#Authorinterview with Al Dawson

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diane Lunsford is talking with Al Dawson, author of Borderlines.

Author Al Dawson

FQ: I immediately recognized your name when asked to review Borderlines. Your previous novel, Priest, was such a captivating read, and I recalled how easy it was to connect with that storyline. Such was the case with Borderlines. I’m intrigued by the subject matter you choose for each of your novels. The topics are very relevant in today’s climate. Was there something specific that inspired you to choose drug cartels as your topic for Borderlines?

DAWSON: Thank you, Diane. I appreciate the insightful understanding that comes through in your reviews of the two novels. By way of responding to your question, recent history is a favorite setting for my three novels (yes, three, including my first, Searching for Noriko). I like selecting a period in time that is familiar to most, but not too distant in time to feel remote. It gives the imagination room to roam, asking the “what ifs” while creating a fictitious story within the discipline of a known reality. I hope that makes sense to you. Regarding Borderlines, I was first drawn to the idea of a story that explores how our current corrosive political climate influences the decisions of people who are facing life and death choices. The drug cartels and a crusading prosecutor seemed like a good vehicle for doing that. And being from the Southwest, you might say it came naturally.

FQ: In line with my previous question, given you are a retired lawyer living in your golden years in Palm Beach Gardens Florida, what type of law did you practice?

DAWSON: I was a regulatory lawyer, representing primarily insurance clients before regulatory agencies and lobbying on their behalf. Not too sexy, but it paid the bills.

FQ: What made you leave the beauty and majesty of the southwest and settle in south Florida?

DAWSON: That is a question I’m sure my departed mother and father pondered but never really asked me. They knew I needed to stretch and explore beyond what the New Mexico of the late 1960s offered. After a career that was spent mostly in the Northeast, where I met and married Jane, we decided to follow the path of several retired working associates and ended up in South Florida. However, I do miss the arid open spaces and mountains I grew up with.

FQ: I’m curious if character Jace Kelly was fashioned after a real person. If so, can you elaborate?

DAWSON: I’ll let you in on a little secret. My first novel, Searching for Noriko, was a much longer manuscript before an editor suggested strongly that it should lose about 30,000 words. I did the required surgery, and in the course of it I lost an entire subplot, including a character who I resurrected in Borderlines as Jace Kelly. Never let a good character go to waste! As for any resemblance to a real person, not really. He is a composite of the conflicted good guy I imagined.

FQ: I was especially drawn to ‘Epic’s’ character. He is an Apache tracker and lives off the grid. I enjoyed how you developed his richness and again must ask if there is someone from your travels who inspired you to apply such vivid reality to his character.

DAWSON: Very good, Diane. Epictetus Ryan is also a favorite invention with more than just a nod to reality. As a young boy in Tularosa, New Mexico, I was familiar with the Apaches of the nearby Mescalero Reservation, home of Geronimo’s tribe. There was another person, Thomas Fortune Ryan II, a successful businessman who settled in Three Rivers. My father knew Tom Ryan. Epic is an imaginary character, descendant of Ryan, embodying the best qualities of an Apache warrior with a stoic education. He does not represent any particular person I have known.

FQ: Without going down a political rabbit hole, do you suppose there will ever be a time in our lifetime when we will see a wholesome approach toward serving ‘We the People’ (versus perpetual personal gains for power through greed)? I personally believe we live in the greatest nation in the world and am offended when I hear the disparaging remark aimed at our current leader given the tremendous and positive grounds he has achieved. What is your view on this?

DAWSON: Rabbit hole, indeed. It is a shame that our political discourse has reached such an abysmal level. And particularly now, when our forces in the Middle East are fighting to eradicate a terroristic state that represents an existential threat to world peace, one might reasonably expect that the country would be united as one in supporting the president and our military. I can’t recall a time in our history when the other party was rooting for the enemy just so that the president doesn’t chalk up a win. Even Vietnam and the Civil War never saw anything like this. There’s a point, I believe, that incitement to violence against the chief executive, whether by individuals or political parties, is actionable as treasonous and seditious, and punishable accordingly. Recall Franklin’s answer to the question of what sort of government the United states would be. “A republic,” he said. “If you can keep it.” Wise man. He foresaw too well how the mob mentality could destroy the very foundations of the republic. Let us hope that Lincoln’s “better angels” come to the fore, producing honorable statesmen whose principal desire is only the success of the American experiment in representative government before it is too late and we descend into a socialist hell.

