In the Spirit of Love

Can a sensibly modern young woman on holiday find everlasting love an ocean away with a dashingly handsome aristocrat who may or may not be a murderer and, oh by the way, has been dead for 150 years?

In her debut paranormal romance, In the Spirit of Love, author Debbie A. McClure not only channels those feelings of déjà vu that so mystify even the most grounded among us but also demonstrates just how hard it is to “give up the ghost” when Fate is determined to fuel the fires of passionate reunion.

Interviewer: Christina Hamlett

**********

Q: Tell us about your personal journey as a writer and the mentors who encouraged you along the way.

A: Well, I gotta tell you, this has been a looong journey. Although I didn’t start writing until I was nearing fifty years of age, writing had been a life-long dream of mine. But as with so many people, life gets in the way. Years struggling with poverty as a single parent post-divorce, re-marriage, blending a family of five teenagers (yes, five!), and assorted jobs to pay the bills, had me holding back on the dream. Finally, I decided to do what I wanted to do, not just what I could do. Along the way I was encouraged by my parents, who always saw the potential and encouraged me to follow my heart. My mother has always been an avid reader, a pioneer in business, and a tremendous source of encouragement and mentoring for me throughout my life. When it comes to my writing, she, my father, and my husband have never faltered in their unwavering support. I’m one lucky woman!

Q: What books would we have found on your nightstand when you were 10? 20? Today?

A: At ten I was reading Nancy Drew and other youth-focused mysteries. I’ve always been intrigued as much by what I didn’t know, as what I did. In my twenties I had started reading Danielle Steele, and later, Nora Roberts, and J.R. Ward. Today, I still love the same authors, and have added a new favorite I discovered two new favorites via my middle sister; Kristin Hannah and Tatiana De Rosnay. In addition, I love to read Clive Custler adventure books, and have read lots of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I have pretty eclectic tastes when it comes to reading.

Q: If you could have lunch with your three favorite authors of all time, who would they be, where would you go, and what questions would you most like to ask?

A: I’d love to lunch and learn with Kristin Hannah, Nora Roberts, and Clive Custler. My preferred lunch spot would be at a restaurant on a beach. I’m the biggest beach fan, and I love seafood! The questions I’d most love to ask each of these esteemed writers is; how do they see each book before they start to write, in progress, and at the end. Each one of these writers creates characters so full of real personality and intricate relationships, that I wonder how they keep it all straight. I’m not an outliner, but I do keep notes as I go to help me keep characters, places, and events in line. I’d love to know how they approach their writing, and whether they’ve ever been surprised by an ending or character.

Q: What was the moment when you first decided, “Aha! I’m going to sit down and write my first novel!”

A: People often ask me this when I’m doing a speaking presentation or book signing/reading. I actually remember it very clearly. It was during a Christmas break when I was working in real estate sales. I’d booked two weeks off, and had really been struggling with what I wanted to do with my life. I was nearing fifty years old, and even though the thought of taking on such a massive project scared the living heck out of me, I was determined to at least give it a shot. So, one day I told my husband I was going up to my office to “write”. He just nodded and said, “Go for it.”. That’s all I needed. I wrote that entire day, and by the time I pulled away from my computer, I knew I was hooked. I had no real plan, no outline for characters or plot. I just let my imagination go with the germ of an idea I had. From that day to this, I sit down every day and write for as much as 5-7 hours. In the beginning, I was still working a full time job in sales, so set my alarm 1-1/2 hrs early. Now, I write full time, having given up my job in sales.

Q: What attracted you to the genre of paranormal romance for your debut as a novelist?

A: Ah, good question. I guess I’d read a lot of paranormal romance over the years, and had always been intrigued with the idea of the paranormal. To me, as a writer, it allows me to explore situations and adventures not available to us mere mortals. In particular, I love pairing the “normal” with the paranormal characters. Of course my paranormal character, the ghost of a grand English country estate, has to embody all the elements of a traditional romantic protagonist, with a little dash of something extra. He has also had the advantage, or curse, of having witnessed a century and a half of history, people, and as a result, has developed a unique outlook on life. Because of the strong mystery aspect to this book, I was pleased to learn that several men had also really enjoyed it, and claimed they hadn’t been able to figure out “who done it” before the end. The leads are all there, but I’m glad readers of both genders have enjoyed this first book.

Q: Tell us how you came up with your title.

A: Because of my background in sales and marketing, I knew I wanted my title to indicate the genre, by including the word “love”. Because this story involves a ghost as the male lead, I chose to include the word “spirit”. In The Spirit Of Love just seemed to pull together all the elements I wanted in one tidy phrase.

Q: Would you say your work tends to have a running theme or message, and if so, what would that be?

A: Most definitely. I’d have to say that the running themes, or message, through my work is that life is full of mystery, we need to value each of life’s experiences, and love is worth fighting for. I also try to remind readers that friendship and family are the most valuable assets we have, and aren’t to be taken lightly.

Q: Who was your favorite character to write?

A: The ghost of Kent Estate, Sir Richard Abbottsford. As a result of his spectral existence, he’s had to learn a lot of very difficult lessons the hard way, and he continues to evolve as he begins to connect with the people, places, and events of the present.

Q: If Hollywood came calling, who’s your dream cast?

A: Oh, easy one! I’ve always envisioned Sir Richard, the ghost, as either Hugh Jackman (tall, dark, and handsome), or possibly Leonardo Di Caprio (suave and debonaire). I’ve envisioned Claire as fellow Ontario Canadian, the multi-talented Rachel McAdams. As for supporting cast characters, I’m much more flexible, and haven’t nailed down exact Hollywood representations for them. I’d like to be surprised on that one.

Q: Aspiring authors often assume that once they have written (and sold) their first book, they are automatically on Easy Street. Speaking from your own experience, what have been some of the challenges of sustaining a writing career once you embark on one?

A: I guess due to my background in commissioned sales, I knew it was going to be a looong haul, and my writing wasn’t a get-rich-quick thing. Still, I’ve learned that writing has a learning curve the size of a tsunami, and it’s really easy to get swamped and overwhelmed. The biggest challenges new writers face is getting the word out about who we are, our work, and our brand. I’m also amazed at the number of new writers who don’t realize that writing (and publishing) is a business, and consequently, they must be the CEO of their new venture. Learning to market and promote yourself and your work is a massive daily undertaking, and can be wearing, to say the least. Because the money doesn’t just flow in, writers also have to juggle the dream against the realities of life, and making a living. This means looking at either maintaining a day job in addition to writing, or turning your writing into part of a platform for additional revenue streams, such as paid public speaking gigs, workshops, freelance writing, etc. Someone recently posted on Facebook that many people say they could write a book, if only they had the time. I replied that if time were all it took, more people would walk this walk. There’s just so much more to it than that, talent and perseverance included.

Q: When and where do you get your best writing done?

A: Oh, I’m a morning writer. I’ve tried other times, but for me, I write best in the mornings, in my office. It’s then that my brain is clearest, I’ve had my morning coffee, I’m dressed (yes, dressed in proper day clothes), and ready to get to work for the day. If it’s a gorgeous, sunny summer day, I’ll take my laptop outside and sit in the gazebo at the patio table and write from there. It gives me the illusion of having gotten outside and away from my office.

Q: The publishing industry is undergoing a massive shift as new technologies are being developed and perfected. What do you see as the future of publishing and writing?

A: As those in the business will attest, this is a remarkable time to be a writer. So much is changing, and so quickly. I see writers, publishers, and agents, having to step up to working collaboratively to capture the benefits of current and upcoming technologies. The “gate-keeper” mentality of publishing just isn’t working for many of today’s writers, and as more writers move into the realm of self-publishing, and very successfully in some cases, each party is going to have to come to the table with open hands and a willingness to create the best product together, with the writer being treated as a valuable player. Fair compensation and contract terms for a writer’s work are becoming more of a hot topic, which is why I think we’re seeing more “hybrid” writers evolve. Technology isn’t going anywhere. In fact, I think the future is going to see a greater shift towards technology, as our next generations come to expect and rely on it for a number of reasons (that’s another topic entirely). I believe print books will always be available, perhaps more via POD, but I also see a shift in favour of new technologies in the future. Bricks and mortar stores are going to have to adapt to accommodate the coming changes, or risk failing completely.

Q: Do you believe it’s harder or easier for new writers to get published today than it was a generation ago?

A: Without a doubt, easier. With the advent of digital publishing, more and more writers are choosing to go the route of self-publishing. After all, they can hire the same professional editors, cover artists, and upload their work to the very same e-venues as the big publishers do. As a result, getting published isn’t as difficult to achieve today. But make no mistake, self-publishing carries a ton of work, and it all rests on the shoulders of the writer.

On the other hand, I think traditional publishers are even more careful about the writers they choose to work with. With limited distribution channels, overhead costs, etc., I believe publishers are looking for writers who are willing, and able, to approach their writing in a professional, serious manner. Creativity is certainly necessary, as is talent, but so is a business mind-set to persevere over the long haul.

Q: What’s your best advice to a writer who is just starting out, insofar as preparing for the challenges that await them?

A: In the beginning, just have fun! Explore the limits of your imagination. Don’t worry about the outcome. But in the meantime, start learning everything you can about the business of writing and publishing. Because if you decide to persevere in this crazy business, you’re going to have to be prepared to really dig in and learn. Also, connect with other writers, at all levels of their career. Build relationships, and help others build their own careers while building your own. Especially in these changing times, learn and share with each other. I’ve met some amazing people along the way, including you, Christina, and I hope they’ve learned as much from me as I have from them. Oh, and with regards to social networking, never post something unprofessional, derogatory, or something that labels you as less than professional. This means pictures, expletives, political, and religious view points. Set up an author fan page, and keep business and personal pages separate. People are watching and forming opinions on who you are and your message, whether you like it or not.

Q: What would readers be the most surprised to learn about you?

A: I failed both Grade 7, and typing! I’ve learned that failure doesn’t mean stop. Sometimes it just means pay attention, and try again. I now type as fast as I think, and that’s a real advantage when writing for hours at a time.

Q: What’s next on your plate? Give us the inside scoop!

A: After the success of In The Spirit Of Love, I decided to write the sequel, In The Spirit Of Forgiveness, which is slated for release later this month, May, 2014. Continuing the story of Claire and the ghost of Sir Richard, Forgiveness follows the two protagonists as they solve yet another mystery of Kent Estate. Magic, mystery, and love are all part of the spell woven throughout this exciting new story. I’m really excited about this next release, and hope readers enjoy this next book as much as the first. Who knows, I may even begin penning a series based on the first two books.

I’m also extremely excited to share that I’ve started a new novel in an entirely different genre; a fact-based historical fiction. The King’s Consort-The Louise Rasmussen Story is the story of a woman who rose from obscure poverty as an illegitimate child of a seamstress, to marry the King of Denmark. It is a true love story set in the mid-1800’s amid immense political intrigue and change. Despite severe opposition and open hostility from the aristocracy, Louise and her king are determined to be together, and as a result, change the course of a nation forever. I’m hoping to have this next project released sometime in 2015/16, but haven’t decided the publishing route for it yet. Time will tell.

Q: Where can readers discover more about you, your books, and ongoing public speaking or workshop events?

A: Website: www.damcclure.com

Blog: http://the-write-stuff.me/

Twitter: @debbiemcclure59

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/DebbieA.McClure59

 

Thank you so much for your invitation to chat today, Christina. I’ve really enjoyed the thoughtful questions you’ve posed.

