Blog Archives
Gregg Coodley Author Interview
Patients in Peril explains the roots of the problem of the American healthcare system and offers practical and achievable reforms that will benefit all Americans. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I am afraid how much worse patient care will become with the decline in the number of primary care doctors. I have seen the worsening of the experience of being a primary care doctor over my career and the scarcity of any new doctors.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
It took about 9 months. I combined personal experience, interviews with other primary care doctors and research in the medical literature about the different issues I explore in the book.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about health care?
I think the problems in the American healthcare system extend beyond the private insurance versus single payer debate or the costs of pharmaceuticals to encompass the decline of primary care and the increasing separation of patients from continuity of care.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope to demonstrate why primary care is important and simple steps that could fix it while lowering overall health care costs.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
These days are ending as primary care in the United States is rapidly disappearing. Where once 80% of American doctors were in primary care, now perhaps only a quarter of new graduates enter the field. Existing primary care doctors are retiring prematurely while many of those remaining feel demoralized, dispirited, and defeated. Experts predict increasing shortages of primary care doctors. The collapse of primary care will increase overall costs, hurt hospitals and insurers, but most of all damage the care of patients.
Patients in Peril explains the roots of the problem, the travails of primary care in America, the role of medical schools, hospitals, insurers and government, and how this all affects patients. Patients in Peril also offers practical achievable reforms that would improve care, reduce costs, and potentially avert this disaster.
A Figment Of A Child’s Imagination
My Magical Bearded Friend follows a mysterious character who gradually appears when the sun starts to go down and disappears when the sun reappears in the morning. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story was inspired initially by a colleague at work who has a magnificent beard. I wrote it to thank him for the help he had given me with publishing my poetry books. The story then grew into a mystery as I collaborated with Patricia (the illustrator) and we shared ideas on where the bearded man came from and how he could be a figment of a child’s imagination.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Patricia Moffett?
The experience was as magical as the story. I found her on the Reedsy website and was instantly attracted to her style of imaginative imagery. Rather than just being “the illustrator”, Patricia soon became a huge part of the formation of the story and had some brilliant ideas of where the character should go and how he should evolve with the story. Working with Patricia was a delight from start to finish and I hope to do it again sometime soon.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The main idea we wanted to share was how things that can seem scary in the dark can actually be exciting and comforting. We wanted to show how a child can change the perspective of what they see, such as shadows and half-light, into something benign and even interesting – not at all frightening.
I wanted the text to be as interesting as the illustrations, and I wanted the words to be easy enough but maybe a little challenging in places to draw both the reader and the listener in and show them that reading can be enjoyable.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
There is no book currently in the pipeline, but I would love to produce another picture book – maybe even a follow up to the Magical Bearded Friend book.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
The magical bearded friend is a mysterious and dapper figure, with his “cane of pure walnut, and his hat as tall as a tree.’ Narrated by a little bird, passers by sometimes catch a hint of cologne, or the melodious timbre of his voice, but when they turn – poof! He’s disappeared.
Rhyming words and an engaging vocabulary will help even hesitant children work on their reading skills, while the amusing and whimsical tone and vivid, colourful illustrations will make ‘My Magical Bearded Friend’ a firm favourite at bedtime.
My Magical Bearded Friend is a mysterious character who gradually appears when the sun starts to go down and disappears when the sun reappears in the morning. The reader and listener are asked to question whether My Magical Bearded Friend is a real person or a trick of the eye. Is he tall or is he the shadow of the buildings and towers around the area at dusk? Can you smell his perfume or is it the scent of the flowers wafting on the breeze? Is he colourful and sparkling, or is he simply the reflection of the rising sun? You decide! Parents and children alike will love to read about My Magical Bearded Friend again and again.
Ruby Pi Adventure Series
Ruby Pi Adventure Series is a collection of short stories that takes readers on an adventure through history where they must use STEM skills to solve the mystery. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
When I came across the mystifying fact that there is a dramatic drop-off of female STEM students at age 14, this became my challenge. The idea was to write a handful of stories to capture in human terms the wonder of Bayes’ Rule, and the Pythagorean theorem, and the measurement of earth’s curvature. The fact that I know very little math has not stopped me.
