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“You’ll Wanna Love Like Aria & Mac“
Deception & Consequences follows a woman vacationing in St. Lucia who finds herself the target of a human trafficking ring. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted Aria to be a regular woman doing regular everyday things like vacationing. And in doing those everyday things, she is threatened by some of the most harrowing danger anyone could ever experience. Aria’s conflict was important because I wanted to show her personal growth and how all the adversity she goes through only makes her stronger. The Aria Donaldson we have at the end of the novel is a much stronger, more independent woman than the one we met in St. Lucia at the beginning.
The human trafficking element was something I came up with because it was the worst case scenario— the most dangerous and unimaginably horrible experience any woman or any person could go through. I needed a devious reason for Simon to target Aria. It just seemed natural that as a conman, he could pretend to be in love with her and actually be another thing all together, which plays exactly into the deception element of Deception & Consequences. However, even the sinister playboy is charmed by the Midwestern beauty, making his life quite difficult. Aria needed to be portrayed as the kind of woman any man could fall in love with, but at least in my story, the good guy wins and the bad boy suffers the consequences of his actions.
I enjoyed the romantic relationship between Aria and Mac. How did their relationship develop while you were writing it? Did you have an idea of where you wanted to take it or was it organic?
Mac Brunner is a direct contrast from Simon Longoria. In order for the reader to see how Simon was not her soulmate, a true soulmate had to be created. Mac Brunner is absolutely one of my favorite characters ever. Initially, he’s Aria’s guardian angel, and he feels compelled to help her, but as the story goes on, he realizes she doesn’t need his help anymore. What I love about Mac is that the more independent Aria becomes, the more he loves her. I coined the phrase “you’ll wanna love like Aria and Mac“ because I honestly believe I could never, ever, ever write a storyline with a couple so perfect for each other again.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
Often, I worried that there was too much going on in the novel. As a suspense element, I wanted to keep Aria and Mac in constant danger. If one problem got solved or seemed to get better, something else had to happen that would keep them on their toes. And once again, there had to be constant danger because I wanted to show that personal growth in Aria’s character; and I’ll be honest, some of those events that were happening one right after the other, I was making them up as I went along. I didn’t have an outline for the entire novel when I started. The book was initially a novella and ended after Mac and Aria got together in the hospital. Everything from that point on was written ‘on the fly.’ And since I am disclosing some of my dirty little secrets here, it wasn’t even going to be a series until I got to the last chapter and thought of that brilliant way to lead into the next book. I’m amazed how it all came together.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Seduction and Revenge is book II in the 4-book series. In it, the third and final Halprin brother and Aria’s Aunt Caltsya join forces to avenge Deuce’s death. The family drama and secrets continue to unfold, and Mac and Aria’s relationship gets spicy, but is tested to the brink.
Preview: Book III explores a second generation, and Book IV is a prequel that goes back and explains how the two families became so entangled beginning with CiCi and Franklin’s forbidden love affair.
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“I’m not going looking for a fight, but I’m not going to back down from one either.” Aria
“I’ve been wondering for a while now what you would look like right before I kissed you.” Mac
Meeting Simon Longoria on the beach in St. Lucia seemed like a dream come true. For Aria Donaldson, it was the vacation of a lifetime complete with sand, sun, and lots of raw, adventurous sex. At the time, Aria had no idea that her encounter with Simon would entwine her with Deuce Halprin, a sinister man determined to destroy her family. When an ominous dream from her childhood begins playing out in real life, Aria is convinced that Simon is somehow involved, and her real nightmare begins.In the midst of unimaginable danger, Aria meets her guardian angel, her soulmate, her lover-Mac Brunner. As Aria and Mac’s romance heats up, Aria discovers that she is at the center of a nasty family feud that goes back a generation. Aria and Mac now must uncover the family secrets that Deuce Halprin is determined to protect. Haunted by the deception lurking in her past, Aria faces its consequences and finds herself caught between the life she always knew and the reality she must face.
