Blog Archives
We Found Surprising Similarities
A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder follows a professor/therapist who attends a Whole Life Expo and ends up in the middle of a murder mystery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In the 80’s I attended some Whole Life Expositions and thought they would make a timely backdrop for a mystery since nowadays there’s more and more credibility given to unconventional beliefs and alternative medicine. It’s a world I knew little about. Populated with Tarot card readers, mediums, chakra balances, aura readers and other more fringe practitioners of the healing arts, I thought it would be fun to tap into their expertise to solve the mystery.
Which character in the novel do you feel you relate to more and why
Since my main character shares my name, I do relate to him pretty well, although I do have my moments. I also enjoyed Madame Vadama who read Tarot cards and had an uncanny ability to see into the future – she intrigued me. As we got to know each other better we found surprising similarities in her work as a foreseer and mine as a therapist.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I am a pantster, which means I write as I go along. I don’t plan ahead or work with an outline. Stephen King, Mark Twain and Raymond Chandler wrote some of their books by the seat of their pants as well. As a result, the books are as much a mystery to me as they are to the reader. I follow the characters and whatever shocking twist developments they run into are the next step in the mystery. I don’t pr-plan plot twists, but being a mystery writer, I know they will pop up and, lo and behold, they always do.
What is the next book in the Lesson’s series that you are working on, and when will it be available?
A Lesson in Dogs and Murder, which takes place at the Beverly Hills Kennel Club Dog Show, will be debuting at the end of the year. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but while the dogs all make it out alive not all the attendees do.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
David’s chakras are stimulated and he takes a skeptical step into the unknown when he’s asked for support at the Santa Monica Whole Life Expo – bad juju is coming, and positive therapeutic auras are required.
Murder soon spoils the cosmic karma, and with the posse on hand to spice up the mystic mix, David’s sleuthing leads him to places he’s never been before, and most likely won’t return to.
But David is distracted – Nova, the Love Doctor, puts the “oo” in his personal woo-woo, and when a psychic foretells of romance in his future, he all but enters a different dimension.
David’s special brand of voodoo-therapy-magic has never been more at home, but can he overcome his super Nova distraction for long enough to unmask the killer before anyone else gets hurt?
This Fun And Crazy Adventure
Susie & Johnny Grilled Cheese Take An Out of this World Adventure follows two cute characters on an educational space adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration has come from bedtime stories with my three Children twin girls Amelia & Emerson (17) and son Cambell (11). We would make up this fun and crazy adventures of Susie & Johnny for years, they couldn’t wait to hear more.
What educational aspects were vital for you to include in this children’s book?
I always make sure that each book has some educational element to keep children reading and parents as well. Each book has something new that relates to the adventure they are experiencing. I want teacher, parents, grandparents and any one who is seeking a children’s book series that we want to make reading fun and fundamental.
What are some of your inspirations as a writer?
I love writing, and I get inspired daily by hearing stories, talking to my friends and family, and brainstorming with other authors. However, my kids inspire me the most – remembering all these adventures and my son keeps me in check with remembering to bring in their friends.
Where does the next book in the series take the characters?
Now that’s a secret – each book ends with a clue for the next book, I want to keep kids guessing and imagining where Susie & Johnny may go next. They may be right or may give me a new idea for future books, right now we are working on a 12 book series – the third book will be out this week.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon | Website
Stories Help Us All Find Meaning
Nobody’s Daughter is a deeply personal story for you. How hard was it to put this story out in the world for people to read?
I know a lot of authors have trouble mining the traumatic memories when writing about painful experiences, and it can be difficult. But I never got to a point where it felt like a burden. There were some “uh-oh” moments because of the taboo subjects I addressed and I still struggle with the idea that by confronting these issues, I am somehow betraying my mother. I realize how I was groomed as a child to protect the family secrets and to put my mother’s feelings first, but I’m still fighting those daughterly instincts. Women who’ve been in toxic relationships or are dealing with mother wounds often feel guilt or shame about speaking out. That was the greatest obstacle I faced — giving my internal child the support she needed to keep going.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The sexual abuse didn’t bother me, because I have written about that in the past, and I rarely feel triggered (anymore) in the process. Writing does provide an emotional release. This book was more about the mother-daughter relationship, however, and I hadn’t explored that part of my trauma, at least not to that extent. I was still on that self-discovery journey, so that was both enlightening and hard to process. There’s a quote by Flannery O’Connor that perfectly captures my experience as a writer. “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.”
