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This week it is my pleasure to interview Isabelle Knight. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Hi! Thank you so much for having me here! My name is Isabelle Knight, and I am the teen, middle-grade fantasy author of a very magical and fantastical book series called Enchantria. I have been working on it for over a year, and it’s just been a really fun journey! I love cats, crystals, and am definitely a bookworm. I’ve been reading since I was nine and started the series when I was ten years old!
for my life, I live with my family and an embarrassing number of stuffed pandas. Oh, and a whole bookshelf that may be ready to burst. I also plan to collect more books!
When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I wrote my first book when I was ten years old during a very boring summer vacation. I’d just always had this awesome idea in my head about a girl who found her way into this magical kingdom and that there were at least two kingdoms, one that was good, and the other that was… Well, it’s not an evil kingdom, but an evil sorceress took over and she is trying to destroy the other kingdom. I was really a huge bookworm during that time and also a huge fan of the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. And because I was really bored, I just thought, Why not? I’m gonna write a book. It took six months to get the first draft and a fair amount of that time was spent screaming into my pillow and munching on french fries while binge watching Disney, totally stuck with no idea what to happen next. But I finally finished! I’m honestly really grateful that I was reading Warriors at the time because it gave me a fair share of ideas to ‘steal’.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up? As of now, I’ve only written three books in the Enchantria series and they’re all middle-grade fantasy. Middle-grade fantasy is just one of my favorite genres, and I read so much of it that I do plan to write many more MG fantasy books in my lifetime. I think I do have plans for some contemporary novels, but I think a lot of my books will be middle-grade fantasy.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? Depends, this is tricky. I think I probably dive head first into typing out the prologue and just let the story take me wherever it wants. It’s a bit scary to do it this way, but I think if I knew everything that happened beforehand, I’d lose the thrill I normally get. And the surprises and ideas for plot twists that pop up along the way. That being said, planning can be helpful. For book four in the series which is currently still unpublished and a work in progress, I’ve had to plan and outline a bit because I just had so many ideas – and I mean SO MANY – that I wanted to happen in book four. But they were a bit of a mess in my brain, and outlining helped me. I didn’t make a full outline for the book, though. I just went a bit at a time, like I’d write a bit of an outline for let’s say, Chapter Three. And after I wrote Chapter Three, I’d go back and outline the next chapter or scene.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’d love to! Um, lemme just go and see if I can find it in my mess of digital files.Ah! FOUND IT! I present to you, Enchantria: Guardian’s Heir! (hopefully I found the right one. AKA the published one and not the second draft) Prologue In the kingdom of Enchantria, in a land far from our own, the stars foretold a prophecy. Old and ancient. For years, people spoke of the prophecy that was rumored to foretell either the rise or fall of the kingdom. Thousands of years passed. Eventually people forgot about the prophecy. Until one fateful day… Chapter One Elena Ramirez hesitated at the foot of the creaky wooden stairs leading to the attic. Sixteen years old today, and what was she doing? Cleaning out the attic. She gave a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumping. Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked her father about her mother. Or she could’ve at least been a bit less blunt about it. She shook those thoughts away and sighed, taking a step forward. The stairs groaned and creaked under her weight, as if they hadn’t been stepped on in years. Which was probably true. The attic had been left abandoned for eleven years. No one had touched it. Not since… Elena shook those thoughts away again. Stop thinking about that, she scolded herself. She glanced up as she reached the top of the stairs. A crooked wooden door greeted her, adorned with a rusty old metal doorknob. She twisted it. It let out a long screech, but nothing else happened. She twisted it, and it let out another long screech. But still nothing. Gritting her teeth, she pushed and shoved until she finally forced the door open, stumbling into the attic. Dust swirled around her as she did so, and she coughed, blinking, her eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering in from a single small window. Cardboard boxes towered around her, filling the cramped attic space, completely coated in a thick layer of dust. Bending down, Elena picked up a faded photograph, her fingers tracing her mother’s face. A pang of sadness washed over her as she remembered happier days before her mother had left. Left and never returned. Her gaze drifted to the golden key hanging from her mother’s neck in the picture. The very same key that now hung from a cord around her neck. The same key she’d been given just before her mother had disappeared. Made of gold and glittering with several multi-colored rhinestones, it didn’t do much. In fact, it didn’t do anything. She’d tried every single lock in the house, and not a single one fit the key. They were either too small or too large or just didn’t fit. She sighed. But before she could dwell further, a voice shattered the silence. “Elena!” Startled, Elena glanced towards the door to see the doorknob jiggling and wobbling furiously. “Is this thing locked?” She immediately recognized her friend, Addie’s voice. “No!” Elena called back, tearing her gaze from the photo in her hand. With a final jolt, the door swung open, and Addie stumbled into the attic with an undignified crash, sending dust billowing through the air. Elena rushed to her side, coughing from the dust. “Are you alright?” she cried, helping Addie to her feet. Addie coughed, waving away the dust and shaking the cobwebs out of her dark red hair. “I’m fine,” she said, plastering a smile onto her face, her green eyes still bright. Then her eyes widened. “Whoa. What’s that?” Elena furrowed her brow. Then she saw what Addie was talking about. An ornate mirror stood tucked away in a corner of the attic, its frame made of gold and decorated with intricate carvings of illustrious tigers and vines. She frowned. Unlike the rest of the objects in the attic, this mirror seemed perfectly… fine. No coat of dust covered it. Its surface gleamed with a sheen almost as if it were brand new. But there was also something that seemed… old about it too. “I don’t know,” she frowned. She approached the mirror, brushing a lock of dark brown hair out of her eyes. She narrowed her eyes and gasped. In the corner of the frame was… a keyhole. But that was impossible. Who ever heard of a keyhole in a mirror? Her hand instinctively went to her key. “Elena? What are you doing?” But Elena barely heard Addie. All she could hear was the distant roar in her ears. Driven by a sudden impulse, she took off her key and inserted it into the keyhole. A blinding light erupted from the mirror, completely engulfing her. “Welcome, Elena Ramirez, daughter of the guardian, daughter of the warrior,” a voice whispered. The last thing Elena saw was Addie’s hand, desperately reaching out to grab her. Then everything went dark.
Who is your favourite character and why? In my books or just favorite character in general? My favorite character in general…. AHHH, this is so hard!!! I can’t just choose one!!! First would probably be Starlight Glimmer from My Little Pony. Her character arc is just so interesting, and I love how she evolves from a villain into a friend in the show. Second, Melanie from Believe by Julie Mathison. She is just like me – a tad bit shy, imaginative, and I just love her so much! And her imagination is just so vivid! She probably has one of my favorite character arcs and learns and grows a lot throughout the series. Third, Coral and Isa from Adrift by Tanya Guerrero. They just learn so much throughout the book, and they are so relatable in their emotions, the way they react to this horrible piece of news they receive (well, Isa receives… Coral… I’ll just say she’s part of that bad news. Don’t want to give spoilers!) just makes them so relatable. I cried at the end of this book. And I think my favorite character in one of my books is definitely Elenora. She’s going through a lot at the moment and I feel like all her emotions are just really in-depth. And she is also very loyal to her friends and will stick by them no matter what. She learns a lot by the end of the series!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? Depends, does it have to be published? If it has to be published, book two in the Enchantria series, Enchantria: Sun and Flame. I had this vague feeling of where the story was going to go, so it made everything just a bit less torturous trying to figure out the plot. Revisions were terrible, though. But writing the first draft was so much fun, and I got to reveal a lot more about the world of Enchantria, especially with the sun fairy kingdom, moon fairy kingdom, and dragon kingdom.
How would you describe yourself? An ambivert who loves books so much that she read 500 books in a year with Kindle! Very imaginative, excited, happy, bit of weirdo (in a good way), and very outgoing. I also love friends!
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? I love swimming, spending time outdoors, playing Uno, chatting and hanging out with friends, and brainstorming the next evil scheme for my poor main character. I also love listening to music and audiobooks while I draw and design book covers with my friend.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Depends. Where’s the biggest library with a whole collection of children’s books that won’t kick me out if I spend the whole day there? But for now, I’ll say Ireland or Yosemite. Ireland with its sea, mist, and of course, all of the legends and magical creatures would be amazing! Yosemite is just so beautiful, and I have been wanting to go there since I was five years old!
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? I’ve had one beta fish, countless guppies, and my friend has nine cats. A story about my pets… it’s less funny, more mysterious. I also had some neon tetras, but just a week later, they vanished. Just like that. They didn’t die, they just vanished. Poof. Gone.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read? Not sure. I’ll pick up any book if it intrigues me. But I’d say a really good book blurb and a good cover. A good cover is so important because it conveys the tone and what people can expect from your book. And yes, covers really do all that. Plus, it looks really nice on my bookshelf. And a good book blurb just really hints at what is in the book, who the characters are, and what I can expect from it. I normally select books with a fantastical element along with important themes like friendship, bravery, and all that. Or I might just randomly select a book!
Do you have your own website? Yes, I do, actually! It’s springfallschronicle.com, and that’s the name because it was a website my dad created for me when I was a kid and wanted to be a news reporter. I didn’t use it for a long time, but just this year, I was considering getting an author website, and I remembered this one!!!!! Over there, you can find a bit more about my books, myself, and a whole lot of writing updates and book reviews.
Are you working on a new book at the moment? Yes, I am! I started during NaNoWriMo, and I am currently on the second draft!!! I won’t tell you what it’s about, though… It’s way too early for that. However, I’m also working on book four of the Enchantria series!!! It will be way more dramatic than the previous three books with way more blood, sweat, and tears, and I’m just really excited about it!
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Book three of the Enchantria series, Enchantria: Champion, was just released as a Kindle ebook on Amazon, and book two’s paperback is hitting the bookshelves January 25, which I am SOexcited about! I’m also interviewing other authors on my blog which is just so amazing!
When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I wrote my first book when I was ten years old during a very boring summer vacation. I’d just always had this awesome idea in my head about a girl who found her way into this magical kingdom and that there were at least two kingdoms, one that was good, and the other that was… Well, it’s not an evil kingdom, but an evil sorceress took over and she is trying to destroy the other kingdom. I was really a huge bookworm during that time and also a huge fan of the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. And because I was really bored, I just thought, Why not? I’m gonna write a book. It took six months to get the first draft and a fair amount of that time was spent screaming into my pillow and munching on french fries while binge watching Disney, totally stuck with no idea what to happen next. But I finally finished! I’m honestly really grateful that I was reading Warriors at the time because it gave me a fair share of ideas to ‘steal’.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up? As of now, I’ve only written three books in the Enchantria series and they’re all middle-grade fantasy. Middle-grade fantasy is just one of my favorite genres, and I read so much of it that I do plan to write many more MG fantasy books in my lifetime. I think I do have plans for some contemporary novels, but I think a lot of my books will be middle-grade fantasy.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? Depends, this is tricky. I think I probably dive head first into typing out the prologue and just let the story take me wherever it wants. It’s a bit scary to do it this way, but I think if I knew everything that happened beforehand, I’d lose the thrill I normally get. And the surprises and ideas for plot twists that pop up along the way. That being said, planning can be helpful. For book four in the series which is currently still unpublished and a work in progress, I’ve had to plan and outline a bit because I just had so many ideas – and I mean SO MANY – that I wanted to happen in book four. But they were a bit of a mess in my brain, and outlining helped me. I didn’t make a full outline for the book, though. I just went a bit at a time, like I’d write a bit of an outline for let’s say, Chapter Three. And after I wrote Chapter Three, I’d go back and outline the next chapter or scene.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’d love to! Um, lemme just go and see if I can find it in my mess of digital files.Ah! FOUND IT! I present to you, Enchantria: Guardian’s Heir! (hopefully I found the right one. AKA the published one and not the second draft) Prologue In the kingdom of Enchantria, in a land far from our own, the stars foretold a prophecy. Old and ancient. For years, people spoke of the prophecy that was rumored to foretell either the rise or fall of the kingdom. Thousands of years passed. Eventually people forgot about the prophecy. Until one fateful day… Chapter One Elena Ramirez hesitated at the foot of the creaky wooden stairs leading to the attic. Sixteen years old today, and what was she doing? Cleaning out the attic. She gave a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumping. Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked her father about her mother. Or she could’ve at least been a bit less blunt about it. She shook those thoughts away and sighed, taking a step forward. The stairs groaned and creaked under her weight, as if they hadn’t been stepped on in years. Which was probably true. The attic had been left abandoned for eleven years. No one had touched it. Not since… Elena shook those thoughts away again. Stop thinking about that, she scolded herself. She glanced up as she reached the top of the stairs. A crooked wooden door greeted her, adorned with a rusty old metal doorknob. She twisted it. It let out a long screech, but nothing else happened. She twisted it, and it let out another long screech. But still nothing. Gritting her teeth, she pushed and shoved until she finally forced the door open, stumbling into the attic. Dust swirled around her as she did so, and she coughed, blinking, her eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering in from a single small window. Cardboard boxes towered around her, filling the cramped attic space, completely coated in a thick layer of dust. Bending down, Elena picked up a faded photograph, her fingers tracing her mother’s face. A pang of sadness washed over her as she remembered happier days before her mother had left. Left and never returned. Her gaze drifted to the golden key hanging from her mother’s neck in the picture. The very same key that now hung from a cord around her neck. The same key she’d been given just before her mother had disappeared. Made of gold and glittering with several multi-colored rhinestones, it didn’t do much. In fact, it didn’t do anything. She’d tried every single lock in the house, and not a single one fit the key. They were either too small or too large or just didn’t fit. She sighed. But before she could dwell further, a voice shattered the silence. “Elena!” Startled, Elena glanced towards the door to see the doorknob jiggling and wobbling furiously. “Is this thing locked?” She immediately recognized her friend, Addie’s voice. “No!” Elena called back, tearing her gaze from the photo in her hand. With a final jolt, the door swung open, and Addie stumbled into the attic with an undignified crash, sending dust billowing through the air. Elena rushed to her side, coughing from the dust. “Are you alright?” she cried, helping Addie to her feet. Addie coughed, waving away the dust and shaking the cobwebs out of her dark red hair. “I’m fine,” she said, plastering a smile onto her face, her green eyes still bright. Then her eyes widened. “Whoa. What’s that?” Elena furrowed her brow. Then she saw what Addie was talking about. An ornate mirror stood tucked away in a corner of the attic, its frame made of gold and decorated with intricate carvings of illustrious tigers and vines. She frowned. Unlike the rest of the objects in the attic, this mirror seemed perfectly… fine. No coat of dust covered it. Its surface gleamed with a sheen almost as if it were brand new. But there was also something that seemed… old about it too. “I don’t know,” she frowned. She approached the mirror, brushing a lock of dark brown hair out of her eyes. She narrowed her eyes and gasped. In the corner of the frame was… a keyhole. But that was impossible. Who ever heard of a keyhole in a mirror? Her hand instinctively went to her key. “Elena? What are you doing?” But Elena barely heard Addie. All she could hear was the distant roar in her ears. Driven by a sudden impulse, she took off her key and inserted it into the keyhole. A blinding light erupted from the mirror, completely engulfing her. “Welcome, Elena Ramirez, daughter of the guardian, daughter of the warrior,” a voice whispered. The last thing Elena saw was Addie’s hand, desperately reaching out to grab her. Then everything went dark.
