Deliah Lawrence's Blog, page 3

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Debbi Mack, author of the Sam McRae and Erica Jensen mystery series

Author Bio: Debbi Mack is the NY Times bestselling author of the Sam McRaeand the Erica Jensen mystery series and other novels, a screenwriter, andproducer of two podcasts: the Crime Cafe and Dark and Twisted Alleys: A FilmNoir Podcast, co-hosted with crime writer F.R. Jameson. She loves books,movies, travel, cats, espresso, and Doctor Who—not necessarily in thatorder. You can find her online at debbimack.com.

 

Deliah Lawrence: Whatis your writing process?

 

Debbi Mack:  I tend to outline after Iget the germ of an idea. I usually write from the first person, so I try toplan out the key moments of the story in terms of the main character’s feelingsin that moment, how revelatory they should feel. I also start with a type ofending in mind. All of this is subject to change, based largely on where thecharacters lead me. So, I start with a bare outline and improvise from there.

 

One nice thingabout writing a series is that you get to know your cast of characters reallywell. You know which ones to use in various situations your protagonist dealswith. On the other hand, writing a standalone novel lets you start with a freshslate, which can be both intimidating and freeing.

 

Any time I tacklea new story, I’ll do enough research to feel comfortable describing the maincharacter and the situation she (and it’s usually, but not always, a she) findsherself in. I don’t try to do too much research, because there’s a point of diminishingreturns, where you’re just going down a rabbit hole and not writing. I try todo enough to make the story feel real. Otherwise, I just start writing, andresearch further as needed.

 

I also tend tokeep a fairly tight schedule and get in a little writing every day.

 

DL: Is there aspecific author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or asan adult?

 

DM: I could give you a long list, but I’ll limit it to these:

 

The Nancy Drewmysteries—typical female mystery author response, I know. But I used to lovethese as a child. Along with the Cherry Ames books, which a few of us remember.Clearly, they led me to a life of crime fiction.

 

Everything RossMacdonald wrote. But if I have to pick one, I’ll make it The Ivory Grin, which is about as representative of his writing as anything. Hewrote the sort of thing I tend to write about—broken families, secrets andlies, the rich and unhappy, hidden agendas—so I get lots of inspiration fromhis work.

 

Finally, Birdby Bird by Anne LaMott. Because it taught me to take everything one step ata time.

 

DL: What tipswould you give to aspiring writers?

 

DM: Don’t aspire. Just write. Even if it’sjust a daily journal. Write and keep writing.

 

But if what youreally aspire to is be a published author, be prepared to have your workcritiqued by others. That’s all part of the deal. And not everyone will loveyour work. Not everyone loves mine, but I’m not trying to appeal to everyone.

 

The people who“get you” will want to read you. The rest you can forget about.

 

DL: What are threebooks you’ll never part with?

 

DM: Um, wow. I ask myself that a lot, because I tend to hold ontobooks. I could start a whole library at this point.

 

Death is a LonelyBusiness by Ray Bradbury. My Dad bought itfor me at Powell’s Books when I was on vacation in Portland, Oregon. And it’s afantastic read.

 

Screenplay by Syd Field. This may be the single most helpful book I’ve readabout story structure. Especially if you’re just starting out, and the 12-StepHero’s Journey is just a bit too much to absorb all at once.

 

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. Because … Sue Grafton. I also own a used bookclub edition of that one.

 

DL: What are threefun facts about yourself?

 

DM: 1. I worked my way through college in a variety of interestingjobs. Among other things, I was a substitute school bus driver. That’s how Ilearned how to drive a stick shift. It’s also how I met my husband.

 

2. I was once avolunteer EMT (emergency medical technician) with the Hillandale Volunteer FireDepartment of Montgomery County, Maryland.

 

3. I have survivedseveral life-threatening situations. So many I’ve stopped counting.

 

DL: If you couldchoose a superpower, what would it be and why?

 

DM: I’d like to be either a magician or a miracle worker. Whowouldn’t want to perform miracles or magic?

 

DL: If you werehosting a dinner party, which three authors, past or present, would be yourdream guests and why?

 

DM: Dorothy Parker, Terry Pratchett, and George Orwell. I admire allof them and can only imagine the conversation we’d have.

 

DL:  What projects are you currently working on?

 

DM: Right at the moment, I’m working on my third Erica Jensen novel.I’m still pondering the title, but she ends up investigating the mysteriousdeath of someone she worked with during her deployment. Erica’s a Marineveteran, weaning herself off opioids and lingering PTSD, who manages to stumbleover a body now and then.

 

I also writescreenplays—scads of them—as of this writing, still unproduced. But working onit.

 

I also have twoongoing projects. Well, three really.

 

I have twopodcasts: the Crime Cafe podcast, where I interview crime, suspense, andthriller writers. The other one is Dark and Twisted Alleys: A Film NoirPodcast, in which crime and horror author F.R. Jameson and I trade witticismsand criticisms about a different film noir once a month.

 

I’m also gatheringan extraordinary collection of videos from the public domain, which I upload toYouTube periodically. Now and then, I cut it up into segments and blog it asthe Saturday Matinee.

 

DL: Would you liketo share an excerpt from your work?

 

DM: Sure. Here’s an excerpt fromthe second chapter of Fatal Connections, the latest in the Erica Jensenmystery series:

 

I wondered aboutthis so-called emergency. The neighborhood was as quiet as a morgue. I wasstill wondering why Marian would call me but not the police.

I was actually inthe process of wrapping up my background check on their candidate for apersonal assistant. Before I started the job, Nick told me that the Harcourtshad a publicist and a business manager. I wondered why they needed yet anotherassistant, but who was I to judge? And money is money.

So, I took thegig. Even though I was adding final touches to the written report, I had thedistinct sense that I had missed something.

I tucked myhandgun—a Sig Sauer P320—into my waistband, careful to hide the gun’s bulge under myjacket, and left my Fiesta parked on the street. I doubted that many peoplewere out this early on a Saturday morning, but with my luck, the neighborhoodcould be rife with morning joggers or other early risers. Scanning the grounds,I eased toward the front door. Anticipation made me a little itchy.

It was just pastmid-March. Too soon for the warmer part of spring. I gave the door three rapsand clutched my jacket against the chill air as I waited. Time passed. Then Irang the doorbell. Still no answer.

