Interview with Author Ann Anovitz

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Kristi Benedict is talking with Ann Anovitz, author of Charlie's Tale: The Great Questions of Life and Death

FQ: When creating the characters of the different worlds, how did you decide what personalities they should have?

ANOVITZ: I tried for good creatures, striving to do what was right in their world, but who did not see the evil that was also there. Then I wanted to balance that beautiful world with a dark, stark world that was not able to recover from the traumatic occurrence that had destroyed their previous, good world and turned the inhabitants into characters that were constantly fighting to hold on to their own territory.

FQ: What was the process you used to create the characters that are similar enough to humans to be relatable but different enough to learn from?

ANOVITZ: I wanted their thinking to be human, showing both good and bad characteristics and of course, their physical attributes and to go along with their character.

FQ: What was your inspiration for the two different worlds that Charlie visited?

ANOVITZ: My inspiration was the ideas of good and evil in the Bible, in Dante’s work and in other sci-fi material.

FQ: Was there a particular reason you chose the Civil War era to have Charlie visit/experience?

ANOVITZ: I chose the Civil War era because it was such a devastating time for Americans and I was more familiar with American history than that of other nations. The stress of people with different opinions pulling each other and the nation apart, the great killing, the utter destruction of an entire society that we are still fighting to pull back together was very meaningful.

FQ: What research did you do when writing about the Civil War section of the book?

ANOVITZ: I have done a great deal of reading about the Civil War, including novels, history and personal essays of those involved in the war.

FQ: When doing your research on the different religions, what did you find to be the most useful source for your writing?

ANOVITZ: I have been studying the Old Testament for several years. I also read commentaries on the Koran and several books on Buddhism and Hinduism.

FQ: What were your reasons for having the protagonist as a father, as opposed to having the main character be, say a mother, or sister?

ANOVITZ: Interesting question. I find there is a big difference in the way men and women have been brought up in our world society. I also think while women can do many things at one time, men tend to concentrate on doing and finishing one job at a time. They are more involved in their work than in their home, although that has changed somewhat. But that is also why Charlie became a women in China, so that he could see the difference.

FQ: What was your favorite section to write about in this book - the different worlds, Civil War era, China, etc?

ANOVITZ: I loved writing about the other worlds, but I think the Civil War brought so much home to me and pointed out to the reader how alike humanity is. China, the animal kingdom and the entire book were really about showing how our beliefs about life, the universe and the God we each believe in are so totally alike, and yet still we fight to kill each other’s beliefs.

To learn more about Charlie's Tale: The Great Questions of Life and Death please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Author Aruna Gurumurthy @aruna_24

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Amy Lignor is talking with Aruna Gurumurthy, author of DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change.

FQ: First, I wish to thank you for sharing DIYA: the thoughts and key statements (I feel) will truly help everyone who is struggling to understand the world today. Now on to our questions!

Your bio states that you are a medical researcher; what made you wish to branch off into the writing realm?

GURUMURTHY: Between juggling life as a medical researcher and a wanna be med student, I was thinking and talking science a lot. Simultaneously, I was observant about life around me and have been so for over 3 decades. I have always been a creative thinker and spontaneous at expressing my thoughts. I wrote long, interesting letters by snail mail to friends and cousins. I won writing competitions as a student in India, did well in essays in school and since about 2008 been an active contributor to writing on Facebook. My book DIYA is an extension of this prolific interest. I found joy and thrill in writing about almost anything under the sun and my excerpts made people happy and reflective. I figured out there is a lot I could do to help people and the world through my writings. And this is how I made the transition to the writing world.

Author Aruna Gurumurthy

FQ: Your book is formatted much like a personal diary - were most of the thoughts/advice/information and stories given in DIYA part of a personal change or alteration in your own life? Perhaps you can tell readers a bit about your background?

GURUMURTHY: Sure. I was born in Bombay (India) and owing to my dad’s profession, we as a family moved around the country quite a bit. I went to a few different schools and faced the challenges of being the ‘new kid on the block.' Not only that, growing up I felt that my views seldom met eye to eye with my peers, family members or teachers and I was criticized for being different. I clearly had a mind of my own and reacted emotionally if someone interrupted my thoughts. I felt cornered by the envy, mockery and hatred inflicted at me and this became a pattern in my life from school to college to some family, roommates and friends. I suffered quite a bit due to this seclusion that I felt and extrapolated my experiences to our world and the problems we face today. DIYA has been an intense and emotional journey. It took me years to undo the fear and anger within myself and I’ve made that change primarily because I wanted to be a happy and content person. Today as a mom, I have that power to share what I learned, with my little daughter and make her a strong person.

FQ: Is there a way, in your opinion, that regrets can become a thing of the past in all lives?

GURUMURTHY: Absolutely. I am a living example of how I discovered tools to overturn the unhappiness in my life at certain points. The key to that is to understand what it is that bothers you, a person, a circumstance, or full blown dissatisfaction about your life and choices and almost study it like a math problem. Once you have a clear picture, and you can use help from different sources, you start executing, one instance at a time, one person at a time. You are essentially diagnosing your own insufficiencies and using a positive frame of mind to help execute your thought process. Practice, practice and practice makes you perfect.

FQ: If you have to pick one piece of wisdom that you feel is of the highest priority to pass along – what would that be, and why?

GURUMURTHY: That’s a hard one! But I would say STOP comparing yourself with others. There is no person, infant, vegetable or country inferior to another. You are who you are and the sooner you learn to embrace this fact, the more liberated your soul will be, the more peace there will be in the world. We are all equal. :-)

FQ: Is writing something that you will continue in the future? If so, are you looking at staying with non-fiction or are you interested in also branching off, perhaps, into fiction of some genre?

GURUMURTHY: I am super spontaneous, I don’t have a five year plan! That said, I do enjoy talking (in my mind) and writing what I discover, for my own benefit and for others. Regarding the genre, I don’t like that things get put into strict compartments. Even from DIYA you’ll notice that there is an overlap of genres. This system has to change for multifaceted authors like me. But my interests in philosophy, psychology, poetry, essays, science, text book medicine promise to set my readers into a sense of newness and wonder. And oh, I would like to top it all off with an autobiography some day!

FQ: What brings you the most peace? Is there a scene in your mind (or a real location) that brings you the most tranquility?

GURUMURTHY: I am going to answer this in 2 parts: One is my happy family. And a happy world. Where people are friendly and suave in their interactions with each other, where there might be borders, but not mental borders. Where hatred, terror, horror are a thing of the past. Where poor people have clothes, and hungry people get food. Where children can ask wild questions in the classroom and have fun in the playground. Where medical illnesses are treated and cured. Where we all learn from each other, because each one of us is special. Where the World is ONE.

FQ: I always like to end with this question, because readers like to know: If you could have lunch with one person who you would most like to find out about, or ask them questions to hear the knowledge they own, who would it be, and why?

GURUMURTHY: I would like to have a lunch date with Aishy. Aishwarya Sriram. She is my friend’s sister who is in her thirties and autistic since she was three. She is amazing at art and her mind’s got to be brimming with knowledge that no one knows to date. At lunch, I would congratulate her on her beautiful mind, her journey, and on being strong. Why? Because, I would like to look into newer ways to cure autism. Because I can’t stand when people are branded with it. And are forced to live with it.

To learn more about DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Author P.S. Clinen

Today we're talking with P.S. Clinen, author of Tenebrae Manor

FQ: Does the word Tenebrae have a specific meaning?

