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False but Glittering World
The Hollywood Backlash Moon follows a young woman living in Southern California with her aunt and uncle who tries to solve the mystery of why her cousin was murdered. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I like stories of culture shock. The main character, Katie from Brooklyn, is as down-to-earth as they come, and she finds herself living with her show business relatives. The aunt in particular is so fame-obsessed that she’s practically an honest-to-goodness lunatic. Many years ago I worked for a motion picture company, and then a theatrical talent agency, and thought I’d set this book against that kind of false but glittering world, where so many people just aren’t who they appear to be. That makes it a lot harder for a character like Katie to figure out what’s going on when her cousin gets murdered, but she doesn’t stop trying.
What character did you enjoy writing for?
Was there one that was more challenging to write for? I most enjoyed writing about Katie because she’s like the voice of reason in the middle of the madness of this murder case. Katie isn’t easily fooled and she couldn’t care less about chasing fame. She just wants to figure out who killed her cousin. I also had a blast creating the character of Floriana, the crazy fame-seeking aunt. Floriana is so far gone that she thinks she still looks like a teenager when she doesn’t, and more, and worse. Meanwhile, on television, she’s playing a mother. It’s always a lot more fun to write a character that is way out of control because those kind of people shake things up.
The era known as the Golden Age of Hollywood is replete with accounts of excess, glamour, clandestine transactions, and strife. What prompted the inclusion of Eva’s encounter with a former Nazi in California?
I set the mystery in 1964, only 19 years since the end of World War II. I believe a lot of Americans don’t even think twice about it, but in Europe, so many former Nazis totally escaped justice. The head honchos were tried at Nuremberg, sure, but what about the lower-level thugs? After the war ended they just went back to living their lives. Can you imagine living among such people, where your teacher or doctor or the shop owner on the corner once carried out the worst horrors of a barbaric regime? I saw a documentary about it, which I found chilling, and decided to include one of them in this story. Katie’s boss is Eva, a wonderful Jewish costume designer originally from Berlin, who escaped the Nazis after Kristallnacht with three friends, one of whom is now running the movie studio where they work. They thought the Nazi who tormented them and their families, Dietzel, was dead, but no, he’s alive and well and furious they mentioned him by name in a magazine article. So there he is, spotted on the streets of California, free to be a tourist, maybe – or is he there for some other purpose, like to finish what he started back in 1938?
What is the next book you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The next book is CHILD OF SECRETS FROM AFAR. It’s set during 1975 and early 1976, right after the fall of Saigon and Operation Babylift, when Vietnamese orphans were sent to the United States and other countries to be adopted. A very nice Midwestern couple adopts two of them, but one, age eight, won’t reveal anything about her past. A man is seen lurking around, watching that child. The parents are alarmed by this, the little girl won’t say who the man is, and then, the child ultimately gets abducted. It will be available on Valentine’s Day and is up for pre-order already.
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It’s 1964, and Katie Hathaway, almost but not quite twenty-one, has been living in sunny Southern California with her television star aunt and uncle, and their various children and staff, since her parents died ten years earlier. Her uncle is decent, but his wife, the aunt, is a vainglorious pain in the rump. Jealous Aunt Floriana picks a fight with her daughter Clover and causes the girl to flee the house in a hysterical huff. When Clover doesn’t return, Katie fears the worst. A day later Clover is found murdered in a crime that doesn’t make any initial sense.
On top of all else, Katie works as an assistant to costume designer Eva Zeitoune at Grand Manor Studios. Eva, late of Berlin, left Germany with three colleagues right before the start of the Second World War. As Katie tries to figure out Clover’s murder, Eva recognizes the notorious Nazi who tormented her family taking a stroll on Van Nuys Boulevard and it turns out he’s arrived with a scheme for revenge. What exactly are we all living under, Katie wonders – some kind of a Hollywood backlash moon?
Cogitatio: (Shadows in the Wind – Book Two)
Kathryn’s journey into the enigmatic world of the HGS (Hope & Global Support) takes a dramatic turn in Cogitatio, the second installment in McKinley Aspen’s riveting “Shadows of the Wind” series. A life once unfamiliar to Kathryn suddenly takes on new meaning as she embraces the fabulous opportunity to impact the world in a positive way. However, her commitment to the cause brings unforeseen challenges, including an assignment that leads to incarceration without trial, charges, or explanation.
This perplexing circumstance unravels as part of the greater HGS mission, offering Kathryn a glimpse into the labyrinthine path she must tread. The seemingly insurmountable task of stopping the Paolucci crime family’s expansion is compounded by a deeply personal connection: the syndicate’s leader is part of her family.
Aspen’s storytelling prowess shines in Cogitatio. Though not a direct continuation of its predecessor, Praesidium, the narrative quickly immerses readers in Kathryn’s new high-stakes situation without needlessly rehashing prior events. The pace is measured and deliberate, occasionally dwelling on details but never at the expense of reader engagement. The synergy among Kathryn and her team pulsates through the pages, their shared discovery of abilities and purpose forging a conspiratorial bond with the reader.
The battle lines in Cogitatio are sharply drawn, with the timeless theme of good versus evil at its core. The familial connection introduced here enriches the story, adding an emotional layer that heightens investment in the unfolding drama. This installment not only builds on the foundation laid in the first book but also sets the stage for what promises to be an epic conclusion.
Aspen has managed to breathe fresh air into the well-worn genre of apocalyptic good-versus-evil narratives, maintaining originality and anticipation for what lies ahead. Both fans of the series and newcomers alike will find much to savor in Cogitatio. Its unique blend of intrigue, action, and personal stakes make for a compelling read.
The “Shadows of the Wind” series has thus far proven to be a thrilling literary adventure. I eagerly look forward to the future of Kathryn and the HGS team, confident that whatever awaits them will be as gripping and thought-provoking as the journey thus far. Aspen’s talent in crafting suspense and innovation assures that the next entry will continue this engaging trend.
Pages: 155 | ASIN : B0CDY1RT8B
LITERARY TITAN 