FQ: I worked in a legal capacity for many years before becoming a full-time writer in my retirement. I have always had a passion for writing fiction. When did you realize your solid connection with your pen and how do you continue to nurture inspiration?

DAWSON: Inspiration is everywhere. Whether it is a loose strand from a previous story that begs to be elaborated, or something pricks your conscience or your mind, a theme that won’t let you sleep unless you do something about it.

Again, perhaps I can confide. I began trying my hand at storytelling while I was in the seminary. The Catcher in the Rye was just the sort of rebellious, coming of age theme that really had an effect on me. I began writing short story stuff that I thought sounded like Salinger. Somehow it attracted the attention of the faculty, and probably hastened my unceremonious dismissal.

It wasn’t until much later (55 years?) that I challenged myself to write a novel. Thus was born Searching for Noriko, a WW II romantic thriller. That’s when I actually discovered I could write.

FQ: In line with my previous question, what is your process? Do you develop an outline first? Or do you just let the pen start flowing and see where it leads you?

DAWSON: I’m not disciplined enough to start with an outline. Besides, I want to be surprised. I try to create characters who will drive the story. For at least 2/3 of the book, I honestly don’t know how it will all end up. I just put characters in situations and let them decide what to do next. Maybe it’s what I would do, but not always.

FQ: I don’t necessarily experience ‘writer’s block’ but can tell when I am forcing my pen. My remedy is to walk away and let my thoughts percolate for a while before I return to writing. What is your remedy to overcome a stall in your writing?

DAWSON: My problem isn’t so much writer’s block as writer’s laziness. If I had a deadline and writing was how I supported myself, perhaps I would be more dedicated and work more quickly. When I need to overcome a lapse in my storytelling, a break helps. Sometimes it is as simple as a thorny plot problem whose solution comes to me when I’m in that dreamy half-awake state before dawn.

FQ: It has been a great pleasure to read your latest title, and I want to thank you for your time today. Given the great storyline and larger than life characters in Borderlines, I can only assume you are working on your next project. If so, are you able to share a bit? If not, when?

DAWSON: Thank you for your time as well. No project is in the offing just now. Jane tells me she’s tired of being an author’s widow. True, writing takes a great deal of time, both in the research and composing. I think I owe her a good break. But if something comes along and causes the proverbial itch that needs a scratch, one never knows….

 #Bookreview of The Stowaway in First Class

By: Anthony DeSantis

Publisher: Flagship Press

Publication Date: March 12, 2025

ISBN: 979-8991511001

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: April 29, 2026

The Stowaway in First Class by Anthony DeSantis, a true story that captures real timelines and a sequence of events spanning a hundred years, presents a heartfelt account of the author's father, Guy, an Italian emigrant who arrived in America with nothing and managed to create a wonderful life for himself and his family. The story is DeSantis' carefully documented tribute, written as both a dedication and a source of encouragement to immigrants, their children and grandchildren.

In the first chapter, DeSantis and his father are on a plane heading to Paris to meet Marie, a woman Guy left without notice 57 years earlier. Luckily, the two had exchanged letters detailing this long-awaited reunion. As we soak in the warmth of this rare moment, DeSantis takes us back in time to when Guy made a decision that changed his life forever.

A stranger who claimed to know one of his cousins in America, Frank DeSantis, approached Guy, claiming that Frank wanted him to travel to the USA as soon as possible, in fact, that very night. Although Guy didn't have a passport or visa, the stranger revealed that arrangements had already been put in place for him to travel as a stowaway. Guy would, however, wrestle with the fear of revealing this to his friends, since traveling as a stowaway was illegal. But most painfully, the urgency of the journey meant he would not manage to find his girlfriend Marie in time to say goodbye. She would wake up the next morning to an absence she couldn't explain, and a silence that would last for decades. It was only when Guy was miles away from home that he realized that the greatest danger was not his friends discovering the truth, but the men waiting for him on the other side.

