New interview with novelist Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

A nice welcome back to novelist Kathryn Elizabeth Jones as we chat about her newest novel, The Gift: A Parable of the Key.

A little bit about Kathryn:

Kathryn has been a published writer since 1987. She graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Mass Communication and a minor in Creative Writing. Her studies included work in creative writing, public relations and journalism. In 2012, she opened the doors to Idea Creations Press, a publishing services company that caters to writers and their writing, publishing, and marketing needs.

Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews.

Thanks!

Please tell us about your newest release.

The Gift: A Parable of the Key is the last book in the Parable series about Virginia and her struggles to overcome life's challenges. With the help of the five stones, Listening, Trust, Optimism, Tenacity and Constancy, Virginia learns with the help of God all things are possible. Though losing their baby has presented Virginia and her husband, Richard, with the greatest challenge of all - they soon discover that with God's help, they can yet - heal.

What inspired you to write this book?

I knew there was one more story to Virginia's life that needed to be told. In the first book, she loses her job - a difficult struggle to say the least - but not the most difficult struggle on the planet. In book 2, she isn't able to have a child and by the end of the book we see a miracle happening in the life of Virginia. We think all is settled and good, but in life there are always opportunities to stretch - to become something more. The Gift is all about that.

What’s the next writing project?

I am working on a book with a friend of mine entitled, Heaven 24/7. A book of true stories about living heaven on earth. I am also working on book 3 in my mystery series. This book is titled, Hard Boiled, and returns Susan home from her honeymoon only to find that her ex-husband has been killed.

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book?

Probably the hardest part for me is the mid-section of the book; keeping the tension going, the scenes interesting, connected and engaging. I don't want to lose the writer mid-way through the book.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?

Research is a big deal. I usually start my book, and fill in what I learn through research on the way. I find that if I sit down to plan my entire book including all of the research I need for it, I get bogged down and don't want to start writing it. By just getting in there and writing I find that I am able to fill in the gaps that I don't know as I go, by stopping the story and researching what I need for the next scene.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.

I do have a writing office - a place I also bring writing clients, however, it's in dire need of some fix-ups. The carpet has been pulled up and the walls need some painting. We are remodeling the kitchen and my office will come next - probably sometime next year when we put in the kitchen floors that will be the same in the office. Until then, I keep the place as neat and clean as possible, and all of my clients know that the office is a work-in-progress.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?

I enjoy C.S. Lewis and have just come upon Beverly Lewis (she writes Amish fiction). I really don't have an affinity with authors with the last name of Lewis, it's just what's been connecting with me recently. I also enjoy any book that will help me to draw closer to God.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?

I appreciate so much the readers who enjoy my work and have told me that they do. I have many who also do book reviews, which I appreciate as well. As an author, you do all you can to connect with readers and want your books to be something that the reader remembers, for all of the good reasons.

Thank you for coming back to Reviews and Interviews!

You're welcome! I've had a great time!

Interview with novelist Michellene Barrett

Today's special guest is author Michellene Barrett and focuses on her novel, Englisha and David's Adventurous Vacation.

  

Welcome, Michellene. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

In my senior year of high school, I published my first juvenile fiction, Englisha and David's Adventurous Vacation. The story of Englisha and David is about two teens who begin dating and embark on an adventurous vacation in Los Angeles. They must learn the value of love, forgiveness and living life to the fullest.

In the fourth grade, I began writing stories about the adventures of Englisha and David. During lunch time, my classmates would listen as I shared my stories. They would say, "Michellene, you need to be a published author. Your stories are so funny." I soon began my quest to becoming a published author and eight years later, it became a reality. 

I graduated from Columbia University Teachers College with a master's degree in Literacy. I also obtained my bachelor's degree in Childhood Education from City College of New York. I am currently an elementary school teacher in New York City. 

Please tell us about your current release.

I am currently working on my second book in the Englisha series which comes in the fall of 2015. The main characters Englisha and David are now seniors in high school and they have to navigate through a lot of drama. Their relationship is tested when David's secret comes out. It's a story about trusting again, forgiveness and love. 

What inspired you to write this second book?

I was inspired to write my second book because of all the fans of my first book Englisha and David's Adventurous Vacation. I always wanted to write the story of Englisha and David as a book series. But there was a time after writing my first book where I no longer felt like writing. I was in college and I felt disconnected from my target audience (preteens and teens). I didn't think as an adult that I could write stories that would appeal to teens. All that changed last summer when I worked at the Action Arts Summer Camp at Columbia University Teachers College. I began reading my first book Englisha and David's Adventurous Vacation to the campers and I was surprised by their reaction. It was like I was in elementary school all over again. All the campers from ages 6-13 gathered around and listened to my story. They enjoyed the book so much that they began to share ideas for a book 2. Right there, I was inspired to write book 2 and make it bigger and better than my first book. 