CLINEN: Tenebrae is a Latin word - literally meaning ‘darkness.’ The word appealed to me for a number of reasons, most obviously the setting of the novel - a house where night is eternal. But Tenebrae also carries religious motives as a Christian service usually celebrated before Good Friday. As Tenebrae Manor deals with the ideals of eternity and salvation versus suffering, I felt it was an appropriate name.

FQ: Was there an actual mansion or structure that provided the inspiration for Tenebrae Manor?

CLINEN: The mansion itself is an assemblance of numerous inspirations. I have always been fascinated with Gothic; as a child I loved anything with ghosts or haunted houses, and today I am fascinated by old architecture. Tenebrae Manor itself drew inspiration from many of my favourite darker stories such as Poe’s The Fall Of The House Of Usher, Lovecraft’s sunken city of R’yleh in the Cthulhu Mythos, as well as Stoker’s Dracula and Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast.

FQ: Tenebrae Manor is full of frightful characters but each seems to have their own similarities to human emotions. Was this something you intended for them to have?

CLINEN: It was my intent for the novel to be a little bit weird. The characters appear monstrous, but their individual personalities bring up the old saying ‘don’t judge someone until you know them.’ All of them are underdogs in their own way, each have their troubles that a reader can relate well with. They were born out of imagination - again I can cite my childhood as the source of inspiration, with Tim Burton’s films and Roald Dahl’s books leaving wonderful impressions in my mind, reminding me that it is okay to be strange as long as you are true to yourself!

Author P.S. Clinen

FQ: The character of Usher displayed a profound innocence in the dark world he was surrounded by, so what was your purpose for including him in this story?

CLINEN: At a first glance The Usher may seem little more than a minor character, but his actions exemplify some of Tenebrae Manor’s major themes. He is the doorman and main servant of the manor, so simple of mind that he knows nothing more than to do his job and do it without complaint. In a world where other characters are questioning their purpose, Usher knows exactly what he has been called to do. However, like the others, he does go through stages where he believes there may be something else out there for him. His character illustrates a reluctance towards change, even when one’s world has become stagnant.

FQ: Why did you decide to place Libra, a woman, as head of Tenebrae Manor as many times male characters dominate dictating roles?

CLINEN: I don’t know that it has anything to do with gender as such; Libra is just a strong and self-centred character who chased her ambitions - something characters like Bordeaux and Edweena struggle to do. Libra is the illustration of how too much of a good thing can have negative effects. And her name - Libra - embodying balance (or anything but!) shows how putting one’s self before others can lead to ruin, which is a major part of Gothic literature. While Libra may appear villainous, she really is more of an anti-hero, and though many may love to hate her the reader can’t help but relate to her in one way or another.

FQ: There are many small mysteries throughout this story pertaining to Tenebrae and its residents. Was this something you intended for this book, perhaps to add to the mysterious allure of this story?

CLINEN: When diving into the world of Tenebrae Manor I want my readers to feel as though they are in a dream. Dreams are a place where anything is possible and sometimes things make very little sense, yet it remains a place where things are at their most honest and truthful, which can lead to a greater enlightenment. The world-building of mysteries is mostly just adding flavour to my attempt at producing a literary fable; there are some things in Tenebrae Manor that don’t need to be revealed, doing so could very easily disrupt the intrigue. I think it is important not to show all your cards; real life doesn’t give us all the answers, so a book that does the same thing becomes much more relatable.

FQ: The two main human characters of Madlyn and Jethro were very different in their outlook of Tenebrae Manor. Were these two characters in a way representing two sides of human emotion?

CLINEN: Definitely. Although Madlyn was much more of a major character than Jethro. Jethro was your average person, as such he was very much incapable of accepting such a bizarre and frightening world as Tenebrae Manor. Madlyn on the other hand was fragile in temperament. She lived in a world of impossible fantasy, yet still chose to fly off into her romantic daydreams. It is Madlyn’s beautiful innocence that shields her from the horrors that Jethro is unable to handle, creating a strange counterweight where the weaker-minded person has a distinct advantage over a sound mind.

FQ: Not much was said about Jethro at the end of this story, could he possibly come back in a second book about Tenebrae Manor?

CLINEN: Perhaps, though if there is a sequel I doubt he could breakthrough as a major character. Jethro was more of a segway into the main storyline of Tenebrae Manor. He is intentionally an uninteresting character, as such he slips into the background towards the end of the story while the whimsical Bordeaux, Libra, Deadsol, etc. really get their chance to shine. A number of readers have inquired about a sequel to Tenebrae Manor. At present I have no plans to continue it; I feel the story ends in a good spot and anything further added may take away from the impression left by the book on a whole. I am currently working on my next novel, although I have no release date in sight yet. Having said that though, I very much adored the characters of Tenebrae Manor and loved writing about them. So who knows? Maybe one day down the track we’ll hear more about Bordeaux, Libra and Tenebrae Manor! Thank you very much for your time.

To learn more about Tenebrae Manor please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Author James Conroyd Martin

Today we're talking with James Conroyd Martin, author of The Warsaw Conspiracy

FQ: The Warsaw Conspiracy was a book filled with the rich, historical details of the Polish people. Is there a specific reason you tend to lean toward this subject (i.e.: Polish Trilogy/Push Not the River), even though you, yourself, are not of Polish descent?

MARTIN: You could say it was fate that led me to write historical novels set in Poland. Many years ago, a good friend asked me to read his ancestor's diary. Anna was a young countess in Poland at a critical moment in history. It was a fascinating read and changed the course of my life. Her diary was transformed into Push Not the River.
 
FQ: You are both an American historical fiction author and teacher; therefore, is historical fiction the genre you wish to remain in, or are there others you would like to explore?
 
MARTIN: I have just retired from teaching, so I am going to be writing full time. I am working on another historical set in Poland, one that explores the Battle of Vienna in 1683. That battle occurred on September 11-12 as the Turks attempted to take the city and all of Europe. The Turks' loss then may be the reason why they chose 9-11 in 2001. As for other genres, the paranormal interests me.

FQ: The family saga is definitely a difficult plot to write. Each character must offset the other, and a wide, grand range of opinions, strengths, and battles between loving someone and having to dislike them at times, is a balancing act. Were you a fan of that type of intricate storytelling before becoming a historical fiction author? 
 
MARTIN: Yes, I think I read a number of multi-viewpoint stories and so felt comfortable with that format. In working with Push Not the River, my source was, of course, a single viewpoint diary and I tried to keep to that. However, I felt it too constricting and wanted to get into the minds of Anna’s scheming cousin Zofia, her Aunt Stella, and her love interest, Jan. In due time, the story became a four-character viewpoint telling.

FQ: Do you have a mentor who gave you the inspiration to move forward with a writing career? Along that same line, was there a teacher who inspired you to delve into education? 
 
MARTIN: As far as teaching, all my teachers inspired me along the way. Regarding writing, there is one particular person who moved me forward inspirationally. After years of working in a vacuum on Push, I sent it to the great science fiction writer, Piers Anthony, who told me he would read it but that he almost never puts his name to others' books. In part, this is what he wrote back after reading it: "I am profoundly impressed. [Your story] is a well-written historical romance with all the elements of love, scheming, violence, irony, and tragedy to provide impact ... It left me aching to know more of the subsequent life of Anna ..." Piers gave me my first blurb, but more importantly, he validated years of struggle.

FQ: As a teacher, is there any advice you would give to a student of history who may perhaps be looking for a future career in writing?
 
MARTIN: In teaching my creative writing course, I encouraged students to read, read, read. To find the authors they would like to emulate and read all their works. So, to the writer of historicals, I would add histories to that admonition.