As he tells the story, Anthony DeSantis allows the reader to delve into restrictive immigration laws of the 1920s, and to see the dark underbelly of the "streets paved with gold" myth. He writes Guy so beautifully, and through him, offers the reader critical lessons on endurance, especially those who may be fighting systems that seem designed to exploit them. He allows Marie, a woman who embodies the theme of loss and the cost of suspended love, to give the story an emotional pull, as well as a reminder that immigrants' stories are also about those who are left behind, waiting in silence.

Quill says: Some of the aspects that make The Stowaway in First Class win big among its peers in the genre include: being straightforward, simple, and involving the author as an active participant. You see him everywhere, feel his gratitude to his father, and realize he is not a historical figure, but a son reminding you to look back at the sacrifices that made your own life possible. The book is relatively short, but it leaves an echo that lasts for generations.

For more information about The Stowaway in First Class, please visit the author's website at: anthonydesantis.com

 #Bookreview of Borderlines

By: Al Dawson

Publisher: Luna Del Lobo Books

Publication Date: January 16, 2026

ISBN: 978-1963749625

Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford

Review Date: April 27, 2026

Al Dawson keeps his foot on the pedal and banks a terrific series of twists and turns in his latest novel, Borderlines.

U.S. Attorney Jace Kelly has a fierce conviction when it comes to taking down the bad guys. He takes the sanctity of his New Mexican roots personally and will do whatever is necessary to rid his Land of Enchantment from the evil throes of drugs. The story opens with a risky drug bust, and the bonus was the capture of Rafael “El Arcangel” Aguilar, the nefarious son of imperial drug lord, Pepe “El Mono” Aguilar. What Kelly didn’t plan for was El Mono’s retaliation when he kidnaps his sister and teenage daughter. Time is of the essence, and Kelly has limited options. Either he releases Rafael to save his family, or he thumbs his nose at the cartel, at the same time risking the lives of his loved ones.

Due to politics playing against Kelly in the background, he realizes he will have to orchestrate his rescue mission under the radar. He reaches into his past and reconnects with an off-the-grid Apache tracker, former Air Force pilot with a less than pristine history, and a trustworthy CIA analyst. Once the team is in place, the rescue mission is at go time. They will immerse themselves in the belly of the beast in cartel territory with little more than a healthy cache of fire power and faith to come out alive.

I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Mr. Dawson’s previous novel, Priest, a while back. It was a phenomenal dive into the depths of the religious world and the complexities of less than holy activities in that arena. Mr. Dawson doesn’t disappoint in Borderlines. He hits his stride immediately as he anchors a solid voice throughout the thrill and excitement of a good guys versus bad guys battle against the formidable war on drugs. I applaud him for his subtle nuances toward the egregious corruption that is borderline pandemic throughout our nation’s political arena and how it affects this topic. However, just like the age-old battle of ‘good versus evil,’ Mr. Dawson manages to paint the victories of good prevailing beautifully. His character development is relatable and the dialogue is believable. It was an honor to read another engaging storyline by a writer who clearly knows how to write! Bravo, Mr. Dawson. I look forward to your next adventure.

Quill says: Borderlines is a fast-paced thriller that will keep its audience on the edge of their seats as they cheer on victory for the good guys.

For more information about Borderlines, please visit the author's website at: lunadellobo.com/

 #Bookreview of T.V. Holiday's Vendetta: Legend of The Iron Warrior, Vol. 3

By: T.V. Holiday

Publication Date: May 13, 2026

ISBN: 979-8992729467

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: April 22, 2026

T.V. Holiday’s Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3 pulls readers into a tense and emotional world where faith, identity, and spiritual warfare collide. At the heart of the story is Travis. He is an ordinary man chosen to carry the mantle of the Iron Warrior, God’s last defense against the growing darkness represented by Luc. But this is not a straightforward tale of good versus evil. After his fall in the Seventh City, Travis is no longer the unshakable symbol he once was. After he overcomes the darkness inside him, his mission becomes something far more personal and uncertain. Peace feels out of reach, chaos surrounds him, and the purpose he once held onto so firmly begins to slip under the weight of everything he carries.

