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The Dream Lives On follows a man fleeing with his children and mother from Ukraine to the US to seek refuge, who falls in love with a successful woman searching for meaning in her life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When the war began in Ukraine, it came as a tremendous shock for me. I moved to the United States from Ukraine back in 2005, but I still feel a very strong connection to my home country. I used to visit Ukraine every year. Many of my friends and relatives still live in Kyiv and I am in touch with them regularly. I was completely devastated and extremely worried about everyone when the war started. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved since the war began. Ukrainian residents still suffer from missile and drone attacks daily-just last night there was a deadly air attack that injured and killed people, as well as damaged some buildings. This is a nightmare with which we are forced to live since 2022.
Given all this background, it was only natural for me to start writing a fiction novel that takes place during the first months of the war. This is what was on my mind the whole time.
While all the characters of the novel are fictional, the events are not. As the Russian army started approaching, Ukrainians needed to make a choice of either staying or leaving Ukraine. This was not an easy choice…The characters in my novel took different routes and outcomes were quite different. Not everyone survived, unfortunately. You’ll need to read the book to know how things worked out for them.
As to the romance between the main characters, Viktor and Teresa, I wasn’t originally planning on that. But this idea came to my mind as I was progressing through the book. I thought that both Viktor and Teresa were wonderful people who faced a lot of adversity (for very different reasons). They deserved to find their happiness in the end. And happiness for me means being with a person who loves you, respects you, and truly understands you. It does not involve money, power, or other similar things.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
For me, the most interesting ones are growth and development. Throughout their lives, people have new experiences, they learn, they adapt, they evolve and hopefully become better people in the end. In my current novel, characters learn to live in completely new circumstances. Their world essentially comes crashing down, but they remain true to their values. They help each other and build a new future. It might be quite different from the one they expected originally, but they learn to live in it. The most important thing in life is staying true to your values, no matter what happens.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
There are multiple scenes in my novel which capture the essence of war and tremendous hardships faced by civilians, especially small children. I tried to watch as many documentaries as possible to give an accurate account of what happened. Some of the most critical scenes are those that depict the damp bomb shelter in which adults, children and their pets gather; the Yurchenko family’s miraculous escape from the town of Irpin under the Russian missiles, and the crowded train platform where thousands of frightened people wait for a scarce train to Warsaw.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I have two books in the works.
One of them is the sequel to The Dream Lives On, which would complete the trilogy. There are still some unanswered questions remaining. First, we still need to know why Solomon left his home country of Tanzania and moved to Ukraine. What prompted him? Did something bad happen to him back home? We also need to know what happened to Solomon’s sister, Gloria. Does she still live in Tanzania, or did she move away? What did her life turn out like? I know some answers already, but not all, so more work remains to be done.
The second book I’m writing is a novel inspired by the expat life in Uzbekistan. For the last two years, I’ve been living in Uzbekistan together with my family due to my job (I work in international development). I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be living in Central Asia, but sometimes life takes you to the most unexpected places. I must say it’s been a very interesting experience which I would very much like to reflect in a new fiction novel. I already have a few chapters written and I hope to finish the book before I leave my posting in Uzbekistan.
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All he is looking for is a refuge for his family; falling in love is the last thing he expects on the other side of the Atlantic. What’s more, he would have never guessed that his journey could help his relatives connect the dots in a decades-old family mystery.
Teresa Jameson, a top executive in an international company, has lived for sixteen years in a seemingly happy marriage. Or maybe she just closed her eyes too often and refused to face the reality?
As ample cracks start to show, she needs to dig deep into her soul. Will she look away just one more time, or give the new relationship a chance to flourish?
Hidden Opportunities for Growth
The Year of My Humiliation follows a brilliant but morally adrift plastic surgeon during what he dubs his “year of humility” as he documents his attempts at personal reform—not out of love or duty, but from a cold, self-imposed challenge to bring his life under control after a scandal that nearly ends his career. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A friend once left his house in anger and accidentally backed up over his child’s stroller, completely wrecking it. The implication was devastating – what if his child had been in it?