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
I think the thing I needed most was to be heard and to understand I had a right to feel what I was feeling. Those are actually the words that had the greatest impact on my life. It took decades for me to finally hear them, and my therapist was the one who said it first. I talk about that in the book, and I wish every woman and girl could receive that message. I really believe it’s the cure for shame. Being validated as a woman is so important, because many of us are wired to nurture others first, and society tells us that’s our role. And that we must always be strong—hold things together. “Good vibes only.” Well, that’s great—until we feel the need to hide ourselves because it makes others uncomfortable, or stirs things up.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Some readers have said the subject matter is dark, or difficult to read. And many people think that writing this kind of book is self-serving, or that it’s cathartic for the writer alone. But neither of those statements are true. The book has a dark side because life can be dark, but that only makes the bright side brighter in contrast. Nobody’s Daughter is a book about healing, and I think of the phrase I wrote in my first book (Petals of Rain). “As surely as the sun shines behind the grayest clouds, healing comes drop by drop. Like petals of rain.”
I write about my life because it does help me heal, but stories help us all find meaning, and they ease our loneliness because we’re able to hear other voices when we’re in those dark places.
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In her early early forties and about to remarry, Rica Ramos realizes that starting over could mean leaving her mother behind. She longs to heal the relationship, but her mother still refuses to acknowledge the sexual abuse Rica suffered at the hands of her stepfather, or her own culpability throughout the years. With old traumas resurfacing and a new life unfolding before her, Rica grasps the power of unspoken grief—and the potential to suffer or heal. Will she and her mother ever cross the chasm between them, or are some secrets meant to stay buried?
As Rica navigates her options, she faces two ultimate choices: submit to a culture that shames daughters for not honoring their mothers, or muster the courage to go her own way. Offering a bold and lucid look at mother-daughter relationships, Nobody’s Daughter underscores every woman’s right to truth and validation.
He Falls In Love With A Spirit
The Ghost on the Beach: Who Killed Eleanor Marlowe? follows a private detective haunted by a missing child case that encounters the ghost of a murdered woman. What was your inspiration for the mystery that must be unraveled?
There are two primary mysteries in this novel, and I wanted to link them together in a unique way. My inspiration for the mystery of the kidnapped young girl came from a real-life incident that I never forgot. Years ago, in my hometown, a twelve-year-old girl rode her bike to a shopping mall in the middle of the day. Later, her bike was discovered at the mall, but she was nowhere to be found. Her parents never discovered what happened to their precious child. That terrible story had a profound impact on me.
My inspiration for the paranormal mystery was formed from an incident that happened to me. One morning I tried to make a call on my cell but it wouldn’t go through. I discovered that my phone did not disconnect from a call I was on the night before. It would not disconnect no matter how many times I tried. The phone would not even turn off. Nothing. I tried to tell the other party that I could hear them talking. Nothing. I overheard the person I spoke to the night before discussing our personal conversation with another party. What made this event even more interesting was I had been having doubts about the character and integrity of this person, and we were working on a few projects together. As I normally do to solve a problem, I asked the universe to let me know if I could trust the person. In an instant that morning, I received an answer to the questions that had been troubling me, and I didn’t have to do a thing. That revealed to me how easily the universe responds when you ask for help. That event initiated thoughts about the unseen world, angels, and spirits (good or not-so-good). I decided if I altered my perspective on spirits or ghosts, perhaps I could view them as not haunting but needing help. Voila! A murdered woman who was now a spirit in the novel was born.
What were some driving ideas behind your character’s development?