Who is your favourite character and why? In my books or just favorite character in general? My favorite character in general…. AHHH, this is so hard!!! I can’t just choose one!!! First would probably be Starlight Glimmer from My Little Pony. Her character arc is just so interesting, and I love how she evolves from a villain into a friend in the show. Second, Melanie from Believe by Julie Mathison. She is just like me – a tad bit shy, imaginative, and I just love her so much! And her imagination is just so vivid! She probably has one of my favorite character arcs and learns and grows a lot throughout the series. Third, Coral and Isa from Adrift by Tanya Guerrero. They just learn so much throughout the book, and they are so relatable in their emotions, the way they react to this horrible piece of news they receive (well, Isa receives… Coral… I’ll just say she’s part of that bad news. Don’t want to give spoilers!) just makes them so relatable. I cried at the end of this book. And I think my favorite character in one of my books is definitely Elenora. She’s going through a lot at the moment and I feel like all her emotions are just really in-depth. And she is also very loyal to her friends and will stick by them no matter what. She learns a lot by the end of the series!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? Depends, does it have to be published? If it has to be published, book two in the Enchantria series, Enchantria: Sun and Flame. I had this vague feeling of where the story was going to go, so it made everything just a bit less torturous trying to figure out the plot. Revisions were terrible, though. But writing the first draft was so much fun, and I got to reveal a lot more about the world of Enchantria, especially with the sun fairy kingdom, moon fairy kingdom, and dragon kingdom.
How would you describe yourself? An ambivert who loves books so much that she read 500 books in a year with Kindle! Very imaginative, excited, happy, bit of weirdo (in a good way), and very outgoing. I also love friends!
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? I love swimming, spending time outdoors, playing Uno, chatting and hanging out with friends, and brainstorming the next evil scheme for my poor main character. I also love listening to music and audiobooks while I draw and design book covers with my friend.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Depends. Where’s the biggest library with a whole collection of children’s books that won’t kick me out if I spend the whole day there? But for now, I’ll say Ireland or Yosemite. Ireland with its sea, mist, and of course, all of the legends and magical creatures would be amazing! Yosemite is just so beautiful, and I have been wanting to go there since I was five years old!
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? I’ve had one beta fish, countless guppies, and my friend has nine cats. A story about my pets… it’s less funny, more mysterious. I also had some neon tetras, but just a week later, they vanished. Just like that. They didn’t die, they just vanished. Poof. Gone.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read? Not sure. I’ll pick up any book if it intrigues me. But I’d say a really good book blurb and a good cover. A good cover is so important because it conveys the tone and what people can expect from your book. And yes, covers really do all that. Plus, it looks really nice on my bookshelf. And a good book blurb just really hints at what is in the book, who the characters are, and what I can expect from it. I normally select books with a fantastical element along with important themes like friendship, bravery, and all that. Or I might just randomly select a book!
Do you have your own website? Yes, I do, actually! It’s springfallschronicle.com, and that’s the name because it was a website my dad created for me when I was a kid and wanted to be a news reporter. I didn’t use it for a long time, but just this year, I was considering getting an author website, and I remembered this one!!!!! Over there, you can find a bit more about my books, myself, and a whole lot of writing updates and book reviews.
Are you working on a new book at the moment? Yes, I am! I started during NaNoWriMo, and I am currently on the second draft!!! I won’t tell you what it’s about, though… It’s way too early for that. However, I’m also working on book four of the Enchantria series!!! It will be way more dramatic than the previous three books with way more blood, sweat, and tears, and I’m just really excited about it!
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Book three of the Enchantria series, Enchantria: Champion, was just released as a Kindle ebook on Amazon, and book two’s paperback is hitting the bookshelves January 25, which I am SOexcited about! I’m also interviewing other authors on my blog which is just so amazing!
Victor Torvich - 5 January 2025
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Victor Torvich
https://vtorvich.com
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Victor Torvich. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Victor, and share something about your life.
My pen name is Victor Torvich. I graduated in physics and, for many years, worked in scientific institutions. Upon emigration to the USA when I was 52, my wife and I had just over 10 years to earn our place in society, buy a home, and get enough money for retirement. That prompted me to set science aside and go into the software industry.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
After retirement, at 75, I was free to return to science. I got into the complex system theory field, published several articles in the Complex Systems journal, and, based on those articles, started to write my first book, "Subsurface History of Humanity: Direction of History." It was published at the beginning of 2021. My books are written from a complex systems perspective for the general public, 8th grade and above. They are about finding the trajectory humankind has been moving during the last 44 thousand years. From 2020 to 2021, I had a relatively small set of data about humankind's history, and the first book was short. In October 2024, I published the second book, "Directionality of Humankind's Development. History." This book provides a much more comprehensive view of humankind's history.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
So far, my books are in the same genre.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
My books are nonfiction and are based on research. In book writing, I have to go back and forth between writing and studying or doing additional research to support the writing.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
The Subsurface History of Humanity is a history of the emergence of new resources created by humankind for itself. Resources determine what is possible for us to do. Resources are behind-the-scenes enablers for actions for all humans. That is why we call the history of resource creation a deep-level history. Deep-level history is the underlying foundation for a conventional history of events. Deep-level history of humankind does not depend on the social structures, politics, economics, wars, revolutions, dynasties, and any uncertain terms like progress, happiness, morality, social justice, etc. Presented models of humankind do not depend on observers, including the author of this book, viewpoints or prejudice on the role of individuals, society, religions, human races, random chance in history, etc.
Who is your favorite character and why?
In my second book, there are 318 very short stories about "first" events that were breakthrough moments in the history of humanity, like the first painting, the first submarine, the first writing, etc. Not all authors for such "firsts" are known. Among the known people, my favorite is Enheduanna (2285–2250BC), daughter of Sargon of Akkad. Among her works were hymns written in cuneiform. She was the first person to sign her texts with her own name. She is a creator of author literature.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
"Directionality of Humankind's Development. History." I like it most because it covers a gigantic spectrum of humankind's activities with much more detail than the first book.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I still need to receive marketing tips suited to my situation.
How would you describe yourself?
I am an optimistic and creative person. In physics and engineering, I have worked in several different areas and got patents in all of them. Close to my retirement years, I began making artwork, specifically photos and digital art. Now, I have over 2000 artworks on my art website. My books are creative, too. Here is a quote from a review of my second book by a reader named David - "It is what I call a foundational book. ... If in the future others attempt to look at human development purely through the created resources, we should look back at this book as where it all started."
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I'll meet with our daughter and grandkids, walk, do artwork, and do routine housework.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Maui, where we have a timeshare.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I do not have pets.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
In fiction, I prefer good science fiction; in nonfiction history, I like books based on facts, not opinions.
Do you have your own website?
I have two websites. The first, History of Humanity, is https://vtorvich.com/. It is for my history blogs, books, and other stuff I wrote. The second website, https://yuri-tomashevi.pixels.com/, is for my artwork. For the 1st website, the author's name is Victor Torvich, and the 2nd one is Yuri Tomashevi.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Nope
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Not yet.
My pen name is Victor Torvich. I graduated in physics and, for many years, worked in scientific institutions. Upon emigration to the USA when I was 52, my wife and I had just over 10 years to earn our place in society, buy a home, and get enough money for retirement. That prompted me to set science aside and go into the software industry.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
After retirement, at 75, I was free to return to science. I got into the complex system theory field, published several articles in the Complex Systems journal, and, based on those articles, started to write my first book, "Subsurface History of Humanity: Direction of History." It was published at the beginning of 2021. My books are written from a complex systems perspective for the general public, 8th grade and above. They are about finding the trajectory humankind has been moving during the last 44 thousand years. From 2020 to 2021, I had a relatively small set of data about humankind's history, and the first book was short. In October 2024, I published the second book, "Directionality of Humankind's Development. History." This book provides a much more comprehensive view of humankind's history.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
So far, my books are in the same genre.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
My books are nonfiction and are based on research. In book writing, I have to go back and forth between writing and studying or doing additional research to support the writing.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
The Subsurface History of Humanity is a history of the emergence of new resources created by humankind for itself. Resources determine what is possible for us to do. Resources are behind-the-scenes enablers for actions for all humans. That is why we call the history of resource creation a deep-level history. Deep-level history is the underlying foundation for a conventional history of events. Deep-level history of humankind does not depend on the social structures, politics, economics, wars, revolutions, dynasties, and any uncertain terms like progress, happiness, morality, social justice, etc. Presented models of humankind do not depend on observers, including the author of this book, viewpoints or prejudice on the role of individuals, society, religions, human races, random chance in history, etc.
Who is your favorite character and why?
In my second book, there are 318 very short stories about "first" events that were breakthrough moments in the history of humanity, like the first painting, the first submarine, the first writing, etc. Not all authors for such "firsts" are known. Among the known people, my favorite is Enheduanna (2285–2250BC), daughter of Sargon of Akkad. Among her works were hymns written in cuneiform. She was the first person to sign her texts with her own name. She is a creator of author literature.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
"Directionality of Humankind's Development. History." I like it most because it covers a gigantic spectrum of humankind's activities with much more detail than the first book.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I still need to receive marketing tips suited to my situation.
How would you describe yourself?
I am an optimistic and creative person. In physics and engineering, I have worked in several different areas and got patents in all of them. Close to my retirement years, I began making artwork, specifically photos and digital art. Now, I have over 2000 artworks on my art website. My books are creative, too. Here is a quote from a review of my second book by a reader named David - "It is what I call a foundational book. ... If in the future others attempt to look at human development purely through the created resources, we should look back at this book as where it all started."
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I'll meet with our daughter and grandkids, walk, do artwork, and do routine housework.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Maui, where we have a timeshare.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I do not have pets.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
In fiction, I prefer good science fiction; in nonfiction history, I like books based on facts, not opinions.
Do you have your own website?
I have two websites. The first, History of Humanity, is https://vtorvich.com/. It is for my history blogs, books, and other stuff I wrote. The second website, https://yuri-tomashevi.pixels.com/, is for my artwork. For the 1st website, the author's name is Victor Torvich, and the 2nd one is Yuri Tomashevi.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Nope
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Not yet.
Sheila M. Cronin - 29 December 2024
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This week it is my pleasure to welcome back Sheila M. Cronin, who is here to tell us about her decision to redesign the cover of her first book, The Gift Counselor. Many authors these days change their book covers, but I was interested to know what motivated you to change yours, Sheila, on the tenth anniversary of publishing this book.
Thank you, Rita.
Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
With pleasure. I earned a master’s degree in mental health sciences and practiced art therapy for many years with both children and adults. Later on, I spent a decade at Princess Cruises managing the passenger loyalty club. I never got to Australia, but one colleague of mine who was “hands down” the absolute best proof reader I’ve ever met hailed from Sydney.
My stories have appeared in Woman's World Magazine, The Golden Domer, Good Old Days Magazine, Spark, Kaleidoscope, Dappled Things, Ligourian Magazine, The Lutheran Digest, Agape Review, Calla Press Literary Journal and more. My collection of short stories, Heart Shaped II, was released in January, 2020. Also, I’m the original author of the “raisin sayings” published on the flaps of Sun-Maid lunch size raisin boxes.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I’m so glad you are interested in the story behind my new book cover.
The Gift Counselor came about as the result of an event I witnessed in a department store. While Christmas shopping one day in Santa Monica, California, I overheard a man at the perfume counter tell the clerk he needed a gift to fix a problem with his girlfriend. The wise clerk told him perfume would not do. “Go to the jewellery department and buy her something so beautiful it will make her cry. Then she will be your girl again.” Off he went, gratefully, I should add. That scene inspired to me to write the story, first as a screenplay, then as a novel. When it came to a cover, I decided to make the book’s exterior look like a gift. I thought it might help drive sales.
The initial cover certainly was eye catching. No doubt it drove sales. But the title was not properly set up and having the ribbon continue onto the back cover made the blurb and comments there harder to read.
Updating the cover for the book’s 10th anniversary has been my goal for a long time. Since designing the first cover, I had learned that putting people on the cover could draw more readers.
A friend and fellow creative writer suggested I show my main character at work. I found an artist via Reedsy.com. Plus, she lived in California where the story is set. She seemed to grasp the story and my character from the get-go and I am receiving many compliments on her work.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I write both fiction and non-fiction. This is funny: a rare horror story of mine will be published this December in an online publication called Close to the Bone Magazine. The Gift Counselor’s dark side!
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
When I get an idea, I start writing.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Scene: On Christmas Day, Jonquil and her son Billy host a party in their apartment for the residents from Children’s Home who have no families. Jonquil trained as a psychologist at Children’s Home before she became a gift counselor. Claude is the new man in her life. Blackie is Billy’s cocker spaniel. Billy is busy handing out stuffed animals to their guests from his large collection.
