#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Leo X. Robertson

I’d like to welcome Leo X. Robertson to the blog today as my guest for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite summer traditions: staying up late and waking up early, thanks to the extra hours of sunlight in Norway.

Something summer-related that you’ll never do again: Staying in a cabin with friends—but I haven’t even done this, luckily I knew myself well enough before anyone even offered!

Best summer memory: Playing ping pong with my dad on our table in the back garden of our home in Glasgow. He was so competitive, so when I won and asked, “Are you just letting me win?” it would irritate him so much, because he really wasn’t.

Something you’d rather forget: The occasions with too many cocktails, but luckily those have forgotten themselves.

Best summer vacation ever: Marbella with my family in ‘95. Still chasing the high of being a kid allowed to stay up late and go swimming in the hotel pool.

Somewhere where you don’t ever want to return: Japan in the summer. Hard to appreciate what’s actually in this or that temple when you’re just thankful to be inside and the heat is no longer draining your life-force.

Favorite thing to do on a summer evening: Read about a page or two before it puts me to sleep. Every time! Why?!

Least favorite thing about summer: Wasps.

Favorite place to visit in Virginia: The Horrific Hope Film Festival in Winchester! For three years in a row we’ve had films premiere there, they’re big supporters of our work and we love them <3 Or the Urban Hang Suite café in Richmond—delicious croissant sandwiches.

Somewhere you’ve visited way too much. Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt: Nowhere in Virginia yet, I think it’s great. In fact, the tour guide we got for the Poe Museum spoke at 2x speed, I could have stayed there longer.

The thing you like most about being a writer: Spending months on a story only then to realize why you were writing it, because it shows you something about the world you were trying to articulate the whole time.

The thing you like least about being a writer: Nothing, honestly. No one’s making me do this.

Things you will run to the store for in the middle of the night: Milk for coffee, or mochi because we were bold enough to think we could survive with nothing sweet in the house.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Most fruits and vegetables, sorry. I don’t need to make a shrine of shame of them in my home, watching them rot, as I one day will, faster than otherwise necessary if I just consumed these no doubt nutritious gifts from nature before me.

The thing that you will most remember about your writing life: The people to whom it connected me.

Something in your writing life that you wish you could do over: Had more confidence in my abilities, but there’s no way to gain this other than the passage of time.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Standup comedy, especially when I was no good at it at all. It’s not so scary now that I’m only bad at it.

Something you chickened out from doing: Talking to other filmmakers at film festivals. But not only are they all as introverted and afraid as I am, they have social media, so you can just say “Hey I liked your film” later 

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I don’t remember the specifics, but it’s usually a long confession about something personal, which tells me that they perceived the vulnerability in what I had written.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “I am so, so sorry for you, but I did not like anything about your book.” It wasn’t the same reader as the nicest one, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. No matter what you do, you eventually hear everything from everyone!

About Leo:

Leo X. Robertson is a writer, filmmaker and process engineer, currently living in Stavanger, Norway. He has stories in issues 22 and 30 of Pulp Literature, amongst other places. His films have premiered at festivals such as Dead Northern and Horrific Hope, and won awards like "Best LGBTQ Film" and "Best International Feature Film." He enjoys failing at stand-up comedy and coding apps that invariably don't work. He is the author of Barhopping for Astronauts and his stories are featured in Pulp Literature magazine.

Let’s Be Social:

Find him on Instagram @leoxrobertson or check out his website: leoxrobertson.wordpress.com 

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Sheryl Ickes

I’d like to welcome Sheryl Ickes to the blog today for a summer edition of #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite summer traditions: Camping, Going to the Drive-in, Seeing Fireworks, Letterboxing, Exploring trails, and Looking for waterfalls.

Something summer-related that you’ll never do again: Eating S-mores.

Favorite summer treat: Apple Mountain Pies cooked over a campfire.

A summer treat that makes you gag: Roasted Marshmallows.

Favorite summer beverage: Favorite beverage anytime of the year: Pepsi.

A drink that gives you a pickle face: Mismade Lemonade.

Best summer memory: Blackwater Falls, WV with family.

Something you’d rather forget: Bad sunburn in Jamaica.

Your favorite thing to get from the ice cream truck: A Choco Taco.

