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There Can Be Love After Grief
Hollyland follows a woman with a passion for the arts and a Hollywood playboy who fall in love and change each other. What was one thing that excited you the most about writing this novel?
I wrote this novel during the pandemic to escape to someplace cheerful, hopeful, optimistic, and full of love. I wanted to remember that there’s always beauty and possibility. The characters in the book are searching for magic—or gold dust—in their lives. They find that magic in each other, in memories of their loved ones, and in the arts. I was excited to follow the trail of gold dust they left along the way.
Was there anything in Deanna and Ryder’s relationship that you pulled from your own life?
Yes. Deanna is an arts researcher. While she’s a fictious character, I did draw from my own experience. In addition to being a novelist, I’ve also been an academic researcher specializing in the arts for over two decades. Beyond that, I absolutely love the arts. My husband does as well, and we spend much of our leisure time at museums, movies, theater, and so forth. Deanna and Ryder also share that love of the arts. Some of the places they visit and specific nods to the arts come from my own life. For example, there’s a scene at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that happens in front of a painting I’ve been lucky to see many times.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
There are two. The big restaurant scene, which takes place in LA and involves a bunch of celebrities, a director, and the head of a Hollywood film studio. That scene unfolds over two chapters and was a blast to write. My other favorite is when Deanna and Ryder exchange special gifts. I don’t want to give anything away, but the gift he gives her is my favorite moment in the book. I cried a mess of happy tears writing it.
What were some ideas that you wanted to explore in this book?
There can be love after grief. The real movie stars in our lives aren’t necessarily famous, but are those we hold most dear. Art matters. Always live and love with passion. Gold dust may be right around the corner.
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Dee Schwartz is a writer and arts researcher. Ryder Field is a famous actor descended from Hollywood royalty. On the night they meet outside a bar, their connection is palpable. Ryder’s mother—legendary actress Rebecca Field, half of Hollywood’s golden couple when she died—was kidnapped and murdered by a crazed fan in a shocking event that forever tarnished Tinseltown. Dee’s mother, too, died when she was young. Bonded by this loss, the two embark on a love story that explores their search for magic—or “gold dust”—in their lives. Everything changes, however, when Dee mysteriously disappears after an awards ceremony. Is history repeating itself? Can there truly be a happily ever after in Hollywood?
Set against the backdrop of contemporary Los Angeles, Hollyweird is a poignant novel that moves fluidly between romance, humor, suspense, and joy.
Doing Time in California
Nearing the end of his jail sentence, Kimo decides to make a quick escape for the weekend. Holding the image of golfing with friends in mind, he walks off the premises during yard duty. A chance encounter with the alluring Rachel turns his solo getaway into an adventure for two. They meet up with Kimo’s best friend, Frank, Frank’s brother, and his wife, who has long been the love of Kimo’s life. Kimo’s perspective shifts as he learns of tragic developments that have occurred since his incarceration, and his free days are now filled with a purpose more significant than golf.
Doing Time in California is an entertaining, humorous and thought-provoking novel by Dwight Jesmer. This is an ensemble story that plays out like a road trip story, but the characters are more compelling than some B movie comedy and the exploration of life throughout the novel feels meaningful. The characters are unique, and their various quirks compliment each other in fun and funny ways.
The tone throughout the book is friendly and lighthearted, so even as we navigate morally complicated subject matter it’s a pleasurable experience for the reader. Throughout the story, Kimo references events from his past, but the storyline stays firmly rooted in the present; which makes it easy for the reader to feel like they are along for the ride with Kimo, experiencing everything in real time with him.
Through themes of sin and penance, the author threads questions of morality into the story, so that readers are constantly considering the goodness of the protagonist. This question of right and wrong serves as the main device that drives the drama forward throughout the novel. Though nontraditional, I found it very interesting to follow the story in this manner. I heartily enjoyed this story and the creative examination of morals but I would have enjoyed a deeper exploration of the minor characters because I found them all so fascinating. Doing Time in California is a charismatic and evocative novel that will appeal to anyone looking for a story with depth but keeps things light.
