The Road to Revelation series: Author Interview with Cliff Wellman

According to your website, you’ve been interested in Bible prophecy for more than twenty years, but what made you decide to put your thoughts to paper?
As I learned about Bible prophecy and began thinking that there was a chance that we might actually witness the return of Jesus, I decided that it was important to share whatever information I had with my friends and family. So periodically I would write-up a short document about certain "end-times" topics and email it to my small group of friends and family. 

I almost never received a response from any of the recipients. Most people don't want to know about the end. 🙂 One day while hunting, I was sitting in a tree thinking about how I could help people learn about end-times and it suddenly dawned on me to write a book, specifically a fictional story that would engage the read, but at the same time provide analysis of critical scripture.

The study Revelation and the end times has been a topic of interest since the time that Revelation was written by John the Apostle. What type of background do you have in biblical studies? 
I have zero formal study in regards to the Bible. I began reading the Bible in high school as a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. This provided some foundation of the Bible for me, but it wasn't until I was in my early 30's that I began studying in earnest. Most of my 20's were spent in search of something unknown to me. As it turned out I was looking for Jesus. I tell people that it was the book of Revelation that literally scared the "hell" out of me. It was the study of the end that helped me finally find God. 

At the end of each book in The Road to Revelation series, I list some of the books that have helped formulated my opinions on Biblical Prophecy. Joel's Richardson's Islamic Antichrist was the catalyst for the path that I'm on. I have dozens of books related to end-times from a wide variety of authors. I owned a half-dozen translations of the Bible, for a well-rounded understanding. I have read some of the Apocrypha (including Enoch, Jasher, and Jubliees). There is so much to read and so little time. As I tell everyone, I am far from a scholar.

What was your writing background before publishing these books? 
I was never a writer before becoming a published author. My background is in computer software development and real estate investing. My bachelor's degree is in Computer Integrated Manufacturing. I received a C in my American Literature class in high school. Pretty much everyone I know was absolutely surprised that I published a book, let alone a series of 4, soon to be 7. There will be seven books in The Road to Revelation series.

Are you active with any writing critique groups?

I am not active in writing critique groups as I really don't know the lingo. 🙂 If that makes sense. I write from my heart and my lovely wife makes sure that my sentence structure and spelling is correct. Over the past five years my writing has improved, but mainly because I have quit making some of the mistakes that I made early on.

The Left Behind series of 16 bestselling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins were best sellers beginning in the mid-1990s. In their series, they point to the Antichrist as coming from Europe. Do your books follow that path? 
Back in the early 2000's, I read the entire Left Behind series and loved it. At the time, I followed the European Antichrist opinion, frankly because that was the only one that I had ever heard. 

It wasn't until reading Joel Richardson's Islamic Antichrist that I began considering the Islamic Antichrist position. It's not a popular one. Some people think it's a fad, but there is some solid research that would take days to explain. Joel also has a book called the Mideast Beast that furthers his study of the Antichrist. One scripture that is important to this study is Daniel 7:7 "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns." 

The key here is that the fourth beast will crush and devour everything. Daniel 2 shows a similar story with the statue from Nebuchadnezzar's dream. History shows us that the Roman Empire didn't conquer the same geographic area that the previous three empires (Babylon, Persia, Greek) did. The Islamic Caliphate on the other hand did and more. The Roman Empire in general didn't destroy evidence of all previous religions, but this is what Islam still does to this day. There are countless churches and other religious buildings that have been destroyed of converted into Mosques. I would recommend reading Joel Richardson's books for more information.

Who do you see as your target audience?
I think my target audience is Christian readers who aren't familiar with end-times eschatology. Additionally, I would love to have non-Christians read the series and as a result begin searching and finding Jesus. I direct my writing toward the adult audience, but think that it is suitable for New Adult and some Young Adult readers.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
The hardest part of writing is editing. Those seemingly endless cycles of making sure that the story is good. Haha. My editor (my wife) makes sure that I deliver a good product. I am what the writing community call a pantser. I write by the seat of my pants. I begin writing and the characters tell their own story. Many times, I'll finish a chapter and will be like "Holy Cow, I had no idea that was going to happen." And those scenes end up being my favorite. I have a general idea where the story needs to end, but I almost never know how I'm going to get there.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
When I wrote the first book, I really didn't know how it was going to go. I didn't know if anyone would like it. I didn't know if I would end up liking the process. When I started writing in the fall of 2015, I was retired from software development, but was still building a solid real estate investment portfolio. Writing was a hobby (although I wrote book 1 in 35 days). 

