Blog Archives
Finding The Murderous Sidney Friedlander
Requiem for Miriam follows a young detective with a hidden psychic gift as finds herself in mortal danger from the man she’s hunting. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
When I was young, I briefly thought about going into law enforcement (specifically, undercover work as a detective). Growing up, I was intrigued by classic television shows involving strong women in law enforcement, including Charlie’s Angels, Policewoman, and Murder She Wrote as was my character Maria Rodriguez. Rather than make the lead detective a man (with men being the majority of lead detectives in the 1980s) in charge of finding the murderous Sidney Friedlander, I wanted the lead detective in the case to be a woman and someone of color, as it’s essential to include as much diversity in my novels as possible.
Your characters are fascinating and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Writers, from time to time, including myself, are inspired by actual events that occurred. The story of Miriam and Sidney Friedlander was inspired by the Sunny Von Bulow case back in the 1980s. At that time, my husband and I lived in New York, so naturally, the news was filled with the events surrounding the murder of the wealthy heiress and the husband confessing to the killing of his wife. Despite the Von Bulow’s being the typical New York “WASPS” (white Anglo-Saxons), I wanted to represent the Jewish community as New York has a large Jewish community. I worked for a Jewish boss and had many Jewish friends who introduced me to the customs, traditions and life celebrations of the Jewish community. I wanted my main characters (Sidney and Miriam) to be anything but the typical gentile couple. The other characters (Maria Rodriguez & Raphaella ) were inspired by people I met while I lived in New York. One was a strong, very vocal, and opinionated Haitian woman I worked with, and the other was an equally strong, proud, and beautiful Puerto Rican-American woman I befriended while studying at FIT (The Fashion Institute) in Manhattan. The Haitian character Raphaella appeared in my first novel, “The Darkest Gift.” She is one of my favorite characters and interesting enough to be included in two of my books!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My novel’s themes included love, devotion, deception, jealousy, rage, revenge, adversity, and justice.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next novel is called “Transplant – The evil that dwells within,” which is the story of a young woman (Elizabeth Bennington) who was born and struggled with a congenital heart condition. Her life is further complicated by being bullied in school, leading to depression and attempted suicide. Being institutionalized, including therapy. Meeting the man of her dreams, having a child which strains her health, requiring a heart transplant with the donor being unknown, leading to destructive urges that overcome Elizabeth as if she’s being possessed by the donor who turns out to have been a serial killer. It should be released by January or February of 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Maria, an ambitious young detective with a hidden psychic gift, is on the case. With the help of her Haitian lover, Raphaella, a striking, rum-drinking voodoo expert, she tracks Sidney down and goes undercover to entrap him. But Maria soon finds herself in mortal danger from the man she is hunting.
Will Maria and Raphaella get their man? And will Miriam find the justice – and revenge – she seeks from beyond the grave?
Evoking An Incident Emotion
An Erotic Phenotype answers some interesting questions about Romantic Love and human reproduction. What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write this informative book?
I am an avid reader, more notably in all the sciences. I was reading Darwin’s Black Box because it claimed that it found flaws in Darwin’s theory of natural selection. That was on the molecular level, false as they were. I noticed that everywhere there were claims that some traits could not possibly be selected for without a creator or intelligent design: language, “the soul” or “spirit” was a big one, emotions… I was also quick to notice that some of these arguments contained answers to their own questions. Ignorance! I began looking at life and science in complete ignorance to see how far natural processes could carry an incident of biology. I.e. how an incident of sight can become an incident of beauty, evoking an incident emotion. That sparked the idea! The need to write this book was created by another book I wrote: Moral Indignation, which due to available topic space, I was forced to omit the natural course of events leading to love.
What research did you do for this novel to get it right?