I didn’t want Steele’s character to be pigeonholed based on his profession. It was important to show the many facets of the man. Naturally, due to his profession, we expect him to be somewhat jaded, having encountered many criminals. But that is only one aspect of his persona. An innate sense of curiosity is his driving force. He is consumed with his cases, and slightly obsessive, but it is understandable, and even admirable since he’s trying to unearth the fate of a missing child. His desire to find missing people reflects his gentler side. His courage and confidence are reflected by accepting cases others pass up. His tender side is revealed when he meets the woman on the beach, and he falls in love with a spirit.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
Ha! It involves hours of thinking! You are constantly asking the “what if” and “then what” questions. What if I go in this direction—then what? The most difficult part of this story was bringing these two, seemingly separate cases together in a believable form. It was challenging to weave the story as I slowly reveal the connection between the two mysteries. It’s a dance not to disclose too much too soon, all the while keeping the suspense alive. Another challenge was trying to remember who could see and hear the spirits and who couldn’t. It was mind-boggling writing the conversations!
Will this novel be the start of a series or are you working on a different story?
Yes, if I don’t lose my mind first! I am presently working on the second book in the series, The Ghost on the Beach: Murders, Millions, and Marriage, and the third book, The Ghost on the Beach: Till Death Do Us Part. I am also working on another Historical Romance. I have several stories on Amazon Vella. I enjoy the episodic platform, and it allows me the opportunity to write in several genres. It’s challenging and fun at the same time.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Private Investigator, Steele Harper, specializes in finding missing children. Parents of a kidnapped child have hired him to find her. The police couldn’t solve the crime, and Steele is frustrated by the lack of credible leads, He can’t stop thinking about this case; it has become an obsession. Even when he’s renovating his home on the beach, his thoughts remain on the little girl who was taken from a busy shopping mall in the middle of the day.
Each night, when Steele is relaxing on his deck, he sees a woman walking along the shore. Who is this mystery woman? The last thing he expects is to become embroiled in a mystery so close to home.
Does he even believe in ghosts?
At The Mercy Of A Computer
“Civil Terror: Gridlock” follows a visionary entrepreneur as he must stop a terrorist group from using his self-driving vehicle system to carry out a deadly attack, while also clearing his name as the falsely accused architect of the plot. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Real life traffic congestion. Seriously. I was stuck in traffic one day on the I-210 in Pasadena, CA, moving at a snail’s pace when I thought, “This is 2015, why are we still having to deal with so much traffic congestion?” Then I let my mind wander . . . what if robots/computers were in charge of the driving instead of humans? That would be good, right? Like autopilot for cars? No more accidents. No more congestion. Perfect efficiency on the freeways at last! But then my negativity bias kicked in . . . with so many people at the mercy of a computer, what if somebody hacked in? Terrorism, right? What if the agency implementing millions of self-driving cars was run by engineers so blinded by the “good” the could do, they got blindsided by the “bad”?
Jake Bendel is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Jake Bendel’s development was driven by several key ideals. Firstly, I wanted to create a unique protagonist in the thriller genre by making him a civil engineer. While there are many books about police, FBI, and crime, I thought it would be exciting to center the story around an unsuspecting hero forced to go on a thrilling journey.
To create a compelling character arc, I started Jake off at the top of his game before quickly plunging him into emotional turmoil with the loss of his wife, imprisonment, wrongful accusations from the media, and being forced to operate outside of his comfort zone. To further complicate matters, I also gave him motion sickness, which added an additional layer of challenge to his character.
However, I didn’t want Jake’s story to be solely focused on his struggles. I also wanted to tap into the love, inspiration, and strength that his deceased wife would want him to have in order to fight the bad guys. Through all of this, Jake was able to learn valuable lessons, gain newfound maturity, and develop a sense of humility that he didn’t have before.
Overall, I wanted Jake to be a relatable and realistic character with a strong character arc that would keep readers engaged throughout the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
- Friendship and Loyalty: Gridlock highlights the importance of true friendship and loyalty as Bendel and the other main characters remain committed to helping each other despite the challenges they face.
- Courage and Perseverance: I’d like to think that Bendel displays courage and perseverance in the face of adversity, refusing to give up or be defeated by his circumstances.
- Family and Love: Bendel and his daughter bond over their experiences, emphasizing the importance of family and love, as they go to great lengths to protect and support each other.
- Pursuit of Dreams: The story highlights the importance of pursuing one’s dreams, as Bendel strives to achieve his new goals despite the many obstacles he faces.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’ve recently finished writing and fully editing two more novels:
1) Blackout – The third installation of the Jake Bendel universe, where a grieving Bendel teams up with FBI agent Kristy Konnors to stop a sociopathic cabal leader from taking down the US power grid and allowing foreign militaries to invade, while also uncovering the truth about his wife’s supposed death.