It seemed natural to place the stories at critical moments in history – the end of the High Maya, the fall of the Maginot Line, Mao’s Great Leap Forward and subsequent Famine of 1957, Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech, the launch of Sputnik, George Soros’ assault on the Bank of England, etc.
The project gained momentum until it got out of hand. When I reached ten stories with nine different girl protagonists (Ruby appears twice), I cut the collection into two volumes.
Cleverly, I have surrounded myself with very talented people like Sandra Uve (foreword), Mai Nguyen (illustrator), and book designer Ben Kelley. I think the resulting two volumes give readers good value.
An underlying reason for my tackling STEM topics is that I don’t understand them, and I want to.
What is your background and experience in writing and in math, and how did it help you write the Ruby Pi Adventure Series?
I’m an English teacher, with an interest in history, pulp fiction, and critical thinking, and no aptitude in math. I am therefore the perfect person to tackle these adventure stories.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I felt that, if I could craft an honest story about a girl coming of age — and using math to carve a place in the world for herself and her family — it would be timelessly relevant. Tying my so-so writing talent to a universal set of rules is a positive.
As to specific topics, I wanted to find powerful math concepts that would hook a 14-year- old girl. Bayes’ Rule jumped out because it is such a universal tool for decision-making. Battlefield math is an easy call, and the curvature of sniper fire was a big topic at Valley Forge Military College, where I taught. Forecasting is something that all of our students need to know. The examination of volumes really grew out of the kiln story. I love the legend of Yuri Knorosov and the Maya codex and wanted to place my heroine in the middle of that. Again, that math grew out of the story.
I do not have enough real mathematics in the stories. I am working on a free-to-readers booklet by math teachers as a companion to these stories, to bridge that gap between my fiction and teaching in a classroom.
Will there be a third book in the series, if so, when will it be available?
Yes!! I have mapped out subsequent collections of historical adventures of Botany Girls, Chemistry Girls, Science Girls, Aviation Girls, and more. A Ruby story will end each collection. I hope to collaborate with other writers on these, with me editing some and writing some.
As I look at the history of each discipline, key moments jump out, so there are lots of possibilities.
This is my way of narrativizing science. This is what I have to offer.
I am currently working on “Aviation Girls.” The aim is to post this collection in December, 2023. I hope the next year will also see the completion of an epic, dark sequel to my Suez novella, “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter.”
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
Websites:
http://www.boatmansdaughter.com
Acceptance And Self-worth
Nature Study Buddies follows three children who want to study animals in their backyard but need to find a way to help their friend, who is in a wheelchair, participate in the educational adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My stories have been inspired by the experiences of my late son, Leigh, who used a wheelchair for mobility from a very early age. Each story is designed to shed light on an issue faced by children using wheelchairs, both physically and emotionally. Nature Study Buddies serves as a good example of one aspect children in wheelchairs may find challenging. In this story, Leigh’s friends offer their assistance with the issue at hand (climbing a tree). It is, however, Leigh who discovers that doing things a little differently are more appropriate and rewarding for him.
What was a key message you wanted young readers to learn from this book?
Nature Study Buddies Book 3’s message is acceptance and self-worth and rediscovering alternative ways around a seemingly potential problem for a disabled child.
What is the best way for parents and educators to utilize your book so they get the most out of it?
The underlying message will resonate with children who associate with Leigh, and who may have at some time felt left out while their friends were having fun.
It is my hope that parents and educators will engage in an informative discussion about inclusivity after reading this book.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Not sure if there will be a book 4 in Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures series at this stage. However, there may be a sequel to “The Mysterious Pool”, a chapter book for the older reader.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | YouTube
Awarded a Bronze Medal in the Moonbeams 2022 Children’s Book Awards for Best Picture Book Series.
