WOOT! 'The Tree With No Branches' hits stores

A super big day for my AKA teammate John Newcomb, aka Johnny Knew. His book "The Tree With No Branches" hit stores today. It's an awesome book with a wonderful message. A must-have for any child on your Christmas list. (I shop early! *Smiles*)

Here's a preview of the book. And make sure you check out John's fun website, Knewville.

To learn more about John (Like what book he learned the most from. Trust me. It will surprise you!), read my interview with him. 

Congrats John!

Storify story: Author Buffy Andrews

AKA Literary's Christian Piatt's 'PregMANcy' trailer

This is a funny trailer my AKA Literary teammate, Christian Piatt and his son, Mattias, made for his new memoir on fatherhood, family and faith called "PregMANcy: A Dad, A Little Dude and a Due Date." Read the profile of Christian and visit his website or his publisher's website.





Read profiles of other AKA authors.

New agent alert: James Schinke

James Schinke has joined AKA Literary as an associate agent. This is awesome news for the agency that represents me.

From AKA website: James studied writing, psychology and business at Clarke College. After working in corporate America for nearly 20 years, James is the newest Associate Agent to the AKA Literary team. While he looks forward to working with authors writing all genres, he especially enjoys YA, thrillers, mystery and cookbooks.

Good luck to everyone who queries James.

Don't miss reading AKA author profiles.

Meet AKA teammate: Eric M. Black

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check him out.

Name: Eric M. Black
 
Lives in: Chattanooga, TN

Family: Married to Gina; we have two sons, Dylan and Logan

Writes: I think I write thrillers and historical novels, but my work has also been described as fantasy. I wrote a lot of poetry when I was younger.

Day job: District Director, Boy Scouts of America

Titles of books you've written/sold:
1. The Fountain
2. The Fountain: The Book of Jubilees
3. Covenant
4. Jack
5. Intensity
6. Calling Babel
7. An Old Man (a collection of poetry)

Website: http://www.ericmblack.com

Blog: http://ericmblack.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @ericmblack

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorericmblack

Favorite books: "Eaters of the Dead" by Michael Crichton, "The Last Kingdom" by Bernard Cornwell, "The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger" by Stephen King, and "Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Favorite book character: Can I choose one of my own? The main character Jack from my novel Jack was the most fun for me to write. He really has no boundaries.

Book you've learned the most from: "The Book of Fate" by Brad Meltzer really gave me better sense of how to draw out suspense in a novel and not have it drag on. Personally, writing "Jack" showed me that I could branch out and write about more than just historical events.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...was as good a writer at age seven as my oldest son Dylan. Watch out for him, folks!

If I knew...how to make it through life without sleeping (other than a short, mid- day nap), I believe I would.

Other AKA profiles:

Aaron Tate

Louise Caiola

Katie Lee

Lee Richmond

Robert Spiller

Edward A. Iannuccilli

Tasha Cotter

Gilda Evans

Luis Cruz

Penny Fletcher

Matthew Porter Dyer

Carrie Filetti

Jessica Robinson

Krista Krueger

Karen Cane

E.W. “Chip” MacEnulty II

Meet AKA teammate: Karen Cane

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Karen Cane

Lives in: Watsonville, CA (officially, but actually in a place
called Freedom, CA, not far from that Beach and Boardwalk town, Santa Cruz! (I
miss the East, though, all you easterners!)

Family: husband, Bill; son usually called Cricket and daughter Midori, though these 2 have been adults for a fair while; grandchildren Walt, 14, Dexter, 7, and Greta, 6. I couldn't be more fortunate with all of them!

Writes: Children's stories and haiku

Day job: You could call it retired, though I help out as I can with the
nonprofit that my husband started 35 years ago and is now retired executive
director of. Given my particular talents, which don't include organization. I
have written articles for his quarterly publication, and I usually act as art
editor for the publication, Integrities.

