Thanks Ward for joining us at The Cuckleburr Times for this exclusive interview! I’m delighted to share this with our readers. On with the questions.
 
 
Q: Tell us about yourself and when you started writing.

I was a lawyer, in private and corporate practice, for almost thirty years and was ready for something else. I took an aptitude test. I scored highest in vocabulary and ideaphoria, the rate at which ideas flow. Encouraged by this, I took a novel writing course at Rice.
 
 
Q: What inspired you to write a novel?

In part the results of the aptitude test, but I had actually started writing a novel before then. In very rough form, of course, and somewhat autobiographical, which is a tendency of new writers.
 
 
Q: How did you use your life experience and your background to enrich your story?

That first novel, fifteen years ago, was about a down on his luck oilman who needs money to get a well drilled and can’t raise it. He gets mixed up in a money-laundering scheme after being approached by the front man for a Mexican drug cartel. At the time I was working for an oil company and had lived in New Orleans, where my fictional oilman was. Years later in this much more recent novel, After Isaactown, the main character is a corporate lawyer whose working life I was, in a general sense, familiar with.
 
 
Q: Are any characters based upon people you know?

No, they are people I see in my imagination. Hazily at first, both in appearance and personality, but after more drafts I learn how they look, how they feel, and think.
 
 
Q: Are your novels more plot driven or character driven?

The best fiction, in my opinion, is character driven, when the reader feels that he, or more often she, is watching not just a movie with all its twists and turns, but a life of someone they care deeply about and has that kind of emotional attachment to the end of the story, where it will, if done right, leave a lasting memory.
 
 
Q: Who is your favorite character and why?

I have many favorites who take over a story, as mentioned above, among them Roger Angstrom, Atticus Finch, Humbert Humbert, James Stevens, Frank Bascomb.
 
 
Q: What part of After Isaactown did you find most challenging?

Creating as a main character a mother of a ten-year-old daughter.
 
 
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

First and foremost, a sense of enjoyment, of escaping. Secondarily, the memory of something revealed or described or said during the novel.
 
 
Q: What writers have inspired you?

William Trevor, Alice Munro, John Updike, Philip Roth, Walker Percy, Richard Ford.
 
 
Q: What is the writing process like for you?

I write in the morning, usually two and half hours, another hour in the afternoon.
 
 
Q:What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

That success as a writer is a combination of three things: work, talent, and luck, and knowing I can control two of the three.
 
 
Q: What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever heard?

Write what you know. Far too limiting in this age of the Internet when research is so easy and fast compared to those trips to the library.
 
 
Q: What next, any books in the pipeline for you?

Yes. I’m nearing the end of a draft, the third.

K: Thank you Ward. That concludes our interview and we wish you every success with After Isaactown. Readers can enjoy an excerpt here at The Cuckleburr Times.
 
 
About the Author
An attorney for nearly 30 years, both corporate and in private practice, Ward R. Jones, author of After Isaactown knew the pressures, the challenges, and the life of the lawyer whose story he tells. It is this experience he draws upon to write a novel of business and law, a contemporary narrative that leads inexorably to the foibles of the human heart. To learn more about the author and the book, please visit Ward’s website at http://www.wardrjones.com/. After Isaactown is also available at Amazon.com.

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3. Author Interview: Barbara Levenson, author of Justice in June
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I wanted to share this with you all because I felt this book looks like a lot of fun! It’s also the best book trailer I’ve seen in a long time.
 
The Black Stiletto will be released by Oceanview Publishing in September 2011. Find out more at the official website, http://www.theblackstiletto.net.

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6. The Power of Intention

 
If you had the chance to sit down and talk with a charming and enlightened guru at length, would you take it? Author and spiritual seeker Cheryl Simone did exactly that when she hosted Indian mystic and yoga master Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev at her home in the mountains for one week. Under the stars, Cheryl asked many searching questions she had sought answers to during her own thirty-year spiritual quest for understanding and enlightenment.
 
Those midnight conversations on a sandy island by campfire resulted in a wonderful book called Midnights with the Mystic: A Little Guide to Freedom and Bliss (Hampton Roads Pub Co, 328pp, ISBN-13 978-1571745613). Over those nights, Sadhguru answered questions with a combination of simplicity and wisdom that resonates deeply within you.
 
With his ready laugh, love of speed and fondness for joke telling, Sadhguru is not your average expectation of a guru by any means – or mine anyway. Some of the book’s snapshots show this visionary is just as happy sporting Ray-Ban sunglasses and shorts as more traditional garments.
 
In fact, if you were to judge him by appearance only, he’s a perfect expression physically of how we limit ourselves with our beliefs, one of the lessons he teaches on those moonlit nights. If you expect your guru to be found only on a remote mountaintop garbed in a loincloth, you may never find them. Appearances can certainly be deceptive.
 
