When I first met Russell Brooks in 2010, he was writing his first thriller, Pandora’s Succession. The book has suspense, drama, and the mind-bending twists and turns that make up a great thriller. In 2011, he released the short story trilogy Unsavory Delicacies and the novel Chill Run. He is now working on his fourth novel, the sequel to Pandora’s Succession: The Demeter Code. Russell has a lot of tremendous advice for new writers, and he’s a great source of information on the thriller genre. When he wrote Pandora’s Succession, he did a lot of research, because he was writing outside his area of expertise. Research, he says, is crucial for any writer. He instructs anyone writing in a genre outside of their daily sphere to research, research, research! When I asked Russell the number one thing he’d recommend to new writers embarking on their first book, he stated with a smile: “Write about something that you love!”  Write about something that you can relate to. Russell’s advises new authors not get your expectations too high on your first novel. He supplements his book income by managing a thriving insurance business.   He also recommends: Fact-checking. Hire a content editor. Hire a copy editor for professional proofreading. Enlist a professional book jacket designer, so your book is not discernible as a self-published book from a book published by a major publishing house. Keep on writing and write a bang up story! This is the best advice I’ve heard. Writing what you love in Russell’s case produces novels that are: well researched, passionately written, authentic pieces of literature that draw you in and thrill you with suspense! To find out more about Russell Brooks, visit his website:  www.russellparkway.com Click on the book covers to buy...

Why? I seriously have to ask myself that question. Why bother writing a book? There’s enough lining the book stores. Why add one more to the pile? If I don’t ask myself this question now, I know that when I’m in the middle of writing a book, when I feel discouraged and feel like I’m drifting farther and farther away from my deadline, I won’t stand a chance of finishing it. I have to ask this now or else be crippled into lack of action later. My initial response is “because I like writing.” While that may be true, writing a book can be a daunting task. It is not for the undisciplined. When there is no “inspiration,” can I keep going based on sheer will and determination until the next wave of inspiration hits me? What if I only have that one initial wave of inspiration to tide me over throughout the whole journey? Is that enough? And so, I realize, that I have to dig deeper. I needed a better reason. I needed one that can sustain me throughout the writing process: from the initial brainstorming, to the first chapter, and the never ending edits that will come along with a “finished” product. There’s a scene in the movie The King’s Speech when the king’s speech therapist asks him why people should listen to him? To which the king replies: “Because I have a right to be heard. I have a voice!” I was moved beyond comprehension by this brief exchange on the screen by two amazing actors. I wanted to get up from my seat and yell “Yes, I do have a voice!” However, I was able to restrain myself and I am sure that those in the theater are happy that...

In 2012 I wrote my first novel, Bushido. The gritty tale about a down on his luck Yakuza general that is forced to take up arms against his old boss (and a thousand other Japanese miscreants) immediately caught the attention of Kathy Ullman at Bantam Dell books and went on to become a New York Times bestseller. Or at least that’s how, up until last year, I wanted the story to go in general terms. Maybe I’ll do without a hundred or so baddies (there is such thing as overkill, you know?) But I digress. I mean the story of my book being published. Don’t you get the feeling that nowadays everyone considers him/herself an artist? With the advent of cheap DSLR cameras and mobile phones with shiny photo filters, waterfalls of information on how-to-this and how-not-to-that, accessible bundles of raffia, and well, not a lot of thrilling opportunities at your average nine to five; it’s no wonder that throngs of hopeful thespians, playwrights, scribes, and doodlers spend whatever reserves of time and energy they can tap into and seek that elusive pair: fame and wealth. Or perhaps they’ve always been among us, hiding behind glasses of absinthe and crammed inside dimly lit studios. The difference is, most certainly, that thanks to the wonders of the Internet we can see them now. I am not ashamed to admit that, at first, I was a snob. Big time. When, a couple of years ago, I started to see my Twitter feed flooded by these so-called authors who would peddle their homespun words as if they were peas in a market, I thought to myself, “what a disgraceful way of treating the written word,” and “I will never stoop that low.” But then an apple fell...

Is there anything fun about being a starving artist? Not really. If truth be told, maybe you’re not starving, but I bet entertainment is not your full-time gig. You’ve probably tried lots of ways to get noticed in hopes of being discovered.  Hopefully, you’ve made some money along the way, so you can keep investing in your creative future. Here are some suggestions to help turn free into paid: 1. Tell your fans how they can help A website is the best way to communicate with your fans, and you can customize it with information that jumpstarts your career. If you cannot afford your own website, take advantage of what’s free, build a business Facebook page or Word Press blog. Make sure your website tells your fans how they can pay to support you by including: Schedule of your upcoming gigs and personal appearances. Links to your paid content, where you sell your music, books, films and fan gear. If you are a member of multiple projects, include links to those sites too. The best way to contact you for paying gigs and appearances or to buy more content. At minimum, include an email address. 2. Lead fans to your paid content Turn free into paid. Research popular websites that specialize in selling your type of entertainment, be it music, books or films. Choose a site that you can afford. Keep the content fresh. Now link your free content to your paid content. At minimum, free content should link to your website which links to your paid content. 3. Get  their contact information Never miss an opportunity to get your fan’s contact information. Sign up for an email service like Mail Chimp or Constant Contact. Your website you ask your fans to join your email list. Take...