Angela, welcome to Silver Horn Echoes! You are our first guest, and we are excited to have you venture into our new digs. For our readers, Angela is an author, a blogger and a reviewer. For full disclosure, we met her via email through a request for a review. She has graciously also agreed to be a guest on our blog.

So, Angela, tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you begin your author journey?

Ever since I was little, all I’ve ever wanted to do was write. And I’ve always been told I was a natural at it by my teachers, which only lit the fire of desire even more. During my last semester of college, I took a novel writing course. During that class, we were to write the first thirty pages of a novel. By the end of the semester, the class would critique each others’ work. This was the beginning of my debut novel “The Murder of Manny Grimes.” When I wrote those thirty pages, it was completely and totally different than the published copy, although the idea remained the same. My class and my professor loved it. “Manny Grimes” ended up in being part of my exit portfolio. It took years to finally finish. There were times I wanted to give up the trade. But there were a lot…and I mean A LOT…of signs that I took to be from God that refused to let me give up. Now, seven years later, I published “The Murder of Manny Grimes” in September 2016. Before publishing, I credit a friend of a friend in helping me get my first project completed. He has no idea how thankful I am for his help. He taught me a lot, but although I already published the sequel, and will continue to publish more in the series, as well as different books, I still have a lot to learn.

And now you’ve also branched into blogging. What is your inspiration for blogging? What would you like your readers to remember about your blog?

I’m still learning more and more about blogging. I’m just not good at it. At the least, all I can do is read books for review and post my honest thoughts. I’m presently considering building a blog tour business in addition to my editing business. My inspiration for blogging is that I want to help others get the word out for there books. I want aspiring authors to know they can come for me with any questions, advice, or whatever they need. If I don’t know the answer right off, I will find it. I’ve always been the type to want to go above and beyond to assist others. While authoring should not be a competitive business, it can be. I’ve noticed in my circle of contacts, not all authors are willing to help or give advice.

You’re an author as well. Tell us more about your interests as a writer and how do you weave that into your work?

I’m the typical author: introverted. I don’t like to get out much. I prefer to either write or curl up with a good book. When I see a real-life situation, I write it down for later observation. If I start a book and decide not to continue it, I keep it because some scenes my fit future books.

We met you through a book review inquiry. If you could share one thing with readers and authors, what would that be?

Getting reviews are the devil’s invention. I find it sooooo hard to get readers to accept my books for reviews. And if they do, they don’t review it. For readers, I’d like them to remember that authors worked very hard on their writings. If you agree to review, do not NOT do it. If the book isn’t interesting, let them know you can’t review it. If you plan on “forgetting” to read/review, don’t accept the book. It can be frustrating for those that desire more reviews. For authors, I’d like to say don’t give up! It’s a hard road we have to take.

To keep up with Angela, learn more about her own work and her reviews, please find her at https://angelakaysbooks.com/.