The Stories Behind the Stories
In-depth conversations with indie authors about their books, their writing process, and the journey of independent publishing. Get to know the people behind the pages.
DP
Inside the Mind - Doreen Pullo-Fleisch
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What inspired you to start writing?
I was inspired to write children's picture books after the COVID pandemic and the death of my parents. I needed to do something positive that would make me feel better about myself. Also , as a virtual children's instructor I wanted to share my books with children that are struggling and learning delayed.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
"The Underground Hounds" was my last children's book. It is a story about 2 dogs that take a train ride journey to find a ball in a London store. This book is a fun rhyming story!
RG
Inside the Mind - Ruth Gowan
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What inspired you to start writing?
I was living in an outport in Newfoundland at the time and I couldn't find anything to read. So I started writing. However after submitting it to a couple of publishers and getting scathing reply only one encouraged me so basically I gave up and dumped the manuscript in a box. Meanwhile i lived and worked in other countries inc; the Middle East. 20 years later unpacking yet another box back in Ireland. I found the manuscript and notes and decided to rewrite this time using my computer. Well the story just took off and I wrote and wrote and this was the first. It was published first but re-edited and what you have here is the final one with a new cover. I also am changing the Series to reflect what I write: Speed & Romance, Betrayal & Drama, Adventure & Travel, Rivalry & Competition.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Tailspin is the latest book: in the Series. * An arrogant ex-F1 Champion driver moves to be a World Rally Championship competitor. Despite his rocky past and multiple crashes with inadequate co-drivers. His agenda is to win the Monte Carlo, hiding his true identity. Her agenda is to rise in the ranks as a top co-driver. But she is partnered with him. Unseen danger threatens. the partners —But attempts on both their lives, plus kidnappings create tension & a bond. But a future together is not on the cards, feelings never declared * HEA even possible?
SY
Inside the Mind - Stuart Yates
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What inspired you to start writing?
I've always loved stories and had a huge desire to create my own. I wrote my first full novel at 15 and loved the process. A voracious reader I began to look critically at the books I read to discover how to construct a novel. It was the best writing school and I've never stopped writing, reading and learning.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Across the Dusty Mesa is my latest published book. It's the 4th in a Western series featuring an uncompromising gunfighter called Hahmood. He's unlike any other character I've created. He sets out to help a local farmer over a dispute about water rights but fairly soon become the target for malicious threats. This is escalating fast but one thing everyone needs to understand is that Hahmood does not back down from a fight. Those who are threatening him are about to discover the error of their ways.
Inside the Mind - S C Hamill
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What inspired you to start writing?
I started writing to learn how to use a computer because when I went to school there were no computers, or at least they were in the dawn of creation.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, Pip and the World Beneath Our Feet, is a story that looks at the hidden world just beneath us, and the tiny creatures that help keep our planet alive. It follows Pip, a curious little ant who starts to wonder what difference one small ant can really make. As he explores the world under the forest floor, he begins to discover something amazing: ants aren’t just small insects going about their business, they’re actually essential to the way forests grow and survive. They help spread seeds, enrich the soil, and keep nature in balance. Along the way, Pip meets new friends and learns a lot about teamwork and curiosity, and he begins to understand that even the smallest actions can have a much bigger impact than we think. In the story, The Eco Band also hear about what ants are doing for the planet and set off on a forest adventure to meet Pip and thank him and all ants everywhere. It all leads to a joyful celebration and even a special song about these tiny creatures that quietly help run the Earth. What I really wanted to do with this book is help children see that nature is full of hidden heroes. It’s educational, but also fun and adventurous, and it gently shows how important teamwork, curiosity, and caring for the environment really are.
Inside the Mind - C.K. SMITH
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What inspired you to start writing?
I started a film production company, Break-In Films, in the late 90s, and this led me to take a scriptwriting course. This spiralled into starting Break-In Publishing with my editor, a proofreader, and a professional illustrator. I have always written short stories, but in 2019, I decided to focus on writing fiction and journalism.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
The Devil's Right Hand: A Robin Hood Saga - is a fast-paced, highly cinematic genre mashup that blends gritty modern crime thriller elements with a time-displaced twist on the Robin of Loxley mythos. The narrative rips Robin Hood from his traditional medieval Sherwood Forest setting and drops him straight into the brutal mechanics of a modern criminal underworld.
KR
Inside the Mind - Kyina Q. Routt
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What inspired you to start writing?