Serendipity
Goddess of the Flowers follows a teenage girl living under the rule of the Mexican Cartel who witnesses a young girl being murdered and realizes she must escape or suffer the same fate. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Many years ago, when I was working at a family services group for “at-risk” kids, an after-school program to help them have some place to go rather than hang out on the streets, I met a 15-year-old gang banger who hadn’t yet gotten initiated into a woman’s gang. I was getting my “hours” towards my licensure as a therapist and she was one of the girl’s I counseled. I was only there six weeks, but in that time, I got to know her, help her get whatever was available for her, and listened to her life.
When I’d finished completing my hours, I got my psych license, then left and started my private practice in Beverly Hills, California. Twenty-five years went by and my husband and I were watching “America’s Most Wanted” on the television when suddenly a mug-shot of a woman, now 45-years-old came on the screen. I didn’t recognize her until John Walsh said her name and I almost fell off the bed! It was the little girl I’d counseled.
Her Picture was front and center and behind her was the white wall of a building with a long, red, bloody line striped down it and at the bottom of the blood line, lay a man, crumbled up like a fetus, dead.
John Walsh announced “looking for…..(I won’t mention the name here) for robbery and murder.” I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears.
Later that night I tried to reconstruct in my mind what might have happened to Xochitl between the time I first counseled her and currently when she is being sought for robbery and murder. GODDESS OF THE FLOWERS (the name Xochitl means Goddess of the Flowers) came out of those suppositions, imaginings. Oddly enough, only one week after I published Goddess of the Flowers, the real girl was caught in Mexico and extradited to the United States!! Talk about serendipity.
Xochitl goes from being complacent in her role of grooming young girls to desperately trying to save them and her mother. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Xochitl witnesses a little 13-year-old girl’s horrible execution for wondering what the cocaine packets were. She realizes her lover and his cohort have no heart, no ability to see that this is a child whose curiosity drove her to pick up a packet. These aren’t magnificent money-making men who can save Xochitl. They are murdering animals who are a danger to anyone in their path.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
I don’t want to give it away, but when Xochitl finally confronts Carlos and finds the strength to get even, she is able to realize violence isn’t justice and revenge doesn’t make you feel good. You need to practice your morality, your sense of right and wrong to do that.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Oh, thank you so much for asking. I have two books, one and then another (I’ll never work on two books at the same time again, believe me!) and the first is called The Companion. It takes place during the dust bowl and is really party my husband’s story. It’s about a 13-year-old boy whose father dies and leaves him completely alone. In a dream, the boy sees he must go out on his own, make his own path. The father was a doctor and the boy wasn’t sure he’d follow in his footsteps, but as he takes his one suitcase and grabs a ride on a train heading west from North Dakota when the boy lived and helped his father. As he goes on his journey he stops to help various people in trouble along the way and comes in partnership with a doctor who shows him the tricks of the trade. Again, not to ruin the ending, but the boy finds himself alone again and finds himself capable of being a great doctor thanks to the ministering of the doctor.
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Life becomes a dream of wealth, gold, expensive cars, bag loads of cash and jewelry. And all she has to do is “train” new girls to the tricks of the trade. How to please the men they will be sold to across the Rio Grande and into the U.S. Not realizing these girls will also be sneaking drugs and other contraband into the States, Xochitl entices them into the life of fantasy that a gang girl can have riches in America.
During a trafficking exchange, something goes terribly wrong, and Xochitl witnesses the brutal murder of a 13-year-old who appeared to be investigating Carlos’ cocaine stash. After realizing the same thing will happen to her when she “ages-out” at sixteen years old, she decides to escape the hacienda, taking with her two new girls, a stash of coke to trade at the border, and a gun.
She discovers she is pregnant with Carlos’ child and as she is chased down by the vicious gang, arrested by the U.S. Government, incarcerated in an El Paso detention hall, bailed out and saved by a Madame who puts her to work in an “upscale” brothel, she makes a deal with Carlos to trade her son for the release of her mother and other girls primed for slavery. If she can help other girls out of the life of crime and despair, her own life would be saved. Through strength and determination, she never realized she had, she escapes from them all.
When the politician who really owns the brothel is murdered, Xochitl puts into play her bribe with Carlos in order to save her mother, the new girls about to be enslaved and, and through fear and a desperate desire for safety, she is able to stop Carlos with the help of her new found lover, FBI agent Guy Morton, and emerge as one of the most powerful allies the country has ever had for rooting out the brutality of human smuggling.