Leigh, Tara, and Cosmo decide to study nocturnal animals living in trees for their school project.
However, Leigh is in a wheelchair, so how will he climb a tall tree?
An uplifting story of friendship, fun, and self-awareness.
*QR Code on back cover to watch the full video and read along*
Everyone Is Solving Impossible Problems
A Maze of Glass follows a young woman with magical abilities who is trained to fight supernatural beings and solve problems that seem impossible. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Everyone is solving impossible problems all the time.
About twelve years ago in NYC, I was struggling enormously with traditional employment but couldn’t get the financial math to work out to start my own business… until I did the math minus my rent. After moving all my stuff into a storage unit, I slept on couches, guest beds, and subway cars for nine months until my newfound business turned over enough revenue to put me back in an apartment. I was profoundly blessed to have such a supportive network of friends. When one such friend became suddenly and unexpectedly homeless a couple years later, I had him move in with me while he recovered. He now runs his own theatre company.
Problems become impossible, I believe, due to a specific set of person and circumstance. That is, for the person tackling the problem, due to their circumstances, the problem may be impossible to solve – but for a different person, different circumstances, the fix may be easy-as. We may not always be able to save ourselves but we can usually save each other.
Really, very few characters solve their own problems in A Maze of Glass. I didn’t write it this way on purpose but this is the way it turned out. Right from scene one.
Zoe’s family is challenging, and her job monster hunting is dangerous and unpredictable. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Zoe is a complex character with a job that sounds cool on paper. Some of the family-related content derives from my own lived experience, ditto for the content relating to addiction and mental health, but the job hazards emerged as byproducts of critiques I have regarding both the general genre and the concept of the ‘cool on paper’ job.
The first: any setting with functional magic would be absolutely paranoiac to anyone who knew that functional magic existed. If energy/people/technology existed that could alter, break, or ignore local or general rules of physics/biology/etc, those rules lose certainty and, eventually, the magnitude of uncertainty would lead to a breakdown of knowable causality. As Zoe puts it, “When is a car crash just a car crash, after all?”
My criticism of the ‘cool on paper’ job is somewhat easier to explain: all jobs suck. Fabricating a new identity, using credit cards taken out on a stolen SSN, going through magical rituals of invocation and defense, hunting supernatural entities, it all does sound rather cool… if it’s not something a person does full-time. In a more regular way, what all of that adds up to is labor spent, time lost, and inconvenience incurred. Plus there’s still paperwork. And while Zoe’s job pays very well, a significant amount comes as hazard pay, an ante against the small but non-zero odds that any given run could end in death.
So, when imagining Zoe’s unfolding life, I framed it around certain elemental constants. Zoe is practical, capable, and hyper-competent. She’s also traumatized, self-isolating, and reactive. She grows up in a difficult family with middle-good extra-familial role models and she becomes an adult and professional in an uncertain and paranoid world.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I’m interested in the way we look at the past from the perspective of the present, which is in large part the reason this story is written the way it’s written. In our usual chronology, we know the outcome of past actions before those of the present; with A Maze of Glass I wanted to create the emotional situation of discovering outcomes more simultaneously. I worry about saying more on this particular topic so I won’t.
I also wrote A Maze of Glass as something of a moral interrogation. What makes a person ‘good?’ When determining a person’s ‘goodness,’ what do we take into account? Effort? Labor? Result? If someone tries to do The Right Thing and they fail, does it count? To what extent is judged ‘goodness’ derived from intent and to what extent is it derived from outcome? These questions hover around a lot of my work, but usually not so consciously.
