Book: The Ascension Genre: Mythic Urban Fantasy Author: J M Shaw Rating: 5/5 Reviewer: Stavyah Vatsarah
J M Shaw’s debut novel in the Callum Walker series, The Ascension, is a modern fantasy with an impressive scope of imagination and a focus on moral character. Callum Walker is the hero; he is a young man living quietly in Duncaster but with an extraordinary inheritance that makes him different from the ordinary world in which he abides. Shaw works to establish this duality: Callum is deliberately inconspicuous, but he has skills that make it increasingly difficult to remain anonymous. The imaginative tension of the novel is this contrast between his pedestrian life and the secret world that gradually opens before him.
A Well-Built Fantastical World
Shaw’s portrayal of Callum works particularly well since his powers don’t make him invulnerable. He is explicitly described as ‘not immune to fear,’ and he imperfectly masters his powers, so his encounters with the supernatural are a matter of nerve as well as of capability. His character is shaped not just by what he can do but by how he responds to challenges. Shaw embodies this principle in Callum’s statement: ‘It’s what we do despite it that defines us,’ a formulation that neatly captures the novel’s interest in courage as choice rather than temperament.
The speculative architecture is one of the novel’s most considerable strengths. Shaw creates a secret magical world called the Veil that exists alongside modern-day Duncaster, a world where the supernatural exists beyond ordinary human perception. The Veil is called ‘a world only accessible to those with magic,’ but Callum’s knowledge of mythology gives him the vocabulary to recognize beings that others dismiss as mere fantasy. The relationship between folklore and lived reality lends the novel a pleasing intertextual quality, for the mythical is not just invented but purposefully linked to traditions of storytelling and belief. Shaw also provides an internal discipline for magic, with words of power and specific types of knowledge; the use of magic can have physical consequences. The result is a fantasy system that is governed, not randomly deployed.
Shaw’s handling of the supernatural is especially lively, with monsters having unique physical and narrative existences. The novel places its fantastic creatures within a larger mythological vocabulary, allowing Callum’s study of mythology and folklore to become an important part of his understanding of the world around him. This is one of the novel’s more striking literary devices: mythology is knowledge, not decoration. Shaw thus creates a context in which old stories gain new imaginative vitality while retaining their connection with the modern world. It results in fantasy that is accessible but with a clear base in folklore.
The Ascension is very concerned with power and its uses under its supernatural premise. Shaw makes an important distinction between having power and using it responsibly, especially in Callum’s understanding of what it means to possess extraordinary abilities. This prevents the novel’s conflict from becoming a morally weightless spectacle. Shaw’s emphasis on conscience gives the fantasy an ethical dimension more compelling than any simple opposition between strength and weakness. In this novel, power becomes important in itself because its exercise requires judgment.
Trust and Human Connection
Callum’s emotional life adds another layer of substance to the novel. His isolation and fear drive his desire to stay out of the spotlight, not just a quirk, and Shaw allows this solitude to shape his relationships with others. His interactions with those around him gradually reveal how little company Callum allows himself. These details make his solitude more than a character trait; it becomes a central emotional condition. Thus, Shaw’s fantasy has an intimate countercurrent, asking what it means to live with extraordinary difference and to yearn for ordinary connection.
For this reason, The Ascension earns a 5/5 from me. Its strengths are cumulative: Shaw blends a vividly imagined supernatural world with grounded characterization and an evident concern for conscience. More significantly, the novel does not need its protagonist to stop being vulnerable to be compelling; Callum’s uncertainty serves to characterize him. ‘Everyone feels fear,’ he says, ‘but character is what you do when you feel that fear.’ This is a particularly effective distillation of the novel’s governing philosophy. Shaw’s achievement is to make fantasy serve character rather than oppose it; she produces a novel that is easy to read and morally aware, where the issue is not what power can do but what a person will do with it.
Maria Gallucci is an award-winning real estate broker, a best-selling author, and a champion of inclusive communication and accessible housing with over 30 years of experience. A CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) who learned ASL (American Sign Language) before English, she works with the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as with builders, investors, and families throughout the US. She founded Uptown Realty Group, Gallucci Homes, ASL @ Compass, and ASL Realty and is a top producer at Compass. Furthermore, she ranks in the top 1.5% of REALTORS® nationally. A board member for Rocky Mountain Deaf School, DOVE (Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment), and the Colorado Association of the Deaf, her motto, ‘Just Try,’ fuels her mission to ensure that her underrepresented clients are heard and respected. B Sudharsan, Founding Editor-in-Chief of Literary Harbinger, recently interviewed her via email. Below, you can read the full interview with Maria Gallucci, which is edited sparingly for flow.
SPECIAL TO LITERARY HARBINGER
‘Understood Why People Say Everyone Has a Story’
B Sudharsan: It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms Gallucci. To begin with, when did you start writing?
Maria Gallucci: I’ve always loved stories, but I never considered myself a writer. I was the person who loved reading mysteries and suspense novels and admired the people who could write them. It wasn’t until recently that I realized I had a story worth telling. Once I started writing Raised in Silence, I couldn’t stop. I finally understood why people say everyone has a story.
B Sudharsan: Your first published book draws on your own life and experiences. What inspired you to turn those experiences into a book, and what did you hope readers would take away from it?
Maria Gallucci: My first published book, Raised in Silence, is based on my life growing up as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), where American Sign Language was my first language. While it shares my experiences, it’s really about something much bigger than that. It’s about communication, inclusion, empathy, and belonging. People often think it’s only for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, but I always tell them it’s for everyone. Every one of us has felt misunderstood, left out, or like we didn’t belong at some point in life. Those are the moments that connect us. The book came to life because so many people kept telling me, ‘You have to write these stories down.’ Eventually, I listened.
‘The Book Almost Wrote Itself’
B Sudharsan: Once you decided to tell these stories, how did the writing process unfold for you?
Maria Gallucci: Since Raised in Silence is based on my life, I knew the stories I wanted to tell, but I didn’t always know how they would come together. As I wrote, memories I hadn’t thought about in years would suddenly come back. One story would lead to another, and before I knew it, the book almost wrote itself. Looking back, I think it unfolded exactly the way it was supposed to.
B Sudharsan: That feeling of discovery sounds pretty interesting, especially since you didn’t set out with a defined structure in mind. Are there certain writers whose work has helped to form the kind of writer you are?
Maria Gallucci: I’ve always enjoyed mystery and suspense authors because I love trying to solve the puzzle before the ending. But I’m also drawn to authors who make you feel something. The books I remember most aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest twists. They’re the ones that stay with me long after I’ve finished the last page. That’s the kind of book I hope I’ve written.
B Sudharsan: You’ve just touched on the importance of books that stay with a reader long after the final page. That sounds like an important emotional connection for you. Does that change the way you think about writing? When do you generally write?
Maria Gallucci: I wish I could tell you I had this perfectly organized writing routine, but that’s just not me. I write whenever inspiration hits. Sometimes that’s early in the morning with a cup of coffee, and sometimes it’s late at night when an idea won’t leave me alone. If a story comes to mind, I’ve learned to stop what I’m doing and write it down before it disappears.
B Sudharsan: Your life combines writing with a long and successful career in real estate and advocacy. Where are you currently based, how old are you, how have your experiences shaped you, and what stage of life are you in?
Maria Gallucci: I live in Colorado, where I’ve spent more than three decades building my real estate career while serving clients throughout the state. My education has come from a combination of formal training, professional experience, and life itself. Growing up as a CODA taught me lessons no classroom ever could. As for my age, let’s just say I’ve collected enough life experiences to have plenty of stories to tell.
‘Balance Is Always a Work in Progress’
B Sudharsan: Given everything you’ve achieved in your career, did you always imagine yourself becoming an author?
