Category Archives: Interviews
Stepping Beyond the Rules
Timeless follows a field agent for an agency that manipulates history who is sent to save a boy, and winds up caught between loyalty, survival, and personal desire. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The novel grew out of my passion for both history and fiction, as well as my fascination with the 1930s—an era that proved decisive for the continent’s future. And of course, there must always be a touch of romance. No matter how practical or calculating the world becomes, love will remain central to our way of thinking and one of our strongest motivations for as long as humanity exists.
Anne is hard-edged, sharp-tongued, cynical, yet deeply human. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Anne thrives in a male-dominated world, and she does so without ever having to become one of the men. She remains true to her womanhood and embraces her emotions. She takes risks and raises the stakes, but never blindly or naively—rather with intention and confidence in her abilities. That balance is what makes her such a compelling heroine.
What themes were particularly important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to emphasize that women are fully capable of purposeful, professional self-realization without being held back by so-called feminine weaknesses. They can unite, organize, and accomplish missions far more complex than putting together a Christmas fair. To highlight this progress felt important—to show that women are not bound solely to roles defined over millennia. The novel also touches on sacrifice and solidarity, and how stepping beyond the rules can sometimes achieve more than hiding beneath them.
Will this novel be the start of a series or are you working on a different story?
The idea of turning this into a series has certainly crossed my mind, but that depends on whether the story resonates strongly enough with readers.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
A secret organization sends its agents into history’s turning points to serve hidden interests.
On the brink of World War II and German occupation, Anne—a disillusioned operative—embarks on her final mission: to save a boy marked for death in a small country soon to be overrun. The assignment seems simple—until she discovers that more than one life may be worth saving.
A gripping story about time, choice, and the weight of decisions that shape our past, present, and future.
Step Out of Silence
Remains of Silence recounts the turbulence of growing up in a dysfunctional and abusive family with instability and neglect, weaving together vignettes of fear, longing, and survival. Why was this an important book for you to write?
As the title reflects, it was important to me to step out of silence and say it so, as it is so. While I have stopped being silent for many years already, it was important to me to speak of what I have made of the silence since. These are the remains. My current life in which I have transformed myself from one who had no choice but to keep silent, to one who was able to heal the loss, damage and stolen youth. It was a form of therapy in which I was able to release all that was still clinging onto dark corners of my subconscious. In the end, it allowed me to truly close the door on being a victim and embrace victory.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Simply sharing the truth. It is said that the truth sets you free. I can testify that it truly does. In my youth a fear of what people may think or say was hammered into us all. But I was able to break free from that and prove that raw honesty links with surrender. And through surrender we lighten the load. And by lightening the load, we set ourselves free to be who we came to be in the first place. Free of disease and thriving at being the best versions of ourselves.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging was to write part observer and part participant. One of the major challenges I had to overcome in my adulthood is falling back onto being a victim. And writing the memoir tempted me at time to do just that. But the most rewarding part was the awareness of that and the ability to separate the wounded child from the wise adult. The former easily prone to victimhood. The former mature enough to know the difference between passive helplessness and choice. As the writing progressed, it became clear that the mature adult was in charge as the one who finally broke free. And whenever the child wanted pity from the world, I was able to listen and steer it back to my current self. Awakened and wise.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
For those who are suffering in similar situations, I hope to prove that it is indeed possible to stand your own ground, to claim yourself back from those who take it from you at an early age when you do not have the tools yet to defend yourself and protect your being from harm. For those who had troubled childhoods and still battle the demons and consequences of it, I hope to be an example of choice. In every moment we have choice and it is only when we fall back into old patterns that we suffer. When we choose differently, we rise again. And finally, to those simply reading with compassion and curiosity, I hope to inspire gratitude for what they have, their ’normal’ upbringings and the privileges they take for granted. As Thomas Anderson, Editor in Chief of Literary Titan wrote himself about the memoir “I found myself reflecting on my own assumptions about strength, silence, and what it really means to survive when survival has become second nature.” If only the reader would reflect on that, I would be more than content at the impact of my memoir.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
In spite of complete neglect from his alcoholic narcissistic mother and his equally narcissistic, absent father, he performs, runs the household, becomes the parent, and survives. He ultimately becomes a globally recognised designer, painter, and pianist. Yet, behind his outward success, he carries the hidden injuries of a boy who was never truly seen.