I read everything I could get my hands on, in every science, every mythology, including scientific papers, books, and articles. I must point out that my father was a woman hater to the core! Mentally dealing with his absurdities helped me recognize how really amazing women truly are! It is not possible to know enough, or even learn enough, to cover every topic in complete detail. I tried to learn as much as possible. I read a few books on female same-sex erotica in an attempt to gain some mental/emotional concept of the same-sex female brain, thinking it might be close to a cisgender male brain. Also, I find that the best teacher is life. I watched people interacting with other people.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
The book is a new release and as far as I know only a few family members and friends have read it. That said, I am questioned about the topic a lot. The word “Erotic” makes people think about erotica, which it is not. The joking stops when they understand it is about “eros”. Honestly, I have not asked anyone I know that did read it what they thought. Maybe I should.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
That is a beautiful question. There are so many topics that are not fully understood. There are still so many claims of intelligent design which need to be addressed. I am currently working on two books, both untitled. With all the current conspiracy theories and false news claims, I think it is important to explore how humans were selected for having the ability to analyze our world. We need to see how our two innate instincts, “belief” and “reason”, in that order, play havoc with one another. I am hopeful that I can publish by 2024.
Author Links: Amazon | Twitter | Website
Being in love requires you to be physical. It requires you to be emotional. It requires you to be mindful. To exist as an erotic phenotype.
Eros, commonly called Romantic Love, is more than just emotion. We have an entangled ménage à trois of sensations happening in our bodies and brains. It is the total of our entangled sensations that drive us to this insanity—that thing we call love.
The Dynamic, Tragic And Beautiful City
Life Between Moments is a collection of short stories that turns the lives of everyday people into a compelling drama through the use of sharp writing. What was the inspiration for the idea behind this book?
I wanted to write a collection of different stories that, when read all together, conveyed a sense of the dynamic, tragic and beautiful city. But the book is extremely focused on individual characters, because great cities I find are driven by everyday people trying to get by. In my view, the most interesting stories are usually those that happen in snapshots of everyday life. Those are the most relatable.
My favorite story from this collection is ‘To End a Tragedy’. Do you have a story from this book that stands out to you?
“To End a Tragedy” is my favorite, because I feel like the two main characters resonate with my own life. The challenge of finding happiness and meaning in work, the discovery of enjoyment in day to day, and the realization that there’s no such thing as “one size fits all” when it comes to choosing a path in life.
The story “Society Debut” also stands out to me because I do think it is unique because it’s written in second-person. I aimed to really put the reader in the story as the main character, to immerse them in a role within the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I do my best to use my fiction to explore how ordinary people can find happiness in their lives and meaning in work. Those are two of the biggest challenges we all face, and I see these stories as an attempt to pin down those themes, based on how the characters navigate the same obstacles you and I and everyone face.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Not sure yet on this one! It will be a novel, but at least a couple years away.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
A Manhattan writer discovers a miracle in a slaughterhouse. A never-ending night unfolds in a jazz club. The best doctor in the world wants to forgo everything to pursue obscurity. A broken marriage realizes its vulnerabilities.
This collection of striking, atmospheric stories is populated by people that grapple with the fears and uncertainties that define everyday life. In sketches ranging from the grandest heights of society to the anonymous city streets, characters discover their demons, confront heartbreak, and stumble through life in dreamy, oppressive New York.
As you turn through pages of spare prose and smart dialogue, these stories will give you a fresh glimpse into an old city, and remind you why tales of the Big Apple have resonated for centuries.
Very Much Like A Journey
Desert Angels follows a man and his dog who meet a Slavic angel in the desert and are sent off on a mission where the path is unclear, and adventures await them. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I have always been drawn to the concept of angels. I have also lived in different varieties of deserts. The mission feels very much like a journey similar to one I’ve taken in my life.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing or did it come out organically as you were writing?
I wrote mostly by the seat of my pants except for the ending which I had in mind through most of the writing.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Exploration of the immortality narrative, self-centeredness vs. selflessness, and the discovery of a gift that was present all along.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I don’t have any plans for another book although that can change. I am in the process of starting a blog-type site.