Everyone Has A Story
Otro accidente en Asturias follows the owner of a local surf school who discovers the human remains on the beach. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve traveled extensively in Spain and the north coast of the country is a relatively undiscovered marvel, from the Basque Country to Galicia. The people, the food (!), the beaches, the cultures (they are all unique) and the landscape helped me come up with the idea for a trilogy whose second book is Otro accidente en Asturias. The first is set in the Basque Country and is called Un detective accidental en Donostia.
Michael does not just fall into a mystery but a journey of self-discovery. What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I believe everyone has a story to be told, whether it’s about themselves or something that occurs to them. The universality of the human experience, even though circumstances differ, drives great fiction.
One thing that stands out in your novel is the level of detail in the scenery. Readers are drawn in and can easily imagine themselves in Gijón. Why choose this place and time for the setting of the story?
Because Gijón is AWESOME! Also because there is a strong surf culture there as well as tremendous cuisine and, of course, cider. You can’t help but fall in love with it all.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on the third book of the trilogy which is based in Galicia.
Working Toward a Singular Goal
A Beggar’s Bargain follows a discharged Army soldier during WWII who returns home to fulfill his dying father’s last wish to save the family farm. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I am an avid fan of Texas music and the artists who create the songs. I listen to the radio anytime I’m in the car and one day I heard a song that caused me to pull over and jot down a note. The lyrics of the song said, “It’s fool’s gold, a beggar’s bargain…” I knew A Beggar’s Bargain had to be the title of a book. I didn’t know much more than that, but as the creative juices began to flow, I saw the time period and the story set-up. I know it might sound crazy, but the characters talked to me and basically told me their names and the story. That’s how it all started, with just one line from a song.
Your book touches on the harsh realities that faced many American’s during WWII. What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
As I was working on the story, I visited the area in and around Everton, Missouri. Through the Dade County Library, I was able to look at newspapers from 1947 on microfilm and took lots of notes from them. They gave me a good view of things the country was still dealing with from the war, such as shortages. One newspaper article was about President Truman calling for all families in America to have one day per week with no meat, as it was still in short supply. I had to include that in the book. Also, the prices of goods in 1947 were way different from today and the newspapers were also super helpful in keeping that accurate. I found the people in that area to be super interested and helpful with stories and historic facts about their community that were instrumental in keeping it authentic. I love that I was able to do hands-on research, rather than relying on the internet. I think it helped make it all more believable.
Layken and Sara Beth are forced into a marriage as strangers but must find a way to make it work. What was your process in writing the character’s interactions to develop the bond they have?
First of all, I didn’t want this book to be a romance. I wanted it to be about two people thrown together by fate and circumstances, working toward a singular goal. So, while their relationship started out awkward, as two strangers would be, through their working together and facing each hardship with determination and resilience, their feelings for each other grew slowly from admiration and respect to something deeper. While some reviewers refer to the book as a romance, it is truly historical or literary fiction. I loved allowing and facilitating the organic growth of their relationship, in response to the obstacles they faced.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am currently working on the second book in The Bargainers Series. A Noble Bargain begins in Arkansas and ends up at Layken and Sara Beth’s farm in Missouri. So, the reader gets to catch up on the couple while meeting a new cast of characters and circumstances. I am hoping to publish it in the fall of this year.
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Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save the family farm.
Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosure notice from the bank doubles the threat. He appeals to the local banker for more time—a chance to rebuild, plant, and harvest crops and time to heal far away from the noise of bombs and gunfire.
But the banker firmly denies his request. Now what?
Then, the banker makes an alternative proposition—marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in exchange for a two-year extension. Out of options, money, and time, Layken agrees to the bargain.
Now, he has two years to make a living off the land while he shares his life with a stranger.
If he fails at either, he’ll lose it all.