Blackout is currently under evaluation by several agents whom I pitched at last year’s PitchFest in New York (as part of ThrillerFest) with the goal of getting a publishing deal with one of the Big Four.
2) Echo From A Bayou, a mind-bending psychological thriller where a man awakens from a coma speaking with a Louisiana accent, convinced he’s the reincarnation of a man who was murdered over a billion-dollar treasure, and must navigate through dangerous obstacles to uncover the truth.
Echo From A Bayou is scheduled to be published August 8, 2023 and ARC’s are available for review.
I’m also nearly finished with a draft of a sci-fi thriller tentatively titled “Time Goggles”, where an MIT doctoral student’s invention, the Time Goggles, reveals a brutal murder from the past, and when her FBI dad disappears, she uses the device to uncover the truth, but a global crime syndicate will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
You’ll be forced to consider how you would react if you were cornered and trapped in a terrifying life-threatening situation.
Fed up with slogging through the treacherous LA traffic to get to work, Jake Bendel and a cunning team of experts create a roadway system for self-driving cars — preventing thousands of traffic deaths and reducing commute times from hours to minutes. For three months, no traffic congestion. No accidents. No fatalities. People finally feel safe in their cars. But should they?
Especially when the dark side of humanity sees this as a chance to destroy the United States. A terrorist group weaponizes the system and devises a scheme to kill more Americans in one day than all the U.S. soldiers killed in World War II.
Viktor, a tormented psychopath and the mastermind behind this ruthless attack, is driven by the voices in his head who guide his every move. While he and his brothers mercilessly annihilate Americans, Viktor plants evidence that convinces the public Jake is the architect behind the most heinous terrorist attack in U.S. history.
But one rogue FBI agent believes Jake is innocent. Together they unearth a mole deep inside the FBI, go off the grid, and hash through a trail of hidden clues to stop Viktor from slaughtering millions of unsuspecting American drivers in a matter of minutes.
The clock is ticking. Can they stop him in time to prevent another savage bloodbath?
Civil Terror: Gridlock will grab you by the throat and pull you into a vicious struggle that will define the fate of the world for generations to come. If you like Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, or Jon Grisham, you’ll love J. Luke Bennecke.
How Do We Deal With That Reality?
Severed Roots follows a group of people living in a dystopian world where women are in control and men are subordinates. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I want a better world. We all do. It’s well known that over 90% of violent crime (including wars and terrorism) is committed by men, and women and children are often innocent victims. This is true not only today but throughout history. In recent decades, Western society has tried hard to dismantle toxic masculinity, misogyny, sexism, male privilege…and most recently, even gender differences. So far, all efforts to achieve the desired outcome have failed. I asked myself a simple question: Is there something about men—and patriarchy—that inherently prevents humanity from creating a utopian world? And if so, how do we deal with that reality?
The characters of Nick, Beatrice, and Morrie are well-developed and intriguing. Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters’ personalities grow organically as you were writing?
When planning my novel, I created a detailed profile for each of the major characters. During the writing process, I allowed these characters to develop organically. That was deliberate. I consider them my “children”; I gave each of them a unique set of characteristics and placed them in a specific environment, but at some point, as a “parent”, you have to let go and allow them to make their own decisions and chart their own course. That way they can become truly authentic and interesting.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My goal was to produce not only a gripping and entertaining story but also to provoke reflection about our society and where we may be headed. (Indeed, “though-provoking” is a frequent descriptor in many reviews of my novel.) Among the questions that Severed Roots explores are:
- Who are you if you have no roots, no real connections?
- What, really, is the value of marriage and family?
- Should people, merely by virtue of attaining a certain age, be considered qualified to raise children? Or should the State take over that enormous, challenging and all-important responsibility, thereby ensuring healthier future generations?
Other themes that Severed Roots touches on are:
- The continued relevance/importance of male-female gender roles
- The nature of true freedom vs. the illusion of freedom (at both the individual and societal levels)
- The importance of thinking critically and questioning the values and beliefs ingrained in us by the powers that be.
