Author Interview Series-Stacy Rogers

Stacy Rogers

Stacy is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University where she earned a Master of Education and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. A world traveler, Stacy has spent time in the Himalayas, the Andes, the High Atlas Mountains, and Southeast Asia. Behind Jagged Edges of Silhouette Trees is her debut novel.

Marina Raydun: What inspired your debut novel--Behind Jagged Edges of Silhouette Trees?

Stacy Rogers: Life experiences that have shaped my perceptions of the world and my sense of connection to it inspired me to write Behind Jagged Edges of Silhouette Trees. Through my two protagonists, A’isha and Tsewang, I put voice to these experiences and to the ways in which they have also impacted my identity.

MR: The title itself is very evocative. How did you come up with it?

SR: “Behind jagged edges of silhouette trees” is part of a narrative line one-third of the way into A’isha’s story. It spilled from me one morning as I wrote, and in that moment I thought, “Ah, this is the title of my novel!”

MR: You’re a real world traveler. What is it about travel that attracts you the most?

SR: I am fascinated by the common threads that bind the global quilt of cultural similarities but are often eclipsed by difference and dismissed as insignificant and unnecessary for human survival.

MR: Your background is in psychology and education. How does this background lend itself to creative writing?

SR: For 36 years, I taught high school English and conducted psychotherapeutic groups for at-risk youth. Whenever time allowed, I delved into my passion for storytelling and wrote about the life-changing encounters I stumbled upon as I traveled the world. Eight years ago, I sought to weave these components of my life so that I may lend voice to the universal quest for authenticity, by way of the spiritually- oriented, thematic lessons I offer in Behind Jagged Edges of Silhouette Trees.

MR: Do you remember a particular event growing up when you first learned to appreciate the value of language?

SR: My mother was a Cuban immigrant. One of my most vivid childhood memories is of her reading the New York Daily Newspaper with a knitted brow, and circling words she did not understand. She would say the words aloud, look them up in the Webster’s Dictionary, and try to memorize the meaning. Her unwavering determination to learn the English language impressed upon me the importance of language and the power it yields.

MR: Tell us more about your writing routine?

SR: I am most creative at daybreak. Not sunrise, but daybreak. There is something magical…spiritual…about the dawning of a new day. I am inspired by the promise and potential of new beginnings; they fuel my imagination, wonder, and creative process.

MR: What is your favorite genre to read?

SR: I appreciate memoir and respect authors who boldly share their life’s journey. Still, I most enjoy the boundless imagination and creativity of fictional work. The ability to craft an imaginary world into which a reader is transported, losing sense of time, requires a skillset that commands my attention and applause.

MR: What are you currently reading?

SR: I tend to re-read the literary masterpieces that have been most influential to my love for fiction. John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, and the novel that was seminal to my love for literature, Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel Cervantes (which I am currently re-reading), are among my favorite works and are always within my reach.

MR: Any fun travels on the horizon for you?  What’s next for you writing-wise?

SR: Next summer, I will return to Asia to spend time in India. It is where Behind Jagged Edges of Silhouette Trees ends, and will be the initial setting for its sequel.

For more information, please visit https://stacyelenarogers.com/

Author Interview Series-Bjorn Leesson

Bjorn Leesson

Bjorn was born in the Lowcountry of South Carolina a long, long time ago. He has worked in manufacturing all his working life to feed himself but has nourished his mind with the study of many topics; history of all eras, the paranormal, astronomy, writing of different types, photography, archeology, genealogy, vexillology, some other -ologies, even stock car racing for a couple of years, and on and on. Bjorn finds just about everything fascinating in some way and has been accused of being too easily entertained. A blend of a few of his interests led to the creation of the Thalsparr Universe. The first installment of the series will be “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir,” with a release date to be determined. He currently lives in the Midlands of South Carolina with his wife of 25 years on their hobby farm.

Marina Raydun: You're very upfront about writing being a passion, not a career. Why do you feel it's important to make this fact public?

Bjorn Leesson: Often times, I think writers begin to let the financial aspect of writing subdue or overtake their creative spark.  A great story on paper will often be subjected to changes based on the probability of generating profit.  It makes me wonder how many "mainstream" stories, either as film or print, would have been so much better if the creator simply went with the story as it developed in their mind without a drive to form it around what they think will sell.  Don't get me wrong about this, however - I have every hope and dream that my writing will generate an income to live on, but that isn't my motivation.  I just love the series I am writing, and I feel sure that even when the Outside the Thalsparr series ends, I will continue writing other stories.

MR: Your books are set in Scandinavia. What's your background?

BL: The series does indeed begin in Scandinavia, but as the story progresses, it branches out into other places and times as well.  As for me, I am your average working class South Carolinian, but I have dozens of interests, many of which culminated into the Outside the Thalsparr series.  Genetically, I am mostly Norwegian and British with some other western European thrown in.

MR: I love that the series revolves around a strong female character. What was she inspired by?

BL: Myrgjol was born from several of my fields of study, with the focus on the history of the Norse Era.  There was always some folklore evidence that the Norse did indeed have female warriors and that females had much more freedom and opportunities than in other parts of the world at the time.  It wasn't until recent years that archaeological evidence was discovered proving "Viking female warriors."  I found that fascinating.  It always makes me smile when science finally proves something that folklore always suggested to be true.  But more so for me, I have always really liked strong female characters in stories.  I guess in our minds before maybe this century, the idea of a warrior with phenomenal skill has always been reserved for males, and especially so for "Vikings".  Myrgjol smashes all those traditional expectations:  she is not your stereotypical "blonde haired blue eyed" Viking, she is exceptional at battle, she proves herself to be a great leader of men and women, and let's face it, she saves the living world in the end.

MR: How many installments do you anticipate in the series?

BL: With certainty, there will be seven.  But, I have story outlines for possibly more after that.  Time will tell.

MR: Walk us through your writing process: do you outline everything or do you let your characters do the talking?

