Your Author Bio (tell us about yourself)

I am a Christian, wife and mother of two. I was born in the beautiful, hilly countryside of Kari, Muguga, in central Kenya. I enjoy reading poetry and stories, particularly those that explore the question of Utu (a swahili word for being human or acting in humane ways). I live in Mcdonough, Georgia, with my family.  I am also the author of Malkia Short Stories.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

My book is about a man called, Mzee Hekima (Mzee is a Swahili word bestowed to the elderly as a sign of respect, and Hekima is also a Swahili word that means wisdom) and his Rooster called Kelele (a Swahili word meaning noise). Mzee Hekima and his rooster Kelele live in Jata village in a beautiful countryside in central Kenya. Kelele takes great pleasure in carrying out an important task which has earned him the title, “the village alarm clock”. Early one morning Mzee Hekima finds Kelele bleeding and in pain. Who would want to hurt Kelele the rooster? And why? Mzee Hekima will not rest until he finds the culprit/s who hurt Kelele.

 

 

 

This is a story that teaches us the importance of being humane, compassionate and kind with others.  In swahili this is referred to as ‘Utu’, the act of being humane.

What motivated you to write and publish a book for children? Is there a moral or message in your book, or is it just for fun?

 I love children. I was a Sunday school teacher for several years and I observed how well children responded to stories. Also, both my children are under 6 years old, stories have been amazingly effective in teaching them about moral values. Growing up in Africa, my mum told me a lot of fun stories with moral lessons, that were passed down from her mother.  I wrote this children’s book, not only for fun, but to share some values from my culture.

Who is your target audience suited for in this story? What age group of children do you suggest for your book?

This book is targeted for children 7 years and older.

Do you have a favorite character in your story?

I favor all of them, mainly because each character plays an important, and the story cannot be complete without them.

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

Yes, same genre. A second series of Mzee Hekima and the Boys

Do you find reviews helpful?  Or intimidating?

I find them helpful. They have helped me grow.  The feedback I get from my reviews help me improve my stories.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

Because I wanted to be part of every step of the journey of bringing my story to the reader.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

I used Amazon KDP

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

Can’t think of any right now.

What would you do differently if you were to self-publish again?

I would involve an editor early in the process.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Figuring out if children will relate with the story and characters.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer, what would it be?

I would tell my young self to read more and to write more.

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not?

Social media and word of mouth worked best for me. I am learning how to market beyond my social media network.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

I did not market before my book launch. In hindsight this is something I should have done.

How do you use social media as an author? Has it worked well for you, or is it something you want to do more or less of?

I use social media to share my projects. I appreciate social media because it has been a powerful tool to reach people of all walks of life. It is the place where I have gotten constructive criticism and grown.

I would like to do more; possibly turn likes and loves into sales.

Which platform do you use the most?

Facebook

Your Author Bio (tell us about yourself)

It was my new elementary school principal stating scornfully in front of the class that he could not understand my deep Southern speech that encouraged my lifelong love of the English language and reading. That morning I was embarrassed, the teacher who stood at the head of the class was embarrassed for me, but the principal seemed pleased at humiliating an eight-year-old girl who was just three weeks off her grandfather’s farm in rural Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

How was I to know that my Southern accent and speech was frown upon in the Northeastern city of Baltimore, Maryland? It was acceptable back home where I was a precocious child, the smartest in my age group, skipped from the third grade to the fourth grade because the third grade work was not challenging for me, and an extrovert—not afraid of anything.

Two weeks after entering my new city school, the cafeteria manager asked for a student to help by getting a tally first thing in the morning of the students who were buying lunch (no intercom system or computers in the 1960s. Being the extrovert that I was, I quickly volunteered. Each morning, I went to every classroom, read the menu for that day, and then took a tally of how many students were buying lunch.  One week later the principal put an end to my reading the menus. Thereafter, the teachers read the menus.

That incident hurt for a long time, but it forged a belief that I could change the way I speak to be clearly understood. And I did. The English language and reading became my safe havens.