Can you tell us more about where the story and characters go after book one?
Sorry, that’s a carefully guarded secret. All I can say is that the stakes will increase dramatically –and not just for Nick and Beatrice, but for all humanity (which includes all you readers out there!).
Author Links: GoodReads | Barnes & Noble
It’s Ok To Be Different
Books for Benjamin follows a little purple worm who loves to read and goes on an exciting adventure to learn about libraries and books. What was the inspiration for the adventure Benjamin goes on?
The idea for Books For Benjamin came about while visiting the Library of Congress. I thought it would be great to gave a character that loves books so much that he or she has to go on a quest to find them. I thought the LOC as a housing for the world’s greatest depository of item (not only books) would be an ideal setting. On the visit, I learned about Thomas Jefferson’s contribution to the library and his famous quote,”I cannot live without books.” This inspired me to create Benjamin, a bookworm (only the name stems from Benjamin Franklin, another who cherished learning and reading). Benjamin and books go well together. I also like the alliteration in Books and Benjamin and used that in the title.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Uliana Barabash?
Working with Uliana was such a great experience that started under difficult circumstances. She is from Ukraine and the war had just broken out as we started the project. With all going around her I was amazed and the beautiful illustrations she produced. My wife and I loved her colors from the start and how she captured the expressions I was looking for. I like to sketch and paint as well but have tremendous repect for how picture book illustrators who have studied the art like Uliana has can put together a scene. First, she created a digital story map of the entire book and I felt priviledged to be included in any changes. Next, she created each detailed skecth before painting the color digitally. One great surprise, was that Uliana took it upon heself to paint the worm in purple. I don’t know why, but I always pictured him in true to life colors which my wife hated. Once I saw the result, I was blown away. Uliana has made my character become approachable for kids. I cannot thank her enough!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to instill in kids that it’s ok to be different and that following one’s passions is a great thing, even when there may be some road blocks along the way.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
A picture book biography called, Mother To Elephants, about a lady who rescued orphan elephants. Sadly, she passed away around three years back, but her daughters and grandchildren are continuing her mission. I am hoping it can come out around Spring of 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Benjamin would rather read about adventures in a giant peach than eat one!
Unlike his family members who are happily munching away on scraps, Benjamin is a different kind of worm. He loves to read. Yet, all he finds are old newspapers and magazines full of tomato splotches. Not one to give up on his dreams, Benjamin sets off on a quest to find “real” books.
Witty illustrations by Uliana Barabash are a great accompaniment to this delightful story written by R.G. de Rouen.
Join Benjamin on his book hunting adventure and watch your little ones search for Benjamin’s famous signature in their books!
It Was Complicated
Tin Heartless Girl is an emotional collection of poetry about the complexities of a broken family relationship. This is a very personal story for you. How hard was it to put this story out in the world for people to read?
It was complicated. This is a book with a lot of deep thoughts and broken pieces from the past. But my goal was to let people know that we can have intense feelings and still rise from the situation that causes it. In the end, once you heal, you can talk about it, and that’s the main reason why the book is out for people to read.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I was focusing on the deep feelings that are not nice to speak about. I wanted to write without filters. Sadness and resentment was the winner in this book if I’m being honest.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
I usually think about what my loved ones are gonna think, or the people that read it are gonna think about it. But in this one, all that was gone in some way. I wanted to be raw with the instant feelings about different situations.
Will there be a follow-up collection to this book? If so, when can readers expect it to be out?
For now, no. I love to write poems, but I want to change a bit of the theme. But more in the future.
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I wish I felt less sometimes because this poetry book could be better. Talks about the most profound thoughts when things or people don’t want me there anymore. Comes from a bottomless hole persistent in my heart.
This is not my description of everything in life, just of specific people I love. I describe it more as an instance of a particular moment recorded in a poem.
Today things are different, and I heal most of every day. I decided to publish this side of me because, like life, these feelings aren’t forever. Blessings to all, and thank you for your support.
If you are feeling precisely like some of these poems, remember these lessons:
“Everything has a solution.
Nobody should make you feel less. NOBODY.
Love yourself every day. Because when you love someone, you look for the best for them. Do the same with YOU.”
LITERARY TITAN 