BL: It is kind of a mix of both for me.  In the beginning, I wrote story plans for each book and was able to mostly stick to it through completion.  I still do write story outlines now (as I write Book 6), but I find myself letting the characters and the story take over.  My adherence to the plan is much looser now, but honestly, the Thalsparr has taken on a life of its own and I am very happy with that.

MR: What are the best and the worst reviews you've ever received?

BL: I haven't had many reviews yet, so I am still waiting for my "best review" (as well as my "worst review").  Of the feedback I have gotten so far, the story is very well received.  The readers so far seem to really love the characters, which makes me very happy as I spent the greatest amount of time writing believable, relatable, layered, and uniquely different characters.  It validates my work to know that readers recognize the richness and depth of the characters in the Thalsparr Universe.

MR: What genres do you like to read?

BL: As odd as it may sound for a writer aspiring to success in the "Fiction Fantasy" genre himself, I love researching and learning more through nonfiction sources, and that is where most of my own reading time is spent.  I do not get a lot of time for pleasure reading and hopefully one day I will be able to do some more of it.

MR: Do you have any favorite authors?

BL: I do love Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit", and Geroge R R Martin's "Game of Thrones", of course.  I also enjoy Clive Cussler ("Sahara" specifically) and a few others that are lesser known.

MR: When not writing, what are your preferred pastimes, and how do you think they influence your writing?

BL: The vast majority of my life is my real world job, writing, and hobby farming - at this time.  Who knows what I will be doing in five years.  Especially in Books 1 and 5, farming is mentioned often, so I would have to believe my own amateur farming played a role in that.

MR: What do you think about when you're alone, driving in your car?

BL: I wouldn't even try to list them here.  Hundreds of different topics.  I "talk through things" with myself on drives - all manner of things.

To request an interview with Bjorn Leesson, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.

Author Interview Series-Rox Burkey & Charles Breakfield

Rox Burkey & Charles Breakfield

Breakfield & Burkey, professional technology experts, have series and standalone stories available, with more planned. Find sample chapters, author interviews, scheduled events, reviews, Q&A, and book trailers at https://www.EnigmaSeries.com. Using their knowledge of technology, they weave compelling, relevant contemporary stories filled with TechnoThriller suspense, romance, humor, travel, and intrigue. They also ventured into writing cozy mysteries with the Underground Authors in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles.

Marina Raydun: What is it like writing together? What’s your process like? Do you write live together or do you alternate chapters etc?

Rox Burkey & Charles Breakfield: Our unique storytelling journey begins with an idea sparked by our work or in the news that we discuss taking to a story concept, blending plotter and panster attributes. We meet to plan who does what, to whom, where, and when; the rest is just nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. We map out a storyline as a synopsis, propose the initial 15-20 chapters in a spreadsheet, and then begin writing. The manuscript is batted back and forth electronically between us—our form of literary ping-pong. This dynamic process helps us smooth out the story, polish characters, and deliver a finished story that reads as though there is only one voice. We do research during the entire process, ensuring we can successfully argue our premise of the story. We meet in person or via Zoom weekly until we feel comfortable submitting it to an editor for review. Then, we complete modifications.

MR: How did the concept for the Enigma series emerge?

RBCB: The Enigma series emerged from our early days as technical manual writers. We grew tired of it, and one day, Burkey came up with a brilliant idea. She asked why we don’t turn to fiction but keep the technical facts to ground the stories in the real world. This unique approach allows us to scan the technical horizon, looking for the next element to explore or learn how it can make people vulnerable to power or greed. It isn’t challenging to find new material for cyber thugs to use to their advantage. The cyberheroes must try to stop them. The locations and situations the characters find themselves in are realistic, which makes the stories relatable to contemporary readers and listeners in today’s connected digital world.

MR: 3. How many Enigma installments do you anticipate? Are they all outlined?

RBCB: We have an exciting future planned for the Enigma Series. We have 12 novels in the Enigma Series and 2 in the next generation of the Technothriller trilogy of the Enigma Heirs. We also write mysteries as part of the Underground Authors in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. These cozy mysteries allow us to learn to write in this genre. We offer novellas and short stories that capture the back story of many of the series’ characters. Stay tuned for more thrilling installments!

MR: You both work in technology. How did the shift to fiction writing come about?

RBCB: We began as technical manual writers but quickly grew tired of it due to the constant change of technology. The publisher asked for an updated version as soon as the non-fiction was delivered. Ugh! One day, Burkey asked why we don’t write fiction but keep the technical facts to ground the stories in the real world. She gave Breakfield the first few chapters of our book, The Enigma Factor. She called a few days later to convince Breakfield to form a writing partnership by pointing out that we could kill people in the stories and NOT go to jail.

MR: What does literary success mean to you?

RBCB: Literary success is meeting people face-to-face and talking about our stories and the series we have produced. We love book clubs, to which we offer bulk discounts if they request them via email, and we enjoy coming to speak with them about the story. It goes without saying that it is also about having gobs of reviews from enthusiastic readers who hound us for the next book or film producers begging for the right to put a story on the big screen. Hey, Netflix, Amazon, etcetera, we’re right here.

MR: What is the best review you’ve ever received?

RBCB: The best review that comes to mind was one that said, “I didn’t want to feel sorry for Mathias but I couldn’t help myself…”

MR: What is the worst?

RBCB: We’ve had a review that personally attacked us, not the story, which still bothers Burkey, so we won’t say the specifics. It was extremely hurtful because the reviewer could remain anonymous. We write what we know and have researched; thus, the technology aspects are real at the time of release. Being cruel to an author is very different from saying that the story is not genre or too scary. Anonymity can make even the meekest individual feel powerful. We appreciate honest reviews.

MR: When not writing, what are your favorite pastimes and how do you feel they affect your writing?