FQ: I always ask this one question of everyone: If you could have dinner with a writer (or even a historical character), alive or dead, who would that be and why?

 MARTIN: Somerset Maugham, I think. Of Human Bondage had a huge impact on me in college, and I think he led an immensely interesting life.

FQ: Can you tell readers what the next project is that you are either working on or thinking about?
 
MARTIN: Before I finish the Battle of Vienna story, I will be publishing a ghost story with a unique aspect to it (no spoiler here). It's called Hologram: A Haunting and I hope to see it arrive on the scene in late July or August, if not before.

FQ: Do you have a particular time in history that you would like to explore? 
 
MARTIN: The times are many, the places more limited. I’d like to finish something I started on sixth century Constantinople and also explore my own ancestral roots in Ireland and Norway.

To learn more about The Warsaw Conspiracy please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Author Philip Gaber

Today we're talking with Philip Gaber, author of Epic Sloth: Tales of the Long Crawl

FQ: Let me preface my question with a statement: I am a fan of your work! How is it that through the myriad of dark moments you write about, there seems to be a silver lining of humor surrounding the situation?

GABER: I suppose it’s just a coping mechanism. It’s how I deal with my life. Plus it’s a whole lot healthier than drugs and alcohol.

FQ: Have you ever had a person you know press you to admit he or she was the subject of the piece you wrote (and if so, how did you respond)?

GABER: Not really. I think because my kind of writing is so patchwork and such a big old melting pot that it’s almost impossible, even for me, to point to a character and say, “Oh that’s so and so.” The characters are such composites. I do have one friend who believes I base all my female characters on her, but I’m not really conscious of that. Maybe I do and don’t even realize it.

FQ: Your style is very conversational, yet fragmented. Is this intentional or simply your “writing zone”?

GABER: It’s both. The result of reading so many plays, I suppose. I’ve always been fascinated by the stage and always seem to take away a lot of life lessons from drama. More so than any other kind of writing. I’m unusual in that respect. I also like the idea of taking some of those playwriting tools and incorporating them into prose. I definitely have writing a play on my bucket list.

FQ: Your bio references “...seemingly random series of occupations...” What was your most fulfilling occupation and why?

GABER: I worked in the restaurant industry for several years. When I look back on all the jobs I’ve held, that’s the one that really stands out. Got to love restaurant folks!

FQ: In line with Question 4, would you mind elaborating further about your “...instructor role for an organization whose vision is for all people in its region to have the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential through family-sustaining employment...”?

GABER: I’m a career educator. I prepare people for entry or reentry into the workforce.

FQ: When writing Epic Sloth, is there a particular piece that was extremely difficult to write and if so, what did you do to overcome the discomfort of writing it?

GABER: If by “difficult” you mean, was there ever a time when I was overcome by emotion while I was writing something? I can’t recall an instance when that happened. For me the difficulty is proofreading, editing, paring down, shaping, etc.

FQ: My overall interpretation of your work is a consistent delivery of a life lived with intention and filled with ‘street-wise’ experiences. What words of wisdom would you impart on today’s youth to enlighten them and guide them safely along their journey toward adulthood and why?

GABER: Consult yourself. You’re going to get a lot of advice from people who don’t have a clue who you really are or what’s best for you. Most of that advice won’t apply to your life, anyway. Just look at these people and smile and keep it moving.

FQ: I find it difficult to zero in on one particular piece in your body of work because your overall delivery sparks so many emotions. However, my interpretation of “he had a few things to sort out” struck me. While I interpret many of your writings as sneak peaks of who the writer behind the pen is, it seemed as though you divulged some clarity toward who you truly are as a person. You point out: ‘Itzhak was a fraud…’, yet by the end of the piece (and Itzhak’s passing), you, along with many ‘...came by the half dozens in the rain to remember him...’ For me, it was as though you divulged you often have a ‘crap detector’ when first meeting people; yet you implement a ‘benefit of the doubt’ philosophy to size them up. Is this fairly accurate?

GABER: I just like to get to know people. The good, the bad, and the crazy! Listen to their stories. Learn about their perspectives, philosophies, their lives, where they’ve been, where they’re going. Out of curiosity.

FQ: It was an absolute pleasure to read Epic Sloth. I’m hoping you are working on your next writing adventure. If so, would you care to provide a bit of a preview?

GABER: Thank you! Currently working on a novella with a more linear and sequential plot-line.

To learn more about Epic Sloth: Tales of the Long Crawl please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Author David Litwack

Today we're talking with David Litwack, author of Along the Watchtower

FQ: I’ve read many books about soldiers coming home from war, but found Along the Watchtower quite different and original. The use of a fantasy story to help with the healing process was very innovative. Would you tell our readers a little about how this idea came about?

LITWACK: I’ve always been fascinated by how subjectively people perceive reality, each of us bringing our own experiences and biases into play. But when we’re ripped from our normal lives and placed in extreme circumstances, our reality becomes totally fragmented. Such is the case with hospitals and war.
Then a couple of years ago, I become engrossed in the online fantasy game, World of Warcraft, playing with my son. I’m on the East Coast and he’s on the West, so we’d meet every Wednesday evening in the virtual world of Azeroth, where our avatars would go on quests together. I was struck by how quickly time passed and how immersed I became in the surreal mood of the game, wandering around in strange places, solving riddles and overcoming trials.

The fantasy gaming experience has a dream-like quality to it. And I began to wonder: how would this experience affect the dreams of someone whose reality has been fragmented by war, PTSD and traumatic brain injury? These concepts—war, hospitals, and the fantasy world of online gaming—came together in Along the Watchtower.

Author David Litwack

FQ: Your protagonist, Freddie Williams, is a big gamer. Do you share this passion with him?

LITWACK: As the father of two sons, I played a number of games with them when they were younger, starting with the granddaddy of quest games, The Legend of Zelda. As part of my research for Along the Watchtower, I played a lot of World of Warcraft, like Freddie Williams, playing as a human warrior and a Dranei priest. I enjoyed playing these games, but they take a lot of time and detract from my busy writing schedule. I unfortunately topped out at level 63. Maybe someday . . .

FQ: Freddie suffered from PTSD, and the symptoms he suffers read very true. I’m thinking, for example, when Freddie saw the soda can and froze because in Iraq they were sometimes used to hide IEDs. How much research did you have to do to make the text so realistic?

LITWACK: I did a lot of research. One of the best books I read was Achilles in Vietnam. Written by a PTSD therapist, it contrasts actual discussions from his sessions with Vietnam veterans with dialog from Homer’s Odyssey. In this way, he’s able to show the tragic effects of war on soldiers across the millennia. By the way the full title is: Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character.

I also researched brain trauma. In an Instant is the story of Bob Woodruff, the CBS news correspondent who had just been named anchor when he was injured in an IED attack while embedded with troops in Iraq. It gave me insight, not only into the struggles to recover from brain injuries, but also how strange is the working of the human brain. At one point, the brilliant Woodruff could rattle off all past American presidents, but couldn’t recall the names of his own children.
And I read and listened to many stories from veterans. Until Tuesday is the story of a young Lieutenant who had difficulty functioning after the war and was helped to recover when he got a service dog named Tuesday (As an aside, these dogs are incredible—they can sense when their master is having a nightmare and wake them up). The Blue Cascade is another heart wrenching story of an Iraq veteran who returned home bitter and disillusioned. He found a way to face what he’d experienced in the war by making a documentary film based on video he took during the initial invasion of Iraq.

FQ: As I mentioned in my review, I found the gradual merging of the two stories a real plus. Was this something you set out to do from the start, as you began to develop the story?