There was laughter and a few guffaws as various species found themselves in the hands of new owners. Finally, Billy stood in front of Tommy, poised to give him a slick T-Rex model. “Aw, man,” griped Tommy, “them’s baby toys.” Billy switched gears without showing the slightest hesitation. “I almost forgot! Santa brought you something else!” He tore off again and this time was gone for several minutes. “I better go see what he’s doing,” said Jonquil to Claude in a low voice. She hurried down the hall to her son’s room and found him rolling up a poster that he had just removed from the wall. He looked up, relieved to see her. “Mom, will you help me tie a bow around this?” She walked swiftly over to his bed and sat down. “Billy, have you thought this over carefully? Do you know the trouble I went through to get you a signed poster? Not to mention the cost. Billy, this was my special birthday present to you. “Now, I suppose I can see that, with Blackie here, you may not want to keep your stuffed animals. And your idea to give them away was wonderful, it got us out of a jam. Besides, Claude’s right—you’ve outgrown them. “But sweetie, this is different. We can give Tommy something else—maybe your new computer game. That will be easy to replace.” He frowned. “But Tommy will love this poster. Please tie a bow around it, Mom. He’s waiting.” Feeling somewhat bewildered, she darted off to her room to retrieve the spool of scarlet ribbon sitting on her vanity, thinking, Why is Billy doing this? He could be so obstinate. At least they were having this conversation privately and not in front of their guests. She also felt hurt. Hadn’t the baseball poster meant anything to him? Her fingers closed around the ribbon while she confronted her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were still pink and soft from last night’s watershed. She closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. In that instant, the words from her dream drifted back to her: “It’s mine to give.” Billy’s point, exactly. She’d given him the poster. A gift, freely given. Now, he wanted to pass it on to someone else. Freely! Before, when he had given her pens and paper on her birthday so she could do her work at Children’s Home, he did so because he truly believed she loved her job. Hadn’t he listened to her talk about it avidly throughout the summer and fall? Her eyes opened wide with comprehension. Gifts—true gifts—have no strings attached! Jonquil sensed something deep within her shift. She grabbed the ribbon and hurried back to her son.
Who is your favourite character and why?
The best way to answer is to say I am rooting for Jonquil to get her act together but my heart is with Billy her son.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Best of All Gifts, the sequel.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
If you went to college, contact the alumni clubs. Many of them have book clubs.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a good listener with a quick sense of humor. I try to be grateful in all things and I encourage people to give their creative flare a try.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I play piano. This year, the Christmas carol I wrote with a friend back in high school is going to be sung by choirs in Florida, Utah and Montanna. It’s called “Joseph’s Song.” The lyrics appear in The Gift Counselor.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
My favorite place on earth is The Farmers Market in L.A. I would gladly go there for any occasion.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
My mood.
Do you have your own website?
Yes. Please visit http://www.giftcounselorbook.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I have been writing stories about my life. My non-fiction account of my Alaskan cruise with James A. Michener and his wife was recently accepted for publication in the Courtship of Winds online journal. I bet your readers would enjoy it.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Not at this time.
Thank you, Rita.
Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
With pleasure. I earned a master’s degree in mental health sciences and practiced art therapy for many years with both children and adults. Later on, I spent a decade at Princess Cruises managing the passenger loyalty club. I never got to Australia, but one colleague of mine who was “hands down” the absolute best proof reader I’ve ever met hailed from Sydney.
My stories have appeared in Woman's World Magazine, The Golden Domer, Good Old Days Magazine, Spark, Kaleidoscope, Dappled Things, Ligourian Magazine, The Lutheran Digest, Agape Review, Calla Press Literary Journal and more. My collection of short stories, Heart Shaped II, was released in January, 2020. Also, I’m the original author of the “raisin sayings” published on the flaps of Sun-Maid lunch size raisin boxes.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I’m so glad you are interested in the story behind my new book cover.
The Gift Counselor came about as the result of an event I witnessed in a department store. While Christmas shopping one day in Santa Monica, California, I overheard a man at the perfume counter tell the clerk he needed a gift to fix a problem with his girlfriend. The wise clerk told him perfume would not do. “Go to the jewellery department and buy her something so beautiful it will make her cry. Then she will be your girl again.” Off he went, gratefully, I should add. That scene inspired to me to write the story, first as a screenplay, then as a novel. When it came to a cover, I decided to make the book’s exterior look like a gift. I thought it might help drive sales.
The initial cover certainly was eye catching. No doubt it drove sales. But the title was not properly set up and having the ribbon continue onto the back cover made the blurb and comments there harder to read.
Updating the cover for the book’s 10th anniversary has been my goal for a long time. Since designing the first cover, I had learned that putting people on the cover could draw more readers.
A friend and fellow creative writer suggested I show my main character at work. I found an artist via Reedsy.com. Plus, she lived in California where the story is set. She seemed to grasp the story and my character from the get-go and I am receiving many compliments on her work.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I write both fiction and non-fiction. This is funny: a rare horror story of mine will be published this December in an online publication called Close to the Bone Magazine. The Gift Counselor’s dark side!
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
When I get an idea, I start writing.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Scene: On Christmas Day, Jonquil and her son Billy host a party in their apartment for the residents from Children’s Home who have no families. Jonquil trained as a psychologist at Children’s Home before she became a gift counselor. Claude is the new man in her life. Blackie is Billy’s cocker spaniel. Billy is busy handing out stuffed animals to their guests from his large collection.
There was laughter and a few guffaws as various species found themselves in the hands of new owners. Finally, Billy stood in front of Tommy, poised to give him a slick T-Rex model. “Aw, man,” griped Tommy, “them’s baby toys.” Billy switched gears without showing the slightest hesitation. “I almost forgot! Santa brought you something else!” He tore off again and this time was gone for several minutes. “I better go see what he’s doing,” said Jonquil to Claude in a low voice. She hurried down the hall to her son’s room and found him rolling up a poster that he had just removed from the wall. He looked up, relieved to see her. “Mom, will you help me tie a bow around this?” She walked swiftly over to his bed and sat down. “Billy, have you thought this over carefully? Do you know the trouble I went through to get you a signed poster? Not to mention the cost. Billy, this was my special birthday present to you. “Now, I suppose I can see that, with Blackie here, you may not want to keep your stuffed animals. And your idea to give them away was wonderful, it got us out of a jam. Besides, Claude’s right—you’ve outgrown them. “But sweetie, this is different. We can give Tommy something else—maybe your new computer game. That will be easy to replace.” He frowned. “But Tommy will love this poster. Please tie a bow around it, Mom. He’s waiting.” Feeling somewhat bewildered, she darted off to her room to retrieve the spool of scarlet ribbon sitting on her vanity, thinking, Why is Billy doing this? He could be so obstinate. At least they were having this conversation privately and not in front of their guests. She also felt hurt. Hadn’t the baseball poster meant anything to him? Her fingers closed around the ribbon while she confronted her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were still pink and soft from last night’s watershed. She closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. In that instant, the words from her dream drifted back to her: “It’s mine to give.” Billy’s point, exactly. She’d given him the poster. A gift, freely given. Now, he wanted to pass it on to someone else. Freely! Before, when he had given her pens and paper on her birthday so she could do her work at Children’s Home, he did so because he truly believed she loved her job. Hadn’t he listened to her talk about it avidly throughout the summer and fall? Her eyes opened wide with comprehension. Gifts—true gifts—have no strings attached! Jonquil sensed something deep within her shift. She grabbed the ribbon and hurried back to her son.
Who is your favourite character and why?
The best way to answer is to say I am rooting for Jonquil to get her act together but my heart is with Billy her son.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Best of All Gifts, the sequel.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
If you went to college, contact the alumni clubs. Many of them have book clubs.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a good listener with a quick sense of humor. I try to be grateful in all things and I encourage people to give their creative flare a try.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I play piano. This year, the Christmas carol I wrote with a friend back in high school is going to be sung by choirs in Florida, Utah and Montanna. It’s called “Joseph’s Song.” The lyrics appear in The Gift Counselor.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
My favorite place on earth is The Farmers Market in L.A. I would gladly go there for any occasion.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
My mood.
Do you have your own website?
Yes. Please visit http://www.giftcounselorbook.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I have been writing stories about my life. My non-fiction account of my Alaskan cruise with James A. Michener and his wife was recently accepted for publication in the Courtship of Winds online journal. I bet your readers would enjoy it.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Not at this time.
Rida Berilgen - 22 December 2024
Rida Berilgen
https://amazon.com/author/ridaberilgen
This week it is my pleasure to interview Rida Berilgen. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Rida and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I’m actually a cardiologist, not a typical author.My writing journey began out of necessity in 2018, when misleading nutrition information on television was everywhere. Doctors like me, who aimed to provide accurate guidance, found ourselves constantly debunking myths instead of sharing helpful information.One extreme example was the suggestion that pregnant women should eat ten eggs a day. Around that time, I heard a fascinating historical story about eggs from a historian I admire. Inspired, I wrote a book on nutrition, blending science with engaging historical anecdotes for a fresh, enjoyable approach.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Due to my profession, I have written two books on healthy living. Since diet is such a vast topic, I devoted an entire book to it, inspired by an Egyptian proverb: “Humans live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the other three-quarters lives their doctor.” This book, titled One Quarter, covers healthy eating, weight loss, popular diets, and supplements.For other important topics related to longevity, I turned to Leonardo da Vinci's observations on heart anatomy as my inspiration. These are discussed in my second book, titled An Enjoyable, Evidence-Based Journey to Longer Life: Can One Explain the Whole Heart Without Filling a Huge Book.For now, I am enjoying the reception of these works. What the future holds, I cannot say.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
My books aim to protect people from diseases by providing information on diet and healthy living. However, I wanted readers to feel at ease as they learned about their health, as if they were reading any other enjoyable book. I prioritized selecting topics with medical relevance, and it was essential to find engaging stories to illustrate each subject. I carefully followed every article I read, television program I watched, and radio channel I listened to, always on the lookout for potential stories for my book. With some additional research, I completed the book gradually, without rushing myself.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I do not believe that any excerpt I share from either of my books will fully capture the overall spirit of the works. To illustrate how medical topics intertwine with engaging stories, I find it helpful to share the table of contents from my book on diet.
EGG: Ugly Duckling or Beautiful Swan COFFEE: The Story of Dancing Goats TEA: A Gift from the Chinese Emperor to the World SALT: Love Someone more than Gold or Salt? MEAT: Wise Words Brought Freedom to a Slave FRUITS: The Cherokee Legend of the First Strawberry VEGETABLES: How Dare You Steal My Cucumber? DAIRY PRODUCTS: Paid in Full with One Glass of Milk CHOCOLATE: Gift of the Gods or a Deception? MUSHROOMS: A Plate of Mushrooms Changed the Fate of Europe GRAINS: The First Word of a Child Isolated from Human Language LEGUMES: Can Beans Be a Wedding Gift? SUGAR: Great Queens Don't Use the Same Throne Twice DIETARY FATS: Fuel the Tank with Coconut Diesel DIET TYPES: Why Did These Mummies' Arteries Get Blocked? CAN FOODS REPLACE MEDICINES: Is the Cause of Mona Lisa's Death Hidden in the Painting? DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: The Unfortunate Anteater Matilda TIPS FOR LOSING WEIGHT: He Was About to Be Discharged from the Army for Gluttony but Became a Favorite Soldier FINAL WORDS: A Jar Story
Who is your favourite character and why?
Since my books do not contain fictional characters, I may not have a favorite character to share. However, I can say that one section, which I included in my diet book, stands out as a favorite: Leonardo da Vinci drawing Mona Lisa's future cause of death in his painting.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I thoroughly enjoyed writing both of my books and cannot distinguish one as a favorite over the other.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I aim to reach genuine readers with my books, so I have not focused on marketing. I may well be the last person to offer any useful tips in that area.
How would you describe yourself?
Peaceful and helpful.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Due to the demanding hours of my profession, I have limited free time. However, I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring history through reading and watching.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
The Alps in Switzerland, as it promises a quiet holiday away from the crowds of the city.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
From time to time, I feed the animals on the street. I recall witnessing a day when, perhaps due to my neglect, a street cat missed a meal bag larger than itself, while workers from a nearby building chased after it.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I enjoy reading books composed of short, independent sections, as I do not have long periods of time for reading at once. I enjoy reading books that include the themes of mystery and history.
Do you have your own website?
I have an author page on Amazon, where you can also find links to my books.https://amazon.com/author/ridaberilgen
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I had thought that writing two books on healthy living would fulfill my mission. However, once the sense of writing is awakened, it seems that writing again becomes inevitable. Although it may not be on health this time, I am considering writing on a different topic in the near future.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I kept the price of my book, which is offered for free to Kindle Unlimited members, as low as possible. However, I am still trying to plan promotions within the limits allowed by the Kindle platform. For both of my books, I can only organize a new promotion after the New Year. Since all my clinical days are, in a way, like events, I have not considered planning any events.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I’m actually a cardiologist, not a typical author.My writing journey began out of necessity in 2018, when misleading nutrition information on television was everywhere. Doctors like me, who aimed to provide accurate guidance, found ourselves constantly debunking myths instead of sharing helpful information.One extreme example was the suggestion that pregnant women should eat ten eggs a day. Around that time, I heard a fascinating historical story about eggs from a historian I admire. Inspired, I wrote a book on nutrition, blending science with engaging historical anecdotes for a fresh, enjoyable approach.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Due to my profession, I have written two books on healthy living. Since diet is such a vast topic, I devoted an entire book to it, inspired by an Egyptian proverb: “Humans live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the other three-quarters lives their doctor.” This book, titled One Quarter, covers healthy eating, weight loss, popular diets, and supplements.For other important topics related to longevity, I turned to Leonardo da Vinci's observations on heart anatomy as my inspiration. These are discussed in my second book, titled An Enjoyable, Evidence-Based Journey to Longer Life: Can One Explain the Whole Heart Without Filling a Huge Book.For now, I am enjoying the reception of these works. What the future holds, I cannot say.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
My books aim to protect people from diseases by providing information on diet and healthy living. However, I wanted readers to feel at ease as they learned about their health, as if they were reading any other enjoyable book. I prioritized selecting topics with medical relevance, and it was essential to find engaging stories to illustrate each subject. I carefully followed every article I read, television program I watched, and radio channel I listened to, always on the lookout for potential stories for my book. With some additional research, I completed the book gradually, without rushing myself.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I do not believe that any excerpt I share from either of my books will fully capture the overall spirit of the works. To illustrate how medical topics intertwine with engaging stories, I find it helpful to share the table of contents from my book on diet.
EGG: Ugly Duckling or Beautiful Swan COFFEE: The Story of Dancing Goats TEA: A Gift from the Chinese Emperor to the World SALT: Love Someone more than Gold or Salt? MEAT: Wise Words Brought Freedom to a Slave FRUITS: The Cherokee Legend of the First Strawberry VEGETABLES: How Dare You Steal My Cucumber? DAIRY PRODUCTS: Paid in Full with One Glass of Milk CHOCOLATE: Gift of the Gods or a Deception? MUSHROOMS: A Plate of Mushrooms Changed the Fate of Europe GRAINS: The First Word of a Child Isolated from Human Language LEGUMES: Can Beans Be a Wedding Gift? SUGAR: Great Queens Don't Use the Same Throne Twice DIETARY FATS: Fuel the Tank with Coconut Diesel DIET TYPES: Why Did These Mummies' Arteries Get Blocked? CAN FOODS REPLACE MEDICINES: Is the Cause of Mona Lisa's Death Hidden in the Painting? DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: The Unfortunate Anteater Matilda TIPS FOR LOSING WEIGHT: He Was About to Be Discharged from the Army for Gluttony but Became a Favorite Soldier FINAL WORDS: A Jar Story
Who is your favourite character and why?
