AUTHOR INTERVIEW / JANE GODMAN AUTHOR OF THE SOLDIER'S SEDUCTION

Jane Godman writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne and SMP Romance, thrillers for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and steamy historical and gothic romance. 

Jane also writes erotic romance as Amanda Stewart.

Her latest book is the romantic suspense, The Soldier’s Seduction.

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About the Book:

Title: THE SOLDIER’S SEDUCTION
Author: Jane Godman
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 288
Genre: Romantic Suspense

BOOK BLURB:

From the front lines to unexpected romance—and danger—in small-town Wyoming

After a war zone bomb nearly destroyed Bryce Delaney, he’s worked hard to hide his scars. Back in his Wyoming hometown, he can pretend the nightmares don’t exist. But when a secretive, beautiful new woman in town disappears, Bryce’s protective instincts put him on the front lines again.

Wanted for murder and on the run under an alias, former A-list actress Steffi Grantham can’t return to her life until she clears her name. It’s her boss, Bryce, to the rescue, but desire ties them together, and she’s forced to make a choice that could cost them both. Trusting the wrong man once before almost stole her freedom. Now it might take her life.

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What’s inside the mind of a Romantic Suspense author?

You have to be prepared to torture your characters…and your readers! In a romantic suspense story, the hero and heroine are thrown into danger right from the start. The romance and the suspense happen alongside each other at a fast pace and there are lots of twists and turns along the way. And, as a romantic suspense author, you also have to be good at keeping secrets.

But, of course, you get to share in your hero and heroine’s happy ending, so that’s always a fun moment! 

What is so great about being an author?

It’s a wonderful feeling when you see a finished book. It’s even better to get feedback from readers who have enjoyed the story. I love hearing from readers and am thrilled when people take the time to contact me to tell me what they think of my books. That’s the best part of being a writer.      

When do you hate it?

When a deadline is looming. I’ve never failed to make a deadline, but there is always a sense of doom about that approaching date on the calendar. It puts pressure on me to write and that makes it harder to get things done. I’m more creative if I can do it in my time. 

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I get up early and write for a few hours. Then I do social media/ promotional stuff. I also try to do some more writing or editing in the afternoon or evening.

How do you handle negative reviews?

I want to say I don’t let them bother me, but I’m human so of course they do. Instead, I’ll say I try to be realistic about them. I accept that not everyone is going to like my books. Everyone has a right to their opinion.

Sometimes I wish people would consider whether a book is right for them. Reviews that start “I’m not a fan of (insert genre)…” are never going to end well. And one of my personal dislikes is a one star review for a book that a reviewer didn’t finish. I would never write a review for a book unless I had done the author the courtesy of reading the whole book. It’s like review a hotel when you’ve been in the lobby.        

How do you handle positive reviews?

You mean after I’ve finished skipping around the room? Of course I love positive reviews, who doesn’t? But I don’t respond to reviews on Goodreads or Amazon because those sites are for readers to share their opinions with other readers.

If a reader contacts me directly (on Twitter, Facebook, via email, or through my website) to say they’ve enjoyed my books, then I’m happy to chat with them and thank them for taking the time to post a review.       

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

It ranges from stunned silence to exclamations and questions. When I say I write for Harlequin/Mills & Boon there can be some assumptions about the type of books I write. There are people who can be quite rude and talk about “bodice rippers”. Then there are some questions about how I research my sex scenes! I reply by saying the same way I research my murder scenes.

A few people say “Oh, I could write a book, if I had the time.” Most people are really supportive and think it’s great!       

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

Luckily it doesn’t happen to me very often. I find it hard to force myself to write if I’m not in the mood, so I try to take a break and do something else. Go for a walk, pull up a few weeds in the garden, read a new book.

Sometimes what works is putting aside the current project and making a few notes on something new, or starting a Pinterest board. That can often kickstart, or restart, my inspiration.

Any writing quirks?

Not really. I suppose my quirkiest habit is that I sometimes write the ending of the book first. But I’m not sure it’s a quirk because I don’t know how many other writers do it!

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

For a long time my writing was my hobby, but even then, my family took it seriously. I suppose if that happened I’d have to sit them down and explain how much it meant to me. If they didn’t listen? I’ve never thrown a mom-tantrum, but there’s a first time for everything…

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

Ernest Hemingway said. “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

I love writing. I don’t get the hate side of the relationship at all, but I see other authors going through agony so I know it’s real. I don’t know what I’d do if writing made me cry because I couldn’t stop, so in that sense, yes, I can relate.  

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

In a word? No! If you are writing for money, you are writing for the wrong reasons (and, to be honest, it will show up on the page). No one does this for money. Success is when you write something you can be proud of. It’s a wonderful bonus if it gets published and other people enjoy it. If it earns you money as well, that’s a privilege. 

What has writing taught you?

Writing has taught me to be humble. No matter how good I think I am, I can still learn and get better.

It has also taught me to go for it. Life is too short and precious not to. I have a brain tumor that was diagnosed while I was writing Otherworld Protector, the first of my Harlequin Nocturne titles. I’m one of the lucky ones. My tumor is low grade and slow growing. I was determined to finish that book and keep writing. I did, and I’ve since written twelve books with several more to come. If I can do it… so can you!

Leave us with some words of wisdom.

My words of wisdom are linked to the question above. I tell people about my brain tumor to give the message that everyone should go for their goals, no matter what life throws your way. Climb the mountain, run the marathon, paint the picture…write the book.      