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
When developing Michael, I focused on creating a character who could experience a deeply personal, emotional reckoning without losing authenticity. Morally, I wanted his choices to feel grounded in the realities of human behavior—how we resist change until forced, how pride blinds us to our flaws, and how growth often begins with small, humbling acts.
Michael starts as someone defined by pride and control, but I aimed for his transformation to unfold slowly, in moments that reveal his vulnerability. For instance, making his wife tea wasn’t just an act of humility—it was a subtle yet profound shift in how he saw himself and his relationships.
Emotionally, I focused on Michael’s relationships—especially with the hospital psychiatrist and his estranged son. These interactions highlight the vulnerability of opening oneself to others and the uncertainty of giving love or seeking forgiveness. His choices reflect the gradual, messy process of self-discovery and the risks required to change.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I was deeply interested in the intervention of grace—not as something soft or comforting, but as a force that’s often shocking, even brutal. Grace breaks through our carefully constructed facades and leaves us no choice but to confront the truths we’ve been avoiding. For Michael, this means grappling with the fallout of his mistakes and the painful realities of the relationships he’s damaged.
I wanted to explore how suffering, while deeply mysterious, can act as a crucible for transformation. It’s through Michael’s humiliation—those raw and uncomfortable moments where his pride is stripped away—that the possibility for redemption begins to take shape. Grace doesn’t promise an easy path, but it offers him a chance to rebuild, starting with the messy work of repairing his connection with his estranged son.
These themes—grace, suffering, and redemption—felt essential to me because they mirror the way real change often happens: unexpectedly, painfully, yet profoundly. They remind us of the hidden opportunities for growth buried within even the most difficult experiences.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next novel is more a metaphysical one, about a woman’s journey through a life review after a possibly fatal accident (yes, that’s ambiguous for a reason!) Its release isn’t imminent – I want to deliver a compelling and thought-provoking story. To keep in touch, follow me on Facebook and/or sign up for my email list on lilyfieldpress.com.
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Michael, an arrogant pediatric plastic surgeon, believes he controls his own life and his wife Rosie’s, until the discovery of Rosie’s duplicity punctures his self-importance and leads to tragedy. Consumed by remorse, he begins journaling his attempts at reparation, beginning with small, humbling acts – like making his wife’s morning tea.
But proving he’s emotionally fit to wield a scalpel again demands more than trivial self-abasement. Under the scrutiny of a hospital psychiatrist with unorthodox methods, Michael’s carefully constructed justifications crumble, exposing the raw truth he’s desperate to avoid.
Struggling to repair the damage only deepens his humiliation. And the one person who might pave the way to his redemption – his son, “the Jackass” – hasn’t spoken to him in years.
And he has no intention of starting now…
“The Year of My Humiliation” resonates as a tale of psychological and spiritual battles against family, God, and self – delivering a riveting, thought-provoking examination of the human heart and the life-changing power of forgiveness.
The Dream Lives On
War tears lives apart but in rare, unexpected moments, it forges powerful connections. The Dream Lives On by Valeriya Goffe is a poignant exploration of this paradox, unfolding against the backdrop of a brutal conflict. As the war in Ukraine escalates into a devastating reality, Viktor Yurchenko makes a split-second, life-altering decision: flee to America with his three children and aging mother. Their journey exposes them to the raw, immediate face of war, but also to something just as powerful compassion, solidarity, and the invisible threads of human connection that stretch across borders and generations.
In stark contrast, Teresa Jameson lives in a pristine, orderly world. From the outside, her life gleams with success. A top executive at a prestigious firm, mother to a high-achieving daughter, and wife to an equally driven husband, she appears to have it all. Yet beneath the polished surface, her life is hollow. The illusion soon shatters, forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths and reevaluate what truly holds meaning. Authenticity, purpose, and emotional depth, things long buried begin to resurface.
These two seemingly unconnected lives intersect in a profound way. What follows is a richly layered narrative of healing and rediscovery. Through shared experience and vulnerability, Viktor and Teresa find common ground. Their paths, shaped by chaos, clarity, and courage, illuminate the resilient spirit of the human heart.