My love of reading actually began at age two, my mother being my first teacher. During my elementary years, I read Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. As I got older, I read Ellery Queen, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, the Illustrated World Encyclopedia, Reader’s Digest and every mystery I could get my hands on. In Reader’s Digest, the “Word Power” section at the back of the book were the first pages I read first, quickly learning the new words and definitions. Thereafter, my taste for mysteries grew exponentially. Mysteries became my favorite reading choice, and my desire to write my own mystery stories began.

I hold a Ph.D. in Organization and Management (Leadership focus) from Capella University, Minneapolis, MN, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from the University of Richmond, Richmond, VA.

I am a member of James River Writers. I am a past president and past director of the Richmond chapter of ISM (Institute for Supply Management). I have served for eleven years as the president of the 23^rd Investment Group, an investment group I founded, which is currently in its 21^th year of operation. I am still a partner in this group.

I have self-published six fiction murder mystery novels—Sundrenched Water, Secrets of Salmer Tawgg (So Now They Know), Sacks of Murder, Stolen Four Minutes, Six Good Ones, and Sequestered with the Murderers. My short story, Oh, My Dear God! won 3^rd place in WritersWeekly.com website contest and my short story Inconceivable was published on the website theravensperch.com.

I am currently working on a seventh murder mystery project with a working title of Sultry. I live with my husband in Richmond, Virginia, where when I am not writing or attending writing seminars, we travel to see the beauty of the world.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

Sequestered with the Murderers- This is the chilling fourth novel in the Vett Brayborn adult whodunnit murder mysteries. After the driver of a tour bus is murdered at a Virginia interstate rest area, leaving thirty-six passengers stranded, one of the passengers—amateur detective Vett Brayborn—is asked to solve the murder before the police does. Vett uncovers the powerful and driving force behind the execution style murder of the driver.

Six Good Ones- This is the third novel in the Vett Brayborn adult whodunnit murder mysteries. It is a rich and epically tangled family saga, with secrets and a central mystery pulling at the characters like gravity. When amateur detective Vett Brayborn’s aunt is shot and dies two weeks after her millionaire boyfriend’s murder, clues to the shocking murders lead Vett to probe into the lives of six of her blended family members who are known as the six good ones. Could one of them be a murderer?

Stolen Four Minutes- This is the second novel in the Vett Brayborn whodunnit murder mysteries. Amateur detective Vett Brayborn’s gripping and propulsive hunt to solve the twenty-nine year old case of a kidnapped five-year-old girl leaves no stones unturned. And she only has thirteen days solve the crime.

Who is your target audience suited for in this story? –

My target audience is adult readers. Readers who enjoy Kinsey Millhone in Sue Grafton alphabet mysteries, Agatha Christie’s Ms. Marple, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories will enjoy my books. Vett Brayborn, the central character in my books has the keenest of Ms. Marple, is a master of deduction like Sherlock Holmes, and is no nonsense and independent like Kinsey Millhone.

Do you have a favorite character in your story?

Both Vett Brayborn and her husband, Detective Gam Ellison, a Pittsylvania County Sheriff Detective, are favorites. She is a favorite because of her many strengths and he because he loves her and does not push her to conform to his conventional ways of investigating.

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

Yes, I am working on another book. It is a murder mystery, but does not feature Vett Brayborn. It is a Southern murder mystery with new characters, dynamic twists and turns, and an exploding secret.

Do you find reviews helpful?  Or intimidating?

I find them helpful, if properly done. Properly done reviews are a big help to me in my writing journey and can provide new insight.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

I was unable to find a literary agent. Self-publishing has many facets to it, and I find it fascinating. It is hard work just like anything else you want to get a reward from.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

I am using Amazon KDP.

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

I have no regrets. It is very rewarding seeing your work in print. And it is very rewarding knowing that I accomplished what I set out to do.

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)

I wrote all of my books. I hired an editor to fix things I could not see. I designed my book covers, but hired a cover designer to bring them to fruition. I hired a book designer to take my manuscripts and put them into book format and to create my e-book format. I use Amazon Advertising to market my books.

What would you do differently if you were to self-publish again?

As of today, I will use Amazon KDP. I used Xlibris on my first book in 2013. I am much happier with Amazon KDP.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

Discipline. You must carve out a portion of every day to write. A book will not write itself. Before I learned this was imperative for me, I wasted a lot of time rereading and rereading what I had written because I would write, then let a few days go by before I wrote again. I then had to catch up on what I had written a few days ago. A complete waste of time since I wanted to complete the book in 3 months.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer what would it be?

