#AuthorInterview with Nathaniel S. Johnson, author of Phoebe and Fred

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Dianne Woodman is talking with Nathaniel S. Johnson, author of Phoebe and Fred.

FQ: So many debut authors tend to start their writing career with a novel closer to their professional career. With that in mind, what drew you to an imaginative world of dogs for your first novel instead of, say, a murder mystery in the world of broadcasting?

JOHNSON: As a writer, I tend to choose what’s foremost in my mind at the time and what emotions are currently most moving me to write a story. If I were to write about broadcasting, I might begin with listening to mysteries on the radio when I was a boy and what it was like, later in life, to engage in actual, personal telephone conversations at midnight with “The Shadow” himself, Orson Welles. Instead, I chose a fanciful tale about my favorite canine breed, Basset Hounds, very popular in our seaside town of Rockport, Massachusetts, and a breed I have adopted from rescue shelters for over twenty years! Perhaps, one day, it will be revealed that Bassets have had me very well-trained.

FQ: Phoebe and Fred is a very unique story. Did it come, perhaps, from long walks (or discussions?) with your own bassets?

JOHNSON: Bassets are most personable and sociable; they bond beautifully with people—children, especially. Some male hounds can be quite flirtatious with women or young girls and often become quickly charmed by them. I had one hound who had four or five “steadies” in downtown Rockport! All in all, most folks seem to have a good time with Basset Hounds.

FQ: Would you tell our readers a little about your own bassets? What draws you to the breed?

JOHNSON: I’ve always enjoyed a natural rapport with my rescue Bassets. They appreciate my willingness to spoil them with praise, pats, walks to favorite spots, and making friends they enjoy. I’ve always talked to animals, never down to them. Bassets know I care and always will. Gus, my present Basset, has two favorite words: friend and treats. For orphan hounds who have lost a family and/or a home, kindness and constant concern are fundamental to their therapy, good health, and bonding. And we’re fortunate to have compassionate, competent vets close by.

FQ: You’ve collaborated with some very well-known people during your time at WGBH. I have to ask, what was it like working with Alistair Cooke? Any memories (with Cooke or others) that you’d like to share with our readers?

JOHNSON: I have an amusing story about Alistair Cooke, who had an industry reputation for being serious, and even stern or severe, during production. Before entering our PBS-TV studio, however, he would often first meet me downstairs at the FM radio station to record “A Letter from America” for later broadcast on the BBC. We appreciated one another’s company, and our sessions always went smoothly and proceeded without issues. Each reading or “Letter” would run for about ten minutes, and after turning the tape machine off and reading the stopwatch, I would then open the talkback mic and give Alistair the result. One day, however, feeling mischievous, I changed my mood. Following the reading, I opened the talkback mic and shook my head in despair. “Sorry, Alistair, we’re going to have to do this all over.”

His jaw dropped, and his face crumpled in disbelief. “Why?”

I continued shaking my head, feigning sadness. “You were ten seconds short.”

Alistair’s expression remained disturbed for a few seconds, but after seeing me grinning through the studio window, realized my mischief. His face clouded over for a second, then he threw his head back laughing, tossed the entire script up in the air, and cried, “All right, Nat. You got me this time!” The next day, Alistair’s TV producer for Masterpiece Theatre came to me and remarked, “I heard about your escapade yesterday. You were lucky to get away with that, Nat!”

P.S. For my birthday that year, I received an autographed* copy of Alistair Cooke’s America. *For Nat Johnson. Happy Birthday to you, Rabbie. Alistair Cooke. Jan 25. (Rabbie is a German boy’s name for famed, bright, shining).

FQ: Are you still active in radio/tv? Or, if retired, do you still “dabble” in music/sound recordings?

JOHNSON: First, more to write! However, my supportive publisher (Atmosphere) and I are discussing recording an audiobook following a companion paperback and digital editions of my forthcoming publication, One Before Bedtime, an anthology of short stories. So, yes, I’m pleased with the prospect of returning to “the audio business” in the near future.

FQ: The music of choice for Fred and Phoebe while on their adventure was a chorus from Beethoven's ninth symphony. As a radio broadcaster and record producer, you have listened to a repertoire of music. Why did you choose a symphony of Beethoven's for the bassets to use in their audible accompaniment to the music?