I pressed my earto the door and thought I heard an indistinct murmuring inside. The only othersound was that of distant traffic from the main road.

 

DL: Where canreaders learn more about you and purchase your books?

 

DM: You can find me at various places:

My website: debbimack.comMy blogs: https://www.debbimack.com/project/blog/https://debbimacktoo.wordpress.com/ (a blogabout movies)https://debbimackblogs.com/ (an indie author’swriting journey)https://randomandsundrythings.wordpress.com/(bits and bobs)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbimackwriter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbimacktoo/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiMackBook buy links: https://www.debbimack.com/books/ (links toall my books)Or you can buydirect from me here: https://payhip.com/debbimack

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readerswill enjoy getting to know you and your work.

 

DM: Thanks for the opportunity to do the interview!

 

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Brian Berkey, author of So Long, Bob: A Pennsylvania Farm Boy's Letters Home from the War 1941-1945

Author’s Bio: Brian received his chemical engineering degree fromthe University of Pittsburgh in 1974 and has worked in the chemical industry,primarily in the environmental, health and safety area since then.  Brianis also an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and serves as apart-time pastor at two small churches.  In that role he has written anddelivered more than 500 sermons.  

 

He lives in Elkton, MD with hiswife, Emily and has two sons and seven grandchildren. While he has workedas an engineer during his adult life, he has had a life-long passion for alltypes of history as well as his family history. Brian has taken letters fromhis father and two uncles and diary entries from his grandmother with someheadlines from the Johnstown Tribune into two books about the experiences ofhis family during the extraordinary time of World War II.

 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspiredyou to write your book? 

Brian Berkey: When I wasgiven the letters that my father and two of his brothers wrote home duringtheir time serving in World War II, I felt like it would make a good way totell the story of the war from the standpoint of an ordinary farm family caughtup in the extraordinary circumstances of the war.

DL: What obstacles did you encounter while writing this book? 

BB: The biggest was probablyall the time I had to spend going through the old newspapers (the JohnstownTribune) on microfilm to pick out the headlines and stories about thewar.  I spent many days in the library in Johnstown doing this. Having grown up in Johnstown and being very interested in local history ingeneral, it was hard to stay focused on the task at hand.

DL: Is there a specific author or book that influenced you in any way eithergrowing up or as an adult? 

BB: Rick Atkinson’s and IanToll’s books about World War II.  Stephen Ambrose’s books, David G.McCullough’s books about the Panama Canal and the Revolutionary War. 

 

DL: If you were hosting a dinnerparty which three authors, past or present, would be your dream guests andwhy? 

BB: Stephen Ambrose, David G.McCullough, and William L. Shirer. I respect all of these men as authors andthey have provided books that can help us understand our history and someinsights into why things are the way they are today.  I feel we are losingour understanding of history today which makes us vulnerable to repeating themistakes that have been made in the past.

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers? 

BB: Stick with it and don’t bediscouraged by how hard it can be to get your books into the public eye.

DL: What are three books you’llnever part with?

BB: It is hard to pick justthree, but the list would include:  Path Between the Seas – David G.McCullough; The Longest Day – Cornelius Ryan; The Pacific War Trilogy– Ian Toll.

DL: What are three fun facts about yourself? 

BB: I have sevengrandchildren (6 girls), I am very interested in old tractors and farmequipment (I mow my grass with a 74-year-old tractor), I am a die-hard fan ofthe Pittsburgh Pirates even though they have not been relevant in years.

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from So Long Bob?

BB: Sure, here you go:

 

Annie Berkey Diary excerpts from1941

November 23 – It has been a longtime since I did any writing in this book.  It does not seem long.  Ican hardly believe summer is over.  It was a good year, the crops weregood, the boys had all the work they could do.  I guess this brings us upto today.  We had our Thanksgiving dinner today because Bob must go toCamp Meade tomorrow.  Yes, he was “caught in the draft”.   We had avery good dinner, had two big rabbits and half of a ham and other goodthings.  The family was all there, 20 of us.

 

November 24 – Weather cold, Alvawent to work in Bob’s place at Hoffmans.  While Bob, poor fellow! had togo to camp.  I feel, and I think the others do, as if we just had afuneral.  This was one of the saddest days of my life.  I wouldgladly give him if it were for a worthwhile cause, but I do not believe any warcan end wars.

Note: He is also the author of Airplanes, Palm Trees and War

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

BB: I am working on a bookabout my grandmother, Annie Reitz Berkey.  She was a remarkable woman whowent to college in 1898, raised 9 children on a farm through two World Wars,the Spanish Flu pandemic, and the Great Depression.  Her husband diedwhile working on the farm. She watched one of her daughters suffer and die fromcancer, saw three of her sons go off to war, and yet she maintained her faithand coped with all of the turmoil in her life.  We could learn a lot aboutresiliency from her.

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

BB: Readers can get more informationhere:

Website: https://bdberkey.wordpress.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/So-Long-Bob-Pennsylvania-1941-1945/dp/164468313X

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086128428492

 

DL: Thanks so much for beinghere with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and yourwork.

BB: Thanks very much forthis!

 

He lives in Elkton, MD with hiswife, Emily and has two sons and seven grandchildren.  While he has workedas an engineer during his adult life, he has had a life-long passion for alltypes of history as well as his family history. Brian has taken letters fromhis father and two uncles and diary entries from his grandmother with someheadlines from the Johnstown Tribune into two books about the experiences ofhis family during the extraordinary time of World War II.

 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspiredyou to write your book? 

Brian Berkey: When I wasgiven the letters that my father and two of his brothers wrote home duringtheir time serving in World War II, I felt like it would make a good way totell the story of the war from the standpoint of an ordinary farm family caughtup in the extraordinary circumstances of the war.

DL: What obstacles did you encounter while writing this book? 

BB: The biggest was probablyall the time I had to spend going through the old newspapers (the JohnstownTribune) on microfilm to pick out the headlines and stories about thewar.  I spent many days in the library in Johnstown doing this. Having grown up in Johnstown and being very interested in local history ingeneral, it was hard to stay focused on the task at hand.

DL: Is there a specific author or book that influenced you in any way eithergrowing up or as an adult? 

