Blog Archives
The Brotherhood Of Man
Silent Conversations explores various events from the last few decades and presents your unique perspective on them. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
These poems and essays were written over a period of many years. For a long time I encouraged him to gather them together and publish a book. David wrote poetry even as a child and became interested in politics as a young man. He joined the Merchant Marine in WWII and was influenced by some older sailors who were strong union members. He chose the Merchant Marine because he wanted to serve our country but didn’t want to kill anyone.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The idea of the brotherhood of man was deeply important to David all his life. He felt kinship with all humanity, not just one race, religion, culture or whatever. David had the rare ability to listen and understand people, and could disagree without being judgmental. People could confide in him and feel safe and understood whether or not he agreed with what they said.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Silent Conversations?
The sense that we are all one people and must learn to get along together with respect for and enjoyment of our common humanity.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Since David died in 2011, there will be no more books from him. That makes Silent Conversations even more valuable.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Inside Out
Inside Out shares the stories of various people and the intriguing lives they live. What inspired you to write this story?
I think I was initially inspired by the Edmund Goulding film, “The Grand Hotel,” which stars Greta Garbo and John Barrymore. I liked the idea of these very different but unique individuals who all cross paths one evening staying at this elaborate Berlin Hotel and this, that, and the other thing happens. I wanted to do something like that for awhile, but I couldn’t figure out how to be honest with the idea and do it on my level.
Your characters are interesting and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Thank you. The only thing that concerns me when it comes to developing characters is that they remain individuals. I have a deep respect for any one who can maintain their individuality, especially today when personally, I feel that everything is very categorized. I really hate that. I think too with the characters specific to this book they all go against who they believe themselves to be. They say something or do something that doesn’t quite match their personality and that to me is very interesting.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My idea was mainly to showcase how individuals have a basic need to communicate their ideas to one another, but being that they are essentially islands they have no idea how to. For me, that idea is very personal because I don’t really know what to say to people or how to act when I’m with them and I think that is a universal thing, at least with the people I know.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’ve been working on a short story collection, “This Thing Called Love.” The title is the same as the main short story of the collection, which is themed around belief. I’m hoping this collection will be out by Summer of ’22.
Author Links: Amazon | Website | instagram
The property is owned by Marge. Her name is painted in green on a piece of plywood that sits above the entryway to the diner on the first floor.
There are four separate apartments on the additional two floors. Three are occupied. The tenants are young and old. They are simple people whom like the building itself reside on the edge of town with walls, which conceal them from the world outside.
Mariposa Mysteries
Watch What You Wish For follows a group of friends who accidentally unleash the evil powers within an ancient Wishing Tree. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Many people are dissatisfied with some aspects of their lives, and never more so when they are teenagers. I was originally going to have the characters make their wishes at a wishing well, but then I decided that a wishing tree could be a lot more dramatic!
Sophie is an interesting and well defined character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Sophie’s a bit of a follower, tending to be easily influenced by those around her. Had she ended up hanging out with the wrong crowd after her move to Mariposa, she could have ended up in trouble again. But through pure good luck, she ended up befriending a couple of really good kids who showed her the meaning of kindness and true friendship.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The theme of friendship was the most important one. I’m always amazed by the extent to which friends can affect a person’s life choices.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
‘Watch What You Wish For’ is now the first book in the trilogy entitled ‘Mariposa Mysteries.’ I’m currently working on a YA novel that will probably be available in late March.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Book One of the new Mariposa Mystery Series.
A Surreal, Absurdist, and Grotesque Fiction
The Pearl Territory follows the survivors of the Earth that seek a life outside their restrictive colony and may find it on an enigmatic planet. What was the inspiration for the setup to this compelling novel?
I would prefer to call them the chosen survivors because most of them (advanced and primitive) left the Earth before the gamma-ray hit it. Their escape was calculated; they had been preparing for that kind of situation.
It’s true, they are looking for the ninth planet in the hope of building the new world, the place of their dreams. The advanced are looking for new territory; the people of power – for crystal, the sacred gate between different dimensions and universes; the primitive, or people of resistance – to break free from AI. Everybody has their own agenda, but there is only one planet – the beautiful, full of water, green Pearl. How would they share it, if they ever did? Is it possible for them all to live in peace? Is Pearl a habitable place? Or is this planet only an illusion?
The story is the sketch of our society, filled with murderers, doctors, religious fanatics, kids with superpowers, mutants, demons, famous painters, witches, Egyptian Kings, magical books, AI-police, addictions, and endless sexual (often ridiculous) rules.
I’m also trying to peek into the future by analyzing such sensitive theme as partition into two primary races: advanced and primitive humans. Who knows, it might be our reality in 2718 (if we survive until then), when the worlds and the planets will be divided between nano-people (conscious robots with feelings) and good old homo sapiens.