RBCB: Charles loves wine tastings, cooking, woodworking, and Harley riding. Some of these elements are found throughout the tales. He continues to try to teach Burkey humor. Rox enjoys family, learning, people-watching, travel, and cooking. Elements of our life experiences have been distilled and inserted into the stories.

MR: What genres do you like to read?

RBCB: Breakfield prefers WWII history and science fiction. Burkey enjoys many different genres as a book reviewer but is partial to spicy romance.

MR: What are you currently reading?

RBCB: For Breakfield, it is The Iron Coffin, a WWII U-boat memoir. Burkey is reading a couple of different mysteries, including the latest in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles by Cindy Davis, Courtin’ Disaster, and listening to The Challenger Sale.

For more, please reach out directly to Authors@EnigmaSeries.com.

Six Months in Books, circa 2024

I’m in a bit of a reading slump right now. Ideally, I like to listen to a book on Audible and read a physical book simultaneously, as well. I’m listening to The Vanishing Half (which is aaaamazing), but I can’t settle on a physical book. I’ll update once I’m out of this crisis.

Summer reading lists are a thing, I hear, though for me, nothing really changes depending on the month when it comes to how much I can read. Well, that’s not true. Sometimes I can’t read as much, but it’s not that there is a month I can suddenly read more. Still, I look forward to summer recommendations. Many authors aim to publish in the summer. I guess some people read by the pool? Anyway, this list of mine is not made up of new books but rather books I read in the past six months. Maybe you’ll find something on here that you’d like to give a shot. Let me know if you do!

1. WHAT HAPPENED TO ANNA K.

   • I really liked this one. It’s an immigrant take on Anna Karenina, set within the Bukharian Jewish community of Queens, NY. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea (and the narrator of the audio book did bug me with some accent choices), but it’s akin to an art movie—worth it.

2. THE CLOISTERS

   • I had high hopes for this one. Mysticism and all. At least, that’s what I expected. But all I found were a ton of cliches and literary tropes. So perhaps this was the problem: it was marketed as a different genre. Maybe you’ll like it better.

3. THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB

   • This isn’t something I usually read but it was heartwarming. An easy read with likable, relatable characters. I read it with a book club so it made it even better.

4. THE FURY

   • I liked it a lot. I did expect more, given that I loved the author’s previous novel—The Silent Patient, but it was engaging and I did not see see the grand reveal coming.

5. PANIC IN A SUITCASE

   • I am partial to immigrant lit so I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, while it had a ton of fun and relatable anecdotes, it was so exhaustingly verbose, it was upsetting.

6. TOMB SWEEPING

   • This was a collection of short stories. It took me a while to get through it but there were quite a few exquisite short stories in there. Highly recommend.

7. CLAP WHEN YOU LAND

   • I LOVED this book. Beautifully written, and beautifully narrated. Highly, highly recommend! It’s marketed as a YA novel but I’m most definitely an adult and enjoyed it thoroughly.

8. DIRTY LAUNDRY

   • Entertaining but there were a few lost opportunities to develop some potentially interesting themes in there. Easy read.

9. THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE

   • I am obsessed with the Thursday Night Murder Club series! Obsessed, I tell you! This latest installment did not disappoint! What a poignant look at these magnificent characters.

10. THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE

    • This was engaging but more than that—it was educational. I love immigrant history and this taught me a lot. Highly recommend.

Author Interview Series-Alina Adams

Alina Adams

Alina Adams is the NYT best-selling author of soap-opera tie-ins, figure skating mysteries, and romance novels. She was born in Odessa, USSR and immigrated to the US with her family in 1977. Her historical fiction, "The Nesting Dolls" is set in Odessa and in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, while "My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region" shines a light on a little known aspect of Jewish history. Her Regency romance, "The Fictitious Marquis" was named the first #OwnVoices Jewish Historical by The Romance Writers of America. Alina and her daughter review post-Soviet literature on their YouTube channel, "Explaining the USSR To My Kid - Through Books." Visit her at alinaadams.com.

Marina Raydun: Your love of soap operas runs deep. And, what’s more amazing is that you turned a childhood love into a career. What is it about soap operas that brings about such inspiration?

Alina Adams: You're in luck! To answer that question, I am giving you an exclusive sneak peek at my next historical fiction novel, currently entitled "Go On Pretending" and tentatively set for a May 1, 2025 release from History Through Fiction. In this excerpt, Rose is interviewing for a job with Irna Phillips, the woman who nearly singlehandedly invented the soap-opera genre:

“Why serials?” Irna asked her questions the same way she wrote her scripts, a stream of consciousness that she expected the listener to make sense of on their own time. “Why not Baby Snooks or Ozzie and Harriet or Life Of Riley? Why not films?” The obvious answer was that they weren’t hiring. Irna was. But Rose suspected she knew what answer the doyenne of daytime was looking for. Luckily, it was even true. “Films end. Situation comedies are once a week. If you make a bad decision in a film and don’t rectify it by the conclusion, that’s how it stays forever. If you make a mistake in a primetime comedy, you have to wait seven days to fix it. Serials offer chance after chance to get life right daily. You can keep trying, over and over.”

MR: You came to America as a seven-year-old. Do you remember when English became comfortable for you?

AA: I don't remember the exact moment when everything clicked into place, but I do know that we arrived in January of 1977, and I spoke no English at all, sitting in class - this was pre-ESL, it was learn English or else - and writing stories in Russian on the paper I'd been given, but, by the time my brother was born in June of 1977, I was standing in front of the class, announcing that he was so pink that he looked like a little pig. So I assume English kicked in at some point between those two dates. See, total immersion works!

MR: How do you find bilingualism affects your creativity?

AA: I always said that if I were to study linguistics, my interests lie not in what words a language has, but in what words a language doesn't have. What is left out is more interesting for me than what is left in. There are some words that exist in Russian that just don't exist in English. But, because I have them, I am able to know that there can be such a feeling and look for appropriate English words to describe them.

MR: Was learning how to figure skate a prerequisite for all the work you’ve done in that world?