Today, I am mostly out of the real estate investment world and my daily focus is now writing. I spend most of my time reading, researching, and writing. And I couldn't be happier. I am encouraged when I continually see my monthly sales improve. I love to see reviews (good or bad, but mostly good) continue to be written about my books. Best of all I love it when someone says or writes that my books encouraged them to open their Bible, because that means that I'm doing something right.

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? 
The biggest surprise in writing is the fact that you have to spend time marketing your books and yourself. as a beginner, you sort of expect your publisher to do that. 

What frustrated you the most?

The most frustrating thing for me was when my first publisher, Tate Publishing, went out of business amongst a scandal that should have been beyond a "Christian Publisher". If you're not familiar with Tate, feel free to look it up. I am currently self-published and couldn't be happier.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I'm not sure. I do wish that I had started writing sooner in life. I know that I have more books to write after I'm done with The Road to Revelation series. Ideas popup all of the time, and I write them down in hopes that I'll remember them when I get a chance to get back to them.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
The best advice that I've received is to keep writing. I have moments where I wonder if my books are good enough. Every time, in that moment before I press the button to "publish" my book, I get a little scared. "Is it good enough? Will people like it?" Those are some of the questions that come to mind. But I just push the button and go forward. 

So, advice to a new writer. Start writing, keep writing, keep reading. My son and my niece are budding new writers. I encourage both to write, write, write. Get that story out there, because someone will enjoy it.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Don't get caught up in what other people are doing. Some people tell you that you have to create an outline. Others will tell you that outlines don't work. Your process will be unique. Your story is unique. Forget about what other people are doing. 

One caveat to that statement is in regards to marketing. There are merits to doing what other people are doing when it comes to marketing. Although, that isn't always true either. Some people focus on social media marketing while other people focus on Amazon marketing (or similar). Do what make sense for you and your projects.

What is the next book coming out? What can readers expect from that book?
The next book that is coming out is The Road to Revelation 5 - Dire Warnings. This is a continuation of The Road to Revelation series. As you might expect, the closer we come to the end, the crazier things will get and my readers are going to see some crazy stuff in this book. I don't want to leave any spoilers. 🙂

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Cliff's books, here are some links to get you started.
Amazon link to The Road to Revelation series: https://www.amazon.com/Clifford-T-Wellman-Jr/e/B079WGPLT7
Author website : www.cliffwellman.com
Series website : www.TheRoadToRevelation.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CliffWellmanAuthor

The Importance of Marketing: Author Interview with Judith Keim

You have definitely proven yourself as an author with the numerous series and stand-alone books that you have published. When did you publish your first book? At what time did you think you could make a career at it? 

I published my first book, a children’s book, in fall of 2014. The following February 2015, I published my first women’s fiction book. By the summer of that year, I had a lot of excitement about my books and wondered if this was something big.

I’m intrigued by the fact that you were part of the Soul Sisters of Cedar Mountain Lodge series with other authors with each writing a book that included the same characters but from different perspectives. How did that come about? How did you work together to create a cohesive story?

We authors met at a writing conference and because we write the same sort of book got talking about the fun of doing a series together. We quickly decided Christmas book with a family brought together by unusual circumstances. It was a ton of work to coordinate stories not only with the characters but things like time of day, weather, etc. when various events happened. 

We wanted to keep the characters true to themselves in each book which meant a lot of proofing, etc. Violet Howe was a former wedding planning and developed an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of things.

You’ve written at least 10 series. Did these begin with the idea of being series? How do you set them up? 

I like stories of women helping one another. I tend to bring three women together which means aside from the normal development I get to really dig into one of the characters in its own separate book. Besides, I love my characters and find them hard to leave sometimes so a three or four-book series gives me a chance to see them grow.

You've been traditionally and indie published. When you decided to go indie what surprised you the most in handling your own publishing? 

The idea that having a traditional publisher is any different from going indie in the sense of publicity is basically not true. There is some benefit, of course, to being traditional, but participation in publicity is a must in either case. Also, being indie gives you so many other choices, such as book cover design, release dates, etc. The bottom line is either way, be prepared to work full-time.