Since my books do not contain fictional characters, I may not have a favorite character to share. However, I can say that one section, which I included in my diet book, stands out as a favorite: Leonardo da Vinci drawing Mona Lisa's future cause of death in his painting.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I thoroughly enjoyed writing both of my books and cannot distinguish one as a favorite over the other.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I aim to reach genuine readers with my books, so I have not focused on marketing. I may well be the last person to offer any useful tips in that area.
How would you describe yourself?
Peaceful and helpful.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Due to the demanding hours of my profession, I have limited free time. However, I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring history through reading and watching.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
The Alps in Switzerland, as it promises a quiet holiday away from the crowds of the city.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
From time to time, I feed the animals on the street. I recall witnessing a day when, perhaps due to my neglect, a street cat missed a meal bag larger than itself, while workers from a nearby building chased after it.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I enjoy reading books composed of short, independent sections, as I do not have long periods of time for reading at once. I enjoy reading books that include the themes of mystery and history.
Do you have your own website?
I have an author page on Amazon, where you can also find links to my books.https://amazon.com/author/ridaberilgen
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I had thought that writing two books on healthy living would fulfill my mission. However, once the sense of writing is awakened, it seems that writing again becomes inevitable. Although it may not be on health this time, I am considering writing on a different topic in the near future.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I kept the price of my book, which is offered for free to Kindle Unlimited members, as low as possible. However, I am still trying to plan promotions within the limits allowed by the Kindle platform. For both of my books, I can only organize a new promotion after the New Year. Since all my clinical days are, in a way, like events, I have not considered planning any events.
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Colleen MacFarlane. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Colleen and share something about your life?
Thank you for inviting me to your website, Rita. It’s fun to be here. Here’s a short synopsis about me: I was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and spent my entire career there as a Licensed social worker, addictions counselor, and financial planner and educator. Seven years ago, my husband and I relocated to Raleigh, NC in search of warmer weather. We’ve acclimated to southern living, made new friends and enjoy the North Carolina weather, still with four seasons.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I self-published Listening to Her Own Voice in 2020 as a tribute to my 2nd great aunt, Rosa Kerker. She immigrated to Minnesota with her family in 1866 from Switzerland. I’d been studying my maternal genealogy for several years and had easy access to tons of information because they settled just a half hour drive from my home. By 2020, I was ready to begin writing my book. Six months earlier, I had spoken with a 95-year-old woman who’d known my aunt and had taken piano lessons from her in the 1930’s. She sent me a brief biography about my aunt and when I read it, I said to myself, this is a book and I’m going to write it! I wrote it as an historical fiction novel. There is much dialogue in it, so as to illuminate the emotions and humanity of the family. I’m now republishing the book with a half dozen changes, re-editing, and authentic pictures at the end of each chapter with the intent to convey to the reader that these events were real. However, the genre is still going to be historical fiction, and the new title is: Listen to Your Heart. It will be available on Amazon as soon as I can organize the pictures and format the book on KDP.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I mix it up because I write what inspires me. I know when I have a book in me and have to express the storyline. I view writing in different genres as a fun experiment. For example, I wrote Life Lessons from Lucy the Schnauzer as a tribute to my grandchildren. I also have a schnauzer named Lucy. I looked at my Lucy one day and asked her what I should write about, and in an instant, she told me. She knows how to ask for attention and get her needs met. I turned this into a children’s book with ten lessons, about a boy who tells his cousin that Lucy has taught him everything he needs to know about life. My book is filled with simple, but important lessons for children, such as doing your homework, getting enough sleep, exercise, eating well, asking for attention, playing with friends, brushing your teeth, and being kind.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I tend to organize my thoughts beforehand. Most often, I’ve spent hours, even months, thinking about the length and depth of my characters and plots. Then I sit down to a blank page on Word and rough out chapter titles. I prefer an outline to help me stay on track and I think it helps me in achieving the completion of my project in a timely fashion.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’d be happy to. I’ve just finished a fiction book titled: Fatal Funds. Hopefully, it will be available this month on Amazon. My protagonist, Elaina, has taken ill in 2024 and has also fallen prey to an unscrupulous financial planner who is stealing his clients’ investments in running his Ponzi scheme. Elaina and two other female clients form an investment club with the intent to learn more about how to manage their financial futures. They realize, a little late, that their planner is a greedy louse. My book is for adults of all ages and written with the purpose of educating the reader about important investing terms wrapped in an emotional story.
The excerpt is from chapter Nine, titled: Greed is a Deadly Sin. The Villain, Sandy, is out with his wife, Ursula at a local jazz club for dinner for a date night. They’ve kept their finances separate and Sandy is hoping his wife might give him a sizeable loan. After settling in, they talk about their week:
“I’m running into a bit of a cash flow problem, but I’m sure things will work out. I’m considering raising my fees from one percent to one and a quarter percent for all of my assets under management. I’ve also been buying more individual stocks for my clients, and that means more commissions on all the trades I make.“How many clients do you think you’ll lose?” asked Ursula.“Not one.”“They trust you. Nonetheless, I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m sure it helps that so many of them are old college buddies or church acquaintances.”“And fellow golf club members, too,” said Sandy. “I’ll do everything I can to see that they benefit from the trust they’ve put in me. What about you? How’s your week been going?”[Ursula never stuck her nose into Sandy’s business affairs but had begun to have her doubts about his skill and his bookkeeping. Eventually, Sandy does raise his fees and w/o informing his clients. Rapid trading of stocks is called churning, an illegal and unethical act.]
Who is your favorite character and why?
In Fatal Funds, my favorite character is my protagonist, Elaina. She’s a champion for women, she’s determined, she survives, she’s decisive, she hones her trust in honoring her intuition, and she forms an unbreakable bond through the pain and agony she’s living with in 2024.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s a great question; and a difficult one to answer. My heart and soul went into writing Listening to Her Own Voice. I felt inspired by Rosa, my protagonist. I felt as though she was in the room with me, along with the rest of the family. However, Fatal Funds, was the book I most wanted to write. It was supposed to be my first book. Instead, it is my fifth book, and delaying writing it has made me a better writer, and the book is much better as a result. Fatal Funds is based on true events in my own life. The information contained in the book is factual for beginning investors and I’ve provided a list of sources as references.
What is the best marketing advice you have received?
While talking with a fellow writer and friend, he’d told me how his books had met with success. He was a teacher, and lecturer, and before he published his books, he began his marketing campaign and developed an email list for marketing. When his book made its debut, his audience had already been identified, and his readers were eager to purchase.
How would you describe yourself?
Thoughtful, tenacious, determined, kind, enjoy a good challenge, an inveterate learner, busy, and fascinated by human behavior. My avocation is nutrition and fitness. When I write, I base my characters on my prior experience in counseling and financial education, and use my experience to put my characters in impossible dilemmas from which to wiggle out of.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Giving my undivided attention to my mini-schnauzer, going for walks, weight-lifting, half hour on the elliptical trainer, and much time in the kitchen, as I make many dishes from scratch so as to minimize eating processed food.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’ve been to Switzerland once, and I would like to return to live there for several months. My maternal side is from St. Gallen, Switzerland. The town has a magnificent Abbey there, containing some of the oldest books in the world, in addition to their church. It is stunning to look at, and I would love to visit there. While there, I would continue on my genealogical research.
If you own a pet, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Yes, in another book of mine called Ivy’s Epilepsy, Ivy’s dog, Audie, keeps pushing Ivy’s calf with her nose, as if to alert her to something. In fact, she was trying feverishly to alert Ivy that she was about to have a seizure. This is a true story in my own life when Lucy pushed her nose on my leg for two full weeks, trying to tell me something. I had a grand mal seizure and she knew it. At the time, I had only owned Lucy for four months. I’d say my dog, Lucy, has earned her keep in my household, and I shower her daily with hugs and kisses.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
In another life, I would have been in the fashion industry, so historical fiction books on fashion, Paris, and World War II are books that I love to read. The book cover, the prologue, the first page and the back cover are sections that I read before deciding whether to purchase. I assess the quality of writing and how well these segments inform me what the book is about.
Do you own your own website?
Yes, my website is: www.colleenbooks.com. I can also be reached by email at: cbmacfarlanebooks@gmail.com. Other contacts include: www.twitter.com@BruceColleenMa1;www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-macfarlane-b40439220; www.goodreads.com/sloanekerker; www.pinterest.com/6374pint. Are you working on a new book at the moment? I’m currently working hard to self-publish the 2nd edition about my 2nd great aunt. The new title will be: Listen to Your Heart. I’m also making a few changes to Fatal Funds before publication, hopefully available this month. Other than that, I’ve written four short stories over the years. My goal is to collaborate with another writer who is able to contribute four short stories and together, we’ll publish a book containing our eight stories.
I’d be happy to. I’ve just finished a fiction book titled: Fatal Funds. Hopefully, it will be available this month on Amazon. My protagonist, Elaina, has taken ill in 2024 and has also fallen prey to an unscrupulous financial planner who is stealing his clients’ investments in running his Ponzi scheme. Elaina and two other female clients form an investment club with the intent to learn more about how to manage their financial futures. They realize, a little late, that their planner is a greedy louse. My book is for adults of all ages and written with the purpose of educating the reader about important investing terms wrapped in an emotional story.
The excerpt is from chapter Nine, titled: Greed is a Deadly Sin. The Villain, Sandy, is out with his wife, Ursula at a local jazz club for dinner for a date night. They’ve kept their finances separate and Sandy is hoping his wife might give him a sizeable loan. After settling in, they talk about their week:
“I’m running into a bit of a cash flow problem, but I’m sure things will work out. I’m considering raising my fees from one percent to one and a quarter percent for all of my assets under management. I’ve also been buying more individual stocks for my clients, and that means more commissions on all the trades I make.“How many clients do you think you’ll lose?” asked Ursula.“Not one.”“They trust you. Nonetheless, I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m sure it helps that so many of them are old college buddies or church acquaintances.”“And fellow golf club members, too,” said Sandy. “I’ll do everything I can to see that they benefit from the trust they’ve put in me. What about you? How’s your week been going?”[Ursula never stuck her nose into Sandy’s business affairs but had begun to have her doubts about his skill and his bookkeeping. Eventually, Sandy does raise his fees and w/o informing his clients. Rapid trading of stocks is called churning, an illegal and unethical act.]
Who is your favorite character and why?
In Fatal Funds, my favorite character is my protagonist, Elaina. She’s a champion for women, she’s determined, she survives, she’s decisive, she hones her trust in honoring her intuition, and she forms an unbreakable bond through the pain and agony she’s living with in 2024.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s a great question; and a difficult one to answer. My heart and soul went into writing Listening to Her Own Voice. I felt inspired by Rosa, my protagonist. I felt as though she was in the room with me, along with the rest of the family. However, Fatal Funds, was the book I most wanted to write. It was supposed to be my first book. Instead, it is my fifth book, and delaying writing it has made me a better writer, and the book is much better as a result. Fatal Funds is based on true events in my own life. The information contained in the book is factual for beginning investors and I’ve provided a list of sources as references.
What is the best marketing advice you have received?
While talking with a fellow writer and friend, he’d told me how his books had met with success. He was a teacher, and lecturer, and before he published his books, he began his marketing campaign and developed an email list for marketing. When his book made its debut, his audience had already been identified, and his readers were eager to purchase.
How would you describe yourself?
Thoughtful, tenacious, determined, kind, enjoy a good challenge, an inveterate learner, busy, and fascinated by human behavior. My avocation is nutrition and fitness. When I write, I base my characters on my prior experience in counseling and financial education, and use my experience to put my characters in impossible dilemmas from which to wiggle out of.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Giving my undivided attention to my mini-schnauzer, going for walks, weight-lifting, half hour on the elliptical trainer, and much time in the kitchen, as I make many dishes from scratch so as to minimize eating processed food.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’ve been to Switzerland once, and I would like to return to live there for several months. My maternal side is from St. Gallen, Switzerland. The town has a magnificent Abbey there, containing some of the oldest books in the world, in addition to their church. It is stunning to look at, and I would love to visit there. While there, I would continue on my genealogical research.
If you own a pet, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Yes, in another book of mine called Ivy’s Epilepsy, Ivy’s dog, Audie, keeps pushing Ivy’s calf with her nose, as if to alert her to something. In fact, she was trying feverishly to alert Ivy that she was about to have a seizure. This is a true story in my own life when Lucy pushed her nose on my leg for two full weeks, trying to tell me something. I had a grand mal seizure and she knew it. At the time, I had only owned Lucy for four months. I’d say my dog, Lucy, has earned her keep in my household, and I shower her daily with hugs and kisses.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
In another life, I would have been in the fashion industry, so historical fiction books on fashion, Paris, and World War II are books that I love to read. The book cover, the prologue, the first page and the back cover are sections that I read before deciding whether to purchase. I assess the quality of writing and how well these segments inform me what the book is about.
Do you own your own website?
Yes, my website is: www.colleenbooks.com. I can also be reached by email at: cbmacfarlanebooks@gmail.com. Other contacts include: www.twitter.com@BruceColleenMa1;www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-macfarlane-b40439220; www.goodreads.com/sloanekerker; www.pinterest.com/6374pint. Are you working on a new book at the moment? I’m currently working hard to self-publish the 2nd edition about my 2nd great aunt. The new title will be: Listen to Your Heart. I’m also making a few changes to Fatal Funds before publication, hopefully available this month. Other than that, I’ve written four short stories over the years. My goal is to collaborate with another writer who is able to contribute four short stories and together, we’ll publish a book containing our eight stories.
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The book cover for the 2nd edition of Listen to Your Heart, formerly Listening to Her Own Voice, is still under construction, but below is the drawing representative of the Kerker women in my book and will serve as my book cover:
In July of this year, I was also invited to submit a short story about my family genealogy. My submission was enthusiastically accepted by the editor and the book:A Family Tree, was published in August 2024. Pictured here:
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Reviews invited & welcome. 30 author submissions.