Pages: 282 | ASIN: B0BM3BV8NS
There Is Hope For The Oppressed
Full Circle follows a woman who sets about creating a better life for her family away from her abusive husband with the help of her brother-in-law. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration came from believing that even through adversity and despair there is always hope.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
I tried to keep the characters real, everyday people going through life’s journey. It is in their love, friendship and their faith, their family ties that bind them. All of this comes together for Lucia and helps her through it all.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to show that there is hope for the oppressed, and the abused. The caring and love of family and friends. Hard work and determination has its rewards.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I will write a children’s story based on my childhood adventures and my experiences growing up in a big family. Actually wrote a short story on it, so I am ahead of the game, just have to get to it.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Icarus Never Flew ‘Round Here
Icarus Never Flew ‘Round Here is a literary fiction novel that follows the story of Dale Samuel, a lonely rancher who has isolated himself in Oregon’s High Desert. Dale’s only companion is his wife Janice and their farm animals. Isolation from the world has made Dale question the complexities of life as he often finds himself wondering how little he knows about existence. Dale talks to the horizon as if it contains all the answers that he seeks so desperately, the main one being as to whether he and his wife are just as cursed as the rest of mankind, or if they’re special. The mysteries of the universe, and his own curiosity, have a huge effect on Dale’s life as the story unfolds.
Icarus Never Flew ’round here by Matt Edwards is a thought-provoking novel that follows a contemplative protagonist on an intellectually invigorating journey. The novel slowly builds up the characters, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the world. Before I knew it, I was engrossed and captivated by the character. Dale Samuel is a character that is relatable but still compelling. He is a lonely rancher who questions even the slightest details of existence, which I feel a lot of readers will be able to relate to. Readers will find themselves wondering the same things as readers realize how little they know of the universe and existence; and that philosophical meandering is intriguing. The author has written a novel that is bound to pique reader’s curiosity and leave them thinking about things long after they put the book down.
The southern accent of the characters was a nice touch and served to make the characters feel authentic and also gives readers a feel for the Oregon High Desert. Dale’s evident fascination and connection with the everlasting horizon is a beautiful aspect of the story. I really enjoyed the descriptions in this book as it painted a vivid visual of a beautiful place. Dale’s connection to nature really elevates the descriptions and makes the backdrop almost ethereal. At first, the extent of Dale’s curiosity is acceptable and seems normal for someone who is completely isolated. However, as time passes, we see that his curiosity begins to get threatening and maddening until eventually, it takes over his senses.
Icarus Never Flew ‘Round Here is a reflective coming-of-age novel that explores questions about life in an impassioned and potent way. If you’re looking for a meditative novel with a unique voice, then this is a book that will keep you thinking well after you put the book down.
Pages: 160 | ASIN: B0BG8Q9JKG
21st Century Knight
Waiting ‘Round to Die follows a man who is facing an existential crisis and embarks on a journey to find meaning. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Life. My life. Other people’s lives. All the people in the Target by my house buying things they probably don’t need. I was living this life, surrounded by the trappings of ‘success,’ and I just kept asking myself—what’s the point? Was the point to fill my 2,000-square foot suburban home with Restoration Hardware furniture? Because I did! Do I win now? Do I get an award? Is this the legacy I am going to leave for my child? And, honestly, I wanted to flee the life I’d built for myself, but my familial obligations kept me anchored in place. So I fled in my head. And when I fled, I took my dead uncle with me, because I knew deep down inside that things would be better if he was there.
Glen Grant was a fairly famous writer in his own right. You should look him and his Obake tales up. Once I had Glen and the narrator on the road, I sent them off to find the meaning of something. I guess it’s at least alluded to that the narrator wants to find the meaning of life, but I feel like he really just wants to find meaning in life. He got no meaning from being a husband. No meaning from being a suburbanite. No meaning from his money. He had some meaning from being a father, but his child no longer needed him. So, he’s out there looking for that meaning in the kind of life he dreamed of living, not the one he just sort of fell into.
The protagonist is an interesting character with unique dimensions to him. What were some driving ideals behind his character’s development?