Titles of books you've written: MISS MARKLE'S HORRIBLE HAIR, JOHN ANDREW AND THE BLACK MONSTER OF DOOM, ANYARA'S WHEEL ... The only one I've sold is THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT WOULDN'T BE, but it was to a rather unknown magazine. Others are in anthologies.

Website: Coming soon, I hope!

Favorite book: How could I possibly have a favorite book from all the fantastic books out there? I will say, however, that my daughter and I have both waited with great anticipation for every book written by Barbara Kingsolver, fiction and nonfiction alike, starting with THE BEAN TREES. We both also love all the nonfiction by ANNE LAMOTT. Not too long ago I read THE WOLF AT TWILIGHT by Kent
Nerburn and loved it. I have LITTLE BEE in my hands, have read five pages, and
just know I'm going to love her.

Favorite book character: We might have a 4-way tie here between Zorba, Enzo in THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, the title character in LITTLE BEE, and all the
Native people in THE WOLF AT TWILIGHT, though Dan, the elder, would be my
favorite there.

Book you've learned the most from: How about author I've learned the most from? Right now I'd choose Kazantzakis.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask
him/her? I think I'd choose Barbara Kingsolver, and I'd be happy to just let her talk.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Writing is 90%
rewriting. Because of that, don't overthink the first draft. Just keep going.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I could see at least a couple of my stories in book form, with great
illustrations and see kids reading them.

If I knew by birth how great Indian and Thai food were (and Vietnamese and
Burmese, Afghan, Turkish, you name it), maybe I should have arranged to born in
South or West or Southeast Asia.

Other AKA profiles:

Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter
Gilda Evans
Luis Cruz
Penny Fletcher
Matthew Porter Dyer
Carrie Filetti
Jessica Robinson
Krista Krueger

Meet AKA teammate: Krista Krueger

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Krista Krueger

Lives in: Baltimore, MD

Family: Husband Joe, 2 sons, 2 daughters (12, 7, 6, 3)

Writes: paranormal YA, horror

Day job: child wrangler, maid, bookkeeper aka housewife :)

Website: www.spanglefish.com/darkstories

Favorite book: THE WITCHING HOUR by Anne Rice

Favorite book character: The Mad Hatter

Book you've learned the most from: CEMETERY STORIES by Katherine Ramsland

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? It would be Stephen King. I would want to know how he dealt with all of the book rejections. He was going to quit until his wife sent CARRIE out one more time and that was his golden ticket. How did he keep moving forward until then?

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: You are a good writer. This will be your year. Just be patient and see.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I knew... the secret to my success

If I knew how ... hard and how long the waiting process was to get a book deal, I would have tried to get published sooner instead of writing for myself.

Other AKA profiles:

Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter
Gilda Evans
Luis Cruz
Penny Fletcher
Matthew Porter Dyer
Carrie Filetti
Jessica Robinson

Meet AKA teammate: Jessica Robinson

Another one of my rockin' AKA Literary teammates.

Name: Jessica Robinson

Lives in: Collinsville, Connecticut

Family: Husband, Scott; sons, Camden, 7 and Mason, 4

Writes: non-fiction

Day job: wedding and event designer

Titles of books you've written/sold: ENCHANTED WEDDINGS and THE NEW ENGLAND KITCHEN

Website: http://www.jesscountryflowers.com/

Blog: www.jesscountryflowers.blogspot.com

Twitter: @JCFevents

Facebook: Jessica Robinson

Favorite book: JULIA CHILD: MY LIFE IN FRANCE

Book you've learned the most from: THE MARTHA RULES by Martha Stewart

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? Julia Child. I think I'd ask her, how she kept herself so composed while trying to publish her first cookbook. What made her push forward and take on the huge task of getting it done?

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received? Keep going and be prepared for lots of rejections from literary agents. Someone will eventually see something special in your writing and sign you as one of their clients.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I... knew it would be such an emotional roller coaster of sorts with trying to publish my first book. I also wish I could stop noticing how many other people have recently published books.