Author Website: www.PriorToEternity.com
The Best Things In Life Are Shared
Lemonade Lilli follows a little girl as she pursues her entrepreneurial dreams of starting a lemonade stand and becomes business savvy in the process. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Lemonade Lilli was an idea I had put in the back of my mind until my father passed away (September, 2021). It then became a labor of love to remember and memorialize memories I had while growing up on his dairy farm. The setting of Lemonade Lilli takes place on that farm in Mount Vernon, WA.
My grandfather was also a big part of what I loved most about the farm. Following him or my father was decidedly what I looked forward to most days. The illustrations of the front porch, shop, and barn were inspired from family photos taken back in the 1970’s.
Lilli is a wonderful character that I loved following. What were some driving ideals behind her character’s development?
The only advice I have taken about writing, since I started this journey, has been ‘write what you know’. I knew this farm, the tractor dealership down the road, having neighborhood friends, and hours of watching my father and grandfather work.
Even though I grew up in a middle-class family, we were taught to work for what we wanted. My siblings and I worked many jobs as well as chores to earn the money for what we wanted. The first major purchase I made as a kid was a brand new, lime-green, 10-speed bicycle.
The character of Lilli was indeed developed from my memories of my childhood. Even though I never ran my own lemonade stand, I always participated in fundraisers and loved sales. I also remember, acutely, the feeling of wanting the rewards for my efforts much sooner than was realized.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Financial Literacy was the main theme. As an educator, mom, and a member of society, I have seen a large deficit in our younger population’s ability to make wise decisions about money. Simple skills such as counting change or saving money for the future are not skills many middle school children have.
I also wanted to highlight how important healthy family relationships are to the success of children. Children also need support from friends and members of the community to give them the best opportunity to succeed in life. Overall, I wanted to show what that kind of support looks like, since many children have never experienced it on all levels.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a child who wants to start their own business?
My advice would be to recruit at least one trusted adult and a few loyal siblings and/or friends to help you plan, fund, and execute your project for its optimal success. The best things in life are shared.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
May you be as successful as Lilli!
Survival Stories Series
Traveling Companions follows three villagers that are left alone after the destruction of their homes from a mudslide, together they must find a way to down the mountain alone. What was the inspiration for your story?
I often write about even extreme difficulties and challenges faced by individuals and the interaction between people in such situations. The background of the events can be a disaster affecting the wider community – sometimes even the entire society.
The main reason for this book and the entire Survival Stories Series is the tragedies that Nepalese people faced in the massive 2015 earthquake. It was by no means a single event but a whole series of difficulties that still exist and are reflected in life. Many new things had to be built and the old repaired – which applies to emotional damage in addition to material things.
Naturally, I followed the flow of news related to the events, but I felt very powerless in the face of this great distress. The catastrophe was experienced on the other side of the globe, where I had not even been to myself. However, I have friends who are familiar with the places or live in Nepal. They emphasized the importance of children’s literature in a situation like this. They made me see that I have this particular way of making an impact, even a modest one.
I loved how you showcased that everyone has value and can contribute in this story. What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The book’s title – Traveling Companions – expresses the idea that we humans are together on all our life journeys. It is wisest for us to support each other in every way. That makes us stronger and helps us achieve better results.
It is important that we see the value of other people and respect them for who they are. Everyone has their weaknesses and their strengths. The best overall result is achieved when these different characteristics are considered.
To emphasize this, I have included three very different people in the story. Each of them is deficient in some respect. My message is that they are all valuable in their own right. When the special skills or characteristics of each of us are combined, the end result is greater than the sum of its parts.
The story also emphasizes the value of both childhood and old age ¬– as well as using strength for the benefit of others. The child can see with his clear eyes. The older man can share his knowledge of medical assistance and help find the way to the valley. The strong but blind man can use his strength with the help of others.
All the traveling companions in real life, too, need each other!
Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?
There were only physical books in my childhood, so they are naturally the most familiar to me. Even as a writer, at first, it was my ultimate wish to succeed in creating a beautiful paper book with valuable content. I imagined as many children as possible holding them in their hands and enjoying the illustrations and stories in peace, in a place of their choice.