Maria Gallucci: Not at all. Becoming an author was never part of my plan. I simply wanted to tell a story that might help people see the world a little differently. If the book encourages someone to become more patient, more inclusive, or more willing to connect with people who communicate differently than they do, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
B Sudharsan: With real estate, advocacy, speaking, and writing all demanding your time, how do you make room for the things you enjoy outside your professional life?
Maria Gallucci: Balance is always a work in progress. I’m still a full-time REALTOR®, speaker, and advocate, so my days stay busy. Writing has to fit around everything else, but it’s become something I genuinely enjoy instead of another item on my to-do list. When I’m not working, I love spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, exploring Colorado, and, of course, hanging out with my pug, Ray. He definitely keeps life entertaining.
‘Don’t Let Numbers Decide Whether Your Story Matters’
B Sudharsan: Having discovered the joy of writing, do you have more stories you would like to tell, and could you see yourself becoming a full-time author?
Maria Gallucci: I definitely have more stories I’d like to tell. Right now I’m enjoying speaking, meeting readers, and having conversations inspired by Raised in Silence. I don’t see myself giving up real estate because I truly love what I do, but I absolutely see more books in my future. Writing has become another way for me to help people, and that’s something I want to continue.
B Sudharsan: What would you say to aspiring writers who become discouraged when their work does not receive the response they hoped for?
Maria Gallucci: Don’t let numbers decide whether your story matters. Sales, reviews, and rankings go up and down, but if your words help even one person, you’ve succeeded. Keep writing because you have something to say, not because you’re chasing a bestseller list. Success doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes your book finds its readers when they’re ready for it.
‘No Two Days Are Ever the Same’
B Sudharsan: Your work centers so strongly on empathy and inclusion. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Maria Gallucci: I’d love to see people become more willing to understand before they judge. We spend so much time focusing on what makes us different instead of what we have in common. A little more empathy and a little more curiosity could change so many lives.
B Sudharsan: You lead a remarkably varied professional and creative life. What does a usual day look like for you?
Maria Gallucci: No two days are ever the same, and that’s exactly how I like it. One day I might be showing homes; the next I’m recording a podcast, speaking at an event, writing, or meeting with clients. Somewhere in there you’ll usually find me answering emails, drinking coffee, spending time with Ray, and trying to squeeze in a little reading before the day is over.
‘ASL Is a Huge Part of Who I Am’
B Sudharsan: You grew up with American Sign Language as your first language. What role does ASL continue to play in your life today?
Maria Gallucci: American Sign Language was actually my first language, so it’s a huge part of who I am. I still use ASL every day, both personally and professionally. Being bilingual in ASL and English has allowed me to connect with people in ways I never realized would become such an important part of my life and career.
B Sudharsan: Finally, what is the one message you would most like readers to carry with them after reading Raised in Silence?
Maria Gallucci: I hope readers remember that every person they meet has a story they know nothing about. We all want to feel heard, understood, and like we belong. You don’t have to know sign language to make someone feel included. You don’t have to have all the right words. Sometimes all it takes is a smile, a little patience, and a willingness to try. That’s really the heart of my book and the way I try to live my life.
I’d love to see people become more willing to understand before they judge. We spend so much time focusing on what makes us different instead of what we have in common. A little more empathy and a little more curiosity could change so many lives.
~ MARIA GALLUCCI
ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book Raised in Silence and buy yourself a copy right offthe bat!
S A Schneider has a wolf, so naturally, he writes middle-grade fantasy. From his Lego and action-figure days, Schneider has been creating worlds and crafting stories within them, a pursuit that continues through his middle-grade fantasy works. But his interest in storytelling extends beyond traditional narratives. Schneider also explores how storytelling works in video games and encourages children to discover how they can create their own stories and fantastical worlds. He hopes to inspire others to join him in this imaginative pursuit. Recently, Schneider was interviewed by B Sudharsan, Founding Editor-in-Chief of Literary Harbinger. Excerpts:
SPECIAL & EXCLUSIVE
From Short Story to Book to Series
B Sudharsan: It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr Schneider. How long have you been writing, and what sparked your interest in it?
S A Schneider: It’s been about ten years, but I first got the thought to write about five years before that. I was a Girl Scout leader and wanted to write books that had female protagonists for my girls to read.
B Sudharsan: You mention you wanted to write books with female protagonists for the girls in your Girl Scout troop. How did that initial idea eventually lead to your published works, particularly the Town Magician and The Oddish Questors series?
S A Schneider: My fantasy series—Town Magician—started as a short story. Near me, at Kent State University, they had an annual Wizarding World festival. I wanted to set up a table but needed something that fit. So I wrote a short story. And, as happens, that short story grew to be a book. And, as happens, that book became a series. My newer series—The Oddish Questors—is based on my kids and stepkids. It’s been the most fun to write since I incorporated a bit of their personalities into it. I also included our wolf, Hunter, as a character. It’s been some fun stories.
‘My Two Favorites are Stephen King and Michael Crichton’
B Sudharsan: How do you approach developing a story once you have its basic premise? Do you map out the plot and characters beforehand, or do they evolve as you write?
S A Schneider: I have things loosely planned and mapped out. Not a detailed outline. Though, as I’ve gained experience, I can flesh out the outline more, and the writing is then even easier. I have a basic idea of the story, and then I use tools like Save the Cat and Hero’s Journey to help me fill in any details of the story that I may have missed.
B Sudharsan: Are there any authors who have significantly influenced your writing?
S A Schneider: My two favorites are Stephen King and Michael Crichton. Both keep me turning pages and wanting to read just a little more. Even books I’ve already read.
B Sudharsan: With your writing competing for time alongside editing, marketing, and events, how do you structure your writing routine, and when do you find yourself most creatively inspired?
S A Schneider: I try to write in the morning before work. But I can sometimes find other times to write. I have to balance it with editing, marketing, joining events, and a myriad of other connected things. Often, I will have a scene in my head while driving or mowing, and I need to write it down as soon as possible.
‘My Kids Call Me Their Intergalactic 12-Year-Old’
B Sudharsan: Great to learn that your writing and storytelling have developed alongside your experiences in other fields. Please tell us a little about where you live, your age, and your educational background.
S A Schneider: I live in Northeast Ohio near Kent State University. I went to school for computers and music, though I’ve let my music slacken recently. Do you want to know my physical age or my mental age? My kids call me their intergalactic 12-year-old.
B Sudharsan:(laughs) Certainly. Looking back at the journey you have described, when did you consciously begin to see yourself as an author?
S A Schneider: I had not given much thought to being an author until Kindle was introduced and I observed the emergence of numerous books. Then when I wanted to write stories for the girls in my Girl Scout troop, it all fell together.
‘I’d Love to Be a Full-Time Author’
B Sudharsan: Since becoming an author involves much more than writing, how do you balance your creative work with your personal responsibilities? What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
S A Schneider: Well, that’s a thoughtful question. It’s difficult occasionally. After work and then doing everything needed, like mowing the lawn and grocery shopping, some days you just want to do anything except sit at the computer and think. But the more fun writing is, the more I want to do it. I enjoy reading, of course. I’m trying to find the time to get back into music. I also enjoy playing games with friends.
B Sudharsan: You mentioned that you are continuing to develop The Oddish Questors and have the third Town Magician story in mind. Please tell us about your current projects and where you hope your writing career will go.
S A Schneider: I’m working on more Oddish Questor stories. I also have the third Town Magician thought out, but not much written. I would like to be a full-time author, but it’s not easy to just do that.
‘Concentrate More on Writing Than on Anything Else’
B Sudharsan: Drawing from your own experience of developing as a writer, what advice would you offer to aspiring authors who become discouraged when their work does not perform as they had hoped?
S A Schneider: Concentrate more on writing than on anything else. Don’t worry about seminars or classes at first. Don’t even worry about publishing. You’d be better off and further ahead if you wrote several books and short stories first and then went back to some learning to improve them. You’ll get so much more out of any learning if you’ve written multiple things. And that will be beneficial when you finally publish, and your published works will perform better for you. So all that time spent waiting is worth it.