AUTHOR INTERVIEW / AMANDA J. CLAY AUTHOR OF REBEL SONG

Amanda J. Clay is a writing YA and Adult fiction from Dallas, TX. A Northern California native, she had a fantastic time studying English and Journalism at Chico State University and then a very serious time slaving away for a Master’s degree in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. When she’s not staring at a computer screen, she spends most of her spare time on some new fitness addiction and plotting world adventures.

Her latest book is the young adult novel, Rebel Song.

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About the Book:

Caught on opposite sides of a budding civil war, a rebel leader and a modern day princess fight to save their country from a corrupt Minister General in a fictional Central Europe.

The once prosperous European nation of Arelanda has been plagued with poverty and corruption since the failed rebellion tore it apart. Now, rebels stir again in the capital’s underbelly, vowing to depose the monarchy and overturn the unjust government.

Seventeen-year-old Rogan Elwood, son of a rebel leader executed for treason after the first rebellion, has borne a tainted legacy his entire life. As he is pulled deeper into conflict, Rogan must face his calling in the future of the rebel cause—waging his want for peace against his desire for vengeance. Everything changes when he falls for Elyra—modern, idealistic and determined to bring Arelanda a better future. She also just happens to be next in line to the throne—if the corrupt Minister General doesn’t beat her to it.

Caught in the midst of a budding civil war and surrounded by enemies on every side, Elyra and Rogan must fight to save themselves and their country.

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What’s inside the mind of a Young Adult author?

People write what they do for a myriad of reasons. But I can (probably) guarantee serious YA writers aren’t writing it because it’s “easier.” Contrarily, writing an authentic teen story is rather difficult for most adults.

We write YA because we love the process of coming of age; we love to explore the world through the teenage experience. Young people feel deeply, they’re experiencing the world—the good and the bad—for the first time and they still hold onto a level of hope that can be lost on the jaded adult. To me, that makes for a very inspiring story.

What is so great about being an author?

Everything! Ok, not everything. Like any career path, there are a lot of struggles. But being a writer is just a fundamental part of who I am. I’ve been telling stories since I could talk and I would continue to do so for the rest of my life whether I could make a living at it or not. So that said, being able to do the thing I love most in life is a dream. I get to spend my days creating worlds, inventing new characters, traveling to places all over both real and fictional. I set my own schedule, I’m my own boss, and I can wear what I want—some days that’s a fancy hat, some days that’s yoga pants.

When do you hate it?

While I never HATE it, there are plenty of struggles to go with the good. You’re not always inspired. Sometimes you’re tired, sick, cranky, bored but you still have to show up to the office and create. Because while it’s an artistic craft, it’s also a business.

One of the hardest parts—especially in the beginning—is the rejection and criticism. Art is subjective and not everyone is going to love your work. It doesn’t mean you’re not talented or that the book isn’t good. Just means it’s not for everyone. But it’s still tough to hear!

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I try to keep a regular schedule. I wake up at 4:50 a.m. and hit the gym with my handsome other half. Fitness is an extremely important part of my life and I think it’s critical for those of us who spend 12 hours a day at a desk to stay fit.

 Post-gym I get ready for the day and usually start working around 7:30. I crank out about 1,000 words first thing while my mind is fresh. Then I’ll take some time to do the business stuff—social media, marketing, etc. I then write in blocks for the rest of the day, taking a break every hour to stretch, read the news, get a snack, whatever.

Depends on the day, but I usually work until about six, cook dinner (I love to cook!) then try to have a relaxing evening with my guy. But hey, if I’m on a role I’ve been known to work all night!

How do you handle negative reviews?

Depending on the context, I usually just ignore them. That’s just one person’s opinion! However, if it’s a thoughtful critique, sometimes I’ll pay attention. Maybe there is something I can learn from what they’re saying for next time. What I don’t do is take it personally. Like I said, art is subjective and you’re never going to please everyone. Even Harry Potter has one star reviews!

How do you handle positive reviews?

Do a happy dance around the living room! It’s a wonderful feeling to get positive feedback on your work and when I do, I really try to commit that moment so that I can draw from it in a future slump. Positive feedback is inspiration to keep going. While we writers have to have thick skin to survive in this industry, we also have delicate artistic sensibilities. J

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

It’s usually a mixture of awe and shock. “So you’re just like (insert famous author here)?” It was strange at first to receive such excited responses to my profession. After years of boring corporate work absolutely no one wanted to hear about, I still look around confused when I say I’m an author and the person wants to know more. “Who, me?” I say, glancing behind me. I admittedly get a little embarrassed talking about myself!

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

I force it. Because if you took a day off every time you didn’t feel like writing, you’d never finish a book. Actually, if you have that many days you don’t feel like writing, maybe you shouldn’t be a writer…

But, bad days do happen. If I’m really having a challenging creative day, I’ll at least write out my scenes in more of an outlined way and add in some plot notes. Just something to keep the story progressing. If I’m in a serious slump—maybe not feeling well—I’ll take a break and read. Bad days are going to happen but you have to power through it. I heard a great quote recently about it.

“A firefighter doesn’t show up to a structure fire and say ‘you know, I’m just not feeling inspired to put out fires today’.”

Any writing quirks?