Much of the tension comes from Candace Loveless, a determined and deeply layered antagonist. Once saved by the Iron Warrior, she has transformed into his fiercest enemy. Her obsession drives the story forward in unsettling ways. Her plan to expose Travis is both calculated and brutal. She targets people connected to him, manipulating them on live television to force his hand. He must either reveal his true self or watch innocent lives be lost. What makes Candace especially compelling is that she is not just a villain; the hints of pain and history behind her actions give her depth. Her clash with Travis brings out powerful themes of guilt, responsibility, and the high cost of destiny, making their conflict feel as emotional as it is dangerous.

The novel digs into big questions about faith, sacrifice, and truth. Travis’s journey shows that being chosen does not come with certainty or protection. It comes with doubt, suffering, and constant testing. The Iron Warrior is both a symbol of divine power and a reminder of the burden that comes with it. Holiday also raises thought-provoking questions about honesty and belief. Can people really handle the truth about their heroes, and what happens when that truth is finally revealed?

Holiday’s writing is clear and focused, matching the story's serious tone. The pacing keeps things moving, especially as Candace’s public attacks escalate and Travis races against time to stop her. A nice touch is the illustration at the start of each chapter. It adds to the mood and gives readers a moment to pause before diving back in. The emotional weight and strong themes keep the story engaging from start to finish.

Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3 is a bold and thoughtful continuation of the series. With its mix of inner struggle, moral complexity, and high-stakes conflict, this is a compelling read for anyone drawn to stories where the biggest battles are not just fought in the world, but within the soul.

Quill says: Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3 offers a gripping look at faith under pressure, showing that the hardest fight is not between heaven and hell, but within the heart of the man standing between them.

For more information about Vendetta: Legend of the Iron Warrior, Volume 3, please visit the author's Goodreads page at: goodreads.com/author/show/49471464.T_V_Holiday/

 #Bookreview of Jungle Kali

By: Amie White

Illustrated by: Olena Oprich

Publisher: Noctilune Publishing Ltd

Publication Date: March 31, 2026

ISBN: 978-1068220029

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: April 21, 2026

Jungle Kali by Amie White is a story about a curious leopard cub who ventures into the unknown world for the first time after being separated from her mother in the wild jungle of Africa.

Anxious to reunite with her mother, Kali wanders about in search of clues to her mother’s whereabouts. Along the way, she meets and befriends many other animals, from the hissing snake to the hooting chimpanzees, to the lazy hippos, and the giant elephants. Reminiscent of the children’s classic The Lion King’s opening scene, where little Simba chases after a butterfly and gets lost momentarily, this story introduces young readers to the brimming wildlife in an endearing manner.

Jungle Kali is beautifully illustrated, featuring animals with big expressive eyes suggesting innocence and wonder, almost reflecting that of a child’s. The gentle earthy hues make it a simultaneously reassuring and secure experience for the children, despite the potential danger of being alone and unprotected in a jungle. We are encouraged to sympathize with Kali while the author maintains an overall peaceful ambiance that prevents us from feeling threatened or scared. This is a wonderful way of letting kids know the importance of staying close to their parents or guardians in public areas, giving a slight educational aspect to the tale.

What is even more interesting is how the author tucks in little details about specific animals native to Africa, like the oily fur of okapi that helps them stay dry or the unique stripes on a bongo that help them camouflage themselves in the forest. Such additional bits of information go a long way in enriching children’s understanding of tropical rainforests in the sub-continent. Readers, especially kids, are most likely to retain knowledge that is presented in an entertaining way rather than that found in a simple lesson inside a textbook. Perhaps, this is what sets the book apart as a children’s story.

By deferring the initial objective of the main character’s journey to learn how to swim, the story embodies the moral value of patience and trust in the process. Everything has its own time and pace; it cannot be forced. The story ends on a positive note, with hope, as Momma reassures Kali that she will learn to swim and roar eventually: “In time, you will, Kali. In time, you will.”

Quill says: Jungle Kali is a fascinating children’s story about discoveries of the unknown and coming to terms with the realization that good things are worth waiting for.

 #Authorinterview with Roland Allnach

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Ephantus Muriuki is talking with Roland Allnach, author of Advent Blue.