Dr Jasmine - 8 December 2024
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Dr Jasmine. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Dr Jasmine is a practicing family doctor. Her career spans almost 30 years, during which time she has worked in Europe, the USA and finally, over the last 20 years, in the UK. All in all, she has supported and treated about a third of a million people of all ages, races and religious backgrounds, and from every walk of life.
She feels privileged that her vast experience has offered her some valuable insights into the joys and struggles of us humans. Dr Jasmine feels that all too often, the kind of help/guidance that her patients need is either not available within the mainstream healthcare system, or worse still, that societal make-up is a large factor in her patients’ troubles.
Dr Jasmine is passionate about sharing what she has learned on a greater scale – via her books. But her writing is daring, thought-provoking and controversial, so she chooses to write under a pseudonym.
The Human Condition series will comprise eleven volumes.
The first volume – Love, Demystified – is now available for sale. The second volume- Mental health, demystified– will be published in a few months’ time. The rest of the books within the series (at different stages of development) are as follows:
Illness, demystifiedThe Predetermined UniverseThe Art of Treatment and Treatment Through ArtYour Life: It’s all about the energyThe Language of LoveYour Face, Your Shape, Your HealthSociety through the Eyes of a DoctorThe Universe of SpiritsGardening for Peace
Dr Jasmine’s husband is a doctor too and is very supportive of her work. They have two children, and the family resides in a rural part of the UK.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I first realised I will write books about 10 years ago and the experience was nothing short of surreal. I just felt that “loads of information had been put inside my head” by some higher forces. So, I immediately arranged for the website (www.makesenseofyourword.com) to be made, and stated there the titles of 11 books I am going to write (before I even knew what exactly I’ll write in those books!)The second part of the surreal experience was about 4 years ago, when whilst singing hymns with my family in the church on Sunday, I suddenly burst into tears during the words “ he is calling on you”. To summarise it all, I don’t feel that I write because I want to; I write because I have to.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
My style is idiosyncratic: it combines science and fiction, philosophy, poetry and some original art. I will probably keep writing in this style volumes 1-4 of Human Condition series, and after than we’ll see what happens.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I make a rough plan and start writing bits of every chapter; then leave it for a bit and re-write it all. Then again.. and again.. The finished book is draft number 5 at least.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I only wrote one book so far- Love, demystified- and here is a piece:
THE TRAGEDY OF ROMANTIC LOVE
Dr Jasmine is a practicing family doctor. Her career spans almost 30 years, during which time she has worked in Europe, the USA and finally, over the last 20 years, in the UK. All in all, she has supported and treated about a third of a million people of all ages, races and religious backgrounds, and from every walk of life.
She feels privileged that her vast experience has offered her some valuable insights into the joys and struggles of us humans. Dr Jasmine feels that all too often, the kind of help/guidance that her patients need is either not available within the mainstream healthcare system, or worse still, that societal make-up is a large factor in her patients’ troubles.
Dr Jasmine is passionate about sharing what she has learned on a greater scale – via her books. But her writing is daring, thought-provoking and controversial, so she chooses to write under a pseudonym.
The Human Condition series will comprise eleven volumes.
The first volume – Love, Demystified – is now available for sale. The second volume- Mental health, demystified– will be published in a few months’ time. The rest of the books within the series (at different stages of development) are as follows:
Illness, demystifiedThe Predetermined UniverseThe Art of Treatment and Treatment Through ArtYour Life: It’s all about the energyThe Language of LoveYour Face, Your Shape, Your HealthSociety through the Eyes of a DoctorThe Universe of SpiritsGardening for Peace
Dr Jasmine’s husband is a doctor too and is very supportive of her work. They have two children, and the family resides in a rural part of the UK.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I first realised I will write books about 10 years ago and the experience was nothing short of surreal. I just felt that “loads of information had been put inside my head” by some higher forces. So, I immediately arranged for the website (www.makesenseofyourword.com) to be made, and stated there the titles of 11 books I am going to write (before I even knew what exactly I’ll write in those books!)The second part of the surreal experience was about 4 years ago, when whilst singing hymns with my family in the church on Sunday, I suddenly burst into tears during the words “ he is calling on you”. To summarise it all, I don’t feel that I write because I want to; I write because I have to.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
My style is idiosyncratic: it combines science and fiction, philosophy, poetry and some original art. I will probably keep writing in this style volumes 1-4 of Human Condition series, and after than we’ll see what happens.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I make a rough plan and start writing bits of every chapter; then leave it for a bit and re-write it all. Then again.. and again.. The finished book is draft number 5 at least.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I only wrote one book so far- Love, demystified- and here is a piece:
THE TRAGEDY OF ROMANTIC LOVE
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The course of true love never did run smooth – William Shakespeare
(If you like, you could listen to the following piece of classical music as a soundtrack to the section that follows: Erik Satie, Gnossienne No. 1)
Dear Friend, the famous words above, they became a cliché; they are so true – why do you think this is the case? Perhaps because love, inherently, is full of challenges and contradictions.
1. YOU NEVER FEEL THAT YOU ARE LOVED ENOUGH
The tragedy of romantic love If she reassures you sufficiently, this placates you, but not for long; the doubts creep in with distressing regularity, and, eventually, her patience with having to dispel your fears might start wearing thin.
The god of love lives in a state of need. It is a need. It is an urge. It is a homeostatic imbalance. Like hunger and thirst, it’s almost impossible to stamp out.
– Plato
2. YOU FEAR FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE ONE YOU LOVE
The more you love, the more heartbroken you will be if something bad happened to her, so you are forever anxious and this might lead to your attempts to control her/restrict her lifestyle choices, which could make her cross with you.
3. YOU ARE AT ODDS WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Love has reasons which reason cannot understand.
– Blaise Pascal
When you see the negative qualities in a person you love, you might feel that they are perfectly excusable, for your heart knows all the complexities of her nature and life history. Others are judging her actions only with the power of reason, far inferior to the wisdom of the heart that you have developed towards her. You might even end up feeling that you are constantly needing to excuse her/justify her actions. This is exhausting, and, eventually, you might prefer to simply avoid the company of those other people. Contrarily, if she sees that you don’t have other people around you, it might make her love you less, for your perceived worth/ her reasons for potential jealousy could both decrease in her eyes.
4. THE CONTRARIETY
“Please be near, but far.” You feel that you want to be very close to the one you love; at the same time, to sustain love, you need to learn to stay away, even if you don’t want to. She can only admire you if she sees you at a distance.
Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings, infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky.
– Rainer Maria Rilke
“Please hear ‘yes’ when I say ‘no’.” She is modest! She is fear less but shy… powerful but scared… she might change her mind… her mood – it can’t be helped. Remember, she can never be your “friend”; she is your sweetest enemy.
The very essence of romance is uncertainty.
– Oscar Wilde
“I want to tell you all my secrets…! Including those I never want you to know.”
We want to be infinitely close with our beloved, becoming one flesh… at the same time, we are aware that having no secrets from them makes them love us less.
Love is an endless mystery, for it has nothing else to explain it.
– Rabindranath Tagore
5. THERE IS ONLY ONE STEP BETWEEN LOVE AND HATRED
Deep trust and intimacies that lovers share imply that they know each other’s innermost secrets/vulnerabilities. Extreme 51 care with handling that private information is required, for any accidental disclosure (that you might think is a mere trifle) might strike her as an unforgivable betrayal. Other reasons for hatred might include jealousy, envy, etc. (see this detailed in “The colour green” in chapter 3).
(If you like, you could listen to the following piece of classical music as a soundtrack to the section that follows: Erik Satie, Gnossienne No. 1)
Dear Friend, the famous words above, they became a cliché; they are so true – why do you think this is the case? Perhaps because love, inherently, is full of challenges and contradictions.
1. YOU NEVER FEEL THAT YOU ARE LOVED ENOUGH
The tragedy of romantic love If she reassures you sufficiently, this placates you, but not for long; the doubts creep in with distressing regularity, and, eventually, her patience with having to dispel your fears might start wearing thin.
The god of love lives in a state of need. It is a need. It is an urge. It is a homeostatic imbalance. Like hunger and thirst, it’s almost impossible to stamp out.
– Plato
2. YOU FEAR FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE ONE YOU LOVE
The more you love, the more heartbroken you will be if something bad happened to her, so you are forever anxious and this might lead to your attempts to control her/restrict her lifestyle choices, which could make her cross with you.
3. YOU ARE AT ODDS WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Love has reasons which reason cannot understand.
– Blaise Pascal
When you see the negative qualities in a person you love, you might feel that they are perfectly excusable, for your heart knows all the complexities of her nature and life history. Others are judging her actions only with the power of reason, far inferior to the wisdom of the heart that you have developed towards her. You might even end up feeling that you are constantly needing to excuse her/justify her actions. This is exhausting, and, eventually, you might prefer to simply avoid the company of those other people. Contrarily, if she sees that you don’t have other people around you, it might make her love you less, for your perceived worth/ her reasons for potential jealousy could both decrease in her eyes.
4. THE CONTRARIETY
“Please be near, but far.” You feel that you want to be very close to the one you love; at the same time, to sustain love, you need to learn to stay away, even if you don’t want to. She can only admire you if she sees you at a distance.
Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings, infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky.
– Rainer Maria Rilke
“Please hear ‘yes’ when I say ‘no’.” She is modest! She is fear less but shy… powerful but scared… she might change her mind… her mood – it can’t be helped. Remember, she can never be your “friend”; she is your sweetest enemy.
The very essence of romance is uncertainty.
– Oscar Wilde
“I want to tell you all my secrets…! Including those I never want you to know.”
We want to be infinitely close with our beloved, becoming one flesh… at the same time, we are aware that having no secrets from them makes them love us less.
Love is an endless mystery, for it has nothing else to explain it.
– Rabindranath Tagore
5. THERE IS ONLY ONE STEP BETWEEN LOVE AND HATRED
Deep trust and intimacies that lovers share imply that they know each other’s innermost secrets/vulnerabilities. Extreme 51 care with handling that private information is required, for any accidental disclosure (that you might think is a mere trifle) might strike her as an unforgivable betrayal. Other reasons for hatred might include jealousy, envy, etc. (see this detailed in “The colour green” in chapter 3).
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6. OBSTRUCTIVE COLLATERAL EVENTS/PRECARIOUS LIFE SITUATION
The latter fuel passion because they increase the potential for pain, which is an important part of love (see “The formula of passion” in chapter 3).
The element that characterises the dark passion: the immensity of the difficulty to be overcome and the dark uncertainty of the issue.
– Stendhal, Scarlet and Black
And if the challenges above make you feel like you need to be balancing on a tightrope over the abyss – yes, you actually do!
Who is your favourite character and why?
My character is “ human being” lol… as my style is nonfiction, and the series I am writing are “ Human Condition” series.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I really enjoyed writing Love, demystified; but I am enjoying writing “Mental health, unraveled” even a little more.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Join the Goodreads community.
How would you describe yourself?
Fearless mind; delicate but strong, and- PINK!
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
There are many hobbies, but the main ones are: gardening, cooking, swimming, singing and painting.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Anywhere inside the forest by the river- this is where my spirit lives.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Not sure if its funny, but when we used to have a dog (he passed away from old age), the cuddles were endless- his bed was in the corridor, and anytime I was walking from one part of the house to another, we had to have long cuddles- it took a big part of the day
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I read all sorts of books, I do. But- I always, always go back to classics.
Do you have your own website?
www.makesenseofyourworld.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes- volume 2 of Human Condition Series- Mental health, unraveled.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I am currently giving away free copies of Love, demystified on Bookfunnel
The latter fuel passion because they increase the potential for pain, which is an important part of love (see “The formula of passion” in chapter 3).
The element that characterises the dark passion: the immensity of the difficulty to be overcome and the dark uncertainty of the issue.
– Stendhal, Scarlet and Black
And if the challenges above make you feel like you need to be balancing on a tightrope over the abyss – yes, you actually do!
Who is your favourite character and why?
My character is “ human being” lol… as my style is nonfiction, and the series I am writing are “ Human Condition” series.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I really enjoyed writing Love, demystified; but I am enjoying writing “Mental health, unraveled” even a little more.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Join the Goodreads community.
How would you describe yourself?
Fearless mind; delicate but strong, and- PINK!
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
There are many hobbies, but the main ones are: gardening, cooking, swimming, singing and painting.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Anywhere inside the forest by the river- this is where my spirit lives.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Not sure if its funny, but when we used to have a dog (he passed away from old age), the cuddles were endless- his bed was in the corridor, and anytime I was walking from one part of the house to another, we had to have long cuddles- it took a big part of the day
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I read all sorts of books, I do. But- I always, always go back to classics.
Do you have your own website?
www.makesenseofyourworld.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes- volume 2 of Human Condition Series- Mental health, unraveled.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I am currently giving away free copies of Love, demystified on Bookfunnel
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Keaira Brown Jennings - 1 December 2024
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In 2019, Keaira Brown Jennings founded Love U More Foundation, a non-profit organization that stands as a beacon of support and resources for underserved and underprivileged school-age children. She recently authored a children’s book entitled “The Balloon,” addressing the delicate topics of death and grief. This reflects her compassionate approach to helping young people navigate these unique challenges with empathy and understanding.
This week it is my pleasure to interview Keaira Brown Jennings. When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I wrote the book in the middle of the night 6 years ago after my father passed away.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up? This is the first book I have ever written. When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and collect ideas on paper beforehand?
Because this was the first book I have ever written, there was no real method to the process. It was something that was on my heart and in my spirit to write.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book? "When you get your balloons, they are flat, and you cannot play with them. You can only play with them when you fill them up with air."
Who is your favourite character and why? G-daddy is my favorite character because that is my dad!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? I am so overwhelmed with pride for The Balloon What is the best marketing tip you have received? Hmmmm, I think it would be able to convey your impact story.
How would you describe yourself? I am an introvert by nature but I don't think many people realize that. I am perfectly fine being with myself in solitude. I love hard and I am extremely intuitive and an empath.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? You can always find me listening to music and I love going to concerts with live music.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? Definitely Africa because I feel a strong urge to connect with my ancestors and know more about where they come from.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I have a dog now and had dogs growing up. I also had a cat growing up that we found as a kitten at a gas station in South Carolina coming back from Florida one summer. I think he was crazy! He used to jump up and walk around the top perimeter of my fish tank and scoop my fish out with his paw, throw them on the floor and watch them flop and flounder until they died. He never ate them. Just watched them suffer. He would also climb up my mothers curtains and wait until you walked by and jump on you! My mom said he had to go so we took him to the animal shelter.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The connection that I will feel to the story.