Love, Romance, and Cinema
After The Red Carpet follows a Hollywood star and his fiancé as they work out what their new life together will look like while discovering who they are together while keeping their individual identities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This novel is a sequel to The Location Shoot. Originally, that was intended to be a stand-alone book; however, I fell completely in love with Ella and Finn. There’s a scene in The Location Shoot in which Ella and Finn take a bubble bath and imagine the life they will build together. That was the inspiration for After the Red Carpet. I wanted to see if their fantasies came true.
There is a sense of love and innocence throughout the novel, grounding the characters and making them relatable and realistic. How were you able to capture those feelings and put them into words?
I see and hear Ella and Finn as if they’re in a film playing out in my mind. I feel the closeness between them in a visceral way. In fact, I wrote the original book in the series during the lockdown. It was an escape to someplace joyful and affectionate. I think because these characters have been such a happy emotional place for me to mentally visit, I’ve been able to translate that onto the page. Sometimes people can become so cynical. It’s easy for us to believe that people treat each other badly in relationships. It’s why so many romance novels feature toxic relationships full of love-hate, jealousy, and games. I let go of those ideas a long time ago. I believe people can and should treat each other well. Through Ella and Finn, I’m showing what that might look and feel like.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your characters’ lives?
These characters truly came from my imagination. Their experiences are very different from my own. That said, I’ve certainly fallen in love, built a life with another, and I’m a mother. I know that these things can feel like and look like. Perhaps some of that was woven into the tale.
Will there be a third book in The Red Carpet Romances series? If so, can you tell readers what the book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
Yes! I am very excited to share there is a third and final book in the series which is already written and will be out in September 2025. I don’t want to give away too much, but I will say the final book takes place 30 years after The Location Shoot. Not only will readers see how Ella and Finn’s romance evolved, but there are three other love stories intertwined into the narrative. Plus, the filming of Jean Mercier’s rumored final film set in an exotic location. The final book is absolutely delicious. It’s a real celebration of love, romance, and cinema.
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After legendary Hollywood star Finn Forrester proposed to philosopher Ella Sinclair on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, the couple captivated the press and public with their real-life fairy tale. Now they vow to prioritize their romance and live an adventure of their own making. Ella moves into Finn’s Beverly Hills mansion and must adjust to his world. Finn, secretly afraid of losing Ella, is determined to make everything perfect for his betrothed. Meanwhile, Ella wants nothing more than to retain her own identity as they build their new life together. All the while, she is writing a philosophical treatise on love, exploring the question: when we love so deeply, where do we end and where does the other begin?
In this highly anticipated follow-up to The Location Shoot, will Ella and Finn finally live the life they’ve dreamed of? See how their epic romance unfolds, after the red carpet.
A Talent and Skill to Build On
The Red Deuce follows twin sisters working in different government agencies who accidentally wind up uncovering an international conspiracy, putting their lives at risk. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I was serving as the general counsel of a public company, I was visited by a CIA agent who requested that our company employ agents used by the intelligence service in the former USSR. More recently, the counterintelligence chief of the NY office of the FBI was charged and convicted for passing intelligence secrets to China. These were the two incidents leading to my book, Red Deuce.
Twins are known to have a special bond, making them an intriguing choice for your main characters. What was your inspiration for the characters and their relationship?
I come from a family with twins, though they preceded me by a couple generations. I felt that the interplay between twins would make for a rich personal context for protagonists.
Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself?
Yes, I see myself now as a creative person, a talent and skill that I now have a chance to build on and improve.
I find a problem in well-written stories in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned for the sisters?
Absolutely! Books two and three are done but in different stages of editing. I have plans for books four and five, with possibly more to come.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
One fiery redhead in the family can be a caution. When the redhead comes in a pair it means double trouble for anyone who bets against them.
Mandy Doucette is a by-the-book corporate lawyer whose work includes vetting acquisitions. Her twin sister, Reggie, is an FBI pathologist. Both are happy in their respective comfort zones.
But things are about to change. First, Mandy senses something is wrong with a proposed acquisition. She spots a mystery behind why a major corporation made a whistleblower’s complaint disappear—along with the whistleblower.
Soon Mandy’s up to her eyeballs in trouble. She’s risking her life to stop moles from stealing American defense technology and trying to figure out who is trying to frame, then kill her. At the same time, Reggie is investigating corpses dug up in cornfields and forests. Could they be the key to what Mandy is investigating? Suddenly, Reggie’s life is also at risk.