Please don’t take this novel too seriously – this is a surreal, absurdist, and grotesque fiction full of adult humor.
Ah, about the inspiration! It is always the silence. Every novel of mine is always born from the silence…
I enjoyed the array of characters you’ve created. Who was your favorite character to write for?
I don’t have a favorite character.
The book consists of 60+ heroes. It might be challenging to follow; that’s why I’d advise you to read it in two or maximum three sittings, preferably as a paperback, in the span of a week. It shouldn’t be that hard, the book is only 200 pages long.
I’d like to mention, though, the character called Mara – the Queen of the Surreal Kingdom, hidden beneath the murky waters of Pearl (the ninth planet). She or He, or both, is the ruler of the demonic powers, the yin and the yang of the Magical Universe, the catcher of Time. I often ask myself, what would I do to stop the time? Would I be as cruel as Mara? Who knows?
Unfortunately, the most powerful people are often showing signs of cruelty, especially when they are too close to achieve or find something they dreamed of for so long…
There’s also a couple of funny metaphysical characters in my book: Mister Time himself – a horny old man who is spending his eternal life locked inside of the closed zone; and his lovely Elsa-chair, which is an actual chair that can talk, walk, and joke.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As I already mentioned, this novel is a sketch of our society. I tried to glimpse into the future without going deep into psychology, relationships, political fights, and the danger of artificial power. I tried to show as many typical characters of the Earth as possible.
One of the themes, of course, is the search for happiness. People are always searching for something, they are never satisfied, and this kind of dissatisfaction, as we see, leads to a lot of problems.
It doesn’t matter which theme or question you are going to pick, there’s an answer or a hero to that in ‘The Pearl Territory’.
The book is written in two formats: 50% private journals and 50% dialogues.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m working on a book called ‘The Secrets of A-Ria’, the second book in the trilogy Child of Illusion, for young adults. Genre: metaphysical fantasy, absurdist. I’m writing humorous fiction for adults, so I find it quite challenging to write for teens.
I see it as a separate book, which means you don’t need to read book 1 to understand or follow the story in book 2. The plot revolves around Codes’ land, called A-Ria – the place unseen and inaccessible by humans. The main character, Aileen, is the Code of Death, who regulates the normal flow of life on Earth. But, as always, the Earth is in danger, as well as the Land of A-Ria. The Black Creeper is coming…
The message of this book: monsters don’t always look like monsters.
It will be available in the summer of 2021.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
“Netericus” has 19,347 strict and 6,980 flexible rules. The people feel trapped… Loneliness is spreading between members of the community, which is divided into “primitive” and “advanced” humans. The list of rules grows, as does the fear. A team of scientists finally makes a long-awaited breakthrough about the location of the Pearl, the 9th planet. The desire to start a new life and finally breathe outside awakes in many hearts again.
Pain Berchpull, a former pilot and one of ‘the primitive,’ has been sent on a mission—to the enigmatic Pearl. Her team has been in the most dangerous and frightening places in the Galaxy, and they have seen and done things that would make your skin crawl, but their arrival on the Pearl is the beginning of The End.
The book contains fun or gross erotica and elements of violence. Only for adults (18+)!
Genre: absurdist fiction, surreal fantasy, dystopian comedy.
This book is written in two formats: 50% – a play or dialogue and 50% – the journals.
CAEZIK SF & FANTASY
What are the types of books that Arc Manor normally pursues publishing?
Arc Manor is primarily a publisher of science fiction, although we do publish some fantasy. Historically, our focus has been on reprints of works by major authors, but recently we have been publishing new works from authors like Harry Turtledove, James Morrow and, of course, Robert A. Heinlein, based on his rediscovered manuscript.
What draws you to Robert A. Heinlein’s work?
I grew up in Pakistan reading what little science fiction I could access. Fortunately, given the global popularity of Heinlein, most of his books were available there. More importantly, I fell in love with his fiction, particularly his “juveniles.” Tunnel in the Sky was the first Heinlein story I ever read, and I was blown away.
There is a certain simplicity in the way Heinlein writes, especially in his earlier works, that really appeals to me. He has that uncommon ability to take far-out ideas and make them easily accessible to his readers. As a young reader I could really connect with the characters in books like Tunnel in the Sky or Have Spacesuit Will Travel.
As I grew older, I became fascinated by the breadth of his writing. For example, it is hard to believe that the same author wrote both Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers. With Heinlein, you never know what sort of awesome story you will get whenever you pick up a book of his.
What other Robert A. Heinlein works does your publishing company have planned to release?
We have been fortunate enough to re-publish a number of his books over the years. Unlike The Pursuit of the Pankera (which is published under the CAEZIK SF & Fantasy imprint), most of them have been published by our reprint imprint, Phoenix Pick.