AA: Absolutely not! I do not enjoy being cold or falling down. My brother - the one who looked like a little pig at birth - was the competitive ice dancer, a national and collegiate champion. In the tradition of all good, immigrant children, I was in charge of him, which meant driving him to the rink, sitting through his practices, taking him to competitions, etc... That's where I got enough skating knowledge to get a job as a researcher at ABC Sports in their figure skating department. I also worked for TNT, ESPN, Lifetime and NBC. I've covered the national championships, the world championships, and the Olympics. That experience is what led to the writing of my figure skating murder mystery series.

MR: What was the transition to writing romance novels like? And what inspired the said transition?

AA: Romance novels were where I started. You know how they say write what you know? Well, in the early 1990s, I wrote about what I knew. I wrote family sagas set in the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, nobody cared. An editor at Avon told me that she usually bought new writers in the genre of Regency romance. So I wrote a Regency romance. (I basically call myself a whore, I will write anything for money.) But, I am proud to say that I snuck some Jews into my first ever Regency romance, "The Fictitious Marquis." Much to my surprise, years later, I found out that it was the first Regency to incorporate Jewish characters written by a Jewish writer. Who knew?

MR: It wasn’t until later in your career that you wrote Nesting Dolls and My Mother’s Secret. What inspired you to explore topics more intimately related to your background?

AA: Unlike the 1990s, in 2018 I was advised that, "Russia is really hot right now." I can't imagine why! When told that Russia was really hot right now, I wrote a book... kind of set in Russia. Odessa, USSR wasn't Russia, but it fit the bill. And then the characters in "The Nesting Dolls" get deported to Siberia. So there you have it - Russia! "My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region" is actually set in Russia. About as far East in Russia as you can go, right on the border with China. There, twenty years before the establishment of the State of Israel, that great friend of the Jews, Josef Stalin, granted them a homeland. Find out how that went in the book!

MR: What is your writing routine like? Do you outline everything ahead of time or do your characters take the lead?

AA: I am definitely a plotter. But with a quirk. The first three chapters, I free write, letting the characters tell me who they are, what they want, and what their story will be. I then outline the rest of the book, chapter by chapter, scene by scene. This completely eliminates writers block. If you know what the next thing to happen is, just write it down as if you're watching a movie. You can go back and fix it later. My favorite quote, which has been attributed to so many writers that I don't know who said it originally is, "It's easier to fix a bad page than a blank page."

MR: Does your family read your work? What has that been like?

AA: Every one of my books that my husband has read he assumes is about him - even the ones I wrote before I met him. Sure, why not? Let's call it manifesting, as the young people say. My teen daughter read my figure skating mysteries and liked those well enough. She thinks my historical fiction is "too sad." I am trying to get her to read my romances, but she says that would be icky. My parents read my books. They like to point out the mistakes in the Soviet set ones. So everybody enjoys them! (I also have two sons. They... presumably have better things to do.)

MR: What is your favorite genre to read?

AA: Domestic thrillers. I love twisted family dynamics and am a sucker for long-buried secrets. I also read a lot of non-fiction. Mary Roach is an author whose books I always pick up, even if I'm not interested in the subject, because she is that great of a writer. Otherwise, I read a lot about happiness research, education policy, and movie and television analysis. My husband teases that I "turned TV watching into reading!"

MR: What’s next? 

AA: A couple of projects are in the pipeline. It looks like I will be expanding a soap-opera book I wrote about daytime's greatest moments with more up to date scenes and as a paperback, this time. I just finished the editor's notes on "Go On Pretending" and am waiting for his feedback, and my agent is shopping around "Admit None: An NYC Schools Mystery." In my non-TV, non-novelist life, I write about education in NYC and in the United States. I have many, many stories that I can't share in non-fiction... but I can in fiction. So stay tuned!

Author Interview Series--Roger Leslie

Roger Leslie

Dr. Roger Leslie is a scholar in the fields of success and education. Through major literary houses, medium and small presses, and his own publishing house, Leslie has published fiction and nonfiction books in multiple genres: historical fiction, inspirational self-help, spirituality, writing and publishing, movie reference, teaching and librarianship, biography, history, and memoir.

Leslie has won numerous national awards including ForeWord Book of the Year, The Ben Franklin Award, and Writer’s Digest’s #1 Inspirational Book of the Year. At its inaugural event, Leslie received the Houston Literary Award for his body of work.

Leslie is in demand as a teacher, coach, and keynote speaker. He leads FLY (First Last Year) courses based on his blockbuster memoir, My First Last Year. He draws from decades as an author, editor, and publisher to coach writers in groups and individually. He is also a sought-after speaker for his lively, entertaining keynotes relating award-winning movies to any topic or group.

In every book and presentation, Leslie entertains, inspires, and empowers people to live the life they dream and soar toward their own ideal of success.

Marina Raydun: You have quite a resume and write across multiple genres. Do you enjoy any one vocation more than another? And do you have a preferred genre?

Roger Leslie: Every professional activity I’ve ever done revolves around books. I love all the work—writing, publishing other authors, coaching new and seasoned writers, editing fiction and nonfiction. Each role helps me become a better writer because one informs and strengthens the others. But by far, my number one passion has always been writing my own books. Striving to write the best books I can is always the most gratifying, challenging, exciting, and demanding activity I am lucky enough to spend every workday pursuing. When I first felt inspired to become an author at age 13, I expected to become exclusively a novelist. Years later, when I started writing nonfiction, I was delighted to discover how much creativity excellent nonfiction requires, too. I enjoy every genre in which I’m inspired to write. For example, I felt the spark of inspiration about two years ago to write a Christmas novel. Until then, I never even thought about writing one. But I dove in and just started. This June, No Stranger Christmas will be released. I used to love writing movie reference books. McFarland published my most recent one, Oscar’s Favorite Actors, in 2017. I hadn’t worked on any new ones since. Then this week, an idea struck, and I’ve been writing it furiously every day. Ideas are even waking me up in the middle of the night. I’m having a blast! Part of the fun is tackling different genres. If I haven’t written it before, I’m drawn to the challenge of that new experience.