Some dessert that you wish you’d never bought: Expired ice cream cup – definitely NOT good.

Best summer vacation ever: Driving and camping across the USA on a northern trek going to California to visit an aunt, and coming back home to Pennsylvania following a southern path. We got to visit a number of National Parks and see a lot of interesting sights.

Somewhere where you don’t ever want to return: New Orleans is a favorite among some people I know, but it’s just not for me, sorry.

Most favorite place to write/edit in the summer: Outside (at home, local park, camping).

The worst place to try to write in the summer because of all the distractions: At home, when the whole family is home, including the dog (unless he decides to sleep). It’s hard to find a quiet space.

Favorite thing to do on a summer evening: Watch the stars.

Least favorite thing about summer: Pesky bugs.

The thing you like most about being a writer: Writing a story, and going on the adventure.

The thing you like least about being a writer: Editing.

Things you will run to the store for in the middle of the night: A gallon of good milk.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Anything seafood.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I would say it, but I don’t want a visit from the cops.

Something you chickened out from doing: Going over twice the speed limit in an undisclosed location.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I really enjoyed your book! When’s the next one coming out?

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I see a poodle on your book cover, and there wasn’t one.

About Sheryl:

Sheryl Ickes was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where she currently resides with her family and pets. It Only Takes One Bite was her first published novel in 2014, which has launched into a five book series, and three additional series written within the cozy mystery and young readers genres. Drawing on her 20+ years of experience in cake decorating, and driving cross country, she uses her past experiences to give her characters realism and authenticity throughout her stories; making it no surprise that three of her mysteries are award-winning or finalists. Her latest book, Tough Fluff, releases in July of this year and will be the first installment in her Fluff and Flowers Mystery series.

Let’s Be Social:

My Website

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#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Athina Paris

I’d like to welcome author Athina Paris back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: I enjoy the slowness and creativity of journaling.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: I dislike housework, it cuts into my writing time.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Hot coffee or tea, and cookies.

Things that distract you from writing: Too much noise, and occasionally, my cat.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Finding the time when inspiration strikes, and you’re away from your desk.

Easiest thing about being a writer: It’s a comfortable endeavor: inside, at your desk, dress warm or cool depending on season, have something to drink.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Definitely for jellybeans.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Meat and bacon, I hardly ever eat them.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: I bought a small label printer, which I have given to my daughter-in-law as she just had a baby and needs to label all kinds of things.

Things that make you want to gag: Anything to do with animals’ internal organs.

Something you’re really good at: Taking knots out of things.

Something you’re really bad at: Saying no to chocolate.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: I wanted to be an actress when I was young. Because I loved the idea of being multiple people. Now, I write about multiple people.

Something you wish you could do: I wish I could swim.

Things to say to an author: Well, done, you finished writing your book.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I have an idea for a book, I’ll share it with you, you write it, and we’ll share the profits fifty-fifty.

Favorite places you’ve been: On the ocean, on a cruise ship, around the Caribbean.

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): Margaret Atwood, Joyce Maynard, and Brandon Sanderson.

Favorite things to do: Reading, journaling, and revamping old furniture.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Travel to the United States on my own.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I loved your book, your characters were so interesting and relatable.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: I get to create new lives, and new worlds.

About Athina:

Athina Paris was born and went to school in Mozambique. Living her formative years in the confines of strict convents and boarding schools, she escaped by dreaming of faraway exotic places, and it created a deep curiosity about life and people. Feeling the need to liberate her inquisitive mind from conformist restraints, she took refuge in libraries and bookstores, leading to an avid interest in reading, storytelling, and a lifelong obsession with the written word and books.

At age fourteen, she joined her family: father, mother, and a younger brother in South Africa, where she continued her schooling. Now able to read English, she quickly went through most of the classics, discovered ancient civilizations, and became fascinated with various mythologies; a love she has kept to this day. After her father left the family, she went to college to study Interior Design, but the pull of her true talent took her into Creative Writing. She followed that with Scriptwriting.

Athina has recently vacated the position of high school teacher, where she polished her skills to concentrate on her professional goals of writing, editing and proofreading. She has joined RockHill Publishing LLC as Editor-in-Chief.

 Let’s Be Social:

Website: About - AUTHOR ATHINA PARIS

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with James Hill

I’d like to welcome author, James Hill, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Beer, wine, and bourbon.