As an extension of the moral interrogation, I avoid writing heroes or villains in my work. There are rare, occasional evil-doers in our real world, yes, and a similar (if slightly smaller) number of opposing ‘heroes,’ but 98% of people are gray-shaded, uncertain folk who sometimes do good things and sometimes do bad things and mostly just try their best. The grayness complicates things, it makes questions harder to answer. Truth is a foggy thing, diffuse and hard to make out. Simple answers are almost always lies.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Good question! I’m working on three different projects right now… my next Oceanrest-related book is currently titled Where Everything Unravels and functions as something of a prequel to A Maze of Glass, featuring Zoe and Omar again as they tumble through multiple alternate and simulated universes in search of a witch whose magic is destabilizing local reality itself. It should release a bit later this year. I’m also working on another Oceanrest novel (currently untitled) as well as a near-future sci-fi horror novel (also currently untitled), though those dates are harder to pin down…
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
In 1997, cut off from family and desperate to get sober, sister Gillian Briar convinces Zoe to participate in a dark and dangerous ritual. In a middle-of-nowhere house, the two siblings strain against both each other and a dark, nascent presence as growing mistakes warp the ritual around them.
In 2006, Zoe drags a survivor of a supernatural attack into a world of magic and monsters. Together, they search for the mystical mad scientist responsible for the assault as he accelerates into full-blown terrorism. But even after recruiting help, their quarry always seems one move ahead…
And in 2016, Zoe faces her toughest challenge yet: protecting her sister Gillian’s illegal supernatural school from being wiped out by her own employer.
The world of A Maze of Glass writhes with shadow; its dead-ends shred and slice.
Can Zoe escape its uncertain corridors?
Love Won And Lost
Sonnets of Love and Joy is a collection of poems that reminds readers of the beauty of life. What was the inspiration for this collection of poetry?
With all the negativity in mainstream news sources, I’ve found that working on love poems has been of great benefit to my mental and emotional health.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
To communicate the poetic messages with images, metaphors, and well-chosen vocabulary.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Love won and lost; the beauty of nature; the innocence of children.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Sonnets for Sufferers (tentative title) will examine the darker side of the human condition.
Our Greatest Spark
That Sucked. Now What? is a self-help and motivational book that offers readers a practical strategy to normalize chaos when then things go wrong. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The idea that sometimes our fall can be our greatest spark to fly forward in life, no matter what challenges, obstacles, or setbacks come up and to fully embrace it.
Also, a 4 step life- curriculum as I’ve used in my own life come out of hard times with grace, even after awful painful losses, and the bounce factor is just one of several tools – that I wanted readers to have access to as it’s helped myself, my students, and clients transform their lives.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
As a little girl, my dad would always say they, beta keep saying yes to new adventures, whether its in the form of books, teachers, and wise elders, as it adds depth and appreciation of others in a big way. He was right, it set me off to 60 countries and counting consistently leaning into curiosity as my guidepost.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
To be brave at sucking at something new. To be okay with the ‘falls’ that will come and to use it as a sign that change is beautiful, in fact can give rise to the magic that’s already on its way.
To be unapologetic and intentional in your own version of resiliency: tough and soft, and gentle and compassion, and loving and stretching you in ways to add to your human experience.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
You know those awful, terrible, sucker-punch moments in life? The ones that knock you down, burn you up, or make you cringe so hard you wish it was all a bad dream? Probably–because we all do. These epic, messy, oh-no-oh-crap moments of chaos are just part of life–yet, as Dr. Neeta Bhushan shows us, they’re also beautiful opportunities for change.
As co-founder of the Global Grit Institute, a mental health training platform for leaders and coaches, co-founder of the Dharma Coaching Institute, training thousands to live their best lives, and a thriving coach in her own right, Neeta Bhushan has helped thousands of people move past their heartbreaks, failures, and disappointments. And after years of research into human behavior, observing people in their worst and best moments, being a mother of two small children, and failing more than a few times herself, Neeta knows what it takes to get back up no matter what bowled you over.
That Sucked, Now What? is a real-talk guide to personal growth that draws on and embraces the suck–and helps you break through to lasting, audacious resilience. You’ll learn why it’s so hard to get back up when stuff goes down, how four core components of your life shape your individual Bounce Factor, and how to navigate the five stages of the Fly Forward framework through Falling, Igniting, Rising, Magnifying, and on to Thriving. Along the way, Neeta shares successes and failures of her own, from the wonderful to the WTF, in an indispensable book to pull off the shelf whenever life serves up a setback, no matter the size.
