Blog Archives
The Melding of Generations
Little Ships follows a man and his two adolescent daughters devasted by grief and forced to relocate following the sudden loss of their wife and mother. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Well, to start with I live in a multigenerational household! But mostly, I had a dear cousin whose wife died suddenly–this was a long time ago–and he did move in with his mother and his son and daughter. They live in TX, I’m in MT, so I don’t know much about how that went, but in fact he died two years later, too. He was dear to me, and the sorrow has stayed with me for a long time.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
I grew up living in my grandmother’s home. And now I have my daughter and granddaughter in mine. It seems like the way of the world, the melding of generations. It just happens, because it needs to.
What was your approach to writing the interactions between Eleanor and Nick?
WIth all dialogue, I go around like there is a play running in my head, for weeks, maybe months, and with this story, literally for years. They pop up at odd moments–in the bathtub; mostly on walks. I hear them. I seek them out.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am writing a novel based on my years of living in convent boarding schools, from 7th through 11th grades, in Texas. Goodness, I don’t know to expect it. I am aiming for the first of 2025 to have a manuscript I can show my agent. Wish me luck! (ALL THE NUNS ARE DEAD.) LET’S AIM FOR 2026 PUBLICATION!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
I Gave Each An Essential Flaw
A Sinister Love follows a demon in Purgatory who is fired from her desk job and sent to Earth as a Sinister whose job is to make a human sin and condemn his soul to Hell. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I had several inspirations which all hit at different times. One of the main ones came from a webcomic. I used to read them voraciously, and I once came across one where one of the main villains was essentially teddy-bear-Satan with two succubi at his sides at all times. Unfortunately, that’s about all I can now remember from it. But I do recall a single frame where one of the succubus girls stayed behind and looked at the main character with a blush on her face, which got my mind thinking.
A lot of the setup was influenced by C.S. Lewis, in particular “The Screwtape Letters” and “The Great Divorce.” The former was essentially written as a group of letters from a demon to his subordinate, directing him on how to properly tempt a human. When I put these two ideas together, a succubus in love and a demon rookie being shown the ropes, it led to more and more of the story forming around it.
Another inspiration was a line from a They Might Be Giants song about the singer being the “nicest of the damned.” This is where I came up with the idea of Scribble, the main character in my novel, being the demon that was closest to making it to Heaven.
I enjoyed the depth of the main character, Scribble. What was your process to bring that character to life?
I wanted all the characters to undertake a journey, to change. For the demons, I gave each an essential flaw that caused them to fall from grace, and Scribble’s flaw was cowardice. So I knew from the get-go that she had to overcome this throughout the course of the story. I also wanted her to be able to connect with both the reader and her love interest, Paul. The one thing that linked them all was reading itself, which opened up her past and helped guide her interactions with Paul. She had to know enough about humans to get by on Earth, but be ignorant of enough things that her naivety would be charming. Finally, she became a good tool for Rotworm (her mentor) and Surli (her digital assistant) to provide essential information to the reader without making it boring or expository. Beyond that, I wanted it to sound like my female lead was written the way she would want to be written.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
I’m definitely a plotter! I used a variety of methods while writing this novel before I found what really works best for me. It also underwent about a dozen revisions and has changed a lot since the first draft. I always knew, for instance, that I wanted to turn your typical romance on its head by making it so that the only way Scribble can truly love Paul is by giving up loving him, but it was only in the final draft that I realized how the story needed to end. That said, there were definitely times when the story or characters did things I hadn’t planned. But I like to say, “There are no such things as plot holes, only plot opportunities.” A lot of the fun was solving a plot hole in such a way that it ended up returning in a natural way to the plot.
When will book 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I have a second book, “Fate & Fortune,” with an editor right now. I am hoping to launch a Kickstarter for it in August and release it before the end of the year. It is about a young man named Alex who made a deal with Lady Luck and her sister Dame Destiny to change his fate and reverse his fortune. After years of success, though, he discovers that this means he will never be with his soul mate, Amanda, who is engaged to a malignant narcissist. So he is given the opportunity to go back and relive any point in his life in an attempt to undo this and win her back, but for every second he spends reliving life, he loses a second at the end of it. As he starts running out of time, he has to come to terms with the possibility that he can’t save her from an abusive relationship without giving her up himself.
I have a third book, “A Date with Destiny,” ready for revisions and I hope it will be out next year. It continues the story of Alex and Amanda. Alex goes missing and Amanda discovers he is in the world of Lady Luck and Destiny, being hunted by a monster. Now she has to fight to save him, but starts to learn secrets of his past that could cause Dame Destiny to be banished from their world.
However, the sequel to “A Sinister Love”, entitled, “A Sinister Hope,” has been plotted out and is currently being written. In it, we find out who Rotworm’s real master is and only Scribble and Paul can stop him from causing the end of the world, but Paul has forgotten her and Scribble is reunited with her old flame. It will lead into the third installment, “A Sinister Faith.” I hope to have them out in 2025 and 2026.
Author Interview: GoodReads | Amazon
With the help of her mentor, Rotworm, she borrows the body of a succubus to tempt him better; however, she soon starts falling in love with him instead. She must make a decision—give in to her desires and damn him to Hell, or surrender love for the sake of love.
But when she finds out what happened to Paul’s former Sinister, a mystery unfolds, pointing to a foul scheme that puts everyone in danger. On top of that, Scribble and Paul must deal with their dark pasts before they can move forward. With time running out and both Heaven and Hell after them, can Scribble stop a demon Prince before it’s too late… without losing Paul?
