There is a simple "recipe": Find at least two genuine characters, interrogate them, dig into their minds and discover everything about their lives. Then, let them write the story themselves. The more honest the characters, the better the story.
However, discovering even one fictional yet genuine character who can write a real story is complicated. Like the Homeric hero Odysseus, one needs to travel around the cities of the people and carefully study their minds. Feel the vice and the virtue. See the insanity and the reason. Feel the power of nature and the weakness of humans.

Greek Mythology. I am writing down the ancient Greek Myths in chronological order. From Chaos, Gaia and Eros, to Ouranos, Cronos and Zeus. I have divided the myths to three major subjects, I.e.: 1.The genesis of Cosmos, 2.The humans of the gods, and 3.the gods of the humans. Up to now I have written about 1,100 pages ...

My latest book. "3 Witches, 2 Wishes, 1 Genie" is, in fact, a satirical act for theatre, which takes place in Brighton Uk around 1911. Three ladies, Mrs Macbeth, Mrs Messalina and Miss Rosa Dewitt Bukater, discovered a book with magic spells. They are trying to create the elixir of eternal youth. and they find themselves on board the Titanic. There, they meet a genie who can only accomplish two wishes. .... the rest of the story on a theatre stage near you or on a book published in Smashwords!

I only need one word to describe my desk. Chaotic! That is why I usually write my stories in coffee shops. The empty table, save for the cappuccino coffee, the noise and the faces of the people inspire me. Sometimes, people around me, or at least what I imagine for yheir character, become part of my story, interacting with my heroes.

Hesiod, Homer, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Daniel Kharms, Dostoyevsky and a few others,... a few dozens more in fact.

Painting. I call it "passa tempo art". It is the art created by non professional artists, but from ordinary people who whish to spend their time creatively. Some of my paintings are on instagram https://www.instagram.com/passatempoart/

Homer in the original ancient Greek language. Discovering the deep meaning of every word as well as the meaning of every name in Homer's epic poems always amazes me.

A real old-style paperback book. As a second choice, I love my "remarkable" device.
Even my own stories which I usually write on my Mac computer, I need to print on paper for the final editing using a fountain pen loaded with red ink.

Life, especially professional life, can be extremely stressful. But I found a magic solution. Instead of visiting shrinks, I travel to uncharted areas of fantasy, and I discover characters that I promote to heroes... I also discover conspiracies or discords that I turn to scenarios. Then, I let my "heroes" move freely in the scenarios and write their own side of the story. They fight each other till they find, or do not find, a solution that fits their true character. They do not follow paths or find solutions like the ones indicated by books like "Save the Cat".
Unfortunately, such stories are not meant to become best sellers, and publishers do not invest in them.
Luckily, I found Smashwords, which gave me the "podium" so that my "heroes" could tell their stories.

None. I spend my free time writing and not promoting my books. Of course, I would love to be successful and sell millions of books. Who doesn't? However, I do not understand "marketing techniques", and I feel embarrassed trying to persuade people to buy my books.