 

 

 

The Spirits of Birds, Bears, Butterflies and All Those Other Wild Creatures

“One touch of Nature,” wrote William Shakespeare, “makes the whole world kin.” Why then, is man’s coexistence with the diverse creatures great and small with whom he shares the planet such a fragile – and often destructive – relationship? In his first book, The Spirits of Birds, Bears, Butterflies and All Those Other Wild Creatures, author Dennie Williams offers his perspectives on environmental preservation, interspecies communications, and the need to recognize that we’re all in this together.

Interviewer: Christina Hamlett

**********

Q: So tell us what your new book – and hopefully the first of many! – is all about.

A: This is a book of true to life nature tales emphasizing animal and bird interaction and communications with humans. The tales start with a short poem about Chickadees and end with a poetic tour through the Costa Rican jungle. The book opens with a prologue relating how I became fascinated with animals and birds through family influences and experiences. Then, in an introduction, it explains the significance of interactions and spiritual communications among birds, animals and other creatures with humans. Finally, it starts with the first of sixteen true stories or descriptive chapters of interesting interaction among people and birds and animals.

One of the critical issues facing the world today is the vital obligation to preserve and protect the environment. As a result of the momentum of destruction of nature world-wide, it will take generations, if ever, to repair all the damage. Hopefully the erosion, already generations old, will not continue at its present pace. But, whatever happens, children, teenagers and adults need to educate themselves as much as possible to the very soul of nature. This book and its short stories are a small and humble effort at catching the attention of as many readers as possible to the need to appreciate wildlife and the actuality that wild creatures can and do communicate their vital needs to people around them, even if they don’t listen or observe the many attempted interactive approaches to them by the non-human world.

Once people, at as early an age as possible, become educated to the needs of wild life, the less destructive they will be toward nature during their lifetimes, and perhaps they will even become devoted to help the causes of all living beings including those humans other than themselves. If the skill to appreciate nature and interact with wild creatures is honed at an early age, it becomes almost impossible not to take up or support environmental protection causes as one grows older.

Q: If there were a single quote in the book that summed up its takeaway value, what would it be?

A: “As kind as people are to animals, birds, fish and other living creatures, they have to think more about those creatures’ innate desires for freedom and independence. Above all, humans need empathy toward wild animals, birds and all other untamed critters. If more of them expressed it, nature could flourish in wider areas worldwide and man-made pollution disasters might decrease in kind. Can you imagine poisoning, torturing or intentionally running over a rabbit, squirrel or roadside crow? I can’t! Then how do corporations operated by people endlessly pollute the air, water and earth where wildlife lives?”

Q: And yet these practices not only continue to exist but also escalate. Are we sowing the seeds of our own destruction in our disregard for the planet and its non-human inhabitants?

A: Even as I was writing this book, my own concern for wildlife has grown so much that sometimes I have a very hard time reading, watching or listening to its incredible destruction during wide spread forest fires, hurricanes, oil spills, munitions explosions in war and after war or every day pollution of the air by nuclear plants, factories or just plain exhaust from hundreds of cars I pass by with my own car every week. And, yet for all of my working life I was a news reporter writing hundreds of stories of environmental disasters including investigative human health tales involving the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The environmental decimation of those wars, particularly from radiation dust caused by depleted uranium munitions, will impact on nature, wild creatures and humans in the Middle East for untold numbers of years. Radiation is hard if not impossible to eradicate and some say its hazards can last billions of years. And yet it seems news reports about its repercussions as well as the health effects of depleted uranium contamination and other huge environmental disasters focus on harm to people but not wild creatures, the earth or the oceans.

Q: Is there any bright spot we can draw to?

A: The nature tales in this book look largely upon the positive side of the relationships among people and wild creatures. They are lively, poetic and funny stories all with a focus on interaction, not always friendly, among people and birds and animals. Some of them involve my own experiences at all ages.

In order to put those stories and the book in perspective, I open up with my own family background, not as an ego trip, but to show how I very gradually became a kind of minor league nature fanatic. On the other hand, however, the first short story, “Blueberries, Butterflies and The Pig,” explains, how only at a late age, as a so called senior citizen, I finally realized there exists a spiritual, fascinating and inspiring interaction among humans and wild creatures, in this case butterflies, and people. Of course, that only occurs if the person already has a sensitive and regular appreciation of wild creatures. After some weeks of thinking about these butterfly experiences, it occurred to me that I and some close friends had a reservoir of experiences interacting with birds and animals.

Just as inspiring still was doing some extensive research on communications among humans and wild creatures and discovering it was not just my imagination. My thinking wasn’t craziness, it related to the real world! That research is part of the introduction to the short stories and is necessary to create credibility with the reader.

Q: So what inspired you to roll up your sleeves and put pen to paper…or fingers to the keyboard?

A: I was picking blueberries one beautiful, sunny day in a patch 10 or 12 miles from home, when a butterfly suddenly landed on my out stretched hand. I began showing it first to my wife then to several other pickers before I saw two young children, a boy and a girl, just outside the patch laughing and rolling down a grassy hill. Loudly, I asked them if they would like to see my pet butterfly and warned the boy to stop running toward me, as his curiosity overwhelmed him. He rushed on next to me and scared the butterfly 30 or 40 feet into the air.

“See what I told you!? You scared my pet butterfly away,” I exclaimed. But a second later, the boy exclaimed, “No, it’s on your ear!” I told the boy he must be mistaken. Then, suddenly, my wife appeared from out of the patch and said, I thought with sarcasm, “Yes, it’s on your ear.”

So I walked carefully over to the blueberry selling shack and asked the sales lady if she could see my butterfly. She confirmed its presence and quickly warned me that her two friendly dogs were approaching. Sure enough, one of them scared the butterfly up into the sky and away forever. Two days later, I was shocked when I remembered that about ten years earlier I had experienced another wild butterfly episode in Barnard, Vermont. There on a porch near a pond on a beautiful day, a local character took me by surprise and started telling me a wild tale. As he did, two white butterflies began flying just over his head with their flights matching the excitement of his tale. They did so until he finished and then quickly disappeared into the sky and over the pond.

Q: Would we be right to assume that you’re an animal lover?

A: Yes!

Q: When do you recall first taking such an interest in creatures of the wild?

A: I have followed the flights and eating habits of all sorts of birds on my feeders ever since I was a little boy. I loved seeing moose and bears in the forests of Canada and the Wild West.

Q: Did you work from a formal outline or did you allow the content to just flow from consciousness once you started to write?

A: In writing the book, I composed each story soon after it was told to me. Then I sent a copy to those being interviewed to make sure it was accurate. Then, I organized the investigation of the reality of interaction and communications among wild creatures and people. Next, I felt I needed to explain to the readers about my own life and family experiences as they related to my love of wild critters.

Q: How much research was involved in pulling all of the elements together?

A: My research on the Internet about interactions among people and all sorts of animals, birds and fish went on for months. Of particular help in proving the book’s thesis was the Internet’s YouTube which has dozens of videos showing wild creatures communicating and interacting with all sorts of people.

Q: Was it your style to do all of the research first or to start writing and do the research as you went along?

A: I did this research before I wrote the book to prove the existence of these extraordinary relationships among humans and the wild creatures of all sorts.

Q: By profession, you’re an investigative reporter. How different are the experiences of investigative reporting and the nuts and bolts of being an author of a book?

A: My investigative reporting for almost five decades was instrumental in writing the book because credibility, particularly involving this rare subject, is essential. Since the book involves short stories, the ability to write them was not that much different from checking out, interviewing and writing a news story.

Q: Who do you see as the book’s target demographic?

A: I believe the book is intriguing for most lovers of nature, but it is particularly inspiring for young adults because they need to learn that wild creatures can and do interact and communicate with people; and once they do, they may have more respect for preserving the environment, not only for themselves and other people, but for birds, bees, bears, butterflies and other beautiful wild critters.

Q: What impact did the development and writing of this book have on your own life? Do you feel that you see things differently now than you did before?

A: This nature book increased my appreciation of wild creatures tenfold because I had not the slightest idea that they had this people-inspiring capability to be so spiritual and friendly. As a result, I now often have trouble even thinking about swatting an annoying insect!

Q: What is the most amazing interaction you have ever heard about between humans and wild creatures?

A: I believe the most amazing interaction ever was the one shown on 60 Minutes in which Anderson Cooper followed “The Sharkman” into the ocean without being in a cage below South Africa and played a simple game of letting white sharks, the most dangerous of those creatures, bump them with their noses. After a couple of bumps, The Sharkman grabbed one of the shark’s fins and took a short ride. This is all on film!

Q: Why is it important to realize that wild creatures indeed interact and communicate in their own manners with humans?

A: As I hinted earlier, it is critical for humans to realize the communication skills of wild creatures because it makes them think that all environments need to be preserved, not only for us, but for animals, birds, fish and insects.

Q: How did you go about proving to yourself and, ultimately, to your future readers that these dynamics are critical to understand?

A: The content of the nature book itself deals with stories that prove this reality, and that is why I think the younger the reader, the better. So it was my investigation, leading up to the writing, that convinced me of the truth of what I was to compose. That probe is written into the book to convince others as well that these dynamics of nature are indeed critical to understand.

Q: How can readers benefit the most from this realization and which ones might benefit most?

A: If people begin to accept this inspiring reality, it means maybe we will have a remote chance of keeping the earth healthy and livable.

Q: Spirituality is an overarching theme throughout the book. What is your own definition of this state of being? Do you believe it exists in the animal kingdom or is it an anthropomorphic trait we ascribe to them?

A: Spirituality is the essence of keeping this thought forever in your mind and doing all you can possibly do to think of kindness and to think of helping others to include all living things including plants. And, indeed, spirituality is a reality for any living being desiring to communicate and preserve any other living being.

Q: It’s often said that our dogs understand more of what we’re saying to them than we understand about what they’re trying to say to us. Do you believe this same disconnect exists in the “wild” world?

A: There is no question that, like pet dogs, wild creatures frequently understand much more than people ever think they do. Although children with imaginations, sometimes know how pets and wild creatures communicate with them.

Q: Can hunters truly say they’re concerned about survival of critters in the wild when they are, in fact, hunting them?

A: Within the book, I describe the rather complicated ethical thoughts and actions good, competent and caring hunters have about killing animals and birds. American Indians taught some of them these lessons. We must remember that long ago, in order to survive, cavemen killed animals and hunted them, much as animals do to other creatures. During those times, however, it seemed from all the ancient tales that those ancient hunters only took down what they needed to survive. They didn’t go out and plant almost tamed pheasants in wooded areas, and then grab their shotguns to pursue the game they had just released.

Q: Environmental change, habitat destruction and human intervention have collectively contributed to the extinction of countless animals since the dawn of mankind. An alarming number of these have been within the past century. What’s your reaction when you encounter such statistics and what do you think we should be doing about it?

A: My reaction to this incredible destruction is partial disbelief that some people, many of them political leaders with powers to pass laws and enforce them, are incredibly egocentric, ignorant, thoughtless and cruel. Those leaders, aware of the potential disasters of the future, need to assemble in the United Nations or elsewhere, anywhere, and create a plan to stop the slow disintegration of our planet.

Q: Now that you’ve written your first book, what do you know now about the world of publishing that you didn’t know when you first began?

A: The writing, publishing and now the marketing of this nature book was indeed one of the toughest experiences of my life. Very, very few in the publishing business have any time at all to help a first-time author. Many agents and publishers don’t answer emails, phone calls or letters. For a first time author to get a book published and marketed they must be famous, infamous, rich or lucky beyond belief.