BB: Rick Atkinson’s and IanToll’s books about World War II.  Stephen Ambrose’s books, David G.McCullough’s books about the Panama Canal and the Revolutionary War. 

 

DL: If you were hosting a dinnerparty which three authors, past or present, would be your dream guests andwhy? 

BB: Stephen Ambrose, David G.McCullough, and William L. Shirer. I respect all of these men as authors andthey have provided books that can help us understand our history and someinsights into why things are the way they are today.  I feel we are losingour understanding of history today which makes us vulnerable to repeating themistakes that have been made in the past.

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers? 

BB: Stick with it and don’t bediscouraged by how hard it can be to get your books into the public eye.

DL: What are three books you’llnever part with?

BB: It is hard to pick justthree, but the list would include:  Path Between the Seas – David G.McCullough; The Longest Day – Cornelius Ryan; The Pacific War Trilogy– Ian Toll.

DL: What are three fun facts about yourself? 

BB: I have sevengrandchildren (6 girls), I am very interested in old tractors and farmequipment (I mow my grass with a 74-year-old tractor), I am a die-hard fan ofthe Pittsburgh Pirates even though they have not been relevant in years.

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from So Long, Bob?

BB: Sure, here you go:

 

Annie Berkey Diary excerpts from1941

November 23 – It has been a longtime since I did any writing in this book.  It does not seem long.  Ican hardly believe summer is over.  It was a good year, the crops weregood, the boys had all the work they could do.  I guess this brings us upto today.  We had our Thanksgiving dinner today because Bob must go toCamp Meade tomorrow.  Yes, he was “caught in the draft”.   We had avery good dinner, had two big rabbits and half of a ham and other goodthings.  The family was all there, 20 of us.

 

November 24 – Weather cold, Alvawent to work in Bob’s place at Hoffmans.  While Bob, poor fellow! had togo to camp.  I feel, and I think the others do, as if we just had afuneral.  This was one of the saddest days of my life.  I wouldgladly give him if it were for a worthwhile cause, but I do not believe any warcan end wars.

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

BB: I am working on a bookabout my grandmother, Annie Reitz Berkey.  She was a remarkable woman whowent to college in 1898, raised 9 children on a farm through two World Wars,the Spanish Flu pandemic, and the Great Depression.  Her husband diedwhile working on the farm. She watched one of her daughters suffer and die fromcancer, saw three of her sons go off to war, and yet she maintained her faithand coped with all of the turmoil in her life.  We could learn a lot aboutresiliency from her.

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

BB: Readers can get more informationhere:

Website: https://bdberkey.wordpress.com/Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/So-Long-Bob-Pennsylvania-1941-1945/dp/164468313XFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086128428492 

DL: Thanks so much for beinghere with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and yourwork.

BB: Thanks very much forthis!

A Review of The Patron: A Forbidden Billionaire Romance (Broken Slipper Series Book 1) by Vivian Wood

 

Let’s meet Calum Fordham, a billionaire, formerballet dancer, and the owner of Indica Tech and Indica Charities. He isruggedly handsome, sometimes ruthless, but undeniably smitten with Kaia Walker,a struggling ballet dancer with dreams of dancing for the New York Ballet. Tomake ends meet and pay back her father’s debt ($200,000) for her ballet academytraining, she moonlights as Cerise at Club X, a strip club. 

As a stripper, Kaia is confident and poised,but shudders when her father criticizes her and leaves hate filled voicemails. Shealso struggles to defend herself at the ballet academy against mean-spirited ballerinaslike Manon. Thankfully, her ballerina friends Eric and Ella stand up for her. Anyway,Kaia is thrilled when Calum offers to be her patron, but things take an unexpectedturn when Calum is asked to stage manage a production of Sleeping Beautyand finds Kaia auditioning for a role. 

After the initial shock of seeing each otherat rehearsals, Calum and Kaia carefully navigate their arrangement: he winesand dines her, gives her explicit instructions on where to meet him, what towear, and how to act around him. Everything seems to be going well until Honor,a ballerina Calum has been lusting after threatens to expose his relationship withKaia, complicating his role as the show’s producer and Kaia’s part in it. To makematters worse, Kaia’ father tries to strangle her during a dress rehearsal whenshe refuses to help him out of his debt with the mob. 

Overall, this is a fast-paced and steamyread.  The characters are flawed but well-developed.The ballet elements are done really well, the dialogue is realistic, and thesex scenes are sizzling. Calum and Kaia’s backstories add depth to theircharacters, revealing their brokenness. However, the twists at the end will leavereaders yearning for the next installment. 

Two thumbs up! Great read! 

Rating: 4 stars 

Some of myfavorite lines: 

I pause.“A patron?”

She looksat me with a sigh. “Yes. A patron. Someone that will pay for my services.Someone with a fat wallet that will take me out of here.”

I bite mylip. “Pay for you to strip privately, you mean?”

She huffsout a laugh. “No, honey. Any man can get that here for a few hundred dollars. Apatron gets you any way he wants it, as often as he feels like it. In exchange,he pays for an apartment, a car service, all the fancy clothes you could want…”She looks at herself in the mirror, leaning close to examine her reflection.“I’ve heard that a few girls even married their patrons.

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Diane Helentjaris, author of I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl

Author’sBio: Diane Helentjaris often writes about unsung lives. Afterspending the middle years of her career as a clinical physician and publichealth administrator, she returned to her humanities roots. In 2020, she was afinalist for the Iceland Writers’ Retreat Alumni Award. Her historic novel TheIndenture of Ivy O’Neill won the 2024 Maryland Writers’ Association Novelcompetition in the Romance and Historical category. Her poems and short storiesare featured in anthologies, including her chapbook Diaspora. 

Her latestbook I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl wasrecently released. This biography of a once-famous female bronco rider and WildWest show performer is, according to critics, “Infused with wryhumor…thought-provoking and a genuinely fun read.” A native of Dayton, Ohio,Diane lives in Leesburg, Virginia with her family and two ridiculous poodles.www.dianehelentjaris.com

 

Deliah Larwence: What inspired you to writeyour book?