Equally, don’t let Sadhguru’s Western attire fool you either. The more absorbed you become in Midnights with The Mystic, the more you become convinced that this man is the real deal. I feel, and believe Cheryl also touched on this, that his casually dressed appearance would be as much for our comfort in his presence as for his own physical comfort. It would be easy to become overwhelmed by Sadhguru’s intensity and depth which comes through beautifully on the written page. I came away from this book with the deepest respect for him, his teachings, Cheryl’s passion and a newly formed understanding of Isha Yoga.
 
The introduction is by Richard from Texas of Eat, Pray, Love fame. At one point he says “When you read this book, I know you’ll resonate with its own truths, be touched in ways that can trigger your own transformation.” A lofty claim indeed you may think. That is, until you begin to read and discover this startling fact: he’s not kidding.
 
That was no marketing ploy. Many times when I was reading the profound yet clearly expressed spiritual insights in this book I could feel tears well up and a physical stirring in my heart. Not because a passage was particularly sad, I hasten to add. This was no ordinary emotional reaction. I know deep down that Midnights with the Mystic: A Little Guide to Freedom and Bliss touched me on a level beyond the simply physical, and the lessons within it will always remain within me on both a conscious and unconscious level. This is one spiritual book I will return to again and again and I’ve read many in the last decade or so.
 
It’s difficult to choose a favorite passage to share with you as there are countless gems. This is one favorite of mine, when Cheryl had asked if we actually have a life’s calling. At the end of the discussion, Sadhguru summarized it like this:
 

“Now, I want you to get this right: There is no life’s calling, but life is calling–both from within and without. Only when you truly respond to the call of life will you know life in its entirety. Only when you know an unprejudiced and absolute involvement with the universe, every atom of the universe, will you explore, experience, and know the full scope of who you are. And, in this absolute involvement, you need not be limited by your own past experience and capabilities; you can imbibe and have access to the great storehouse of knowing that is the very nature of the universe. It is also through this absorbed, unadulterated involvement that one can know the true nature of the self, which is boundless, and the basis of all, which is the ultimate destiny that the all-desiring process is actually leading you to.”

 
I’m thankful for their joint willingness to share that week of conversations with readers. Cheryl Simone, with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, has meticulously compiled a book that makes life’s complexities more fathomable, the unexplained more intelligible and clarifies through its unfolding how spiritual enlightenment is attainable for all. A truly inspirational, compelling, and important read for all those seeking answers to big questions in life. I loved it and hope you will too. Fingers crossed for a sequel! To find out more, please visit http://www.midnightswiththemystic.com/.
 
 
Disclosure: Thanks to FSBAssociates.com for providing me with this book for review.

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What’s fascinating about this book (read our review here) is it was inspired by mysterious lights that really were witnessed repeatedly in the small town of Marfa, Texas. Sightings go back to the 1800s. As David explains, when James Dean was filming the movie Giant there Dean himself witnessed them.

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I’m delighted to share here an interview with Ward Larsen, author of Fly By Wire. Many thanks to Ward and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview! – Ed.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself, how and when you started writing.

I recently did an essay on Ernest Gann for the compilation work, Thrillers: 100 Must Reads. Gann, of course, was the father of aviation thrillers. While researching the piece, I discovered that Gann was an airline pilot who began to write because he had extra time on his overnights. I had to laugh, because I started writing for the very same reason—as an airline pilot, I had a fair amount of dead time in hotel rooms, and writing seemed like a productive way to use it.

Q: What inspired you to write your novel?

Fly By Wire is an idea I’ve had in the back of my head for many years. Without giving too much away, it’s a plot that deals with the integration of technology into our lives—in this case, relating to aviation—and the ability of the “antagonists of the world” to find weaknesses in that reliance.

Q: How did you use your life experience or professional background to enrich your story?

My aviation background is used throughout the story. Truth is, it saved me a lot of research. When I was in the military, I attended the Air Force’s Flying Safety Officer course, which trains pilots to act as aircraft accident investigators. It’s an interesting field with a lot of pure detective work, which I think comes through in the story.

Q: Are any characters based on people you know?

I never purely take a living person and design a character around him, but I often take traits of individuals I’ve known, and mesh them into a character. The protagonist’s name in Fly By Wire, Jammer Davis, is actually a real person, a former pilot in the Marines. Nothing else about the character was drawn from the original—I just loved that call sign.

Q: Would you say that your novel is more plot driven or character driven?

Fly By Wire, I think, has a very original and almost frightening plot concept. I’m not sure if I’ll ever come up with a more legitimately troubling premise for a novel. That said, I think some of the minor characters in this work will really keep the reader’s interest.

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?

The defrocked plastic surgeon. I had a lot of fun creating that character—I hope the readers will enjoy reading about him as much as I enjoyed creating him.

Q: What part of writing Fly By Wire did you find most challenging?