How can readers find you? Do you have your own website? Social Media? I don't have any social media specifically for me as an author, but you can always connect with me via my IG @thebooktheballoon
Are you working on a new book at the moment? I have some things in mind but it is still very early in the development stage.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Not at the moment but be sure to check @thebooktheballoon on Instagram and follow @loveumorefoundation on IG as well to follow along on this journey with me.
This week it is my pleasure to interview Keaira Brown Jennings. When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I wrote the book in the middle of the night 6 years ago after my father passed away.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up? This is the first book I have ever written. When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and collect ideas on paper beforehand?
Because this was the first book I have ever written, there was no real method to the process. It was something that was on my heart and in my spirit to write.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book? "When you get your balloons, they are flat, and you cannot play with them. You can only play with them when you fill them up with air."
Who is your favourite character and why? G-daddy is my favorite character because that is my dad!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? I am so overwhelmed with pride for The Balloon What is the best marketing tip you have received? Hmmmm, I think it would be able to convey your impact story.
How would you describe yourself? I am an introvert by nature but I don't think many people realize that. I am perfectly fine being with myself in solitude. I love hard and I am extremely intuitive and an empath.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? You can always find me listening to music and I love going to concerts with live music.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? Definitely Africa because I feel a strong urge to connect with my ancestors and know more about where they come from.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I have a dog now and had dogs growing up. I also had a cat growing up that we found as a kitten at a gas station in South Carolina coming back from Florida one summer. I think he was crazy! He used to jump up and walk around the top perimeter of my fish tank and scoop my fish out with his paw, throw them on the floor and watch them flop and flounder until they died. He never ate them. Just watched them suffer. He would also climb up my mothers curtains and wait until you walked by and jump on you! My mom said he had to go so we took him to the animal shelter.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The connection that I will feel to the story.
How can readers find you? Do you have your own website? Social Media? I don't have any social media specifically for me as an author, but you can always connect with me via my IG @thebooktheballoon
Are you working on a new book at the moment? I have some things in mind but it is still very early in the development stage.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Not at the moment but be sure to check @thebooktheballoon on Instagram and follow @loveumorefoundation on IG as well to follow along on this journey with me.
J Drew Brumbaugh - 24 November 2024
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This week it is my pleasure to interview J Drew Brumbaugh. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
I live in northeast Ohio, USA where I write sci-fi, fantasy and suspense novels, along with an occasional short story. I write stories I think I'd like to read with characters that are interesting enough that readers want to find out what happens to them. I also spend time training in karate, building a Japanese garden in the back yard, and taking walks in the local metro parks. I have nine novels in print, a collection of short stories, and a co-authored children’s book. I continue to work on my next book(s) and seem to always have several stories in various stages of completion.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
The first book I wrote was a DnD adventure book for TSR. It started as a novel I wanted to get published, a fantasy quest adventure novel, but it became a chose-your-adventure when the publisher offered me a contract. The next book I wrote, Shepherds, turned out more like I envisioned. It began as an idea for what might be done about the oceans and depleted tuna stocks and evolved into a near-future sci-fi thriller. It included genetically engineered people who herded tuna schools using trained dolphins and a Finnish fisherman who could speak to dolphins.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Different books, different genre. I currently have a fantasy series (Tirumfall Trilogy), a sci-fi series (Ocean Cowboys) and a thriller/suspense series (Galiwee Visions). I guess what I write it goes along with what I like to read.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I’ve taken different approaches for different books. And even when I begin writing a book with a certain sequence in mind, things often change as the book moves ahead. When I started writing the last book in the Tirumfall Trilogy I wasn’t sure what the ending would be or even who would end up the villain and who the hero. I don’t think there is any one way to write a book that works. You have to be flexible and go with what works for you to end up with a well-crafted book.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This is from my most popular novel, Fall of the Western Kings, the first book in the Tirumfall Trilogy, and happens to have been fairly successful in Australia.
Around the bend came a single shadowy figure on horseback. As the rider thundered closer Gant's hand went to his sword. A horseman at this time of night was unlikely to be an innocent traveller. The figure moved closer and Gant recognized Wendler’s shadowy outline. Approaching cautiously, Wendler slowed his grey warhorse and set it prancing sideways toward the pair. A great shield painted with King Tirmus’ emblem hung from a loop at the rear of the saddle protecting Wendler’s side. One arm was in a sling. The other held a heavy sword, one Gant recognized as his father's work. Wendler wore serviceable chain mail armor that showed signs of use. Wendler wasn't wearing a helm and Gant wondered if he would risk combat without it. Nonetheless, Gant had his sword out. “Stay behind me,” he whispered and shoved Chamz back with his free hand. “Hey Wendler,” shouted Chamz over Gant's shoulder, “come for the rest of the beating you should have gotten before?” "Chamz, shut up,” hissed Gant, staying focused on the advancing swordsman. “What do you want,” he demanded, warily eyeing the horse. Fighting Wendler was one thing, bringing down a horse to do it another. “Your head on a pike. The king's a gutless excuse for a ruler. His soldiers are slower than dead men. They should have run you down at a full gallop. And then beheaded you in front of your less-than noble mother and father.” “You think you can do it for him?” Adrenaline rushed through Gant until his fingers shook. Chamz stepped back. Good, thought Gant, glad Chamz wouldn’t get caught in the middle. “Maybe. Maybe I just wanted to make sure you left town like a good little boy.” That stung. Wendler was two years older and had always gotten away with calling Gant “little boy” in Uric's classroom, though not when Uric could hear. Rage burned in Gant. He controlled it. Being an outlaw was bad enough. He did not want to add murder to the charges. “I broke your arm with a stick and this isn't a stick,” said Gant pointing his sword at Wendler. “No, but it doesn't really matter. Netherdorf will soon have a new king and I'll be a knight. You'll be an outlaw with a price on your head and I'll come to collect.” that Wendler reined his horse closer. He leaned forward and spit at Gant. Gant dodged it easily. Wendler circled, dug his spurs into his horse’s flanks and galloped back toward Netherdorf. Gant and Chamz watched him disappear into the swirling fog. Chamz turned toward Gant. “What do you think he meant?” “I don't know unless his father is stirring up the nobles against the king.” “Do you think he could get enough support to depose King Tirmus?” Gant thought about it. “I don’t know.” “Between your uncle and mother, don’t they have enough noble friends to stop Wendler's father? I think the king should just recognize your nobility and be done with it.” It’s not that easy. There would be plenty of opposition to allowing every half-noble kid to have nobility status. Think about it.” look of mischief crossed Chamz’s face. “Yeah, every bastard in the castle is probably half noble. Too many of the nobles can’t keep their hands off the maids.” “I hope this doesn’t bring on a civil war,” added Gant.
Who is your favorite character and why?
Picking a favorite character is like picking a favorite child. Whatever you say, you never want it to get out to the other children. So, I only say more on the promise that you won’t tell. Isabella from “Key to Tirumfall” would be my favorite because she is so determined to get to the truth despite not having near the power in magic or physical strength of many of the other characters in that novel and yet she succeeds. Next might be Johanna from the Galiwee Visions Series, dismissed in book one she takes on a huge role in books 2 and 3. And then there’s Shela from my sci-fi novel of the same name because she’s got grit and has to use it to stay alive.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Shepherds was my first novel and like a first love, it sticks with me more than my other books. A lot of research went into it because I wanted the science to be possible, at least within the realm of the possible while stretching current technology.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I think Robert Heinlein gave us all the best advice concerning becoming a writer and one of his pieces of advice was to keep sending out your manuscript until it sells. Today, that might be revised thanks to self-publishing but it can as easily be applied to marketing. Which is basically, don’t give up.
How would you describe yourself?
Now that’s a hard one. I guess I think I’m friendly though introverted enough to not make friends easily. I try to be a good father and husband. I hang on dearly to my sense of wonder and love to be outdoors. I know a little about a lot of things but am certainly not an expert in anything. I enjoy a glass of wine now and then.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
With 16 grandchildren, there is always a family function to attend, but when there isn’t I continue to train in karate, work on building a walking Japanese garden, sometimes watch baseball and once in a while go fishing. And that doesn’t count the work that seems to always be necessary around the house.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Always wanted to visit Australia and missed my chance when my wife’s brother lived in Sydney. Before we could visit, he moved back to the U.S. The other place high on the wish list is England and Scotland.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I have owned several pets. Right now, I own an overly-friendly pit bull who is sometimes too affectionate. Before that, I had a beautiful huskie who loved pulling kids around on a plastic sled in the winter. Once, with one of my granddaughters on the sled she took off running hellbent for wherever and ran through a mound of snow thrown up in the lawn by a snow plow. The dog went over it without a hitch but the sled went flying and my granddaughter flew off of it. Fortunately, she landed in some soft snow, laughing as hard as I was. The dog stopped and looked back wondering what had happened.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The biggest factor is getting a recommendation from someone I trust, Often I get good suggestions from my wife. She’s pretty discerning and knows what I like maybe better than I do. She’s never recommended a book that it turned out I didn’t like.
Do you have your own website?
I do have a website: www.jdrewbrumbaugh.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Right now, I’m working on a second fantasy trilogy. This trilogy fills in the back story that is sketchy at best in the already published Tirumfall Trilogy. A locked wizard’s tower is a key element in that trilogy but little is explained about it. Who built the tower that couldn’t be opened and what happened to the people who did build it? This latest project will tell the story of those people, what happened to them and why the tower was left abandoned. It should be a rousing adventure.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Nothing coming up as of now.
I live in northeast Ohio, USA where I write sci-fi, fantasy and suspense novels, along with an occasional short story. I write stories I think I'd like to read with characters that are interesting enough that readers want to find out what happens to them. I also spend time training in karate, building a Japanese garden in the back yard, and taking walks in the local metro parks. I have nine novels in print, a collection of short stories, and a co-authored children’s book. I continue to work on my next book(s) and seem to always have several stories in various stages of completion.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
The first book I wrote was a DnD adventure book for TSR. It started as a novel I wanted to get published, a fantasy quest adventure novel, but it became a chose-your-adventure when the publisher offered me a contract. The next book I wrote, Shepherds, turned out more like I envisioned. It began as an idea for what might be done about the oceans and depleted tuna stocks and evolved into a near-future sci-fi thriller. It included genetically engineered people who herded tuna schools using trained dolphins and a Finnish fisherman who could speak to dolphins.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Different books, different genre. I currently have a fantasy series (Tirumfall Trilogy), a sci-fi series (Ocean Cowboys) and a thriller/suspense series (Galiwee Visions). I guess what I write it goes along with what I like to read.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I’ve taken different approaches for different books. And even when I begin writing a book with a certain sequence in mind, things often change as the book moves ahead. When I started writing the last book in the Tirumfall Trilogy I wasn’t sure what the ending would be or even who would end up the villain and who the hero. I don’t think there is any one way to write a book that works. You have to be flexible and go with what works for you to end up with a well-crafted book.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This is from my most popular novel, Fall of the Western Kings, the first book in the Tirumfall Trilogy, and happens to have been fairly successful in Australia.
Around the bend came a single shadowy figure on horseback. As the rider thundered closer Gant's hand went to his sword. A horseman at this time of night was unlikely to be an innocent traveller. The figure moved closer and Gant recognized Wendler’s shadowy outline. Approaching cautiously, Wendler slowed his grey warhorse and set it prancing sideways toward the pair. A great shield painted with King Tirmus’ emblem hung from a loop at the rear of the saddle protecting Wendler’s side. One arm was in a sling. The other held a heavy sword, one Gant recognized as his father's work. Wendler wore serviceable chain mail armor that showed signs of use. Wendler wasn't wearing a helm and Gant wondered if he would risk combat without it. Nonetheless, Gant had his sword out. “Stay behind me,” he whispered and shoved Chamz back with his free hand. “Hey Wendler,” shouted Chamz over Gant's shoulder, “come for the rest of the beating you should have gotten before?” "Chamz, shut up,” hissed Gant, staying focused on the advancing swordsman. “What do you want,” he demanded, warily eyeing the horse. Fighting Wendler was one thing, bringing down a horse to do it another. “Your head on a pike. The king's a gutless excuse for a ruler. His soldiers are slower than dead men. They should have run you down at a full gallop. And then beheaded you in front of your less-than noble mother and father.” “You think you can do it for him?” Adrenaline rushed through Gant until his fingers shook. Chamz stepped back. Good, thought Gant, glad Chamz wouldn’t get caught in the middle. “Maybe. Maybe I just wanted to make sure you left town like a good little boy.” That stung. Wendler was two years older and had always gotten away with calling Gant “little boy” in Uric's classroom, though not when Uric could hear. Rage burned in Gant. He controlled it. Being an outlaw was bad enough. He did not want to add murder to the charges. “I broke your arm with a stick and this isn't a stick,” said Gant pointing his sword at Wendler. “No, but it doesn't really matter. Netherdorf will soon have a new king and I'll be a knight. You'll be an outlaw with a price on your head and I'll come to collect.” that Wendler reined his horse closer. He leaned forward and spit at Gant. Gant dodged it easily. Wendler circled, dug his spurs into his horse’s flanks and galloped back toward Netherdorf. Gant and Chamz watched him disappear into the swirling fog. Chamz turned toward Gant. “What do you think he meant?” “I don't know unless his father is stirring up the nobles against the king.” “Do you think he could get enough support to depose King Tirmus?” Gant thought about it. “I don’t know.” “Between your uncle and mother, don’t they have enough noble friends to stop Wendler's father? I think the king should just recognize your nobility and be done with it.” It’s not that easy. There would be plenty of opposition to allowing every half-noble kid to have nobility status. Think about it.” look of mischief crossed Chamz’s face. “Yeah, every bastard in the castle is probably half noble. Too many of the nobles can’t keep their hands off the maids.” “I hope this doesn’t bring on a civil war,” added Gant.
Who is your favorite character and why?
