Q Island, my novel about the impact of a virus that sweeps across Long Island, had two inspirations, both pretty far apart. The first thing that sent the muse into action was a news story about scientists discovering a complete baby wooly mammoth frozen in the Siberian tundra. They dug out the ice around it,…
When I was first asked about what inspired me to write this book, I thought about all of the amazing street musicians who I have encountered across the country; from bucket drummers to Chinese Harpists; operatic voices to rappers. I look no further than my street corner to find inspiration floating down the alleys. But,…
You can blame this one on Edgar Rice Burroughs. ERB popularized the sword-and-planet genre with his “A Princess of Mars” back in 1912, the first of the John Carter stories. Others writers joined the game. Leigh Brackett, with her Eric John Stark novels, took sword-and-planet stories beyond the confines of our solar system. Brackett added…
An earlier, unpublished novella of mine ended with Casey Eubanks running for his life after a violent argument with his girlfriend Orella left his cousin dead. Casey stole Orella’s car and took off into the night. I wanted to see what happened to Casey after that night, and that became the seed for Casey’s Last…
For my latest children’s picture book, Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters, we have to rewind forty-two years to when I was six-years old and ready to embark on my first day of kindergarten. Back then it was not commonplace to attend pre-kindergarten or daycare so this was my first classroom…
Message-driven fiction for children is so much fun to write. Weaving a message into an entertaining story can be a challenge, but if you start with the character and base your lesson around his or her actions and reactions, then the story comes together nicely. Take Robert from A Christmas Kindness: he’s a young boy…
The Moreva of Astoreth, a blend of science fiction, romance, and adventure, has its roots in a game a friend and I played in college. We collaborated on a story, taking turns. I don’t recall the details—it was more years ago than I care to remember—but it went something like this. A woman, the daughter…
His name was Georg. That is all I know. I can’t say I even met him, even though I stood next to him in close proximity. Despite my burning gaze upon him, I wasn’t even able to achieve eye contact through the spectacles that covered his somber brown eyes. His hair was dark and unruly…
The idea for The Tree of Life began in 1999 when the public school my daughters attended held a centennial celebration. The classrooms became decade rooms filled with memorabilia, photographs, letters, magazines and period clothing. Many years later I decided to take this centennial celebration as the starting point for a novel. What might happen…
I started writing VIENNA’S WILL over twenty years ago but never had the courage to tell my whole story. I believe facing the past and all the emotions it stirs up is a difficult task for all of us. I know for me, it took a life threatening illness well into my 40’s to finally…
The Story Behind the Book 