It’s always a challenge not to give things away too soon, to meter the suspense bit by bit so that a reader keeps turning the pages. That’s probably the biggest challenge I have in most of my work—a writer always knows where things are heading, but you have to put yourself in the reader’s place.

Q: What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

I hope they will find entertainment value—enjoyment and a few hour’s escapism.

Q: What writers have inspired you?

I enjoyed reading Robert Ludlum and Frederick Forsyth, early on. Different writers bring different strengths to the literary table, and there are dozens who have made their impression on me. Tom Clancy’s knack for detail. Ken Follett and Jeffrey Archer are terrific at building characters. As a reader, which all writers are at heart, I appreciate them all.

Q: What is the writing process like for you?

I write whenever I find the time—simple as that. I have no set schedule. My first book, The Perfect Assassin, took nine years to finish. I wrote the first draft of Fly By Wire in nine weeks.

Q: What is the best piece of advice about writing that you’ve ever received?

Stuart Kaminsky once told me that he always carried an index card with him to write down good ideas that came to him over the course of a day—he could never remember them otherwise. I do it now and it’s great. Maybe a phrase or a situation, even a single word I want to use. I write it down and work it into my writing later.

Q: What is the worst piece of advice about writing you’ve ever received?

Send an unsolicited manuscript to publishing houses in New York.

Q: What’s next for you? Any new books in the pipeline?

Fly By Wire is intended as a series, which is something new for me. I’m working on the second, tentatively titled, Fly By Night.
 
About The Author
Ward Larsen is an award-winning author whose debut novel, The Perfect Assassin, garnered numerous awards and accolades, including top honors in the Royal Palm Literary Awards, the Gold Medal in the Military Writers Society of America Book Awards, the Silver Medal in the Florida Book of the Year Awards, and the Silver Medal in the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards. The Perfect Assassin was also named an award-winning finalist in the National Best Books 2006 Awards, as well as the 2006 Indie Excellence Awards.Born and raised in South Florida. Larsen graduated from the University of Central Florida. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served seven years as a pilot in the 95th and 75th Fighter Squadrons. Ward traveled widely across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and flew 22 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. You can find out more at his website, http://www.wardlarsen.com/
 

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I’m delighted to share here an interview with Curt Weeden, Co-Author of Book of Nathan. Curt Weeden is among the nation’s most sought-after speakers on philanthropy and social responsibility issues and trends. The author and business executive mixes humor, personal experience and data-based facts to map out ways nonprofits can generate more revenue—and to help businesses get a stronger return on investment from their charitable donations.



Q:Tell us a little about yourself, how and when you started writing.

A: First serious writing experiences were as a journalist for a chain of weekly newspapers in Rhode Island (Phoenix Times Publishing Company). Moved from reporter to news editor before leaving the newspaper field to attend graduate school in New York City (NYU). Dabbled in fiction writing over the years but made no serious moves in that direction until leaving my post as vice president of Johnson & Johnson (2000).
 

Q: What inspired you to write your novel, Book of Nathan?

A: Most of my professional career has centered on addressing social challenges/problems. The novel – although deliberately comedic and light – deals with extremism and how it can cripple attempts to resolve critical issues. The novel is intended to generate more interest in my speaking engagements which will increasingly touch on sensitive issues such as population expansion and its impact on global stability.
 

Q: How did you use your life experience or professional background to enrich the story?

A:The characters, venues and many of the situations (e.g. Ellis Island special event, homeless shelter activities, etc.) are all based on real-life experiences. Having been involved with building business-nonprofit partnerships for over 30 years, I have been afforded a wide perspective on people and events that have been stirred into Book of Nathan.

Q: Anything autobiographical in Book of Nathan?

A:There are some autobiographical overtones to the book. But it is largely a novel about others I have met over the years.
 

Q: So there are characters based on people you know?

A: In a very general way. Douglas Kool, the slippery fund-raising consultant, is a very familiar character in my world. The other main actors in the novel are composites of individuals who have been in and out of my life (other than Twyla Tharp, the “erotic dancer” who conducts extra-curricular activities!). The wealthy investment banker (Arthur Silverstein) is based partly on very well-to-do people who are friends and more distant associates – however, none are quite as devious or issue-driven to the point of being dangerous.
 

Q: Would you say that your novel is more plot driven or character driven?

A: The plot — the quest for a previously lost book of the Bible – drives the story. However, the characters are vital to the tone and pace of the book.
 

Q: Who is your favorite or most sympathetic character, and why?

A: The lead character is Rick Bullock and clearly the individual who is closest to my own interests and values. The one-time history professor, Doc Waters, brings high but misdirected intellect into the story. However, it is Bullock who is the most compelling character in the book.

Q: Who is your least sympathetic character, and why?

