteries have really dark covers.  Since my book is filled with humor, I specifically asked that the cover not be dark.

What’s your opinion on giving your book away to sell other copies of your book?

This is a complex issue. Offering free copies of books can potentially stimulate interest and boost sales for subsequent titles in an author's series. However, the effectiveness of this strategy may be limited. The market is saturated with free books, which diminishes their impact compared to previous years.  Today, I mostly just give away books to bloggers who graciously host me or agree to write a review. 

What are some of the most important things you believe an author should do before their book is released?

It’s important to draw up a marketing plan. I try to come up with ways to build reader anticipation before the book comes out. For example, you can do a cover reveal and post a countdown.  It also helps to get some early reviews and post them on social media.  Also, if you’re new to publishing, I would suggest you join a writer’s group, preferably in your genre. I found writer groups to be a big help in keeping me informed about promotional opportunities, writing contests and so much more.

What are some of the most important things you believe an author should do after their book is released?

Keep promoting.  I try to do at least one thing a day to promote my book. Almost every organization is open to speakers, so it’s a good idea to contact as many as you can. Also, check out local book clubs. 

What would you like to say to your readers and fans about your book?

I just want to thank my readers for supporting me through the years. In regards to my book, Jury Duty is Murder, I’m delighted to say that it has received many positive reviews. Kirkus Reviews describes it as "a clever and entertaining whodunit that blends suspense, humor, and heart". The book has also been praised for its unique mix of courtroom drama and post-trial mystery, as well as its subtle romance elements. So whether you’ve read my previous books or not, I hope you give this one a try. 

Inside the Book

Title: Jury Duty is Murder

Author: Kate Damon

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Genre: Cozy Mystery

A young civilization is turning the corner into the future, but first they must face a terrible enemy from their deepest past – THE VORM.

The main characters are a young man named Harl’ut and his lifelong companion Vispushin – who is a perIanth, a kind of telepathic pegasus. Join them on this epic adventure as they lead a group of young warriors into the heart of the Vorm Hive.

Book One: Battle In The Sky is the first of five books which comprise the opening series of this epic tale. Here, Harl’ut and Vispushin and The Princess Bryn’lynn, engage in desperate battle over the southern plain with savage Vorm warriors. You will be uplifted by the passionate and thrilling conclusion of the first installment of this fantasy adventure. 

In Book Two: Descent Into The Abyss, Harl’ut recovers from his harrowing adventure from Book One: Battle In The Sky. He walks through the streets of The Ocean City, visits the Sculpture Garden and his friend, Elá, the bard, and engages in exciting training games with warrior/mentor, Calanctus. Then the story takes you down the throat of the vast volcano, Pla’than’taa, once worshipped as a god, where Harl’ut enacts a deadly initiation ritual, confronts the barbaric past of his people and battles a terrifying monster. 

Pick up your copies at https://kaufmantales.com/

PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'How Soon Is Now?' Paul Carnahan⭐ #HowSoonIsNow #interview

  

Paul Carnahan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in the new town of Cumbernauld. After studying journalism in Edinburgh, he began a decades-long career in local and national newspapers.

‘How Soon Is Now?’ is his first novel. The second, the Britpop-era romance ‘End of a Century’, will be released early in 2025, and a third is currently a work in progress.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜ www.paulcarnahan.com 

Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/pacarnahan  

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/paulcarnahan6/ 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211423352-how-soon-is-now

 

Before you started writing your book, what kind of research did you do to prepare yourself to write it? 

‘How Soon Is Now?’ features characters from many different backgrounds, so the book required a lot of research on a wide variety of topics – everything from the civil war in Syria to the Clydebank Blitz of World War Two, and from persistent vegetative states to perfumery. Lots of reading was required – first-hand accounts, wherever possible! ‘How Soon Is Now?’ may be a time travel story, but it’s about people, first and foremost, so the research all had to serve the characters.

Did you pursue publishers or did you opt to self-pub? 