Goffe’s storytelling is both tender and unflinching. Her portrayal of war’s civilian toll is vivid, her narrative pulsing with fear, uncertainty, and loss. Yet she also captures moments of grace, small but powerful glimpses of humanity’s enduring warmth. Each character embodies resilience in a different form. Whether fleeing danger or navigating emotional upheaval, they persist, adapt, and ultimately evolve.
Told through multiple perspectives, the novel builds with subtle intricacy. Each voice is distinct, and each storyline is purposeful. As the narrative threads weave together, the plot expands in surprising, satisfying directions, offering both emotional resonance and structural sophistication.
The Dream Lives On is a tribute to the everyday people swept up in the tides of war. It speaks softly but powerfully of endurance, compassion, and the pursuit of light, even when surrounded by darkness. Goffe reminds us that even in the most fractured moments, the human spirit has an extraordinary capacity to survive and connect.
Pages: 267 | ASIN : B0DWJYRSM2
The Year of My Humiliation
The Year of My Humiliation is a raw, unfiltered dive into the mind of a brilliant but morally adrift plastic surgeon during what he dubs his “year of humility.” Framed as a daily journal, the story documents his attempts at personal reform—not out of love or duty, but from a cold, self-imposed challenge to bring his life under control after a scandal that nearly ends his career. His goal? Make his estranged wife a cup of tea every morning. That’s it. But the deeper you go, the clearer it becomes that this isn’t just about tea. It’s about control, shame, ego, resentment, and—most surprisingly—grief.
The writing floored me. There’s this calm, clinical precision to the narrator’s voice—understandable since he’s a surgeon—but it’s constantly bumping up against his inner chaos. You can feel it. The scene on Day 1, where he’s fumbling through the kitchen trying to make his wife tea for the first time in twenty-four years, was so mundane it was funny—and also sad. That tension carries through the entire book. One minute, I’m smirking at a sarcastic jab; the next, I’m sucker-punched by something brutally honest. Because underneath the smugness and detachment, there’s someone flailing to connect but absolutely terrified of intimacy.
What really hit me were the glimpses of his daughter, Michaelina. Especially the part where he looks at a school photo and focuses not on her face—but on a stray lock of her hair. That small detail holds so much love. He can’t say he misses her or that he’s grieving, not directly. But the book is full of these sideways confessions.
There are moments, though, where the narrator gets under your skin. He’s sexist, elitist, often cruel, and just plain selfish. He compares having intercourse with nurses to fast food and bashes his son with unrelenting bitterness. But I couldn’t stop reading. Because as much as I wanted to condemn him, I also wanted to understand him. When he meets Dr. Thurman, the psychiatrist who’s tasked with evaluating him, the power struggle between them is electric. She sees through him, and he hates it. She tells him, “You may be Mr. Expert on human faces, but I’m the expert on human shame.” She nailed it. That’s what this book is really about I think—shame, and how we hide from it.
This isn’t a redemption story, at least not in the traditional sense. It’s more like watching someone flail toward the possibility of change, failing often but trying in fits and starts. And maybe that’s more honest. I wouldn’t say the narrator grows into a better man—he just grows more aware of how much damage he’s done. The final chapters aren’t triumphant. They’re sobering.
I’d recommend The Year of My Humiliation to readers who like their fiction sharp, introspective, and full of complicated characters. It’s not a feel-good story. But it feels real in that uncomfortable, vulnerable way that stays with you.
Pages: 352 | ISBN : 0967149266
The Landlady of Maple Avenue
After reading The Landlady of Maple Avenue, I’m left with a mix of admiration and empathy for the complex family tapestry the book presents. It tells the story of Marceline Gillis and her family, taking us through decades of emotional highs and lows in their lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Marceline, a stubborn yet caring matriarch, navigates the trials of raising her children, managing her properties, and dealing with losses that force her to reckon with her past. The book touches on family loyalty, the bittersweet passage of time, and the undercurrents of pride and generational conflict within a family that can be both loving and tumultuous.
The writing shines when it captures Marceline’s fierce and unbending personality. There’s a scene where she argues with her bank manager about an overdraft, refusing to admit her error until the last minute. Her interactions with the bank manager and her stubbornness felt all too real, showing her pride and aversion to appearing vulnerable or mistaken. But these moments of rigidity are balanced by glimpses of her care for her family, though expressed in non-traditional ways. Marceline’s relationship with her children, especially Bernie and Johnny, is complicated by her own personal struggles and regrets, making her both an imposing figure and a woman weighed down by her choices.