A:Clearly, it’s the investment banker Arthur Silverstein and to a slightly lesser degree Judith Russett, the head of the Quia Vita, the aggressive pro-life organization. Both these characters illustrate how extreme views and decisions make it so difficult to find a middle ground where social challenges can be reasonably addressed.
 

Q: What part of writing Book of Nathan did you find the most challenging?

A: Time. For this author, fiction writing is a demanding task and output does not come about easily. The book was written in conjunction with another business book (to be released January 2011 by Jossey-Bass – Wiley). Coupled with managing a consulting business and allocating time to be a husband, father and grandfather, the effort was trying.
 

Q: What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

A: The book is intended for as wide an audience as possible given the important message(s) that wind through its pages. The “take-away” is (as mentioned) the danger of extremism in addressing any issue (political, religious, social). In addition, the book hints at the risky course the planet is taking by not addressing unchecked population expansion (the central theme of an earlier book this author wrote: How Women Can Beat Terrorism) and how the vociferous abortion debate clouds this very serious global problem.
 

Q: How do you dial up the tension to keep your readers on the edge of their seats?

A: Tension and locking in a reader is largely a credit to co-author Richard Marek whose main role was to heavily edit the original manuscript. Dick is among the very best editors in the nation as is evident by his stable of authors he has aided over the years.
 

Q: What writers have inspired you?

A: Interestingly, many of the great writers have not been inspirational but intimidating. I do not have the talent to match the “gold standard” writers of the past or the popular authors of contemporary fiction. A number of relatively new authors reviewed Book of Nathan and I was honored to read some of their books. More widely recognized writers like Janet Evanovich were kind enough to comment on Book of Nathan. There are a battery of writers I enjoy reading such as Pat Conroy, Harlan Coben, James Patterson among others. New novelists such as Kathryn Stockett (The Help) are brilliant. I am also amazed at how so many journalists can turn a timely topic into a story that has all the compelling elements of a fascinating novel. To come even close to some of these far more gifted writers would be a great accomplishment for me.
 

Q: What is the writing process like for you?

A: Very difficult. So much has been written about the solitude and self-discipline that goes into writing. But until one goes through the exercise, it is not something truly understood. Most of my writing is during the early part of the day (7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.) and on airplanes going to/from business meetings and speeches.
 

Q: What is the best piece of advice about writing that you’ve ever received?

A: Richard Marek has been my most ardent critic and important teacher. He has taught me that so often what you consider your own good writing is only half as good as you think – and sometimes deeply flawed. But he also has shown me what it takes to whittle a barely passable set of words into a reasonable sentence or two. The message: find someone you respect and trust to honestly evaluate your work, recommend improvements and be thick-skinned enough to take the suggestions to heart.
 

Q: What is the worst piece of advice about writing that you’ve ever received?

A: That I am strictly a non-fiction writer. Granted, my non-fiction books and articles are probably at a higher standard than Book of Nathan. However, if I had listened to the few people who have told me not to waste my time with fiction, Book of Nathan would not be a reality.
 

Q: What’s next for you? Any new books in the pipeline?

A: As mentioned, a business book for January 2011 (completed) and another novel titled Dutch Island. The novel is about a small island off the coast of Jamestown, Rhode Island that is now a publicly owned, undeveloped park. The island was once the property of Daniel Weeden, an ancestor who was deeded the island by Benedict Arnold, the grandfather of the notorious traitor. The novel is set in contemporary times and centers on a series of murders that can only be resolved if the original deed to the island can be located. It stars many of the same characters as are in Book of Nathan.
 

Q: Any final words you would like to say about yourself, your novel, or life in general?

A: Hopefully Book of Nathan will be more than a “good read.” My aspiration for the book is to use it as a door-opener for discussion and thought about concerns and challenges important to all of us. Fiction can be a terrific gateway to new ideas and more open thinking. The true measure of Book of Nathan’s success will be how far it takes me (and others) toward this goal.

Book of Nathan is available at all good bookstores, including Amazon.com.

Many thanks to Curt and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview! You can also find out more about Book of Nathan at Curt’s website, http://www.curtweeden.com/ – Ed.

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5. Author Interview: Michael Stevens, Author of Fortuna
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I’m delighted to share here an interview with author Michael R. Stevens about his new book, Fortuna. Michael began his writing career in high school as a music columnist for the Vallejo Times Herald, his hometown newspaper. After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley as an English major, he served two years in the U.S. Army’s Berlin Brigade, then began a career in high-tech marketing, first as a writer and later as a creative director and Silicon Valley ad agency executive. Concurrently, he managed the technical development and marketing of two successful software products. At present, Michael is a contributing editor for several high-profile web sites in the technology arena.
 
In addition to writing, Michael Stevens is a serious amateur musician who has produced four CDs. He lives in Berkeley, California, and at an undisclosed location in Second Life.
 
Fortuna is his first novel. So on with the interview!

 
Start to finish, how long did it take to write Fortuna?
 