I decided to self-publish. ‘How Soon Is Now?’ attracted praise and interest from literary agents, but it’s a hard book to categorise, and the publishing business is increasingly conservative and risk-averse. So I decided to go ahead and do it myself, my way.

If self-published, did you hire someone to format the ebook version for you or did you do it yourself?  Can you tell us what that was like?

I handled the formatting myself, using Vellum, which was a very easy piece of software to use. My background is in print journalism, so I’m used to error-correcting and page design. The whole process was a pleasure – and gave me a chance to give the book a final polish.

If self-published, how did you determine the price?

I’m using Amazon’s print on demand service for the hardback and paperback editions, and both of those are priced as keenly as possible to make them attractive to readers while still bringing in a tiny amount of payment for the starving artist (ie me!). The e-book offers a little more wiggle room, as far as author royalty goes, but it was still a balancing act between competitive pricing and a realistic price tag that reflects the quality and size of the work.

Did you purposefully choose a distinct month to release your book?  Why?

In this case, I did not – I set the date for as soon as I could get everything finalised and arrange promotional material etc. My next book, the Britpop-era romantic comedy ‘End of a Century’, however, will be released on Valentine’s Day, 2025.

How did you choose your cover?

Luckily for me, my daughter Hannah Nystrom is a very talented artist. I had a few design ideas of my own (I wanted to echo the colours of The Smiths’ album ‘Hatful of Hollow’ and borrow some stylistic cues from Saul Bass’s movie title work), and Hannah was able to incorporate those ideas with a cover concept of her own which brilliantly and wittily encapsulates the themes of the book. I couldn’t be happier with the finished product – it’s a thing of beauty.

Did you write your book, then revise or revise as you went along? 

A bit of both. I tended to tidy up the previous day’s writing before starting each day, and continued that way until the end … then went right back to the start and did it again. And again. And again.

What are some of the most important things you believe an author should do before their book is released?

Rewrite and rewrite again, until the book is as good as it can be. Listen to the advice and opinions of trusted readers, and be nice to as many authors, readers, reviewers and bloggers as you possibly can, once you’re sure you have a book you can be proud of sharing.

What are some of the most important things you believe an author should do after their book is released?

Be alert and open to any and every promotional opportunity. Be polite, positive and kind in all public-facing professional situations, and be grateful to every reader. And, of course, get right back on the horse and get on with the next book.

Do you have a long term plan with your book?

Only to continue to do everything possible to get it into the hands of readers who would appreciate it. As well as being full of big ideas, cliffhangers, twists and surprises, ‘How Soon Is Now?’ is a complex, thoughtful novel. I just want to see it find a home among readers who are ready for a book like that. And it would make an incredible Netflix series...

What would you like to say to your readers and fans about your book?

I’ve been blown away by the response so far, and it’s been an absolute joy to talk to readers with strong opinions and responses to the characters and themes of the book. The people who get it REALLY get it, and that’s the best thing any author could hope for. Thank you!

Inside the Book

Title: How Soon Is Now?

Author: Paul Carnahan

Publication Date: June 10, 2024

Pages: 462

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy/Time Travel

A troubled ex-journalist launches a perilous mission into his own past after being recruited by a mysterious group of time travelers.

Luke Seymour uncovers the secrets of the eccentric Nostalgia Club as he battles to solve the riddle of their missing leader, honing his newly discovered – and dangerously addictive – talent for time travel and plunging ever deeper into his own time stream … where the terrible mistake that scarred his life is waiting.

Set in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the 1980s, 1990s and near-present, ‘How Soon Is Now?’ is a gripping new novel loaded with unforgettable characters, intricate storytelling, dark humour and a unique twist on the mechanics of time travel – all moving towards a powerful and emotional climax.

Available at:

Amazon U.S.: https://www.amazon.com/How-Soon-Now-powerful-travel-ebook/dp/B0D1RG2GL5 

Amazon U.K.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Soon-Now-powerful-travel-ebook/dp/B0D1RG2GL5