B Sudharsan: Your advice to writers emphasizes the importance of writing and storytelling. Does that philosophy also connect with your thoughts on how we encourage children to read and tell stories?
S A Schneider: Oh, don’t think I want to go into this topic here. But there are multiple things. How about in school we let kids read more of what they want, including comics? And let’s not worry about spelling and grammar so early on. Let kids tell stories and learn to have fun telling them and reading whatever they want. I think that when you then introduce spelling, grammar, and reading other things, it will go over much better, and we’ll have people who enjoy stories.
‘Writing Is Some of the Fun Time’
B Sudharsan: You have spoken about writing, family life, work, and the everyday responsibilities that shape your routine. What does a typical day look like for you?
S A Schneider: My typical day includes working; household tasks like making dinner, doing dishes, and taking care of the animals; and some fun time when I can. Writing fits in there to various degrees and is some of the fun time.
B Sudharsan: Do you speak any languages besides English?
S A Schneider: Do some computer programming languages count?
B Sudharsan:(smiles) Finally, beyond what we have discussed, is there anything else about your books or your journey as a writer that you would like to share with our readers?
S A Schneider: All my books are at https://sa-schneider.com. I also have helpful resources for teachers and homeschool parents.
How about in school we let kids read more of what they want, including comics? And let’s not worry about spelling and grammar so early on. Let kids tell stories and learn to have fun telling them and reading whatever they want. I think that when you then introduce spelling, grammar, and reading other things, it will go over much better, and we’ll have people who enjoy stories.
~ S A SCHNEIDER
ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right offthe bat!
Sandy Malone planned weddings in the Caribbean for 11 years with her retired SWAT commander husband before Hurricane Maria wiped out their company overnight. She left her mark on the wedding world with hundreds of expert columns in BRIDES, HuffPost Weddings, WeddingWire, and the ‘Wedding Reality Check with Sandy Malone’ podcast. She is well-known for her book How To Plan Your Own Destination Wedding: Do-It-Yourself Tips From An Experienced Professional, which was published by Skyhorse Publishing in 2016. The Gem of the Golden Isles series, which currently comprises five books, is available through IngramSpark’s Lightning Source or can be purchased directly from the author in most of Georgia and North Florida. Malone is available for book club gatherings, interviews, readings, and book signings. She corresponded with B Sudharsan, Founding Editor-in-Chief of Literary Harbinger, via email recently. Excerpts from the edited interview:
HARBINGER EXCLUSIVE
From School Newspapers to Fiction
B Sudharsan: When did you start writing?
Sandy Malone: I started writing when I was little – I believe my first publication was a neighborhood newsletter written on a manual typewriter in third grade when I was home sick from school. I became editor of my high school newspaper, and then I started an independent newspaper between 15 private schools in DC. Eventually, I went on to become campus editor of The Lantern at THE Ohio State University. I graduated with a degree in journalism.
B Sudharsan: Tell us about your published works. How did they come into being? What is your latest book about?
Sandy Malone: My first published works (after writing for lots of newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and HuffPost) were non-fiction books that were traditionally published. I wrote a DIY wedding planning book, and then I was asked to ghostwrite several books for other reality TV stars (including a Real Housewife). I started writing fiction two years ago and have published five books in the Gem of the Golden Isles Series:
Escape to Jekyll Island (Book One) In Bloom on Jekyll (Book Two) Treasure on Jekyll (Book Three) In the Shadows on Jekyll (Book Four) Christmas on Jekyll (Book Five)
I’m working on a new series now that has a crossover with the Gem of the Golden Isles series. It’s called Under the Oaks, and it takes place on St Simons Island, next door to Jekyll.
I’ve also written a stand-alone novel that’s completely different from my wedding planner series. It’s about a patriarchal family where money and influence are more important than anything. Thicker Than Blood is told through the eyes of three generations of women in that family, two of whom develop Alzheimer’s. Thicker Than Blood will be released this fall.
‘I Need to Know How a Book Ends Before I Start Writing’
B Sudharsan: Before you begin writing a book, do you already have the plot and characters mapped out in your mind, or does the story unfold as you write?
Sandy Malone: I like to do a rough outline and figure out some of the character names before I start writing. I have learned that I need to know how a book ends before I start writing. The middle part writes itself as I go, and I get creative and add things while I write, but I have to have a solid direction for the ending from the beginning.
B Sudharsan: Do you have any favorite authors? If yes, please tell us who they are and why they inspire you.
Sandy Malone: I love Elin Hilderbrand, Nelson DeMille, Jennifer Weiner, Patricia Cornwell, and Susan Boyer. Elin and Susan write books about characters on islands, and I think I most closely identify with their writing. Patricia Cornwell and Nelson DeMille write the kind of intrigue that sucks me in. Jennifer Weiner makes me laugh. I think I’d like to hang out with her.
‘Someday, I Hope to Be Able to Write All the Time’
B Sudharsan: When do you generally write? Do you follow a fixed schedule, or do you write whenever you feel inspired to put your thoughts into words?
Sandy Malone: I write when I have blocked out time to do it because I like to write for hours at a time with few interruptions. It really only takes me a couple of weeks to write a book; it’s about having time to do it when I have so much work to do to promote the books I’ve already published. The writing is the easy part. A guilty pleasure, so to speak. Someday, I hope to be able to write all the time because I’ve sold enough books to pay somebody else to promote them!
B Sudharsan: Where are you currently residing? Could you also share your educational qualifications and age?
Sandy Malone: I’m 53. My husband and I live on Jekyll Island, Georgia, a tiny island just above the Georgia/Florida line. We moved down here to be closer to my mother after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
I grew up in Potomac, Maryland, and attended private schools, and I graduated from Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, DC, the oldest Catholic girls’ school in the United States. I graduated from THE Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism in 1996 and went on to attend The Fund for American Studies’ Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University.
B Sudharsan: Was becoming an author a conscious decision?
Sandy Malone: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but my mother discouraged it. She wanted me to get a job that I ‘could always go back to after having children.’ When I went off to college to study journalism, my mom was positive I was ‘going to end up writing obituaries on the overnight shift somewhere in the Midwest.’ I think she forgave me when I started writing the Politics.Net column at the Wall Street Journal.
B Sudharsan: How do you balance writing with other responsibilities? What are your hobbies and interests apart from writing?
Sandy Malone: When I started writing fiction novels, I committed to it full-time. But I only spend a little bit of life actually writing because most of my time is spent promoting the books I’ve already written. It’s a massive, time-sucking job, and it must be done, or nobody will know about my books.
My husband and I live on a tiny island that’s actually a state park, and I’m very involved in a local charitable organization and several other groups. I run a monthly Jekyll Island Girls Night Out that attracts quite a crowd. I also play tennis and love going to the beach with my husband and friends. We’ve definitely found our forever home here on Jekyll.
I used to do a lot of crafting (love to paint glass) at night, but now that I’m an author, I don’t have as much time for it because we travel constantly. We have six grandchildren who live in the DC area, and I have to do a lot of book events all over the place to promote myself. We try to schedule multiple book signings into each trip and make time to see friends and family in between. I have a grandson getting married in Virginia in 10 days, and we’re doing a book event up there a few days before the wedding. We spend a lot of time road-tripping because there’s too much stuff for book signings to bring on a plane.
‘Takes a Long Time to Get Established in the Publishing World’
B Sudharsan: Tell us a little about your works in progress.
Sandy Malone: I’m working on another destination wedding planner series based on St Simons Island, Georgia, that crosses over with my Jekyll Island book series, Gem of the Golden Isles. The first book will be out soon.
My first stand-alone novel, Thicker Than Blood, will be released this fall. The book is fiction, but I used it to explore my own journey with my mother’s Alzheimer’s disease.