What is the best advice you've been given about writing or that you've learned that you would like to pass along?

I always say “Write from your heart!” Writing a novel is hard work from the development of an idea to completion but if you haven’t written something that resonates with you it won’t resonate with your reader.

What other works do you have in the process?

I will release three other adult books this year. I’m very excited to release another Seashell Cottage book, a stand-alone that features different stories involving this cottage on the Gulf Coast of Florida. 

A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER features a character I’m sure all my readers will love. And then, after being begged to do so, I’m releasing another book in the Beach House Hotel series in the summer. 

MARGARITAS AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL. Then, because I don’t like to keep my readers hanging too long with a series. THE DESERT FLOWERS-LILY will be out in the fall. Stay tuned!!

Which is the next book coming out? Can you share a short blurb on it? 

The next book out will be A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER.

Blurb: After agreeing to enter the New Life Assisted-Living Community outside of Boston, Agatha “Aggie” Robard decides to take a road trip to see some of her old college friends. She particularly needs to speak to Donovan Bailey, the man she’d thought she would marry right after graduating from college. She convinces her twenty-one-year-old granddaughter, Blythe, who she’s grooming to take over for her as CEO of The Robard Company, to drive her to Florida, hoping to prove to Blythe that life should be about having fun too. It’s a great idea for both of them as long as Aggie’s son and his wife, Blythe’s difficult stepmother, don’t find out.

While the rest of the family is away on vacation, Aggie and Blythe set off on their secret adventure. All goes well until Aggie falls while dancing on the beach with Donovan, breaking a bone in her leg. Then Blythe’s father is seriously injured in an automobile accident. Blythe and Logan Pierce, Donovan’s young assistant, do their best to step in for them at The Robard Company working together, fighting the attraction they feel for one another.

The road trip brings about happy memories, surprises, and love as Aggie and Blythe meet others and discover new possibilities for everything they’ve ever wanted.

That's all for today's interview with one very busy author. As I live in the Gulf Coast of Florida, and feel totally blessed to be here, that book has my attention. I'm sure my blog readers will be able to find other books of yours as well to grab their attention. Here are some links to get you started.

Website: https://judithkeim.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Judith-Keim-184013771644484/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judith-keim

My special FB Group: Women with Heart: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1693681604216738

Planning a Book Series: Author Interview with Dianna Wilkes

What made you decide to write your first novel?

The path to indie-publication started during “dial-up days” on AOL, as sci-fi author Lea Kirk called it. We formed a critique group along with another member. The group went idle as life took us in other directions until Lea spurred us back into action several years ago. At that time, I wrote what eventually became Main Street, book 1 in the Providence Island series.

I wrote several novels prior to Main Street. One is a stand-alone mystery romance titled, A Heartbeat Away. The other is an unfinished paranormal trilogy which includes Crystal Journey, Dark Inheritance, and Full Circle. I haven’t looked at them in ages to see if any of them are salvageable. 😊

Are you a big fan of cozy mysteries?

Absolutely! They’re my go-to for relaxation. I just caught up with Colleen Helme’s Shelby Nichols series. I recently discovered Leslie Langtry and have been reading her Merry Wrath series. So many others, too – Denise Grover Swank, Lucy Burdette, Rose Pressey, Jenn McKinlay, Lee Hollis. The list could go on and on, but I’ll move on to the next question!

Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?

Not in the sense of writing like that author, but rather having success in the same genres as authors I read – Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick, Sherryl Woods, Brenda Novak, and Nora Roberts, as examples.

How long did it take you to write your first book? How many rewrites did you do on it? 

Main Street took over two years. I submitted to contests. Won a few, lost more, but gained insight in how to improve the manuscript through the feedback I received. The breakthrough came when Dana Delamar became my editor. We clicked from the beginning. Her keen eye for detail and structural development has made my work stronger with each book.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 

Plotting the overall storyline. I create a broad outline for each chapter in a spreadsheet. Usually, there are gaps that I can’t fill in until I’ve written the story to that point and have that “ah-ha!” moment.