Q: What’s next on your plate?

A: My book plate of the future is empty and I would find it hard to believe I could ever create another one. But if the inspiration hits me hard enough, I will! It sure helps to have been an investigative reporter because the tasks involved with that job are often so difficult and nerve wracking that patience and determination are the only qualities allowing one to get all the tasks done.

******

Readers can learn more about The Spirits of Birds, Bears, Butterflies and All Those Other Wild Creatures at http://birdscrittersbutterflies.webs.com/.

Haylee and the Traveler’s Stone

What a pleasure it has been to interview and get to know Lisa Marie Redfern, author of the Haylee e–trilogy and Haylee and the Traveler’s Stone (print book soon to be released). Not only is she a wonderful writer, but her talent doesn’t stop there. As an accomplished artist, photographer, and business woman, Lisa stretches the boundaries of her art and her way with words/imagery, enticing followers to dip their toes into the rippling waters of imagination.

Interviewer: Debbie McClure

**********

Q: Books, movies and even television shows these days are delivering a steady stream of plots that involve the undead, the unreal, and the wickedly supernatural. In your opinion, what accounts for society’s longstanding fascination with characters that are not completely human?

A: A cultural theme occurs when lots of people have similar ideas and begin exploring it in depth. We take our collective temperature with questions such as; What are we afraid of? What defines us as human? How far can we stretch our imagination? What does it mean to be ‘different? How would it feel to be powerful and untouchable? I think the dark nefarious vampires, zombies, and wickedly supernatural characters that are popular today are reflections of our attitudes and worries about the cultural and economic conditions that we live in.

Q: Tell us how you came up with your title.

A: Hyale is a daughter of the Greek gods Oceanus and Tethys. The character Haylee, and the book title, is roughly based on this name…with a modern twist.

Q: Alfred Hitchcock was a master at making cameo appearances in all of his movies. Does Lisa Redfern employ any signature tricks or insider jokes that we should know about?

A: Absolutely! Although I won’t reveal them all—I will say that many of the animal names were family pets. The Rattler/Lovey storyline was based on a rescue dog named Bandit. He lived up to his name. Once it was changed to Happy, he was much easier to live with. Lovey was one of our pet cats.

Q: Tell us about your female protagonist, and the passions that drive her thoughts and actions.

A: Haylee has spent most of her childhood living with a wounded parent—she takes on responsibilities beyond most children her age. She attempts to stay out-of-sight and out-of-mind as much as possible, has an affinity for animals, and possesses a quick mind; she aspires to become a veterinarian. But things don’t go according to plan. When it becomes clear that her strange condition poses a threat to her loved ones, she drops everything to figure out how to stop it. Along her adventurous journey, we see a maturing inner resolve, self-direction, and a belief that something good can be born from facing a problem head-on.

Q: In Haylee and the Traveler’s Stone, Haylee is transported to the turbulent backdrop of the San Francisco Gold Rush in 1849. During this time in California history, the population was dominated by young male adventurers who came from all over the world. Why did this specific era personally resonate with you?

A: I feel connected to this time period because it is woven into the historical fabric of where I live—in the heart of Gold Country. I wanted to develop a deeper understanding about what life was really like by bringing alive the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of that time. In my research, I discovered fun and quirky facts that may not have made their way into commonly read history books.

Q: What do you hope this book will accomplish?

A: My goal is to suck the reader into a vortex of altered time where his/her own life fades out for a while as Haylee’s story takes center stage. Isn’t that the ultimate definition of a good book—to entertain? Along with entertainment, I included those quirky facts (mentioned in the question above), because I want the readers to have something memorable to keep. If Haylee readers (who visit San Francisco) are able to see the city in a new way, I will be thrilled!

Q: Have your characters ever done anything that surprised you?

A: I usually arrive at my keyboard with an outline and longish, handwritten essays that fill in sections of the outline. Days of thought and nights of dreams have gone by as I’ve worked out the complexities of what I plan to write. It is a surprise when I’m typing away and a character goes in another direction…or says something unexpected. They are usually right, but we have to argue about it for a little while before I relent. When I describe it that way, it sounds psychotic doesn’t it?

Q: The publishing industry continues to reinvent itself. The combined effects of downsizing at traditional publishers and the desire by authors to have more control over their intellectual property and pricing structure has led to an escalation in self-publishing endeavors. What are your thoughts on this issue, particularly the debate as to whether a self-published title is as “real” as one produced through traditional channels?

A: Every work published is real. It is meaningful to the person who wrote it, so it can’t be anything else. Prior to 2010, when iPads and e-readers hit the market en mass, publishing houses set the quality standards for reading material before it was released to the public. The flood of independent authors who are self-publishing has changed those standards.

As a consumer, I appreciate knowing that the book I am about to read has a reasonable chance of being good—in subject matter, clean page design, and very little grammatical or spelling errors. When you buy something that has been self-published, quality levels can be hit or miss.

As an artist and independent author, I love having the ability to self-publish. For the very first time in my work life I’m unencumbered and free to create my vision from start to finish. The creation process itself is highly satisfying. I place a great value on producing work that is ‘as good as’ anything that a publishing house would turn out. Fortunately, I have developed the skills to do most of it myself, but I also invest in areas where I need help—editing and some design assistance. There is something ironic about putting so much effort into a product that sells for .99¢, $3.00, or even $5.00. Like those adventuring pioneers who braved the treacherous seas and overland treks with the hope of finding gold, we authors are gambling that more than a few readers will push that shiny, rounded-rectangle button marked ‘buy.’

Q: In addition to being an author, you are also an artist and photographer with a busy home life. How do you find time to write?

A: Good organization is a must. I use a Google calendar synced with my smart phone. Sometimes other jobs have to go to the top of the ‘to do’ list. I get as much done as I can when my son is in school. I enter into my most efficient writing zone after everyone has gone to sleep and the phone isn’t ringing. I try very hard to remind myself to go to bed before it gets too late…

Q: Lisa, you are incredibly multi-talented, and your website, book trailer are amazing. What advice would you give to new writers/artists regarding building a social media or networking platform?

A: 1. Realize that platform building and gaining followers is something that takes time. It starts small and slowly increases over time.

2. Once you start participating in social media, know that you’ve created a ‘living’ thing that needs to be fed on a regular basis.
3. Start slow. Choose one or two sites that you think that you might enjoy. Stick with them until you are comfortable before moving on to more.

My social media ‘ah ha’ moment came with Pinterest. Because I am visual by nature and I enjoy organizing data, this was a perfect social site to start with.

Q: As an artist and writer, you are clearly an inspiration to others, but who inspires you? Have you benefited from the wisdom and/or counsel of a mentor? If so, who and why?

A: Inspiration comes from everywhere. To quote Christina Hamlett’s book Screenwriting for Teens, “Log into life. No password required.” Also, my artist friends inspire me when we spend time together setting up art shows, getting our hands dirty, or just sharing and talking about our work.

For authors, I follow the big guys—Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Barbara Kingsolver, and Jean Auel for starters. I also follow some of the rising independent author stars—Hugh Howey, Guy Kawasaki, Rysa Walker, and Chuck Wendig. I like studying how they present themselves online, how they interact with their fans, what kinds of stories they are writing next, and what rights they are selling.

My son has a big imagination; he and I have many humorous, “What if …” conversations. Being out in nature, photographing interesting animals, random conversations, seeing something online that grabs my attention, or even just being alone and quiet, are all areas of inspiration.

Q: You’re obviously drawn to the metaphysical and otherworldly in many aspects of your creativity and writing, sometimes blurring the lines between the real and fantastical. What is it that draws you in, or inspires you?

A: Underlying everything is the hope and faith that we are much more than just our physical existence. I think all life is connected, and should be respected and honoured as the incredible gift it is. The real magic in this world is love and our relationships with the people, animals and living things around us. That is what I always attempt to express in both my art and in my words.

Q: A lot of new writers think all they have to do is write a good story and their job is done, but today’s writers are expected to do so much more, whether self or traditionally published. What advice would you give to new writers just starting out on this very long journey?

A: I think that is an urban myth. How did that one ever get started? When I worked as a book publicist, I dreaded the inevitable moment when the author bubble would burst. Once it popped, fairy dust and glitter never spewed out and sprinkled to the ground.

My advice to authors just starting out is similar to the advice you gave in your interview for In the Spirit of Love. Always conduct yourself professionally online. Stick to it – give writing a permanent place at your table – live your life – do what you need to do…and then go back and write some more. Once you have a few books out there for sale, add to your regular routine time to feed the marketing machine.

Q: Many writers and artists struggle with following their creative path vs making a (normal) living, and being accepted in a world that often can’t understand what drives the creative mind. Have you struggled with this, and if so, how do you attempt to overcome it?

A: Oh yes! More than a few times, I’ve wondered if I was adopted. Most everyone in my family is an engineer, accountant, scientist, lawyer, or a business person. Conventional social norms hold the greatest respect for professions with the highest pay scales. If pay scales were based on job satisfaction, artists and writers would be where the venture capitalists and technology moguls are now. I don’t worry about people accepting me. I am who I am, I do what I do, and I am very happy about that.

Q: Where can readers discover more about you and your books online?

Author reads sample chapter Audible.com Lisa’s art portfolio & online store Art and Words Blog Google+ Goodreads Twitter reddit Redfern Writing Facebook Page Join Lisa’s author e-mail list

Lisa: Thank you for the opportunity to participate in a You Read It Here First interview. I enjoyed responding to your thoughtful questions. Additionally, it was a pleasure to become acquainted with you and Christina and your work.

 

 

 

 

About

Hi, Readers!

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a voracious reader. I memorized the route of the neighborhood bookmobile, I always checked out the maximum number of titles at the school library, and I suspect that if a Beast had given me access to a ginormous collection of books in his castle, I’d have had no reason to ever leave. My allowance was regularly spent on the latest Nancy Drew mysteries (which I read with zeal and via penlight under the covers long after it was past my bedtime).

Even as an adult, I probably have enough books to open a lovely bookstore, although I’m sure I’d develop a modicum of angst about parting with some of my favorites and sending them out the door with a total stranger.

In the 40+ years of my own career as a professional writer, I’ve always been intrigued by what inspires my fellow authors, who their mentors were, how they organize their work day, what they’re passionate about, and what they’re currently reading. Thus was born the idea of launching “You Read It Here First” – a gathering place for those who love to write and those who love to read.

If you’re an author who’d like to chat about your latest title as well as share insider tips for those who are just beginning their own journeys in fiction (any genre), nonfiction, playwriting, or screenwriting, drop me an email (authorhamlett@cs.com) and let’s get the conversation started.

http://www.blogarama.com/books-and-literature-blogs

**********

Meet the Staff: Who We Are and Why We’re Here

Christina Hamlett, Founder and Literary Manager

Award-winning author, script consultant, and professional ghostwriter Christina Hamlett has been involved with writing, publishing and the performing arts for over 40 years, an amazing accomplishment in light of the fact that she insists she is only 35.

Her credits to date include 47 books, 266 stage plays, 5 optioned feature films, and squillions of articles and interviews that appear in trade publications throughout the world. Not only is she frequently tapped to judge national and international competitions in the fields of fiction, nonfiction, playwriting and screenwriting, but – as a script consultant for the film industry – she attempts to stop really bad movies from coming to theaters near you. (Obviously she needs to be working much harder at this…)

Next to her husband, Mark Webb, and their dog, Lucy, her true love is the theater. She spent 16 years acting and directing, half of which was with her own touring theater company, The Hamlett Players. Many people mistakenly assumed that the group (1) only did Shakespeare, (2) only performed The Bard’s play about the guy with the skull or (3) thought the extra “t” was a typo. None of these assumptions were correct. Christina penned nearly all of the plays performed and, in fact, discovered that it was a nifty way to get feedback from the cast and from audiences prior to submitting them for publication.