LITWACK: Yes, absolutely. One of the things I learned from my research is how difficult it is to return from a war and reintegrate into what we call normal life. For Freddie Williams, it’s especially hard, given his physical and emotional wounds as well as his tragic family background. I wanted to show his trials though his subconscious, since they were too painful to face in the real world. I decided early on that the best way to do this was to have Freddie, an inveterate gamer, invent a game-like fantasy world and confront his demons there.

FQ: In respect to the fantasy aspect of the story, are you a big fantasy reader? If so, what authors are your favorites? Do you have a favorite fantasy sub-genre that you enjoy?

LITWACK: I grew up on sci-fi and fantasy, reading Tolkien, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. More recently, I’ve read Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series and discovered Neil Gaiman. But I also love literary fiction. I read all of Steinbeck and Hemingway by the time I was seventeen. In a way, Along the Watchtower is a blend of the fantasy of the former and the harsh realism of the latter.

FQ: I appreciated the mystery of the four trials that Prince Frederick had to solve. Was it a lot of fun to come up with such trials?

LITWACK: I’m not sure fun is the word. When I write, I identify closely with my characters. The fantasy world was a terrifying place for Prince Frederick just as the real world was for Freddie. It did, however, give me a lot of freedom to get creative in how each of Freddie’s real world trials were reflected in the fantasy realm.

FQ: Prince Frederick constantly wanted to use magic to help him out of his dilemmas, but he was repeatedly told, by various characters, that magic was not the way, that he needed to rely on himself. Is this a message for the real Freddie and his attempts to move forward, to heal?

LITWACK: Much as the VA doctor tells Freddie that escaping reality is not the way back in his recovery, Prince Frederick is told that the solution to the trial is within himself and not through some outside magic.

FQ: I found Prince Frederick’s search for the trials similar to Freddie’s search for his brother Richie. Was this deliberate?

LITWACK: Prince Frederick’s attempt to confront the trials in his world certainly reflect the emotions Freddie was experiencing. I did try to give the fantasy world a dreamlike feel. And just like in our dreams, we can find similarities with real events, but they’re not an exact match.

FQ: Your next project, The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky will be out soon. Would you tell our readers a little bit about the novel?

LITWACK: My third novel, The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, is very different. It’s about an alternate world divided between the Blessed Lands, a place of the spirit, and the Republic, whose people worship at the altar of reason. A mysterious nine-year-old girl from the Blessed Lands sails into the lives of a troubled couple in the Republic and seems to heal everyone she meets. She reveals nothing about herself, other than to say she’s the daughter of the sea and the sky. But she harbors a secret wound she herself cannot heal.

It was recently accepted for publication by Evolved Publishing and is set to be released in May, 2014.

To learn more about Along the Watchtower, please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Jim Gilliam

Today we're talking with Jim Gilliam, author of Tarnished Hero

FQ: You are obviously a multi-talented person and are an emerging force in the publishing world. If you were only to be known for one accomplishment, what would that be and why?

GILLIAM: To be compared favorably with: Joseph Conrad and Jack London, and to be loved by my readers.

FQ: From a runaway to an airborne combat physician assistant is quite a leap. Briefly tell us what motivated you along your chosen career path.

GILLIAM: My parents were divorced when I was nine, I was an only child, and I thought it was my fault. That’s ridiculous of course, but that’s how kids think. Or, at least this kid. I ran away to the mean streets of New Orleans just prior to my fourteenth birthday. I survived on those tough streets, often sleeping on rooftops and under bridges. I ended up looking for work, based out of a Catholic mission for men down on their luck. I lucked out and found work as a deckhand on a sailing yacht the Windjammer II. A little later, I lied about my age and joined the Coast Guard. It’s all chronicled in my first novel: Point Deception. After being medically retired from the Coast Guard, I became an academic bum, changing my major in college like some men change their socks. Then I got serious about a career in the medical field and transferred from the University of Houston to the Baylor College of Medicine’s new Physician Assistant Program—I had a full scholarship. A few years later, I entered the Army as an airborne combat physician assistant, a vocation, I was apparently well suited for.

FQ: In Tarnished Hero, Tim Kelly is the type of hero that movies are made of. Perhaps you had someone in mind who might portray him in a movie? Any hints as to whom that might be and why?

GILLIAM: If I’m lucky enough to have any of my books made into movies—actually, two different movie producers have requested the synopsis of both: Point Deception and Tarnished Hero—I would hope Matt Damon would like to do it. He’s great in the Jason Bourne series.

FQ: Obviously your own service in the military has had an influence in your writing. Do you have a snippet of a story to tell that may have slipped into the pages of your work?

GILLIAM: Most first novels tend to be somewhat autobiographical, and that was the case in Point Deception, which soon took on a life of its own and basically wrote itself as did Tarnished Hero, to some extent. Here is my portrayal of fourteen year-old Tim Kelly’s first real day at Coast Guard boot camp, Cape May, NJ. Just substitute Jim Gilliam for Tim Kelly:

“At 0500 on Wednesday, January 2, Kelly was in a deep REM sleep. Without preamble, the door to the transient squad bay slammed open, the barracks trash cans were hurled the full length of the room, loudly crashing against the far wall, sounding like a mini train wreck, creating apprehension and confusion among the room’s twenty some odd occupants—all of them, new recruits.

Kelly rolled out of the bottom bunk and bounced off the floor, or deck, as he soon learned to refer to it.
“Okay you scum bags, life as you knew it is over!”

Totally disoriented, standing there in his underwear next to his bunk, his whole body was covered in goose bumps; it was bitter cold outside and the barracks heat had been turned down by the barracks watch during the night.

A bewildered Kelly just stood there that first bitter-cold morning, trying, without success, to figure out what had just happened. The beginning of his recruit training had commenced, literally, with a bang.”

FQ: As a onetime airborne physician assistant, was it easy to transition to a similar position in civilian life or was it a whole ‘nother ball game as they say?

GILLIAM: Actually, it was the other way round, I was a fully trained Physician Assistant when I entered on active duty with the Army. Later in my Army career I was a Surgical Subjects Instructor, at the Army Physician Assistant Program, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

FQ: There’s always that turning point in one’s life that make them pick up that pen and put it to paper. What was yours and will there be more books in the future?

GILLIAM: All of us are writers of nonfiction from an early age. We do essays and book reports in school and write work related memorandums and reports and letters—business and personal—after our school days are over. I was the medical service officer on a Navy ammunition ship cruising off the coast of Kuwait in 2008, when I decided to write my first novel. The task of the nonfiction writer is to simply convey information, while the task of the fiction writer is to evoke an emotional response in the reader. That is the very essence of showing versus telling. I’m currently working on my third novel: The SADM Project and here’s what I mean about evoking emotion rather than simply conveying information:

"His skin the color of old leather, attesting to years of operating in jungles from Bolivia to Cambodia and back again, the man in the faded Army fatigue jacket sat on the bench, the regulation duffle bag containing all his worldly possessions at his feet, his Thousand Meter Stare focused on the windows of the apartments across the street, at the strange race of civilians who still had the promise of hope his fallen comrades had secured for them."

As a reader, would: “The man, occupying the bench on Main Street, looking up at the apartments across the street is one of thousands of homeless veterans returning to civilian life from one of our nation’s wars, as reported by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.” Have the same effect? Not for me and I’ll bet, not for you either. Writers and readers are partners, and if a partnership is to work, both, must be attentive to the needs of the other.