Picking a favorite character is like picking a favorite child. Whatever you say, you never want it to get out to the other children. So, I only say more on the promise that you won’t tell. Isabella from “Key to Tirumfall” would be my favorite because she is so determined to get to the truth despite not having near the power in magic or physical strength of many of the other characters in that novel and yet she succeeds. Next might be Johanna from the Galiwee Visions Series, dismissed in book one she takes on a huge role in books 2 and 3. And then there’s Shela from my sci-fi novel of the same name because she’s got grit and has to use it to stay alive.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Shepherds was my first novel and like a first love, it sticks with me more than my other books. A lot of research went into it because I wanted the science to be possible, at least within the realm of the possible while stretching current technology.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I think Robert Heinlein gave us all the best advice concerning becoming a writer and one of his pieces of advice was to keep sending out your manuscript until it sells. Today, that might be revised thanks to self-publishing but it can as easily be applied to marketing. Which is basically, don’t give up.
How would you describe yourself?
Now that’s a hard one. I guess I think I’m friendly though introverted enough to not make friends easily. I try to be a good father and husband. I hang on dearly to my sense of wonder and love to be outdoors. I know a little about a lot of things but am certainly not an expert in anything. I enjoy a glass of wine now and then.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
With 16 grandchildren, there is always a family function to attend, but when there isn’t I continue to train in karate, work on building a walking Japanese garden, sometimes watch baseball and once in a while go fishing. And that doesn’t count the work that seems to always be necessary around the house.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Always wanted to visit Australia and missed my chance when my wife’s brother lived in Sydney. Before we could visit, he moved back to the U.S. The other place high on the wish list is England and Scotland.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I have owned several pets. Right now, I own an overly-friendly pit bull who is sometimes too affectionate. Before that, I had a beautiful huskie who loved pulling kids around on a plastic sled in the winter. Once, with one of my granddaughters on the sled she took off running hellbent for wherever and ran through a mound of snow thrown up in the lawn by a snow plow. The dog went over it without a hitch but the sled went flying and my granddaughter flew off of it. Fortunately, she landed in some soft snow, laughing as hard as I was. The dog stopped and looked back wondering what had happened.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The biggest factor is getting a recommendation from someone I trust, Often I get good suggestions from my wife. She’s pretty discerning and knows what I like maybe better than I do. She’s never recommended a book that it turned out I didn’t like.
Do you have your own website?
I do have a website: www.jdrewbrumbaugh.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Right now, I’m working on a second fantasy trilogy. This trilogy fills in the back story that is sketchy at best in the already published Tirumfall Trilogy. A locked wizard’s tower is a key element in that trilogy but little is explained about it. Who built the tower that couldn’t be opened and what happened to the people who did build it? This latest project will tell the story of those people, what happened to them and why the tower was left abandoned. It should be a rousing adventure.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Nothing coming up as of now.
Bailey Herrington - 17 November 2024
Bailey Herrington
www.baileyherrington.com
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Bailey Herrington. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Bailey and share something about your life.
Thanks, Rita for giving me this opportunity. I hail from western Pennsylvania and graduated from Thiel College with an A.B. in English. After completing studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, I served congregations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia for twenty-four years. In addition to writing weekly sermons, I created “Pious Pete, the Protestant Pope for congregational newsletters. Pete poked fun at the foibles of the church, and mostly at me. After leaving the ministry, I took a Writer’s Digest course on Short-Story Writing. I should have taken the course before I began my ministry. My sermons may not have been better, but they would have been shorter. I became a Certified Fund Raising Professional, and raised funds for social service agencies, including Planned Parenthood of Ohio, and Applewood Centers for Children, Youth and Families, among others.
During a free witing session for my course, a friend dared me to write a murder mystery centered on a kumquat. I finished the manuscript, but as with most first attempts at novel writing it resides in a folder at the rear of a file cabinet.
My wife Karen and I live in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote and self-published my first book, What the Barber Knew, in 2014. In 1943, when I was about ten years old, my family lived in Erie, PA. Mother said I needed a haircut. A sign on the neighborhood barbershop said the shop was closed due to the death of the barber, Louis Giglio. One of the boys insisted Louis had been murdered by a hit man from the Numbers Racket. All of us knew Mr. Giglio used the back room to take bets.
I thought this would make a good mystery story, so I created David Elliott, a teen with raging hormones and a habit of jumping into things without much thought. While researching the story, I learned that Mr. Giglio had succumbed to a stroke. Undeterred, I wrote the story as I had believed it 71 years ago.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Aside from several unpublished short stories I write solely in the mystery/crime genre.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
All of my books to date are loosely based on actual historical crimes or personal circumstances, so I start with an idea and work to bring it to fruition. This methodentails lots of research, revisions, a plot outline, and a developmental edit by my editor.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
From Chapter 1, The Girl in the Orange Maillot. Saturday, September 28, 1963. “Where are we going?” Molly asked. Thick underbrush bordered the narrow track they walked. The tree canopy cut the sunlight to a dusky murk. Small, dark birds perched among the leafy branches. Silent. Still.“I want to show you something cool,” Ron said. “It’s only a little farther.”“This place gives me the willies.” She shuddered, stepping as if walking on a narrow board over a canyon. Molly, a first year student at the University of Pittsburgh, wore her shoulder-length blonde hair tied off her forehead with a navy cotton band.“C’mon, don’t be a wet blanket.” He spread his arms in a slow circle. “Look around. No brick streets. No greasers hanging out on the corners. No people shoving along the sidewalks, goin’ who knows where for who knows what. No traffic noise. Here, just the creek gurgling and murmuring along. Crickets and other insects singing songs in the grass. The air smells clean and fresh, like clothes drying in a line in the backyard.Only you and me, walking on this old road, peaceful, no rush.” He took her hand. “We have the place to ourselves.” He leaned and pecked her on the cheek. . . . Mollygrabbed Ron’s arm, bringing him to a stop. “What?”She stood still, looking off to the right. “What’s that over there in the field?” “What?”“Something’s . . .”no, dummy look there.” She grabbed his chin and forced his head sideways. “See?”Why would someone sleep out here in the weeds?” he whispered . . . .She wasn’t listening. Her eyes were fixed on the prostrate form. “Something’s screwy.” Then ---- although she couldn’t say why ----- she edged toward the figure until she was standing a few yards away. She scrunched up her face and squinted. Molly’s heart jumped as she staggered back, her face white.Ron hurried to her. “You okay?”“He ----- look at his throat!’“Oh God!”Trhe man’s neck was torn and bloody. A horde of slippery white maggots churned beneath his chin. A dried lake of blood pooled under his head and left ear. His face was masked with a sheet of paper taped to his forehead.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Judy Elliott. She is David’s first cousin, until a family secret reveals she’s not. Judy and David fall in love, and eventually are married. She’s my favorite character because she’s smart as a whip, able to think on her feet, David’s equal in every way. Judy is wise-cracking, feisty, and unusually fearless in the face of danger. I saw her as a combination of three strong lovable women: my mother, my sister, and, especially, Karen, my wife.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s an interesting question, Rita. I’ve taken pleasure from each book for different reasons. My first book, What the Barber Knew pleasured me because it was my first book. Dead to Rights because the story dove into David’s bias against gays and lesbians, and moved him through shame and ignorance to the realization that we all are brothers and sisters in this world. I enjoyed Pack of Scoundrels because my research taught me that some of the German rocket scientists who are heralded as the catalysts of the United States space program, were hard-core Nazi officers under Hitler, including Werner von Braun. The Girl in the Orange Maillot provided some perverse pleasure because in the first chapter I killed off the character who represented the man whose lies drove my close friend into despair and death. Vested Interest my latest story gave me pleasure because it’s not, in the words of a woman who read the manuscript, “your usual mystery trope.”
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
“Reading books on marketing is similar to reading instruction books on golf and expecting to shoot below par on your next round. Decide on one marketing action that fits your current situation and stick with it until you’re ready for the next phase.”
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a perfectionist, which I regret. I have a temper. My temper gets going when I spill something because of carelessness, or when I learn someone has said or done anything hateful toward others, especially others of different genders, races or social/economic status. I’m curious about people and places. I enjoy striking up conversations with strangers in a bar, supermarket, or restaurant. Everybody has a story to tell, and some are dealing with some heavy stuff in their lives. I’m a good listener. I like to tell stories from my life experiences, to laugh at myself. Some bragging and hyperbole are part and parcel of my tales, and my wife has heard themat least one hundred times.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Some traveling to state and national parks, going East to visit family, visiting historical sites, museums. I keep up with national and local news and sports, baseball and football. Occasionally I cook meals for the two of us and for friends. Karen and I enjoy packing a picnic basket with food and a bottle of wine and picnic at a remote spot in one of the national forests nearby.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I would charter and provision a 55-foot sailing sloop, hire an expert sailor as captain, invite another couple as traveling companions, and spend two weeks sailing among the islands of the British West Islands. We would occasionally go ashore to enjoy local people and restaurants. Since the four of us would be the crew, the captain would teach us the rudiments of sailng a sloop. Why? It would offer the chance to experience a different world from that of the desert Southwest, learn a new skill, andmeet some very interesting people.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The enthusiastic recommendations of women and men who are serious readers of the classics, and contemporary authors of excellent stories.
Do you have your own website?
Yes. www.baileyherrington.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
While waiting expectantly for publication of my latest mystery, Vested Interest, I’m in the early stages of doing research and a first draft of my next book. The plot idea for now involves two individuals who poison wealthy spouses to receive the decedent’sinheritance.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I will be discussing The Girl in the Orange Maillot with a book club in Williamsburg, VA next Spring. Details are pending.
Thanks, Rita for giving me this opportunity. I hail from western Pennsylvania and graduated from Thiel College with an A.B. in English. After completing studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, I served congregations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia for twenty-four years. In addition to writing weekly sermons, I created “Pious Pete, the Protestant Pope for congregational newsletters. Pete poked fun at the foibles of the church, and mostly at me. After leaving the ministry, I took a Writer’s Digest course on Short-Story Writing. I should have taken the course before I began my ministry. My sermons may not have been better, but they would have been shorter. I became a Certified Fund Raising Professional, and raised funds for social service agencies, including Planned Parenthood of Ohio, and Applewood Centers for Children, Youth and Families, among others.
During a free witing session for my course, a friend dared me to write a murder mystery centered on a kumquat. I finished the manuscript, but as with most first attempts at novel writing it resides in a folder at the rear of a file cabinet.
My wife Karen and I live in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote and self-published my first book, What the Barber Knew, in 2014. In 1943, when I was about ten years old, my family lived in Erie, PA. Mother said I needed a haircut. A sign on the neighborhood barbershop said the shop was closed due to the death of the barber, Louis Giglio. One of the boys insisted Louis had been murdered by a hit man from the Numbers Racket. All of us knew Mr. Giglio used the back room to take bets.
I thought this would make a good mystery story, so I created David Elliott, a teen with raging hormones and a habit of jumping into things without much thought. While researching the story, I learned that Mr. Giglio had succumbed to a stroke. Undeterred, I wrote the story as I had believed it 71 years ago.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Aside from several unpublished short stories I write solely in the mystery/crime genre.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
All of my books to date are loosely based on actual historical crimes or personal circumstances, so I start with an idea and work to bring it to fruition. This methodentails lots of research, revisions, a plot outline, and a developmental edit by my editor.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
From Chapter 1, The Girl in the Orange Maillot. Saturday, September 28, 1963. “Where are we going?” Molly asked. Thick underbrush bordered the narrow track they walked. The tree canopy cut the sunlight to a dusky murk. Small, dark birds perched among the leafy branches. Silent. Still.“I want to show you something cool,” Ron said. “It’s only a little farther.”“This place gives me the willies.” She shuddered, stepping as if walking on a narrow board over a canyon. Molly, a first year student at the University of Pittsburgh, wore her shoulder-length blonde hair tied off her forehead with a navy cotton band.“C’mon, don’t be a wet blanket.” He spread his arms in a slow circle. “Look around. No brick streets. No greasers hanging out on the corners. No people shoving along the sidewalks, goin’ who knows where for who knows what. No traffic noise. Here, just the creek gurgling and murmuring along. Crickets and other insects singing songs in the grass. The air smells clean and fresh, like clothes drying in a line in the backyard.Only you and me, walking on this old road, peaceful, no rush.” He took her hand. “We have the place to ourselves.” He leaned and pecked her on the cheek. . . . Mollygrabbed Ron’s arm, bringing him to a stop. “What?”She stood still, looking off to the right. “What’s that over there in the field?” “What?”“Something’s . . .”no, dummy look there.” She grabbed his chin and forced his head sideways. “See?”Why would someone sleep out here in the weeds?” he whispered . . . .She wasn’t listening. Her eyes were fixed on the prostrate form. “Something’s screwy.” Then ---- although she couldn’t say why ----- she edged toward the figure until she was standing a few yards away. She scrunched up her face and squinted. Molly’s heart jumped as she staggered back, her face white.Ron hurried to her. “You okay?”“He ----- look at his throat!’“Oh God!”Trhe man’s neck was torn and bloody. A horde of slippery white maggots churned beneath his chin. A dried lake of blood pooled under his head and left ear. His face was masked with a sheet of paper taped to his forehead.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Judy Elliott. She is David’s first cousin, until a family secret reveals she’s not. Judy and David fall in love, and eventually are married. She’s my favorite character because she’s smart as a whip, able to think on her feet, David’s equal in every way. Judy is wise-cracking, feisty, and unusually fearless in the face of danger. I saw her as a combination of three strong lovable women: my mother, my sister, and, especially, Karen, my wife.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s an interesting question, Rita. I’ve taken pleasure from each book for different reasons. My first book, What the Barber Knew pleasured me because it was my first book. Dead to Rights because the story dove into David’s bias against gays and lesbians, and moved him through shame and ignorance to the realization that we all are brothers and sisters in this world. I enjoyed Pack of Scoundrels because my research taught me that some of the German rocket scientists who are heralded as the catalysts of the United States space program, were hard-core Nazi officers under Hitler, including Werner von Braun. The Girl in the Orange Maillot provided some perverse pleasure because in the first chapter I killed off the character who represented the man whose lies drove my close friend into despair and death. Vested Interest my latest story gave me pleasure because it’s not, in the words of a woman who read the manuscript, “your usual mystery trope.”
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
“Reading books on marketing is similar to reading instruction books on golf and expecting to shoot below par on your next round. Decide on one marketing action that fits your current situation and stick with it until you’re ready for the next phase.”