MR: First Last Year is a fascinating premise. What inspired it?

RL: One night I had a dream where I was given specific instructions to live a year as if I would never experience those calendar dates again. Even as I was dreaming, I remember feeling anxious. I didn’t know if that meant I was going to die in a year! But during the dream, the instructions continued. I was told to write about my experiences as I lived that year and publish my observations and insights as a book. Finally, I was guided to then teach others how to live, really live, as I would learn to do that year. I jumped out of bed and began my First Last Year immediately. After the book was published in 2015, I began teaching the FLY (First Last Year) classes.

MR: Light Come Out of the Closet: Memoir of a Gay Soul is a book many can benefit from reading. What was the writing process like for this one, given how personal the subject matter is?

RL: In my writing book, From Inspiration to Publication, I offer a unique perspective. Instead of writing what you know, as most authors recommend, I suggest writing what you want to know. For most of my adult life, I didn’t think much about my tween and teen years because they were so painful. I left the religion of my youth because it condemned me for who I was. In recent years, I began to appreciate that my parochial education actually provided some of the moral foundation that helped form my character. So, in Light Come Out of the Closet, I decided to revisit those formative years and explore my journey from hiding from the judgment and cruelty of some of my family, my religion, and society to deciding for myself who I am and what I’m worth. As you can imagine, though painful, the experience was exalting.

MR: I imagine you travel a fair deal as a speaker. Have you ever gone on any literary pilgrimages?

RL: Throughout my years as a high school teacher and librarian, I was always writing, publishing, and speaking, and doing part-time what I dreamed would one day be my full-time career. Months before I retired, I had been booked to speak at a national principals’ conference. The month I retired from public education, I flew to Nashville and checked into the Opryland Hotel where the conference was being held. I was scheduled to speak the following afternoon. My first morning in Nashville, I got myself a cup of coffee, opened my laptop on the balcony of my hotel room overlooking a lush interior courtyard of the massive hotel, and spent the morning writing. A favorite memory of my life is sitting there writing, knowing I’d be speaking later, and thinking, Wow! This is it. I’m living the life I dreamed.

MR: Do you have a daily writing practice?

RL: I call my daily practice, “Getting into the P.E.W.” Every weekday, I pray (P), exercise (E), and write (W). I must do all three every day in order to rest my head on the pillow each night and think, I’ve had a great day. I may do the activities at different times, in a different order, and for different amounts of time, but I must do each. Generally, I start with prayer as a way to clear my conscious mind and free my subconscious to write. Then I go directly from my meditation to my writing. When I start to feel mentally taxed, I usually stop writing to work out. After a shower and lunch, I then go back to work, either to write more or to conduct related business.

MR: What is your favorite genre to read?

RL: I love personal stories that uncover the essence of the central characters layer by layer. Those types of plots most often occur in general and historical fiction. But, just as I love to write in so many different genres, I love to read them, too. I find autobiographies and memoirs especially fascinating because they offer two layers of revelation: the story of their lives, and the author’s perceptions of that story. For fun I read mysteries, and to feed my soul, I’m always reading self-help and inspirational books.

MR: What is your preferred medium when it comes to reading--a physical book or a digital one?

RL: I love both. As an author who writes at the computer and an editor who reads and responds to manuscripts on my computer, I spend most of my worktime reading digital manuscripts. It helps my brain and my eyes to get away from the computer or eReader afterhours. So, for pleasure, I usually read physical books.

MR: What does literary success mean to you?

RL: The joy is in the journey. I am eternally grateful for the awards I’ve received over the years. From most organizations, as your followers probably know, the publisher must apply for award consideration. But I’ve also received some prestigious awards unexpectedly. A few years ago, a major public library chose me as one of their inaugural honorees for a career achievement award. We were feted at a formal dinner that felt like the Academy Awards to me. While that kind of acknowledgment is extremely gratifying, to me the most meaningful success is sitting at my writing desk, day in and day out, getting to do what I love.

MR: What is the best and worst review you’ve ever received?

RL: As a rule, I don’t focus much on reviews. My theory is, “If I believe the good ones, it’s only right that I should believe the bad ones, too.” Also, once I’ve completed a book and it’s published, feedback about it doesn’t help me make it any better. So, I don’t think much about reviews of books already out because I’m already immersed in writing otherbooks. My publicist does send me the reviews that my books get from the major review journals or on Amazon or GoodReads. I will look them over to pull out quotations to use for testimonials. But I try not to take personally any comment, glowing or disparaging.

MR: What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?

RL: My car is one of the few places I listen to music anymore. So, I’ll connect my phone to the car radio and start one of my playlists. As I listen, I think about the lyrics. Sometimes I just listen to be inspired. For example, recently I’ve been listening to the Broadway cast album of Sunday in the Park with George. “Sunday” and “Move On” touch my artist’s soul. Beyond marveling at Stephen Sondheim’s brilliance with words, my mind generates new ideas I can incorporate into whatever books I’m writing. Bottom line—no surprise—even when I’m not at my desk, my mind is working through a plot or developing a character or remembering a small moment I will use during my next writing session.

For more, visit RogerLeslie.com

Author Interview Series--Diann Boehm

Diann Boehm

Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author. She writes children’s books and young adult books. In addition, Diann writes books to inspire kids to be kind, like themselves, and to “Embrace Imagination”. You can find all her books on Amazon.

Diann’s Story Garden YouTube Channel gives children the opportunity to hear different children authors read their stories. She is the co-host with Dr. Jacalyn on USA Global TV.

Diann continues to be involved in various humanitarian projects with multiple organizations. Diann was born to parents of George and Mabel Floyd in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but grew up in Texas with five brothers.