Eighteen months.
 
 
How did you get the idea?
 
I learned from NPR that online role-playing games have real economies, just like America or Japan, and I thought that was astonishing. That special sword you need in order to kill a particular dragon? It’s worth actual dollars. You can buy stuff like that on eBay. And if I steal your sword while we’re playing online, you can sue me in a real-world court. That’s already happening in Asia. I was also attracted by the anonymity of these games. How far will people go if no one knows who they are, and their actions have no consequences? Of course, in the book, there are consequences.
 
 
Which part of the writing process did you enjoy most?  Why?
 
Like most professional writers, I have a sort of ritual. I write almost exclusively in cafés, usually in the morning. What could be better than to be in a place where there’s a lot of intellectual energy, you get these wonderful caffeinated drinks—maybe a croissant—and then you get to do the same thing Hemingway or Sartre did? By the way, I should say that drinking lots of coffee is arguably the only talent I share with those great writers.
 
 
What part of the writing process did you find most challenging?  Why?
 
Dealing with editors!  When I worked in advertising, my writing often got edited in ways that harmed the project, and over the years I came to hate that. So I have this automatic negative reaction to the editing process that’s not always fair to the editor.
 
 
Did you have to do any special research while writing Fortuna?  If so, what did you research and how did you conduct the research?
 
I read a lot of books about Renaissance Italy and the major houses. Some of it was very detailed, like issues about coinage and interest rates and other business practices. I also studied the paintings. I didn’t have to research the technical stuff. I knew about that by working with dozens of high-tech companies over the years.
 
 
Do any of the characters in Fortuna have an autobiographical component? If so, which character, and how are you similar?
 
The autobiographical components are negligible. I did attend Stanford, and I was an executive in a rather large corporation, and I think that helps give Fortuna an authentic feel. But neither Jason nor his father are stand-ins for yours truly.
 

 
How did you get the ideas for the characters in Fortuna? Are any of the characters based on people you know?
 
I think every character in every novel is based on people the author knows or fragments of people pieced together in new ways. But as far as specific characters in Fortuna, what the lawyers so often recite is true:  “any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.”
 
 
What do you think is your protagonist, Jason Lind’s, most admirable quality?
 
He questions things.
 
 
What do you think is Jason Lind’s least admirable quality?
 
Through much of the book, he can’t act with conviction, at least that’s how I see it. He has a little of Hamlet’s fatal hesitation, not that I’m comparing myself with Shakespeare. I think most readers would agree that he should commit more fully to his girlfriend in real life rather than chasing after an online heroine.
 
 
How do you think you are most like Jason Lind?
 
I have always had a question about how I fit into society. I still do.
 
 
How do you think you are least like Jason Lind?
 
Jason wants to plan things. I tend not to look before I leap.
 
 
What is your interest in online role-playing games?
 
For me, online role playing games are like an e-mail or instant messaging service that lets me conveniently connect with people. Second Life also helps me to keep my other languages sharp because, at different times of the day, there are people online from all over the world. The role-playing aspect for me is nil. I am not part of a Gorean clan or anything like that.
 
 
What do you think attracts Jason Lind to Fortuna—the escape, or the anonymity it affords him?
 
The English major in me has to point out that Jason Lind isn’t a person, but a literary creation. Having said that, I think the short answer is escape. In Fortuna, Jason is an adult. In real life—“RL” as gamers say—Jason plays a role that is subordinate to the adults who run things.
 
 
What do you think, in general, is the allure that draws people in to online role-playing games?
 
Romance, sexuality, adventure, and violence are the primary themes of most online role-playing games. It’s sad, but that’s why people play.  We live in a lonely, angry society. And online role-playing games give us a chance to have what we feel is missing in our lives anonymously. That removes a lot of inhibitions. A third factor is the lack of consequences. If a woman walks on the wild side and finds herself about to be attacked in a dark alley, she can just press the delete button.
 
 
Do you think there’s a real danger in becoming compulsive, such as Jason does, when playing online games?
 
Yes. There are people who are online eight, ten, twelve hours a day, so yes, the danger is real. At the same time, this may be a good thing for some people, for example, those who are confined to a bed due to chronic illness.
 
How possible—and plausible—do you think a virtual community such as the one you present in Fortuna is?
 
There’s no issue of possibility or plausibility. Such virtual communities exist. For example, there is a large online “Gorean” community with villages, costumes, etc., based on the (notorious and trashy) “Gor” novels of John Norman. There are also several such communities revolving around vampire lore. It is amazing to me, I’ll say in passing, how many women seek out the role of virtual slavery in these communities.
 
 
As someone with a background in technology, how have you seen gaming evolve over the years?  Do you think gaming has changed for the better?  Why or why not?
 