When I was a kid, I watched the movie version of the musical Camelot a lot. Like, basically any time I possibly could, I would watch Camelot. And when I watched Camelot, I dreamed of being Lancelot—I think a lot of kids could identify with that. Lancelot was the best. He had the shiniest armor. He was played by Franco Nero, who was a very handsome man. Arthur was great, but Arthur was flawed. Arthur lost his woman. Yes, Lancelot took his woman, and in doing so Lancelot quit being perfect, but he was still the most badass knight in all of Camelot. Just watch the scene where he flees the castle after Mordred catches him with Guinevere—he basically takes out the entire castle guard by himself!
Why do I mention this? It’s because Lancelot had purpose. The narrator in my book has no purpose until he takes to the road, and I guess that’s the driving ideal, if you will. That search for purpose. The guy wants to find something to hold onto. A reason to keep on going. So he goes out looking for it. And I think that’s what makes him relatable. If you just take a cursory look at the narrator then maybe you won’t like him. After all, this is a guy who leaves what seems to be a perfectly fine life to go out and essentially ‘party’ his way across the country. But if you take a deeper look, that’s not really the case. The guy is basically a 21st-century knight errant on a quest. While he doesn’t necessarily have to physically fight—I mean, there are a couple fights, but they’re basically things he tries to flee—he is still roaming, searching for something else. Something more. That longing is what the character was built on and it is the foundation for everything that comes after.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The major themes were purpose and meaning, but there was another one that was very important and that was love. For all intents and purposes the narrator is in a loveless marriage. He’s not getting anything from his wife, so that’s not the love story. Somewhere deep down inside he does still love Claire, even though he hasn’t seen her in two decades. But that’s not the love story either. The love story is the love between the narrator and his dead uncle.
Obviously this is not a romantic love, but I don’t think that renders it any less important. Glen was this guy’s mentor, his confidant. In a lot of ways Glen was his best friend. The narrator can only assume that, had Glen still been alive, he would not find himself in the place he ended up. But, as is usually the case, life had other ideas and it took Glen away from him. But it gave him back! And the story culminates with the two men standing on the beach at the end of their trip and the narrator finally telling his uncle he loves him. Soon after, he disappears. My actual Uncle Glen, the notable writer, died in a hospital bed in Honolulu in 2003 and I don’t know that I ever really got the chance to tell him just how important he was to me. I was thankful to sort of have the chance to say it in this book.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I actually have a collection of short stories I am hoping to have published before the end of the year. One of them is kind of an outtake from when I was writing Waiting ‘Round to Die. It was just something I started writing while I was writing the novel, and it didn’t really fit into the story I told with the book, but it definitely has the same tone and feel to it. The other stories are a little older, and perhaps a little less longing, but they tie in nicely with the new story, so I would love to get those out there as soon as possible.
I’m also working on a longer piece of fiction called Summer of ’85. I like to call it my ‘80s movie because I feel like the plot would work really well in a John Hughes movie. It’s about a kid growing up in a small lumber town in Oregon who somehow discovers rap music, before it really became mainstream. I’m about 2/3 done with the first draft. Hopefully it will be available sometime towards the end of next year.
Author Links: Goodreads
A nameless man, existing perilously close to the edge, flees his suburban home for the open road in a last-ditch effort to connect with the life he once lived. On the road he finds his long-lost uncle who takes him on a continent-spanning adventure where they meet Civil War generals, a legendary Navajo, and a rotating cast of characters who may, or may not, have the answers to the questions the man is asking. Over the course of thousands of miles and through countless towns and bars, they hastily push toward the western horizon and the promise it may hold.
The Few Cowgirls Around
A Cowgirl’s Stories is a companion book to the trilogy featuring Jaime Cruz, but here we get to focus on Sallie’s character. Why did you feel like Sallie needed a book of her own to tell her story?
