Category Archives: Interviews
Tragedy Into A Source of Strength
The Destiny of Our Stars is a heartfelt memoir about love, loss, and renewal, sharing your grief and spiritual awakening alongside reflections on fate, synchronicity, and the mysterious ways the universe brings meaning to suffering. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Turning my personal tragedy into a source of strength led to a profound commitment to help others find their own path through sorrow. I found it to be a vital step in my own healing.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
That grief is a natural response to losing someone dear, but it’s how we navigate that pain, and adjust to a changed life, is what determines our path forward. Loss is an unavoidable part of the human experience, but our ability to adapt and build resilience is what truly allows us to continue living fully with dignity and purpose. Our focus should be on healthy coping, and finding ways to integrate the loss into our lives, rather than being consumed by it.
Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone; take risks, face new experiences, and push beyond your routine. Have the courage to grow and the integrity to be yourself. Rebuild your life parallel with grief, rather than trying to conquer it, and keep a strong support system around you as you seek out social interactions that promote joy and connection as you move ahead.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
Well, reliving the moments was a brutal challenge; it was an agonizing ordeal, like a descent into a dark and emotionally devastating place. But, I knew I had to face it head-on, as my goal was to heal and reclaim my life. I acknowledged I needed to confront the past as a necessary step toward facilitating acceptance and inner peace. Ultimately, my greatest reward was a fundamental shift in perspective, reminding me that the life I shared with my beloved, though fractured by illness and loss, held an enduring value and beauty worth cherishing for the rest of my life.
What advice do you have for women navigating widowhood who are just starting this phase of their lives and trying to find themselves?
Following a loss, you should allow yourself to be vulnerable and recognize that it’s okay not to be okay. Realize that acceptance, healing, peace, even closure, do not happen overnight. Grief is a nonlinear process that is beyond your control. You must permit yourself to feel the full spectrum of emotions, and concede that struggling is a natural part of the healing process. You’re about to experience what I call a “necessary pause” in your life, a type of sabbatical, so take it all in and process it at your own pace. Most importantly, take the time to focus on yourself, and cultivate your self compassion. Healing from loss is a process of transformation. By honoring the grief, validating the pain of loss, and allowing yourself to feel and express your emotions without judgment, eventually nurtures the strength needed to redefine your path forward while carrying the loss with you.
A Commentary on Society-at-large
Where’s Jackson Pollock? follows a gallery owner in Richmond, VA, who is accused of stealing two valuable modern art paintings and needs the help of her brother and his girlfriend to clear her name and find the missing art. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It was mostly about greed. So many people are self-absorbed in how they live life and never stop to see their own foibles. Everyone in the book, except the protagonists, had some sort of angle, some kind of scam going on, and they all thought it was business as usual. More or less, a commentary on society-at- large.
Sophia is a smart and engaging character who keeps the other characters and readers on their toes. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Her unique abilities have allowed her to see the world as it is, not in a jaded way. She sees not just the good and the bad in people, but their endless variations. Having such a gift can be chaotic and overwhelming, but she has learned to cope with it.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Living on this planet for over sixty years. Nothing gives you a better experience than experience.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Chris and Sophia and the direction of the next book?
They are asked to use their unique skills and join a special branch of the FBI. They use their abilities to solve some of their most complicated cases. They next book has them in Boston, Montreal, Prague, and Antwerp.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Chris and his uniquely skilled girlfriend, Sophia Garcia, coax an old detective out of retirement to help solve the case and save Jackie. However, his once vaunted detective skills have deteriorated, and as the case becomes more complex, what evidence they do find incriminates her.
When the FBI becomes involved, and two people turn up dead, Chris and Sophia become desperate and must use their combined talents to find the stolen paintings and discover the identity of the real criminal and keep his sister from being convicted of the crimes.
The case is complex, the evidence convoluted, and the suspects are clever. Will anyone ever find out, “Where’s Jackson Pollock?”