JOHNSON: Good question! The exultant nature of the lyrics in the choral music to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy seemed to me a perfect match to the nature of these happy hounds out on the town: “Happy, happy as his suns, his suns are flying...Through Heaven's magnificent plan...Run, brothers, your path...Happy as his suns fly.”

My adaptation:

Joyful, loyal, playful Bassets,

We all love the basset hound,

Best of friends with the kindest assets,

They will never let you down.

FQ: The family uses a variety of ways to teach the bassets how to reach a higher level of cognition — for instance, watching television shows and using a unique concoction for the bassets to drink, which enhances their ability to take on human characteristics. So many people today treat their dogs like children. I can imagine some would give almost anything for these intelligence-building “things.” Do you think some dog-lovers would go crazy to get their hands on these training devices?

JOHNSON: Well, Bassets are renowned for their stubbornness, especially if dragged to “obedience” school, possibly the vet, or other uncertain venues. They’re also fussy about food. My guess is that most will struggle for their preferred canine cuisine, although mine have never resisted kindness or the promise of a treat, even from the vet!

FQ: The Bible verses you picked for the story are perfect. Did you decide on the verses or the personality of the Reverend first?

JOHNSON: First, I chose a name to help establish the character's personality: Earnest Treadwell. Next, I imagined his stride, manner of speaking, and general behavior before others in a small town. Last, I chose his tone of voice and applicable choices of scripture to match his mood during his encounters with others in the story.

FQ: You accurately portray village life and the hullabaloo it causes when two adventurous basset hounds disrupt the villagers’ peaceful existence. Are the behavioral reactions of the villagers to the disruption based on familiar territory, or is it purely imagined?

JOHNSON: From my experience, growing up in a peaceful village (Concord, MA) and now living in a similar, small seaside town, I know that any significant change in activities or disruption in town events or peoples’ lives is fast food for foraging...and gossip! I hope some will see themselves, or others they know, with delight and amusement.

FQ: Will we be seeing Phoebe and Fred in another adventure or do you think your writing will take you in a different direction for your next book?

JOHNSON: I believe the Phoebe and Fred story came to a satisfying conclusion. My next venture will be a book of short stories (from Atmosphere Press) titled One Before Bedtime. This shall offer a bright opportunity to exercise and expand my thoughts into a vast variety of venues I hope will find favor with people of all ages everywhere.

#BookReview of City Under One Roof

City Under One Roof

By: Iris Yamashita

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: January 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-33667-0

Reviewed by Diane Lunsford

Review Date: January 11, 2023

Iris Yamashita delivers delicious mystery and intrigue in her debut thriller, City Under One Roof.

The discovery of a severed hand and foot that has washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, draws detective Cara Kennedy to town to investigate further. She is from Anchorage and perhaps delving into this mystery further isn’t her only motivation in traveling to Point Mettier. The only access in and out of town is via a tunnel. Unfortunately, every time an epic storm slams Point Mettier, the first thing to close is the tunnel with no guarantees as to when it will reopen in the aftermath of such a storm. Imagine Cara’s frustration when she realizes she is on the wrong side of one of these storms and predictably so, the tunnel in and out of town is closed.

The townspeople of Point Mettier are a unique bunch. The 205 residents live within the confines of a high rise called the ‘Dave-Co’. They have quite the self-contained community, fully equipped with two police officers, Chief Sipley and Officer Joe Barkowski. Amy and her mom run the Chinese restaurant and the culinary cuisine served up isn’t quite up to par with some of those iconic restaurants in San Francisco. Lonnie is a lone wolf and keeps to herself. She maintains constant contact with the voices in her head and adores caring for her pet moose. The Dave-Co has a post office, a church, an infirmary, and a general store that also acts as a gift shop that offers up all the touristy memorabilia one could possibly want if they ever happen upon this desolate and interesting town nestled in the bowels of the Alaskan frontier.

Once Cara accepts the fact that the tunnel is closed and she is there indefinitely, she settles into doing what she does best: investigate. What she couldn’t know is that the mystery of what really happened is much deeper than a hand and foot washing up on shore. As time unfolds, Cara has some explaining to do when it comes to spilling the beans toward what really motivated her to go to Point Mettier in the first place.