I talk to myself. A lot. That might be a byproduct of being alone all day every day, ha! Actually one thing I do that some might find odd is that I dress up for writing many days. I might still wear some comfy leggings and a tee, but I’ll do my hair and makeup. Put on some jewelry. It helps to take this job seriously. And don’t we all perform better when we look our best?!

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

I would find new people. And I have, to be quite honest. Writing is a lifestyle. Writers are quirky and you’re not going to have the same mind set as you’re average 9-5er. We’re entrepreneurs—small business owners. We constantly think in book terms. You have to give it your all. You’re going to encounter those people who don’t take it seriously, but you can’t entertain them. Having a supportive network—especially a supportive partner—is critical to making your business successful. Not saying every single friend has to be a rabid fan, but if anyone knocked what I did, they wouldn’t be someone I would spend my time with.

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

I used to more. I struggled a lot more in the beginning with productivity and creativity. I used to subscribe to the idea that if I wasn’t feeling creative that day then I didn’t have to write. In those times, I would sometimes “hate” my muse. Why did you abandon me right at the midpoint, you selfish muse!

These days though, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do what I love, that even on the days where I’m frustrated, I always remember to love my muse.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

I think that’s entirely dependent on how you personally define success! Financial success is certainly a definitive measurement, but I think it depends on your goals. Not every writer sets out to be a NYT Best Seller. Some writers—often more literary writers—just want to create a beautiful story and they aren’t so caught up in what sells.

For me, it’s something in the middle. I naturally want to be as financially successful as I can because this is my chosen career (and I keep promising my guy a life of luxury if he can only put up with my insanity a little while longer). But I also take my craft very seriously so I want to write the best book I can. I measure success each day by asking myself if I’ve reached the goal I’ve set out toward.

What has writing taught you?

Perseverance, adaptability and the absolute necessity for self-confidence. Especially that last one. It’s great to hear praise from others and no doubt a glowing review is going to pump up your self-esteem. But there will be times when you’re all you’ve got. You have to learn to love yourself, to love your work, to believe in yourself. You have to learn to just keep going when things are not going your way. And you have to be able to adapt as things change. Don’t be so married to your story that you can’t accept feedback that something may not be working. Be willing to try new approaches to things and keep your ears open to new technologies and trends. There is no hard science to becoming a success, so you just have to try and try until something works.

Leave us with some words of wisdom.

Be fearless! Make one difficult ask every day. The worst thing someone can tell you is no. And then you’re no worse off than you were before you asked.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: LEE MATTHEW GOLDBERG AUTHOR OF THE MENTOR

Lee Matthew Goldberg’s novel THE MENTOR is forthcoming from Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press in June 2017 and has been acquired by Macmillan Entertainment. The French edition will be published by Editions Hugo. His debut novel SLOW DOWN is out now. His pilot JOIN US was a finalist in Script Pipeline’s TV Writing Competition. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his fiction has also appeared in The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, Essays & Fictions, The New Plains Review, Verdad Magazine, BlazeVOX, and others. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series. He lives in New York City.

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About the Book:

Kyle Broder has achieved his lifelong dream and is an editor at a major publishing house.

When Kyle is contacted by his favorite college professor, William Lansing, Kyle couldn’t be happier.

Kyle has his mentor over for dinner to catch up and introduce him to his girlfriend, Jamie, and the three have a great time. When William mentions that he’s been writing a novel, Kyle is overjoyed. He would love to read the opus his mentor has toiled over.

Until the novel turns out to be not only horribly written, but the most depraved story Kyle has read.

After Kyle politely rejects the novel, William becomes obsessed, causing trouble between Kyle and Jamie, threatening Kyle’s career, and even his life. As Kyle delves into more of this psychopath’s work, it begins to resemble a cold case from his college town, when a girl went missing. William’s work is looking increasingly like a true crime confession.

Lee Matthew Goldberg's The Mentor is a twisty, nail-biting thriller that explores how the love of words can lead to a deadly obsession with the fate of all those connected and hanging in the balance.

PRAISE FOR THE MENTOR:

From Booklist - A junior editor at a Manhattan publisher reunites with his college mentor with disastrous results in Goldberg's second thriller (after Slow Down, 2015). Kyle Broder has just acquired a probable best-seller for Burke & Burke publishing when he hears from his former literature professor, William Lansing, who pitches the still-unfinished opus he’s been working on for 10 years. Lansing’s book is not only badly written, it’s also disturbing, featuring a narrator literally eating the heart of the woman he loves. Lansing turns vengeful when his "masterpiece" is rejected, but Broder’s concerns about his mentor are dismissed both at home and at work: Broder’s girlfriend considers Lansing charming, and a rival editor feigns interest in Lansing’s book. Broder revisits his college and delves more deeply into the cold case of a missing ex-girlfriend, and as the plot darkens and spirals downward, it’s unclear who will be left standing. The compelling plot is likely to carry readers with a high enough tolerance for gore to the final twist at the end.

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What’s inside the mind of a thriller author?

Thriller writers definitely have a twisted sense of humor. We put our characters in terrible jam and have them try to squirm out of impossible situations that we wouldn’t be able to handle. Also the stakes continually have to be raised, so we’re always thinking how to shake up the plot.

What is so great about being an author?

It’s an ideal job. When the weather is nice, I write out of Central Park at my favorite tree. I’m a very creative person and need to have a creative outlet. It’s a great feeling to know that people are reading your work and feeling emotions based on what you’ve written.