A Place for Memories
The Path to Heaven follows an aging Parisian tour driver haunted by grief and faith, who embarks on a cross-cultural journey to reconcile loss, belief, and the idea of heaven itself. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The seed of this story came from watching drivers and guides in Paris—people who spend their days ushering others toward beauty while quietly carrying their own lives in the background. I wondered what it might feel like to witness so many reunions, honeymoons, and celebrations when your own heart is learning to live with absence. Lucas emerged from that question: a man who knows every street in a luminous city yet is still learning the road back to himself.
I was also inspired by conversations across cultures and faiths—how a simple ride can open a door to someone’s private world. The novel began as a quiet scene in a cemetery and unfolded into a journey where each encounter gently reshapes Lucas’s understanding of loss, devotion, and what “heaven” might mean on ordinary days.
The writing in your story is very artful and creative. Was it a conscious effort to create a story in this fashion, or is this style reflective of your writing in general?
The style is both intentional and natural to me. I’m drawn to concise sentences that carry a quiet rhythm—language that leaves room for breath, like a prayer spoken softly. I wanted the prose to mirror Lucas’s inner pace: deliberate, attentive, tender. While I do adapt my voice to each project, I tend to favor imagery, musical cadence, and moments where silence speaks as loudly as dialogue.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
For many young people, faith, religion, and even the idea of life and death can feel distant—something abstract or far away from daily life. I wanted to explore that distance and quietly bridge it. I didn’t expect this story to open so many hearts, including my own. Through Lucas’s journey, readers begin to question what faith means beyond religion, and how love and loss can lead to a more personal kind of belief. What moved me most was realizing that a simple story could make people pause and reflect on something as vast as the soul.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
Lucas and his daughter came into focus exactly as I hoped—quiet, resilient, imperfect, and brave. Some side characters, like the young Chinese artist and the Russian veteran, still linger with me; I can imagine returning to them in a companion novella or stories that follow the threads they began. But for this book, I’m content with the spaces I left for readers to inhabit—places where their own memories can meet the characters halfway.
Author Links: GoodReads
The Story That Wanted To Be Told
Morgan’s Landing follows a local police detective from a small Maryland town who is investigating the disappearance of a fourteen-year-old girl from the town’s wealthiest family and digging up buried secrets in the process. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It began with the idea that even in a small town full of friendly neighbors, people would rush to judgment and start blaming each other if a young girl disappeared. I’ve always enjoyed police procedurals and had written one, Guilty Knowledge, with an urban setting, but I thought it might be interesting to trace the actions of a small town detective investigating within his own community.
It seemed like you took your time in building the characters and the story to great emotional effect. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
I don’t think I managed the pacing so much as I let it flow naturally. I told the story that wanted to be told in the way the characters would let me tell it. I think being engaged in the story myself is the best way to encourage readers to stay with me on the journey.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I was more interested in how a small town detective would go about investigating a case than in what the solution would turn out to be. The dynamics of a family in which the members seem to be at odds and each has his or her own version of the story also intrigued me.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
While it isn’t impossible for Detective Jim Brady to have another case in the future, Morgan’s Landing was never intended to be part of a series. I feel as if I’m done with these characters—or they’re done with me—but I never know when something may spark the next story, and if it turns out to fit into the world of Morgan’s Landing, so be it!
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Detective Jim Brady, married and the father of two, has been on the Morgan’s Landing police force for twelve years. He identifies a few suspects in the girl’s disappearance—Is it the fired school janitor, a paroled sex offender, Julie’s computer teacher…or his own teenage son? Jim can’t believe his son could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something.
He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.