Iris Yamashita wastes no time in ramping up the excitement in her debut thriller. She devotes the early chapters to detailed introductions and descriptions of her characters and paints a lot of color and depth into who they are and what makes them tick. She does a superb job of painting a cast of misfits that stand alone as much as they complement each other with their quirkiness. I have to say one of my favorites is Lonnie. She is a recent graduate of the ‘Institute’ (a psych ward) and certainly battles her demons: "...Lonnie didn’t like the Institute. There were lots of scary people there. Watching her. They were always watching her. Giving her pills. Pills she didn’t need. And there were cameras and bells. Bells that went off at night..." This is a minor sampling of the thoughts that permeate most of the moments in this particular character’s conscious mind. Yamashita has a beautiful style of guiding her audience down a credible path and builds the anticipation and intrigue along the way that wills the reader to keep turning the pages because it just keeps getting better. There is not an obvious or predictable outcome to the growing mystery. Rather, there are wonderful twists and turns to this plot with an ample supply of rich dialogue, great character description and an ample bounty of surprise outcomes throughout. Great job and

congratulations

on your debut novel Ms. Yamashita!

Quill says: City Under One Roof checks all the boxes of an exciting and unpredictable read that is set in the great wilderness of the Alaskan frontier.

#AuthorInterview with Deborah Jean Burris-Kitchen, author of Exposed

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Rebecca Jane Johnson is talking with Deborah Jean Burris-Kitchen, author of Exposed.

FQ: Your brilliant book confronts topics such as racism, violence against women, height-ism, and poverty — all big, complicated topics. What do you hope the reader will take away from reading Exposed?

BURRIS-KITCHEN: I hope the reader develops empathy for the other and has a better understanding of the negative impact and harm that dismissal of and hate of the other has on individuals and groups throughout our society. Its impact on self-hate, negative life decisions, etc. I also hope that it is a call for people to work toward loving each other more and creating a more just, fair, and civil society, one based on mutual respect, not jealousy and hate.

FQ: In addition to telling their stories and seeking support, what are ways women might reclaim strength after being violated? 

BURRIS-KITCHEN: Sharing their stories publicly is the number one thing a woman can do after being violated. It allows people to understand the gravity of the problem and lets women who have shared similar experiences know they are not alone. They can also reclaim their lives by focusing on self-growth and self-love. Surround yourself with people who love you unconditionally and support your goals and dreams without criticism. 

FQ: As a professor of Criminology, you have authored a book about women in gangs and articles about racism in higher education. How does the writing and photography in Exposed complement your other work for social justice?

BURRIS-KITCHEN: Even though this is not considered an academic piece, like my previous books and journal articles I have written as a scholar, it mirrors all my concerns and previous contributions made in my life as an academician. It will touch more people and have a more significant impact on our society in the direction of greater equality and respect for women and people of color. Academic books have a limited number of people who read them. Academicians share each other’s work. This book has a chance to touch the lives of a much broader audience with the same message about the pain and destruction all the isms have caused in our so-called democratic capitalist society.

FQ: Your poem “To Be Short, Blonde, Female, and White” is a powerful observation about misperceptions and misjudgment. What are ways Americans might transcend some old stereotypes? 

BURRIS-KITCHEN: This poem, along with “Look Me in the Eyes,” calls for people to see people as individuals, not as stereotypes. It is too easy for us to pre-judge people as we interact with people we don’t know anything about. It is hard to do and takes work, but we must stop being lazy and get to know each other’s hearts, souls, and experiences. We are all in this world together. We all have struggles and a need to be understood as more than our exterior. 

FQ: In Exposed, the fictional story "Short Changed" focuses on the theme of narcissism. Can you imagine any cure for that narrator’s narcissism? Is narcissism something that has become so pervasive that we all must learn to live with it, or is there a way to overcome narcissism?

BURRIS-KITCHEN: I hope that narcissism is something that we can overcome as individuals and as a society. It seems to be a pervasive problem right now. People don’t seem to be able to think about and feel for other people. We need to overcome this and start genuinely caring and asking each other questions that show we care and wait for and care about their responses. I have traveled to many countries all over the globe, and this is usually more common in first-world nations that ascribe to values of individualism. In contrast, countries that have a much lower GOP tend to be more communal in nature and understand the concept that it takes a village to survive. We need to work on promoting the message, as a nation, that we are indeed One Nation! What hurts one of my brothers or sisters also hurts me. 

