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Mother-Daughter Relationships
Song of the Pearl and Oyster is a multigenerational story that intertwines the lives of several characters from different times and backgrounds. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Surprisingly, a friend from yoga class told me the story of her aunt’s birthday party. It was her 100th birthday, not her 75th, as it is in my book. When she got to the part about the aunt’s half-Japanese daughter showing up for her birthday party when her mother hadn’t seen her since she was six years old, it took my breath away. I asked her if I could write a novel about her family story, and she agreed. I loved the research from the various periods, from Japanese pearl diving to Michigan farms to New York Native American history.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Oh my, what a great question! I’d have to say vulnerability and uncovering truths. When an author draws a character at her most vulnerable, combining multiple real-life scenarios for that fictional reality, anything can result – a life lesson, a new understanding, or a perception of beauty that comes only through loss or tragedy. Sometimes, when characters are in the midst of conflict, neither they nor the reader recognize how their journey will take shape. My characters teach me as I discover what they can do; otherwise, why write? Their aha moments make for a satisfying denouement and conclusion!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Unusual mother-daughter relationships were important explorations throughout the book. I like the idea that a sense of family can grow from commonalities that don’t include the family we are born into! And music, so important in my life as a flutist, became important to Nora as an escape, her life’s work, and a means of expression when words weren’t enough.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next book, The Compass Point, will be released in December. It is also historical fiction, with a male main character, a reluctant Jewish billionaire. It takes place in 1980s Eastern Europe when Russian propaganda threatened fledgling democracies. It’s filled with political intrigue and a hint of romance.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
In Fountain Valley, Nora reconnects with James from her school days. Just when she begins to see a future with James, her quirky new friends, and a career, her one-of-a-kind sable violin is stolen. When James accepts a promising job in New York, Nora struggles with the decision to follow her ambitions, or his. Recipient of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award.
No Space For Love
No Space For Love by Ellen Mason revolves around a system of lack of freedom, abject poverty, extreme living conditions, sickness, and starvation. This gripping novel is divided into four parts which convey the stories of Ha-na and Seng-il, two North Koreans who become refugees in China. The first part follows the tragic story of Ha-na, her life in North Korea as a teenage girl, to becoming a young mother in China. Seng-il’s situation in the second part is not any less tragic as he escapes from North Korea in search of a better life. The two final parts outline how their story intertwines and their journey to a life of freedom in the United States.
Finding out a substantial part of the novel is based on actual events, one cannot help but sympathize with Ha-na’s and Seng-il’s experiences. It is characterized by death, famine, suffering, and unsightly situations. Narrating Ha-na and Seng-il’s story from a first-person perspective, readers get a closer insight into their lives as they are regularly subjected to inhumane conditions that lead to years of trauma, like when Ha-na becomes a sex slave. The author relates the horrendous situations North Korean refugees go through and how they are often later forcibly repatriated back to North Korea by authorities. They are beaten, tortured, and sent to prison camps after repatriation as the North Korean government treats emigrants from the country as defectors. Reading about a system where the subject of “liberty” or “human right” is a death sentence could prove to be a culture shock for many readers. Noticeably, the author employs a subtle hint of satire while referring to the political situation in North Korea.
While based on true events, No Space For Love is a thought-provoking work of Asian American fiction and a memorable read. Readers will experience the profound journey of these two teenagers, witness their powerful friendship, and see how these kids realize that they need more than food; they need to be free from oppression to thrive.
Pages: 304 | ISBN: 1955196745
The Dance Towards Death
The Dance Towards Death, by Tejas Desai, is the third volume of The Brotherhood Chronicle. It narrates the story of some of the survivors in a criminal world. Among them, there’s the former private investigator Niral that is involved in drug affairs, and policeman Nat who’s looking for his son after having abandoned him and trying to understand what’s behind his parents’ death. Even being the third book in the series, it stands alone, and readers are given enough background in the opening chapters to not feel lost in this action-packed conclusion to the series.
Desai writes in a descriptive manner, taking readers to Thailand, India, Chiang Mai, and Queens, New York. Readers will experience the dramatically different cultures and ways of life from the images that Desai creates with his words. While experiencing the diverse cultures of the world, readers are given plot twists and suspense as the characters go through their thrilling adventures seeking to solve their own mysteries that have caused their lives to intertwine.
I really appreciated the insight into different cultures and religions, primarily focusing on different characters and their backgrounds from chapter to chapter. There are different stories that take place in different parts of the world, but they’re all interconnected. The respectful nature that Desai treated the different cultures and religions that he writes about is commendable.
The character’s backgrounds, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islamism, are integrated into the storyline rather than just thrown out as information that may otherwise feel out of place. This is important to show a clash of cultures. We also get to see significant social problems such as racism and homophobia. In addition to that, many Indian, Thai, Australian and American terms are frequently used, making it feel more authentic. Still, readers won’t be lost in translation as at the end of the book, there’s a glossary with all the necessary terms.
This action-filled novel will take some time to experience all the characters’ journeys and follow them on their search for freedom or for relatives. However, in my opinion, the most meaningful point of this novel is the focus on what the characters find along their path, not necessarily what they’re looking for.
The Dance Towards Death is a riveting novel that will have readers in suspense as the characters navigate the thrilling adventures around the world. Readers looking for an authentic experience with different religions and cultures will find this crime thriller the perfect escape.
Pages: 417 | ASIN : B08BBGKHJX
LITERARY TITAN 