The family dynamics are as rich as they are fraught. Marceline’s interactions with her daughters-in-law, particularly Julie, show an interesting but tense familial push and pull. Julie’s efforts to teach her mother-in-law how to manage checks and the bank registry reveal the gap between their generations. Marceline’s resistance to the “modern” way of banking is both humorous and frustrating, and it speaks to her desire to hold on to some sense of control. The struggle between Marceline’s need for autonomy and her sons’ well-meaning attempts to support her adds another layer of realism to the story, as it reveals the tensions of caregiving that many families experience.
A surprisingly touching part of the book is the unexpected Florida trip. Marceline’s “reluctant” journey with her son Tommy to see alligators adds humor and warmth to the story and provides a rare moment of levity in their otherwise serious lives. Marceline’s confusion about being on a plane and her eventual confrontation with a misbehaving child in flight are memorable for the way they capture her no-nonsense nature in unfamiliar settings. This scene allowed me to see her vulnerabilities in a new light, and I felt both amused and touched by her innocence mixed with her strong demeanor.
The Landlady of Maple Avenue is a heartfelt and thought-provoking family fiction novel that would appeal to readers who enjoy family dramas with intricate but flawed characters. While Marceline’s sternness can be off-putting, her journey through motherhood, loss, and self-reflection creates a powerful story that will resonate with readers.
Pages: 401 | ASIN : B0DJT699SD
Forever, Now
Forever, Now by Haleh Shahrzad is a poignant and emotional novel that follows Darya, a woman whose marriage to David begins with hope but quickly unravels in the face of infidelity and deceit. What starts as the promise of a happy life together is shattered when Darya uncovers David’s lies, forcing her to confront the harsh reality of a broken marriage. As she struggles with the betrayal and the challenge of raising their son, JD, on her own, Darya embarks on a personal journey of self-discovery, learning to redefine her happiness and reclaim her strength.
Shahrzad weaves her cultural background and personal insights into a touching narrative that resonates on a universal level. Themes of betrayal, motherhood, and resilience are at the heart of this story, making it relatable to anyone who has ever faced heartache. What makes Forever, Now especially compelling is the raw honesty in the portrayal of Darya’s emotional turmoil. Shahrzad doesn’t sugarcoat the pain of watching a marriage crumble, but she also offers moments of hope and growth, creating a delicate balance between sorrow and the possibility of renewal.
One of the novel’s standout qualities is its portrayal of the internal conflict many women, especially mothers, experience as they wrestle with personal desires and family obligations. Darya’s determination to keep her marriage intact for the sake of her son, despite its toxicity, reflects the sacrifices many women make in the name of family. Her emotional journey is a tribute to the strength required to move forward even when every part of you wants to hold on to what’s familiar.
Darya’s internal reflections often revisit familiar emotional themes, which authentically captures the complexity of grief and confusion. However, I felt this approach can occasionally affect the pacing of the story. I think a deeper exploration of Darya’s journey after her marriage ended might have provided additional momentum, offering further insights into her personal growth beyond the challenges she faces.
Forever, Now remains an evocative and moving read. Shahrzad’s straightforward yet powerful prose brings Darya’s emotional landscape to life, making her journey both relatable and inspiring. For readers who appreciate stories of personal growth, resilience, and the emotional complexity of human relationships, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impact.
Pages: 169 | ASIN : B0D4N1SM7V
The Summer Before
The Summer Before by Dianne C. Braley is a coming-of-age novel that takes us through the emotional complexities of Madeline Plympton’s life as she navigates the fragility of family relationships, personal trauma, and the bond of sisterhood with her best friend, Summer. Set against the idyllic backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard, the story delves into how deeply a single secret can fracture lives, casting a shadow over the seemingly perfect world Madeline once knew. As she uncovers the truth about her father’s dark actions, the past and present collide, forcing her to grapple with painful revelations and her own identity.