Another challenge is managing multiple storylines with multiple points-of-view over multiple books! All that while dropping clues along the way to maintain the suspense. Main Street has three main POVs and two storylines. One storyline is the mystery in Dana’s past which isn’t resolved until the third book. The other storyline is Dana’s zero-to-sixty romance with handsome garage owner Nick Warden. Towne Square and South Pointe also included a romantic storyline in each book. One romance is love-at-first-sight, and the other is slow-but-steady.

After finishing South Pointe, I felt there were some unanswered questions and loose threads for other characters – ones who’d played important parts in the previous books. Crossroads (book 4) focuses on Joshua Canfield, Dana’s son and a events occurring on Providence Island.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

That moment when I held the print copy of Main Street for the first time.

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of how you learned to write past it.

I had an agent request a full read of Main Street. At the time, I was wavering between indie-publishing and pursuing the traditional route. I wanted the control that indie-publishing provided, but it was nice to be asked. I sent it off, and, several weeks later, the agent responded along the lines of “I liked it, didn’t love it. Couldn’t warm up to Dana’s character.” So, it worked out for both of us.

There have been some stings from contest feedback. For the most part, the feedback is constructive, though in a few instances it was tough love minus the love. Two things I learned was if several people point out the same issues, pay attention to what they’re saying. Also, some readers are going to dislike the same thing that others love.

What made you choose the indie route? How did you choose a publisher to assist you?

As I mentioned previously, I wanted the control that indie-publishing provided. When I researched for an editor, I kept coming back to a company called By Your Side Self-Publishing which provided editing, formatting, and proofing. I was working full-time with long hours and some traveling. Their ‘turn key’ process sounded like a perfect solution. I contacted Dana Delamar who did a sample edit, and she’d been my editor ever since.

What was the most challenging part about putting together the book?

Dana and her business partner Kristine Cayne handled the mechanics of publishing – formatting, proofing and uploading. Meanwhile, I was scrambling to assemble the parts of the book beyond the story! Front matter, back matter, acknowledgments. Plus a blurb and sample of the next book. All the things that I’ve seen in every book I’ve read, but didn’t think of when it came to mine.

And now I know, and I plan for it.

Most cozy mysteries have quirky covers, but yours has a home town feel to it like you'd see with a Hallmark movie. What led you to choose that design?

I’m thrilled you noticed that! Last year, I rebranded the first three books prior to releasing Crossroads. Cover artist Karri Klawiter did an amazing job giving the series a cohesive look and the hometown feeling with a hint of suspense.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?

More about the business side, especially advertising and marketing.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?

Find a mentor or a critique group. Check Facebook for writers’ groups. AND, if you’re writing a series, create a series bible with all the details starting with the very first book. Your future self will thank yourself when you get to book five and have all those details right at hand. 😉

Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?

Listen to the feedback you receive, but stay true to your voice. No one else can tell your stories the way you can.

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

My next book is titled Boardwalk, Providence Island Book 5.

Former hitman Ben Hampshire thought he’d found a peaceful life as Providence Island’s “IT guy.” His romance with a hot redhead erupted with fireworks that have never quit, and almost a year later he’s ready to pop the question. Just not the one Stacy expected.

Stacy Andrews senses Ben has secrets in his past, but she never expect one of them to be a dead fiancée. She’s keeping a secret too. One that might make Ben change his mind about their life together. If that’s not enough, her unruly eight-year old nephew Riley coming to live with them might be the tipping point.

Ben finds himself in the spotlight after two murders occur. He was the first to find both bodies, and he’s holding back evidence that points toward Nick Warden as the perpetrator. Years ago, he vowed to protect the Canfield family, a promise that now includes Nick. Honor wars with protecting his new family as Ben races to discover the killer before he strikes again.

Sounds intriguing! If you'd like to learn more about Dianna's books, here are some links to get you started.

Website: www.diannawilkes.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiannaWilkesAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwilkesauthor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/diannawilkesauthor

Write Your story…Your way: Author Interview with Claudia Shelton

Your first romantic suspense novel was published in 2014. When did you actually start writing it? When was it accepted for publication? 
Risk Of A Lifetime (aka, Please Be Careful) was the third book I had written, and the first one that was romantic suspense. In 2011 it came in second in the KOD Daphne du Maurier (Unpublished) contest. I began shopping the manuscript in late 2012. There were multiple offers, and I accepted the contract with Entangled Publishing in early 2013. Risk Of A Lifetime released April 14, 2014.