B Sudharsan: What would you like to say to budding authors who lose motivation when a few of their works do not perform well?
It takes a long time to get established in the publishing world. Very few people get big overnight. Patience is a virtue. But at the same time, you should be writing and publishing and taking constructive criticism to make your books better. I finally hired a professional team to help me get my books to the next level, and the first thing they told me to do was change my book covers because they looked like travel guides. Ouch. But they were right. We’re getting ready to relaunch the Gem of the Golden Isles series with new covers. I can’t wait!
B Sudharsan: If there is one thing you would like to change in this world, what would it be?
Sandy Malone: I’d like to see an intense plan by the federal government to figure out how to prevent Alzheimer’s disease because it’s becoming too common.
‘Decided I Was Bilingual When I Started Dreaming in Spanish’
B Sudharsan: What does a usual day in your life look like?
Sandy Malone: I spend my mornings doing housekeeping at my desk—responding to emails, filling book orders that come in through my website, and posting about my books on social media. In the afternoons, I tackle the rest of my to-do lists and wish I were on the beach. On a book signing day, I get up early and triple-check my list of things to bring. I put on war paint, try to arrive early, and pull out my biggest, friendliest personality for the day. I love meeting readers and personalizing books for them, but it’s the most exhausting part of being an author.
B Sudharsan: Besides English, what other languages do you know or speak?
Sandy Malone: I speak Spanish, badly. I planned weddings in Puerto Rico for 11 years, and many of my employees and vendors didn’t speak English, so I perfected my high school Spanish and tried my best. I decided I was bilingual when I started dreaming in Spanish. Unfortunately, I don’t use it much living on the Georgia coast. And Puerto Rican isn’t exactly the Spanish we learned in the classroom.
B Sudharsan: If there is anything else you would like to share with our readers, please feel free to do so.
Sandy Malone: My husband and I starred in our own reality TV show on TLC called ‘Wedding Island.’ My first book series is about a young wedding planner who loses her job on Vieques Island after a hurricane and goes back to Jekyll Island, Georgia, to start over. It’s not autobiographical, but it’s based on my own experiences. Many of my readers have said they enjoyed watching ‘Wedding Island’ after reading Escape to Jekyll Island because they had a better understanding of where Tally was coming from and what it was like to plan weddings on an island, seven miles off the coast of another island, in the Caribbean.
It takes a long time to get established in the publishing world. Very few people get big overnight. Patience is a virtue. But at the same time, you should be writing and publishing and taking constructive criticism to make your books better. I finally hired a professional team to help me get my books to the next level, and the first thing they told me to do was change my book covers because they looked like travel guides.
Book: A Canadian Werewolf in New York Genre: Paranormal Thriller Author: Mark Leslie Rating: 5/5 Reviewer: Stavyah Vatsarah
Mark Leslie’s A Canadian Werewolf in New York is the kind of book that the cozy confines of genre cannot contain. It may start with a werewolf, a mysterious attack, a bullet wound, and a confused writer waking up in Manhattan with human blood in his mouth, but Leslie soon shows that the real story is far more compelling: the complex business of being human. The disturbing prospect that his body and instincts are now unrecognizable confronts Michael Andrews, the protagonist, while his career as a successful writer brings its own pressures of identity and creative confinement. What you get is a joyous supernatural novel that mixes mystery, humor, tenderness, and philosophical curiosity and shows that to understand humanity, sometimes you just have to put a wolf in it.
A Werewolf with a Human Voice
The opening introduces the wonderfully irreverent character of the novel immediately. Michael wakes in Battery Park naked, injured, and tasting human blood, and his bewildered response is, ‘Michael Andrews, what the hell have you been up to last night?’ It’s both hilarious and ominous. Leslie understands that the supernatural can become more compelling when it is filtered through an ordinary human reaction, and Michael does not behave like the grandiose protagonist of a conventional gothic tale. He behaves like a man confronted with an impossibly awful morning, which makes the extraordinary feel strangely believable.
This comic instinct runs throughout the novel and gives Michael an immediately engaging voice. A particularly striking example is his meeting with Buddy: Michael describes himself as Buddy’s ‘conversational prostitute’ after enduring the older man’s endless monologues. The line is hysterically funny, but it also demonstrates Leslie’s ability to distil an entire relationship into one unforgettable image. His humor never seems ornamental; instead, it is woven into the novel’s narrative bloodstream, keeping the werewolf story lively and unexpectedly warm.
The Humanity Beneath the Fur
But beneath the jokes is a surprisingly tender examination of compassion. Michael’s bond with Wally shows that his transformation has not dulled his instinct to protect others; in fact, his heightened senses make him unusually sensitive to fear and emotional distress. Wally’s question, ‘Do you have to go, Michael?’ is a simple one, but it lends an unexpected poignancy to their short-lived friendship, especially when Michael responds with, ‘Goodbye, my friend.’ What makes this little exchange stand out in a book full of supernatural peril is that affection can be stronger than spectacle.
The meeting also muddies the usual distinction between human and monster. Michael is capable of terrifying violence, but cruelty disturbs him, and he instinctively intervenes when Wally is threatened. His fight with the bully is therefore more than an action scene: it creates a moral tension at the core of the character. The man who looks like a monster may have more conscience than the people who look perfectly human, suggesting the real essence of monstrosity is conduct and not appearance. Leslie doesn’t preach but makes the point, letting Michael’s actions do the arguing.
The most compelling literary aspect of the novel is Michael’s struggle to understand what he has become. The werewolf isn’t just a supernatural curse but a physical manifestation of the split self, forcing Michael to confront impulses that he can’t consciously control. His heightened senses allow him to perceive the world as ordinary human beings cannot. His metamorphoses create gaps between what he remembers and what his other self has experienced. So the frightening question is not what kind of creature one is, but how well any person can ever know himself.
It becomes even more powerful when you realize that Michael is also a writer. He has realized the incredible dream of travelling from Canada to New York, becoming successful, and seeing his books made into movies, but even that success leaves him struggling under the pressure of expectations. If his life were a novel, he thinks, readers would be more apt to believe he is a werewolf than that he would ever become a bestselling author. It’s a wonderfully self-aware observation, one which allows Leslie to play with the relationship between fiction and reality while quietly questioning what makes a believable life.
The Writer Who Has to Find Himself
Michael’s creative crisis is an eerily accurate mirror of his supernatural predicament. The pressure to produce another successful novel threatens to turn his imagination into a commercial obligation, just as his transformation threatens to reduce his identity to that of a ‘werewolf.’ His struggle is therefore double and personal: he has to learn to live with the creature inside him, and he has to decide what kind of writer he wants to be. He finds himself through writing, and the keyboard is almost as essential to his transformation as the full moon.
There’s something very satisfying about creativity becoming a way of taking back control. Michael returns to writing after a particularly turbulent period and finds that the act of writing fiction helps him clear his mind and figure out what he has to do next. Thus, the novel suggests that artistic creation is not only a profession or a product but also a way of thinking and understanding oneself. This strand is given added resonance by Leslie’s own experience as an author, for the author’s note at the end of the book reveals that the novel itself evolved over a period of years before finally coming to completion.
A Monster Tale with a Literary Heart
What makes A Canadian Werewolf in New York so enjoyable is that it does not sacrifice entertainment for substance. Leslie provides the pleasures of supernatural fiction, but it is also quietly a story about friendship, morality, artistic independence, and the frailties of identity. The novel is riotously funny in one scene and surprisingly reflective in the next, and this tonal elasticity becomes one of its greatest strengths. It is a book that knows how to entertain without taking its reader for granted.