If you read the third paragraph (and there will be a test on this later), you’ll see that she is still writing plays which have been published by Silver Birchington (New Plays To Perform | Silver Birchington Plays | Ilminster), PLAYS (http://www.playsmagazine.com/), Pioneer Drama Service (https://www.pioneerdrama.com/), Heartland Plays (http://heartlandplays.com/) and Brooklyn Publishers (https://www.brookpub.com/). She is also a monthly contributor of scintillating lesson plans and articles to Stream Semester (formerly School Video News)an online resource targeted to K-12 video arts educators. Stream Semester – School Video News.

Rather than rabbit on incessantly, she invites you to visit her website at http://www.authorhamlett.com. There you will not only find information on her publications but also details about her online workshops, consulting and ghostwriting services.

**********

Debbie McClure, Executive Literary Associate

Debbie McClure wrote her first short story back around the age of twelve, and although she loved the experience, realized even then that writing took a lot of hard work and dedication! Although she continued to harbour the dream of becoming a writer, as with most of us, life got in the way of the dream. First there was marriage to a high school sweetheart that resulted in two fabulous children and a divorce eleven years later, then many years working as a single mother with no child support from an absent father. When she met her second, current husband fifteen years ago, Debbie’s life took yet another turn, as she welcomed three teenaged step-children into her life, in addition to her own then teenaged children. Yep, five teenagers in one household! Those were intense years of blending a new love and family into one cohesive unit, and through it all she worked as a full time real estate and mortgage agent.

As she approached her fiftieth birthday, Debbie began to realize that something was missing from her life, and so finally returned to her first passion; writing. Overcoming the fear of failure and insecurities of starting something so grand so late in life was a challenge. With nothing more than an intense love of reading and writing, and a grade ten education, Debbie wrote two full length novels before scoring her first publishing deal and releasing her debut novel in November, 2012, a paranormal romance/murder mystery, In The Spirit Of Love. In June, 2014, the sequel, In The Spirit Of Forgiveness was released. Finally Debbie quit her job in commissioned sales to pursue writing full time. Now, almost five years after beginning her writing career, Debbie has written a third up-coming novel in the bio-historical fiction genre.

In addition to writing, Debbie has discovered a love of public speaking and teaching creative writing workshops. These two new ventures allow her to connect with avid readers who want to know how books are written, and assist beginning writers who are seeking guidance and inspiration for their own writing projects. She also often speaks of overcoming the fear of failure and getting past the road blocks that often stop us on our way to discovering who we are and what we want to accomplish in life. Debbie is thrilled to be Literary Associate here at You Read It Here First, and approaches author interviews with a sincere desire to learn more about what drives the creative mind, the thing that makes writers tick, and the often remarkable journeys that lead writers along their chosen path.

You can find Debbie on Twitter, Facebook, her blog, website at www.damcclure.net, and welcomes direct emails at mcclure.d@hotmail.com. She lives in a quiet beach resort town along Lake Huron’s shores in Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband, which is ideal for the kind of laid-back, relaxed lifestyle she enjoys most.

**********

Sophie Lin, Literary Associate

Sophie Lin has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember. She would read everywhere she went, whether it was in the car, late at night, or even walking up the stairs (which led to some minor injuries). Around fourth grade, when her teacher started holding monthly writing competitions for her class, Sophie discovered her love for writing.

Through writing, she found a world of limitless possibilities that she could get lost in. A few writing courses in various programs later, Sophie found herself writing stories on Wattpad, which she spent about two years on before high school came knocking to shove a new campus, new friends, and APs into her life. Now, she’s trying to reawaken her old passion for writing, and has started out by writing articles for the La Cañada Flintridge Neighbors magazine.

In her free time, Sophie can usually be found reading, singing, writing, building robots, hanging out with friends, or going to the gym. She lives in La Cañada with her family and huggable maltipoo, Skippy.

**********

Christy Campbell, Literary Associate

Christy began a love of writing as early as sixth grade when she won second place in a short story contest at her school. Suddenly, she was always writing – whether it was in class (when she shouldn’t have been), at home (in a diary), and anywhere (really!). Poetry became a huge hobby as well. Christy got to high school where her Creative Writing teacher used one of her stories as an example to the class and urged her to pursue being a professional author. When she got to college, she dabbled a bit and writing papers was a breeze, including fifteen page ones! Eventually, marriage, a day job and children pushed the dream aside for a long time. But the desire resurfaced last year for her during a period of unemployment, and The Sharing Moon – her debut YA novel – was born.

Christy loves to write and read, obsessively she might add. The young adult genre has always been a favorite so she finds it not only quite fun and very easy to relate to but also intriguing and insightful. A graduate of Spring Arbor University with a Bachelor’s degree in Family Life Education, she’s still searching for that day job but, in the meantime, she’s working on the sequel to The Sharing Moon and keeping up with her busy family. As the newest literary associate to join You Read It Here First, she looks forward to reading and reviewing all kinds of fiction but young adult, mysteries, and complicated romance books are her personal favorites. You can find Christy on Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook under The Sharing Moon. Follow her blog at christycampbell12873.wordpress.com. She can also be reached by reached by email at cac1973@gmail.com.

**********

Joanna Celeste, Literary Associate

Joanna Celeste (a.k.a. Joanna Cook) set up her first interview as a teenage reporter for The Friday Flyer, as part of her three-part series on the pros and cons of attending private school, public school, or studying at home. She came up with questions and surveyed various students for her “Teen Talk” weekly column.

Now, more than thirteen years later, Joanna has rediscovered her love of journalism: interviewing authors as part of the WOW! (Women on Writing) Blog Tours, or for her NAWR (National Association of Women on the Rise) group, “Author and Character Interviews”. Her author and character interviews have been published on Blogcritics.com, E & K Family Book Review, and on her Blog (notionsofagirl.wordpress.com).

Joanna is an official reviewer for Blogcritics, TRR (TheRomanceReviews.com), E & K Family Book Review, and a member of Netgalley. Her book reviews have been published on Blogcritics.com, E & K Family Book Review, TRR, SPAWNews, and The Dark Phantom.

In between her journalistic endeavors as a teenager and now, Joanna pursued her fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, publishing her short stories, poems and articles in various magazines, e-newsletters, anthologies, newspapers and trade newsletters. She has had the good fortune to have been mentored by professional authors through private mentorships, workshops and correspondence courses with The Long Ridge Writers Group. In turn, she enjoys assisting new authors as they learn the ropes.

Joanna is honored to join You Read It Here First as a Literary Associate. Joanna enjoys finding those books that impart that unique kinship, joy or hope, which first sparked a love for writing; the power of reaching out to others she had never even met.

On the side, Joanna enjoys illustrating, cooking, and singing. She lives in Southern California with her family and dog, Rosie. Visit her website at http://www.joannaceleste.com.

**********

Is Your Book Ready For Its Close-Up?

Have you just written a book? If so, congratulations are in order. By staying the course and having the passion and perseverance to bring your characters and concepts to life, you’re already leagues ahead of the thousands of wannabe writers out there who have yet to pen their opening sentences.

So what do you do now?

In a perfect world, you could kick back, let your publisher do all of the shout-outs, and blissfully watch buyers beat a hasty path to the nearest bookstore. Not surprisingly, many of the aspiring authors I’ve met over the years believe that this is exactly the way it all works.

Alas, but the process is not that simple, especially in the 21st century. Like any other industry, publishing houses have all been hard hit by a downward spiraling American economy that is likely to get much worse before it shows even a faint glimmer of getting better. What this means to authors is that they are now required to take on a lion’s share of promotion for their own titles. Many publishers, in fact, are reluctant to even offer a contract to new talent unless there is demonstration of a strong marketing platform and a gaggle of ready-made fans who are eager to open their wallets.

Perhaps the most daunting component of all of this horn-tooting is the challenge of working effectively with members of the media. Being able to attract a journalist’s attention – as well as perform flawlessly in any type of interview scenario – often makes the difference in how many prospective readers you’ll be able to reach and whether the media outlet invites you back.

If you’re new to the world of public relations, marketing and advertising, my recommendation is to invest in a copy of Media Magnetism: How to Attract the Favorable Publicity You Want and Deserve. Available in paperback and on Kindle, this book is targeted to authors, artists, entrepreneurs, small businesses and nonprofits – in short, anyone who wants a better understanding of what it takes to be a media darling and stand out from the competition.

Two dozen industry experts (myself included) offer insider tips and advice on everything from photos ops and DIY ads to surviving awkward moments and running an effective media campaign on a shoestring budget. It’s the closest thing you’ll get to a master class on Media 101 …without even having to leave your house.

One-on-one consultations are also available for individuals who want to learn:

How to attract media opportunities without spending any money.

How to be interesting (and more effective) as an interviewee.

How to put together an author press kit.

For fee information, contact authorhamlett@cs.com.

Stories, Musings and Advice From a Funeral Director

“Nothing is certain except death and taxes” is probably one of the most enduring quotations from inventor, politician, writer and founding father Benjamin Franklin. While both are unavoidable—and oftentimes equally baffling—author Elle Payne demystifies the realities and inner workings of today’s funeral industry in her new memoir, Stories, Musings and Advice From a Funeral Director. She chats here about her collection of stories on love, grief and finding where you belong and where you don’t.

Interviewer: Christina Hamlett

**********

Q: A deeply personal incident in your family attracted you to the funeral industry. Tell us about it.

A: My grandmother died in 2000. She had always been “my person”.  I struggled with not knowing where she was and feeling disconnected from her, which I could not wrap my mind around. She was 80 when she died and she had been sick. However, it was evident that the funeral home had not treated her body with care. I remember thinking to myself as I stared at her in her casket, “Even I could do better than this,” and I knew zero about the funeral industry at the time. My father was quite shocked at how poorly she looked and asked me to “fix” her. I used a tube of dark red lipstick for her lips and cheeks, and I attempted to comb her hair which looked horrible. I became aware that no one in my family would touch her except me and it was my first glimpse into the possibilities that lay in front of me, although it would take me until 2005 to act upon it and enroll in Mortuary Science classes. I know now that many parts of the scenario that took place at the funeral home on that day—how she looked, how my dad reacted, how no one would touch her except me—complicated my grief response and it would take me the next 10 years to work it out.

Q: During your course of study in mortuary science and embalming, what are three things that most surprised you (and that most people wouldn’t know about the business of death)?

A: Most people know zero about what goes on when someone they love dies and instead of admitting they don’t know or asking questions, a lot of people are so scared that they just shut down. A good funeral director will recognize this and come to the family’s aid. However, there are a lot of really bad funeral directors who just compound a bad situation by treating the family with indifference, disrespect and caring only about the money. The first thing I was surprised about is how little people know about the embalming procedure. Embalming is a very traumatic experience and unless you have an embalmer who cares, the results are usually poor. I was also surprised about how many people don’t know the facts about who pays for your funeral if you or your family cannot afford to. Most people believe that the state you live in will pay for your disposition or that Social Security will pay, but that is false. Another misnomer is that the funeral home will take payments. A cheap burial is at least $5,000.00 and a cheap cremation is usually between $800.00 to $1,000.00. I am astounded at the number of people who die and leave the financial burden on their family. If the family cannot afford to pay, the funeral home will keep the body in refrigeration for 90 days until the state gives them permission to cremate. The funeral home does not get paid, and the family will end up without the cremains of their loved one.