When do you hate it?

Getting a book deal is tough, so the rejection aspect is definitely the worst part of the career.

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I edit in the mornings, take a break to work out and eat lunch, and then write all afternoon. Sometimes I’ll edit a little at night too when I’m really into what I’m writing.

How do you handle negative reviews?

I just got my first! And it was from Publisher’s Weekly. They really hated the book. At first, I was really pissed, but then I changed my tone. It brought up some emotion in them. At least they didn’t find it boring.

How do you handle positive reviews?

Oh, those are the best! And you get to spread the word about them, which is fun too.

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

Surprise. We don’t really exist. At least not in Manhattan too much. We’re unicorns.

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

If I’m on a deadline I force it. But I try not to. I’ll go to museum, see a play, watch a great movie, listen to music, anything to recharge.

Any writing quirks?

Well, I write outdoors in Central Park when the weather is nice at my favorite tree that perfectly contours to my back. I like being surrounded by fresh air and nature. It feeds my creative mind.

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

That’s their problem, not mine. I don’t really care.

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

Not really. I love to write. If you don’t, maybe it’s not the career for you. I write because I basically need to be creative.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

That’s a tough question. It’s different for everyone. I would like to make money off of this career. I teach college as a side-gig but ideally don’t want to have to worry about money. I’d like to get into screenwriting and TV writing and ultimately want to be successful in all fields.

What has writing taught you?

Discipline. How to take rejection. And how to look at the world through vastly different people’s shoes.

Leave us with some words of wisdom.

If you truly want to be writer, let the rejection roll off you back and edit, edit, edit until you work only gets better. Be a hustler and get your work out there. Don’t give up if it’s what you’re meant to do!

BOOK FEATURE / YOUR CROSSROADS. YOUR CHOICE. BY EJ APICELLO

 

Title: YOUR CROSSROADS. YOUR CHOICE.
Author: EJ Apicello
Publisher: Page Publishing
Pages: 110
Genre: Self-Help

Welcome to my diary, my journey, as I tripped and crawled through the darkest time in my life- when I witnessed  people that I held incredibly close to me shatter my very existence with their words and actions. The things within this book spine are extremely raw and exceptionally real. You and I are going to get very close, the details in this book, although oddly general, are incredibly specific. Yes, I realize what I just said and as you read my words you will see what I mean. As you silently gasp and mentally bitch slap me, please be kind because my story is just that - my story. It is not any more or less special than yours. In fact the only difference between our stories are the choices we made at each of the crossroads in our lives. For most of my life the choices I made were not based on my happiness but on everyone else’s. This book describes what I have experienced in my journey to finding my happiness and hopefully never letting it go. Sadly, it took me thirty six years to find the strength I need to detoxify my life and self-view and find someone who is worthy of my awesomeness. Thirty six years to shatter the negative foundation I had built shatter the ultimate representative I created to hide behind and begin the process of building a new foundation. Only this foundation will be built on strength, confidence and above all, happiness. So take a minute or thirty and sit with my story for a while. You never know what you might find out.

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I challenge anyone to argue with the following oh so utterly simplistic, almost ridiculously too easy to be real, truth. Here it is, people, be ready for your mind to be blown! Every choice has an opposite choice. And these choices come at a crossroads. A crossroads you are in control of. So go ahead, try and come up with a reason to argue that what I speak isn’t the absolute truth. I’ll wait. Come back when you realize you can’t think of a single one. Please don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I enjoy being right; I just know it’s hard to argue with such an insanely logical and straightforward truth. You see my readers, my new friends, it will hurt less if you accept this to be so. Everything in our world has two opposing choices, and these choices sit at our own personal crossroads, forcing us to embrace either the right or the wrong, the easy or the hard, the light or the dark. Throughout this book, you will see how I am working through this arduous journey with you by my side, priding myself on being a woman of logic and facts, but let’s be clear: I also believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and unicorns!

What can I say, it gives me intense pleasure to know that while you read this book you are going to be kept on the edge of your seat! There will be sexy steamy bits, utterly hopeless bits, raw emotional bits, hilariously funny bits, and pathetic whiny bits. But I promise, if you stick with me, at the end of it all, there will be mostly strong, empowered, utterly-confident bits. But who knows, right? This is honestly an introduction to my journey of self-discovery not directed simply at you but at me as well. Welcome aboard my crazy train, I hope you enjoy the ride!

Please recognize that as you stumble through my jumbled musings and scattered thoughts that where I sit typing this, even on the last of the last of the last rewrites, I am starting at the same place in my journey as you are right at this very moment. The beginning, and I’m not sure what will happen at the end. This thought makes me both nervous and excited. Is my life going to stay the same, or will it take a completely different path, one that is still unbeknownst even to me? What a novel idea (wink, wink) that you will be right there to experience my holy shit moments as I experience them.

“Talking” to you like this is going to force me to have thoughts, feelings, and emotions that I haven’t allowed myself to experience before. This will be like breaking through the fourth wall just like they did during the movie Deadpool, which, by the way, is the best movie I have ever seen. It was like the movie was talking to my soul! I digress, though, and I must get back to focusing on the introduction, for this is my welcome to you, as if you were right here with me urging me on, especially when I feel like I can’t go any further.