If I knew...more about the process of becoming published, or how long it may take, I would possibly relax a bit.

Other AKA profiles:

Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter
Gilda Evans
Luis Cruz
Penny Fletcher
Matthew Porter Dyer
Carrie Filetti

Meet AKA teammate: Matthew Porter Dyer

Another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates.

Name: Matthew Porter Dyer


Lives in: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Family: Married to Tara McGowan (I decided to keep my last name); daughter, Karen, 8 years old; son, Cash, 6 years old

Writes: YA, Thriller, and Educational nonfiction

Day job: Director of Communications for Writers Fusion, LLC, High School English Teacher, Department Head

Titles of books you've written/sold: SHADOW PEAK, THE TOYMAKER, THE MESSENGER AT PARADISE HIGH, THE WRITERS FUSION TEACHER GUIDE

Website: http://www.writersfusion.com/

Twitter: @writersfusion

Facebook: Writers Fusion group page

Favorite book: KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

Favorite book character: Henry Chinaski

Book you've learned the most from: THE RAZOR'S EDGE

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? Charles Bukowski -- Can I buy you a drink?

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: The road to hell is paved with adverbs...

Finish these sentences:

I wish I ... had started writing much younger.

If I knew ... you were coming I'd a baked a cake...

Other AKA profiles:

Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter
Gilda Evans
Luis Cruz
Penny Fletcher

Meet AKA teammate: Penny Fletcher

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Penny Fletcher
 
Lives in: Riverview, Fla., 10 miles south of Tampa. I grew up on the Jersey Shore and it is not like the television series.
 
Family: My husband, Bobby, died in 2003 of bone cancer. I have four grown children; stepchildren; "many" grandchildren and raised (adopted) a granddaughter for a disabled son from the time she was 7 months old until March of this year (1999-2011). She is now 13 and has just moved in with an aunt and cousins nearby. There is always some family living in my little house!
 
Writes: I started writing as "the high school reporter for the Asbury Park Press in N.J." Next I wrote for magazines while traveling with my first husband who was in the military, and have been writing for newspapers since 1980. I was a Bureau Editor for the Tampa Tribune's special sections division, Sunbelt Newspapers; edited for Amazon Books self-publishing division and now edit for private authors. I currently freelance news, features and columns for local papers but want to write books full time. Terrie is my agent for TRIAL BY FIRE, which I completed in January, and I have another in the works, CONFIDENTIAL CLIENTELE. Both are romantic suspense.
 
Titles of books you've written/sold: I wrote a press release guide while employed by Media General Communications Inc., and had to speak to groups about how to submit press releases properly. (Too boring!)

I am on Twitter, Linked-In and FaceBook and have a Web site (with references) for my editing service.

Favorite book: PEYTON PLACE (It changed mainstream fiction forever)

Favorite book character: Robin Hood

Book you've learned the most from: ROOTS (Keeps it real)

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? Robin Cook. "How did your life change when you became a best-selling author?"

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: "Make everything so real readers feel like they're inside the character; touching, tasting, smelling, and most especially, feeling their emotions."

(Editors at McFadden Enterprises when I was writing for True Romance, True Story & True Confessions.)

Finish these sentences:

I wish I... could afford to stop chasing news and write books full time.

If I knew... what actions were mistakes beforehand I wouldn't take them!

Other AKA profiles:
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter
Gilda Evans
Luis Cruz

Meet AKA teammate: Luis Cruz

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check him out.

Name: Luis M. Cruz.

Lives in: Bronx, New York.

Writes: YA.

Titles of books you've written/sold: THE DAY THEY MADE CONTACT (Yet to be published.)

Facebook: facebook.com/oubrago

Favorite book: STAR WARS: DARKSABER by Kevin J. Anderson.

Favorite book character: Commander Data from the Star Trek: TNG series.