In the end, Michael’s journey is more than simply learning to live with a werewolf inside him; it’s about learning to live with all the contradictory selves that make a person whole. Leslie takes the familiar werewolf mythology and makes it more intimate, asking if the creature we fear sometimes shows us the person we have been afraid to become. A Canadian Werewolf in New York therefore leaves more than the echo of a supernatural adventure. It leaves the delightful suspicion that the boundary between man and monster was never as secure as we anticipated. In Leslie’s hands, the howl is not merely the sound of transformation but the sound of a man finding his voice.
Thirty-two-year-old Vinisha Panwar is strong and stubbornly earnest. She loves swimming and despises prevarication. As a matter of fact, the Gurugram-based author values honesty so much that when we ask her if there is something that she would want to be changed in the world, she resoundingly says, ‘People becoming more honest with themselves and with others.’ Furthermore, there is a depth in the way she articulates her thoughts, and she loves reading. In an exclusive interaction with Stavyah Vatsarah, Vinisha Panwar talks about her favourite authors, what made her a passionate reader, her hobbies, her schedule, and most importantly, her new e-book A Deceitful Evening. She also gives some pieces of advice to budding authors.
SPECIAL TO LITERARYHARBINGER
Stavyah Vatsarah:A Deceitful Evening seems like a delightful read. How did it come about?
Vinisha Panwar: I have been writing for the past ten years, but I decided to share my work on a public platform only this year. Once school was over and college began, I faced many challenges. To cope with my emotions, I turned to my pen. I simply could not stop writing afterwards! The idea of publishing a short story as an e-book first came to me this March. Finally, in May, I was able to self-publish it through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Since it was a short story, I did not approach any publishers and instead decided to share it directly with readers.
Stavyah Vatsarah: Is this your debut novel?
Vinisha Panwar: I would not call it a novel, but yes, it is my debut e-book. Since it is quite a short read, it does not qualify as a novel. It took me three months to prepare the final edited version of the story and publish it. Editing consumed most of the time, whereas the publishing process took only about a week. I am currently working on my first novel, and it will take a few more months to complete.
Stavyah Vatsarah: What is the book about? What is the storyline?
Vinisha Panwar: Is not the title quite revealing? (laughs)
Stavyah Vatsarah: No doubt the title is electrifying. A freakish romance thriller certainly makes for an engaging read! Be that as it may, might I ask if you consider yourself a pantser or plotter?
Vinisha Panwar: I did have both the plot and the characters in mind before I began writing A Deceitful Evening. I spent a great deal of time thinking about the characters, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they would fit into the story.
Stavyah Vatsarah: You must be an avid reader, considering you have been writing for over a decade. Who are your favourite authors, and how have they inspired you?
Vinisha Panwar: I have many favourite authors—Ayn Rand, Salman Rushdie, Paulo Coelho, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Arundhati Roy, and many others. However, the one who has had the greatest impact on me is Ayn Rand. Her work was pure gold. Her thoughts, beliefs, and words have profoundly influenced countless readers, including me. She was an exceptionally intelligent writer. Reading The Fountainhead was an unforgettable experience. I simply could not put it down. It made me realise how powerfully words can influence the mind. It also transformed me into a passionate reader. I admired the way she made readers live through her words. Ultimately, I understood that words possess the extraordinary ability to shape our thoughts.
Stavyah Vatsarah: I could not agree more. Words are indeed incredibly powerful. Moving on, when do you usually write? Do you follow a schedule, or do you write whenever inspiration strikes?
Vinisha Panwar: I usually write at night when everything is quiet and peaceful. I do not follow a strict schedule because I never want to force myself to write. Instead, I let my heart speak whenever it feels inspired. On days when I do not write, I satisfy my love for words by reading the remarkable works of other authors.
Stavyah Vatsarah: That is understandable. But was becoming an author a conscious decision?
Vinisha Panwar: It was definitely a conscious decision.
Stavyah Vatsarah: I am sure you have many responsibilities besides writing. How do you balance writing with everything else?
Vinisha Panwar: Honestly, there is no balancing act. Whenever I need to write, I simply make time for it. If you are truly passionate about something, you naturally find the time. Passion gives meaning to every moment of your day.
‘If We Never Fail, We Will Never Learn How to Become Better Than We Were Before’
Stavyah Vatsarah: Besides reading and writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Vinisha Panwar: I love swimming, especially in deep water. It clears my mind and refreshes my thoughts. I am truly a water baby.
Stavyah Vatsarah: Tell me a little about your works in progress. Do you plan to become a full-time author?
Vinisha Panwar: Yes, that is my dream. As I mentioned earlier, I am currently working on my first novel. It is a work of new adult fiction centred on the struggles of a teenage girl in her late teens. It explores a wide range of emotions that we often ignore or hesitate to express.
Stavyah Vatsarah: What advice would you give aspiring authors who lose motivation when some of their work does not receive the response they hoped for?
Vinisha Panwar: If we never fail, we will never learn how to become better than we were before. Making mistakes is essential, but learning from them is entirely within our control. So keep writing, and keep writing more. Do not rush the process. The first draft is never the final draft. Seek feedback from fellow readers and writers, and most importantly, act upon that feedback. Connect not only with local writers but also with international authors, readers, and book bloggers. Finally, engage with both your existing followers and potential readers through social media. Discover which platform works best for you and use it effectively.
Stavyah Vatsarah: That was quite comprehensive, I must say. I am curious to know what a typical day in your life looks like.
Vinisha Panwar: Reading, writing, reading, writing… (laughs) No, honestly, that has been my routine throughout the lockdown. Outdoor activities have been cancelled; otherwise, I would have been swimming. I also enjoy watching films in the evenings. I am a huge movie buff.
Stavyah Vatsarah: It was wonderful speaking with you, Vinisha. I wish you every success. Before we conclude, would you like to leave our readers with a final thought?
Vinisha Panwar: I simply wish more people would cultivate the habit of reading. We all enjoy watching films and videos, but reading is often considered old-fashioned or tiresome. I hope people never allow their reading habits to fade away. The more we read, the more worlds we discover, and the more hidden truths we uncover through stories.
Making mistakes is essential, but learning from them is entirely within our control. So keep writing, and keep writing more. Do not rush the process. The first draft is never the final draft. Seek feedback from fellow readers and writers, and most importantly, act upon that feedback.
~ VINISHA PANWAR
PS:This interview was originally published in August 2020 in Literary Express. It is republished here with the author’s permission.
A-M Mawhiney reflects on the lockdown that led her back to writing and the unexpected journey that followed
A-M Mawhiney’s creative writing journey began when she was just eight years old, with gloomy, four-line poems. In an exclusive interaction with Literary Harbinger, the septuagenarian, who has been a full-time writer since 2020, says she continued writing throughout secondary school before stopping when she went to university. ‘A busy life with a full-time career as a social worker and then a university professor disrupted my dreams of becoming a famous novelist. I started writing again during the first international lockdown in March 2020. I was desperate to find hope in a distressing world and, to my surprise, began to write a story about a future, almost Utopian world with dark secrets,’ she tells us.
From Spindrifts to Fugitive Rifts
Having self-published three books with publication services provided by FriesenPress, Mawhiney, who also speaks French fluently, says categorically that she tends to fly by the seat of her pants. ‘I sit at my desk, put my fingers on the keyboard and start writing,’ she says, adding that she may have a vague idea of what will happen with the characters on each writing day, but more often than not they and her imagination take her in a different direction. ‘I often write myself into a corner, and I find that a long walk or organising closets helps me discover what might happen next. Then I write some more,’ she explains.
Talking about her debut novel, Spindrifts, the resident of Sudbury in Ontario, Canada, lets on, ‘It was a Covid novel about a future worldwide Earth Project to save the planet. When I finished writing it, I thought my writing career was over until two pre-teens urged me to write a sequel that included a dragon and a magical wolf. This required a great deal of imagination to shift from the world in Spindrifts to a world of fantasy in Spelldrifts, my second book.’ Spindrifts was a finalist in the eighth annual Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writers’ Prize and shortlisted for the Whistler Independent Book Awards in 2022.