Diane Helentjaris: I grew upin a microscopically small place in southwest Ohio, Medway. I don’t think wehad a stoplight back then. Yet, small as it still is, it does have the MedwayArea Historical Association. A few years ago, I read a post on its social mediasite about a famous Wild West cowgirl Lulu Bell Parr buried in the Medwaycemetery. I was intrigued and needed to know more.

 

DL: How do you overcome the challengesof writer’s block?

DH: Writers’ block is not a problem forme. I define “writing” with a broad brush. No one feels creative and at theirbest all the time, so I match my work to how I feel. When I’m well-rested,alert, and in the proper mood, I spend my energy creating fresh, challengingpassages. 

Other times, I use my day to research, read background material,telephone contacts to further my research or business needs, enter my businessexpenses for tax purposes, research images for illustrations, or go to thelocal history and genealogy library to dig, dig, dig. There’re always valuabletasks to do.

 

DL: What elements do you think make acompelling story?

DH: A deft hand and light touch make forjoyful reading. A good writer, I believe, avoids indulging themselves inoverwrought, dense, exaggerated plots. Honesty is critical whether a writer iscreating fiction or nonfiction works. I lose patience with a story which is toofancified with overdone plot twists, swerving timelines, or unbelievableemotional responses. 

Personally, I believe in being a positive person so, forme, a compelling story includes sadness and crisis, but it can’t dwell on them.Gratuitous violence or cruel sexual activities inserted in a story can be acheap trick and, contrary to what the writer might want, steal impact.

 

DL: What obstacles did you encounterwhile writing this book?

DH: Very little has been written aboutLulu Bell Parr up to now and many of the articles which mentioned her were not wellresearched. Since she was an entertainer in a time — from 1903 to theearly 1930s — when newspapers were often stupendously inaccurate, I had to bedelicate in using period sources. Ferreting out the facts was a challenge. Writingabout marginalized people — women, minorities, the uneducated and the poor haschallenges. Lulu had only a third-grade education, has no descendants to carryher story, and left no diary. 

Luckily, the tremendous growth in digitizedhistoric newspapers helped fill in the gaps. I also used ephemera purchasedfrom online sites like Ebay to document her life. The Medway Area HistoricalAssociation helped, as did those memorabilia collectors who had purchased herbelongings at flea markets, auctions, and from private vendors.

 

DL: Is there a specific author or bookthat influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

DH: Not a book or author, but my highschool English teacher Bob Constable —  a.k.a. “Yogi” for his imagined resemblance tothe cartoon Yogi Bear. Wright State University had recently opened nearby andgraduates from my high school had naturally enrolled there. More than one hadflunked English. Yogi was tasked with turning that around. He more than rose tothe occasion and with a kind, humorous manner.

 

Yogi taught us to strip down oursentences only to those words necessary for communication. He beat into us(figuratively) not to indulge ourselves in florid words and phrases. Ours was arural high school and we had little exposure to highly educated people. Many ofus thought using big words and fancy sayings were what educated, classy peoplewere supposed to do. Yogi taught us not to do that. I can still hear himgesturing and shouting “Blurby, blurby, blurby” when we added fluff to ourassignments. He made such a difference in my writing life. And he was a lot offun!

 

DL: What tips would you give toaspiring writers?

DH: Don’t waste your time or funds. Spendthe hours and money you have for your writing on, well, writing. Don’t fritteraway your resources on entering low quality writing competitions, onlinecourses, software, and services touted for writers. Be selective. Join andparticipate in a writing group and in a formal writing organization (like theMaryland Writers’ Association). Be cautious with your intellectual rights. Readand make sure you understand any publishing (online or otherwise) agreements.If you don’t understand it, get legal help. Writing can be seen (inaccurately Ithink) as a solitary activity and predators do exist.

 

DL: What are three fun facts aboutyourself?

DH: My last name has the same number ofletters as “Mickey Mouse” so you can sing it to the Mickey Mouse song, forthose of you who’ve seen the Mickey Mouse Club.

                               

I was a Studio Art major when I startedat Michigan State, but graduated as an M.D. In between, I earned a degree inInterdisciplinary Humanities.

                               

I am gullible at heart. As a toddler,my dad gave me a little shovel and I set to digging to China. My grandpa gaveme a saltshaker and sent me out to catch birds in his yard by sprinkling salton their tail. At eight, my dad was digging a big hole in the yard. He pulledout a “petrified rabbit egg” and gifted the rock to me. I kept it for years ona shelf in my bedroom till I figured out the joke.

 

DL: Wouldyou like to share an excerpt from I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu BellParr, Wild West Cowgirl

DH: Sure, here you go:

At twenty-six, Lulu knew she wasbeautiful. Described as blonde, “a tiny bit of a young woman whose appearancedoes not in any way suggest the rough life of the ranch, her features werepleasingly symmetrical, her jawline well-defined. Her disarmingly feminineappearance opened doors as well as sugar-coated her strength. In a few days,when she trotted out on a fancy horse into the roped-off arena, even if shewere one rider among many, she’d get more than her share of attention. Shewould have the eyes of the world on her, and she would show them what she coulddo.

 

The Wild West train skimmed over thesteel rails, barreled through the flatness of northern Ohio. On the other sideof Lulu’s window rich rolling farmland spooled out in a green ribbon. Thelongest day of the year, the summer solstice, beckoned ahead. June’s sweetairiness and the fecund terrain charmed the roughneck Wild Westers.

 

The maniacal busyness of springplanting had eased for the farmers. Their crops were planted, the lambs born.The first fresh cutting of the hay had scented the air a month earlier. Onlythe raspberries, cherries, and late strawberries were ripe enough to pick andreserve. Harvesting the rest would come later. Plenty of time for those farmingthe fields around Coshocton to enjoy Pawnee Bill’s parade and, if a quarter ortwo could be scratched up, take in the show.

 

DL: What new projects are you currentlyworking on?

DH: I’m working on two. One is a sequel tomy historic novel The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill. This first book is thestory of an Irish girl kidnapped in the late 1600s and brought to Marylandwhere she is sold off as an indentured servant. The sequel picks up after Ivy’sengagement to the man who bought her.

I’m also working on a biography of my great-great-aunt who has become a folkheroine in St. Joseph, Missouri, popular with reenactors. Born in the 1860s inthe mountains of eastern Kentucky, she moved west. As Lizzie King, she became ahighly successful businesswoman, known for her philanthropy as well as herwealth. Of course, not many career paths were open to a woman and Lizzie made herriches running a brothel.