Book you've learned the most from: HOW TO GET A LITERARY AGENT by Michael Larsen.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? Kevin J. Anderson. Can please pass the salt.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Miles Davis once wrote, "Write what you know or write what you don't know like everybody else."

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...could talk sense to all the world leaders.

If I knew...the secrets of the universe, my life would most likely be boring.

Other AKA profiles:
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter
Gilda Evans

Meet AKA teammate: Gilda Evans

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Gilda Evans

Lives in: Los Angeles, CA

Family: Single, with 3 kids, 1 grown, 1 almost grown, 1 on the way there -- who happen to be three of the best people on the planet.

Writes: Just about anything. Won my first essay contest at the age of 10. Wrote for the entertainment biz for many years. Currently working on the GIRL TALK book series - self-help/inspirational non-fiction. Also working on a YA novel series.

Day job: Bon vivant extraordinaire

Titles of books you've written/sold: GIRL TALK: Dating...what your friends don't tell you and your boyfriends need to know. GIRL TALK - Sisters...secrets, pinky promises and unconditional love.

Website: http://www.gildaevans.com/

Blog: http://www.gildaevans.com/, http://www.gildaevans.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @gildaevans

Facebook: Girl Talk by Gilda Evans

Favorite book: EXCUSE ME, YOUR LIFE IS WAITING

Favorite book character: Sherlock Holmes

Book you've learned the most from: My own - they are a voyage in self-discovery

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? God. What is the secret to ultimate peace of mind?

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Write your passion.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...had three wishes! Or maybe twenty...

If I knew...20 years ago what I know now, things would be different.

Other AKA profiles:
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli
Tasha Cotter

Meet AKA teammate: Tasha Cotter

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Tasha Cotter

Lives in:  Glasgow, KY

Family: married to Daniel Cotter

Writes: YA, contemporary women’s fiction and poetry

Day job: Professor and educator

Titles of books you've written/sold:
Women’s Fiction: I wrote a contemporary women’s fiction series. The three books in this series include: THE PROBLEM WITH MR. RIGHT, EVERYTHING YOU WANT, and DAPPLED THINGS. I also co-wrote a book titled US IN PIECES, with Chris Green.

YA: THE SERIOUSLY MESSED UP (BUT TRUE!) STORY OF A WITCH (The first book in a three-part series)

Website: http://www.tashacotter.com/

Favorite book: This changes by the week, but there are a some clear favorites: Nick Hornby, Julianna Baggott, Steve Almond, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Suzanne Collins.

Favorite book character: Jo March of LITTLE WOMEN or Katniss Everdeen of THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy.

Book you've learned the most from: Craft-wise I’d say BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott, WILL WRITE FOR SHOES Cathy Yardley, and HOW FICTION WORKS by James Wood.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? I think it would be Aimee Bender, author of THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE and WILLFUL CREATURES. I love where her books take me — literally and figuratively. I’d pick her brain about her use of surrealism in her works and find out what’s on the horizon for her.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: I think it was from Julianna Baggott. Her advice was obvious, but something I so often lose track of when I’m trying to schedule time to write: in order to be a writer, you have to sit your ass in a chair in write. Simple, but surprisingly easy to lose sight of. Too often when I’m at my desk I find myself getting up to go do anything else but write and I have to remind myself to get back to the book, get back in that chair…

Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller
Edward A. Iannuccilli, M.D.

Meet AKA teammate: Edward Iannuccilli

 Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check him out.

Name: Edward A. Iannuccilli, M.D.

Lives in:  Bristol, RI

Family:  Wife, Diane. % children, 9 grandchildren

Writes: Memoirs of his youth

Day job:  Consultant in a Patient Safety Organization

Titles of books you've written/sold: "GROWING UP ITALIAN; GRANDFATHER'S FIG TREE AND OTHER STORIES

Blog: www.italianamericanwriter.com

Facebook: Edward Iannuccilli

Favorite book: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY

Favorite book character: Kavalier

Book you've learned the most from: GREAT EXPECTATIONS

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? Hemingway. How do you develop your characters and how do they relate to your life?