Written with piercing insight and raw poetic clarity, this memoir maps a journey from emotional abandonment to self-acceptance. Through vivid chapters that unfold as stand-alone essays—each one a window into a particular ache, betrayal, or epiphany—the author unpacks themes of safety, love, identity, visibility, and healing. From Champagne Breakfasts and schoolyard humiliations to international acclaim and lovers who couldn’t stay, Remains of Silence explores the emotional choreography of a life spent dancing around rejection in search of home.
With a voice that is confessional yet composed, unflinching yet touched by a pinch of humour, Stef-Albert Bothma brings readers into the private terrain of healing what was once unspeakable. The result is a powerful narrative for anyone who has ever had to grow up too soon, live with abuse in an alcoholic environment, live unseen, or learn the difference between performance and love.
And despite it all, a testimony that it is indeed possible to overcome the impossilbe. That which was broken, built, and ultimately to become self. Unapolagetically and whole.
For readers of The Glass Castle, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, and The Hours, The Liars Club, and Invisible Girl––comes this brutally honest and raw story written from a place of wisdom and acceptance.
It’s NOT Just About Money
The Leader Connection – The Foundation dives deep into the human side of leadership, covering topics like empathy, communication, adaptability, and the nuances of eight distinct leadership styles, as well as providing actionable strategies for leaders. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Observing the current discussions and insights about labor, staffing shortages, and turnover, I felt compelled to share my journey and passion with a broader audience.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about leadership and employee connection?
It’s only about the money!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
1. Understand Your Leadership Style
2. The Importance of Your Role in Building Connections and Enhancing Culture
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Leader Connection – The Foundation?
The book serves as a crucial resource for both novice and seasoned leaders, offering valuable insights to help achieve success.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
“The Line of Horror”
A Dangerous Friendship follows a woman navigating heartbreak, loneliness, and the lure of risk, who, after a failed marriage, is drawn to a magnetic yet volatile woman whose energy feels both liberating and destructive. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Any kind of loss that forces a woman to question her future and identity sends me into story-telling mode. Especially against the backdrop of New York City in the 1980s, where there was an electric vibe and the possibility that anything could happen if you were open to it. I lived in the City during that time and it was magical. Wealth, street art, theater, fantasies of changing your life in a New York minute—it was heaven.
What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between Tina and Spike?
Every female friendship I’ve had or witnessed since high school. We know the archetypes of the popular girls, the mean girls. What about the dangerous ones? What about the women who promise to give us power. Who tell us stories that we want to believe are true because are own lives seem so meh. Also, in the 1980’s, there was a second wave of feminism with women fighting for equal rights and questioning cultural and social norms. That history fans the flames of the relationship between Tina and Spike and their confusion: wanting to be powerful in their right but also looking to be elevated to a different reality by wealthy men.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Reinvention after loss. I like to explore the ways women navigate identity and self-worth when their lives take an unexpected turn. Also, truth vs. fiction. I’m fascinated by the stories we tell ourselves and each other to survive. Finally, the thin line between attraction and danger. Tina calls this “the line of horror,” which she refuses to cross at first, then leaps over, believing that Spike, like a cult leader, will change her world.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next novel is The Enlightenment of Henry Pike. It leans even further into dark humor than A Dangerous Friendship. It follows a slightly unhinged philanthropist who’s being swindled out of his fortune by those closest to him. At its core, it’s also about loss and reinvention—and our endless obsession with wealth, power, and the lives we think we deserve. Readers can expect it in the next two years.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website
In 1980s New York City, aspiring writers Tina and Spike bond in a complex, all-consuming friendship that will change their lives forever.
Desperate to redefine herself after a failed marriage, twenty-nine-year-old Tina embarks on a thrill-seeking journey to feel alive again. When she meets thirty-five-year-old Spike, a beautiful, seductive, seemingly invulnerable woman, she becomes enthralled by the older woman’s stories of NYC power brokers, sex, wealthy men, and her past. Tina latches on to Spike as someone who can save her from mediocrity and show her how to be the kind of woman who can have power over men—both in romance and in life.