FQ: The Choice Institute and the map feel disturbingly plausible. Did your years working in healthcare data inspire the navigation system idea?

ALLNACH: I would not say that my experience in health care consciously led me to the map, but in my clinical laboratory experience what I saw of a patient's condition was defined by data points, so perhaps subconsciously the notion of individuals portrayed in data played a part. More so - and perhaps uncomfortably so - the availability of warehoused mass data culled from both public and private digital footprints was in my immediate concern. Data and data trends offer predictions. Imaginatively, with a dose of healthy paranoia, it seemed clear to me when refining the concepts of the map and the Choice Institute that these are things not very far in our future. In some ways, I believe they are already here in early form, as evidenced in targeted social media advertising.

FQ: Will Fortner is such a specific character, a loner who builds a concrete fortress and spends his free time on elaborate ball contraptions. Was writing him fun, and did you see something of yourself in him?

ALLNACH: As an author I have to admit that there's a good dose of myself in Will. At the same time, and as with many emotional elements I employ in my writing, I stretch and bend those commonalities to provide a character with what I hope is a distinctive personal presence. Yes, like Will I am content spending time at my hobby table building scale models (I even have a hobby channel, "Practical Plastic", on YouTube), I do enjoy a good puzzle, and I have joked with my wife on occasion that my dream home is a concrete bunker in the wilderness. Those familiar touch-points allowed me easy access to Will's mind and thereby ready guidance to shape the narrative in his view as the novel's protagonist.

FQ: Did you always know Mirai would be more than just a plot device, or did she surprise you as you wrote her?

ALLNACH: Mirai was instrumental from the first glimmer of thought on this book. The inspiration for the story and its main elements came in a waking flash of inspiration that simultaneously formed the triangle of Will, Mirai, and the Choice Institute. In terms of the novel's progression, these three elements had to progress in unison. That said, from the first meeting of Will and Mirai and on through the book their dialog interaction was one of the most enjoyable creative aspects. She is his perfect complement, yet by necessity she has to both comfort and challenge him. That dynamic assumed a life of its own in every scene I wrote for them. In a way, I think (hope) that anticipation within me carries through the narrative to the reader via the chemistry between Will and Mirai.

FQ: Emma is a fascinating creation, an AI with a split personality who ends up manipulating almost everyone. How did you balance making her sympathetic while also holding her accountable for the destruction she orchestrates?

ALLNACH: That's a good question, because I didn't approach Emma in the way I think AI "personalities" are often approached. I didn't look at Emma as a machine per se, but rather as a reflection of humanity itself, being that we are her educational reference frame. I try to show in the narrative that her approach to humanity is equal measure childish curiosity, disdain, and the sad predictability of our future actions. The constraints under which she operates within the Institute necessitate Will's assistance in her greater plans, yet there is a psychological cunning in moving Will toward that end. At the same time, there is clear ignorance of the apathy she employs in her schemes. I took considerable care to bring this to light in her later exchanges with Will. She is at once monstrous and at the same time innocent. In essence, a child with both vast power and the inability to fathom its true repercussions.

FQ: The Keep itself feels like a character in its own right. Did any of its creation come from your own desire for a safe, controlled space during your illness?

ALLNACH: I would say not so much a desire for a safe space, but my need for a safe space. Going very quickly from an active life of family, career, and heavy involvement with my local authors group to physical fragility and difficulty getting out of bed has been a difficult life transition. And to say that in the earliest part of my illness it undermined my sense of security is an understatement in the least. In terms of crafting the Keep, I took those emotional issues I was experiencing and transformed them into physical embodiments. I mention in the novel's afterword, and had Mirai mention likewise in the novel itself, that a person's home is a subconscious reflection of their psyche. The insecurity of my illness is from a different source than Will's insecurity, but insecurity is a phenomenon unto itself. So, in those aspects, the Keep is indeed a mute character, as it is not just a setting but a metaphor for Will's mind.

FQ: Stockton is such a believable corporate villain. Did you base him on someone specific you encountered in your years of working within large institutions?