Q: What was your career path prior to becoming a funeral director and what aspects of it influence the way you work and interact with others?

A: I have BFA in Creative Writing and dance. I was a single parent, so I made a living as a personal trainer and teaching ballet. Being a personal trainer is like being a therapist most of the time and you are called upon to help people sort out things that are not working for them and help them find a better solution.  Teaching classical ballet requires me to work differently with each person because every dancer is going to have something they struggle with, so I really have to pay attention to their specific needs. Learning how to speak to people, guide them and win their trust is invaluable.

Q: You’ve described your job as a body removal technician as being the best job you’ve ever had. What is it that makes this field so personally rewarding for you?

A: I was lucky enough in Kansas to work with the coroner’s office in all investigations where someone died. Arriving at a death scene requires a person who is calm, curious and pays attention. Many of the bodies were going straight to the coroner’s office for an autopsy and required pictures of the body and the scene.  Most of the time, unless it is a suicide or murder, there will be family members on the scene, too.  Being a body removal technician was shocking, hard, inconvenient (because most of the time it was in the middle of the night) and unsettling, but it filled me with pride for doing a job that most people cannot do.

Q: On the flip side, what’s the worst thing about this particular job?

A:  The worst thing about the job is that most people die in the middle of the night when I would rather be sleeping.

Q: Grief—especially if a loved one’s death is unexpected and sudden—can sometimes cause people to make hasty (and expensive) decisions in their choice of a funeral home, coffin selection, burial vs. cremation, etc. What are some tips on how to choose a good funeral home as well as how to avoid a really bad one?

A:  First of all, it is okay to shop around for the “right” funeral home. If a person calls three different funeral homes, they will talk to three different people representing three different businesses. All three funeral homes will have a different “vibe”. The funeral home which has an employee who answers the phone in the middle of the night instead of an answering service is always going to get my vote, especially if that person is pleasant, kind and caring. If anyone acts like they don’t care in the middle of the night, they are not going to care any more the next morning. Finding the right funeral home is important. Purchasing services that you need and can afford is a world away from feeling railroaded by a funeral director who is using the “secret formula” to sell you services that are part of a “package” and do not meet your needs, and cost way too much money. Having an unpleasant experience with a funeral home can complicate your grief process.  I have worked for funeral homes that insisted upon selling certain caskets that were overpriced and were no better than a less expensive casket that would serve the same purpose. Attached to that overpriced casket is also an inferred judgement by that funeral home that you are cheap and uncaring if you choose anything with the word “basic” in it. Basic is not a bad word, nor does it imply that you do not care.

Q: Death isn’t exactly the cheeriest subject to bring up around the dinner table but at some point it becomes a necessity given the inevitability of our own mortality. In your opinion, what are elements of that conversation which should be addressed with family, clergy and legal representatives?

A: The most important thing is to find out if a loved one prefers burial or cremation. If they prefer burial, do they have enough money? Do they own a burial plot? Can they afford the marker for the grave? If they do not have the budget for a burial, there are only a couple of choices left. Cremation or body donation. It is important that the family is on the same page about disposition. It is the first step that has to be decided upon before anything else, and it can open a dialogue about more specific things in the future. I would say that over 75% of families I have worked with had no idea about anything until they were sitting around the table at the funeral home arguing about grandma being afraid of fire and insisting upon a burial that no one can afford.

Q: Do you have to have a license to work in a funeral home?

A: I got my license in the State of Kansas. They have a good educational system there. A mortuary science degree is a two-year program, and then your last year of mortuary science school you complete your internship while working at a funeral home.   At the end of the two years, you are allowed to take a National Exam which will determine if you get your license in both funeral directing and embalming. In Washington State, where I live now, there is a shortage of funeral directors because they rely upon licensed funeral directors/embalmers letting unskilled people be on their license as an apprentice. The unskilled apprentice has five years to get their license; meanwhile, the licensed funeral director is just hoping the apprentice does not do anything crazy that they could lose their license over. This is how Washington State has a shortage of licensed funeral directors and embalmers. The amount of uneducated people in the industry also contributes to Washington State having a lot of bad funeral homes and an extremely low pay scale.  In Colorado, you do not have to have a license at all….so good luck.

Q: Can every funeral director embalm a body? If not, where does it go?

A: Not every funeral director is an embalmer. I have a dual license in Kansas and am both a funeral director and embalmer.  In 2007, Kansas was about 30% cremation so my skills as an embalmer were particularly useful there.  In Washington State cremation is over 90% and I have not embalmed a body in seven years. In Washington State there is also a shortage of licensed embalmers, so a lot of bodies are shipped to Seattle to establishments that only do embalming.

Q: Does everyone who dies get an autopsy?

A: If the state has a “coroner system,” then all bodies that are found or any death that looks suspicious will go to the coroner’s office for an autopsy done by a medical examiner. If the state uses a system with deputy coroners, who are usually prosecuting attorneys, and know nothing about death, it can be a bad situation. Unfortunately, there are more states that use this type of system, and a lot of deaths go uninvestigated. The United States also has a shortage of medical examiners and pathologists. There are only 500 in the United States.

Q: How long does an autopsy take to complete?

A: The reason for the autopsy is to examine all the organs and to weigh them. The Y incision allows for all the organs to be removed from the body. This includes the brain, and the top of the head is sawed open to retrieve it. When a body arrives at a funeral home from the coroner, it has been crudely sewn up and all the organs are in a trash bag in the abdomen. If the body is going to be cremated, it will get cremated without any other preparations. If the body is to be embalmed, all the organs will be put into a formaldehyde solution that will help them congeal. After the body is embalmed, the bag of organs will be put back into the vacant hollow of the chest and abdomen. An autopsy can take an hour or two, depending upon what condition the body is in. Repairing the body for embalming/ burial is a huge job and can take two people a couple of hours.

Q: I’d think one would have to have a sense of humor to work in such a dark profession. Any amusing stories to share with us?

A: You must be discreet about it, but funny things happen every single day. My book, Stories, Musings and Advice from a Funeral Director, is a collection of stories about things that have happened to me….and most of the stories are super funny.    The day that I dressed in pink from head to toe and then had to put a woman into a pink casket was funny.

Q: What’s the worst thing to say at a funeral?

A: “I know how you feel,” “It is God’s will,” “He/She is in a better place.”

Q: COVID created an unusual circumstance in which family members were not only precluded from being at the bedside of a beloved in the hospital or hospice but also further prevented from holding an actual funeral. What are your thoughts on the stress this created and the postponement of emotional and spiritual closure?

A: It was a super sad time, and I am sure that there are a lot of people who are having a harder time with their grief because they didn’t have proper closure. The funeral homes also had to stop having funeral gatherings at that time, so many people just got buried with no service. That must have been hard for families and caused complications with their grief and closure. I thought it was weird that most families did not want COVID listed on the death certificate.

Q: What’s your best advice to someone who is grieving?

A: My favorite quote is “We are tethered to the story we must tell.”  We all have a story and if you keep telling it, it keeps getting worked out inside of you, sometimes even when you are unaware of it. Your grief will not go away. It is always going to be there but instead of a tidal wave, it will become a puddle that you learn to walk through. But there will be days when you see a picture, you hear a song and the huge wave can overwhelm you again. I think we must learn to be extra kind to ourselves on those days. Walking thoughtfully through the puddle every day is as important as surviving the massive wave.

Q: Do you believe in the Hereafter?

A: We are all pure energy, and nothing can stop pure energy. I also believe that you will experience what you expect to experience when you pass. We are surrounded by the love and guidance from our ancestors.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

A: I am passionate about the death industry. People will go out of their way to avoid the subject so they never have to talk about it. I hope my book will help people become more comfortable with talking about death and educate them so that they can ask the right questions when a loved one dies.

Override

What creatures of habit we are with the close of each December! January—like a new sheet of paper or a crisp dusting of snow—is the opportunity to refresh, reimagine and reinvent whatever parts of ourselves we feel could be better. While there is no one-size-fits-all in the pursuit of what can make us authentic and help manifest our dreams, there’s a new book on the market which could be a good start. Connell Cowan, PhD and David Kipper, MD have penned Override, a must-read for anyone seeking clarity on why we so often botch our own best-laid plans…and how to break that destructive cycle. Cowan took time from his busy schedule to give us an insider peek about the invaluable takeaways which Override has to offer.

Interviewer: Christina Hamlett

*********

Q: There’s no shortage of self-help books on the market to inspire readers to listen to their muses, critically evaluate their skill sets and become their most authentic selves. What do you feel best differentiates Override as a fresh and dynamic guidebook for emotional, physical and spiritual betterment?

A: The suggestions and strategies other books offer to improve one’s quality of life are generic. Override provides something quite different, a much more personalized source of strategic plans that are designed to be put to use in daily life. The limitation of most self-help books is that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. For example, we have an obesity epidemic in this country simply because we eat too much and make our food choices poorly. The problem is that we don’t overeat for the same reasons. Some of us eat to soothe ourselves while others of us eat to excite. We’ve developed an assessment tool that allows readers to diagnose their particular brain chemistry or brain type. What we’ve found helpful to our patients is giving them strategies that actually use their brain type as leverage to make healthy changes in their lives. Personalizing strategies to a person’s brain type facilitates breaking up old, self-defeating habits allowing the construction of new healthier ones.

Q: The combination of technology and, most recently, the business and school lockdowns inflicted by COVID has plunged us into more isolation, loneliness and depression than ever before. How do we dig ourselves out of this when the politicizing of virtually everything reinforces the message that whatever we have done in the past—and are likely to ever do in the future—is completely wrong and deserving of censure?

A: These past few years have been enormously stressful. All the red flags for stress are flying: alcohol and drug abuse are up, child abuse and domestic violence are up, mental health events are up, and suicide rates are up as are incidents of political extremism and road rage. You can feel it on the street. It’s broadcast across every screen. And the uncertainty is global. We sadly add more than one mass shooting on a daily basis. Humans are not good at dealing with uncertainty. Because of our brain chemistry, the chronic stress of uncertainty effects some of us by making us more anxious and depressed while those same dynamics lead to blame and anger in those of us with a different brain type.

I think the way we claw ourselves back is by remembering and reconnecting to those things most valuable: human connection. Take someone out to lunch and give yourself the gift of a break from your screens and the ever-alarming news cycle. Unfortunately, I think our political divisions are going to remain until we, as a country, face some unifying challenge. Until then, the antidote is to pay less attention to the strident messaging, remembering that most of it comes from the tails suggesting that we live in some sort of dichotomous universe. Everyone who makes a mistake shouldn’t be canceled. Our country is entitled to have control over our borders. Our children don’t bear the burden of guilt for the behavior of their forebears.

That said, there are some destructive people, we do need a thoughtful and humane immigration policy, and our children should be exposed to an unvarnished version of our history. I’m actually very hopeful. As slow moving as justice and equality may be, it is trending in the right direction. The Spanish flu bore the Roaring Twenties. I think we might see something similar barring black swans or perhaps Putin’s capriciousness.

Q: Many of us over the age of 30 grew up in an era where we had to work hard for what we wanted; i.e., good grades, jobs, promotions. How has the shift toward “participation trophies” just for showing up affected (1) the self-esteem and ambition of those who still believe in working hard and (2) the expectations and entitlement of those who believe life will always be this easy?