Chasing adventure and the writing life, Tina and Spike rent a cabin together for the summer in the rural backwoods. There, they go on a wild, manic, darkly humorous journey involving dive bars, drugs, men, and all-night dancing, becoming increasingly psychologically entangled in each other’s lives along the way. But eventually Tina realizes just how dangerous Spike is, and is forced to act to save herself.
Filled with New York wit and fast-paced dialogue, this is a story of loss, betrayal, survival, and blurring the line between attraction and peril.
Women Owning Their Lives
The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid follows a middle-aged woman coping with complicated relationships both past and present. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Missy was first introduced to readers in my book Finding Scarlet. She radiated such energy that I wanted to explore what her full story might look like. I wanted to write a story of women owning their lives in all their imperfect ways, being unapologetic, which isn’t always easy.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
In the last several years, it’s been divorce. But intertwined within those books are stories of family, romance, friendships, and second chances. The recognition that we don’t just roll over and cease to exist as vibrant women has been a big driving force.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I loved writing Missy. She is strong, but flawed. Trying to capture her imperfections in a meaningful way was a joy. I also really loved Scarlet (obviously, she has a whole book!).Margo’s imperfections made her story heartbreaking to write at times, but also deeply rewarding. Writing Charlotte as a ghost who weaves herself into Missy’s thoughts required some creative stretching.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I have a couple of other projects I have started. They are not divorce fiction. One is women’s fiction and the other historical fiction with romance. I’ll see which one takes over in the process and go from there. I do hope readers will consider reading Finding Scarlet to get a flavor for the characters in The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid. And the ending will be so much more rewarding that way.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Missy Kinkaid has always been the light of Sullivan’s Island—bold, unapologetic, and the beating heart of her family, friends, and Scarlet’s Harlots, the renegade divorced women changing the narrative. But when the death of her estranged mother sends her spiraling into a breakdown in the cereal aisle, Missy is forced to confront the pain of past loves, fractured family ties, and the weight of expectations she’s spent a lifetime defying.
With her closest friends—and a cousin carrying secrets of her own—Missy embarks on a journey of reckoning that tests the limits of forgiveness, resilience, and self-discovery. Along the way, she learns that true empowerment isn’t about posturing but the courage to own your story, scars and all.
Witty, raw, and emotionally layered, The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid is a fiercely uplifting novel about friendship, loss, reinvention, and the strength it takes to become wholly yourself.
First introduced in Kirsten Pursell’s Finding Scarlet, Missy now steps into her own unforgettable story—one of heartbreak and humor, loss and resilience, and the enduring bonds that tether us home.
That Became the McGuffin
Fury of the Vampire follows two supernatural detectives who discover an ancient relic that can remake all of existence, and they must stop it from being used before the world as they know it vanishes. What was the initial idea behind this story, and how did that transform as you were writing the novel?
Thank you for the question. Well, originally the story would have focused more on the Jinn characters and their powers. In fact, the original title was The Power of the Jinn. During my research, I uncovered the story of The Ring of Solomon and that became the McGuffin of the tale and we adjusted the story accordingly and I think it improved the narrative.
Was it important for you to deliver a moral to readers, or was it circumstantial to deliver an effective novel?
I believe the best stories are the ones that have parables or thought provoking messages. The best Twilight Zones or Star Treks were the ones with thought provoking themes and I like to do that in my stories.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
Yes, especially with Tori who I think is the best protagnoist in the series. Her relationship with Malia I think really helped develop the character and her feelings toward Richardson.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
Fury of the Vampire will actually lead to a cross over with the tenth book in the Jigaw Time Travel Series: Temporal Apocalypse which should be out in May, 2026. I am currently outlining it.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
The enemy isn’t just out for blood. Now, they want the world to burn.
They’ve fought the undead. Exposed the horrors behind Utopia. Risked everything to protect those who could not protect themselves.
Now, Vampire Detective Tori Jacobsen and her Werewolf partner Abraham Mueller face a threat unlike anything they’ve seen before: An Ancient Relic that could remake existence.
With the fabric of the world unraveling, they need every ounce of cunning—and the kind of savagery only monsters can wield.
If they fail, the future will vanish before it begins. The world will collapse into a new Dark Age ruled by monsters. Humanity won’t even remember what was lost.