I will admit this: I am being slightly selfish, I’m using you for some personal gain. Why would I admit this upfront? Well, because I think it’s important to be honest with myself and you, my new confidants, so that we have a clear understanding of what is to come. Be honest with yourselves too, you picked up this book for a reason. There is something you are hoping to gain from reading through my journey, sharing my experiences, and being able to reflect on them as if they were your own. Which is exactly what I would like you to do by the way. Put yourself into my shoes through my words. I purposely kept this book very generic, partially because I am trying to fly under the radar until I am so famous it doesn’t matter anymore, and partially because I want you to use this book as a sounding board for your own emotions, thoughts, and feelings. And please remember that is a good thing; it is one of the two biggest reasons that I wrote all of this nonsense down and worked so hard to get it into your hands, your consciousness, your world.

I am going to introduce you to the many faces that I wear, or should I say wore, throughout most of my life. You will also be here to discover the parts of the new me that I am in the process of piecing together. With that being said, it is imperative this early in our bud-ding relationship, that I share with you the vast clarity I have found while writing this novel and you see the clarity of your choice while reading it. It took me up until the moment the first letter was placed on the page, over thirty-six years, to realize that in spite of the very logical, black-and-white way of processing things that I so absolutely rely on, it is time I accepted that I too am layered in shades of gray, just like everyone else.

Welcome to EJ’s real, crazy, emotional, probably too honest journey. She is an everyday girl in this everyday world trying to keep her head above water. Within the pages of this book you will learn about the things that have broken EJ down and the steps she is taking to build back up. You will see, that this story is written in a unique, general, conversational voice, which was her choice. She wants you to be able to picture yourself in her shoes, relate her trials and tribulations to yours and see that you too can find your happiness. Even if you don’t realize this yet, every single one of us possesses things inside of ourselves that we didn't know were there. It took EJ’s life taking a crazy right turn and dumping her at the lowest possible point before she could see the strength within herself. We are not defined by what we do, we are defined by the choices we make. EJ decided when she put pen to paper that she wanted her choices to start defining her as strong, confident, secure and above all else, happy. So, who am EJ? How about who she was - a self-loathing shell who put everyone else’s happiness before her own. Herein lies a story about finding that happiness and all of the ups and downs along the way. See who EJ was and who she is trying to become and maybe, somewhere in there, you will find out a little about yourself too.

Her latest book is the self-help, Your Crossroads. Your Choice.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: 'GHOSTS OF OLD VIRGINNY' MILLA VANDER HAVE

Milla van der Have (1975) wrote her first poem at 16, during a physics class. She has been writing ever since. One of her short stories won a New Millennium Fiction Award. In 2015 she published Ghosts of Old Virginny, a chapbook of poems about Virginia City. Milla lives and works in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

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What’s inside the mind of a poetry author?

Poetry is always on my mind. Like a salesman who looks at things and thinks, can I make a profit out of this, I see things and immediately check: is there a poem in this? Or at least a good line? That exact habit helped me write my poetry chapbook Ghosts of Old Virginny. I wrote it during a writer’s residency in Virginia City and literally anything I encountered there could work its way into a poem. From Bernadette, the donkey that I passed on my way to the town, to the wild horses that roam in Virginia City to the legend of the last gunfight a local told me in the bar. Everything is food for poetry.

What is so great about being an author?

I always have an ‘escape route’, something to pour myself in completely and something that gives life its essential meaning for me. Plus, I get to have a whole different kind of souvenir: all the poems in the chapbook have some memory for me, whether it’s from a book I read on the history or an actual thing I experienced, like a trip to the Chollar Mine. In fact, being an author is what enabled me to go to Virginia City in the first place.

When do you hate it?

When I stare at a blank page or wrestle with a poem that just doesn’t want to be written. The first ever poem I wrote for this chapbook was, much like a first pancake, a bit of a mess. I needed to write it, to make space for the rest of the poems, but getting a poem that just isn’t ‘it’ out of the way can be a hassle.

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I write on my day off, usually in the morning, because that’s my best time. Then, when I get stuck or my attention wavers, I go do some grocery shopping. On a good day, I write some more in the afternoon and then I reward myself with a good television show to watch. In Virginia City I had a slightly different routine. In the morning I worked on my novel in St. Mary’s Art Center, where I stayed. Then into town I went for a coffee in the Roasting House. After a walk around I went back to write some more. The afternoons were reserved for reading and writing poetry, in my ‘spare’ time, when the day’s work on the novel was done. 

How do you handle negative reviews?

I’m lucky enough not to have experienced really scathing reviews. It’s never fun to get a negative review. But in the end I will remind myself that this is not something that should bring me down. Part of being a writer is having a thick skin. You pick up the things that you consider genuine flaws in your work and fix them. The rest is opinion.

How do you handle positive reviews?

They make me float on air, for a bit. It’s always rewarding to see your poetry touch someone. I especially like it when people see something in a poem I hadn’t seen in it myself. In that way a poem gains in meaning and I always enjoy taking in other people’s perspective on my work. It also helps in making a poem more autonomous.

But after a while I sit down to write a new poem, facing that blank page again and then all deals are off. 

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

People mostly want to know what I write about. Especially when it comes to poetry, that can be hard to explain. Although I found that ‘about love’ is an answer that usually satisfies. But now with Ghosts of Old Virginny, it has become much easier to answer that question, because it’s inspired on an actual place and historical people. That makes the poetry come alive for people. 