She has traveled extensively to many parts of the world and has lived in the Philippines and Dubai.

Marina Raydun: What inspired Rise! A Girl’s Struggle for More and Ruby Takes Chicago? What age is this series geared for? 

Diann Boehm: The Ruby Series is a young adult historical fiction recommended for 13-18. 

MR: Will there be a continuation to Ruby’s adventures?

DB: No, there will not be a continuation. The two books achieved the goals that I had set to inspire young girls to go after their dreams and make them a reality.

MR: You also write children’s books. How is your creative process different when writing YA versus children’s books?

DB: Excellent question. There are some similarities in my writing process. The commonalities involve determining the story’s aim, pondering over it, and beginning the writing. Where they differ is in the children’s books the story line comes to me pretty fast—I write the story and then I go back and do the editing, make sure of the reading level and then send it to the publisher. With my young adult historical fiction, I have much research to do  - time-period, setting, language of the time, clothing, cars, music, etc. I would play music from that time-period to help set the mood. I went to an antique store and looked at the furniture… clothes etc. to get a true feel for the woodwork, clothes, hats, gloves, etc. I want to be sure the reader steps back in time.

MR: Talk to us a little about your YouTube channel--Story Garden.

DB: Well, to be honest, I took some time off from the Story Garden. My mom became ill, then she passed, then we moved, and I am just now getting my energy back to interview authors once more. There are a few purposes for the Story Garden: a. When parents turn on the Story Garden for their children for reading time, they know it is a safe place. b. It gives children the opportunity to hear from the authors and hear about the book and if the author chooses, they can read their story to the viewers. c. I want to give children authors an opportunity to get the word out about their book. Marketing is the hardest thing to do and there are a million children’s books out there. So if I can help another author, then I cherish the opportunity. 

MR: Do you see yourself writing fiction for adults?

DB: Sometimes I think about it, but I cannot see anything soon. 

MR: Is there a subject you would never write about?

DB: I can’t see myself writing romance novels or murder mysteries. I admire all the authors out there who excel in that genre. My hat is also off to all historical fiction writers. Now that I have written two, I have discovered the years of work it takes to write a historically accurate book. Well done to all those authors too.

MR: How do you feel living abroad affected your writing process?

DB: I feel blessed to have traveled to many places, lived and worked overseas, and engaged in humanitarian work. For me, every experience has broadened my understanding of how we all share similarities. For example, we want peace, happiness and food on the table for our little ones. When I write my children’s books, the purpose is to work with all the children around the world, to love yourself just the way you are, to be kind to others, peace, curiosity, and to embrace imagination. 

MR: What is your favorite genre to read?

DB: I enjoy biographies. I love reading how others have made a difference no matter how great or small has made a positive difference in this world. Here are a few names you hear little about in today’s world, yet they gave a positive ripple effect for even us today. Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, George Washington Carver, and Philip Syng Physick, MD the Father of American Surgery. 

MR: Have you ever had writer’s block?

DB: Of course, especially in the historical fiction. Sometimes I can write for a few hours and for days and then suddenly a wall goes up. I have to walk away and not think about it. Then it seems I am renewed and ideas pop back in my head and I am off and running once more.

MR: What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?

DB: Depending on the day, it could be many things but mostly, I like to turn the music on and sing in the car. I am the person you pull up to at a stoplight, and I am jamming to the music. Hopefully, it will bring a smile to the person’s face and maybe they will sing too.

Keep in touch with Diann by joining her newsletter: www.Diannfloydboehm.com

Author Interview Series-Candace MacFie

Candace MacFie

Candace MacFie, in her own words:

Born in Montreal, Quebec, I spent years backpacking and working around the world. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree, an MBA, and worked for twenty years on four different continents and now call Calgary, Alberta home.

I got married, had kids, and things got busy. Time was moving by quickly and my kids were growing up fast. I shifted gears and quit my job to spend time at home. During the COVID lockdown, I had time on my hands, decided to try writing, and started writing the Back in a Year series.

When I’m not at my computer yelling “Just a few more pages, then I’ll make dinner,” I love hiking in the Rocky Mountains, hot yoga, reading romance novels, and making up new cake recipes. I especially like to laugh and spend time with my husband, the self-proclaimed grumpy motherf*%ker, and my three awesome kids.

Marina Raydun: Oh my God, talk to me! Back in a Year is inspired by real life experiences? How heavily fictionalized is it?

Candace MacPhie: This is 100% the real deal. I’ve changed the names of people and places I stayed and had to fill in the blanks on some conversations, but everything happened. I have detailed journals that I painstakingly wrote in every day of the trip that were my source of truth. The worst part has been to write the books using my twenty-six-year-old brain and not my fifty- year-old one. I wanted to punch past me for being an idiot. It hurt to leave in all the cringy and ridiculous things I did, but that makes for the best reading.

MR: You only started writing in quarantine. Have you dabbled before the pandemic?

CM: I’ve stopped and started this book series since 2007. I transcribed all my journals first. But then I got stumped because I didn’t know how to morph things that happened along the way into a story. Once the quarantine hit, I was able to dedicate the time to developing my competency in writing. It didn’t come easy; it was humbling, and I have a thousand versions of each book.

MR: The series promises to be five-parts. Can you share what countries will be featured?

CM: On this adventure I traveled over 100,000km, by plane, train, boat, bus, car, and overland truck. Book One: Finding Color travels through Canada, Greece, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Russia. Book Two: Life Strikes Back travels through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary. Book Three: Hello, I am Here travels through Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt. Book Four: Beautifully Warped travels through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Book Five: Landing Place Travels through South Africa, Namibia, Australia, Canada, USA, and England.

MR: Backpacking through Europe in the 90s! No mobile phones, no internet--I imagine music must’ve been very important in your travels. Did you have fun playlists going while writing?