The great leap forward in online gaming communities was the introduction of graphics, which are becoming increasingly realistic as time passes. The older virtual communities were based entirely on text, which combined dialog and what might be called stage directions. (He grasps her by the shoulders and pushes her down onto the bed. She whimpers, “No, please.”) Some say that the text approach has fewer limitations and is more imaginative.
 
 
You present a great deal of detail about Renaissance Florence in Fortuna.  What is your interest in Renaissance Florence?
 
Renaissance Florence was the birthplace of the modern global economy. In many ways it was the Silicon Valley of its time. It was also the birthplace of Machiavelli. If our business leaders and politicians would study Renaissance Florence more carefully, we would be much better off as a nation.
 
 
Do you intentionally draw parallels between today’s Mafia families and the prominent families of the Renaissance?
 
Yes. They are quite similar. The style of execution, for example, hasn’t changed at all. Nor has the importance of execution itself as a tactic.
 
 
What made you want to write a novel?
 
Isn’t that the dream of every English major?
 
 
Which writers influence and inspire you?
 
Not very many, and they’re not politically correct. Frank Herbert, the seventies’ science fiction writer. John Updike. Lawrence Durrell and others, I’m sure.
 
 
If you could give an aspiring author one piece of advice, what would it be?
 
I think attending writers’ conferences is very, very helpful, especially when it comes to selling and marketing a novel. It’s really the only way to get a good understanding of what the players are like: the agents, the acquisition editors, even the other writers, who can be friends as well as competitors. Also, aspiring writers should read my blog at www.fortunathebook.com, where I tell all about what it’s like to actually get published.
 
 
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
 
Somebody once told me that every short story should begin with something like, “Tom Smith glanced at his watch. Eleven thirty. If he didn’t get to the top of the mountain by noon, he’d be dead.” I think particularly today, in the era of short attention spans, each segment of a novel has to be like a short story that keeps people turning the pages. This approach, I should add, does not preclude the exploration of important, complex questions.
 
 
The worst?
 
“Writing is re-writing.” I say, get it right the first time. If your work needs a lot of editing, you’re not very good.
 
 
What do you hope readers will take away from Fortuna?
 
I hope readers are led to question some of their romantic visions of what human societies are like, and to take a new look at Machiavelli’s vision. I don’t mean that it’s a good idea to simply kill your enemies—it’s not!—but other aspects of his work have relevance, particularly in U.S. foreign policy and also in understanding the problems that plague inner cities.
 
 
What’s next for Michael Stevens?  Any other books in the works?
 
My next project is a novel of industrial espionage set in Berlin, 1923, during the Weimar Republik and before the rise of Hitler. The working title is “U,” which is the chemical symbol for uranium.
 

 
Fortuna is available from all good bookstores, including Amazon, now.

 
Many thanks to Michael and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview!  – Ed.

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2. Author Interview: Curt Weeden, Co-Author of Book of Nathan
3. Author Interview: Barbara Levenson, author of Justice in June
4. Author Interview: Ward Larsen, author of Fly By Wire
5. Author Interview: David Bowman, Author of 300 Days of Better Writing
6. Author Interview: Ward R. Jones, author of After Isaactown

Charles Gulotta, Author of Writing Rules! helps teach youngsters the rules of writing in a humorous, memorable way. For anyone who ever thought the subject had to be a stuffy and boring read, pick up a copy and watch your mind change. I’ll be doing a full review soon. Here are some snippets to whet your appetite in the meantime.

Here are a few more examples of gerunds correctly modified by possessives:

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I’m delighted to share here an interview with author Barbara Levenson about her new book, Justice in June. Barbara has lived in Miami for the past 32 years. She has served as a prosecutor, and run her own law practice where she focused on criminal defense and civil rights litigation. Barbara was elected to a judgeship in the circuit court of Miami-Dade County where she still serves as a senior judge.

So on with the interview!

How long did it take to write Justice in June?

About six months.


How did you get the idea?

Readers got a look at the best weather in South Florida in Fatal February. I thought it would be fun to show the worst weather, the rainy season. Additionally, I wanted to show an inside view of a woman judge. During the time I was planning Justice in June, a trial was going on in Miami accusing a group of young men of being terrorists. This gave me the idea of Luis Corona’s story.


What do you like most about having recurring characters in your novels?

Having recurring characters in my novels makes the readers a part of the family of characters. It gives an author the opportunity to enlarge each character and show more fully just who they are, and to introduce new characters that may be highlighted in future novels.


Is there any particular challenge of having recurring characters?

The challenge in having recurring characters is that each successive novel may become too formulaic and may end up boring the readers. It is my job to keep each adventure new and fresh.


Has Mary Magruder Katz changed in any way since you first dreamed her up?

Mary has grown and, I hope, matured just as we all do when we meet new challenges. She is growing in stature in her profession and has begun to question her inability to be committed in her personal life. Readers seem equally divided about whether they want Mary and Carlos to marry. Both sides are adamant in their feelings, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how Mary feels about this important question.