FQ: There are beautiful and powerful photographs throughout Exposed. Some feature models, some are still life photos of objects. Can you talk about taking these photos and how the images compare to the written work?

BURRIS-KITCHEN: I wanted the images to also tell the story presented in the poem. I wanted each image to stand alone but, simultaneously, make people think about the issue or topic in the poem. 

FQ: In the poem, “Brittain,” you wrote these lines: “Who I am fits me like fine leather seats in an imported sports car / I am picturesque; I am love.” How does a woman confront life’s challenges and maintain inner strength that keeps her repeating, I am love?

BURRIS-KITCHEN: You must shut out all the negative talk and be strong in who you are. If it is right, believe in yourself and your inner and outer beauty, and do not let anyone get in your head and tell you otherwise. 

FQ: In the story “The Final Beating,” the narrator documents incidents of repeated domestic abuse by writing it down. Can you talk about support for people who experience domestic violence, and how communities might cultivate more compassion and understanding to help heal domestic violence in our society?

BURRIS-KITCHEN: We have to change the culture of male dominance and toxic masculinity. Until women are portrayed as having and deserving to be treated with the same dignity and respect as men, we will never see a decrease in domestic violence. Until women are given the same opportunities to pursue their dreams and earn equal pay, there will always be an imbalance of power between men and women. And as long as men feel they are better than, more deserving, and rewarded as such, this is a battle we can never win. It has to start with the deconstruction of gender roles and gender hierarchy.

FQ: The powerful poem “September in Alabama, 1944” attests to the prominence of clan members still raping Black women in Alabama to this day in 2023. What about liberty and justice for all? How can women demand justice in this situation?

BURRIS-KITCHEN: They have to keep fighting regardless of threats of more violence committed against them. They must be brave and stand up to their perpetrator and the male-dominated justice system that still blames the victim for her assault. Again, this will come in time if we can deconstruct male dominance and hierarchy and end this oppression of toxic masculinity. This idea that women can be taken no matter if they say no has to end. No is no!!!! But many men still feel that they have a right to women’s bodies, especially Black women’s bodies.

FQ: Exposed contains poems and stories that continually promote the idea that knowledge is power. Can you talk about ways knowledge can help bring social change to the challenges of violent crime, sexism, and poverty? 

BURRIS-KITCHEN: Knowledge is power, and power is knowledge. The more we know, the more power we have to determine what we can do with our lives and bodies. Without knowledge, we are powerless against those who have power and control the knowledge. Those that tell us what the social order should be, how women should act, who deserves wealth and power, etc. If we, as women, poor, people of color, etc., gain access to knowledge and learn to think critically, we can enter into positions of power that will allow us to legitimately deconstruct old versions of what it is to be male, female, Black White, Latinx, gay, straight, etc. We can write our history and build our futures based on what all the isms mean and how they harm our society (racism, sexism, capitalism, homophobia, and much more). If you have the knowledge, you can gain positions of power and use that knowledge and power to produce new knowledge. 

FQ: Thank you for your time. Thank you for writing Exposed. It’s an important book from a courageous voice. Feathered Quill applauds your work. What will you write next? 

BURRIS-KITCHEN: I am still determining what will be coming next. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss my new book and my thoughts and process. 

#BookReview - Turning Trixie by Robb Grindstaff

Turning Trixie

By: Robb Grindstaff

Published by: Evolved Publishing, LLC

Publication Date: December 6, 2022

ISBN: 978-1622532452

Reviewed By: Kathy Stickles

Review Date: January 9, 2023

Turning Trixie, the new novel by Robb Grindstaff, is a very engaging story about life in a small Texas town. The book is a fascinating story about life, love, and survival and the writing is superb. Mr. Grindstaff has created such a wonderful protagonist in Trixie, a woman who comes across as so very realistic.