A: Just showing up never produces the results that go along with clear goals and hard work. The people who do more than show up, that dig in and set their sights on excellence gain a level of self-assurance and effectiveness that no “participation trophy” can ever provide. Those folks are not to be worried about. Concern should be reserved for those who have been taught the fool’s gold of short cuts or that the no-stretch variety of comfort produces anything of real value.

Q: Years ago at university, a guest lecturer said something which continues to resonate today; specifically, “An addiction is whatever you can never allow yourself to be without.” While I think we typically think of addictions as those related to alcohol, drugs and sex, can the same be said about addictive mindsets; i.e., If someone craves constant validation for everything they do, will they purposely seek out situations which will satisfy that need? Likewise, if they are addicted to being “rescued,” will they repeatedly set themselves up for scenarios in which failure and loss are almost certainly guaranteed?

A: Addictions are comfort producing chains of behavior that become submerged in the unconscious to save the expenditure of calories. Being extremely energy conscious, the human brain loves habits but cares not at all about whether they serve a healthy purpose. And yes, validation, attention, even being set up for failure can become ingrained patterns. To our detriment, there is great comfort in the familiar even when what is most familiar contains self- defeating elements.

Q: How has social media escalated generational feelings of anxiety and depression?

A: it was Shakespeare who said, “Comparisons are odious.” There’s no place quite like social media sites possessing such a rich panoply of comparisons. While you may, in fact, have plenty, there will always be someone who has plenty more. It is human nature to judge our “insides” by other people’s “outsides.” Does my table setting look as attractive, my turkey dinner look as tender and inviting as some of the pictures I’ve seen? Does my family look as warm and happy? You know you used some mismatched napkins and the turkey got dried out because it was over cooked. But you don’t see that in any of the pictures that you look at. These comparisons can leave us feeling wanting, less than, anxious and depressed. Not only is spending time on social media a time and energy sink, it’s all too often emotionally depleting. I think it’s always good to take healthy breaks and the temptation to check in and see what everyone else is doing. It’s more like picking at a scab than providing anything of any real value.

Q: Many of my writer clients ask for advice on how to adopt good writing “habits” and establish “routines” which will make them more productive. What’s the difference between these two words/objectives and does one more than the other take on the semblance of a “ritual” which enables a person to observe/celebrate milestones of personal growth?

A: I don’t think there’s any real difference between good writing habits and routines. There are a lot of people who want to write but end up indulging in all sorts of excuses that prevent them from doing that. The simple truth is that writers write. I think it’s smart to understand the circumstances you find most conducive to putting words on the page and then try and create them and not being afraid of a blank page or blinking cursor. I don’t believe in waiting to be swept up by the muse.

Q: There’s a wonderful quiz at the beginning of your book to help readers identify whether they are Swords or Shields. While many of us exhibit traits of both categories depending on the circumstances in which we find ourselves, what part does Nature vs. Nurture play in parents directly or subliminally influencing which side their offspring will gravitate toward?

A: A person’s brain type is determined by slight imbalances in the composition of their inherited brain chemicals (Nature: a parent’s job is done at conception). Each brain type possesses specific, predictable strengths as well as weaknesses. Where parents can be helpful is in understanding the brain type characteristics of their child (there is a  test in the book that lets parents make that assessment) and helping them deal constructively with the vulnerabilities that their brain chemistry confers.

Q: Is it possible for a Sword to do a 180 and become a Shield, and vice versa?

A: The short answer is yes. It all has to do with how much arousal (the subjective experience of how much energy or activation there is in the central nervous system) at the moment. Swords tend to have too little, causing them to look for ways to ramp it up and Shields, having too much, try to find ways to reduce it. Shields become much more Sword-like when they aren’t feeling over amped and Swords become Shields when they get over stimulated. The predictive behaviors attached to the two different brain types are related to the typical amount of arousal each type has. As human beings, we tend to do very different things when we have too much arousal instead of too little, and vice versa.

Q: We often hear, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Yet just as often when young people have dreams of pursuing something creative, their parents dissuade them with the argument, “No, no, you need to get a real job. What you want to do doesn’t pay anything.” What’s your response to this?

A: It’s complicated. Sometimes what kids love, what they’re passionate about is some process they’re really good at. Their curiosity and engagement are what fuels the passion. But not always. Sometimes their vision of the future is animated less by curiosity and engagement and more by their need to be seen. Yesterday we looked up to rock stars and astronauts. Sadly, the biggest “want” today for kids is to be an influencer. Doing what you love is always about process rather than product, the experience itself not the light that shines on you as a result of that experience. Children dream about possibilities and parents have nightmares about the unrealistic outcomes of those dreams. A parent’s admonition about safety nets probably never held back a real artist. Genuine passions are not daunted by a parent’s anxiety.

But here’s where it gets tricky and is related to, among other things, one’s brain chemistry.  Emotions are contagious and an anxious parent’s security concerns can magnify those of the child, particularly those with imbalanced serotonin. You certainly don’t instill a sense of resilience fretting over a safety net. Should every child’s dream at least have a plan B? Something like, “Of course you should try and write that deep, beautiful novel you talk about but you should also make sure that you also learn how to write code as well, just in case.” It obviously creates a viable backup and makes the parent less worried. But I’m not sure that working without a net isn’t sometimes a necessary ingredient in successfully dealing with the inevitable failures along the way.  

A struggling Mark Rothko traded his paintings for dental work. Would he have had a better life had he been the dentist instead of the painter? Not for me to say. We all have to live with those choices and their consequences. I do think a parent’s job is to encourage their children to have the courage and freedom to explore and be the best of themselves. Sometimes that comes along with disappointment and heartache. Such is life. I do know that belief is more strengthening than worry and baby birds all have to test their wings. It has to be more gratifying if they enjoy the flight.

Q: You have a great chapter in your book regarding love, lust and longing. It was Oscar Wilde who said, “Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation.” Why is it that so many people ignore or diminish this component in their pursuit(s) of happily ever after?

A: Great conversations don’t pay bills, don’t necessarily make one feel sexy and alive, don’t take out the trash or pick up after themselves, don’t ensure loyalty, don’t make someone feel whole and complete, don’t erase petty annoyances, and aren’t guarantees against hurt or disappointments or the insidious growth of resentment… I could go on but why? Interesting conversation is most appreciated when all the things that are triggers for negative emotions are working well. Great conversations are the intellectual frosting in a relationship. The cake is a complex, emotional maze.

Q: How can/should a person define “success” and a life well lived?

A: Constructive engagement: having something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

Kindred Verse: Poems Inspired By Anne of Green Gables

Even before the arrival of National Poetry Month (April), we were getting requests from you—our readers—to add more poets to the wordsmithing mix at YOU READ IT HERE FIRST. With pleasure, I’m happy to introduce Julie A. Sellers whose new release, Kindred Verse, was inspired by L.M. Montgomery’s much loved 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables.

Interviewer: Christina Hamlett

**********

Q:  What inspired you to pursue poetry as a platform for creative expression?

A: I write both prose and poetry. For me, poetry is medium that allows me to capture images and sensations, often intangible or fleeting, in language.

Q: Did you write poetry as an adolescent/teen or did this passion ignite later as an adult?

A: I don’t remember exactly when I began writing poetry, but I do know it was before high school. I recall writing some humorous poems about family events or for family members at a young age. In high school, I wrote poetry and fiction regularly, and I took creative writing classes.

Q: What are three “essential” poems you think every child should read (and why)?

A: I read a wide variety of literature as a child, but these are some of my favorite poems:

• “The Duel” by Eugene Field – because of the fanciful images it paints with words.
• “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll – because of the sheer joy of sound.
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” – because it’s always fun to imagine Santa Claus.

Q: What are three “essential poems you think every adult should read (and why)?

A: This is a tough one, because I bring two literary traditions to the table: an English-language one, and a Spanish-language one because of my profession as a Spanish professor. Some of my favorites in English include:

• “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – because it speaks great truths in beautiful language.
• “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas – because I enjoy the perfection of form (a villanelle) and meaning.
• “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe – because my grandparents’ neighbor had the entire poem memorized and could deliver it in such a way as to give you a chill.

Q: Do you have a favorite poet?

A: I don’t have a favorite poet per se. I enjoy the Romantics in English, and the Latin American modernistas in Spanish. I’m also a fan of the Nuyorican Poets, Dominican-American poet Elizabeth Acevedo, and current Kansas Poet Laureate Huascar Medina. William Stafford, who was born in my home state of Kansas, is also a favorite.

Q: Tell us about your relationship with Anne of Green Gables and its influence on writing this poetry collection.

A: I first read Anne of Green Gables when I was fourteen years old. I had gone with my parents and older sister to Manhattan, Kansas for my sister’s college visit. By the time the day’s activities were winding down, I was tired and had already finished the book I’d brought along. We ended the day in a local bookstore, and my father told me he would buy me one book—probably to keep me quiet on the 90-mile drive home. I picked Anne, and I immediately discovered in her a kindred spirit. She was creative, imaginative, and could get lost in her thought—I had much in common with her. I read all of L.M. Montgomery’s novels, and they’ve held a special place in my heart ever since. A few years ago, I saw a call for poems on the theme of farsickness, and as I brainstormed ideas for a place to write about, I thought of Green Gables. I reread the novel, and I was struck once again by Montgomery’s poetic prose. One poem led to another, and the result was Kindred Verse.

Q: What comes first for you in the writing process of a new poem—the imagery, the theme or the words themselves?

A: It depends. Sometimes it’s an image, other times I sit down to write about a theme, and sometimes a snippet of the line comes to me first. The only constant is that I embrace writing as part inspiration and part intention.

Q: One aspect of this collection that makes it unique is the visual component. Tell us about why you included that element and how you selected the images.

A: I’m a very visual person. I learn best visually, and I remember in very clear and detailed images. As I was working on this project, I often returned to photographs from my trips to Prince Edward Island, and to others from my own Kansas surroundings for that spark of visual inspiration. Sometimes, the process was the opposite—I’d written a poem, and it reminded me of a photograph, or I took a photograph because I saw something that reminded me of a poem I’d written. Later, when I began working with Blue Cedar Press, they suggested the idea of illustrating my book, and I thought it was a fantastic idea. In truth, it wasn’t hard to identify the photos I wanted to use because I’d already been looking at and taking my own photographs along the way.

Q: In the 1908 novel by L.M. Montgomery, the fictional character of Anne Shirley is introduced as an imaginative young orphan who gets sent to the wrong home by mistake. How do you feel the individual reader can relate to both Anne Shirley and your poetry?

A: I’ve met kindred spirits from around the globe, and there is just something about Anne Shirley that persists across the years and creates that sensation that you know her. She inspires empathy on so many levels—as an outsider, as a creator, as a character who isn’t perfect. We can identify with her, and we are certain that Anne’s belief in the existence of other kindred spirits is accurate. Fans of Green Gables will discover glimpses of her experiences and worldview in my poetry, and also of what it means to be a reader of her story.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the experience of reading Kindred Verse?

A: I hope readers will find moments of insight, of beauty, of creativity and even humor in Kindred Verse. If it’s been a while since they’ve read Anne of Green Gables, I hope my collection will inspire them to re-read it. And if they’ve never read Anne, I hope they’ll feel inspired to read this unforgettable novel for the first time and discover a kindred spirit in her for themselves.

Q: What have readers from around the globe said about your work?

A: I’ve had positive feedback from readers around the globe—all across the U.S.A., Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan. I’ve heard of my book being gifted to friends and accompanying friends on trips to Prince Edward Island. Some have enjoyed revisiting iconic scenes from the novel, and others have been able to relate to being readers of Green Gables or even other famous books. It’s been rewarding to connect with readers of all walks of life because of my work.