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

With this particular book, I was on such a productive streak, I didn’t have days where I didn’t feel like writing. Such is the magic of Virginia City :) But back in the Netherlands, I do have days like that sometimes. My approach varies. On some days, I just don’t write and give myself a break. On others, I do try to force it. That doesn’t always work, unless I remember that taking a break, whether or not it’s shopping or vacuum cleaning, generally results in better writing. And you know, sometimes, forcing yourself can actually help you push through and get something good out of it. 

Any writing quirks?

Speaking along with my sentences and a penchant for jazz music as a background. I recommend Cannonball Adderley’s ‘Something Else’ or  ‘Quiet Kenny’ by Kenny Dorham.

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

Then they wouldn’t really know me. The support of my partner and friends is essential for me and I am very passionate about my writing, so I don’t think ‘considering it a hobby’ is possible :)

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

In part. Writing itself isn’t always a joyous occupation. It can be hard work. I spend a great deal of my spare time on writing, where I also could’ve done other things, like going to a movie or hanging out with friends. I write on holidays, when on vacation. But that too is exactly the beautiful part of it. Writing is always with me and I feel I am actually doing something ‘real’. And when I am in a writing flow, it feels wonderful.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

Not necessarily. It seems nice, because money can buy writing time, in a way. Right now, I write next to having a day job and I can imagine if my books earned enough money, well… ;) But money will also take writing time (at least when you get real famous) and will maybe even dictate what you have to write next. Then again, I wouldn’t turn it down when offered :)

What has writing taught you?

To persevere. I started writing when I was 16, during a physics class. Back then I never imagined one day I would be going on a residency or having a book published in America. 

Leave us with some words of wisdom.

A 1940’s movie about Virginia City has the tagline: “Go West!...to Virginia City...for excitement, for adventure, for primitive romance!!!” Even though Virginia City has changed a lot since its heyday, I would still advise that. Excitement and adventure can be found in many different ways, especially for poets. Ghosts of Old Virginny is proof of that.

About the Book:

Title: GHOSTS OF OLD VIRGINNY
Author: Milla van der Have
Publisher: Aldrich Press (imprint of Kelsay Books)
Pages: 42
Genre: Poetry

BOOK BLURB:

Virginia city, Nevada has been drawing the adventurous for over 100 years. It has been the home of gold-miners, businessmen and writers. After the bonanza, Virginia City reinvented herself and became a ghost town that draws travelers and artists. And, as it happened, a Dutch poet.

Milla van der Have visited Virginia City in 2014, on a writer's residency to finish her novel. But once there, something happened: the Comstock got to her. In Ghosts of Old Virginny Van der Have explores the legends and history of the Comstock by reimagining them. These poems deal with being uprooted and leaving the known behind. They speak of miners, ghosts and horses and throughout of the comfortable tension of love, that greatest journey of all.

You can purchase your copy of Ghosts of Old Virginny at Amazon.

BOOK FEATURE / NIGHT IN JERUSALEM BY GAELLE LEHRER KENNEDY

So excited to be hosting Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy, author of Night in Jerusalem today!

Title: NIGHT IN JERUSALEM
Author: Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy
Publisher: PKZ Inc.
Pages: 246
Genre: Historical Romance

A bewitching love story that is also an extraordinary portrait of Jerusalem, its faith, spirituality, identity, and kaleidoscope of clashing beliefs, Night in Jerusalem is a novel of mystery, beauty, historical insight, and sexual passion.

David Bennett is invited to Jerusalem in 1967 by his cousin who, to the alarm of his aristocratic British family, has embraced Judaism. He introduces David to his mentor, Reb Eli, a revered sage in the orthodox community. Despite his resistance to religious teaching, David becomes enthralled by the rabbi’s wisdom and compassionate presence. When David discloses a sexual problem, Reb Eli unwittingly sets off a chain of events that transforms his life and the life of the mysterious prostitute, Tamar, who, in a reprise of an ancient biblical story, leads both men to an astonishing realization. As passions rise, the Six Day War erupts, reshaping the lives of everyone caught up in it.

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David lay awake thinking about Anat. He was intimidated by her sexuality, but also fascinated by her free spirit and daunting intelligence. He had never met anyone like her. He wondered if Jonathan and the others knew she preferred women lovers, and why she had confided in him. He became anxious, thinking perhaps she sensed he had sexual issues and was someone she could easily manipulate. 

Earlier, out on the roof, he had asked her why she preferred women. She had answered simply, “For the same reasons you do,” then adding, “I find women more interesting intellectually, as well as sexually.” 

Her directness was equal parts frightening and exciting. He wanted to know her better. Perhaps, with her, he could get over his sexual problem. The truth was, he desired her as much as he found her intimidating.

 

Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy worked as an actress and writer in film and television in the United States and Israel. Night in Jerusalem is her debut novel, which she has adapted to film. She lives in Ojai California with her husband and daughter.

She writes, “I lived in Israel in the 1960s, a naive twenty-year-old, hoping to find myself and my place in the world. The possibility of war was remote to me. I imagined the tensions in the region would somehow be resolved peacefully. Then, the Six Day War erupted and I experienced it firsthand in Jerusalem.

I have drawn Night in Jerusalem from my experiences during that time. The historical events portrayed in the novel are accurate. The characters are based on people I knew in the city. Like me, they were struggling to make sense of their lives, responding to inherited challenges they could not escape that shaped their destiny in ways they and the entire Middle East could not have imagined.