Sallie was introduced very slowly in the trilogy and while as the story progressed, we learned how influential she was to her family, we never had the chance to really hear her story and the stories of her parents. My editor friends all agreed that when the spirit moved Sallie to tell her story, this author needed to take her promptings seriously. I first told them I didn’t think Sallie was in any rush. Then one morning at breakfast, my spouse asked what I was thinking about. (I guess I looked like I was off in some distant place—which I was.) I replied, “I’m not sure you want to know. Sallie is writing the first chapter of her story.” As with all my novels, once I start to write I write everyday as though some tap has been turned on and won’t turn off until the story is told.
What sources of inspiration did you pull from to create Sallie’s character?
Visualizing Sallie was easy. Living in West Texas as I did for many years, there were the few cowgirls around that made my descriptions of her authentic—if a bit of an amalgamation.
As to her essence, I’ve known some strong women in my life including my own mother. I’ll tip my hat to them for all they have taught me by their example. None ever smoked Swisher Sweets or had Sallie’s course tongue. Still, it wasn’t hard for me to imagine that growing up as the eldest daughter on a remote ranch would imbue Sallie with the love of nature, humor, grit and tough old cowgirl demeanor that defines her character.
What scene in the book was the most emotional for you to write?
I have to mention a couple scenes: the day’s events when Bill shares with his in-laws and Sallie, Billy’s leaving home; and when Billy mourns in solitude on the Sierra Diablo, the passing of his beloved grandparents. They share in common the hardship of grief and mourning in the midst of estrangement—making any sadness all the harder to bear.
Did you feel like you were able to complete Sallie’s story with this novel?
Yes. While she would, no doubt, continue her influential role in the family, she clearly states in the final pages, it is for others to pass along her gifts of love, understanding and wisdom to those who follow along with their own stories. Any future telling would fall to Noah or Billy, though I’m not sure the author will get the job done. It would only make sense to me if such an addition followed several years from now when Billy or Noah can really weave a new generational tale.
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When her great-nephew, Noah, says to her, “Grandpa writes the poems; you need to write the stories,” Sallie reflects upon the lives of those before her, those in her life now and the extraordinary healing that comes to all when hearts are open.
Sallie’s own life has been molded by her father’s reverence for “nature’s symbiosis” and her mother’s contemplative spirit. She blends her characteristic wit and gravitas with her unending love for the people, land and creatures that surround her. She takes us along on the journey as only she can.
Late In the Day
We all sit and think about the future and what’s to come. What should we expect when a tragedy befalls us? Such as losing a loved one. We shake at the mere thought of it. Brett Shapiro’s thought-provoking book, Late in The Day, explores this emotional strife in a thoughtful and candid way that makes the idea approachable.
This enlightening book follows three individuals in three different settings; all wandering in a very similar path in life however. Honey, Hank, and Seth find themselves feeling this sense of detachment in life due to troubled personal circumstances with their spouses, or late spouses. Hank’s wife, Marilyn, died five years ago. His children live afar, leaving him on his own for most of the time except for on special occasions. Seth is left with Winston, his dog, following his divorce with his husband, Yoni. Honey lives with her husband, but not really. Having minimum interactions as they see each other in passing, to sleeping in different rooms to his sudden death. All three are fighting their own battles, but on similar grounds; isolation on Florida’s coastline.
Readers follow the three as they encounter each other due to their similar ritual of a solitary walk on the beach at five in the morning. Their friendship develops further with every step and every walk. Through this friendship the three find the companionship they’ve subconsciously been longing for and find solace in each other.
Late in the Day explores the harsh realities of life and conveys interesting ideas through a unique and uncensored perspective. This heartfelt story also gives a sense of hope to readers and teaches a valuable lesson. Companionship doesn’t just come from a romantic relationship; it could also come from friendship. And no matter what stage in life you are, it’s never too late to make friends!
One of my favorite sayings from the book is an exchange between Hank and Honey, where Hank says, “Nothing belongs to us. We don’t possess anything.” To which Honey responds, “but there are certain things that we cling to anyway, as if our life depended on it. For me, it’s this place. If this place has to change, I want to have a say.” This is a profound exchange that reflects the contemplative feel of the whole book.
Pages: 358 | ASIN: 1639885331
LITERARY TITAN 