Q: A high school English teacher of mine once made the assignment of “Use at least six words from the following list of ten and compose an original poem of any style or theme.” What fun to put this test to an actual poet during National Poetry Month! Here’s your list:

Swans

Shimmering

Lace

Keepsake

Willows

Redemption

Cloudburst

Clandestine

Portal

Moss

A: What a fun challenge! This list of words resonated with me, and as I pondered my options, I glanced around my home office and saw a clearance-sale print my mother found for me when I was in college. It portrays a woman in a white dress and hat reading beside a swan-filled lake with a basket of flowers and a parasol sitting beside her. It seemed to blend the age of Anne Shirley with the swan that is symbolic to the Hispanic-American modernistas I discovered in my studies of Spanish. I’ve always loved that print because of its soft hues and the way it seems to portray the different aspects of myself. So, this is an ekphrastic poem inspired by that print.

Keepsake

An ekphrastic poem after a clearance-sale print from the 1990s

Faded pastel hues

reflect the many walls

and miles

and dreams

we’ve shared,

a clearance find

turned portal

to my intersecting worlds.

She reads beside a shimmering lake,

this girl who could be Anne Shirley

in white organdy and lace,

a basket of sweet baby’s breath

and a frilly parasol forgotten

in the willows’ whispering shadows.

Swans draw her gaze

from the keepsake pages of a treasured book

to the graceful lines they write on water

and powerful wings in flight.

And here, between Anne and the cisne of the modernistas,

I find the threads of myself woven between worlds.

Q: What new projects are on your plate?

A: I always balance a mix of projects that range from academic research and publishing to fiction and poetry. Currently, I’m writing poetry regularly and submitting to contests and journals. I’m also polishing a couple of short stories, and I’m working on a longer piece of fiction—I’ll leave that as a teaser.

Q: What would readers be the most surprised to learn about you?

A: Readers might be surprised to learn that I am a Federally Certified Court Interpreter (English<>Spanish). I interpret as my schedule allows.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

A:  I invite readers to visit my webpage and follow me on social media for information and updates on my activities and publications. Readers interested in talks on writing or readings from Kindred Verse can contact me by email. (julieasellersauthor@gmail.com)

Victorine

It’s not often I find a kindred spirit in a writer who loves the craft of writing, art, and the joy of travel as much as I do, but author Drēma Drudge fits that bill. Wit and a serious respect for writing and art, Drēma takes the reader on a journey into the past that delights and educates at the same time. So enjoy our little “fireside chat”, and feel free to comment or ask questions at the end. Welcome, Drēma!

Interviewed by Debbie A. McClure

Victorine features Victorine Meurent, a forgotten model/painter who posed nude for Edouard Manet’s most famous, controversial paintings such as Olympia in Paris.

What inspired you to write this novel? Why this novel now?

I was inspired by a slide in a literature class I took, The Painted Word, which was about books based on artworks. It combined two of my favorite things! The professor put some famous artwork on-screen to get our brains working, and when he showed the slide with Edouard Manet’s Olympia, the first time I’d seen it, I felt like the model had so much she wanted to say, like she had a story and she wanted me to share it. Little did I know how much she wanted to say! I certainly didn’t know she was an artist in her own right.

The position of women in the world is an evergreen topic, and Paris is a place people love reading about. What better way to bring attention to this issue of women trying to fight for their rightful place in art during the birth of Impressionism than to situate it in a time and place and with a protagonist who was a real artist that no one remembers. I believe my novel, Victorine, does this.

Was it difficult to uncover the life of this artist remembered primarily as a model?

Much more difficult than I anticipated! Not much is known about her; not much was preserved in the way of historical documents. I always say we only know a handful of facts about her. Because of that, I turned to paintings of her for clues as to who she was.

At first, I thought I would have to rely solely on paintings of her. There were many by Manet and Alfred Stevens, in particular. A few other artists had also used her as a model.

When I discovered she was also an artist, I was disappointed to learn that initially it was thought that none of her paintings survived. In 2004, one was recovered, Palm Sunday. But by the time I was writing my novel, I thought I would have to make that one do.

Are you going to write any more novels about art?

I am. Not right away, not visual art, anyway, but I have two or three in mind for the future. I’m also broadly defining art—my second novel deals with music, and that’s certainly art. I’d like to eventually write about all art forms. I think writing about dance would be the most challenging, and I like challenges, so I could see myself taking that on.

Miraculously, through digging deeply, my husband I discovered three more that are little known that have more recently been found. Most of the world doesn’t even know they exist! (If Wikipedia doesn’t know, then you know you’re onto something.)

What did you learn about your protagonist that surprised you?

I was shocked and horrified at just how little history has remembered about this woman, Victorine Meurent, who was much more than a model. She was also an accomplished artist whose work was accepted by the Paris Salon on six different occasions, but all we remember her for (if we remember her at all) is as the model who posed nude for Édouard Manet in the mid 1800s.

Did you get personally attached to your protagonist, a historical character, and do you think you would be friends with her in real life?

I did get extremely attached to her, and I feel possessive of her: when others write about her, I feel indignant—she’s mine. But we’re very different people, and so in real life, would we like one another? I think I’d admire her moxy, but I’m not sure we’d run in the same circles. I’d probably admire her from afar. I’d like to think she would be happy with my portrayal of her. Maybe that would make her friendly toward me. I hope it would.

Which do you like better, writing or revising? Why?

I love writing, but revising is where the magic happens. Massaging the words, bringing forward beautiful language along with story, that’s what I love best. It’s a dance all its own.

How much and what kind of research did you do for your book?

I was privileged to go to Paris to research my book briefly, which was thrilling, of course. Standing in front of paintings of Victorine tied me to her in a way I can’t begin to describe. I did an extremely deep dive on the internet, of course, with the wonderful skills of my husband. I read many books, although there weren’t really any about her. The stories around her, the stories of the males who are remembered, helped me figure out who she was. How I wish we knew more about her, but I did my best.

What themes does your novel cover?

Loyalty, art vs. love, men vs woman, being true to yourself vs taking care of others. But art permeates the novel. Victorine sees it as the most important thing in the world and battles when things or people try to distract her from it. It colors every relationship she has. Art never lets her down.

What have learned about the marketing, promotion and publishing aspect of writing that surprised you or has been the most challenging?

While I already knew that marketing my book was going to fall largely on me (as it does all authors nowadays, whether at a small press or large), I was unprepared for how much I’d enjoy reaching out and seeing others as excited by learning about Victorine Meurent as much as I was. And if you want people to get to know your book, you have to keep at it. Promoting a book is worthwhile, but you have to be prepared for how time consuming it is.

Did you achieve your purpose for writing Victorine?

With each interview I come a step closer. Every time someone else has heard about her art, I feel I’m getting there. While I had a wonderful time writing the book, I will just be happy if people learn her name and what she did. If they see her paintings, thought lost for so long, I’ll feel I was successful.

What’s next for you?

My second novel, Briscoe Chambers’ Southern Fried Woolf, is forthcoming in June of this year. It combines two very different things—a graduate student who is the manager of her country music star husband while studying the writing of Virginia Woolf. I hope to get people excited about Woolf’s To the Lighthouse while putting it beside something so dissimilar, country music. It creates a nice tension, I think.

In the meantime, I’m working on a third novel. It’s so new I’m not sure I want to say a whole lot about it yet, although it does put a modern twist on an author’s biography.

Website: www.dremadrudge.com 

FB: The Painted Word Salon

Twitter: dremadrudge

Instagram: dremadrudge

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/2QoEqXM

Fleur-de-Lis Press: https://www.louisvillereview.org/books/

Killing Time

The Etonville Little Theatre is producing Dracula and somebody planted a stake in a stranger’s heart. Sleuth Dodie O’Dell is on the job!

Just in time for Halloween, a bewitching new mystery by author Suzanne Trauth.

Interviewer: Christina Hamlett

**********

Q: We’re clearly kindred spirits in our respective expertise with novels, theatrical scripts and screenplays. Of these three storytelling platforms, do you have a favorite?

A: Choosing one would be like choosing a favorite child! You love them all. Because my background is in theatre, playwriting was most familiar but the genre I started writing last. Writing screenplays taught me storytelling structure. But novels have provided the most freedom, the most leeway in storytelling. I would have to say my favorite is whatever genre I am working on at the moment and right now, at least through the pandemic, it’s been novels, so novels are my favorite genre right now.

Q: What was your first foray into publishing and where did it lead in your evolution as a writer?

A: My initial publishing ventures were in the academic arena—a book co-written with a colleague on acting technique titled Sonia Moore and American Acting Training, that focused on character development and the creation of story. I also co-edited a play anthology that included a play I’d co-written. The anthology, Katrina on Stage, focused on plays written about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Though these works were either non-fiction or theatre-based, writing them sowed seeds of discipline, the importance of editing, meeting schedules. And character development was the topic, or formed the basis, of all the works which naturally fed into the creation of character in novels.

Q: How do/did these various genres influence each other?

A: Since I started writing screenplays first, I had an opportunity to learn structure, hone dialogue, and create the specific world of characters quickly. Writing plays was an easy transition with dialogue and character, though I felt screenplays were more like an outline and theatrical plays allowed characters more room to express their emotional and internal lives. Once I settled into writing novels, both genres influenced my storytelling via a tight structure, dramatic dialogue that pushed the narrative forward, and characters that were specific, had clear wants and needs, and relationships.

Q: If you could sit down with any three writers whose work most influenced your own style, who would they be and what would you like to ask them?

A: Elizabeth George: “Though you are an American living in California, your Inspector Lynley Series takes place in England. How do you mine a foreign country and its language, manners, history, geography, and customs to be credible for an international audience?”

Agatha Christie: “When you disappeared in 1926 for eleven days, what really happened to you?” It’s still one of the great mysteries about the queen of mystery.

Louis Penny: “You’ve created a lovely, gentle, intelligent protagonist in Armand Gamache. How do you balance these wonderful character traits with the need to have a flawed protagonist as well?” I love this series and am working my way through all of her books.

Q: Tell us how your Dodie O’Dell mystery series came about.

A: I had written a book a number of years ago that featured Dodie and some of the characters currently in the series. When I approached an editor, a terrific help, he suggested I decide which I was writing: women’s fiction or a mystery? “Where do you see your book on the bookstore shelf?” I immediately said “mystery” and he set to work assisting me in the developmental editing process. I queried Kensington Books at his suggestion and was offered a three book contract.

Q: What is it about female sleuths that make them so appealing to mystery lovers?

A: Good question. I think most mystery readers are women and more and more protagonists are female. In my experience, they are rarely hard-boiled and bring sensitivity, humor, and personable traits to the sleuth. I’m thinking Kinsey Milhone in Sue Grafton’s series, Stephanie Plum in Janet Evanovich’s books, even Miss Marple and Nancy Drew which, by the way, I grew up reading!

Q: Is there a particular character in this series with whom you strongly identify?

A: I suppose I’d have to say Dodie…in a way she is my alter ego. I would have enjoyed engaging in amateur sleuthing on a regular basis years ago. However she manages a restaurant, and I include lots of menu items in the books, but I don’t cook so much…at least I didn’t before the pandemic hit. I’m actually cooking more now!

But since I spent decades teaching, producing, and directing theatre, I have a soft spot for Penny, the whistle-blowing stage manager. I was able to channel my funny, crazy, traumatic theatre experiences through her.