Being Nefariously Inclined
Falling in Southport follows a young woman from a prominent Chicago political family who falls for a charming yet manipulative athlete she meets in college, who is hiding dangerous secrets. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I actually built the story around the coat. I myself had been living in the same Chicago neighborhood and realized that wherever I went, women were wearing my identical jacket, albeit in different colors. Being nefariously inclined, I then thought, how would one use this to commit a crime? The premise for the murder was created and I built the characters around it.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
A big part of this story is about the resilience of family and that sometimes, no matter how much you try not to rock the boat, bad things happen to good people. It’s in the most trying situations you realize who you can count on in your life, and for me, that has always been my family. I wanted Abigail to have that same solid foundation that she could turn to when her life fell apart, no matter if they had condoned or condemned her previous choices.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I try to plan out the kind of plot twists I’d like to see and the spacing within the novel. I then build the scenes in between. I like doing it this way because I’m always surprised at the way the scenes unfold, with characters doing unexpected things to take us into the next phase of the novel.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am busy editing my new novel. The working title is The Arrow’s Reckoning. It’s about a young woman, Lizzie, who moves back home to a small resort town to take care of her dying mother. She meets a wealthy, new family who’s built a mansion nearby and gets swept up in their family dynamics, particularly the intrigue involved in holding on to their company. This book is near and dear to me. A lot of the novel is about coming to terms with her mother’s impending death and finding your place in a world that’s changing. I started writing it after my own mother’s sudden passing and it was a cathartic way for me to examine my own feelings. Hopefully, it will be out in the early half of 2027.
Author Links: Goodreads | X | Facebook | Website
Abigail Lethican’s world unravels when her husband admits to infidelity. Reeling from his betrayal, she follows him—only to become the prime suspect when he turns up dead. With her trial looming and the media circling, she finds an unexpected ally in her handsome and enigmatic neighbor. As they search for the truth, Abigail discovers her husband’s polished facade concealed a maze of dangerous secrets. Sometimes, the deadliest lies hide in plain sight.
The Depth That Horror Offers
Blood on the Trailhead follows the Chief of Police for a state park who is investigating several cases involving a mutilated body, strange glyphs, and a missing child, all leading to a supernatural cause. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Our inspiration all started around the Indigenous myth of the Tah-tah-kle’-ah. Feel free to Google it, but be warned, it will be a big spoiler. Therefore, we don’t want to elaborate here, knowing many people have not read the book yet.
We were also very inspired by the beauty and the vastness (Redwoods) surrounding Ferndale, CA, which is the town that we modeled the small city of Lost Grove after. There is still so much wilderness that holds pockets of secrets that we have yet to uncover. We found this fertile ground to explore in this story.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
A big one for this book was nature conservation and the preservation of cultures, specifically the Wiyot tribe of Northern CA. Both of these are throughlines that run through the horror and mystery in the story. One of the other ideas we cling to in the Lost Grove series is the close-knit mentality of the small town of just under 1,500 residents, their resilience, and camaraderie. We see this among the teens and in the small police force. Lastly, and this is more so a focus for Alex, is always keeping a sense of humor in the characters that feels grounded and true to who they are.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
Well, we both absolutely love horror in any fictional medium. We watch over one hundred horror films a year and host our own year-end Horror Oscars. We also love the depth that horror offers its lead characters, placing them in life-or-death situations that reveal everything about a person. The draw to paranormal is the intrigue of the unexplained that exists and persists in our world. The paranormal also gives us a chance to explore things beyond what we experience in most of our day-to-day lives. Charlotte, in particular, has always been fond of folklore and superstition, which are ripe to explore in this sub-genre.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Regarding Lost Grove, they can expect book four next fall. The working title is The Devil’s Acre, and it will return readers to Lost Grove during one of its darkest winters. Cold Cases, isolation…it may be one of the more unsettling books in the series so far.
Charlotte is also wrapping up an epic fantasy trilogy, Trust of the Magdrid that she has been working on for some time now. She hopes to release the first in that series late next year as well.
Alex is in the midst of his own mystery trilogy. Book one, The Disappearance at Devil’s Churn, is complete. He is planning to begin work on book two at the start of 2026. He is waiting until he finishes book three before releasing any of the books, as they will be released in quick succession.
Charlotte Zang Links: GoodReads | Website
Alex J Knudsen Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook
Just outside town, a local teen stumbles on strange, twisting glyphs scorched into the trees, eerily similar to those once studied by an Indigenous academic researcher who disappeared just years earlier. Desperate for answers, she turns to a friend with family ties to the Wiyot Nation, only to be warned off: some things are better left buried.
When a local teenager goes missing, town meetings turn ugly, campers cancel in droves, and the pressure mounts with each bloodied trail. On the eve of the county fair, Seth is faced with the burden of an old case threatening to resurface and unravel his career, along with the rising dread of a community coming apart.