CM: Music was my link to home when I couldn’t call or track down the rare email café. I would fire up my Walkman and rotate my four mixtapes. It was clutch when you met other travelers to share music with. Loads of songs from the ‘90s appear in the books and I have a playlist on Spotify (link on my website) that I listen to often. I don’t mind background noise, like in a café or even people being busy in my house, but I find music too distracting while I write. Because I like to sing along to the words in the song rather than focusing on the words on the page.

MR: Is each installment in the series a book that can stand on its own or do readers have to read book one in order for book two to make sense?

CM: Each book has a distinct story and I’ve written them to be read on their own. Some characters cross over books, and I re-introduce them when they show up, so you don’t miss out. But if you like all the details, I recommend taking the full trip.

MR: How would you cast your characters should there ever be a screen adaptation of Back in a Year?

CM: There are loads of characters in these books. And my husband’s adamant he needs to be cast in a main role, but I had to break it to him—he’s too old. Much to his chagrin, he’s not on my list. These are the four main characters in book one – Finding Color: Candace – West Duchovny Khadejah – Priya Blackburn Josh – Theo James (sadly like my husband he’s too old for the role but it’s Theo’s edge it needs) Clive – Ed Speleers

MR: Walk us through your writing routine?

CM: I write five to ten pages. Next, edit those pages as I re-read them on the screen. Then I edit those same pages again as I listen. (Read-aloud in Word is my best friend. I never knew it existed until my cat activated it when he walked across my keyboard. Thanks, Romeo!). I move on to the next set of pages using the same approach until the book’s finished. Lastly, I review storylines. Search for words to reduce or differentiate. Final edits by listening and hard copy to the whole book.

MR: What does literary success mean to you?

CM: I get the content of the book isn’t going to be for everyone. But whether folks like the story or not, literary success for me is that the series is recognized as well thought out and well written.

MR: I know you like to read romance novels? Who’s your favorite romance author?

CM: Oh, man. That’s like asking me if I have a favorite child. Which I don’t, by the way! I’ll have to say, Mariana Zapata. You get all the feels when you read her books.

MR: What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?

CM: I’m so busy most days that when I get in the car, it’s my time to organize my brain. I run through my list of things I need to do then noodle out the best and quickest way to get it all done. Once a nerd always a nerd, I guess! And when my brain’s organized, I turn up the music and sing along.

For more on Candace, follow here:

Instagram @candacemacphie

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www.candacemacphie.com

Author Interview Series--K.T. Anglehart

K.T. Anglehart

Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is an award-winning author from Montreal, with a multilingual prowess in English, French, Italian, and “Spanglish”. A dedicated academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Inspired by the wizarding world, the land of Narnia, and parallel planes, she penned The Wise One, inviting readers to connect with nature and its ever- present magic. Her exploration of the landscapes and folklore of Ireland and Scotland greatly influenced her debut YA urban fantasy, marking the inception of The Scottish Scrolls series. K.T. Anglehart is a passionate advocate for bunnies, thanks to her late Netherland Dwarf, Magic—the inspiration behind her imprint, The Magic Dwarf Press. When she’s not writing or diving into magical reads, she revels in hiking, antiquing, and Netflix binges alongside her high school- sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy. They currently live in Toronto with their three pets: Nessie, a mysterious rescue dog from Puerto Rico, and their whimsical bunnies, Onyx and Stirling.

Marina Raydun: You are multilingual, speaking English, French, Italian, and Spanish! That’s super impressive! How do you feel this affects your creative process?

K.T. Anglehart: Growing up in Montreal, it’s considered “normal” to be bilingual in both English and French, and I consider myself fortunate to have been born into an Italian family. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have maintained and practiced it with my grandparents, some aunts and uncles, and even my little cousins as they grew up. Although I learned Spanish in high school and thoroughly enjoyed it, my proficiency currently leans more towards “Spanglish”! I definitely believe that exposure to diverse languages and cultures has broadened my perspective on life. As a writer, observation is a key aspect, and through these experiences, I feel better equipped to convey the intricacies of the human experience in my writing, if that makes any sense!

MR: What made you pivot from journalism to creative writing?

KTA: I pursued journalism because I knew I wanted to make a living as a writer, not specifically to report the news—it seemed like the more “practical” career path. Despite the program’s merits, I soon realized it wasn’t my calling. Deep down I’ve always had the ambition to write books and, hopefully, for television someday. My true passion lies in crafting characters, captivating and motivating audiences through storytelling.

MR: Your writing sits comfortably in the fantasy genre. How about your reading preferences?

KTA: I read across genres! As an eleven-year-old, I was (of course) drawn to Harry Potter and enchanted by stories blending realism with magical urban settings, like in A Discovery of Witches—and anything witchy, really—while also being a fan of high fantasy. Funnily enough, my absolute favourite book is the American classic Catcher in the Rye. I understand it’s a controversial choice, but as a teenager, it evoked emotions in me that no other book has matched so far, and I have a hard time explaining why. These days, you’ll find me immersed in books on Scottish folklore, history, and witchcraft as I work on writing Book 3 of The Scottish Scrolls!

MR: What first inspired you to write The Wise One, book one of The Scottish Scrolls?

KTA: A blend of my lifelong passions! Magic, witchcraft, folklore, mythology, and breathtaking scenery. The Wise One began as a TV script during my Master’s in Creative Writing, but when my screenwriting course ended, I couldn’t bear to part with the story. I transformed it into a book and designated it as my thesis project. As for what inspired the story and setting, my Irish high school English teacher used to regale us with tales of Ireland, and I believe that, coupled with the UK setting in the Harry Potter films, drew me to these enchanting places. The Wise One is rooted in environmental themes, and with my belief that magic and nature are intertwined, the book naturally delves into themes of environmental stewardship, which aligns with the prophecy my main character (Mckenna) is tied to.

MR: You take much of your inspiration from Irish and Scottish folklore. Have you visited?