I have always been intrigued by the miraculous. How and where the soul’s journey leads and how it reveals its destiny. How two people who are destined, even under the threat of war and extinction, can find one another.

Israel’s Six Day War is not a fiction; neither was the miracle of its victory. What better time to discover love through intrigue, passion, and the miraculous.

Writing this story was in part reliving my history in Israel, in part a mystical adventure. I am grateful that so many who have read Night In Jerusalem have experienced this as well.”

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BOOK FEATURE / WHEN THE SKY FALLS BY JOSEPH BENDOSKI @JPendoski

 

Title: WHEN THE SKY FALLS
Author: Joseph Bendoski
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 408
Genre: Thriller/Espionage/Conspiracy/Historical

“What makes you believe a lie? I’m not asking how you know someone is lying. What makes you believe? Because if you don’t understand how that works, then you won’t know when you’re being manipulated.”

In 1938 the War of the Worlds hoax panicked millions of Americans, then in 1988 another fictional media broadcast convinced nearly half of Portugal that sea monsters had risen from the ocean to destroy their cities. A team of CIA agents was sent to study the aftermath of this 6th Skyfall Event in the hope that they could turn it into a weapon of war. When the team consultant turns up dead, everyone scrambles to be the last man standing: the one who will decide if or when the sky falls.

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Porto, Portugal. October 30, 1988

            The lights flickered and went dark, that’s when it started. Luis reached up and adjusted the bulb with his fingers. The hot glass burned his skin. He gritted his teeth as the sensation grew stronger. He doubted the bulb was the problem. The TV, fan and even the street light outside the apartment all died in the same moment. “Is this normal for an earthquake?”

            Car headlights flashed through the windows reflecting off Renata’s long, dark hair. “It’s not an earthquake. They already said that.”

            Luis let go of the bulb. Only a moment ago, the emergency broadcast system had come on the air. It’s strobing red light, and high pitched siren blared through every apartment. It was followed by men in lab coats being interviewed. They warned everyone that something was coming, and before they could finish the power cut out, the one thing they had said was, “it’s not an earthquake.”

            The street outside the window was still lightless, and Luis went to check the fuse box. It wouldn’t do much good. If the entire neighborhood lost power, it clearly wasn’t a fuse, but at least it was something to do.

            Renata took his hand. Her fingers trembled. “It’s not the fuses; it’s not our lights. Let it go.” Behind her, the old cement walls were spidered with cracks. They had been like that when they moved in.

“I don’t know what else to do.” He pressed his lips together and looked out the window. Outside, a family loaded into a car; the trunk overflowed as the father kicked at it until the latch held. They piled in, each with a pack on their lap. The mother sat in the passenger seat. In her hands, she held a pistol. Her husband got in, and the car roared to life. A few people emerged onto the street carrying packs, or bags. They all headed east, away from the coast. That’s where the scientist said it would start, on the coast.

“The phone lines,” Renata’s voice wavered, “They use a different power source than the electrical grid, right?” She wiped at beads of sweat forming on her forehead. “For emergencies, right?” She swallowed hard. “I’ll try and call my mom,” She picked up the receiver and held it to her ear. The lines in her face deepened the longer she held the phone. She frowned and jabbed at the disconnect lever several times. “The phones are dead.” Her skin paled. “The phones,” she licked her dry lips, “are dead.”

Luis was still for a long time. Strange muscles deep in his stomach twisted. Something terrible was happening, and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He didn’t even know what it was. There was a worry in her soft brown eyes; he wanted to protect her, keep her from feeling this way. He walked over and put his hand on Renata’s cheek then kissed her. “We’re leaving.”

She nodded towards the bags they’d started to prepare midway through the broadcast. “Do you think this will be enough?” She rested her head on his chest.

The electricity surged back, lights blazing to life. The TV flashed it’s red warning again. After a moment, it changed to a camera feed from inside a helicopter. A reporter bobbed in and out of the frame. “We’re flying over the city of Vila de Conde, only a few kilometers from Porto.” He pointed to something off camera. “While it seems a much weaker force is headed this way, it will strike here first. That should give us some idea of what to prepare for.” The wind whipped his hair wildly and drowned his voice out. The camera focused in over the ocean. White edges of curling waves shifted as they crashed against the shore. City lights reflected on the water; then the whole city blinked out. “What the hell?” The camera jerked up over the blackened city. A loud guttural cry screeched through the TV speakers, and the reporter's voice shouted, “What in God’s nam—” The image on the TV shook and rotated like someone dropped the camera, then the screen cut to static.

Every beat of Luis’ heart pounded in his chest, teeth, and fingers. He waited for the static to end, for someone to come back, to tell them what happened.

Renata grabbed his hand; her pulse was rapid; throbbing in the vein on her neck. When she spoke, the words sounded strange like her mouth was dry after hanging open for too long. “What’s happening?”

Through the window, they saw a car slam into the small market across the street. Glass shards toppled down and shattered on the hood. Two men got out and kicked at the remaining jagged edges. With sacks in their hands, they hustled inside and filled the bags with food and supplies. They tossed them into the backseat and doubled back for more. A box of spaghetti fell out of the passenger side and burst open. Noodles splayed out on the pavement, breaking under the boots of the men as they hurried back and forth.

“I need to get something.” Luis rushed to the bedroom and pulled a pistol from under the bed. He loaded it and placed several ammo boxes in a bag before returning to his pack in the living room.