I have read countless paper books to my children and later to my grandchildren. My bookshelves are still full of our favorite children’s books. There is nothing better than a peaceful moment you can offer the child in your arms by reading a good book together.
Technology has increased the possibilities of enjoying literature in many new ways. I approach all options with an open mind. The most important thing is the reader’s opportunity to choose the most suitable way to enjoy good literature. My own stories have also been published in all possible formats. I believe they all have their place.
In the end, the most important thing is always the quality of the content produced and a meaningful message. Good is good, even when served in different ways.
What other books are you working on in the survival series and when will they be available?
The Survival Series already has three books: Traveling Companions, Saved from the Flames, and The Owl and the Shepherd Boy. They all have strong illustrations by Catty Flores, which I think fits well with the dramatic events of the books. The style also leaves room for the reader’s thoughts, and it is possible to place the events in a wide area.
I consider it possible that there will be sequels to the series. The world is full of events and situations where you need to believe in the possibility of survival, even if everything seems impossible.
As a mother and a children’s author, my thoughts turn to children whenever there are various challenging events – such as natural disasters, accidents, or wars. Of course, it is difficult to improve the world and help even in small matters by just writing children’s books. Even so, I still see some ways to make a difference.
Writing survival stories is all about sharing experiences and putting yourself in the shoes of others. I have a unique opportunity to influence readers’ attitudes, as I can share information about things that would otherwise remain unknown. I can also increase readers’ empathy towards the suffering of others and make them ready to help.
The importance of books like these increases, particularly in complex and extensive problem situations. Good stories can make the events more understandable. The sense of community can then cross not only geographical boundaries but also cultural boundaries.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
After devastation caused by a landslide, the people of a small mountain village are forced to leave their ruined homes and embark on a difficult journey towards the valley.
However, an unlikely trio has to stay behind and wait for help. The rope-maker’s son, Tony, has injured his leg; the oldest of the village is weakened by his age; and the blind blacksmith is not likely to make the difficult trek down. They are anxiously waiting to be rescued, but they are running out of options.
Even though the odds are against them, the three companions gather their courage and set out. On this dangerous journey, they rely on each other and share the little they have left.
I Hope To Empower Young People
Krystal Winkle and the Peacemaker of Kigali follows a little girl who moves to Africa and faces danger as she fights injustice and tries to find out who she really is. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for this story: Firstly, for my birthday years ago, my husband and I traveled to Africa, trekked into the Virunga Volcanoes Park of Rwanda, and visited a large family of Mountain Gorillas. Seeing these majestic animals in their natural environment impacted me. My hope is that through Krystal’s eyes, I can shed light on how important it is that we protect them and their habitat. The research that Dian Fossey did there so many years ago is invaluable. Today, with the help of researchers, animal activists, conservationists, tourism, and the people of Rwanda, the future of the wild Mountain Gorillas is bright. Second, my hope is that Krystal can inspire young people to feel confident about who they really are because it’s empowering.
Krystal Winkle is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character’s development?
I hope to empower young people to embrace who they are, tap into their inner core of what makes them tick, be independent adults and achieve what motivates them. William Shakespeare said it best: “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Strong friendships, loyalty to yourself and others, self-reliance, never give up, determination, seek happiness.
Do you have more books planned that feature Krystal Winkle?
Yes! Krystal Winkle and Galloping Giuseppe comes out at 2022/2023. This story features a Lipizzaner, a rare horse that nearly went extinct at the end of WWII because they made such a great war horse. General George Patton is one of a few credited for saving this amazing species. Today, Lipizzaner’s are on the domesticated endangered list. My goal is to create an entire series by taking my readers around the world. Through fantasy adventure, I hope to expose my reader to a place they’ve never been while bringing awareness to a special animal that Krystal befriends.
Author Website: krystalwinkle.com
One Side Plot In Our Love Story
Colin the Crab Falls in Love follows a crab as he decides to find a spouse, and learns that the best way to do that is to just be himself. What was the inspiration for your story?