To learn more about Tarnished Hero please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Author Patrick Pappano

Today we're talking with Patrick Pappano, author of Owning Main Street: A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market

FQ: I wonder if you can tell readers a bit about the personal transformation you made from going from sales engineer to the financial community? What was it that affected you to the point where you felt the need to expand the financial knowledge of the layman and write this book?

PAPPANO: In engineering sales, it is all about doing good with the right product – the product is the key. In financial services, I soon learned that there is no product, just a well-rehearsed “value proposition” designed to inspire confidence in prospects with assets on which to charge fees if you can make them a client. This was a no-go for me. But gradually, I began to see an opening in the mist, where there is a product but one so simple that you didn’t need a professional, which is why Wall Street doesn’t talk about it – just invest in the iconic companies that are right out in plain sight. I had to tell all those people who were too small for Wall Street accounts that they could do it better themselves. This was the Wizard of Oz all over again.

FQ: Everyone asks, of course, about the economic crash we sustained back in 2008 and what advice for the future a financial professional would give to them? Can you comment on where you see the economy heading in the future? And what, if any particular item, you would stand behind in regards to people building their nest-eggs cautiously, yet successfully?

PAPPANO: If Chicken Little is right and the sky is falling, then we will need many people with scaffolding to keep the sky propped up. Those jobs haven’t materialized however because nobody believes the sky will be falling, so those jobs go missing. In the world of Wall Street it is believed however that the financial sky will be falling and we have an entire industry devoted to this fantasy. The global population of 7 billion people will have a requirement for goods and services that will continue indefinitely, it can’t be stopped. I challenge anybody to tell me how goods and services can be produced to meet global demand without economic activity. Even in war there is, if anything, increased economic activity. Economic activity is bedrock. Stock Market sentiment is vapor. My advice is to divert periodic savings to buy the individual common stocks that make up the Dow 30 and then go fishing or whatever floats your boat.

FQ: You comment in your Foreword that there are so many financial products that they have an almost dizzying effect on people. Most people get frustrated just filing taxes, so jumping into the buying and selling of financial products becomes even more difficult for them to imagine. Do you feel that an investment professional IS good for these purposes instead of walking down the Wall Street path with no support?

PAPPANO: Finding a truly helpful Financial Advisor is very difficult because they all work on commission and if they don’t sell something, they don’t get paid. This means little time to learn products and most time spent selling. Given this landscape, anything can happen from very good to well, very bad. My advice is to reduce expectations and remain very skeptical. It is unfortunate, but that is the way it is.

FQ: I have to commend you for saying that when you first began this career, you truly had no idea of the vast knowledge it would take to aide people with their financial success. Do you feel that being a layman and LISTENING to the people helped you more than any textbooks or on-the-job training you received?

PAPPANO: The brokers were generally short on product knowledge and long on sales techniques and also forecasting market moves for their clients; for example don’t buy on price rise alone, look for volume. But most brokers are voracious readers and it is in reading where most product knowledge comes from, hence the proliferation of “research-reports.”

FQ: The healthcare debate in this country is now at an all-time high. Is there any advice you could/would give to readers (small businesses) out there in regards to staying ahead of inflation by utilizing investments? As well as how they can best manage to sign-on for the national healthcare without losing employees, cutting back hours, etc., by using the investment world?

PAPPANO: There is a perception that there are “magic” formulas for portfolio management, a little of XYZ and some ABC, etc. I believe an optimal portfolio strategy will more or less mimic the S&P 500 Total Return index. The investing entity must keep a portion in cash and this will be a drag. But a portion in a mid and small cap index fund like (IWR) IShares Russel Midcap or (RSCO) SPDR Russell Small Cap will make up for the drag, producing an aggregate return close to the S&P 500 index. As soon as you get fancy and start moving away from the basics and into more esoteric companies or funds, chasing returns, then you get into trouble, like one good year followed by three bad ones. And remember, the S&P 500 is the aggregate return Wall Street got for their clients in spite of all the chatter. The S&P 500 is the mean of all returns.

FQ: With all the brokers being purchased over the last decade (i.e.; having A.G.E. taken over by Wachovia and then Wells Fargo; as well as Lynch becoming an asset of Bank of America), do you feel there is a certain investment company that earns an A+ for prospective investors? Or will they all end up becoming nothing more than a ‘limb’ of a banking institution?

PAPPANO: Financial Advisors are not employees but entrepreneurs using an investment company’s platform and identity for a fee based on assets under management. So having a good financial services experience is really down to having an effective individual advisor and the influence of the particular broker/dealer firm that individual is with has little to no effect. Performance is not watched at all, only fees. But there is a vigorous counter-lawsuit activity: mail, email and calls are screened.

FQ: A great many people debate about investing in mutual funds and bonds instead of heading straight to the stocks so they can basically hope for that one good ‘poker hand’ at the casino table. Do you feel that this book will allow them to better understand the concept that the tortoise CAN beat the hare, if they go the more moderate, slow route to making money?

PAPPANO: If you are invested in the stock market, you are afloat in a sea of risks, the biggest one being “company” risk, over let’s say country risk, sector risk, currency risk, inflation risk, etc. If you are invested in two stocks instead of one, you have reduced company risk by 50%. Investing in twenty stocks reduces company risk to 5% each position. So if a company goes out, you are off 5% from the aggregate return of the other nineteen. This is tolerable. Most mutual funds have well over 100 positions and the S&P 500 index has 500 positions. Even someone who has never had a stock market account can look at a list of 100 or 500 stocks and pick out twenty that are just more prominent companies because they are better companies. Those twenty stocks will outperform the S&P 500 because the S&P 500 is a mean value of 500 stocks, 250 of which lagged overall performance. When you buy a fund of 100 or 500 positions you are muting returns for a level of risk management that is not needed – it is not only belt & suspenders, it is also refraining from the activity that prompted the belt & suspenders in the first place. But, mutual funds are the default investment vehicle for most Americans. A better result may be obtained by investing in 20 or so discrete common stocks of the most prominent S&P 500 members: Exxon-Mobil, Procter & Gamble, Johnson&Johnson, Intel, etc.

To learn more about Owning Main Street: A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Interview with Author Jon M. Nelson

Today we're talking with Jon M. Nelson, author of Reflectioins of Life

FQ: I have a personal formula I use when I am about to read a fellow author’s work. I typically read the dedication first because it is my way of learning something about the author’s personality. I found your dedication to be extremely moving: “To all the men and women of the Armed Forces and to my daughter, Bailey, and the future generations that will succeed us in this world.” In that brief opening, I gleaned you were extremely proud to serve your country. How long did you serve in the U.S. Army?

I am still actively serving. I've been in nearly 18 years now, and I am planning to retire in the next couple years.

FQ: There is a humble and tender quality in the way you use your words. Sad but true, people are often viewed by the jobs/roles they hold in life. Sometimes the stigma of ‘soldier’ conjures a perception of macho. Would you mind sharing some of the feedback you received from some of your brothers in arms?

I have received nothing but positive comments and compliments from fellow service members and veterans so far. I have also been approached by family members of veterans as well to thank me for what I do. A lot of them say that I speak for so many military members and put in to words so many thoughts and emotions that others can't begin to grasp or understand.

Author Jon M. Nelson in Uniform

FQ: I detect a note of struggle to the answer “why” when it comes to war; particularly in your poem “Crimson Rain.” Was it difficult to write this poem (and how long did it take to get the prolific rendition you delivered down on paper)?

Actually the poem "Crimson Rain" had nothing to do with my military experience. The idea was based on all the tragedy and senseless violence that the world sees on a daily basis. We always hear about school shootings and random acts of cruelty everywhere. I think I wrote the poem in about five minutes, after seeing one of these tragic stories on the news. When will it all end?