Braley’s writing style pulls you in with its vivid sense of place and atmosphere. The descriptions of the island are so alive you can almost smell the saltwater and feel the summer sun on your skin. Yet, beneath the warmth of these memories lies a growing tension. The prose seamlessly shifts from the calm to the chaotic, reflecting Madeline’s inner turmoil. One aspect that stood out is the raw exploration of trauma and its aftermath. Summer’s abuse and the ripple effect it has on Madeline’s life are handled with sensitivity, but Braley doesn’t shy away from the discomfort. The courtroom scenes, for instance, felt painfully honest. As Madeline hears the details of her father’s actions, her internal conflict leaps off the page. The way Braley captures Madeline’s struggle between loyalty to her father and her love for Summer is gripping and heartbreaking. You can feel the weight of guilt and confusion press down on Madeline as she tries to reconcile her memories of her father with the man she now knows he is. Madeline and Summer’s friendship is the heart of the story, and Braley beautifully captures the complexity of close relationships. There’s a bittersweet quality to their interactions, particularly in scenes where they reminisce about their childhoods, like when they laugh about their names, Summer Starr and Madeline Plympton, and pretend to be old ladies. Their bond feels real, the kind of friendship that can weather any storm, even the darkest secrets.
The Summer Before is a poignant and haunting novel that tackles difficult subjects with grace. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally charged narratives with strong character development. If you’re someone who loves stories about the complexities of friendship, family secrets, and personal growth, this book will resonate deeply with you. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions because Braley doesn’t hold back. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
Pages: 262 | ASIN : B0DH9XFXZT
Life is Unpredictable
Until It Was Gone follows a woman who has left her marriage of forty years and sets out to try and reconnect with their estranged daughter and her grandchild, whom she has never met. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was a marriage and family therapist for over thirty-five years, so all my novels focus on families and how they traverse life’s problems and demonstrate their resilience. In this novel, I wanted to show how contemporary problems interact with a family trying its best to solve their problems and move forward. Among these difficulties are COVID, marital separation, mass shooting, parent/child estrangement, adult survival of childhood sexual abuse, and abortion. Despite the weightiness of these problems, the story is often very humorous.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I enjoyed writing Gretchen most. She is a tough woman with a big heart who has faced the tragic loss of her husband. She is curmudgeonly and yet tender. She also has the most important monologue in the book, a scene that took considerable time to write.
Laney was a challenge mainly because she is a lead character and is female. As a male writer, I work hard to avoid female stereotypes and, instead, emphasize strength and independence and resolve.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I am always interested in family dysfunction and how families address it. All families have some degree of dysfunction. How they draw on their basic connectedness to support one another and make it through the dilemmas they face is often what defines a family.
I am very interested in family/life transitions, periods when family members and the family, as a whole, must make adjustments and changes (often ones they don’t want to make) so that family members can grow. All transitions involve some degree of loss. Members have to let go of what was in order to discover what will be.
I find that another theme that runs through most of my novels is how we deal with the randomness of our lives, the things that cannot be predicted or prevented. A death, an illness, an unjust law, the sudden end of a relationship. How we think about and cope with the eventuality of death often defines how we will live.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next novel is entitled, Last Alive. I am almost finished with the first draft. It might appear in 2025. The phenomenon of roadside memorials (crosses and other objects by the side of the road, that are remembrances of loved ones lost in automobile accidents) drew my attention and plays a significant role in the story of yet another family.
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Laney leaves for the Oklahoma panhandle in search of Roz, their estranged daughter, who left home at sixteen, and the nineteen-year-old granddaughter, Maggie, Laney has never met.
Shortly after she leaves, Franklin contracts COVID which morphs into long COVID. His episodes of fogginess and disorientation awaken memories of abuse at the hands of his father. His sister comes to take care of him, but she needs to return home soon for the sentencing of a mass murderer who killed her husband.
If that weren’t enough, Maggie becomes pregnant and, due to medical complications, needs an abortion, but she lives in a state where it’s outlawed. What will she do? Where will she go? Will the family find the resilience to come together for everyone’s sake?
Until It Was Gone tells of a family trying to make life work while being pummeled by the exigencies of contemporary society. It celebrates the thin strands of hope that hold us together and move us forward.