There are already so many books in the Colin the Crab Series that the characters have become good friends to me – especially Colin. Sometimes I feel like I’m following his real life. This happens deep in my imagination, and I’m just writing down the stories.
In previous books, Colin’s life story has developed to the point where he started feeling very lonely in his big house. It was time to try to find a mate, which became the book’s central theme.
The loneliness begins to trouble Colin’s mind when his circle of friends includes a starfish pair in love, a busy lizard family, and a monkfish widow living in her memories. What would Colin himself remember and miss afterward if he would spend his life alone without a particular companion of his own?
I understood the sensitivity of this matter for my friend Colin. As a shy person, it would be difficult for him to approach his crush and especially difficult to try to impress her. Colin feels he needs some advice from his friends, but on the other hand, he wants to make her own decisions, as always. – Falling in love is ultimately a very personal thing.
Colin and Clara find love by being themselves and not changing. Can you share your love story?
I have been happily married for almost 40 years. At this point, I dare to reveal how it all started because it is quite a funny story. I met a nice young man in a lift – and the rest is history!
I worked in a tall old building on the main street in a law firm. There was another office on the next level, whose people used the same lift. Gradually, the seven floors we shared in the lift with this young man were no longer enough. We started chatting for longer times on the sidewalk in front of the office building.
That’s how our story started, and two years later, we celebrated our wedding. The real love story has been the decades that have followed – all those years we have shared together as a couple and with our children and grandchildren as a family.
I am happy about everything we have been able to experience together – and that’s a lot in both our private life and working in the business. I dare say that we have become each other’s most reliable support.
Even my activities related to children’s books wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t have such a partner by my side who believes in my abilities and helps in so many ways.
That is also one side plot in our love story.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
This book – Colin the Crab Falls in Love – mainly talks about the same circle of friends that we have already met earlier in the series. These characters are individuals in every sense, and they value different things. That’s why their models of solving problems or making choices differ from each other.
The sensitive topic of finding a partner puts the well-meaning advice of friends in a new light. Colin must be able to decide which of the given advice is suitable for him and which goes too far. Drawing a line for the friends’ influence is not easy. After all, they have succeeded obviously better than Colin in their intimate relationships – at least for now.
All this with partners and spouses and making an impact may sound like an adult topic, but everything is written in a very child-friendly manner. Children will have fun following the surprising twists and turns of the story as Colin tries to please both his friends and his beloved Clara.
The most profound lesson of the story is that everyone must pursue what is most important to them. Of course, our choices must not be utterly selfish or offend others, but still, the solutions must be done by being loyal to one’s innermost self.
I also want to increase readers’ confidence in trusting themselves. The most important thing is to know yourself and stay true to it in your interactions with others, even your friends.
Will Colin and Clara have another story about their life together, if so when will it be available?
Colin and Clara’s life together has already lasted for one more book. The fourth book in the series – “Colin the Crab Gets Married” – has already been published.
New stories about their future life have already emerged in my head. Now that the family is established, it gives opportunities for exciting sequels.
In my mind, I can already see new members of the Carb family. Their adventures are developing in my imagination. Raising children isn’t exactly a simple matter either, and many different views exist.
How did the old Mrs. Monkfish raise her children? What kind of views on quality time with children do technology freak Eddie the Eel and vain Stella the Starfish have?
Now I get all excited to talk about the future of Colin and Clara after the current four books. That shows how much fun I have had writing this series. Right now, I’m working on a big project with another series that is important to me. But as soon as it’s at the right stage, Colin the Crab definitely needs to move forward in his own life story.
I believe something entirely new will happen next year in Colin the Crab’s life. I’ve even heard talk of baby fever!
Author Links: Facebook | Website
One day Finley the Frog, the director of the river museum, calls Colin for help when an accident befalls an important exhibition of shells and corals. Among the broken shelves, Colin makes a delightful discovery: a girl crab with the most beautiful eyes along the riverbank.
LITERARY TITAN 