Kindled A New Idea In My Mind
The Lost Siren follows a young and beautiful siren who loses her memory and when she starts to regain it, realizes she must seek redemption for past actions. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Last year, I wrote a book called Where the Magic Lies, which Literary Titan has also kindly reviewed and granted the gold book award. There is a chapter in it about amnesia, and that was the trigger that kindled a new idea in my mind. What if a story began with a character with amnesia? It would be like a mystery, as the character doesn’t know anything about themself, and there could be countless possibilities for their true identity. I’ve always wanted to write a mermaid tale, and since I played around with my cover designing app and with the help of Shutterstock, came up with a cover I adored, I decided I would have to write The Lost Siren as soon as possible.
Aquila remains strong despite finding out about her past and realizing that her old self could ruin her hope for a happy future. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The theme of redemption and righting one’s wrongs is important in this story. Also, I did an experiment with Aquila—the same one I did with many of my other female protagonists, Azalea Wood from The First Buds of Spring and Amethyst Quartz from Where the Magic Lies. I made these characters feminine but strong. Now, I received criticism regarding the protagonist of my first book, Alexandria Richardson from In the Name of the Otherworld. Some readers didn’t like her because she was too masculine, and they believed some of her remarks were offensive to feminine women. In other words, she was too politically correct. Of course, I wasn’t happy when the criticism reached my ears, because I felt misunderstood. I didn’t mean to bash anyone at all, and it was unfair the readers automatically assumed I believed what my main character believed! But at the same time, their words got me thinking—would it be possible to create a female character strong and independent, yet graceful and romantic all in equal measure? My three babies—Azalea, Amethyst, and Aquila did it, or at least in my humble opinion.
I encourage people to view my characters as separate individuals instead of labeling their character traits as masculine or feminine, and respect their uniqueness no matter whether they are male or female. In fact, this is something that should be valued in real life, too—to have a heart big enough to accept people of all types and not judge them or label them in a certain way. No matter whether you are a feminine female, a masculine female, a masculine male, a feminine male, or none of these or all of these, you deserve to be you. Having been a victim of bullying, I can’t stress the importance of this enough. Back to the point I made about gender roles, I sincerely hope everyone, regardless of gender, can relate to my characters, regardless of gender, either. Personality traits should be viewed as neutral and not marked masculine or feminine. Everyone should feel free to identify with any trait.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Redemption is obviously a main theme. There is also an underlying message in the story: don’t judge people based on first impressions. Everard and Raphael, Aquila’s two love interests, are stark contrasts. Everard is charming and gentle at first glance, but he turns out to be a liar who abandons Aquila instead of helping her face her past. Raphael, on the other hand, appears aloof at first, but he shows concern for Aquila when she is in trouble. Just because someone is friendly and adorable doesn’t always mean they have a heart of gold. And it’s also true the other way around—just because someone seems unapproachable and standoffish doesn’t always mean they don’t crave warmth and affection. This is a message that applies to all relationships and friendships alike.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
It’s been a long time since I finished The Lost Siren, which was last August! I went on to write Within the Walls, a YA paranormal fantasy about two students discovering the dark secrets of their boarding school. And after that was A Gathering of Tales, a YA dark fantasy novel with romantic elements centered around the adventures of four protagonists from well-known fairy tales. After that came Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, a prequel and retelling of Alice in Wonderland, told from the Queen of Hearts’ perspective and explaining how she went insane and became evil. Then, I wrote Where the Darkness Lies, a sequel to Where the Magic Lies, and finally, I finished Snowfall, a YA fantasy romance about a cursed ice witch finding love. Right now I’m working on Stars, Clouds, and Shadows, a paranormal romance about an angel and devil falling in love with each other. However, Snowfall might be my next publication. I hope to release it in January because it’s a snowy book, and because I want to get it published on my Mom’s birthday.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
LITERARY TITAN 