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a perfectionist, which I regret. I have a temper. My temper gets going when I spill something because of carelessness, or when I learn someone has said or done anything hateful toward others, especially others of different genders, races or social/economic status. I’m curious about people and places. I enjoy striking up conversations with strangers in a bar, supermarket, or restaurant. Everybody has a story to tell, and some are dealing with some heavy stuff in their lives. I’m a good listener. I like to tell stories from my life experiences, to laugh at myself. Some bragging and hyperbole are part and parcel of my tales, and my wife has heard themat least one hundred times.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Some traveling to state and national parks, going East to visit family, visiting historical sites, museums. I keep up with national and local news and sports, baseball and football. Occasionally I cook meals for the two of us and for friends. Karen and I enjoy packing a picnic basket with food and a bottle of wine and picnic at a remote spot in one of the national forests nearby.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I would charter and provision a 55-foot sailing sloop, hire an expert sailor as captain, invite another couple as traveling companions, and spend two weeks sailing among the islands of the British West Islands. We would occasionally go ashore to enjoy local people and restaurants. Since the four of us would be the crew, the captain would teach us the rudiments of sailng a sloop. Why? It would offer the chance to experience a different world from that of the desert Southwest, learn a new skill, andmeet some very interesting people.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The enthusiastic recommendations of women and men who are serious readers of the classics, and contemporary authors of excellent stories.
Do you have your own website?
Yes. www.baileyherrington.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
While waiting expectantly for publication of my latest mystery, Vested Interest, I’m in the early stages of doing research and a first draft of my next book. The plot idea for now involves two individuals who poison wealthy spouses to receive the decedent’sinheritance.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I will be discussing The Girl in the Orange Maillot with a book club in Williamsburg, VA next Spring. Details are pending.
Julie Edelman - 10 November 2024
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Julie Edelman, author of the new women’s fiction novel The Accidental Sisterhood. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
How long do you have! Thank you so much Rita-thrilled to be interviewed! I’ve been on an exciting journey with quite a few accidental detours as you’ll learn today. I’m also a mom, lifestyle influencer and wrote a best-selling how to book called The Accidental Housewife. The book enabled me to share my quirky hacks on national shows like Today, The View and Rachael Ray. And now, I’ve written my first romantic thriller which fulfilled a dream! I’ve always wanted to write one but would likely not been realized if another unexpected life detour hadn’t come my way-a breast cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, I caught it early while doing a self-exam! So please everyone out there do them! But, in addition to having triumphed over it, I was able to pursue another passion: sharing my story to help empower all women to pursue their dream no matter how big or small—whether it’s motivated by a life-changing diagnosis illness or other life-detour as a job loss, divorce or empty nesting. Believe in you and the power of sisterhood! I do and that’s why I’m here today with you!
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
About 15 years ago. I was going through a divorce, my father had just passed and my dog had a stroke —it was a perfect storm of sorts, but it motivated me to figure out a way to navigate my way through it and maintain a sense of self while trying to balance being a mom, wife, daughter and working woman. That storm resulted in my creating a persona called The Accidental Housewife—someone whom by chance or by accident is tasked with household responsibilities by default with little skill, interest and time…a persona that resonated with millions of other women. I took it a step further by testing and creating simple albeit quirky home keeping hacks that I put in a book and it became a bestseller! Whodathunk!
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I definitely mix it up since The Accidental Sisterhood is my first women’s fiction novel and my last book, The Accidental Housewife, was a how to book! Totally different though both share a core passion and purpose of mine: to help inspire and empower women who are going through life changing detours be it a divorce, illness or simply …to follow their dreams, and know they are not alone. That they are part of community — a sisterhood if you will —be it in fact or in fiction as my new romance thriller speaks to in volumes!
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
When I started The Accidental Sisterhood all I had was the title and I knew the ending…the other 272 pages I was clueless about! But as Jules, the central character took shape the words, other characters and plot began to as well. It’s a wonderfully exhilarating experience actually since it unleashes and blends real life, experiences with the ability to be unfiltered about what you want to write. There are no consequences to imagination…which is incredibly freeing and why I call The Accidental Sisterhood a work of faction—fact and fiction!
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’d love to! Here’s love the prologue which sets the tone and stage. And a link to the teaser! https://www.julieedelman.com/#booktrailer
How long do you have! Thank you so much Rita-thrilled to be interviewed! I’ve been on an exciting journey with quite a few accidental detours as you’ll learn today. I’m also a mom, lifestyle influencer and wrote a best-selling how to book called The Accidental Housewife. The book enabled me to share my quirky hacks on national shows like Today, The View and Rachael Ray. And now, I’ve written my first romantic thriller which fulfilled a dream! I’ve always wanted to write one but would likely not been realized if another unexpected life detour hadn’t come my way-a breast cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, I caught it early while doing a self-exam! So please everyone out there do them! But, in addition to having triumphed over it, I was able to pursue another passion: sharing my story to help empower all women to pursue their dream no matter how big or small—whether it’s motivated by a life-changing diagnosis illness or other life-detour as a job loss, divorce or empty nesting. Believe in you and the power of sisterhood! I do and that’s why I’m here today with you!
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
About 15 years ago. I was going through a divorce, my father had just passed and my dog had a stroke —it was a perfect storm of sorts, but it motivated me to figure out a way to navigate my way through it and maintain a sense of self while trying to balance being a mom, wife, daughter and working woman. That storm resulted in my creating a persona called The Accidental Housewife—someone whom by chance or by accident is tasked with household responsibilities by default with little skill, interest and time…a persona that resonated with millions of other women. I took it a step further by testing and creating simple albeit quirky home keeping hacks that I put in a book and it became a bestseller! Whodathunk!
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I definitely mix it up since The Accidental Sisterhood is my first women’s fiction novel and my last book, The Accidental Housewife, was a how to book! Totally different though both share a core passion and purpose of mine: to help inspire and empower women who are going through life changing detours be it a divorce, illness or simply …to follow their dreams, and know they are not alone. That they are part of community — a sisterhood if you will —be it in fact or in fiction as my new romance thriller speaks to in volumes!
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
When I started The Accidental Sisterhood all I had was the title and I knew the ending…the other 272 pages I was clueless about! But as Jules, the central character took shape the words, other characters and plot began to as well. It’s a wonderfully exhilarating experience actually since it unleashes and blends real life, experiences with the ability to be unfiltered about what you want to write. There are no consequences to imagination…which is incredibly freeing and why I call The Accidental Sisterhood a work of faction—fact and fiction!
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’d love to! Here’s love the prologue which sets the tone and stage. And a link to the teaser! https://www.julieedelman.com/#booktrailer
PROLOGUE I have regrets, I buried them in New Jersey. Jules Malone, inspired by Taylor Swift’s song, “Florida!!!”
Here Lies SeanI believed Sean Conners was the love of my life, and I was his.Now, he is dead. I was the last one Sean was with when he died. We had been at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. There was no reason for the authorities to suspect foul play, but they brought me down to the precinct for questioning—standard protocol. I was released without incident after five cups of lukewarm coffee, a lengthy call they made to Sean’s estranged wife, Jude, and confirmation of my whereabouts in the last twenty-four hours. The Medical Examiner Coroner’s office issued the death certificate a few days later, having determined that Sean's death was due to natural causes brought on by a massive heart attack. Jude and their two children buried him in New Jersey a week later. Jude kept the funeral small and private, since her children were understandably in a state of shock. The only other person invited was George Petras, the maître d’ at Sean’s favorite restaurant, The River Palm. Though I was not invited, I was there, standing hidden behind a statuesque oak tree. When the funeral was over and everyone had left, I walked over to Sean’s grave, taking in the peacefulness of the cemetery and the clean white coating of last night’s snowfall. I knelt beside his grave, and using the tip from the one red rose I brought, carved a word. As I did, I said sadly, “Here lies Sean Conners.” I thought too that Sean had done a good deal of lying in his life. I placed the rose on his grave and left. My name is Jules Malone, and this is my story.
Who is your favourite character and why?
The central character: Jules Malone. Jules is me—well at least 50% or more of her is….friends and family of mine know exactly how much and are sworn to sisterhood secrecy! The reality for me as writer is that my characters are drawn from people you know, you’ve watched or read about and of course your own experiences. Creating Jules was also cathartic for me since I could explore things that have gone on in my life with some distance…one among them my breast cancer journey and my dealing with my body’s self esteem and how a man would look at me—would he find me sexy, would I feel sexy or even feel…that and coming to terms with relationships I’ve had and recognize them as gifts now…you’ll have to read why Jules and I look at them that way too—See it’s hard sometimes to separate me from her but being her let’s me work through challenging situations in ways I’d never imagine…the ending in particular! ‘Enough said!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s sort of like choosing which child is your favorite—each is for different reasons BUT if I have to pick one it’s THE ACCIDENTAL SISTERHOOD. It was so much fun to write since I never quite knew where it would go and I had no restrictions on how it got there! I also loved creating the different characters, allowing my imagination to run wild and yet craft a novel that spoke to so many of my core tenets—tops among listening to one’s gut and the power of personal resiliency and sisterhood.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
It’s actually both a marketing and life tip I got from my book editor: to put my big boy pants on, be authentic and Just Do It! That and get your face or message everywhere!
How would you describe yourself?
Family-centric. Devoted and proud mother. Positive thinker. Love to laugh and bring smiles to others. Respectful. Compassionate. Grounded. Grateful for what I have. Live in the present. People person. Skinny but healthy!
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I swim—it’s my zen. No one can enter my world or mind other than my own thoughts. I also love to bike, read —duh!- wine, dine and cook. Chill with friends, watch classic flicks, binge watch my fave shows and of course spend any time possible my greatest gift in life whom I am so proud & love beyond infinity…my son Luke!
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Hands down Italy! After finishing my radiation treatments for breast cancer last year I took myself on a trip to Florence & Tuscany. Motte bene! The food, people, wine, history, genuineness, smiles, landscape and country are magnifico! Forgive any typos —clearly Italian is not my first language!
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I don’t have a pet now but I have had them! He was a beagle I rescued (and rescued me!). His name was Bagels. I had to put him down years ago but he is forever tattooed on my heart and The Accidental Sisterhood is dedicated to him. That and I’ve brought he and his memory back in this book—Bagel is my four legged bestie, confident, and show’s Sean—Jules’s love interest— his anger with him as only a dog can—he pees on Sean’s boots whenever he enters a room! Funny faction story
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Great question! I love reading about real or fictional women going through life changing experiences and detours which is why I love books as The Personal Librarian, Beautiful You by Ann Nepoliano , 1000 White Women: the Diaries of Molly Dodd, and The Women — BUT I also love a fun, witty read with twists and turns like Big Little Lies, Dexter and Sex and the City!
Do you have your own website?
I do! www.julieedelman.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I am! The Accidental Sisterhood…Book Two! I tease it at the end of The Accidental Sisterhood Book One! Jules and her sisters are back, helping others and growing their sisterhood with love, life, detours, self-esteem, and all else betwixt and between! In Us We Trust.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Thank you for asking!! I do: Miles for Moffitt fundraising event. Saturday, November 23rd. I’ve put together The Accidental Sisterhood team. Your support to helping find a cure for all forms of cancer is needed and appreciated. https://runsignup.com/accidentalsisterhood There are more too which will be on my website so please check there or any of my social media platforms. Www.julieedelman.com
The central character: Jules Malone. Jules is me—well at least 50% or more of her is….friends and family of mine know exactly how much and are sworn to sisterhood secrecy! The reality for me as writer is that my characters are drawn from people you know, you’ve watched or read about and of course your own experiences. Creating Jules was also cathartic for me since I could explore things that have gone on in my life with some distance…one among them my breast cancer journey and my dealing with my body’s self esteem and how a man would look at me—would he find me sexy, would I feel sexy or even feel…that and coming to terms with relationships I’ve had and recognize them as gifts now…you’ll have to read why Jules and I look at them that way too—See it’s hard sometimes to separate me from her but being her let’s me work through challenging situations in ways I’d never imagine…the ending in particular! ‘Enough said!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s sort of like choosing which child is your favorite—each is for different reasons BUT if I have to pick one it’s THE ACCIDENTAL SISTERHOOD. It was so much fun to write since I never quite knew where it would go and I had no restrictions on how it got there! I also loved creating the different characters, allowing my imagination to run wild and yet craft a novel that spoke to so many of my core tenets—tops among listening to one’s gut and the power of personal resiliency and sisterhood.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
It’s actually both a marketing and life tip I got from my book editor: to put my big boy pants on, be authentic and Just Do It! That and get your face or message everywhere!
How would you describe yourself?
Family-centric. Devoted and proud mother. Positive thinker. Love to laugh and bring smiles to others. Respectful. Compassionate. Grounded. Grateful for what I have. Live in the present. People person. Skinny but healthy!
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I swim—it’s my zen. No one can enter my world or mind other than my own thoughts. I also love to bike, read —duh!- wine, dine and cook. Chill with friends, watch classic flicks, binge watch my fave shows and of course spend any time possible my greatest gift in life whom I am so proud & love beyond infinity…my son Luke!
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Hands down Italy! After finishing my radiation treatments for breast cancer last year I took myself on a trip to Florence & Tuscany. Motte bene! The food, people, wine, history, genuineness, smiles, landscape and country are magnifico! Forgive any typos —clearly Italian is not my first language!
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I don’t have a pet now but I have had them! He was a beagle I rescued (and rescued me!). His name was Bagels. I had to put him down years ago but he is forever tattooed on my heart and The Accidental Sisterhood is dedicated to him. That and I’ve brought he and his memory back in this book—Bagel is my four legged bestie, confident, and show’s Sean—Jules’s love interest— his anger with him as only a dog can—he pees on Sean’s boots whenever he enters a room! Funny faction story
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Great question! I love reading about real or fictional women going through life changing experiences and detours which is why I love books as The Personal Librarian, Beautiful You by Ann Nepoliano , 1000 White Women: the Diaries of Molly Dodd, and The Women — BUT I also love a fun, witty read with twists and turns like Big Little Lies, Dexter and Sex and the City!
Do you have your own website?
I do! www.julieedelman.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I am! The Accidental Sisterhood…Book Two! I tease it at the end of The Accidental Sisterhood Book One! Jules and her sisters are back, helping others and growing their sisterhood with love, life, detours, self-esteem, and all else betwixt and between! In Us We Trust.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Thank you for asking!! I do: Miles for Moffitt fundraising event. Saturday, November 23rd. I’ve put together The Accidental Sisterhood team. Your support to helping find a cure for all forms of cancer is needed and appreciated. https://runsignup.com/accidentalsisterhood There are more too which will be on my website so please check there or any of my social media platforms. Www.julieedelman.com
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