Her third book, Fugitive Rifts, is unrelated to the first two and is real-world fiction about four very different teens who each face challenges that shatter their dreams. ‘The only thought I had before writing Fugitive Rifts was wanting the story to involve four teens. All three books have themes of resilience, helping each other, and coming-of-age character arcs.’
I often write myself into a corner, and I find that a long walk or organising closets helps me discover what might happen next. Then I write some more.
~ A-M MAWHINEY
To Mawhiney, Unpredictability Matters
Having been a voracious reader since the age of seven, with very few days since then when she has been unable to find time to read, the writer does draw inspiration from other authors. She says she has always felt drawn to writers who produce something surprising with an unpredictable ending. ‘A recent book that comes to mind is The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung. But in the last few years I have also become a huge fan of P L Stuart’s The Drowned Kingdom Saga (Books 1–6 so far) and Anne M Smith-Nochasak’s Taggak Journey Trilogy. I also continue to read historical fiction such as Jennifer Chiaverini’s Resistance Women,’ she lets us know.
When asked when she usually writes, Mawhiney—who holds two undergraduate degrees, a master’s degree, and a PhD—said that writing Spindrifts consumed her completely. ‘I wrote throughout the day and often late into the night,’ she tells us. Her subsequent books have been paced differently, nonetheless. ‘With Spelldrifts, I usually wrote in the mornings and early evenings. With Fugitive Rifts, I wrote whenever I had a glimmer of an idea about what would happen next and felt inspired to put it on paper,’ she shares.
As the interview progresses, we ask her whether becoming an author was a conscious decision, and the author responds in a jiffy. ‘I would have to say becoming an author was an act of desperation during lockdown. I was finding lockdown isolation difficult after the first few weeks and knew I had to find something to do to take me away from feelings of hopelessness and distress,’ she shares.
She continues, ‘I grabbed my laptop, thinking I was probably going to journal, and instead the first sentence that emerged became the opening line of Spindrifts: “When she awoke it was with such joy in her heart.” I was gobsmacked and had no idea who “she” was or why she was joyful. After thinking frantically while cleaning closets for a few hours, I continued writing.’
I would have to say becoming an author was an act of desperation during lockdown. I was finding lockdown isolation difficult after the first few weeks and knew I had to find something to do to take me away from feelings of hopelessness and distress.
~ A-M MAWHINEY
Getting Immersed in Writing
Mawhiney, however, kept her writing project a secret from everyone except her partner for several months. ‘When I finally told one of my sisters, she recommended I sign up for the Humber College Summer Writing Workshop, which was offered virtually in 2020. I had to submit a sample of my writing and was surprised to be accepted into the workshop, where I learnt a great deal about being an author,’ she lets on.
The author says that since she began writing after she had been superannuated, there were few other responsibilities. ‘So it was easy to immerse myself in writing,’ she states. ‘With the next two books, I did have to balance other responsibilities but was still able to safeguard several hours for writing almost every day.’
Having a very supportive partner who takes care of day-to-day practicalities such as meal preparation and shopping allows Mawhiney to remain focused on her writing. ‘And when I need a break to think about what comes next, I putter around cleaning, walking, and visiting friends, and somehow my creativity flows when I get back to my computer,’ she says.
Mawhiney, we learn, also belongs to a writing group that was formed during the Humber Workshop in 2020. ‘We meet, with rare exceptions, every two weeks to talk about our writing, give feedback to one of us, and write from prompts. I have a strong network of friends, and our get-togethers keep me socially active. My partner and I spend lots of time with family, and we enjoy watching local basketball games. I recently started playing the piano again and am enjoying another rediscovered creative outlet. And I read every day,’ she explains, adding that she knows she is fortunate to be retired because it gives her much more time to write than many other authors. ‘On the other hand, I am aware that I have fewer years left to continue writing, so I feel compelled to make this a priority while I can.’
Mawhiney’s current work in progress centres on a minor character. ‘She is a character from Fugitive Rifts who has no memories of her past. This new book explores what happened to her in her past,’ she says.
And is there anything she would like to tell budding authors, especially those who give up writing if a few of their works do not do well? ‘I would like to say: never give up on something you love to do. One way to work through disappointment about outcomes—sales, fame, reviews, and so on—is to reframe your thinking or remind yourself why you write,’ Mawhiney says. ‘I write for the joy of writing and am inspired by moments when someone tells me they loved reading one of my books, when I see positive reviews, or when I am asked to speak or write about my books,’ she adds.
Furthermore, what Mawhiney has learnt over the last six years is that, unless you are already famous before you begin writing, success can be a long journey, no matter how you choose to measure it. ‘We all dream of appearing on a list of the top ten books and earning huge revenues from our writing, but very few authors enjoy that level of success. Once I accepted this reality, I looked for small moments that inspired me to keep going,’ she tells us.
I write for the joy of writing and am inspired by moments when someone tells me they loved reading one of my books, when I see positive reviews, or when I am asked to speak or write about my books.
~ A-M MAWHINEY
‘If You Love Writing, Just Keep Writing’
She does not stop there. She says she would advise any budding author to take the long view. ‘If you love writing, just keep writing. If you run into roadblocks, figure out ways of dealing with them. Join a writers’ group, spend time with supportive people, and network with other authors. I have met many supportive authors virtually through social media, and on disappointing days, touching base with them helps motivate me to keep writing,’ she shares.
As the interview draws to a close, we ask her if there is anything at all that she would like to change in the world, and Mawhiney’s response is excogitative, to say the least. ‘I would like people to pull together instead of pulling people apart. More unity, more respect, more hope, and less divisiveness,’ she says as she signs off.
We all dream of appearing on a list of the top ten books and earning huge revenues from our writing, but very few authors enjoy that level of success. Once I accepted this reality, I looked for small moments that inspired me to keep going.
Author Seth Voorhees lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where he attended Black Hills State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Psychology. His mornings, we are told, start with prayer, meditation, and a gratitude list. Then he lets out the family rabbit, Snowball, and feeds him. He writes and edits and writes and edits more until he has to leave for work. After work, he might go to the gym, meet with friends, or run errands, or, well, possibly all three. Then, he is back home to be with his family. The evening might have a movie or a puzzle in store for him, and it is usually followed by reading before bed. The only real change, however, happens during football season.
Having drawn on his experience in adolescent education and mental health to shape his stories, the quadragenarian, who also works as an evidence-based curriculum facilitator and staff trainer for partner sites and wishes to learn Lakota and Spanish, describes himself as a writer of dark fiction. In an exclusive interaction with B Sudharsan, the editor-in-chief of Literary Harbinger, the writer, who lives with his partner and stepdaughter, speaks about his four published books, the works in progress, his belief in the importance of having hobbies, and why he would like to see what he calls the ‘outrage culture’ eliminated. Excerpts from the edited interview:
SPECIAL TO LITERARYHARBINGER
B Sudharsan: It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr Voorhees. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview. As someone with four published books to his name, let me start by asking you a very straightforward question: When and how did it all begin? When exactly did you start writing?
Seth Voorhees: I first started when I was in middle school. That was the time I was obsessed with the Goosebumps series. I actually worked on stories and ideas for my own inspired versions. I wrote my first novel when I was nineteen, during my senior year of high school. Eventually, college and other interests took hold, and I put writing down as a serious endeavour for a while. In 2016, I picked it back up at the age of thirty-one, when I was struck by an idea inspired by the television show The Walking Dead. That idea turned into my second published novel, Immune: Rise of the Inflicted.
Where Conflict Shapes a New World
B Sudharsan: That sounds inspiring, to say the least. Immune: Rise of the Inflicted does have rave reviews. So, congratulations to you on that! Could you shed more light on this novel and discuss your other works as well?
