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Florida Author Feature
Author's name: Larry Yoke
Genres you write in: Poetry, short stories, novellas, and multi-genre adult fiction.
Author's location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Are you self-published or traditionally published? I’ve self-published and currently use a hybrid publisher.
Do you have a "day job"? No day job! Writing is in and of itself a full-time endeavor.
What makes you unique? I started writing poetry at the ripe old age of 9. I then leaned to play guitar and started putting my words to music.
How long did it take you to write and publish your first book? My first book, “Second Chances,” took me well over two years to get it publishing-ready.
What would you like readers to know about you or your books? I write to inform and entertain the reader. I use stories taken from actual current events.
Your best writing tip for other authors: Trust your gut feelings about the plot, setting, and characters. Always seek out a second pair of eyes to edit the entire manuscript. Then finish the damn book!
What do you wish someone had told you about book publishing years ago? Be on the lookout for scammers that sell you that pie-in-the-sky dream of becoming rich and famous if you use their services. Then they throw a hefty invoice your way. They often take the money and RUN!
When did you know that you wanted to publish a book? Probably twenty years ago. I had this story revolving around my head which never left me alone! The muse within me knew long before I did to tackle the project.
What inspires you as a writer? Writing is a gift! I can bend and shape words into any form to make others laugh, cry, feel pain, feel sexy, etc. I’m able to do this consistently. Once you untap the wellspring within, there’s no stopping it.
Where is your favorite place to write? Most chuckle when I tell them where I write – my office is in the laundry room. The spinning dryer helps me focus better.
Where is your favorite place to read? I read most comfortably on my back patio. My backyard has a definite tropical vibe with palm trees and other local vegetation.
What are your favorite genres to read? I like a variety of genres. As long as the story is strong, the characters are believable, and the plot carries me along, I enjoy the ride until the end.
How does Florida inspire you in your writing? Since I moved here in early 2018, I’ve written one short story, “Rogue Wave,” and a full-length book, “Finding Hope,” that include Florida one way or another. There will be more on the horizon. Working on now - Did you know that Tampa was the site for the first water plane to take off and land in the bay area?
How do you get most of the ideas for your books and characters? I take most ideas from the headlines from today’s news. Characters seem to be based on the genre or someone I met, and I got to know them well enough to recreate them on the page.
Do you have a favorite Florida author? Me for now!
Do you have a favorite Florida book? I haven’t read any from a Florida author yet.
Do you have a favorite Florida bookstore? All bookstores in Florida are my FAVORITE!
Who's your favorite author (Florida or not)? Two great authors come to mind: Earnest Hemmingway, who lived in Key West, and Wilbur Smith, who lives in southern Africa. I always read authors who are better than me so I can learn from them!
What bookstagrammer/booktoker inspires you to do better on social media? I hired a publicist to help me with social media so I could stick to the things I love to do = WRITE!
Is there an author that you look to for inspiration for your own social media? There are far too many for me to mention them all!
What is your favorite social media platform to use as an author? I use several social media platforms because they're good for spreading the love and continually growing connections.
Tell me about your latest book: The title is Insentient. It’s a crime drama with a main female character who uses MMA techniques instead of applying deadly force to bring down the criminal element.
What was the inspiration for this book/what made you write this book? I lived in Texas before moving to Florida in 2018. The setting is in Texas and various places south of the border.
Author social media accounts:
Author website: Larry Yoke's Author Website
Other books by author:
Crime: Possum Kingdom, Broke Girl, Little Birds, and Insentient
Adult fiction: Second Chances, Crossing Rivers
Poetry chapbooks: Word Paintings, The Long and Short of It, and Soul Pieces
To be released soon: Finding Hope and Music Across the Waters, a short story compilation – All Is Well
Where can we buy your books? All my books can be purchased at any online book retailer outlet worldwide. Larry Yoke books on Amazon, Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble stores, specifically in Florida.
Who helped you get your book published? I use a publishing group out of Maine called the Spencer Bay Press. They are a full-turnkey publisher that helps in any way, including editing services, cover design, formatting the manuscript and world release, follow-up promotions, and social media postings, all to make your book the best it can be to be seen by as many people as possible.
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