Because what waits in the forest isn’t just an echo of the past. It’s hunting again.
Food Can Be Fun and Symbolic
Obeseus: The Mighty Muncher follows a big-hearted hero who is enjoying his snack-filled life, till his old friend shows up, leading a “Juice Regime” to outlaw solid food. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Obesseus The Mighty Muncher has a very unique set up. I wanted to create a world where food can be fun and symbolic. Snackland is a world where eating snacks is celebrated and diet culture is seen as evil. Diet culture is so focused and obsessed with living the perfect life that I thought it’d be fun to poke a little fun at it. The beautiful thing about Obesseus is that he is not perfect and loves snacks. All Obesseus wants is to snack peacefully and protect Snackland . It is a parody of our health obsessed era, but with a side of gravy and laughter.
What was your inspiration for Obesseus, and how did you craft his outlook on life?
Obesseus was born in my freshman year of high school after I was assigned to read The Odyssey and had to write my own odyssey. I kept on reading Odysseus as Obesseus when reading The Odyssey. I made Obesseus the opposite of Odysseus, but with more snacks.
This is an entertaining story that children and adults can laugh at and still find tenderhearted moments. Did you have fun writing it?
I loved writing Obesseus The Mighty Muncher. I laughed a lot when I was writing Obesseus The Mighty Muncher. Obesseus sometimes takes things too literally or turns chaos into wisdom. There is a lot of comedy in this book, but beneath it all is a reminder to always be yourself. Joy, food, and friendship should never be taken for granted. I had a blast writing Obesseus and look forward to releasing more Obesseus books.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
I have expanded Snackland in Obesseus Lord of The Buffet and Obesseus World War Food. There are more factions and many more food wars that erupt and bring larger than life characters like Grant the Grapefruit and Julian Jellybean. My goal for the Slam -Fu series is to make it a comedy with an unlikely hero that brings both kids and adults joy. If Obesseus makes someone smile, that is exactly what makes all the work worth it.
Author Links: Goodreads | X | Website
In the heart of Snackland, where food fights are real and buffets are sacred, one hero stands between flavor freedom and portion-controlled doom…
Meet Obesseus—the slam-powered legend with a bottomless stomach and a soft spot for chocolate fountains. All he wants is a peaceful nap in a gravy river.
If We’re Brave Enough
Filaments follows a professor returning to her small hometown to investigate her mother’s strange behavior that is linked to two men’s disappearances and a supernatural force connected to her family. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I always begin with setting. For this story, I immersed myself in scientific literature about bogs, and the narrative naturally grew from there. During my research, I discovered Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota—a place that felt like the perfect backdrop for the tale to unfold. From that foundation, I shaped the characters to feel both relatable and grounded, anchoring them in the eerie beauty of the landscape.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Our lives run in parallel, each seemingly separate, yet deeply intertwined. We often believe ourselves to be isolated individuals, but in truth, we are threads in a vast, living ecosystem. The suffering we endure is not ours alone—it echoes and reverberates in ways we may never fully comprehend.
Filaments, I felt, was about generational trauma, addiction, and identity. What is one thing that you hope readers take away from the story?
The narratives we craft about ourselves are often the hardest to unravel. Yet becoming our true self is possible—if we’re brave enough to dismantle the facade we’ve built. It takes courage to confront the stories we’ve clung to, but in doing so, we make space for authenticity to emerge.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m beyond excited about my next book! It leans a bit more into sci-fi, but the threads that define my writing style remain firmly in place. This story will spotlight female-driven narratives, unfolding within a world that breathes life into their journeys—infused with a touch of quiet horror. I’m aiming to publish next year, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Drawn back to her Minnesota small town, Thea begins to unravel the mystery behind her mother’s erratic behavior and two men’s disappearances. She unknowingly awakens a force that has patiently waited in the shadows for her return. With each new revelation, Thea’s accosted by her small town’s prejudice and simmering bitterness of former friends. What started out as a trip to save her mother becomes a fight for her own survival and sanity.
LITERARY TITAN 