Things that distract you from writing: Beer, wine, bourbon, and friends to drink with.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Editing what I have written. Sometimes I will go over a sentence for days. Then days later change it back to the original version.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Coming up with plots and storylines. I will read a headline or see a person and be on my way to a new story.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Beer, of course. And donuts.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Milk. I am lactose intolerant.

Favorite snacks: Chocolate donuts.

Things that make you want to gag: Milk. See above.

Something you’re really good at: Telling stories.

Something you’re really bad at: Spelling.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: A scientist, mostly a chemist or a physicist.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: Accountant.

Something you wish you could do: Play guitar.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Database Administration.

Last best thing you ate: Steak from my BBQ pit.

Last thing you regret eating: The new dragon burger from Burger King.

Things to say to an author: I love your book, I can’t wait for the next one.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Hey, you know what would have made your book better…

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones. The surviving members of Led Zeppelin.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Donald Trump.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Don’t know, I don’t recognize people when they are out of character. Also, I don’t recognize them when they play a different character.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I loved your book. When is the next one coming out.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I loved your book, but I hate you for killing Maria.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Going to book fairs, conferences, signing, and meeting readers.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: Start publishing earlier.

About James:

James L Hill, a.k.a. J L Hill, is a multi-genre author, currently working on a three-part historical fantasy Gemstone Series, The Emerald Lady and The Ruby Cradle are published. And the third book, The Diamond Warrior, is due soon. The four-part adult urban crime series, The Killer Series, is complete. Killer With A Heart, Killer With Three Heads, Killer With Black Blood, and Killer With Ice Eyes are five-star novels. Then there’s the psychological dystopian science fiction thriller, Pegasus: A Journey To New Eden for your reading pleasure. He also owns and operates RockHill Publishing LLC which published twenty books by eight authors in Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Romance.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: AUTHOR J L HILL - Home

#ThisorThatThursday with Lynda Williams

I’d like to welcome Lynda Williams to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Rejection and promoting myself.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing dialogue between characters.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Pens, notebook or laptop, coffee, and sometimes music.

Things that hamper your writing: My phone and the internet.

A few of your favorite things: The quilt on my couch, the coffeemaker, and my husband’s sweatpants that I keep borrowing.

Things you need to throw out: Random cables for electronics, worn out socks, and income tax returns from the 90s.

Favorite foods: Strawberries, chocolate.

Things that make you want to gag: Liver and organ meats.

Something you’re really good at: Brainstorming.

Something you’re really bad at: Replying to text messages and keeping succulents alive.

Favorite music or song: 90s rock alt. ( Matchbox Twenty, Everclear, Oasis).

Music that drives you crazy: Heavy Metal.

Favorite smell: Lilacs, coffee.

Something that makes you hold your nose: Inside of the washing machine.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Ice cream, Somersby apple cider, any book by Danila Botha.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: How much of your story is autobiographical?

Favorite places you’ve been: San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver

Places you never want to go to again: The Greyhound bus station in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Hopping on a Greyhound and moving across the country to Calgary when I was 19.

Something you chickened out from doing: Sending my manuscript to agents.

About Lynda:

Lynda Williams’ stories have appeared/are forthcoming in Grain, the Humber LiteraryReview, and The New Quarterly, among others. She holds a graduate certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers and is a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award. Her debut collection, The Beauty and the Hell of It & Other Stories is forthcoming from Guernica Editions in September 2025.

 Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.lyndawilliams.ca

BlueSky: @lwilliams-author.bsky.social

Instagram: lyndawilliams_author

Facebook: Lynda Williams

Where to buy:

US: amazon.com

Canada: Guernica Editions

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with CC Robinson

I’d like to welcome CC Robinson to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Read! I love reading and read most genres, except horror. My favorites are dystopian and post-apocalyptic, but my kindle app often contains mysteries, thrillers, clean romance, epic fantasy, and young adult contemporary.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: I loathe ironing. I don’t mind washing or even folding the laundry, but for some reason ironing isn’t my jam. I’ll postpone doing it until I’ve piled up a dozen or more items needing ironing.