Q: Your mysteries include a good amount of time spent in the world of theatre, a focus which reflects both your academic background and the number of years you spent acting, directing, teaching and penning plays. In light of the current pandemic which has shuttered production companies across the country and around the world, what is your prediction for theatre’s comeback…or will it?

A: Yes! I definitely believe theatre will come back. It’s an art form that has an almost three thousand year history…an institution like that cannot simply die. However, I think “coming back” will take time and require flexibility. For example, some regional theatres are producing work outside under tents; some are severely limiting indoor seating and size of productions and casts; new plays are being written and presented in staged readings on Zoom and other platforms. Writers are still creating and actors still performing. I do fear, however, that it will be a while before Broadway reopens. But I am hopeful that even two thousand seat houses will one day be able to fill them. I so look forward to it.

Q: How do you choose which plays and details of production to feature in each book?

A: When I started the series I began with Romeo and Juliet, a play that is well known to most readers, for the first book, Show Time. I continued to choose shows that most people would have some familiarity with: classics, a musical, a new play based on an old chestnut. Once I had the play, I worked the mystery around it: Who is murdered? Who is new to the theatre company? What characters in the company would have a motivation to kill? What would the rehearsal process be like with this particular production? How does the rehearsal and performance mesh with Dodie’s sleuthing and attempts to solve the mystery? I could then incorporate running jokes, like the artistic director’s comical pre-show warm-ups. I have to say, much of the theatre activity is based on my experience, and then enhanced.

Q: Writers often do “casting” in their heads as they develop their characters. Is this the case for you?

A: While I don’t actually cast characters in my mystery series, I do see them and hear them as I am writing and they give me quite the runaround! Sometimes they get ahead of me and I have to catch up…maybe it’s my theatre background but the characters are always “acting out.”

Q: In your own experience, what are the pros and cons of writing a mystery series versus standalone works?

A: Writing a series gives me the opportunity to develop characters and setting over a number of books. I have the time to create arcs for the main characters and watch them change and grow. Readers tell me they love to see the small town of Etonville come alive book after book. However, I have to be careful not to repeat myself with a series: though each book has primarily the same cast and setting, the play, murder, motivations etc. have to change.

I am writing my first standalone novel now and I am finding it exhilarating. I have the freedom to wander in different directions. I can make the book breathe. On the other hand, each standalone novel requires a whole new setting and cast of characters. I think it takes much more preparation and research time. Though I have to admit I am a “plantser,” I combine some plotting with writing by the seat of my pants.

Q: What would readers be the most surprised to learn about you?

A: I am a celebrant and perform weddings in the New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania area.

Q: What’s currently on your reading list?

A: I have several great books that I am in the midst of or looking forward to reading:

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

Aftermath by Julia Alvarez

Bury Your Dead by Louis Penny

The Abolitionist’s Daughter by Diane McPhail

Q: Best advice for aspiring writers?

A: The same advice I was given over and over: persist. Don’t get bogged down by perfectionism (especially on that first draft), in-your-head criticism, or distractions. Write every day even if it’s only one sentence! Find a great editor when you are ready to share your book with the world. And, I am doing it for the first time this year, try NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month. It is a project to push writers to attempt 50,000 words during the month of November. In other words, draft a new novel. I am cheating a little since I hope to have the novel half-drafted by November.

Q: What’s next on your plate?

A: I am in the midst of a standalone mystery that I hope to have drafted by Christmas—with the help of NaNoWriMo. I am also finishing a last draft of a new play.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A: Thanks so much for having me on your blog! I really enjoyed sharing my thoughts on writing with you.

Old Sins Never Die

The good news is that journalist Emmeline Kirby and jewel thief/insurance investigator Gregory Longdon have an opportunity to thwart an international assassination when they overhear someone attempting to hire a rogue MI5 agent for the deed. The bad news is that they have no idea who the intended victim is going to be. In the latest book in Daniella Burnett’s mystery series, Old Sins Never Die, the intrepid pair has more than enough on their plate to keep them one step ahead of certain danger.

It’s enough to put any new marriage to the test.

Interviewer: Christina Hamlett

**********

Q: Let’s talk about your journey as a writer. Who or what would you say had the greatest influence on your passion for storytelling?

A: It began with a love affair with reading. I thank my parents for reading to me and my sister from a very young age. This developed into an appreciation for the written word. All writers are readers at heart. Writing is like breathing. It’s something I must do. I can’t imagine not writing. I would be like an empty shell, lost and forlorn on a stretch of silken sands. I love devising plots, adding twists and turns, and leaving a string of red herrings in my characters’ wake just for a bit of fun.

Q: Were you an avid fan of mysteries when you were growing up? If so, who are some of the authors whose work especially resonated with you?

A: Since my mother introduced my sister and me to mysteries and thrillers, I’ve been off on a literary adventure. Agatha Christie is my hero. She was truly a master at her craft. Her deliciously wicked and ingenious plots appeal to the reader’s intellect. Christie had an astute insight into human nature and all its foibles. One wouldn’t characterize Daphne Du Maurier as a mystery author, but I admire the brilliant way she created an atmosphere of suspense. As each page was flipped, the reader had the sense that he or she was taking another step toward the danger.

Q: Do you ever play armchair detective in your real life or do you leave all the savvy sleuthing to your fictional characters?

A: Oh, I am definitely an expert armchair detective. I enjoy racing the sleuth to the solution. It’s a matter of paying careful attention to the clues that the author casts before readers. Only on very rare occasions have I been proved wrong, when it comes to unmasking the murderer. I suppose it’s because my mind leans toward the devious.

Q: Do you share any particular attributes with your lead players, Emmeline and Gregory?

A: I think a part of every author is in his or her characters. Perhaps it’s a trait you wish you had. Or a witty riposte you should have flung back at some quite insufferable person. Now, as an author, you have a second chance. Anything is possible. The author and his or her characters set out on a journey together. It’s a conspiracy, if you will. Each brings something distinctive to the story as it unfolds.

Q: What do you feel makes you uniquely qualified to shine in this genre?

A: Everyone comes from different backgrounds. Each one of us is shaped by the myriad people with which we come into contact; the situations in which we find ourselves; and the opportunities we’re given—and let slip through our fingers—in life. It is this confluence of factors combined with our inherent nature and temperament that make us unique. Therefore, only I could have conjured up Emmeline and Gregory. It is the story that I wanted to tell.

Q: Tell us what governed your decision to develop a series rather than a standalone title.

A: I chose to write a series because I wanted to take time to develop my characters—their flaws, admirable qualities, likes and dislikes. Each book provides another nugget of information to peel back the curtain on Emmeline and Gregory, while also leaving something dangling. After all, the human species is full of contradictions that are begging to be explored.

Q: Series fiction is not without its own set of challenges, especially if your readers don’t read the books in the sequential order in which they were intended. Share with us how you addressed keeping each book fresh and yet still building on what your readership already knows.

A: Each book can stand alone. Readers will be fine if they pick up one of the middle books because I include some of the backstory so that they understand the characters and don’t feel lost. Of course, if readers want to see how the relationship between Emmeline and Gregory develops, then they should start with the first book.

In terms of keeping each book fresh, I find it devilishly good fun to dangle a little surprise on the last page to leave readers clamoring to know what happens next. It also sets me on the path of the plot for my new book.

Q: Oftentimes the kiss of death in television series where there is sexual chemistry between the two leads is the decision to marry them off. How do you plan to maintain the heat between Emmeline and Gregory now that they have said, “I do”?

A: Gregory’s shadowy past provides endless possibilities and the fact that he continues to derive an adrenaline rush from stealing jewels. Meanwhile, secrets and lies are a constant threat. And yet, Gregory has gotten under Emmeline’s skin. She can’t deny her love for him. What’s life without a dollop of trouble, now and then.

Q: If Hollywood came calling, who would comprise your dream cast?

A: I’ve often been asked this question. Naturally, all my choices are British actors. Rufus Sewell would be perfect as Gregory. He’s charming, witty and handsome, and extremely talented. Emmeline is a bit more difficult, but I believe Lily James would bring her to life with great skill because she has such a wide acting range. Hugh Bonneville would pull off the character of Superintendent Oliver Burnell of Scotland Yard with aplomb. Rupert Penrys-Jones would be terrific as Philip Acheson, who ostensibly works for the British Foreign Office, but is a MI5 agent.

Q: What makes for a good mystery?

A: A tantalizing puzzle that the reader must unravel hooks me every time. It has always been about answering the question, “Why?” I love following the clues that the author has strategically dropped. Once the reader understands a criminal’s motivation, everything falls into place.

Q: What tropes do you loathe the most in mystery novels?

A: I find insanity (although terrifying) a boring motive. Rather than devising a knotty reason for the crime, an author is taking the easy road by suggesting that the murderer could not help himself or herself. On the same token, serial killer novels make me shudder. They focus too heavily on gore and violence.

Q: Who’s your favorite detective and why?

A: Hercule Poirot, bien sûr. I adore Poirot for his razor-sharp mind. Yes, he is fusty and arrogant, but not in a mean-spirited way. He is merely confident in his own abilities and impatient with those who are slow-witted. Poirot has a tremendous respect for the law and therefore cannot allow a criminal to flout it. Meanwhile, he is sensitive and empathetic. He understands that we all have faults, as well as good qualities.

Q: If you were throwing a dinner party and could invite any three writers to join you, who would be on the guest list and what would you most like to ask each one?

A: Agatha Christie, of course. I would hang on her every word, absorbing things like a sponge. I would like to know whether she was involved in any adventures in her personal life that influenced her writing. Anthony Horowitz would be invited too. I saw him in an interview once. He has an incisive mind and a droll personality. I would ask him for advice on subtle ways to add shocking twists to the tale. Finally, Jeffrey Archer would round out the table. I would pepper him with questions about his life. He’s a peer of the realm, a former politician and was sent to jail for perjury and perverting the course of justice. I would be curious to know about the fascinating life he has led.

Q: What’s on your current reading list and where do you most like to spend time enjoying the work of others?

A: I’m looking forward to reading The Rose Code by Kate Quinn; Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig; Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz; Hidden In Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer; The King’s Justice by Susan Elia MacNeal; Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers by Tessa Arlen; A Devious Death by Alyssa Maxwell, and so many others. My TBR pile never dwindles since there is a perpetual need to nourish the mind and the soul.

As for the nook where I like to escape with a book, I usually like to read curled up in a comfortable armchair or in bed. In the summer, I often lose myself in a good book in the cool shadows of a tree as the dulcet susurration of the balmy breeze dandles the branches above me.

Q: Best advice for aspiring authors?

A: I would tell aspiring authors to write the story that they want to write and not what others tell them or what the current market trends are. To write a great story, you have to breathe it, live with it, and nurture it in your dreams and waking hours.

Q: What would readers be the most surprised to learn about you?

A: I am utterly useless when it comes to technology and anything mechanical. Don’t ever ask me a question having to do with a computer. If my laptop starts giving me a problem, my first reaction is to throw it out the window. Another secret I will share (more of a warning) is that I’m impatient and have a short temper.

Q: What’s next on your plate?

A: Viper’s Nest of Lies, Book 7, will be published in fall 2021. I’m currently working on Book 8. There’s no rest for the wicked. Emmeline and Gregory are always dragging me off on another adventure.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

A: If readers would like to learn more about me, my website is http://www.daniellabernett.com. There’s an e-mail address on the site, if anyone would like to drop me a note. Readers also can follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008802318282 or on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/40690254-daniella-bernett.