ALLNACH: Fortunately, I have not had to deal with such a corporate shark. I initially viewed Stockton more in terms of a contrasting personality to lend further context and definition to Will. Early on, though, I added more layers to Stockton's personality to give him sufficient depth. Certainly there are aspects guided by what we hear of the very questionable behavior and moral centers of some real people who have lost sight of everything but corporate gain, but it was important to me in the context of the novel to give Stockton a chilling duality of moral emptiness and yet a surface sense of empathy.

FQ: The shutters closing at the very end is such a quiet, devastating image. Did you ever consider a more hopeful ending or did you always know that Will and Mirai would choose to lock themselves away together?

ALLNACH: As with almost all things I write, this novel's final scene came to me bundled with the story's initial inspiration. I'm not one to use rigid outlines in my writing, but I do need a clear concept of where a story's emotional core will go. That provides me with a clear sense of contrast from a start to the finish and in that all the cathartic elements of a story can grow organically. That said, so much of Will and Mirai's story is geared to that final retreat that I simply couldn't entertain anything else. In a very real way, it felt to me that I would be betraying everything the story had built. Yes, it's dark, it's bleak, but nothing else would fit as culmination of the various emotional elements.

FQ: You mention in the afterword that you wrote most of this book from your bed during treatment, and that the experience and the book are now inseparable. Looking back, did writing Advent Blue change how you think about creativity during illness?

ALLNACH: There's a notion I follow in the novel, that sometimes Life is not about what you want but what you need. In my experience with Advent Blue, that was exactly the case. I didn't want lymphoma, but in those rough early months I needed to feel that I could be productive in some shape or measure. When the inspiration hit me for what would become Advent Blue, I decided that would be my need, to write a book. Flipping the perspective, I don't know if I could have conceived Advent Blue under different circumstances, or if it would be at all similar to what I did write. Either way, in hindsight, in whatever context it is that we as individuals are created, I have always considered my creative impulse to be a great gift. And in my time of great need, it was there to support me. Now I treasure it all the more.

FQ: What do you hope readers take away from this story, and what can they expect next from you? 

ALLNACH: One of the consistent themes in my story is to bend perceptions of morality. Not in terms of strict moral judgments - several of which Will is in major violation - but more so the process by which people who are not overtly "bad" can end up in decisions and actions that defy moral excuse. It's not a sympathy-for-the-devil concept but more so exploring the very gray area between personality, desire, ambition, insecurity, and moral equivocation. To the point, I hope a reader finds the tricky territory between a moral judgment hedged by the question of, "What would you do in that situation?" Always food for thought. Next up for publication is another novel, tentatively titled "Providence", a dystopian tale following a broken man in the business of body-reaping, the purchase of an individual by another to transfer conscience and thereby cheat death. Let the moral ambiguity begin.

 #Bookreview of Boundaries Are My Superpower

By: Maddi Krieger

Illustrated by: Travis LaRiviere

Publication Date: October 1, 2024

ISBN: 979-8218249632

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: April 20, 2026

Frankie has a special superpower and she’s proud to use it when she needs to in Boundaries Are My Superpower by Maddi Krieger.

It all started when Frankie goes to her grandfather’s birthday party. Although she knew some of the people there, others she wasn’t as familiar with. This included her Great Aunt Louise, who she hasn’t seen since she was an infant. When her mom told her to give Great Aunt Louise a hug, Frankie’s superpower kicked in as she felt extremely uncomfortable with the request. She yelled “Stop!” and her great aunt stopped approaching her. Instead, Frankie offered her a high five. From that moment on, Frankie realized she was in control and could use her superpower of boundaries whenever she felt uncomfortable.

This reviewer found this storyline to be very unique for young readers to learn from. By witnessing how Frankie handled a very uncomfortable situation, young readers will also learn that they, too, can set boundaries when they feel uncomfortable in certain situations.

The illustrations provided by Travis LaRiviere were found on every page and were full-page spreads. The colors were very vibrant and vivid in each picture and definitely complemented the story that was written. Travis LaRiviere is a professional designer, painter, illustrator and creative extraordinaire. His passion lies in traditional art forms, particularly oil painting.

Quill says: Boundaries Are My Superpower by Maddi Krieger is one children’s story that will teach young readers that it is okay to set boundaries when you feel uncomfortable. Plus, the illustrations perfectly tell the story in picture format.