I was inspired to start writing because I wanted to tell authentic stories that celebrate Black love, faith, family, and the beauty and complexities of church culture. Danielle Steel’s The Gift inspired me to pursue writing, and over time it became more than a passion—it became a calling. I want my stories to entertain, inspire, and remind readers that redemption and purpose are possible for everyone.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, His Favorite Drumbeat, is part of my Church Chronicles series and is a faith-rooted Christian romance centered on healing, purpose, and second chances. It explores how God can use our struggles, our gifts, and even our fears to guide us toward the life we’re meant to live. Readers will experience love, faith, family dynamics, and a little church drama, all wrapped in a story that reminds us that everyone has a unique rhythm designed by God.
KP
Inside the Mind - Kylie-Anne Evans
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What inspired you to start writing?
I wrote a 3 page essay when the #meeting movement was happening, then my husband said you could write a book about it , so for 3 years I wrote, I cried and I put it all in order. We were living on a boat during covid and I self published through amazon, id thought about sending it to mainstream publishers but I ultimately didnt think it would be accepted so I went down the self publishing route. The reason I shared it with the world is because I wanted people to know that there is someone out there who will listen, that it doesn't matter what race, creed, religion or gender you are, violence whether domestic or sexual is never ever ok, and help is out there. I am hoping and dreaming that one day my book will be made into a movie or Netflix series but it will have to wait til the right person comes along. Having my book out there has already helped others, I've had people message me. One lady said thank you I had no idea I was being emotionally abused by my husband. Another said you helped me understand that my life was a whirlwind of financial abuse, gaslighting and manipulation. Both were able to use my resources pages to leave. Be happy and be free finally Regards Kylie
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Its a short story Murder mystery called Murder by moonlight Garrett, Maverick and Arayah are entangled in a brutal murder Who is responsible for this cruel and heinous act?.
Inside the Mind - Richard R Becker
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What inspired you to start writing?
As a child, I was always a storyteller. I used to invent elaborate backstories for my stuffed animals, army men, and whatever toys were lying around. Art was another way I expressed myself, drawing scenes from the worlds I’d created in my head. I dabbled with poetry and the occasional short story in high school, but I didn’t fully commit my storytelling with words until college. I transferred schools intending to combine art and psychology as a path into advertising. Ironically, the program I chose routed advertising through the journalism school, where they introduced me to an entirely new medium for telling stories — words that would become advertisements, articles, commercials, documentaries, or whatever else was needed.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Born on Monday is a small-town literary thriller that digs deep into how the choices we make — and the ones we don’t — can trap us in cycles of sameness or set us free. The story follows four estranged friends from the same fading town. After high school, some escape to bigger cities and brighter futures, but small towns have a way of pulling people back… and the problems they thought they left behind have a habit of following them home. We see this through three main characters: Billy Stevens, a quarry worker haunted by loss, who suddenly finds himself the prime suspect in a brutal crime; Jessica Michaud, who returns to care for her ailing mother only to be stalked by a vengeful ex; and journalist Andrea Kearney, who starts uncovering corruption in a powerful local dynasty as violence in the town escalates. Fans of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn or Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell will feel right at home in this atmospheric, character-driven drama with a fresh voice. I’m thrilled that it debuted as the #1 New Release in Psychological Thrillers on Amazon, won first place for Thriller/Suspense at the Fall 2025 BookFest Awards, and took second place in The Incipere Awards.
Inside the Mind - Daniel Benshana
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What inspired you to start writing?
I am the son of the poet Shänne Sands and was brought up with books. Decided to write for children when I was 14 and added non-fiction and thrillers later.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
The Wandering Poet is about Shänne Sands taken from her diaries, writing, poems and letters of those who knew her. Wrapped in the myth of the wanderer who is reborn generation to generation.
IO
Inside the Mind - I.G. OLIVER
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What inspired you to start writing?
Initially, my five‑year‑old daughter asked me to create a new story because she was bored with the usual traditional ones. My writing truly began with that simple request. But the story I told her grew and grew — expanding far beyond a bedtime tale and eventually becoming a four‑book fantasy adventure. I’ve always been drawn to the idea that imagination is more than a feeling — it’s a place, a force, almost a science of its own. That idea became the foundation of my It’s a Kind of Maragic arc, which is the heart of my work. I write to explore how creativity shapes us, how wonder connects us, and how stories can reveal deeper truths about the world. Alongside the Maragic series, I also enjoy creating lighter, stand‑alone picture books like The Naughty Nifnogglin, but it was the Maragic universe — and that moment with my daughter — that truly inspired me to become an author.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
My main body of work is the It’s a Kind of Maragic arc — a four‑book fantasy adventure series that explores imagination, nature, and the mysterious force known as Maragic. It’s my flagship project and the heart of my storytelling. Alongside that series, I also create stand‑alone illustrated children’s books. My latest is The Naughty Nifnogglin Vs The Snigglysnoos, a completely separate world full of color, rhythm, and playful chaos. It’s a light‑hearted picture‑book adventure, very different in tone and audience from the Maragic saga.