 

DL: Where can readers learn more aboutyou and purchased your book(s)?

DH: Readers can get more information here:

Website: www.DianeHelentjaris.comAmazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/2chmvtn7Facebook: Diane Helentjaris Writer andPhotographer https://www.facebook.com/DianeHelentjarisInstagram: @DianeHelentjarisBlog: https://dianehelentjaris.substack.com/Book Buy Links: https://books2read.com/DianeHelentjaris 

DL: Thanks somuch for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to knowyou and your work.

DH: Thanks so much for doing this!

 

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with TJ Butler, author of Dating Silky Maxwell

Author’sBio: TJ Butler writes fiction and essays that are not all fun andgames, teaches workshops, and coaches writers. Her work has appeared in mediaoutlets such as Huffington Post, Insider, and various literary journals. Sheowns a business that supports the arts, and she was one of those kids whowanted to be a writer when they grew up. BUST Magazine calls her recent shortstory collection, Dating Silky Maxwell “gritty, realistic, oftenunnerving, and far from glamorous.” Connect with her at TJButlerAuthor.com. 

DeliahLawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

TJ Butler: I’dwritten a few short stories, then I attended a summer writing conference. Theinstructor suggested I write more and put them into a collection. It felt likea revolutionary idea. 

DL: How doyou overcome the challenges of writer’s block?

TJB: I takelong walks with my dog and give the words some time to flow. I don’t believeyou can force them. If a story isn’t coming to you, work on something else. 

DL: Whatis your writing process?

TJB: I writeshort stories so I need to create unique characters and new storylines prettyoften. I get the seed of an idea and let it live rent free in my head for awhile. I become obsessed. Before I begin writing I need to know what theconflict and tension are and how it is resolved. Even when I have those things,I don’t start writing until I how the story begins. 

DL: Isthere a specific author or book that influenced you in any way either growingup or as an adult?

TJB: I readvoraciously when I was younger. While I don’t have a specific book or author,reading about a variety of fiction and nonfiction topics before I was oldenough to figure them out impacted my desire to be a writer. 

DL: Whatwas the most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

TJB: Everystory needs conflict of some kind. 

DL: Whatare three books you’ll never part with?

TJB: ClockworkOrange, Alice in Wonderland, I Who Have Never Known A Man. 

DL: Whatare three fun facts about yourself?

TJB: I’veworked as a magician’s assistant, I love the beach in the winter and hate it inthe summer, and my husband and I got married alone in Ireland on a rocky,windswept bay by a Celtic monk. 

DL: Wouldyou like to share an excerpt from Dating Silky Maxwell?

TJB: Sure,here you go: 

From “TheWings That Follow Fear” Two nights before Ryder's coming home day, I walkeddown the hill to the barn to say goodnight to the animals. My hair was hangingloose over my thin cotton nightgown, the long plain one I wear in the summerwhen he's gone. The air was soft and still. The field beyond the barn twinkledwith lightning bugs like a scene in a movie. I walked past the barn to the edgeof the field and picked out one glowing flash, still and low to the ground. Icounted the morse code of brilliance that flared in a pulsing yes to entice amate. I thought of Ryder as I turned toward the barn, wishing for his hand inmine on the edge of this field and longing to watch the flickering display withhim. I plucked his old plaid shirt from the nail by the barn door. I'dworn it so many times since he'd been gone that it smelled all of me and noneof him. I could not get closer to him than the flannel sleeves around my armsbut I did not mind. His coming home day was so close. As I slipped my arms intothe soft worn sleeves, I heard the faraway crunch of tires on our graveldrive. I stepped out of the barn, heart pounding deep inside my chest.Ryder was not due home for a couple of days. 

DL: Whatnew projects are you currently working on?

TJB: I’mworking on two short story collections. One will have flash and short shortstories, and the second will have longer stories. 

DL: Wherecan readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

TJB: Readers canget more information here:

Website:  TJ Butler AuthorAmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/TJ-Butler/author/B0CL124L57?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=truInstagram:@TJButlerAuthorBook Buy Links:https://www.tjbutlerauthor.com/dating-silky-maxwell-1 

DL: Thanks somuch for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to knowyou and your work. 

TJB: Iappreciate the opportunity to share my book with your readers! 

A Review of Wanted by Nick Stephenson

 

Let’s meet Leopold Blake, a billionaire and anexpert criminology consultant for the FBI. He is hired by Jean Dubois, theLouvre’s senior art director to perform a full security sweep of the place. However,Leopold discovers the theft of a painting (The Virgin and Child with St. Anne) andsets out to find out who stole it.  Unbeknownstto Leopold and his bodyguard, Jerome, Jean Dubois and a few others are gunneddown by a ruthless German assassin. The assassin plants Leopold’s fingerprint ontothe abandoned rifle and leaves the scene, making Leopold a wanted man by theFrench police for questioning.  

The stakes ramp up when NYPD police sergeant,Mary Jordan gets caught up in the chaos, thinking she’d enjoy a vacation withLeopold in Paris. Instead, she becomes part of the escape plan with Leopold, Jeromeand Sophie Bardot (who Leopold interviewed as a suspected art thief – she wasinnocent). On the hunt for Leopold is Capitaine Anton Rousseau who isdetermined to get to the bottom of the situation and vows to find and arrest Leopold.  

Overall, this was a fast-paced read with plentyof action. I felt like I was watching a movie with the characters quicklytrying to escape from a hired assassin. The characters were well-developed, thedialogue was realistic, the action scenes were well-executed, and the settings werevividly depicted. The twist at the end was fantastic. I can’t wait to see whathappens in the next installment.   

Two thumbs up! Great read! 

Rating: 4 stars 

Some of myfavorite lines: 

Hegrinned, not feeling the cold quite so much anymore. “With everything that’shappened since you met me, all the close calls and near misses, do you thinkthere will ever be an end to it all?”

“Like, doI think you’ll ever learn to settle down?” She punched him playfully on thearm. “That doesn’t sound like the Leopold Blake I know.”

He forceda smile. “No, I mean: do you ever think people will stop coming at me? Stoptrying to destroy the people I care about?”