As the sisters dig deeper and come out of their comfort zones, one thing is for certain—you don’t want to get these redheads mad. If they can stay out of the assassin’s crosshairs, they might just bring down your international conspiracy.
Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets. The twists and turns are about to begin.
A Mental Healing Place
Shmehara is a poignant exploration of human emotions and experiences through poetry, illustrations, and reflective notes, focusing on human experiences during times of conflict. Where did the idea for this collection come from, and how did it develop over time?
The genesis of this project traces back to my therapist’s office. Recognizing my enduring love for poetry, my therapist proposed leveraging this passion as a tool for healing from childhood trauma. It worked. It brought me peace and the ability to move on. This event also triggered a deeper self-reflection on my life and my identity.
From this initial spark, the project went on an extraordinary odyssey exceeding the bounds of my imagination. Let me guide you through each step of this remarkable voyage.
Self-reflection unearthed the profound influence of my maternal grandfather on myself. He was a very resilient man. Escaped from transportation to a concentration camp, and survived torture during the Second World War, and the tragic death of his first wife. He was the first to acknowledge me as a poet and encourage me to be myself. Therefore, I thought it was just the right thing to do to dedicate this book to him.
I started to dig more into my family’s past and discovered that I have a connection to the Ukrainian soil on my Mom’s side. It was at the time when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started. Consequently, you can find themes of war and peace rooted in personal and global narratives in my poetry.
While preparing for this book I attended readings by other poets. I noticed that they often tell stories about their poems during these live events. That gave me an idea to incorporate into the book a short, written story preceding each poem. A proem to a poem, you may say.
Researching books of other poets brought to my attention a fact about how visual art can enhance a poetry book. I recalled magnificent illustrations in my childhood books. Therefore, I decided to add visual art to my book as well. I reached out to over 40 different artists from all around the world and ended by selecting seven of them, based on their style, skills, abilities, and unique life stories. I also added to the book their short stories describing the process of making the art for the book showing this way the flow of creativity.
Next, came the idea of Dynamic Illustrations™. I once saw in a liquor store animated labels of some wines, and an increase use of QR codes in the post-COVID restaurants. I remember asking myself: “Why not animate the illustrations in my book using QR codes?” I’m so glad I decided to do that because this approach opened new doors to poetry. I was told that Dynamic Illustrations™ allows the neurodivergent members of our society or people with disabilities to enjoy poetry. This is so exciting.
Another unforeseen, yet gratifying development was a venture to the realm of independent film festivals. The Dynamic Illustrations™ are short animations, therefore we submitted some of them to independent film festivals. As we are conducting this interview (mid-April 2024) AIE has gathered 9 laurels so far at various film festivals across the globe, from Hong Kong through Dubai, Berlin, and Chicago to Chile to name a few. Receiving these accolades is beyond my imagination.
The next development was the inception of Amicus Librowitz (a play of words on a lover of books). In my written realms, distinction between reality and fiction is blurred, and Amicus is my alter ego on the other side. He appears in some of the Dynamic Illustrations™ yet, importantly, he appears also in this world and introduces my books to you. On the front cover of Shmehara, you will find a QR code, which will bring you to a short animation of the Amicus avatar telling you a story about the book. Amicus, and how he appears on the book’s cover is a unique trademark of my books.
Hopefully, you will find Amicus on the front cover of my next books. i’d like to briefly mention three books here: one coming later this year (2024), which is based on Plato’s Dialogues where I discuss fundamental questions regarding humankind with AI; a sci-fi novel in which I address the future evolution of human prejudice, and provide a satirical commentary on current social and political systems; and a novel based loosely on the life of my mother, who should be a feminist icon due to her grit, wit, and resilience in male-dominated medical field in communistic Poland. With the last one, I’m hoping also to bring to a Western reader intriguing, absurd, and funny realities of life behind the Iron Curtain.