Hardest thing about being a writer: I think I’d say it has to be juggling all the tasks that I have to do as an author-preneur. I love writing and I don’t mind marketing, but piling on all the business management tasks and the website management makes the days long. I don’t task-switch very well, but I’m learning to batch these related items into blocks of time. I’m also learning that trying to write later in the day isn’t great for me, so that’s when I throw in a block of business management tasks.

Easiest thing about being a writer: The writing! I love writing and the words come easily to me. I create a general plot for the book ahead of time. But as I’m writing I listen to my characters. If the plot needs to change, I’ll bend for where they want to take the story.

About CC:

CC Robinson is the award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of the Divided series, a young adult dystopian series set in a racially-divided future America. She has over two decades’ experience in cross-cultural settings as a medical doctor working in post-civil war nations and as an Associate Pastor at a multi-ethnic congregation led by an African-American man in Cincinnati, the setting for Divided. When she’s not throwing on her superhero cape to save her characters from their dystopian antics, CC enjoys hiking, gardening, dancing, swimming, and driving her jeep through the woods with her husband and three Gen Z kids.

Let’s Be Social:

https://facebook.com/ccrobinsonauthor

https://instagram.com/ccrobinsonauthor

https://tiktok.com/ccrobinsonauthor

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Breakfield & Burkey

I’d like to welcome Breakfield and Burkey back to the blog!

Things you never want to run out of: Breakfield and Burkey agree that Pace Picante sauce should always be available. It’s delicious on everything.

Things you wish you’d never bought: Burkey would prefer to forget she ever bought into the slick words of the sales guy who promised their book would be on film. I’m sure you can imagine the other great lie that came into her mind.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The most difficult is learning to create an innovative idea in a different genre and delivering an excellent final story.

Easiest thing about being a writer: For us, it is having a co-author to bounce ideas back and forth. We never sugar coat anything, and if all else fails, Rock-Paper-Scissors solves the issue.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet, undisturbed time to focus on new story content seems to gain the most ground for both Breakfield and Burkey.

Things that hamper your writing: Interruptions in the form of phone calls, email, and

A few of your favorite things: Cast iron cookware used to make personal pan pizzas on the grill, each one a creative delight.

Things you need to throw out: Breakfield agreed to discard the T-shirts he’d been holding onto from before 1999.

Words that describe you: hardworking, creative, helpful, tenacious, open-minded, altruistic, and philanthropic

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: stubborn

Favorite foods: Grilled chicken, homemade pan pizza on a grill, Paella, scallops, grilled Brussels sprouts, and escargot

Things that make you want to gag: Lima beans

Something you’re really good at: Breakfield and Burkey are fantastic at framing thrillers with a technology threat element.

Something you’re really bad at: Breakfield and Burkey take it to heart when we disappoint readers.

Favorite music or song: Burkey’s favorite song is ‘Til You Can’t Breakfield’s song is Comfortably Numb

Music that drives you crazy: Breakfield and Burkey are not fans of Hip Hop music.

Favorite smell: Barbeque, anything is wonderful

Something that makes you hold your nose: Skunks win the prize for the stinkiest award.

Last best thing you ate: Escargot (especially on a cruise ship)

Last thing you regret eating: Fruit cake opened on Christmas but ignored until Valentine's Day

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Zipline

Something you chickened out from doing: Skydiving

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I didn’t want to feel sorry for Mathias, but your writing compelled me.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: That the technology in our thrillers isn’t real.

About Breakfield and Burkey:

Breakfield, as the CTO of Enigma Series, LLC leverages his decades of technology expertise, including security, networking, voice, and anything digital, to bring innovative technothriller elements into storytelling. He has deep knowledge of World War II history, has traveled extensively, and seeks cultural exchanges to learn what makes different people tick. Charles enjoys wine tasting, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking new recipes, and woodworking.

Burkey, as the COO of Enigma Series, LLC uses her extensive professional knowledge of optimizing technology and business investments to drive stellar customer experiences into the ongoing stories of Enigma Series. The characteristics of people she has met throughout her career are woven into their stories. Rox enjoys her family, friends, puppies, reading, reviewing books, and traveling whenever possible. Meeting readers at various events is one of her favorite pastimes.