 “It’s been getting worse, hasn’t it?” Shedidn’t phrase it as a question.

“Yes.”

  

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with John DeDakis, author of Enemies Domestic

Author’sBio: Award-winningnovelist John DeDakis is a formereditor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis isthe author of six novels in the Lark Chadwick mystery-suspense-thriller series.In his most recent novel, Enemies Domestic, Lark is a White House presssecretary forced to make her extremely personal abort-or-not-to-abort decisionin a highly toxic and polarized political fishbowl—all while dealing with anattack on the presidency itself.  

DeDakis, a former White House correspondent,is a writing coach, manuscript editor, and regularly teaches novel writing atliterary centers and writers’ conferences around the country. He is also thehost of the live video podcast “One-to-One with John DeDakis” on Facebook,LinkedIn, and YouTube. Website: www.johndedakis.com  

 

DeliahLawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

JohnDeDakis: I wasintending to go in an entirely different direction with the book until theSupreme Court voted in 2022 to overturn the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decisionthat legalized abortion. My protagonist, Lark Chadwick, had just learned thatshe was pregnant, the father was dead, and she was ambivalent about becoming asingle mother.

 

NOTE:One obstacle I faced while writing this book is that I kept doubting myself and myability to pull it off.

 

DL:How do you overcome the challenges of writer’s block?

JD: I just write. But first Iprocrastinate because ruminating is also writing. Fear is at the root ofwriter’s block—fear of failure, fear of making a mistake, fear of not beingperfect. So, once I’ve given myself permission to fall short in all those ways,I just write because it’s only the first draft. I can clean up my mess later. OnceI get my characters talking with each other, words magically show up. It’sspooky.

 

DL:What is your writing process?

JD: Before I write the firstdraft, I do my best to think things through as thoroughly as possible. I dointerviews with my characters to get to know them better. At this point, I’mnot writing to be fancy or “literary,” I’m simply transcribing the voices thatshow up in my head when I ask questions. It’s a way of discovering what’slurking in my subconscious. I do my best to identify about six pivotal scenesthat are plot twists. Once I have at least a hazy sense of the big picture, Iwrite the first draft straight through, resisting the temptation to loop backto shore up weak spots. 

When I revise, I read the first draft to see how itfeels, go back and make it better, and then send it to a few trusted betareaders. Their feedback is priceless. When it’s as good as I can make it, Isend it to my agent. For Enemies Domestic, however, the process wasdifferent: I wrote by the seat of my pants, then ran each chapter past my wifeCindy, who often had many constructive suggestions for making it better. I alsohired former acquisitions editor Laura Cifelli for a developmental edit to makesure the story was strong.  

 

DL:What elements do you think make a compelling story?

JD: A.) Believable/relatablecharacters who grow and change during the story. B.) High stakes. Jobs,relationships, and lives are at risk. C.) Snappy dialogue because it makes thecharacters come alive. D.) Unexpected twists and turns to accelerate the pacingand keep the story fresh. E.) A strong hook to get the story startedimmediately, and an ending that’s “satisfying.”

 

DL:Is there a specific author or book that influenced you in any way eithergrowing up or as an adult?

JD:The Grapesof Wrath byJohn Steinbeck. I read it for a class in college. It showed me how fiction canmake history come alive.

 

DL:What strategies do you use to successfully market your book(s)?

JD:I’m not sosure I’m that “successful” at marketing, but here’s how I approach it: I cringeat the idea of hype and obnoxious self-promotion. Instead, I try to buildgenuine personal relationships and connections. To me, marketing is not selling,it’s telling—simply letting people know you’ve written a book. A website,business cards/bookmarks, and a social media platform are all must-haves. So isan ever-expanding address book of email contacts.

 

DL:What tips would you give to aspiring writers?

DL:Resist thetemptation to negatively compare your writing with someone else’s. There willalways be someone who writes better than you. Instead of becoming demoralized,try to figure out what they’re doing that you admire, then do your best toemulate them. Go to writers’ conferences, too. They are great places to perfectyour craft, meet other wannabe (and established) authors, and it might be whereyou meet your future agent. (It’s where I met mine 20 years ago). Take writingclasses. And, above all: DON’T GIVE UP (because that guarantees that you’llnever get published.

 

DL:Would you please share an excerpt from Enemies Domestic?

JD: Sure, here you go:

 

[Thescene is the White House press briefing room. Presidential Press Secretary LarkChadwick is holding her first news conference on live television.]:

 

                Eventhough the tradition is to begin with the front row, I have a soft spotin my heart for backbenchers, so I pointed blindly to a guy standing in therear next to the wall on the Rose Garden side.

                Bigmistake.      

“Lark,” the guy began. He was in his forties, lanky,had a luxurious mane of black hair, and a red bow tie.

                Assoon as I realized who I’d called on, I saw my grave error. He represented anews organization I consider to be part of “The Rabid Right.”

                “Eversince the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade,” he said, “states have beenpassing their own laws about abortion. It’s legal in some states, severelylimited in others, and illegal in more than a dozen. This comes at a time whenyou have just publicly revealed that you’re pregnant with the child of a manwho died three months ago of a heroin overdose.”

                Myknees nearly buckled.

                Afew reporters—most of them women—groaned loudly.

                “Myquestion,” the guy continued, powering his way through the grousing, “are you,or are you not, planning to abort your unborn child?”

                Igripped the podium so tightly my knuckles turned white. Taking a deep breath, Ibegan to speak. 

 

DL:What new projects are you currently working on?

JD:I’m about tobegin writing the sixth draft of my memoir (Working title: What AlfredHitchcock Told Me (and More): Plot Twists on the Path to Find PersonalIntegrity) – Yeah. The title probably needs some work.

 

DL:Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

JD: Readers can get moreinformation here:

Website:www.Johndedakis.comAmazonAuthor Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-DeDakis/author/B002BM6WM0?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/john.dedakis/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-dedakis-4b09a34/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dedakisjohn/ 

DL: Thanks so much for being herewith us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.  

JD: Thanks, Dee. It was fun.

 

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Linda Murphy Marshall, author of Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery

Author’s Bio:Linda MurphyMarshall has a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literature and an MFA inCreative Writing. Her memoir, Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation andDiscovery received a starred review from Kirkus. She is an Associatefor the National Museum of Language and a docent at the Library of Congress inWashington, D.C. 