The next, (and the last) development is very important. Shmehara started as a way of fighting my inner wars but evolved into addressing also real wars. It was paramount for me to provide long-lasting help to victims of these wars. Therefore, I decided to donate part of the proceeds to a great humanitarian organization, the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM). PCPM uses these funds to provide scholarly and psychological support to Ukrainian children refugees forced to flee their country by the Russian army.
As you can see, this project went in some unforeseen directions and developed beyond my dreams, making this journey so full of thrill, excitement, and good deeds.
The title Shmehara is unique and memorable. How did you come up with it for this collection, and what is its meaning?
Thank you for this question. The title of this book, Shmehara has a special meaning. I coined that term by reaching out to ancient languages: Sanskrit and the Proto-Indo-European language. I combined sh from ikshana in Sanskrit meaning to look after, with me which is a part of the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root s(mer) of to remember, and with hara from Sanskrit dharā meaning a flow of a stream. Sh-me-hara. Shmehara thus represents a mental healing place, a very special place in your mind where you are letting go of troubling memories. A special name for a very special place.
Creating a place like this was suggested to me by my therapist. When I started to explain to her my vision of this mental healing place, the explanation turned into a poem. I thought that this concept is very important and you may feel its presence in other poems throughout the book, therefore I decided not only to put Shmehara as the very first poem in the book but also to use it for the book’s title.
By the way, If you need shmehara for your own mental health, please feel free to use this term.
Many talented authors and artists were involved in this multimedia project, including the interactive experiences. What was the collaboration process like to put this book together?
The collaboration behind Shmehara was nothing short of extraordinary. All together seven visual artists contributed to this project, each extremely talented. Let me start with the cover art. The cover is so important. The cover is the very first thing that draws your attention to the book. I feel so fortunate that a gifted artist from Denmark, Caroline Bergstrom-Scheibel, agreed to design the cover for Shmehara. I think Caroline understood immediately and profoundly the fundamental message of the book and made the cover encapsulating it in a beautiful, mesmerizing way.
Illustrations were created by the following artists (in alphabetical order): Sofia Chantra, Katya Mayorova, Arina Nikolenko, Katerina Patak, Sofia Lo Pinto, and Polina Pluslem, who are living in several countries around the world including Ukraine. I’ve selected them based on their artistic skills and personal stories. The selection process was meticulous, with an initial interview allowing me to get to know each illustrator better as an artist and also as a person. Next, I selected a poem (or poems) for each artist, which in my opinion, would resonate with them the best. So matching a poem and an artist was not a random process. I wanted to bring the most of artistic prowess and authenticity out of each artist. I think each of them did a fantastic job.
I would like to emphasize that none of the artists worked before on creating Dynamic illustrations™ – a concept I have developed for this book. In most cases, that would require creating several GIFs for each poem. The GIFs needed to be done in a specific way, allowing me later to edit and stitch them to create a short, animated film. I have nothing but accolades for each of the artists. Their openness to suggestions fostered a collaborative spirit that elevated the project to new heights.
I would like to mention also collaboration efforts during creating soundtracks for the Dynamic illustrations™. Each soundtrack consisting of the main melody as well as special sound effects. In most cases, I went through hundreds of tunes to select the one. Sometimes, it required obtaining copyrights. Securing these permissions provided an unprecedented opportunity to collaborate with some amazing people in the music industry. I had the great pleasure of working with Ed Rakowicz from KMC Records to obtain permission to use a clip of music of Kvitka Cisyk for the Dynamic illustration™ of the poem Melancholia. Similarly, when obtaining permission to use a clip of music by Vivaldi performed by Jakub Jozef Orlinski for the Dynamic illustration™ of the poem AIE I had an amazing interaction with Guillaume Tabeau and Liza Rannou from Radio France, as well as with Jakub’s agent – Solal de Castillo.
I would like to add that the collaborations did not stop. I’m very fortunate to work currently with a very talented jazz musician and composer, Tyler Lustek, and his jazz ensemble on creating unique jazz compositions to some of the poems from Shmehara. We probably will make them available to the public next year, so stay tuned!
I think, that you can’t put a price tag for these direct, collaborative interactions. Meeting these amazing artists, extraordinary human beings and kind souls is breathtaking. Working together with them and seeing a flow of creativity between different artistic genres is astounding and unforgettable.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from this experience that you have created?
