ANDY WILKINSON, author photograph

Q: Have any life experiences inspired you to write your books?

A: In a previous life I was a minister. In school I fell in love with storytelling while taking a course in homiletics, and when I was done writing sermons I turned to fiction. This gave me a satisfying creative outlet.

Several years ago I was motivated to pursue fiction more enthusiastically while participating in a writers group and working with a community theatre. There I met my good friend, editor and accomplished writer, Rick Ready, (see Rick Ready at Smashwords.com and at rickready.com.). Rick has been very helpful in many areas, especially in how to keep a story tight and focused, and how to keep the reader engaged.

Q: Have you been writing for a long time?

A: Counting sermons, since my late twenties.

Q: Do you have a writing program which works for you?

A: I don’t have a favorite time of day like many writers, but as a rule I focus better late in the day after pressing responsibilities and other activities are off my mind.

I start by reading notes on the project at hand, then I kick back and close my eyes for a few minutes and visualize what I’m about to write.

Q. Do you have any favorite book genres which you love to read?

A: For casual reading I enjoy crime stories. I also enjoy most any genre if it centers on characters who are flawed human beings that rise to the occasion.

Q. Are there any favorite books and authors who have been influential upon you and your writing?

A: I like Elmore Lenard’s sleek style, never a wasted word. Stephen King is one of my favorites, the way he can juggle three or four story lines and bring them together at the end. I’ve always loved Hemingway’s mastery at presenting the despair and darkness that often overwhelms human events. And I am fascinated by ancient religious writings, how they depict the inseparable elements of splendor, conflict and domination, and how those cultures continue to influence civilization to this very day.

Q. Do you have any favorite TV shows, from either the past, or still on the air?

A: Gunsmoke, just because it’s a fun old western. I enjoy Justified. It has wonderful raw characters done in typical Elmore Lenard style.

Q: You have an interest in spirituality and observations of humanity itself, which are fascinating topics indeed, and, which are reflected in the content of your books. Have you been interested in these subjects for a while, or are they something which you discovered at a certain stage of life?

A: I’m convinced that our arts, religions and wars have had a dominating influence on the global development of civilizations. And of these three, religion has very often been the driving force behind the other two. The belief in a coexisting spirit world and how it and its individuals interact and influence the outcome of human choices and activities is intriguing. This was not a discovery that happened at a particular stage of life but has developed over years of observation.

Q. Do you have any hobbies you like to participate in when you have spare time?

A: Photography, golf and camping.

Q. Do you have any other writing projects which you would like to mention?

A: I have a story on Smashwords.com called Cowboys, Preachers and Ladies of the Night. I’m currently developing this story into a screenplay.

I am certain that you will join me in thanking Andy today for his time, and that we look forward to reading more of his works in the future.

If you wish to contact Andy, he is available on:

*Twitter – http://twitter.com/#!/RevNot

*Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/QwillNet

A selection of Andy’s books can be accessed by clicking on the book covers below:

A LETTER FROM JOHN: THE REVELATION by Andy Wilkinson

COWBOYS, PREACHERS, AND LADIES OF THE NIGHT by Andy Wilkinson

FROM THE HEART by Andy Wilkinson

SUNRISE IN THE BEDROOM WINDOW by Andy Wilkinson

I was originally planning to showcase only five books, but,  the quality was so high that I could not help, in all fairness, but to extend the coverage to more e-books. To find out more information about each e-book, they can be clicked through on their covers, which leads to their entries on Smashwords. So, here it goes, my favorite e-books read from January to March, 2012!

*THE CALL, by Merrill Gemus, best humorous teen romance short story.

THE CALL by Merrill Gemus

*MAX’S EYES, by Christopher Kneipp, best fantasy short story.

MAX'S EYES by Christopher Kneipp

*THE STRANGE CASE OF A MIND SHIFT, by Frank Marcopolos, best non-fiction self-realization essay.

THE STRANGE CASE OF A MIND SHIFT By Frank Marcopolos

*A POND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, by Bernard Fancher, best teen love short story.

A POND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE by Bernard Fancher

*ALL NIGHT LONG, I REMEMBER YOU, by Rona Go, best tragic love story.

ALL NIGHT LONG, I REMEMBER YOU by Rona Go

*GOING HOME AND OTHER STORIES, by Sylvia Morice, best humorous short story anthology.

GOING HOME AND OTHER STORIES by Sylvia Morice

*VETERAN OF A THOUSAND BATTLES, by Algor X. Dennison, best satire.

VETERAN OF A THOUSAND BATTLES by Algor X. Dennison

*TOWARD THE SKY, by LK Hunsaker, best mature male-female love story/romance.

TOWARD THE SKY by LK Hunsaker

*THE BOOK CLUB, by Maureen Mullis, best women’s fiction short story.

THE BOOK CLUB by Maureen Mullis

*ONLY IN MY MEMORIES, by Lynette Ferreira, best paranormal romance short story.

ONLY IN MY MEMORIES by Lynette Ferreira

*AFTERGLOW, by Ned Johnson, best literary short story.

AFTERGLOW by Ned Johnson

*SHENANDOAH, by CE Wills, best Civil War-themed romance short story.

SHENANDOAH by CE Wills

*THE GARDEN, by Tyra Masters-Heinrichs, best thriller-suspense story.

THE GARDEN by Tyra Masters-Heinrichs

*A LETTER FROM JOHN: A REVELATION, by Andy Wilkinson: best religious-themed short story.

A LETTER FROM JOHN: THE REVELATION by Andy Wilkinson

I hope you enjoyed my round-up of my favorite books from January to March, 2012.

Thank you.

Marcia