What did you enjoy most about writing Justice in June?

My greatest enjoyment in writing Justice in June was working from a second point of view. It was interesting as an author to switch from Mary to Judge Liz Maxwell and then back to Mary again. Many writers and writing teachers warn against this, but I found it made the book move swiftly. We’ll have to see how readers like this variety.


Which part of the writing process did you find most challenging?

The part of the writing process I found most challenging was keeping my time focused on writing no matter what was going on around me or in my own life. Especially in mystery writing, if the author is distracted, the clues and characters may stray off course.

Your first novel, Fatal February, was released to rave reviews. Did you feel any pressure as you were writing Justice in June?

I didn’t feel pressured because of Fatal February, because I believe that this second book in the series is a better book. It gave me the opportunity to fill in the blanks about most of the characters, and that is what readers asked for after Fatal February. They wanted more Mary, more Carlos, and even more Catherine.


Are you as in love with Carlos as many of your readers are?

Am I as in love with Carlos as most of my readers are? Absolutely! He’s every woman’s fantasy lover; tender when with Mary, but forceful enough to be his own person, and occasionally a bit of a bad boy. I’ve only had one woman tell me she didn’t like Carlos. I wanted to send her to a sex therapist to test her for lack of libido, but I decided to mind my own business.


Is Carlos based on a real person?

In looks, yes. I happened to see the prototype at my local car wash. We chatted over the free popcorn. He was quite charming, but when he turned to talk to the attendants, he was very rude. That gave me the idea for the Carlos character. As to his “hottie” persona, he is totally imaginary, although several male acquaintances are sure they are the model for Carlos. Well, they can dream, can’t they?


Where do you do most of your writing?

I do all of my writing in my writing room in Miami in the winter and spring, and in my writing room in Quechee, Vermont, in the summer and fall. I write on the computer. In both places, I have great views of trees, blossoms, and birds, and in Vermont, I have a view of a family of wild turkeys who have taken up residence in the woods behind our house. They are so tame that they come up to the sliding glass doors and watch me write.


What’s your process for writing a novel? Do you start with the plot fully fleshed‐out, or does it develop as you’re writing?

I always have a general idea of the plot, but sometimes the characters make changes in my plan. They often decide to go their own way, and when I listen to them, the book is always better.


Why do you think Mary Magruder Katz is such a compelling protagonist?

I think Mary is a compelling protagonist because she’s not perfect. No matter what or how well she plans, life intercedes and throws her many curves. That’s how we all are in real life, so a variety of readers can identify with Mary. She’s not always right. Sometimes she hurts her parents’ feelings or her boyfriend’s feelings, but she keeps trying to get life right.


Do you think Mary’s enthusiasm is a good quality or a not‐so‐good quality?

The phrase “where angels fear to tread” sometimes springs to mind! I like Mary’s enthusiasm and her fearless attitude about her work. You can be a good lawyer by playing it safe and only taking winnable cases. To be a great lawyer requires taking on the unique cases and moving the law in exciting, new avenues. Mary does just that as she grows professionally. Mary certainly gets herself into some scrapes.


Do you think she has bad luck, or is she somehow inviting all of this craziness?

Because Mary refuses to play it safe, she ends up in some perilous situations. The old saying “no pain, no gain” comes to mind. She could have stayed in her safe environment with her former fiancé and his civil law firm. Instead, she ended up with Carlos and an exciting criminal defense practice. Both Carlos and the practice are bound to lead her to situations that require resilience.


Have you ever experienced writer’s block, and if so, how do you overcome it?

I have never had writer’s block. I love to write. Sometimes I’d rather go outside and dig in my garden, but I make myself get down to work and the words continue to fill the pages. Occasionally, I get bored with a part of the story, so I put it away for a day, and I go do something totally fun. The next day, I’m back at work with a new angle for the story.


For readers unfamiliar with Miami, what do you hope your novels show them about the city you so clearly love—most of the time, at least?

For readers who know little about Miami except for TV shows that only look at South Beach, I wanted to show the real Miami, an international city of hard‐working people; of families who get up early and fight the traffic to go to work, and who do not stay out all night at dance clubs. I definitely love Miami. I’m often asked when I give talks about the influx of immigrants to Miami. It’s my belief that each group that makes its home in Miami adds to the overall charm and vibrancy. Variety truly is the spice of life, and Miami has spice.


Would you ever envision writing outside the mystery genre? Why or why not?

I have written some short stories and a novel that are not mysteries, and I have outlined another novel that isn’t a mystery. But my first love is the mystery genre. The novel that isn’t a mystery is not very good. It’s a “coming of age” story, and we have too many of those already in print. The good thing about mysteries is that they cover numerous subgenres: humor, romance, thriller, paranormal, literary, and others, so there is something for every type of author and reader.