I hope this book will provide a reader with a deep, transformative experience. I observed that during reading events. I like reading events because they are a fantastic opportunity to have direct contact with the audience. Seeing firsthand people moved by my words, and coming to me after the event with tears in their eyes is deeply humbling and inspiring. I hope that Shmehara will invite every reader to embark on this emotional journey, and that after putting the book down, the reader will find themself more attuned to their inner self and the world around them.
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This immersive multimedia project shows a flow of artistic vision and gives you a transformative, one-of-a-kind experience. You will run your fingers through the scars on the author’s soul and feel pain, sorrow, and outrage. You will also find solace and empowerment. And you will experience pure joy in watching (and endlessly rewatching) Dynamic Illustrations™. If you appreciate cutting-edge art, which addresses existential issues this is a must-read, must-watch experience.
Shmehara is a multi-layered book. In its core there are 21 thought-provoking poems. Each poem is accompanied by an author’s note describing creative process behind the poem. In addition, each poem comes with an illustration, as well as thoughts of an artist creating the illustration describing their work on that illustration. This way we show a flow of creativity from one artist to another.
On top of that, you can access an animated version of the illustration, called Dynamic Illustration™, by clicking on a QR code located next to the illustration. When watching Dynamic Illustration™ makes sure the volume on your device is up, so you can enjoy a unique soundtrack created for each Illustration. Dynamic Illustrations™ are similar to short, animated films. You can see some still images from each dynamic illustration in the poster product section.
Foreword is written by brilliant Steven Komarnyckyj, a UK-born distinguished British-Ukrainian writer, linguist, poet, translator, and a recipient of English PEN awards.
10% of sales go toward a humanitarian organization helping Ukrainian children refugees.
A Compelling Contrast
Fireline follows a resourceful convict who joins a prison firefighting crew to seek out vengeance on the man who got away with murdering his brother. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The real world! Some time ago, I learned that about 30% of the personnel who take on wildfires in California are inmates in a special correctional program. It struck me as a compelling contrast: convicted criminals doing a task we associate with heroes. With this theme at the heart of it, I built a story about brotherhood, revenge, and the possibility of redemption.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I enjoyed writing Mark Hallenbeck, Mason’s CalFire captain, because he was inspired by Marines I knew during and after my time in the service. Even though he’s got a gruff exterior, he’s goodhearted and takes care of his people. Josh Ortiz, Mason’s partner in crime, was also a lot of fun to write. He’s a jokester with hidden intellectual and emotional depths. By far the most challenging character to write for was Mason, the protagonist. To create a convict on a revenge kick who was not only sympathetic but also had a strong arc required going deeper than I ever had as a writer.
I felt that the action scenes were expertly crafted. I find that this is an area that can be overdone in novels. How did you approach this subject to make sure it flowed evenly?
Thank you! I appreciate that. Action scenes are tough to get right, and I think the key is realizing less is more. I owe much of the success of these scenes to my developmental editor, Carly Hayward of Book Light Editorial, who was a huge help in whittling them down.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
This is the first in the series, and the sequel, Outlaw, will be released Fall 2024. I’m excited to share it with readers! Outlaw will continue Mason Jones’s journey with a suspenseful exploration of reckoning and forgiveness, and it’ll do it in a way that I think readers of Fireline won’t expect but will definitely enjoy.
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Shattered by his brother’s brutal murder, resourceful California convict Mason “Mace” Jones joins an inmate firefighting crew to exact revenge on the man who got away with it. Mace will make him pay, even if it costs his own life.
Danger mounts as he takes on monstrous blazes, crooked correctional officers, and hired killers. But when Mace meets a daring female firefighter, he can’t help but dream of a life beyond his plan.
As he fights to protect a town threatened by a deadly wildfire, he is forced to confront the equally destructive flames that burn within. Can Mace survive the crucible of the fireline?
Anthony DeCapite’s riveting debut packs a serious punch, plunging the reader into an action-packed world where prisoners work alongside heroes. This gripping story combines suspense, romance, and gritty realism in a thriller that breathlessly explores the cost of vengeance and the depths of brotherhood.
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