Bacon Grief
In Bacon Grief, author Joel Shoemaker skillfully navigates the intersection of faith, sexuality, and the tumultuous journey of self-discovery. We’re introduced to Charlie, an exuberant musical theatre aficionado, and Tim, who, with a palate for the peculiar, faces the challenge of reconciling his sexuality with his conservative Christian upbringing. Their online meeting blossoms into a deep and complicated friendship against a backdrop of Christian youth culture, which sets the stage for a narrative that is rich with humor, warmth, and poignant reflections on faith and identity.
Shoemaker’s writing shines in its ability to infuse humor and heart into a story that tackles complex themes. The character development is robust, with Charlie’s unapologetic embrace of his identity providing a stark contrast to Tim’s internal struggles. Their online interactions, which are laced with wit and teenage awkwardness, are particularly well-crafted and capture the authenticity of youthful dialogue. While I enjoyed the story, I felt that, at times, the narrative meanders through anecdotes and backstories, which, while charming, occasionally take readers away from the central storyline. Despite this, the novel’s heart remains in its exploration of acceptance, both self and societal, within the context of religious belief.
The thematic juxtaposition of conservative Christianity and LGBTQIA+ issues is handled with both sensitivity and boldness. Shoemaker doesn’t shy away from depicting the pain and conflict inherent in such a clash but also injects a sense of hope and potential for reconciliation. The characters’ journey through the landscape of religious dogma, family expectations, and self-acceptance resonates with a raw honesty that is both touching and thought-provoking.
Bacon Grief is a provocative novel that offers a story that is as entertaining as it is meaningful. This book is an excellent pick for readers who appreciate a blend of humor and depth in their reading. It will particularly resonate with young adults grappling with their identities, as well as anyone interested in the nuanced interplay between faith and sexuality. Shoemaker’s book is a heartening reminder that amidst life’s challenges, acceptance and love can often find a way.
Pages: 114 | ASIN: B09JV8F3HD
Do the Ends Justify the Mean?
Vandella: Resilience follows a woman attending a wedding at Wewelsburg Castle who witnesses a séance wherein a supernatural entity promises Nazi victory in exchange for seven children and sets out to rescue them. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration of this setup was real life itself. Despite being the most technology-advanced nation back then, Nazis were highly esoteric. During my investigation I found records about SS forces being devoted to occultist practices, including séances, which took place in Wewelsburg Castle. It’s unclear “what” or “whom” they were trying to contact through such means, but it made sense to me, if they had access to contact a “higher” being, they will pursue any agreement to guarantee victory. And this set-up fit perfectly for the children’s plot, enhanced by the real philosophical quest of Nazis for the Overman.
Peach is a curious and interesting character. I also felt that the supporting characters in this novel were intriguing and well-developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
I loved to write all of them, but I think Ghislain truly grew on me. He had to be this combination of a virtuous man blinded by honour, patriotism and his sense for belonging, struggling to figure it out the truth, as I believe truly happened to many of the German soldiers during WWII. Becoming prey of the circumstances of their time.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Obviously “Resilience” is the main theme of the novel, but just after that, I think is “Justice.” Through the eyes of the protagonist this novel continuously raises the question about “fairness,” if the end justifies the use of any mean, and the cost of taking such decision. And that is a question the readers should answer themselves.
And additionally, the novel explores the powerlessness caused by the philosophical concept of “determinism,” challenging the notion of how we, as individuals, can exert our “free will” under such overwhelming situations like a World War, when all the decisions seem to converge into a single ominous outcome.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
I’m already working in the next instalment of the series. This time the story will focus again on Peach, as seen by the eyes of her brother. That’s all I can say for now!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Young Bund Deutscher Mädel Peach lives with her mother in the quiet German countryside, longing to return to Berlin once the war ends and realize her dream of stardom as an Olympic hurdler for the Fatherland.
At her friend’s wedding to an SS officer at Wewelsburg Castle, the heart and soul of the SS, she witnesses a séance wherein a supernatural entity promises Nazi victory in exchange for seven children held prisoner in the dungeon. Sickened, Peach rescues the children and leads them across a war-torn Germany toward the Dutch border, with the SS forces in hot pursuit.
On her perilous journey, Peach suffers all the horrors of war—loss of innocence, loss of dignity, loss of loved ones—all while haunted by the eerie company of the Harbinger of Death.
Flawed and Relatable
A Place of Vengeance follows a teenage psychic aiming to understand his abilities and confront supernatural challenges amidst the complexities of high school life and ancestral secrets. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
To answer that, I’ll have to go back a few years. I was camping with my dog near Mendocino, a picturesque village on the Northern California coast, and while sitting by the fire one evening, it occurred to me what a great setting the area would be for a ghost story. That was the genesis of A Place of Shadows, the first book of the series. I enjoyed writing that story so much and felt such a connection with the characters in general and my protagonist in particular that I immediately launched into the sequel. I wanted to raise the stakes, and having Ben Wolf battle an evil, supernatural force plaguing his school was a natural escalation.
Ben Wolf is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
What I like about Ben is that his psychic gifts aside, he’s just a regular kid figuring out life as he goes along. He isn’t the cleverest of his friends and can get emotionally wrapped up around the axle at times, but he’s brave, he’s loyal, he has a sense of humor, and he tries to do the right thing. I wanted a protagonist who was unique enough to be interesting and heroic enough to be admirable yet sufficiently flawed to be relatable.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Ben experienced fear and great anxiety in the first book but never really hit rock bottom. I wanted him to go through a greater spectrum of emotions, everything from first love to devastating personal tragedy. Poor guy…I really dragged him over the coals in this one.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next book will be the third in the Windward Cove series, tentatively titled A Place of Madness. While my second book was darker than the first, my third will be darker than the second, with greater danger and higher stakes all around. As for a release date, I imagine it will be at least a couple of years. I still work full-time at my muggle job, and it can be draining at times, but I’m chipping away at the story!
Author Links: Website
… Maybe even them.
LITERARY TITAN 