Together, they have created award-winning stories that resonate with men and women, with a fresh perspective on technology possibilities within a fictional framework. They have two technothriller series, The Enigma Series and Enigma Heirs. They ventured into writing cozy mysteries with the Underground Authors in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Their newest short story collection complements their novella and individual short stories. For more information, we invite you to visit https://www.EnigmaSeries.com.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://enigmabookseries.com/

Twitter - X - https://x.com/1rburkey and https://x.com/EnigmaSeries

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.burkey.50 and https://www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaSeries

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanneburkey/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbreakfield/ 

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Michael Rigg

I’d like to welcome my friend, Michael Rigg, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Marketing, e.g., social media, website upkeep, talking to readers about my books and short stories, business aspects of book sales.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Attending writing conferences and classes.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Time and a relatively quiet space.

Things that hamper your writing: The “other duties as assigned” aspects of writing, e.g., marketing.

Something you’re really good at: Procrastination.

Something you’re really bad at: Organization.

Last best thing you ate: Broiled crabcakes at a restaurant in Smithfield, Virginia.

Last thing you regret eating: An Armour (brand) Potted Meat sandwich.

The last thing you ordered online: Postage Stamps.

The last thing you regret buying: Armour (brand) Potted Meat.

Things you always put in your books: For my stories set in New Orleans, I like to mention the resurrection fern. It’s a plant (but not a parasite) that grows on the live oak trees that are prevalent in New Orleans. Depending on the amount of rain, the resurrection fern will either appear brown and shriveled or lush, thick, and green. In dry weather, the plant shrivels up and appears to be dead. But with rain, the plant seems to come back to life—a resurrection.

Things you never put in your books: Hopelessness. There can be tension, fear, and even tragedy. But in the end, justice and fairness must prevail.

Things to say to an author: I like to comment on a particular aspect of a short story or novel to show that I read and appreciated the author’s work.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I couldn’t read your novel past the first three pages.

The funniest thing to happen to you: During the time I was Counsel for the Navy Exchange Service Command, I attended a legal conference in Naples, Italy. Over the weekend before the conference, I volunteered to work at our Navy Exchange retail store during a customer appreciation event. My assignment was to help ring up purchases of high-end sunglasses and jewelry. One of the customers asked me to try on a pair of designer sunglasses because my head was the same shape as his father’s head. Translation? I got to model the sunglasses because I was old and fat, like his dad. I made the sale, though.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: I don’t want to go into too much detail, but there was one incident involving a very hot shower in a London hotel where the steam (allegedly) set off a fire alarm, resulting in a rather large desk clerk with a thick Russian accent banging on the door. There may or may not have been threats of arrest, fine, and imprisonment involved.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: David Morrell, the author of First Blood (Rambo).

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Bette Midler. I saw her outside a Broadway theater, where she had just performed in Hello Dolly! She was tiny. She wasn’t just short and petite, she was “Tinker Bell tiny.”

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I built a wooden toolbox in Junior High School shop class.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: The wooden toolbox I built in Junior High School shop class.

Your favorite book as a child: Dr. Doolittle (the series). Dr. Doolittle had an assistant, Tommy Stubbins, who was about my age at the time.

A book I’ve read more than once: A Fly Went By – by Mike McClintock. Beyond that, most of my re-reads are history books or biographies because I want to check out a particular historical fact or event.

Your favorite movie as a child: It’s a tossup between The Wizard of Oz and Goldfinger. The Wizard of Oz had flying monkeys, Munchkins, and they melted a witch! In Goldfinger, the evil-doers killed a guy in his car then put it in a metal crusher, painted a woman gold, and employed a huge Japanese gangster who killed people by throwing his hat at them.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): When I was a kid (maybe five or six years old), Invaders from Mars (the black-and-white version) scared me “to death.” I saw it as an adult and realized how cheesy it was.

About Michael:

Michael Rigg, an attorney for more than four decades, writes mysteries and thrillers set in two very different locations: Virginia Beach (where he lives) and New Orleans (which he visits as often as possible “for research,” including participation in three Mardi Gras Krewes). He is a retired Navy Judge Advocate and a retired civilian government attorney, formerly working for the Department of the Navy Office of the General Counsel. He is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and both the Sisters in Crime national organization and its Southeastern Virginia Chapter—Mystery by the Sea.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.michaelrigg.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michael.rigg.author

Twitter/X: Michael Rigg@MDR102030

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rigg-4567b591