Trials and Tribulations Volume 1 offers a rich tapestry of flash fiction stories, each set against a backdrop of varied historical periods. What was the inspiration for this collection of stories?

Writing about what our ancestors could have gone through moving West is fascinating, as well as what they endured or sometimes didn’t make it. Living in New England, we often hear about hauntings and ghosts. Some being helpful, some not so much. Some stories are from nightmares, while others develop while I write them. I started writing a few stories, and with the support of friends and family, I kept writing.

What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?

Whether we believe in God or something else, we all face life’s trials and tribulations. Hopefully, we all have a love of family helping our neighbors in a time of need. We should remember what our military is going through on deployments and what our Veterans are still going through. With the loss of my father, I shared a little bit of our bond in chapter 1. We also looked at how someone’s action can impact others around them.

What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?

We all feel emotion, so by looking at fiction, we can create an emotional ride for our readers. I research my stories to sound realistic, but part way through, I may want to go another direction. Writing fiction gives us the option to do that. Not knowing the end of the story is inviting to readers, so I use a turn of events to keep the reader guessing what’s going to happen next, and it helps with emotional surprises.

When will book 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?

Trials and Tribulations: A Collection of Flash Fiction Stories Volume II should be ready by the end of February. Volume II will continue what I started in Volume I. We will return to the West’s prairies and explore New England. I went through different historical periods and felt the ups and downs of the characters. There will be more unexpected turns as you follow the characters.

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