FQ: You dedicate your book to your daughter Bailey as well as the men and women of the Armed Forces. Would you encourage her to enlist some day?

My family has a proud tradition of military service. My dad was a Marine, and two of my brothers also enlisted in the Army, one of which is still serving. A few of my nieces and nephews have entertained the thought of joining as well. If Bailey decides to join some day I will support her 100%. I will not steer her in one direction or another. I will be proud of her no matter what career she decides to pursue.

FQ: There is a lot of positive inspiration in your writing. Do you ever tour and share your message with the soldiers? If so, would you care to share one of your most memorable moments in so doing? If not, do you have plans to do this at some point in time?

I try to do as many book signings, speeches, and other promotional events as I can. I try to bring inspiration and positive messages to everyone, not just soldiers. I write about so many subjects that pretty much everyone can relate to them. One moment that really sticks out in my mind was shortly after my first book was released. I was doing a book signing for that book, Changing Moods, and later that day a veteran who was actually in charge of a veteran's organization in that area, who had read that book, asked me if I'd be interested in giving a Memorial Day Speech. I was honored to give that speech.

FQ: What has been the most positive impact on you from your military experience? Why?

Author Jon M. Nelson

The fact that I know I'm making a difference and I'm doing so much for my country and my fellow man.

FQ: Do you envision yourself expanding your writing from poetry to a novel? Memoir?

As a matter of fact, I am currently working on a novel along with a few short stories. I'd also like to expand into songwriting as well.

FQ: During your tour, what area of the world was most difficult to assimilate to and (aside from being away from your loved ones), what comfort did you miss the most?

I would have to say that Afghanistan was the hardest place for me to adjust to. You never knew who to trust or what their intentions were. We even had to be leery of little children, which was heartbreaking, because they were so easily influenced by their surroundings.

FQ: Who has been the most positive influence in your life and what makes him or her “the one”?

My muse is my wife, Amanda. She has been my rock and inspiration in so many ways. Like I mentioned in the acknowledgement of my book, every love poem in the second chapter were written for and to her. I could not, or would I want to imagine my life without her.

FQ: I thoroughly enjoyed your collection of poetry. It was very thought-provoking and at times, quite introspective. I cannot imagine you are not working on a new writing project. If you are, is it possible to share?

In addition to the novel and short stories that I mentioned earlier, I'm also working on my third book of poetry. This book will be a bit different than what my fans are used to. This new book will include story poems and a few poems that may be a little bit off the wall, but I'll still try to be inspiring and thought provoking with this new material I have written.

To learn more about Reflections of Life please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Author Interview with Jeremy R. Lent

Our interview today is with Jeremy R. Lent, author of Requiem of the Human Soul

FQ: - Eusebio is at first a naive, ill-informed and even somewhat meek character. But he changes/grows through the book. How/why did Eusebio change so much?

Yes, it’s completely true that Eusebio, at the beginning of the book, is naïve and ill-informed. But that’s not really his fault. It’s because he grew up in the sheltered Humanist community of Tuckers Corner, completely cut off from the world of the 22nd century. So, Eusebio’s finding out about his world along with the reader. And as the terrible ethical issues arise in the novel, both the reader and Eusebio are forced to grapple with them together. Eusebio is an everyman: in the words of his daughter, Sally, “he seems so normal, so regular. And yet, he’s really special.” Eusebio’s specialness resides in his humanity, and as he reacts in an increasingly angry and alienated way to the world of the d-humans, I hope the reader feels in touch with his spirit and internalizes his emotions and spiritual struggles.

FQ: The bio-ethical issues brought up in Requiem of the Human Soul are many. Would you discuss some of these issues and how they might actually impact our society in the not-too-distant future?

Our advances in cracking the secrets of the human genome may have an even greater effect on humanity than all the scientific discoveries and technological transformations of the past few hundred years. Until now, we’ve been developing ever-increasing powers to shape the external natural world to our will. In the future, we’ll be able to apply that power to ourselves, to what makes us human.

This will present almost unfathomable opportunities and risks to our society, and force us to question the very nature of our humanity. And, as I’ve tried to show in the novel, this is not a theoretical issue for future generations to consider long after we’re all dead. We’re beginning to shape the debate over these issues right now, in our current generation, in areas like the ethics of cloning, designer babies, brain/computer interfaces.

One of the ways I tried to show this in the novel was with the four interludes – future newspaper and magazine articles spread about a generation apart from each other over the next hundred or so years. What I hope readers take away from these articles is how what is unthinkable to one generation can become avant-garde to the following generation… and commonplace to the generation after that.

Readers interested in the current debate over these issues can find out more on the novel’s website, www.humansoul.com, which explores what’s going on right now in the area of human genetic engineering, and looks at the slippery slope from the present day to a world of d-humans a hundred and fifty years from now.

FQ: Would you tell us a little about where the idea for "virtual field trips" came from? It's a great concept and added much to Harry Shields’ arguments for the Primals' destruction.

Yes, the virtual field trips certainly add another dimension to the book. Eusebio, Harry and Naomi go to the farthest reaches of the earth: to a decrepit Primal village in India, to a regenerated Safari park in Africa, and to a frontline in the battle against the Rejectionists in Pakistan – without ever leaving the United Nation building in New York. I came up with these virtual field trips as a solution to a major conundrum with my novel: how do you make a philosophical book exciting and dramatic?

In many ways, this was the fundamental challenge I had in writing the novel. I wanted to make readers think about issues like the devastation we’ve brought on the world, and what that means about our species, but I also wanted to make the book exciting and fun to read. Robert Pirsig showed the way when he wrote Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, a book about philosophy but one which attracted readers through the characters and relationships. In my case, I had the freedom to use the cool technologies of the 22nd century to get the action going in the book.

FQ: The idea that the soul can be seen, via "Schumacher's Smudge" was quite intriguing. Where did this idea originate?

Well, I just came up with it myself as I followed through on the idea of the soul as a kind of background radiation of our DNA. But since then, I’ve researched a fair amount on views held by other societies about the human soul, and it turns out my idea isn’t as radical as it sounds at first.

We’re used to thinking about the soul as something abstract and eternal, something that exists in a dimension completely separate from our physical lives. In fact, that’s a view that’s rooted in the dualism of Plato, and got incorporated into the Christian view of the soul by the early Church fathers in the first few centuries of our common era.

Most other cultures in the world have viewed the soul as something tangible, just more ethereal and finer in substance than our flesh and blood. And it turns out that even Aristotle had a view of the soul that’s consistent with “Schumacher’s Smudge”, as an emergent phenomenon arising from the body’s existence, a property the body possesses as a living thing. So, if you take a longer perspective of human culture, maybe what’s more unusual is the current idea of the soul as something totally abstract and separate from the body!

FQ: D-humans seem to be the ultimate DNA manipulated humans. That is, until we read about d-3 Humans. Was this a statement on the "always something bigger/better" in the near future, that we'll never stop trying to improve upon ourselves, and eventually, perhaps, destroy ourselves?

Yes – that’s a major theme running through the book: the unstoppable acceleration in the rate at which mankind is changing the natural world – including ourselves. I sometimes think of the rise in our powers of technology like a satellite launched into space. If it keeps accelerating out of control, the satellite breaks orbit and shoots off into space, leaving the Earth behind. There’s a danger that our technology may go the same way, leaving us humans behind. For a satellite to be useful, its acceleration has to be managed, so it reaches a stable orbit. The question is: can we manage our technology the same way, to avoid it accelerating into outer space on the one hand, or come crashing down in a fiery ball on the other hand? Quite honestly, I’m not sure if we can, and one of the goals in writing the book was to raise this question.