Her second memoir, Immersion: A Linguist’s Memoir,comes out September 24, 2024 and has already garnered a gold medal (2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in Travel/Travel Guide) and has been reviewed by Kirkus ("A fluent and far-reaching celebration of communication and world travel."). Her essays have appeared in numerouspublications, including the Los Angeles Review, Dorothy Parker’s Ashes, The CatamaranLiterary Reader, Maryland Literary Review, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, andelsewhere. 

Deliah Lawrence:What inspired you to write your book?

Linda MurphyMarshall: I wanted to write the truth about my life and my childhood, how Isurvived living in an abusive, patriarchal and toxic environment and,ultimately, escaped by moving away. 

DL: What is yourwriting process?

LMM: Iusually have an overarching idea in mind and then write very loosely withinthat idea. I need some type of structure, but then meander here and therewithin it, depending on the discoveries I’m making along the way. If I weredogmatic about everything I write, plotting it all out in advance, I don’tthink the result would be nearly as interesting or truthful. 

For example, in IvyLodge, the large structure of the book consists of the rooms in mychildhood home, Ivy Lodge, so I started with that, and then I wrote aboutobjects in those rooms, experiences that happened in those rooms, memories itall evoked, people in those rooms, etc. It became more manageable and organic whenI had this overarching structure to begin with. 

DL: What obstaclesdid you encounter while writing this book?

LMM: Iknew many people in my family of origin and in my hometown were not happy withmy memoir. I had several family members say/write hurtful things, and I believeI’ve lost some friends back in my hometown because of my book. But that was oneof the points of my book: I was living in a family where much of it wasappearance-oriented, and no one really knew what went on inside our home. 

DL: What wasthe most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

LMM: Themost valuable piece of writing advice I’ve been given is to expect that thefirst (and second and third….) drafts of your book are going to be terrible,but you have to believe that, with hard work, the book will be the way you wantit to be. 

DL: What tipswould you give to aspiring writers?

LMM: Theone tip I give to aspiring writers is to be persistent and to write and submitas much as you can (but don’t just submit to submit; make sure that you’vecarefully edited your work and that it’s the best you can do). You have to bewilling to be rejected over and over and over again and just keep going back tothe drawing board, just keep on writing and on submitting. 

DL: What arethree books you’ll never part with?

LMM: Iwould never part with a tiny volume containing Rudyard Kipling’s poem “IF.” Idiscovered it when I was a young girl in my maternal grandparents’ home, andhave always loved the words. When both my grandparents died, I inherited thelittle book and would never give it up. Nor would I ever give up my copy of ALittle Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and illustrated by Ethel Betts. Ireceived it from my grandparents when I was about the age of the protagonist,Sara Crewe, and it’s a treasure. The last book I would never part with is ahandmade book of pictures made by my Aunt Jane, my mother’s sister. It’s anincredibly intricate and beautiful book I’m so grateful to own. 

DL: What arethree fun facts about yourself?

LMM: A)I played the piano on a classical radiostation when I was 11. B) I’m a painter and three of my paintings have appearedeither on the cover or inside literary magazines in the last few years. C) I’vestudied 15 languages. 

DL: Wouldyou like to share an excerpt from Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translationand Discovery?

LMM:Sure, here you go:

“Translationinvolves more than the deciphering of words, words strung together insentences, in paragraphs, in dialogue, in the years of a life. After all, amachine can do that if you feed all the data into it. Translation also involvesmaking sense of what’s left unspoken, those ellipses, blank spaces , thedot-dot-dots when you have to guess what’s happening in the person’s mind, whatthe silent messages mean. It calls for the translation of surrounding events,the cultural context, as well as the translation of nonverbal communication.What was being said through that certain look, that ever-so-tiny smile, thatflash of a grimace? That spark of anger? Those sarcastic comments? Thoseprolonged silences? What did it all mean? 

The mostdifficult thing for me to translate to date, has been my own life. To return toIvy Lodge: trying to make sense of what my parents and siblings said and did,how I fit into that picture of that family in that home. I never found it easy,although I think I began observing them when still very young, long before Ibecame a professional translator. I learned to look for signs, for clues, forsubtexts in their behavior. Signs in what they didn’t say, didn’t do. In whatwas hiding between the lines, in what went on when a disconnect between theirbehavior and words could be observed, in their language, their attitude towardme.” 

DL: What newprojects are you currently working on?

LMM: I’mcompiling dozens of essays I’ve written, and adding more, to put into ananthology of my work. 

DL: Wherecan readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

LMM: Readerscan get more information here:

Website: https://lindamurphymarshall.comFacebook: LindaMurphy MarshallInstagram: @Linda Murphy Marshall 

DL: Thanksso much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting toknow you and your work.

LMM:Thanks very much for the opportunity! 

A Review of Tempting Fate by Z.L. Arkadie

 

Let’s meet Paisley Grove, a high schoolsoftware designer who has won several awards and now on her way to theprestigious Albrecht Institute of Technology in Boston on a full scholarship. Nothaving lots of friends because she’s new to the high school, she’s thrilled tobe invited to a party the night before graduation. Breaking her rule of not drinking,she accepts a drink that is spiked and is nearly sexually assaulted.Fortunately, Hercules Valentine (“the most stunning and enigmatic boy” she hasa huge crush on) comes to her rescue. She wants to thank him at graduation, buthe doesn’t show up due to a family emergency. After that, they go theirseparate ways to different colleges. 

Fast forward to college and Paisley Grovebumps into Hercules during her junior year but he doesn’t recognize her. Shehas lost weight and wears a blunt cut hairstyle a far cry from the mounds ofhair she wore in a ponytail most days in high school. She gets butterflies and theypart ways until they bump into each other again while she’s out at a restaurantwith her roommate. This time, Hercules is drunk (still doesn’t recognize her) andoffers to take her to his brother’s penthouse for a non-committal hook up. Paiselyrelishes every moment with him. 

After college, Max, Paisley’s brother convincesher to pose as Lark Davenport to infiltrate Valentine Technology Innovations(VTI) and retrieve a missing code from their brain server. Paisley is tornbecause she doesn’t want to betray Hercules, but she’s loyal to her family. Thechallenge now is to avoid Hercules and the ache in her heart for him longenough to complete her mission. 