Seth Voorhees: Sure. I have four published works. All are available online, on Amazon, or at your favourite bookstore. I always recommend Barnes & Noble. Immune: Rise of the Inflicted is a pandemic narrative that explores how the pandemic reshapes society. As sides form, a new class structure emerges, and conflict erupts between the Immune, those immune to the virus, and the Inflicted, who survive the virus’s harsh trials. Both sides try to rebuild society, and their conflict shapes a new world. As I have already stated, it is inspired by The Walking Dead. I have also taken inspiration from the experience of the swine flu scare.
The Interim is a horror novel about the small South Dakota town of Copper, which, for two weeks in October, is haunted by Leopold, a seemingly invincible, diabolical monster. It is a different coming-of-age story in which the town’s youth tire of this yearly ritual. This one is inspired by Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.’
Mid-Glow, on the other hand, is set in the 1940s, around Pearl Harbor, and inspired by the allure of the 1930s bank robber. This version follows a group of bank robbers who are extorted by the very person they have been robbing. Forced to complete taboo tasks, they become part of a larger mystery.
And last but not least, Question 17 is another dystopian novel. Set forty years after Earth won a war against alien invaders, the story unfolds in a futuristic world. The main character, Cory, a brilliant student, lands an internship at a secretive government facility and becomes entangled in its secrets.
‘I Am the Free-Flowing Type’
B Sudharsan: Thank you very much for sharing your inspirations. Now that we understand you not only derive inspiration from books and TV shows but also real-life experiences, might I venture to ask whether you already have the plot and characters mapped out in your mind before you work on a story, or does the story unfold as you write?
Seth Voorhees: I was told there are two types of authors. The plotter—they get everything structured, outlined, and figured out before they start. Then there is the pantser—they write unencumbered and free-flowing. I am the free-flowing type, meaning I do not have an outline or structure. I always start with a nugget of inspiration from a book, show, movie, news article, or something I observe in real life. It starts with a scene, and then I drop the character into it. From there, it goes.
If what I have written is engaging and keeps me interested, the idea of what happens next will come to me later in the day; if it does not, the story was not meant to be. I never know what the finished product is until the end. Now, I will take notes here and there and maybe get inspiration for the next several chapters.
B Sudharsan: I love that. If I were to write a novel now, I would definitely be pantsing! How about the authors you read? Any favourites?
Seth Voorhees: Yes, when I was younger, it was Stephen King and R L Stine. But currently, my favourite authors are Darcey Coates, Jennifer McMahon, and Catriona Ward. Their characters are always well written, and their stories are never boring; they are filled with suspense and have great plots.
B Sudharsan: I cannot agree more, Mr Voorhees! I am given to understand you work a full-time job. So, our readers would like to know when you generally write. Do you tend to follow a fixed schedule? Or… do you write whenever you feel inspired?
Seth Voorhees: I write first thing in the morning, with a cup of coffee, in my office. Sometimes I have music, depending on my mood. The music is typically instrumental jazz or classical. The morning is when my imagination is at its best.
B Sudharsan: How do you balance writing with other responsibilities? Could you also share your hobbies and interests apart from writing?
Seth Voorhees: My other interests include fishing, reading, walking, doing puzzles, watching football during the season, and spending time with family. Of course, my job as an evidence-based curriculum facilitator and coordinator for adolescents and their sites’ staff is also a priority. I do not know if anyone can truly balance it all. I think you take it one day at a time. On some days, you have to neglect one to focus more on another, and then you make up for it on a different day.
B Sudharsan: Tell me about it. How about your works in progress though?
Seth Voorhees: I currently have several projects underway, and all I can say now is that they are all in the horror genre.
B Sudharsan: I love the suspense you are creating! (smiles) Now that you have published four books, it does make sense for me to ask you what you would like to tell budding authors, especially those who lose motivation when a few of their works do not perform well.
Seth Voorhees: I should say, write for the joy of creation. Failure, though, is part of the process, and you need to learn from it and apply what you have learned to your next projects.
On Importance of Having Hobbies
B Sudharsan: And if there is one thing you would like to change in this world, what would it be?
Seth Voorhees: The one thing I would change is to eliminate what I see as an ‘outrage culture’. I feel a lot of people look for things to be mad about, to complain about, and to be outraged by, and they are too sensitive. We have reached a point where if someone disagrees with you, we look upon them as an enemy, and we have to hate each other. I think we need to be more accepting, more mature, and more open-minded.
B Sudharsan: Thank you very much for your honest insights and for taking our questions. Wishing you all the very best in each of your future undertakings!
Seth Voorhees: It has been a pleasure! And before I leave, I would like to say something I strongly believe in, and that is the importance of having hobbies. I think all authors should have them. For me, at least, much of the inspiration for ‘what happens next’ or for a new story often comes when I am engaged in those activities. The two most important ones are walking and fishing.
I feel a lot of people look for things to be mad about, to complain about, and to be outraged by, and they are too sensitive. We have reached a point where if someone disagrees with you, we look upon them as an enemy, and we have to hate each other. I think we need to be more accepting, more mature, and more open-minded.
~ SETH VOORHEES
ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right offthe bat!
Book: Pretty Flamingo Genre: Psychological Thriller Author: Perry Martin Rating: 5/5 Reviewer: Stavyah Vatsarah
Love. Hate. Betrayal. Romance. Horror. Hope. Separation. Reunion. Perry Martin’s debut novel, Pretty Flamingo, promises all of this and much more. It is a sublime tale that oscillates primarily between two time periods and two places: the late 1960s set in Brisbane, Australia, and the early 2000s largely set in California, the US. A poignant story of loss and separation, the novel does its best to address a metaphysical question you may have given a thought: Is it possible that we have ever lived before?
An Emotional Ride
As a reviewer, I am pretty darn sure the book will make you laugh and cry at the same time, surprise you with its wondrous twists, and possibly ensure you brood over questions that you might have considered way too philosophical hitherto. And even as it may cause you to shed tears of joy and sadness, it will most likely touch a part of your soul left untouched, thereby kindling a new magical spark. But does the book promise a happy end? Well, you will have to read the book to find that out!
Reading Pretty Flamingo, I found myself crying, shocked at the way certain events unfolded, and pleasantly surprised by the way the author ended it. It gave me what I needed – a break from the real world. I also found the plot resonating with me because I staunchly believe in the afterlife and the fact that the souls often assume a form based on the good and bad karma accumulated over thousands and millions of births. Nevertheless, I liked the way the author decided to build the main narrative around just two characters, detailing the time they spend together, the bond they share, and the uncanny activities they indulge in.
It is also worth mentioning that the story wonderfully goes back and forth, expounding the ‘forgotten’ days of the main character named David Perry and the life he is leading at present. The narrative is heavily influenced by music, leaving us convinced that the author, being a musician himself, does enjoy everything musical.
The main part of the story, anyhow, details David’s efforts to recover lost memories from a certain period during his teens. How does he come to forget such a significant part of his life? What happened back then?
My Take
I strongly suggest that every avid reader give Pretty Flamingo a read, for it will take you on a tootle that you may have never taken before, the return journey being as mystical as the initial one, if not more.
Perry Martin, I believe, is set to emerge as an author who will be read by millions in the near future. His is a style that resonates with readers who love simplicity, who like commonly used words being given a new meaning, and who wish to escape the real world with the sole intention of returning to it with something intriguing. So read Pretty Flamingo, for I know it will not disappoint you, and after you finish, you will only plausibly find yourself evolved, metamorphosed, and… experienced.
Counselling therapist and author Eric Fisher reflects on his lifelong love for writing, the healing power of storytelling, and why discipline and kindness matter
Eric Fisher may be a counselling therapist, but the art of writing has fascinated him from a tender age. Speaking with Literary Harbinger in an exclusive interaction, the quadragenarian, who resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, says he began writing in his preteens. ‘I started by writing short stories and also creating comics using only pencils, featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise,’ he says, adding, ‘I also wrote poems when I was younger. I do not write as many short stories, poems, or create comic books now as I did in my younger years, yet I do look back fondly at those creative conduits and the creative process behind each.’