However, as the author passed away in 1988, we do not expect to find any new material (although, as was the case with Pankera, who knows what one may find hidden away somewhere!).
Publisher Links: GoodReads | Website
However, unknown to most fans, Heinlein had already written a “parallel” novel about the four characters and parallel universes in 1977. He effectively wrote two parallel novels about parallel universes. The novels share the same start, but as soon as the Gay Deceiver is used to transport them to a parallel universe, each book transports them to a totally different parallel world.
From that point on the plot lines diverge completely. While The Number of the Beast morphs into something very different, more representative of later Heinlein works, The Pursuit of the Pankera remains on target with a much more traditional Heinleinesque storyline and ending, reminiscent of his earlier works.
The Pursuit of the Pankera was never published and there have been many competing theories as to why (including significant copyright issues in 1977). Over time the manuscript was largely forgotten but survived in fragments. A recent re-examination of these fragments, however, made it clear that put together in the right order they constituted the complete novel.
And here it finally is: Robert A. Heinlein’s audacious experiment. A fitting farewell from one of the most inventive science fiction writers to have ever lived: a parallel novel about parallel universes as well as a great adventure pitting the forces of good versus evil only the way Heinlein could do.
Her Place, Any Region
Dana Vilandre Interview
Her World is a creative collection of women’s literature from writers around the world and published by Her Place, Any Region. What is Her Place, Any Region and how does Her World support your cause?
Her Place, Any Region is a non profit organization which supports women and their families personally, professionally and emotionally. Through a myriad of resources we help women overcome devastating life circumstances such as homelessness, job loss, divorce and death of a spouse or child.
Our organization supports other benevolent and charitable causes through collaborative efforts. Her World, Creative Collections, is a compilation made up of women’s works from around the the world who have donated their works to support the programs in Her Place, as well as other causes of which they chose.
100% of the profits are donated to charities and benevolent causes.
Her World brings women together through the art eclectic, sharing their experiences, their talents and their hearts. Her World is a glimpse of what Her Place is really about, and why it is so important to have the support for these circumstances women face throughout life that traditional resources lack.
What was the collaboration like with all of the authors to put the compilation together?
Creating Her World started as an idea in 2011. Her Place was already in the works, and through that development we found that these creative women expressed themselves in ways that was unprecedented. The talents these women have come from such a deep place of sincerity and love, and bringing them together in print was powerful.
It was a fun project, and it took a lot of trust from the women to allow us to create this and treat it with the respect it deserves. We started pulling together pieces in 2016, and after a few attempts to complete it, we focused for 4 months straight to finalize it though the end of 2019 into 2020. The women were incredibly patient and were still on board throughout the 4 years.
There are 33 women from around the world featured in Her World, so you can imagine it was quite a project.
The final result was exactly like we imagined it to be, and we are all very happy with how it came together.
If someone wanted to get involved with Her Place, Any Region how would they do that?
Her Place, Any Region, has various programs within it; CreateFam, Glimpses, and Books, Bands, Businesses and Brands. While our primary focus is Glimpses, which is centered around helping women re-establish themselves after devastating life changing circumstances, CreateFam is community/volunteer focused and not gender specific, and Books, Bands, Businesses and Brands is a resource for women with businesses.
People can learn more about all of our programs and contacting us through our website http://www.her-place.org.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
We are currently accepting pieces for our next book: Another Year in Her World. We anticipate it to be released February 2021.
Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
![Her World: Creative Collections by [Her Place Any Region]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+EnlkKcxL.jpg)
Her Place, Any Region, introduces you to Her World, Creative Collections. Enjoy a literary journey through the experiences, hearts, and minds of 33 women from around the world. Compiled in one single readable book, view life from the eyes of phenomenal female artists and authors in the form of photography, song lyrics, book excerpts, personal life experiences, prose, and poetry. We hope you enjoy this incredibly broad spectrum with which these stories are written, bringing women together to share a glimpse into each other’s lives, during a time unifying the population of women is more important than ever.
A Gangland Problem
Gerry Mullins Author Interview
Testosterone Dublin 8 follows a man that uses testosterone to escape his unhappy life and in the process gets caught up with Dublin’s criminals. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling story?
A doctor suggested I start taking testosterone, and that prompted my interest in the hormone. As I observed changes in my own mind and body, and read more about it, I realized it could provide the foundation for a very interesting book.
Most people associate the hormone with sex and athletics, but it influences so much more, particularly mood, ambition, drive and confidence. That makes it a very interesting issue to write about, but I could find no other novel about it.
There was a time when only elite athletes took anabolic steroids (which means testosterone), but now millions of ordinary men (and some women) around the world are juicing. There are myriad advantages and dangers to this.