Trixie Burnett is a single mom living with her young son in a tiny town in Texas called Pineywoods. Trixie is a strong woman who is trying hard to survive and to take care of her little boy. She is also the only prostitute in this small town. But Trixie is also now holding a winning lottery ticket that is going to change their lives forever. The problem is, now that she is able to retire from her profession and make changes to their lives, Trixie also decides that the town needs to change along with her. This is when the difficulties really start.

Even though Trixie has no high school diploma she is smart enough to have an accountant help her with her new financial standing, a good ranch hand to help her on her farm, and brains that no one expected to find in a hooker. Along the way she and her son find a church that welcomes them and a new home in town so she is able to get off the slowly declining farm that she inherited and raise her son in town away from their past. In addition, she gets another house for her mother, the only person who has really stood by Trixie through everything.

While changing her life seems easy for Trixie with her newfound luck, it is not something that changes the attitudes of the people in the town, who will always view her badly due to her past. Others in town are not willing to change their opinions and do not give up their power easily, especially to a young woman who they feel is beneath them in so many ways. The only problem with their ideas and opinions is the fact that Trixie knows their deepest secrets.

In Turning Trixie, this author has given readers another fabulous novel that is truly captivating. The plot of the story is unique, as is always the case with this author, and the reader’s attention is grabbed at the very beginning of the story. The characters are well-developed and deep and each one brings so much to the story. His ability to show how hard Trixie struggles with her self-esteem and longing to be a real part of the town is spot-on.

Quill says: Turning Trixie is a beautiful story that I am sure will be loved by many for its incredible storyline. Robb Grindstaff is an excellent writer and his books are always extremely creative and different, which is definitely the case with this one. I highly recommend this book to all and encourage readers to hop on the Robb Grindstaff bandwagon.

For more information on Turning Trixie, please visit the author's website at: https://evolvedpub.com/team-member/author/robb-grindstaff/

Meet Author Leslie Kain

Meet Author Leslie Kain in her new author biography page. Learn about her new book, Secrets In The Mirror, and what inspires her and drives her to write: https://featheredquill.com/author-bios-leslie-kain/ 

#AuthorInterview with Leslie Kain, author of Secrets In The Mirror

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Barbara Bamberger Scott is talking with Leslie Kain, author of Secrets In The Mirror.

FQ: You note on your website that you write “dark psychological stories of flawed people” and there’s no doubt that Secrets in the Mirror fits that description perfectly. You also mention developing “personal relationships” with your characters so I have to ask - do you ever find yourself getting “lost” in the world of the characters you’ve created?

KAIN: I wouldn’t say that I get lost in the world of the characters, but I do find myself loving them, worrying about them. That comes first from conducting deep lengthy “interviews” of the characters before I begin writing the story, so that I know them intimately. Then as the story progresses, our relationship grows deeper. In the case of this novel, I especially worry about Gavin, the main character. He’s on my mind a great deal, mostly in quiet moments and half-asleep states. I like to say that he “comes to me” in my dreams, telling me how hopeless & trapped he feels, what he thinks about how I’ve represented him and the plot, what isn’t right, what’s missing, what should happen next. A friend of mine, a psychologist himself, reminded me that these characters are the product of my own mind, so Gavin isn’t telling me, it’s my own subconscious that’s in charge. I know this in my head, but my heart tells me my characters own their story.

FQ: Your characters are certainly unique, especially Devon and Gavin. Where do you draw your inspiration from while bringing these people to life?

KAIN: “Inspiration” comes into play at several points before―and within―a story, usually initiated by a “what if.” First at the problem or challenge level: e.g., “what if” a specific challenge is encountered by someone? A challenge that actually occurs in the real world. In this case, what if narcissism exists in a family―how does that affect the family members? But then the “what if” cascades. What if there are such tight bonds that escape is impossible, despite the narcissistic abuse―Ah-ha! Twins! More challenges for the characters to overcome the initial problem cascade as the plot unfolds; my psychology background inspires some of that and how it affects the characters. But inspiration also must occur at the level of “theme” that resonates with a universal truth. In this case, it came to me as the imperative to recognize and break multi-generational patterns of dysfunction and abuse. This is the most significant cascade. There’s a tragic scene in the book when Gavin has an epiphany, finally recognizing this as both the cause of his & his family’s dysfunction, as well as his mission to fix. I cry every time I read that scene. I always have to apologize to the book club or people at the reading.