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Keep Writing!

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...started earlier with my writing career

If I knew...what would be my passion in later years, I would have been a language or a writing major in college.

Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond
Robert Spiller

Meet AKA teammate: Robert Spiller

Name: Robert Spiller

Lives in: Colorado Springs, CO

Family: Wife, Barbara; daughters, Nikki, Laura, Jennifer (all grown), grandchildren, Liam,1; Cameron, 11; Quentin, 13; Jackie, 16


Writes: Mystery (Amateur Sleuth), YA historical mystery, Horror

Day Job (for two more months): Middle school math teacher

Titles of books sold: THE WITCH OF AGNESI, A CALCULATED DEMISE, IRRATIONAL NUMBERS: Medallion Press

Website: www.rspiller.com

Favorite book: THE LORD OF THE RINGS (all three books)

Favorite character: Harry Bosch (Michael Connelly detective)

Books I've learned the most from: THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED, A NEW EARTH, and THE PROPHET For direct teaching. Most important lesson learned from fiction; A true hero often doesn't get to enjoy the world he saves. He strives for the benefit of those he loves.

Best piece of writing advice: Let Writing be your Zen Practice. Everything else will fall into place. Adopted from Writing Down the Bones.

Writer I'd like to have dinner with: Eckart Tolle, author of A New Earth. I would ask him for advice about how to live more successfully in the present.

I wish I were more like my wife: Generous, funny, observant, positive

If I knew exactly what the readers of the world wanted to read, I'd probably write what I want to write anyway.

Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee
Lee Richmond

Meet AKA teammate: Lee Richmond

Name: Lee Richmond

Lives in: Dunbarton, NH

Family: Wife Pam, Sons Hondo and Nick (grown and living in other cities)

Writes: Adult literary fiction: novels and short stories

Day job: Marketing writer; writer/producer of video

Titles of books you've written/sold: HIGH ON GOLD (Charterhouse, 1972; Avon, 1974); THEY WERE FIRE currently represented by AKA; THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN,work in progress

Website: http://www.leerichmond.com/

Facebook: Lee Richmond

Books you've learned the most from: WAR AND PEACE, AS I LAY DYING

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Sit down in the morning and just start writing, and do it first thing every morning, and don't quit until you've put in at least four hours


Other AKA profiles
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola
Katie Lee

Meet AKA teammate: Katie Lee

Here’s another one of my awesome AKA Literary teammates. Hope you check her out.

Name: Katie Lee

Lives in: Rockville, MD

Family: Parents, siblings, nephews, niece

Writes: Contemporary romances

Day job: Attorney

Titles of books you've written: MATCH MADE IN HASTE, MAN OF MY DREAMS, MATCH POINT

Website: http://authorsangst.weebly.com/

Blog: http://authorsangst.weebly.com/blog.html

Favorite book: Just one book? That’s impossible. I read so much and I generally love the books I read so it’s hard to pick a favorite.

Favorite book character: Again, this is asking the impossible but I do like the spunky heroines. . .especially in young adult fiction. . .Hermione from Harry Potter, Anne from Anne of Green Gables, Pippi Longstocking. I also enjoyed Stephanie Plum from the Janet Evanovich series.

Book you've learned the most from: LIFE LESSONS by Elisabeth Kubler Ross and David Kessler

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you ask him/her? I’d love to sit down with either Elisabeth Kubler Ross or J.K. Rowling. They are both fascinating women and probably have wonderful perspectives on things. Mainly I’d ask them about their lives because they’ve both had some very interesting experiences that no doubt shaped their literary careers.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received: Don’t get so attached to what you’ve written that you can’t edit it to make it better, and you can always make it better.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I...was writing full time. . .in my villa in the South of France!

If I knew...how long and hard the journey to publication would be. . .I’d still do it!

Previous profiles:
Aaron Tate
Louise Caiola