In addition, I live in a part of the Irish capital called Dublin 8, which is going through the gentrification process – just like other cities throughout the world such as San Francisco where I used to live.
Gentrification provides a very interesting energy in a place as ‘old’ and ‘new’ residents live side-by-side, usually together, but separate. Occasionally hostile. I wanted to comment on this in a book. A law-abiding man who suddenly becomes a drug dealer was the vehicle to do this. He had felt a little superior to his new neighborhood, but as time goes by, it’s clear he isn’t that much different from the people he lives among.
Jimmy is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some ideas that drove his character development?
He is disappointed in his life. He was from a middle-class family and middle-class community, but didn’t achieve this in his adult life. Losing his job is confirmation of this. Frequently he feels the judgement of his late father, who reminds him of his failings during his lowest points. He is ashamed, angry and suicidal.
Jimmy’s enhanced manliness leads to a drug-dealing business, and his pride is gradually restored. But when the money starts rolling in, what is his ambition for it? To move to a middle-class area; to finally be the person his late father wanted him to be.
The story takes place in Dublin. Why was this time and place important to your story?
Dublin has a gangland problem and there have been many murders in the Dublin 8 area that is described in the book.
In addition, this area is changing as new people who have middle-class aspirations arrive, displacing lower-class families who have been there for generations.
So the time and the place are important because they generate a natural environment for stories like mine to emerge. The reason Jimmy is living there is because of gentrification. The reason he can get involved in the drugs business is because that business is all around him.
More generally, Dublin is celebrated in many novels, and is most famously linked to works that were published 100 years ago. Nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to describe the Dublin of here and now.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am not working any but have several in mind involving the characters of Testosterone, Dublin 8.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter | Website
![Testosterone, Dublin 8 by [Gerry Mulins]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41NtMUQ8NkL.jpg)
TV producer Jimmy Fyffe starts taking anabolic steroids to restore the ‘manliness’ he has lost in a high-pressure career and unhappy marriage. His plan works – a little too well. Soon he is a cocaine dealer, carving out a market in Dublin’s more affluent suburbs. This draws him into conflict with two established drugs gangs. He is kidnapped, beaten and terrorised, and is linked to the killing of a drugs-lord and two Gardaí.
Is Jimmy next to die, or will the same newfound machismo that landed him in trouble also help him escape it? Things get worse before they get better. The extra testosterone in his system hardens him both mentally and physically, but he also becomes reckless and arrogant. Ultimately, redemption is found during an ayahuasca ceremony in the Wicklow mountains, when Jimmy confronts his past through a conversation with his dead father.
Testosterone, Dublin 8 describes the effect of the ‘male hormone’ on an individual, and on wider society. It is told against the backdrop of a gentrifying Dublin, where the two main tribes – locals and blow-ins – live side by side. It is a moral tale wrapped in a classic thriller that gets to the heart – and veins – of modern Ireland.
Jealousy is a Nasty Emotion
Dawn Brotherton Author Interview
Untimely Love follows Jamie as she balances her career and marriage while slowly falling for her sexy and considerate coworker. What served as your inspiration while you wrote this emotional love story?
Writing romance was actually an experiment for me. I wanted to try something different than the Jackie Austin mysteries. For inspiration? While I was balancing my military career and marriage through many physical separations, I can guarantee you that my husband is nothing like Jamie’s snake of a husband! But some of the struggles to get attention felt very close to home, and the events Jamie has to investigate in Virginia Beach for her job were based on real-life actions I encountered. Jealousy is a nasty emotion.
I enjoyed the slow evolution of Jamie’s character. What were some ideas you wanted to explore with her character?
I wanted a strong female character who, although tempted, WANTS to do the right thing. She is dedicated to fulfill her commitments, even if things aren’t going her way. She doesn’t take the easy way out—and that can be costly.
Jamie and Ben’s relationship is something I found to be endearing and thrilling. What were some emotions you often felt yourself gravitating toward while writing their scenes?
I was in love with Ben. He was kind and patient, but also fun loving and spontaneous. I’ve never truly met anyone like him. I guess that’s why we read romance.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Eastover Treasures is a cozy mystery coming out in 2021. The idea came to me when I was at a quilting retreat. It’s been slowly building for years, and I am finally spending time with it. I’m getting great feedback from my writer’s group so I am excited to get it to my editor.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
![Untimely Love by [Dawn Brotherton]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ZheiYtzTL.jpg)
Jamie is settling into her new job in Washington DC. The last thing she needs is a distraction. Then she meets Ben. Charming, considerate, and, yes, sexy. She finds herself thinking about him more often than she should. She struggles to keep her feelings in check while he works his magic to draw her closer. He’s patient, but he can’t be expected to wait forever. Jamie needs time to discover she deserves better than what she has, and Ben must decide if she’s worth the wait.
LITERARY TITAN 