FQ: I loved the concept of mirror twins and how they can be so different but yet, so alike. Have you encountered mirror twins in your professional/non-profit work?

Author Leslie Kain

KAIN: I haven’t encountered mirror twins personally, only in research studies. The ‘mirror’ twist was one of those “cascades” in the plot, which served as a metaphor for the twins’ psychological and behavioral differences. Those internal differences were initiated and promoted by their macho mob-connected father, who anointed Devon as The Best, The Winner, and Gavin as the wimp, a loser whose primary purpose was to take care of his “winner” twin. That treatment by Dad cultivated narcissism in Devon, which was accelerated to sociopathy by epigenetic alteration from his drug use and physical injuries. As well as lack of self-esteem and identity in Gavin.

FQ: You have always enjoyed writing – how smooth was the transition from non-fiction to fiction?

KAIN: I’ve always been a research geek, so that helps; all fiction writers do a ton of research to make the story plausible. But I’m the grammar, spelling & structure ‘nazi’ so I wasn’t sure I could loosen up enough to write fiction. After I left my soul-numbing tech business career in Government Intelligence and returned to my original passion for mental health within nonprofits, I began taking classes in memoir writing and fiction, both taught by the same published author. I did pretty well, surprising myself! I especially wondered whether I could do dialogue well, but it turned out to be one of my better skills, so I’m told. But I continue to improve and advance my skills through workshops (I love Donald Maass’ workshops & books!). I continue to work hard to “show not tell” and to dig deeper into characters’ emotions & the etiological bases thereof.

FQ: And speaking of fiction, you mention writing in various genres as a child - fantasy, poetry, and even plays. Do you have any interest in trying your hand at one of those genres now?

KAIN: Funny you should ask. Many people―editors, critique partners, beta readers, reviewers, ARC readers―have said that the book would make a great Netflix series. It does, you know, cover a span of eleven years, during which the twins age from 16-year-old teens to 27-year-old men. Right now I’m in the process of working with a production company for the audible version, and I’m annotating the entire manuscript for the narrator, to indicate the background, age, personality etc. of the character speaking at the moment, what’s happening around them, and so forth. So I may be finding my way into screenwriting to some extent. I don’t think my poetry should ever see the light of day (although my first novel, which is sitting on the shelf awaiting revision, has a few bits of my poetry).

FQ: In line with my previous question, you’ve had success with short stories and have had several published. This is a hard genre to master! Do you find these short stories come easily to you or is it harder to get a good story in such a short “space”? 

KAIN: I’m a “lean” writer, so I don’t struggle with squeezing the story into a shorter space. (I just wrote a 6k-word story scheduled to appear in an anthology.) The challenges for me are the same as with a longer story―taking the time to dig deeper to ensure the reader experiences the same emotions my characters are feeling, taking the time to let my “voice” come through and immerse the reader in the dynamics of the story, show vs tell.

FQ: Do you identify especially with any character in Secrets in the Mirror?

KAIN: I find myself very connected to the main character Gavin because of his struggle―the almost impossible challenge of developing his own sense of self, his personhood, identity and agency, after being told by his father & twin all during his formative years that he was a loser. This is similar to what I experienced in my first sixteen years.

FQ: Have you enjoyed and explored the mystery fiction genre as a background to the creation of this book – or did the complex plot with its eerie unknowns and undertones just roll out effortlessly?

KAIN: I never saw this story as a mystery. I saw it as a search for Self, and having to choose between the imperative to save someone versus the need to save oneself. The ‘mystery’ component comes in during the last third of the book, when Gavin is being stalked & threatened, and trying to identify who is doing it. That stalking (which, short of the life-endangering scene, actually was done by one person I know against a younger sibling) is an extension of the assault on Gavin’s self-hood that dominates his entire being.

Btw, nothing “rolls out effortlessly,” although the novel grew rapidly from 60k words to 100k thanks to Gavin’s inputs. The first part focuses on showing how the family dysfunction affected each member, then Devon’s narcissistic abuse and the Mob threaten Gavin’s sanity and safety; he escapes far away and for a while his life begins to feel “normal.” But not for long...