What made you chose romantic suspense as a genre?

I've always liked books with suspense or a feel of a thriller, so mixing that with romance seemed exciting. Also, I'm good at writing fast-paced action-packed scenes and weaving a trail of 'red herrings' throughout the story. I love when a reader tells me they were almost to the end before they started narrowing in on the villain. These books also make a great backdrop for a romance!

original cover

You first books show guys with 6-pack physiques, which usually means there will be some sizzle between the pages. However, your latest book, A Week at Most, shows a cozy backyard setting with nobody in it. Why is their such a change in book cover styles?
Great question, Christine! I write romantic suspense for Entangled Publishing, so I'm not completely in charge of what my covers look like. However, Entangled just made fantastic new covers for Slater's Revenge and Dangerous Lies. They still have a protector agent on each one, but in a 2021 look. I love the new covers and can hardly wait to release the next book in the Shades of Leverage series! 

Revised Cover

There are a variety of reasons for the change of looks for the A Week At Most cover. First of all, I'm publishing this series as a self-pub, so I have control over covers. My designer and I worked to get the feel of the series which is a blend of contemporary romance and women's fiction…sometimes called Romantic Women's Fiction. I've had nothing but fantastic response to the cover! 

But don't worry readers, I plan to keep writing in both!

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I can't stop myself from self-editing as I go, which slows my writing down. Yet, this does make the second pass easier.

At least I've learned to write the first paragraph of the next chapter or scene before ending for the day. And if not that, then I'll write in all caps my idea for the next chapter or scene and highlight it in bright yellow. That way I know where I'm headed instead of having to reread what I wrote the day before.

What does your editor remind you to do most often?
Add more romance. Add more DPOV emotion. However, the romantic suspense market right now likes more of the suspense/thriller aspect in the stories, so that works out well for me.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Every time a reader tells me how much they love a book or want to know when the next book will be out, that just makes my day. What more encouragement would a writer want to hear?

We have all experienced writing rejection. How have you learned to write past it?
Keep writing. Keep submitting. Keep publishing. Keep letting the characters and stories flow.

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? 
Surprising? It's continually changing!

What frustrated you the most?
Frustrating? It's continually changing!

Yes, change can be both surprising in a good way and frustrating, too. What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Write your story…your way…and don't let others convince you, you're doing it wrong. Listen, consider and then decide if what they've said makes sense for what you want to achieve. Because, in the end, there are readers waiting to let you know what they like.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Don't give up! Just keep writing, writing, writing! Be willing to change as you grow in knowledge and confidence. And invest in yourself by taking a workshop (small or large) every so often. You'll learn a new topic. You'll meet new authors to network with in the future. And you'll come away energized!

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
I've always done marketing, but mostly when I had a new release. A lot of times, I didn't even see that anything happened in sales. In 2020, I took some workshops that have opened my mind to see how marketing is as important as writing the book! And I've started marketing something a few times a week (I'm loving FB ads) and have followed the workshops advice about testing, testing, testing. By doing that I've found some evergreen ads and audiences, so it doesn't take me near as long to set something up as when I started. Good luck!

Could you give me a short synopsis of your latest book?
If you like the Virgin River or Sweet Magnolia series, you'll want to read A Week At Most. First book in the new Nature's Crossing series.

Big-city newscaster Ashley Lanovan never envisioned herself divorced, unemployed and house sitting for friends during the holiday season. After adjusting to small-town culture shock, she realizes that her priorities have been misplaced for the past ten years and feels inspired to energize the struggling community. But a holiday getaway to Washington, D.C., gives her even more reason to call Nature's Crossing her home.

Mark Garmund is ready for a change in careers. He's seriously considering the National Park Services job offer in the area of Nature's Crossing. Now, he's got his eye on ten acres with towering pines, a park-like setting and one sprawling house he could call home. Meeting Ashley has triggered emotions he'd rather not face, and a few he would sure like to pursue. But first he has to earn her trust.

Sounds like the start of an interesting story. If you'd like to learn more about this book or others Claudia has written, here are some links to get you started. 

Website: http://claudiasheltonauthor.com/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/claudia-shelton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiasheltonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaudiaShelton1
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Claudia-Shelton/e/B00JNZ83DO/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0