Which writers influence and inspire you?

Pat Conroy, Haven Kimmel, David Baldacci, John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, Dave King, and of course I was influenced early in life by the Nancy Drew mysteries and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.


What’s next for Mary Magruder Katz?

Mary will have to withstand changes in her life in Outrageous October, the third book in the series, so get ready for a change of venue and maybe even a new love interest.


What’s next for Barbara Levenson? It’s easier for me to know what’s ahead for Mary. I can see her future, but I can’t really foretell my own. I just hope to go on writing and observing human nature, and entertaining readers who turn to books to enrich their lives.

Justice in June is available from all good book stores, including Amazon, as of 6/7/2010 .

Many thanks to Barbara and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview!  – Ed.

Related posts:

1. Author Interview: Ward R. Jones, author of After Isaactown
2. Author Interview: Ward Larsen, author of Fly By Wire
3. Author Interview: David Bowman, Author of 300 Days of Better Writing
4. Author Interview: Michael Stevens, Author of Fortuna
5. Author Interview: Lin Pardey, Author of Bull Canyon: a Boatbuilder, a Writer and other Wildlife.
6. Author Interview: Curt Weeden, Co-Author of Book of Nathan

The Shimmer (Vanguard Press, ISBN 9781593155377, Hardcover, 352pp) is an engrossing and suspense packed thriller from the pen of Rambo creator, David Morrell. Set in and around the fictional Rostov, Texas, The Shimmer‘s about mysterious lights in the sky near the small town. Are they so much more than they appear to be or just some geological anomaly as some think? An out of town policeman’s search to discover their source unveils centuries old sightings, hidden government projects and that his marriage is suddenly in turmoil.

There’s action from the story’s outset. Dan Page, our Santa Fe cop, witnesses from the air the fatal end to a disastrous car chase he’s involved in. After the debriefing, he quits for the day. Upon arrival home, he finds his wife Tori has disappeared. Page finds her eventually outside the small town of Rostov, sitting almost catatonic at an observation deck in the middle of nowhere. Tori tells Page she’s watching for the mysterious Rostov Lights she remembers from childhood. Page, understandably upset and confused about what’s going on with his wife and her reasons for her sudden departure, is even more so when he sees the impact these lights have upon her.

Crowds come from miles around hoping to catch a glimpse of the unexplained phenomena. What’s unusual about these stunningly beautiful lights is that not everyone sees them, even when standing shoulder to shoulder. Those who do experience different reactions to the sighting. Some may feel a euphoria, while others can feel a rage. What is it about these lights that creates such a wide spectrum of emotion and this overriding compulsion to always be close to their mystical luminosity? No one has ever come close to solving their existence. But when a deranged man fires a rifle into the lights as the crowd gathered at the viewing platform one night, Page becomes more deeply embroiled in finding out.

I enjoyed The Shimmer very much and this fast-paced mystery’s intricacies. Thanks to the presence of comprehensively developed characters, the lights shine in more ways than one for the reader and from many perspectives. There’s Brent Loft, a small station TV reporter who sees the slaughter not as a tragedy but as his ticket to the big networks; the secretive and callous Colonel Raleigh who protects his long forgotten research base and its workings at any cost; and the Rostov townsfolk with tales of the lights that span decades.

No matter which one of Morrell’s characters you are reading about at any given moment, the light’s power over its uninformed witnesses grows and matures in your mind just as they do. Some smaller character roles are played in The Shimmer but none are insignificant, each weaving another thread in the mysterious lights’ history and their wide reaching effects. This attention to detail, a hallmark of David Morrell’s writing,  adds a three-dimensional vividness and depth to the lights that slimmer descriptions could never have achieved.

David Morrell has hit the New York Times bestseller list more times than I’ve had hot dinners and his success is well deserved. Incredible as it sounds, Morrell’s first novel, First Blood, was published way back in 1972. Many of my generation will remember this as the thriller that introduced us to John Rambo, the movie of which starred Sylvester Stallone.  Morrell’s skills as a master craftsman of mystery and thrillers certainly haven’t diminished over time. With excellent characterization, an unusual plot line and a believable setting that’s based loosely on real life happenings in a real small Texas town, Morrell has created in The Shimmer a thriller that’s intense, thought provoking and exciting all at once.

I don’t want to give too much away. Suffice to say that The Shimmer makes you wonder upon completion of this book how those lights would have affected you and that thought doesn’t fade easily from your mind.

With eighteen million copies of his books in print and in twenty six languages, David Morrell reigns supreme as a thriller writer extraordinaire. The Shimmer is a cracking good read and Morrell is quite simply a phenomenally good writer. I guarantee you that The Shimmer‘s suspense laden pages will grab you by the throat and not let go until the very end. You won’t be disappointed in this glittering prize of a thriller. Don’t miss it!

Visit David Morrell’s website here.