It would be, don’t be afraid. There is a place for my type of writing. I wish I had started writing and publishing much early, but I let fear and other commitments keep me from pursuing my dream much earlier.

What motivates you as a writer?

My inside motivates me. I have this voice, this spirit, that tells me I must write, so I listen to it now.  Thomas Jefferson wrote “I cannot live without books.”  I feel the same about writing.

Do you try to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I am original. I don’t know any other way to be. There is a place in this wide world of books for my kind of writing. With that said, I do my research to see what the top sellers are so that I am not totally oblivious. For example, if Southern mysteries have been hot for the last two to three years, I may include some element of the South in my story.

How old were you when you started writing? 

I first notice I could write well in high school. I always got As in my English, Literature, and Creative Writing classes. And I tended to sign up classes like these that involved a lot of writing. My future was being forged.

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not work?

I use Amazon Advertising. I’ve done book launches, created a book club, and promoted by book within the groups I belong too. These work for me.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

No and I do not regret this.

How do you use social media as an author? Has it worked well for you, or is it something you want to do more or less of?

At present, I do not use social media. It is something I want to learn how to do.

Which platform do you use the most? 

I use Amazon KDP to publish my books and Amazon Advertising to advertise my books.

Any advice you want to pass on to other authors looking to self-publish their book?

Don’t put off what your heart, your spirit is telling you to do. Start publishing with Amazon KDP because it is free upfront. Amazon takes a portion of each book sale. So you don’t have to give Amazon money upfront for publishing. You’ll pay for other things like book cover design and design of the inside of your book. If you want to try other self-publishing companies with future books, be very carefully in who you select. Some of these self-publishing company charge you a lot of money upfront to publish your book and a lot of money to market your book, but you don’t make a return on your investment. Be very careful.

Anything Else?

To beginning authors I would say writing a book is very DIY in terms of publicity and marketing your book. Since you are not at the very top of the author pyramid, you have to be prepared to take charge in all endeavors. Writing a book is just the beginning of the endeavor.

Author bio

Fueled by love for God and family, Imani Hamilton is on assignment to help increase ownership within the Black community. As Founder and CEO of Finance by Faith LLC, Imani helps clients acquire real estate and build generational wealth through cash flow management and debt elimination – with a unique faith-based approach to financial coaching and consulting. Individuals, married couples, churches and non-profit organizations have been empowered by Imani’s integrity, reliability, and caring, non-judgmental approach – and her ability to leverage her professional expertise and personal financial journey to educate them on how to be good financial stewards. Imani has a B.S. in Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA in Real Estate and Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Tell us about your book

The Debt Denominator is a framework to getting out of debt from a biblical perspective. It is designed to show the reader that a path out of debt is in God’s word and each step is followed with questions to encourage the reader to take action.

What motivated you to write this book? 

I wanted to provide hope and a strategy to people who are overwhelmed with debt.

Who is your target audience for this book?

The target audience is people who look to the Bible for guidance.

Are your books tied to a business you own or work for? If so, tell us about that business and how the book and the business work together.

Yes, I am the Founder of Finance by Faith, which is a financial coaching and consulting company that uses a faith-based perspective to help people manage cash flow, get out of debt, and build generational wealth.

Are you ever concerned that the language of your book is either too technically difficult or too elementary and potentially insulting for your target audience? How do you decide?

No, I am not concerned about the language of the book. For financial terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader, I have defined them when appropriate and have included a glossary for easy reference.

How long did your book take to complete?

18 months

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?   

No, I am not currently working on another book, but foresee more books in the future.

Why did you decide to self-publish?  

It was an easily accessible channel to distribute the information.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book.  

Yes, Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.

Did you purchase your own ISBN or have one assigned to you by Amazon KDP or IngramSpark?  

I purchased my own ISBN.

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets? 

No regrets. I am satisfied with the outcome.

What parts did you do own your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)  

I wrote the book and am handling the marketing.  I hired professionals for editing, cover and book design.

What would you do it differently if you were to self-publish again?