FQ: Eusebio is a morally good person so I was intrigued to see how/if Yusef would be able to convince him to kill for the sake of saving the human race. Were the conversations between the two characters difficult to write?

They were challenging to write and intellectually stimulating. Like most of us, I find the idea of killing anyone for any reason appalling, and so it was easy to take Eusebio’s point of view. The more challenging part was to make Yusef’s arguments strong enough that the reader has to take them seriously. And in fact, when you think through the issues, Yusef has some very good points. I’m certain that if I were transported back seventy years and had the opportunity to kill Adolf Hitler, I’d have done so in a flash. So, as Yusef points out to Eusebio, there’s no black and white answer to the issue: it’s a matter of making agonizing trade-offs among shades of gray.

FQ: There is a lot of interesting talk in your book about spirituality and native peoples/traditions. Is this a topic that has always intrigued you?

When I was in my early twenties, I spent some time with the indigenous people in the highlands of Guatemala, who still wear their traditional clothes and speak Mayan dialects. I had two profound reactions to this experience that have remained with me ever since. One the one hand, I felt awe and love for their traditional ways of living and for the depth of humanity I saw in their faces. On the other hand, I felt horror at how their cultures have been systematically devastated by Western civilization.

Most of us barely give a moment’s thought to the fact that modern civilization has been built on foundations of brutal genocide. We joyfully celebrate Columbus Day, without a passing thought to the horrors caused to the indigenous people of the Americas since that day in 1492.

At the same time, many people who feel a lack of spiritual fulfillment in traditional monotheistic religions look to the ancient wisdom of indigenous cultures to try to find some meaning there. But what’s left is in such tatters that it’s hard to pick up much that pierces through the shell of our Western culture.

So a large motivation in writing the book was to honor the beautiful, vanishing cultures of the past and to raise people’s awareness about some of the crimes perpetrated in the name of our society against the indigenous people of those cultures.

To learn more about Requiem of the Human Soul, please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Author interview with Kathleen Cunningham Guler

Our interview today is with Kathleen Cunningham Guler, author of A Land Beyond Ravens (Book 4 of the Macsen’s Treasure Series)

FQ: What is your process for collecting historical data to use as a basis for your work?

Collecting historical data is an ongoing, exhaustive, arduous and utterly fascinating task. The known history of a selected period provides the framework on which a story is hung. That’s where a novelist must employ the historian’s craft of seeking out as much information on the time and place involved as possible, then integrate all this information into a dynamic interpretation of the culture, political situation, mindset and so on. If documents contemporary to the period exist—histories, letters, diaries, annals, anything written down during that time that show what life was like and when events happened—these are the primacy sources that provide the lifeblood of setting.

For my work, unfortunately, none of these kinds of documents have survived and it’s likely very few or none ever existed in the first place. Fifth century Britain was a time of oral tradition—the spoken word reigned in an illiterate world leftover from a time when writing down sacred doctrines was taboo. In lieu of primary sources, the next choice combines secondary sources and archaeology. Secondary sources are documents written in later times that mention events and people of the earlier period in question. While they can be valuable, their reliability can also be questionable because they have suffered through years (often hundreds of years) of handed down memories, multiple translations, unreliable copyists, and of course, storytellers’ embellishments. Archaeological evidence can be tricky to rely upon as well. I have visited most of the significant Arthurian sites in Britain to gain a feel for place and atmosphere, but again, archaeologists can only ‘interpret’ their finds. Modern eyes sometimes do not recognize the true function of an object from long ago. How many times do we not recognize a simple tool from 19th century farming anymore? Quite often, and that’s involving much more recent objects. So how do we know what we’ve actually found in a fifth century dig? Ask ten archaeologists; receive ten opinions. Likewise with historians.

Sometimes—actually most of the time—the collection process is not orderly. It’s so easy to become distracted while in pursuit of a particular point and along the path a number of other interesting facts will crop up that instantly need pursuit as well! The best part is discovering a wonderful piece of information that is totally unexpected and utterly enhancing to the story. The down side is having too much information, then having to decide how much to use and how much to leave out. Experience and keen instinct will guide an author to the right mix.

FQ: Can you tell our readers about your background and what initially drew you to the Arthurian era?

Curiosity led me to learn more about Arthurian legend. In the 1970’s, Mary Stewart’s four Merlin and Arthur novels became bestsellers. This was my first real exposure to the legend. In the meantime, throughout high school, then university, I spent a lot of time studying medieval literature, Shakespeare, European history, art and music. I always love and appreciate how all these facets of the humanities are interconnected through their history. Although I ended up with an art degree and, later, a business degree, I probably had enough study to have earned history and literature degrees as well!

When I began to feel out the possibility of writing historical fiction, of course I had to decide which era in which to set my first book. Because Mary Stewart’s portrayal of Dark Age Britain had thoroughly caught my attention years earlier, and because the historical side of King Arthur intrigued me more than the later literature written about him, I chose to let my curiosity take me through the puzzling mystery of Arthur’s alleged existence. While it’s still unproven whether he did exist, it’s been a long, fascinating journey to explore the possibilities!

In a related thought, my ancestral heritage is mostly Welsh and Scottish. While I was growing up, no one in my family ever said much more than that their forebears came from Britain, and so pride in heritage was not an influence then. However, in the course of researching the Macsen’s Treasure Series, much of which takes place in what became North Wales and lowland Scotland, I discovered those two places are some of the ancestral homelands of my family. No logical explanation. I can only marvel at how I was strongly drawn to write about people in those same places before I even knew that’s where my family came from as well. Spooky, but fitting!

FQ: What is it like to study a period where there is no primary source material and so much pure speculation?

Very frustrating sometimes, I’ll admit. Yet I’ve always loved puzzles. You’re so right about calling it pure speculation—there are a number of theories out there about Arthur’s alleged existence—who the Arthur of legend is based upon—but none them truly completes the puzzle in a satisfactory manner. They place their historical figure too early, too late, or in the wrong place, and the pieces just don’t fall in order.

I have the greatest respect for historians—I know how difficult research is. It can become a lifelong pursuit that is never finished—everything known about history is an interpretation (or re-interpretation) of facts. But after studying countless available primary, secondary and archaeological sources, then reading as many interpretations by historians as possible, an author will begin to recognize what has the ring of truth to it, form his/her own opinion and interpretation. It doesn’t mean this is the correct solution to the puzzle; rather it means finding the setting and background as well as the seeds of the story itself.

FQ: Why do you think so many people find the legend of King Arthur and the characters surrounding him so alluring?

I think part of the mystique is that he and the other characters can be whatever we want them to be, because we simply don’t know the truth. But the overriding theme is that Arthur is the hero who rises from obscurity to become the rescuer of mankind. Though flawed, he thrives in strength, honor and fairness and he does not waver from these, no matter how hard things become. We also can sympathize with him because of his flaws and how he tries to overcome them. Maybe deep down we all have a secret wish to be part of this enduring tale where the hero sweeps us out of the gutter of despair and into a golden kingdom of peace, prosperity, and freedom.

FQ: What is the next book we can look forward to from you? Is there a “book five” in the works?

No, I’m not planning a “book five” for the Macsen’s Treasure Series. However, I’m doing a little re-editing of the series’ first book (Into the Path of Gods) because my publisher is planning to release the whole series in an e-book format next year and perhaps trade paperback as well. Into the Path of Gods first came out in 1998, and my current editor and I agreed it needs a little polishing.