However, mystery will be the primary genre of Gavin’s sequel (the plot of which he has revealed to me), although the struggle for identity remains as the ultimate stakes.

FQ: You seem quite knowledgeable, as portrayed through the perspective of Gavin, about cookery. Is that part of your own past or present?

KAIN: Not particularly. I enjoy cooking and like to try new recipes (which I invariably alter in some way), especially when entertaining. Daily at-home cooking is pretty routine. I usually just throw something together at the last minute because it’s late due to getting lost in my writing.

FQ: Do you have a new novel already in the works (and if so, would you share a little “tease” about it), or will you turn your creative mind to endeavors other than writing in the near future? 

KAIN: I definitely have a new novel in the works, and Gavin nags me mercilessly to make greater progress on it. The sequel has him reluctantly returning to Boston to “tie up loose ends,” where events will trigger him and show that a lifetime of abuse, plus the tragic traumatic event at the end of ‘Secrets’, can’t be expunged in “two months and a tattoo.” His wife Katie will have to pull him back from the brink with some tough love.

To the latter part of your question, my “creative mind” is limited to writing, interior design/decoration, and art collecting. But I can’t imagine NOT writing. I have a folder on my laptop labeled “ideas,” filled with snippets that inspire a story concept or wrinkle to one. Some spark one of those “what ifs,” some are poems that inspire or augment themes, some are new scientific discoveries or inventions that inspire science fiction stories! Inherent in all of these is the “what if” I had more hours in each day to write them 

Thank you for these great questions that are specific to my novel & my writing (versus the “stock” questions I’ve been given in other interviews).

#BookReview of Secrets In The Mirror by Leslie Rain

Secrets In The Mirror

By: Leslie Kain

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: September 13, 2022

ISBN: ‎ 978-1639884070

Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott

Review Date: January 7, 2023

In this emotive novel by author Leslie Kain, twin boys grow into manhood, the one tormented by the other and seeking some sense of self-worth even as his mirror image wreaks havoc and seems determined to destroy him.

Devon was the first born, and his father quickly acknowledged him as the first and best; Gavin’s birth followed and, as the story rolls on, Gavin will always be made to follow Devon. The two are mirror twins, meaning that they are precise, mirror opposites physically – and in this case, psychologically as well.

Gavin is encouraged and sometimes actually ordered - by his Italian mob-embroiled father and his intelligent but morally weakened mother - to take care of Devon, which means accepting his brother’s constant put-downs and ignoring his increasingly aberrant behavior. A crisis arises when the two are teens and Devon begins consuming alcohol and drugs, resulting in a near-fatal car crash. Gavin’s blood will save him, sealing the pattern of his twin’s dominance. But as Gavin matures, he longs to be seen as worthwhile on his own, not merely as Devon’s shadow. He will move as far away as he can from Devon, who has by now been diagnosed with extreme narcissism with the specter of even darker disorders looming. But neither the move nor Gavin’s abilities as a chef and businessman, his blissful marriage, a friendly counselor, an adorable daughter and a great love of canines can keep Devon’s destructive needs from bedeviling him, from a distance, and then gradually, too close to be ignored. All that Gavin has built for himself, indeed his very life, will fall under threat from his mad mirror image.

Kain has had success in multiple careers – psychology, social work, business development and non-profit promotion. These undoubtedly have contributed to her creation of this dynamic, realistic and at times quite terrifying storyline. As shown here, mirror twins have special connections and complications that go beyond the ordinary. And the phenomenon of narcissism brings its own pangs and problems as depicted vividly by Kain through Devon’s arrogant attitudes and in the painful secrets that the more open-hearted Gavin is forced to carry. Kain’s writing offers a depth of perception that allows the reader to share Gavin’s dilemma and to continue to urge him, as he urges himself, to persevere. Too, the novel’s grim, gritty, and gory moments will satisfy those who enjoy a hardcore mobster-infused mystery with a wide range of intriguing characters.

Quill says: Kain’s book, Secrets In The Mirror, with its skilled plotting, believable characters, topical psychological insights and cinematic suspense is sure to garner a wide readership.

For more information on Secrets In The Mirror, please visit the author's website at: https://lesliekain-psychfiction.com