I am thrilled to be part of this eclectic collection of short stories from authors around the world. Regardless of your beliefs or religion, the holidays bring your family and friends together, but sometimes, it’s just as important to be alone, reminiscing and reflecting on your life.

This is a cross-genre collection of short stories, varying from romance, to family drama, to first person narratives and even a ghost story!

Immersed in these stories, I had a chance to travel vicariously to the cold and desolate North Pole and Alaska, spectacular Machu Picchu and Cyprus, the war-torn Afghanistan, and enjoy a train ride through the Indian subcontinent.
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Here’s a little about my short stories:

A White Christmas
Successful lawyer Melissa, stay-at-home-mom Jessica, and Chef Dominic have not visited home for Christmas since their father died two years ago. But when their elderly mother invites them home for the holidays and shares her plan to sell the house, the three siblings plan a surprise for her. Little do they know their mother has a surprise of her own.
Meet the White family for their unexpected Christmas reunion.
 
Letters from Carmen
Sixteen-year-old Mia’s world is shattered when she finds out her mother’s cancer has recurred. Ever since her father died on Christmas six years ago, the holiday hasn't been the same. To make matters worse, Mia will have to live with an aunt she didn’t know existed. Why should Mia read her aunt’s letters when she’s never come to visit? Aunt Carmen had been ‘in trouble’ and is in and out of rehab. How can Mia trust someone who cannot take care of herself? 

Grab your copy here while it's on sale!
 

Congratulations on your latest release of Book Relaunch.  What was your inspiration for this book?

My mission has been to help educate writers on the process of self-publishing. After the release of my first book, Book Launch Marketing, I discovered that a part of my audience had already released books. I spent a lot of time coaching others in the process of book marketing and realized that many authors would benefit from relaunching their books. Over a year of writing and research went into creating a ten step guide that produces real results.

What is your writing process?

Typically, I start with brainstorming and research. I spend time writing down my ideas, looking into details, and putting all my thoughts on paper. Then I work on a general outline for my book with a description of what each chapter will include. When I have that completed, I develop a detailed outline that shows every main point that each chapter will contain. This allows me to understand my book from a higher level before diving into the details. Another benefit is being able to write about the topic or scene that inspires me at the time, instead of only writing in order.

Tell us one unique or quirky habit you have when it comes to writing.

I am not able to concentrate on one thing at a time. I usually have a movie or music on as I write. The noise helps me focus on my work. Each person is unique. If you find yourself not being able to focus, try different things.

Can you tell us something about your ‘work in progress’?

I am in the process of writing two books that will be released in 2017. One is fantasy fiction and the second is non-fiction business. In addition, I will be launching a company in 2017 and hosting a Fiction Author Summit. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter at www.trroach.com to get advance notice.

What is the single greatest challenge for indie authors today?

There are so many challenges that we face as indie authors. The quality control and sales are always an issue. However, I believe that the greatest challenge is being able to stand out against the flood of book hitting the market. It becomes exponentially more difficult to be noticed and build a fan base. Indie authors are going to find that they will have to spend a lot more time and energy to reach the same amount of people that they have in the past.

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Read, read, and read. The best thing that you can do for your writing is to read other books in your genre. Learn from them and take notes. Do not stop improving and finding ways to innovate. Join writing communities, take writing courses, and find a way to keep yourself motivated.

What is your most important message to your readers?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The single greatest advantage that the self-publishing industry has is each other. The authors have the flexibility to work together. We need to focus on how to help each other instead of being competitors.

How can readers reach you?

Website: www.trroach.com
Email: tedroach@hotmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTheodoreRoach/

You can get a copy of Book Relaunch here.