I’m also in the beginning stages of research for another book that’s been racing around inside my head for quite some time and has been knocking to get out. It will probably be a group of interrelated short stories, each set in a different historical period. I suspect one story might be Arthurian in nature, but I’m not that far along yet! As I make progress, I’ll be posting on my blog.

Thank you so much for the great questions. It’s been my pleasure to share a little of my writing experience with you.

To learn more about A Land Beyond Ravens, please read the review at Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

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Author interview with Syrie James

Today we're excited to talk with Syrie James, author of The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte

FQ: How much did you know about the Brontës before you started this project? How did your perception of Charlotte change (if it did) once you started writing?

Before I started my research for this novel, I knew nothing about the Brontes, other than the fact that they were sisters who wrote two of the world’s most famous novels. I was incredibly curious to find out who Charlotte and Emily were, and what inspired them to write these books that I so admired. I was astonished to discover the incredible volume of writing the Brontes did as children, and what wonderful artists and poets the sisters were. I was delighted to “meet” Anne. I was surprised to learn that Charlotte was secretly in love with a married man, and that he was the partial inspiration for many of the heroes in her novels.

It was intriguing to discover what a private and introverted woman Emily was, considering the very passionate novel she penned. I was touched to learn that Mr. Nicholls was secretly in love with Charlotte for so many years, before he had the nerve to propose. It's a remarkable story, and the Brontes were a complicated and fascinating family.

FQ: Bronte remarks that she didn't care for Jane Austen's literature because it was "lacking in sentiment." Since you have also written a book about Austen, what do you think she would have made of Jane Eyre?

I believe Jane Austen would have greatly admired Jane Eyre, for it is one of the most perfectly conceived gothic novels ever written. It has romance, mystery, horror, and the classic medieval setting of an ancient manor home that resembles a castle. Jane Eyre's story is very appealing: the rise of a poor orphan girl against seemingly insurmountable odds, and a tormented hero who is ultimately redeemed by her love and determination.

Jane Eyre also has serious things to say about timeless issues, such as women's struggle for equality, the realization of self, the relations between men and women, and the nature of true love. These are topics which were all dear to Jane Austen’s heart—and Austen always loved a good story. Although Austen did write her mature novels with more restraint (when it came to passion) than any of the Brontes, she enjoyed gothic novels, and wrote incredibly torrid and passionate stories in her youth which are very similar in subject and tone to the works of the Brontes.

FQ: Did you need to change Charlotte's tone or the narrative to make the book appeal to a contemporary audience?

I made a concerted effort to stay true to Charlotte’s life story and to the voice in her novels and correspondence, and to represent the people in her life as accurately as possible. For much of her romance with Mr. Nicholls I was obliged to use my imagination, since we do not know exactly what transpired between them in the early years of their acquaintance—nor can we know exactly what occurred on their wedding night. I may have romanticized a few things about their relationship for today’s audience, but in the end, I wrote the story that I would love to read!

FQ: You begin the book with a marriage proposal. Why did you choose to lead with that diary entry?

My goal is always to keep the reader turning pages: to begin with a hook that poses a question, and keeps the readers in suspense to find out how that question is resolved. This is such a huge story. I didn’t want to tell it in linear fashion. This seemed to be the most interesting way to structure the novel.

FQ: What is your next project?

It’s entitled Dracula, My Love. It's a retelling of Bram Stoker's famous Victorian novel from the point of view of the heroine, Mina Harker: the untold story of her secret, scandalous passion for the man who is not her husband—the young, gorgeous, charismatic, intelligent Count Dracula, who she deeply loves, despite herself.

This is a Dracula unlike the one we usually see in film and print: a vampire with a heart and soul, who struggles against the evil within him, and has been misunderstood. The novel will be published by Morrow in 2010. I’m having such a fabulous time writing this book. If you liked Jane Austen's Mr. Ashford, I promise this is a Dracula you will love!

Syrie welcomes visitors and messages at her website, Syrie James.com

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Author interview with Amy Nielsen

Our interview today is with Amy Nielsen, author of Victor and the Sun Orb

FQ: What drew you to the world of sun fairies?

I’m an avid reader of fantasy books and fairy tales since I was a little girl. When I migrated to Denmark in 2001 to join my Danish husband, I was fascinated by the little town of Nysted, where we lived for the first 6 years. The old houses, a 13th century church and castles, and the 4,000-year-old tombstones in the Black Forest were all well preserved. In one of our visits in the castle park, my husband climbed an old oak tree and he looked so white and bright under the midday sun that I thought he only needed wings to look like a fairy. When we went to the forest and I saw the tombstones, I began to imagine the forest full of fairies and the story just swirled in my mind non-stop. I searched on the internet about fairies, but I didn’t find any story or book about sun fairies, so I decided to make them as my main characters. Since sol is the Danish word for sun, I named Sol as the goddess of sun fairies and their world eventually became Solandia.

FQ: There are many different species in the fairy world of Solandia? Which one is your favorite and why?

I like most Strawberryhawk, foremost because she’s highly original. I didn’t borrow her from any fantasy books or fairy tales. I created her myself as a hot-tempered, straight forward, over confident talking bush, but with a heart of gold. I was in fact laughing while writing her scene with Prince Victor. Aside from Strawberryhawk, I like also the sun fairies especially Prince Victor whom I named after my nephew, Queen Magenta as the gentle and powerful queen of the sun fairies, Antik as King of the Ants, and the evil croogs (half-cat, half-bat), simply because they are my own creation.

FQ: Did you draw inspiration from any people in your own life for any of the characters in your novel? For example, were Queen Magenta and King Godfred at all inspired by your parents?

I was inspired by my grandmother Alejandra. She died 15 years ago at the age of 90, and some of her stories are still fresh in my memory. She had many visions and experiences about the metaphysical world. Some incidents in Prince Victor’s quest like the appearance of the little book, crossing the Black River with Rower, and meeting the Boss with a white rooster in the Golden Palace of Destiny came from my grandmother’s story. She claimed that when she was a teen, she had several visions of their house’s roof splitting into two, allowing the little book to zoom down to her. She refused however to accept the little book because its power was too strong that it almost made her crazy. Her cousin however had the same experience and in contrast, he accepted the little book and the effect of it which I described in my book. Apparently in his death, he decided to take the little book with him and didn’t pass on to any of his children. In another case, once my grandmother was very sick and she lost her pulse for a few minutes. Again she claimed she travelled far and wide. She crossed this black river manned by a rower and brought her to this shining golden castle full of books. Everything happened as I described in my book inside the Golden Palace of Destiny was exactly what my grandmother saw and experienced. I regret however that I didn’t write in detail all of my grandmother’s real life stories. I could perhaps write a great non-fiction novel out of her stories and experiences.

FQ: The fairies in your novel have no souls, so they do not go to heaven. On the other hand the human characters seem to believe in life after death. Was this contrast intentional?

No, it wasn’t intentional. It just flowed naturally in the story. Before writing Victor and the Sun Orb, I did some research about fairies and magical beings, and I came up to this book where it described fairies having no souls. I followed the same principle. However, I strongly believe in life after death that unconsciously I carry it even in my writing.

FQ: Do you plan on continuing the story of Prince Victor and the Sun Orb?

The story of Prince Victor will continue in three parts. I am currently writing the sequel titled Victor and the Seven Circles of Darkness. His adventure will continue as he rescues his friend Rower from being banished forever from the Black River. Angels will be added as new characters in the story, and again, I will incorporate some of my grandmother’s vision in the after life in the story. The story will be darker, entertaining and mystifying as well.

To learn more about Victor and the Sun Orb, please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

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