I probably would hire a marketing team.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

The most difficult part of writing this book was staying focused to write on a consistent basis. With other commitments and distractions, sitting down to write had to become a top priority in order to get it done.

What motivates you as a writer?

I am motivated by my desire to help and serve others.

What skills, education, and/or experience have you acquired that helped you develop as a writer for this topic?

I was personally overwhelmed with six figures of debt and was able to successfully pay it off.  Additionally, I have an MBA in finance and real estate and have worked in financial services for over 15 years, of which seven years was spent in commercial real estate lending.

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not?

I marketed the book through social media, email marketing and word of mouth. 

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

Yes, I started marketing the book before it was launched.

Which social media platform do you use the most?

 Facebook and Instagram

Anything Else?

I would advise other authors to hire a professional for editing and book design if their budget allows. Being that this is my first book, working with professionals like Jera Publishing helped me tremendously as I navigated the self-publishing process.

Tell us about yourself.

Writer, pilot, retired law enforcement commander and former adjunct instructor at St. Petersburg College and a leadership trainer. MPA and BA from the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Native Floridian. Married for almost 45 years.

Tell us about your book. What is about?

Quantum Arrow is about alien abductions. The main character is taken while flying a small plane to Key West, Florida and he’s returned 3 weeks later to the same place. He’s taken into custody by the government and his girlfriend and their friends have to try and rescue him from the military. In the process, they learn the reason behind the abductions, interdimensional time travel and a secret about the universe.

 

The ARKLIGHT Ancient Alien Adventure series is a three-book saga about alien contact, alien invasion, clandestine operations and survival.

Who is your target audience suited for this story?

The stories are geared for sixteen and older.

Do you have a favorite character in your story?

All of them are special in their own way. In the ARKLIGHT series, Tegan Strong has a warrior’s heart. In Quantum Arrow, Alexa Padgett is the driving force.

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

Working on a new science fiction crime novel. It takes place in Wyoming. No space, just lots of action and mystery.

Do you find reviews helpful?  Or intimidating?

Reviews are very helpful, most of the time. Ratings, especially non-fives, are of little value except to add to the review count. I find that Amazon’s machine-learning model for establishing percentages to be an inaccurate reflection of the actual overall rating.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

Mostly I liked the idea of controlling the process, especially selecting the interior format and cover art. No pressure on when to publish. The downside is exposure. Traditional publishing has a marketing path. Competition as a self-publisher is difficult and time consuming.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book.

Ingram for HB/PB and Amazon for eBook and PB.

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

No regrets.

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done?

Jera Publishing provided the Interior and book covers for all the books and the box set.  Kimberley provided the formatting uploads.

What would you do it differently if you where to self-publish again?

Nothing.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Finding the time to write.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer, what would it be?

Write as often as possible and seek professional assistance or get a degree in creative writing. Build contacts and inroads with the traditional publishing houses.

What motivates you as a writer?

Storytelling and hoping that the story brings joy to others. I really enjoy the creative process and bringing the characters to life.

Do you try to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I’m original. I know from research that many authors find out what the market or literary agents are wanting to sell in order to get ahead. I create what I believe is a great story regardless of popular demand. Some, like the one I’m working on now, is a cross between a crime/mystery with an ancient alien discovery. I write to write, not to market a specific genre or audience.

How old where you when you started writing? 

For science fiction – 55. I use a pen name for those works. I’ve published academic and research works in journal and magazines since my mid-thirties under my real name. I also wrote a children’s book in my 40’s – but chose not to publish.  

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not?

I have tried FB, Linkedin, Twitter, book marketing groups and Amazon. I have found that the indie market is saturated. Even free giveaways tend to get lost in the crowd. So far, the return for paid marketing hasn’t matched what was spent on the ads. I look for the freebies now.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

I did put out a few tweets that seemed to get a few pre-orders.

How do you use social media as an author? Has it worked well for you, or is it something you want to do more or less of?

I mostly use Twitter. Poor results with FB ads.

Which platform do you use the most?

Twitter

Anything else?

Write because you enjoy the process. I know that the books I write could be more successful if I spent more time on the business of selling, but that’s just not for me. I want to write and time is precious. I believe most authors feel the same way. Decide what you want out of your writing and pursue it.