The static on the screen finally ended. A news anchor sat at a desk; sweat dripped down his face. He wiped at his brow. “It’s clear now, from this footage.” A small image on the side of the screen grew larger. It was a distant shot of the city of Vila de Conde. The entire coastal edge was gone. The hotels, resorts, beach houses. All gone. Some bits of rubble smoldered in the darkness. “This has been some sort of attack.” He stopped, and his face became stern. He sprayed saliva as he shouted at someone, “I can’t … God damn it … I can’t say that on TV. No one will believe it!” He shoved the desk over and stood; then turned and walked a few steps towards the back of the set.

A husky male voice came from off screen. “Do you believe it?” There was a pause, but the anchor kept walking. The husky voice spoke again, pleading this time, “Someone has to tell them. They have to know.” He yelled with urgency in his voice, “We saw them!”

The newscaster stopped and looked over his shoulder at the camera. “Tell them to run.” He disappeared off camera, and the screen went to static.

The lights flickered a second time, then went dark. Luis held his hand over his mouth. He stopped breathing for a moment and counted his heartbeats. He waited, but the lights didn’t come back.

With heavy packs strapped to their backs, Luis and Renata staggered into the street towards their car. A traffic jam built up behind the vehicle that had crashed into the market. People dashed inside, stealing food. The narrow European street swelled with a growing mob as they disembarked their cars to investigate the problem.

A man got into the obstructing car and attempted to reverse out. The center of the frame teetered on the curb, and the wheels spun over the slick cobblestones.

A massive man with a thick beard exited his truck. “What’s wrong with you?” He thrust crude gestures with his hands, then stopped and summoned the other stalled drivers to the stranded car. He pantomimed his intention.

Seven men gathered around the small European car and tipped it onto its side, but the vehicle still blocked the road. They shoved and kicked, but the road wouldn’t clear. Thick-beard threw up his hands, gathered his gear from his car and started walking.

Luis’s eyes widened. “I don’t understand it.”

“Do you need to?” Renata gripped his shoulder, the tips of her nails bit into his skin. “They told us to run.”

Abandoning their car, Luis and Renata joined the panicked herd. They ran, shoved and bumped into each other as they maneuvered around the empty cars. The weight of the pack made Luis unstable as people jostled against him. As each person collided into him or reached out to stabilize themselves, his balance wavered. The straps dug deep into his shoulders. The heavy load labored his run. People were constantly pressing past. He made Renata go first so he could keep an eye on her.      

A tall man with wide shoulders shoved Luis into the side of a car. He stumbled and grabbed the mirror to keep from falling. Renata screamed. He turned as she plummeted to the ground a few feet away, disappearing into the mad swarm of human bodies.

Luis surged forward ramming people until he found her. He tried to help her stand, but the mob kept pressing forward, and Luis fell on top of her. A foot crunched down on his hand; then a knee jabbed into his ribs. Droves of people crashed against his body. His hair got caught on something, and it ripped a patch from his skull. A trickle of blood dripped from his scalp onto Renata’s face.

Luis pressed his lips to her ear. “The gun is in my pack. Fire the gun.” He didn’t feel her searching the bag, too many hands, knees, and elbows jabbed and thrust into him, but he heard the gunshot, next to his ear. It thundered, and his whole body tensed. The thundering didn’t end. His ear rang, and it felt like someone was trying to hammer a nail into his brain. He saw Renata’s face, she was shouting, but he couldn’t hear her anymore, couldn’t hear the crowd, the waves of pounding feet on stone, just a high-pitched pierce in his ears.

The crowd stopped pressing down on him. They’d backed away. He got to his feet. Renata still lay on the ground. Luis dragged her into the bed of a truck. She cried and kept trying to say something, but he couldn’t hear it. Her face flexed in pain. He scanned her body and saw the ankle. Human bodies, human feet don’t bend like that. The tibia seemed to be jabbing down through the foot, forming a large bulb at the bottom, and the ankle swelled thicker than her leg.

The crowd swarmed back. Luis slumped down beside her. His eyes lingered on her face, her eyes. She couldn’t walk, not on her own. Whatever was coming would catch them. How will you take care of her? Luis took the gun from her hands. He studied the pistol for a long time, its dark oily finish, the weight of it in his hand, a weapon. If he couldn’t run, then he would fight. He crawled out of the truck bed to the car just behind. He rested the pistol on the hood and stared out into the darkness. Luis saw the white curling waves. Whatever it was, came from the ocean, he knew that. He waited a moment, watching the water, trying to see it. Nothing, just darkness. He pulled the trigger then looked at Renata. Broken. Helpless. His eyes welled up with tears. Fight. Even if you can’t see it. Fight. He fired again, fired until the gun was empty.

Joe Bendoski study psychology in college and was fascinated by all the insights it provided into human behavior, only to realize most the information never reach people, and when it did, rarely was it in a form that allowed for practical application. He started writing non-fiction, but soon came to understand how few people read that genre and began the difficult transition into fiction writing. His non-fiction works include; the Chemistry of Attraction and the Language of Emotion. 

He worked as the head writer for the television show ‘Saved by Grace.’ After being frustrated with comments like "make this scene cheaper," "What's my motivation?", and "Do we need this scene?" he decided to go in to literature.

His latest book is the thriller/espionage/conspiracy/historical novel, When the Sky Falls.

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Dorothy Thompson

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