If they succeed… they may not survive it and lose what soul, they have left.
The explosive final chapter in the Nightfall Detective Agency trilogy. If you loved the grit, heart, and horror of The Mummy’s Vengeance and Trail of the Zombies, Fury of the Vampire bites even deeper.
Perfect for fans of supernatural noir, gritty monster-hunters, and apocalyptic thrillers where the last line of defense wears blood and teeth.
Things That Defied Categorization
The Meteor Symphony is a colorful mix of short stories, poems, and microfiction, stitched together with music, humor, grief, and hope. What was the inspiration for this collection of writings?
At first, this was going to be the title story developed into a full-length novel. But the story was fully baked as barely a novella. All the while, I’d been writing short stories for a jazz website called Jerry Jazz Musician as well as poetry for who-knew-what (at the time).
I’d amassed lots of material that was a reflection of my experiences and my interior life as well as some fun fiction and other things that defied categorization. It felt right to put this out under one book, encompassing prose and poetry.
How did you go about organizing the writings in the book? Was there a specific flow or structure you were aiming for?
My main goal was to present different moods and perspectives in a random order, much as what life gives us. Things come at us daily without being organized or predictable. In fact, quite the opposite.
What themes were particularly important for you to explore in this book?
Dealing with grief and disappointment; dealing with love that may not be reciprocated; and also the silly, funny moments of being a human.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Meteor Symphony?
Not to deny the feelings and moods that come over you. Allow them and when they’re overshadowing living your life, put them in a box. Find a poker game to join (see my poem “Deal ’Em”).
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
“From the first sentence, Burke brought me into the world of her words. She is a gifted writer.” – Donna Kenworthy Levy, author of A Soul Promise
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
Debbie Burke is the author of twelve books (fiction and nonfiction), mostly about jazz and art. She is also a professional photographer, focusing on architecture, industrial design, and the liminal, as well as a professional editor and author coach at Queen Esther Publishing LLC. Burke’s jazz and photography blog at debbieburkecreative.com has garnered international acclaim. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, she now resides in the Tidewater region of Virginia.
Honoring the Clubmobile Women
Forged in Fire tells the true story about the women who joined the American Red Cross’s Clubmobile program during World War II, sharing what life was like for the courageous young women who served in war zones to bring some humanity to the soldiers. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Because my mother was in the clubmobile program and the program served as the perfect way for her to get past a personal tragedy, and assist American GIs directly. Her World War II experiences helped shape the person she was to become.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
My research for this book stretched over four decades, including extensive interviews, and the actual writing of the book took seven years.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to underscore and highlight how unique and brave the women of the Red Cross clubmobile program were, and the substantial contribution they made to the war effort. But I didn’t want to sugarcoat the story or ignore the real issues they all faced with sexism, sexual assault, racism, and people undervaluing their efforts.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Forged in Fire?
Although the sexism of the 1940s severely limited what American women were allowed to contribute to the war effort, millions of women found a way to get involved at home and abroad. The women of the clubmobile program left home and family for years at a time and risked their lives simply to bring a little taste of home to millions of GIs and to help their morale. In that effort they were highly successful. And it should not be forgotten that at least eleven clubmobile volunteers were killed and never returned home.
Author Website
They weren’t soldiers, but they served in war zones. They didn’t carry weapons, but they fought every day—to lift morale, restore humanity, and bring a taste of home to battle-weary troops.
Forged in Fire tells the true story of the Red Cross Clubmobile Department—an innovative wartime effort that deployed courageous American women on a remarkable mission across Europe during WWII. Driving 2½-ton trucks loaded with coffee and doughnuts, these women braved bombings, buzz bombs, and battlefield trauma to serve those risking their lives.
Through the eyes of Blanche Barnes, a shy Midwestern woman transformed by tragedy and service, we follow the clubmobilers from England’s foggy airfields to the ruined cities of France and Germany. They flew in B-17s, danced with spies, and crossed paths with generals and journalists—showing resilience and humor in the face of war.
More than just a support operation, the clubmobiles became a lifeline to thousands of soldiers—and a proving ground for a generation of strong, capable women.
For readers of World War II history and biographies, this is an unforgettable, true account of grit, compassion, and an untold story on the front lines of World War II.
LITERARY TITAN 