KTA: Oh, yes! My husband, Andy, and I were planning our Ireland and Scotland honeymoon just as I was outlining The Wise One. Being there, learning about the history, soaking in the culture, and being surrounded by such stunning landscapes is what inspired so much of the storyline. I’ve now been to Scotland three times. (I’m actually here right now, working on book three!)

MR: What is your writing routine like?

KTA: I take it easy in the morning with a coffee and whatever show I’m binging, and then late morning is when I dive in. I last about three to four hours. Once mid-afternoon hits, I slow down quite a bit. That’s when I pay the most attention to the pup and the bunnies! Luckily, my dog, Nessie is a sleepy head…

MR: What is the one topic you will never write about?

KTA: Real world wars.

MR: What is your favorite book-to-screen adaptation?

KTA: If we’re talking films, The Lord of the Rings—all of them. As for TV adaptations, I think A Discovery of Witches is super well done. 1

MR: What do you think about driving alone in your car?

KTA: I live in Toronto, so mostly, I’m thinking, “How did this person manage to get a license?”

To learn more about K.T. Anglehart, please visit https://www.ktanglehart.com/

2023 in Books

2023…How can something feel like it both drags and flies, simultaneously? It’s frightening. Sometimes I find myself almost hyperventilating over how fast it all goes.

It’s been an eventful year, including the the release of my Year One. I am proud of this one and have been getting wonderful feedback. I am so grateful to each reader who finds ways to relate to my tween journey.

In addition to working on my own writing, I managed to read quite a bit this year—a total of 25 books. Here’s a list with tiny blurb reviews. If you read any of these, please let me know so we can compare notes.

1. The Cabin at the End of the World

   I didn’t read this in time for Halloween the previous year but it is quite a thriller of the philosophical kind. I know they adapted this one into a movie but I haven’t seen it. Highly recommend if you enjoy the “is this the end of the world” type of reading?

2. Still Here

   This book by Lana Vapnyar took me a while but I really enjoyed it. Highly recommend it to any immigrant as it deals with much of the “who am I and where do I belong” internal dialogue we all have.

3. Mad Honey

   I learned a literal ton from this book. I never read anything by the author and I’m glad this was my introduction to her. If you’re a boy-mom, I think you especially should read this one.

4. The Family Game

   Meh. Entertaining but a little tired by way of genre. Too many tropes (i.e. rich people are weird and just plain bad). It’s been done.

5. The Wilderwomen

   I’m not much of magical realism fan so I feel like I just didn’t get this one. A few interesting and enjoyable themes about motherhood and sisterhood though.

6. Violeta

   First book by Isabel Allende for me! Can you believe it?! Very much a multigenerational saga, I did enjoy it.

7. Sleep Donation

   Oooh what a psychological thriller. If you suffer from insomnia, this may be a bit triggering but I was enthralled with this one. Lots of medical ethics themes too. Highly recommend.

8. The Boston Girl

   This book has been on my TBR list for a while and I’m so glad I finally read it. I so enjoyed the narration. If you have an interest in women’s lit and/or history of Jewish Women in America, I highly recommend it. Very enjoyable read.

9. The Silent Patient

   I haven’t been this thrown for a loop mid-book since Gone Girl. I did not see that twist coming (yes, there is a twist). If you like thrillers, put this one on your list.

10. The Backpack, a Bar, and Eight Crates of Vodka: A Memoir

    This one shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Ever since writing my own little memoir, I rediscovered my passion for immigration history. Currently, I am working on a historical fiction novel about Soviet Jewish immigration of the late 1980s and this book came up in my research. Seen through the eyes of a child (and then adult), this is a wonderful read.

11. The Thursday Murder Club

    This series is a revelation. If you want to feel good reading something, read The Thursday Murder Club. Just glorious! Multiple POVs only help drive this Christie-esque series. 10 stars!

12. The Man Who Died Twice (#2)

    Basically, see above!

13. Pineapple Street

    What a let down. Again with the tired “rich people are weird and just plain bad” tropes! I was excited to pick it up because it’s set in Brooklyn Heights but I did not enjoy it at all.

14. The Only One Left

    Riley Sager is back! After two blah books, this one hooks you. Very much a gothic thriller.

15. Community Board

    So enjoyable! Wonderful and honest social commentary.

16. Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim

    I don’t read much YA even though Year One can arguably be classified as YA itself. I picked this one up at a Little Free Library and absolutely loved it. Again, immigrants of any background are the best audience for this. Coming of age when you have to code switch to begin with is not easy.

17. The Bullet That Missed (#3)

    Book three in my new favorite book series. Read above to see how much I love it!

18. None of This is True

    Great mystery. I listened to this one and the production was so innovative. Highly recommend.

19. The Scent of Pine

    I love Lana Vapnyar’s books but this one did not click for me at all.

20. My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region

    I loved The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams so I was eager to read this one. It didn’t disappoint. And I learned so much about Berobidzhan too! Very thoroughly researched and the characters were highly relatable. Recommend.

21. The Trap

    I love CRH’s mysteries and this was no exception. A solid mystery with some food for thought.

22. The Woman in Me

    Of course I couldn’t resist this one. It felt important to listen to what Britney had to say after everything she’s been put through. Excellent narration by Michelle Williams on audible! She captured Britney’s voice without doing an impression. Also, wonderful job by the ghost writer who co-wrote it with Britney—very seamless. Britney is very funny so I do recommend it if you like a celebrity memoir.

23. The Orchard

    Alina Adams recommended this one on her YouTube series where she talks to her American-born daughter about Soviet Union through books, and I have to say I loved it. The characters are older than me by more than a decade but the time period and the setting are familiar so it was a truly engaging read.

24. Matzah Ball

    Very fluffy but adorable. Cute romance novel that also manages to educate about chronic illness. Fun for the holiday season.

25. When I’m Dead

    The first book I got via Book of the Month subscription box. A very well researched and graphic thriller. I know it’s part of a series but I didn’t have a problem reading it out of order.

What have you read this past year? And what are your reading plans for 2024?