Writing with Purpose
Fisher began writing screenplays around the age of 15 (yes, you read that right!), pursuing that creative medium well into his late twenties before it fizzled out in recent years. He says he does not write as many screenplays now as he did in the past. ‘That seems to happen with some pursuits in our lives; they rise in importance and then seem less important as time goes on,’ he explains, adding, ‘For many, they find the hobby they enjoy and remain consistent with it, whether that is woodworking, model ship building, crafting, or painting portraits. I think that is awesome, and for the last few years, what I have been able to remain consistent with is writing non-fiction, specifically in the self-help improvement subgenre.’
Fisher’s first book is titled The Martial Art of Recovery: Self-Mastery Practices to Subdue Addiction and Achieve Mental Wellness, and his second is titled Buried Alive: Four Ways to Free Yourself from the Dirt. ‘First off, please let me share that I am a mental health clinician and have been in the field for over 16 years,’ the author, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counselling, tells us. His first book, he lets on, came into being as he tried to connect his knowledge of recovery from substance use and process behaviours such as gambling with his previous experience in a hobby or sport. ‘That happened to be martial arts, American Kenpo in particular.’
Finding Hope Through Adversity
The Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and Counselling Therapist (CT), we learn, began figuring out metaphorical ways, using wordplay, to bring martial arts concepts and techniques to life in the context of mental wellness and recovery. ‘The intersection of martial arts with recovery was cultivated across about 14 months of writing the book. I discuss holistic ways to find wellness and defend against self-sabotage from substances, behaviours, or toxic relationships. Ways to practically apply the material are also given,’ shares Fisher, who is also basic-trained in EMDR and a Master Practitioner of ART, two psychotherapies often used in the treatment of trauma.
Be that as it may, his second book, Buried Alive, came into being because he wanted to connect certain self-help concepts with a major incident that happened in his life. The incident involved his father being accidentally buried alive while digging for Native American artefacts beneath an overhang in the woods of rural Tennessee.
‘In 2005, I video interviewed the three men involved in the near-fatal incident. I transcribed the interviews as best as I could. No AI was used!’ he says. ‘I was able to shed light on ways to be resilient even when dirt in our lives wants to keep us buried. Whether that is depression, shame, guilt, regret, grief, anxiety, or substance use, I show four ways to unearth ourselves from the dirt: the importance of community and connection, the importance of different types of balance in our lives, the CIA acronym (curiosity, introspection, and agency), and a mysterious concept that begins with “W” that will make sense when you go through the section,’ he explains.
Mediocre books sometimes become New York Times bestsellers. Discipline will outweigh the importance of motivation. As long as you have discipline—which shows you enjoy the process, focus on the present moment, and practise self-validation—you will always be on the winning team.
~ ERIC FISHER
Trusting the Creative Process
Fisher’s latest book, entitled Listening On Repeat, details his experiences as a seasoned mental health therapist. ‘Primarily my mistakes and learnings along the way, along with some self-help suggestions for particular challenges, such as impostor syndrome,’ he says.
Up until this point, Fisher has written non-fiction books, and the chapter placements were figured out for each of them. ‘The subsections within the chapters may emerge as I write and are not always planned,’ the author states, adding that one of his upcoming books will be outside the realm of non-fiction. ‘So, it will be interesting to see how I develop the plot points, characters, etc.,’ he says. ‘For that book, I am using a previously written, unproduced screenplay as the blueprint, which already has a beginning, midpoint, and ending. I will flesh out the content for the book, and with that, there will not be much planning, and I will see what comes up spontaneously as I get into the flow of the portion I am writing about. I do not think that either viewpoint reigns supreme!’
An avid reader, Fisher appreciates Gabor Maté for his intriguing approaches to mental health and the way he views each person through a case-by-case lens, avoiding pigeonholing people into broad generalisations. ‘I also like how Bessel van der Kolk shows the importance of sharing that the body indeed keeps the score with trauma, and he does a fantastic job illustrating how the body is impacted and continues to be affected by traumatic experiences. His amount of research on the hugely complex topic of trauma is amazing,’ he says, letting on that he is currently reading Gideon’s Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad. ‘The amount of research its writer, Gordon Thomas, has done is exceptional,’ he says.
On being asked whether becoming an author was a conscious decision, Fisher, who tends to write when inspired, with little to no planning, while ensuring that the chosen approach does not betray his intentions, says he finds the question interesting. ‘I would have to say that yes, it was, yet the creative directions zigzagged in multiple ways before I wrote my first official book, whether that was writing and drawing amateur comic books, poems, screenplays, or short stories. I had always had the idea in the back of my mind of authoring a book, and that finally came to fruition a few years ago,’ he tells us.
But how does he juggle writing and other responsibilities? ‘Mindfulness plays a key role in balancing writing with other responsibilities, including work, family, and recreational activities,’ Fisher declares. He says that time management, which he believes aligns with mindfulness, also greatly aids in maintaining that balance. ‘I know how much time I have for a certain activity, the space in between appointments, and how much writing I can get done before the next scheduled item. Sometimes setting an alarm on my smartwatch for activities helps me stay within the allotted time.’
Giving us a glimpse of his upcoming third book, Fisher, who is also fond of hiking on local and not-so-local trails, biking in local parks, watching films and TV shows, playing board games, travelling to new destinations, and trying exotic foods, lets on, ‘It is non-fiction, autobiographical, with some self-help elements. A type of memoir.’
He continues, ‘The book showcases my experiences as a therapist and what I have learned along the way. Currently in first-draft mode, it is based on a screenplay I wrote years ago. If I had to make a comparison mashup, I would say the book will be Michael Crichton’s Timeline meets Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, with action and sci-fi elements.’
Nonetheless, at this time, Fisher does not really plan to become a full-time author. ‘I do not feel that is my pathway at this time, but hey, if that does come to pass, I will not be annoyed or disappointed!’ he says.
‘Discipline Will Outweigh the Importance of Motivation’
As the conversation continues, we ask him whether there is anything he would like to tell budding authors whose works may not do well, and his response comes quickly. ‘Been there. Done that,’ he smiles.
‘I would tell an author that if they judge their merit based on the number of books they sell, they will always come up short. Many amazing books do not receive the recognition or monetary success they rightfully deserve. Mediocre books sometimes become New York Times bestsellers. Discipline will outweigh the importance of motivation. As long as you have discipline—which shows you enjoy the process, focus on the present moment, and practise self-validation—you will always be on the winning team. On a more practical side, be curious about why your book did not perform well. Perhaps marketing is something that you need to learn more about. Above all, market yourself, and the books will follow,’ he shares. But he does not end there. ‘All the best to the aspiring writers out there!’ he exclaims.
Final Thoughts
Last but not least, we venture to ask him whether there is anything at all that he would like to change in this world, and he tells us that he would like to change the lack of kindness. ‘There is not much effort involved in being kind to another person, regardless of whether they agree with my beliefs and opinions. Kindness is a commodity that pays forward in massive dividends. Being kind can brighten someone’s day without me even knowing it,’ he says.
‘Kindness considers my attitude, motivations, and behaviours. I may help someone be a little kinder to themselves by treating them with kindness. There is a lot of hate and violence in the world, and I feel that kindness could significantly improve how we interact on individual, group, and societal levels. Kindness will most likely be one of the many things we leave behind for others to remember us by,’ he shares, ending the interaction on a thoughtful note.
I may help someone be a little kinder to themselves by treating them with kindness. There is a lot of hate and violence in the world, and I feel that kindness could significantly improve how we interact on individual, group, and societal levels. Kindness will most likely be one of the many things we leave behind for others to remember us by.