Overall, this was a quick and fun read. I enjoyedthe storyline and the forbidden romance between Paisley and Hercules amidst afamily feud. At times, I wished Paisley would confront Hercules about her trueidentity and her feelings for him instead of constantly ruminating in her head.Despite a few confusing sections, the intrigue kept me hooked. Unfortunately, the book ended on a cliffhanger,leaving me eager to read the next installment to discover what happens with PaisleyGrove/Lark Davenport as she navigates her job at VTI while resisting the allureof Hercules. Good read! 

Rating: 3 stars 

Some of myfavorite lines: 

“What’syour name?” he asks.

My eyesexpand. What was the name Eden gave me?

“Tabatha.”Or am I Glory?

“Tabatha,do you still want to come up?”

“Yes,” Iwhisper like the wind.

“Okay, butI can’t promise you more than tonight. And it’s not personal. I just can’t, youknow?”

Oh boy, doI know. “Okay.”

Here comehis lips. When our mouths meet, the kissing takes on a different form. Oursmooching is soft and sultry. It’s as if we’re rolling around together on a bedmade of clouds, unable to quell our lust.

  

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with C.L. Merklinger, author of Interloper

Author’s Bio: C.L. Merklinger, the author of Interloper - The first novel in theRealms and Realities Series - grew up with an insatiable appetite for readingand all things scary.  Inspired by HorrorAuthors such as Ray Bradbury; Stephen King; Dean Koontz; and Edgar Allan Poe,she was also deeply influenced by great Mystery Character Authors such asLawrence Sanders, Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clark.  

Following her passions for Horror and theParanormal she pulls from her experiences as an Empath which inspired her towrite this series.  C.L. resides in theChesapeake Bay area of Maryland where she dabbles in many hobbies.  

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write yourbook? 

C.L. Merklinger: I’ve always wanted to write, but never took the time to do so.  This book is a result of a perfectstorm.  I had a dream one night that Iwoke up from and felt the need to take notes on.  The next day, a podcast I listened to,Morbid, had an episode regarding the very thing I dreamt about.  I thought, wouldn’t this make a great book!  So, I drafted it and once I started writingthe book changed a bit.  The originalpremise will be in a future book, as I wanted to keep my character growthviable. 

DL: What is your writing process?

CLM: I write a bit differently than most of mycolleagues that I have met so far. First, I hand write my books.  Itallows the words to flow easier from brain to pen.  I do not structure my book as a whole.  I do all research for the book up front asbest I can then I write in “scenes.”  Tokeep myself on track I will then keep mini outlines to guide me through thenext chapter or two.  I utilize notes onmy phone a lot!  I never know when anidea or a scene will come to me so having that ability is a life saver. 

DL: What elements do you think make a compellingstory?

CLM: In my opinion, you need to have greatcharacters.  Relatable characters whetherthat be someone you root for because you empathize with them or root againstbecause they are so opposite to you and your core being.  I also believe imagery is key.  Allowing a reader to experience a new worldthrough your eyes, but holding enough tension back so they can then make ittheir own. 

DL: What obstacles did you encounter while writingthis book?

CLM: This book, being my first, writing it was the easy part.  The obstacles came when it was time to findan editor and decide how I wanted to publish.  

DL: If you could choose a superpower, what would it beand why? 

CLM: Flying!  I have always been fascinated with the idea offlying ever since Peter Pan.  To have theability to have the wind in your hair and freedom to go wherever you want.  That is a wonderful thought. 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers? 

CLM: Don’t wait.  If you have ideasand aren’t sure how to get them out in the world, go be around othercreatives.  Ask questions, but don’t getbogged down with too much advice.  Andnever compromise your ideas for anyone. 

DL: What are three fun facts about yourself?

CLM: I tried out and became a roller derby girl in my mid 40’s.  I can play seven instruments.  I was once a hula hoop champion. 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from GEIST (sequel to Interloper)? 

CLM:  AS THE TRIO STARED AT the headstone, a breezeseemingly came from nowhere sending chills up and down Charlie’s spine.  Shivering, she leaned in closer to Jared toshare some of his body heat.  Almost inunison, Charlie felt what she thought was Jared’s hand on her shoulder, and avoice Charlie, dear, it's Marcus.  Open your mind.  Relax and see if you can feel what ishappening here. Not wanting to alarm Jared, or frankly to have to explainherself to Benji, Charlie closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  Listening to Marcus guide her, she saw herworld disappear and in its place a mist and then the faces of two women talkingnervously came into focus.  One was moreflustered than the other, who seemed to be older in years.  FocusCharlie.  Let’s see if you can hear them,Marcus continued.  In an attempt todial in on the voices, Charlie instead picked up on the surroundings.  crickets chirping, frogs trilling and a...a...moan?  No, not a moan, a wail.  She waited. There it was again.  Still outsideof her immediate earshot and then– gone. Marcus, the women - everything. In its place was Jared and Benji horseplaying over in the main graveyardarea.  Shaking her head clear, Charlielooked down one final time at the aging stone and sighed.  “Here, Elias, let me at least straighten youup” she said, tipping the stone to a somewhat upright position. 

About Interloper: A novel that begs you to question who would you kill to live again? A young soul taken too soon is tempted by a malevolent being to give into her desires to live a full life. Manipulating her to use the powers she has honed over centuries in the quest for purity and wellbeing of humankind against all things - an innocent. She will soon discover the power of a daughter’s love and unfaltering determination to get to the bottom of who or what ended her Mother’s life.

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

CLM: I am currently and simultaneously writing two books: Geist- the sequel to Interloper (Due out Early Fall this year) and Baker’s Dozen- A psychological thriller about a female serial killer (Due out LateFall/Early Winter). 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you andpurchase your book(s)?

CLM: Readers can get more informationhere: 

Website: www.novelsbychristina.comAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNQM2XT2Instagram: @realmsandrealitiesseriesBook Buy Links: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?bKamD9j5xYWIHLBzti7A0kG3lsONmJSzwQ9yx915PNX

DL: Thanks so much for beinghere with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and yourwork.

CLM: Thank you!