Discovery Feed

Introduction
"I love so many different things it's slightly alarming," says thriller author Magdalena Adic Turcin, "but that mix of curiosity, structure, chaos, and creativity is exactly where my best ideas come from."

Magdalena is also a high school teacher in Croatia. "I still think it's unfair how one country can fit forests, mountains, a clean sea, and islands tucked right beneath mountain peaks," she says about the country where she was born and raised.

It must be the perfect setting for writing, because Magdalena has received plenty of praise for her psychological thriller novel The Eye Collector, the first in the series of the same name. Currently, she's working on the second installment, The Mirror Collector. Stay tuned!

I interviewed Magdalena and asked her about life challenges, favorite authors, and what she loves about self-publishing.

Welcome, Magdalena! Why are you drawn to the world of indie/self-publishing?

I have a lot of respect for traditional publishing and the people behind it, but I slowly realized that indie and self-publishing fit me almost perfectly. I genuinely enjoy ... Read more

Introduction
"I don't plan, plot, or outline my books," says award-winning author Mark David Gerson. "Instead, I discover my stories as I write them."

Right now, Mark David is working on The Lost Horse of Bryn Doon, the fifth novel of his Legend of Q'ntana fantasy series. "I wish I could tell you what it's about," he says. "I really wish I could tell you what it's about!" But it sounds like he's just as in the dark as we are, so we'll have to wait to find out.

Mark David is also a photographer and host of a brand-new podcast called Stories & Reflections.

Welcome, Mark David. First of all, what inspired your award-winning Q'ntana series?

I like to joke that The MoonQuest snuck up on me, beat me over the head, and took me hostage before I was even aware of what was going on! I say that because this was not a book I ever planned to write.

It was a sort of "creative ambush," and it happened ... Read more

Introduction
"As an introvert," says memoir author Cora Ann Metz, "I prefer my own company, don't like crowds or noisy places and people, and work best in quiet or silence." Whether she speaks for most of us or not—and I believe she does—her temperament has helped her achieve quite a bit. "I am compiling stories I have written over the years. I will include some of them in my first book after dragging my feet for years. ChapterBuzz has provided me with an avenue to hone my writing skills and move forward with my first book."

After growing up in New Orleans, Cora's military career took her to Germany, where she now lives. "I joined the Army to escape an abusive husband and to take better care of my two daughters," she says. "Now, I am a retired U.S. Army veteran who served twenty-two years, mostly in Germany. I also retired from the DOD [Department of Defense] after ten years as a security professional. I still love PB&J sandwiches, candied apples, and bubble gum. The kid in me never left."

Now, Cora is writing about her experiences in her soon-to-be-published memoir, From Combat Boots to German Castles, and I jumped at the chance to interview her.

Welcome, Cora! Why are you drawn to the world of self-publishing?

As a fledgling writer, I don't have to navigate the dismissive and condescending publishing world to get my book published. I think the indie genre is more ... Read more

Introduction
"I am a lifelong learner who thoroughly enjoys reading everything I can get my hands on," says sci-fi author George Brad Million. "I have discovered a love for poetry that has been developing in me for several years; the power of prose in poetic form is something I am thankful for daily."

Welcome, Brad. Why are you drawn to the world of indie publishing?

I am inspired by the ability of authors to circumvent the status quo of the publishing world. To be unconcerned with rules on creative expression is ... Read more

Article
Ah, self-doubt.

It's like that "friend" we all have—we'll call him Jason—who is a nice enough guy, but then turns around and stabs you in the back just because you couldn't be the best man at his wedding even though he only gave you two days' notice but even after all these years still hasn't let it go, not that I'm bitter or anything.

Hoo boy. Er, where was I?

Oh yes, self-doubt.

Brace yourself, because I'm going to say something controversial ... Read more

Article
Today, we meet N.E. White, a fantasy and science fiction author who, according to her blog, is also a lover of books, bike rides, and bats.

What will you find when you visit her blog? "Stuff," Nila tells us. "Mostly just my fiction, updates on my progress writing said fiction, and maybe an errant post or two about life."

It's also packed with writing tips and information on some of the fantasy and sci-fi anthologies Nila has helped put together over the years.

"But be warned," she says ... Read more

Article
You may have heard of the active and passive voices in writing.

You may have also heard the passive voice is never to be used. Is that true? Let's find out.

To refresh your memory, here's the difference between the two voices ... Read more

Article
When Zuzana Velmovska encountered a difficult chapter in her life, she spent years searching for something that would bring meaning to her days.

"More than one person suggested I try writing," she says. "That maybe, just maybe, it could help me heal."

She decided to give it a try. She started a blog called Heal me Today, which she says is "a space I created to honor the healing of the soul."

It worked. Now, this writer and mother of one from Slovakia wants to ... Read more

Article
Ah, NaNoWriMo (real name National Novel Writing Month), the annual challenge where participants write 50,000 words during the month of November. If you're a writer, there's a good chance you've heard of it. Maybe you've even participated.

Well, it's gone. Done with. Belly up. Cooked, like the Thanksgiving turkey you missed out on every year because you were locked in your room, trying to write 50,000 words.

At its peak, the month-long event boasted over 400,000 participants and a ... Read more