Excerpt from Englisha and David's Adventurous Vacation:

"Tomorrow is my sixteenth birthday!" Englisha Regents shouted to her best friend, Laurenthina, as they entered the school building. 

"Tomorrow is also the last day of school. Hooray!" Laurenthina chimed in as she swiped in her ID card through the security system. "Well, who are you going to invite to your party?"

"Okay, let's see: you, Jasmine, Jasmina, and Clender," Englisha said. "Well, that's all I thought of so far." 

Laurenthina's eyes opened wide. "Are you telling me that you are not inviting any boys?" 

"I don't know, but you can tell your brother to come," Englisha said, trying to find a seat in the lunchroom so she could eat her breakfast. 

Laurenthina flipped her long, curly, light brown hair as she sat down. Laurenthina looked at Englisha as if she were crazy. "Oh, come on! My brother?" 

"Well, I could invite David, from my Spanish class," Englisha said, uncertain. Englisha had liked David since freshman year of high school, but he had a girlfriend. 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I first began writing stories, I never saw myself as a writer. I was just writing for fun. I continued to write because my classmates were entertained. I began to think of myself as a writer once my audience began to grow. At my elementary school, I attended the after-school program where my peers would gather around and listen to my stories. They would say, "Michellene, your stories are good. You should get them published." The more I heard that, the more I gained confidence and believed that I should be a published author.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I was in the fourth grade when I first wrote the story of Englisha and David's Adventurous Vacation. I would write my stories when we had creative writing time in class. I would also bring my writing journal to lunch and continue writing. I am currently an elementary school teacher so it is so hard to find time to write. Sometimes I write for about an hour on Sundays. I mostly write when I'm on the train or bus. 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Sometimes I get really impatient when writing. I would get so excited about a certain scene because I want to know what happens at the end. I have this urge to turn the page and read the end of the chapter but I can't because I'm writing it. Also my brain goes so much faster than my hands can write or type. So I have to remind myself to slow down, be patient and write the necessary details that leads up to the end of that chapter. 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child, I also wanted to be a teacher. When I developed a love for writing, I decided that I would do both. I would be a teacher and an author. If there was any extra time, I would be a singer/songwriter too. My goal is to use all my talents in a positive way.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Look out for my second book which comes out fall 2015! It's my best writing! You will really enjoy it! 

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

Thanks, Michellene. Happy writing!

Special excerpt for contemporary romance Under the Covers by Claire Boston

Today is a special feature for the contemporary romance novel, Under the Covers by Claire Boston.

During her virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, Claire will be awarding e-book copies of What Goes on Tour and All that Sparkles, the first two books in The Texan Quartet to two lucky randomly drawn winners. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops, and enter there too!

A bit about the author:

Claire Boston is the best-selling author of The Texan Quartet. In 2014 she was nominated for an Australian Romance Readers Award as Favourite New Romance Author.

Her debut contemporary romance novel, What Goes on Tour caught the attention of Momentum’s Joel Naoum when her first scene was read aloud at the Romance Writers’ of Australia (RWA) conference in 2013. This led to a four book contract for The Texan Quartet series.

Claire is proactive in organising social gatherings and educational opportunities for local authors. She is an active volunteer for RWA, as a mentor for aspiring authors and the reader judge coordinator.

When Claire’s not writing she can be found in the garden attempting to grow vegetables, or racing around a vintage motocross track. If she can convince anyone to play with her, she also enjoys cards and board games.

Claire lives in Western Australia, just south of Perth, with her husband, who loves even her most annoying quirks, and her grubby, but adorable Australian bulldog.

A little bit about Under the Covers:

What if the one time you didn't want love was when you truly needed it?

Forced to flee her abusive ex, alone with no support, Elle is determined to rebuild her life and protect her five-year-old son. Not one to take the easy road, she opens a bookshop café, but opening day almost ends in disaster. In the midst of this chaos, the last thing she needs is a man as charming as George Jones getting in her way.

George has always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and Elle ticks all the boxes. But Elle's not interested in being rescued by anyone, especially not him. She knows her taste in men can't be trusted, but fighting George's charisma is harder than she expected. And George, who is not one to ignore an itch, has found there's something about Elle that's got under his skin.

When Elle's ex turns up to cause trouble, George must overcome his boyish flirtatiousness if he's to convince Elle to trust herself and let him into her life. But can Elle put her past behind her before it overwhelms her present?

Excerpt from Under the Covers:

This is their first kiss. They’ve just come from an altercation with Elle’s ex and she’s angry that George stepped in because it made matters worse. George is trying to explain why he did what he did.

“I said we were friends, didn’t I? I wouldn’t let any of my friends – Piper, Imogen, Libby, Adrian, Chris – face what you’ve had to face alone. It’s not who I am.”

“But I asked you not to.”

He nodded. “I know and I’m sorry I made it worse. I couldn’t stand by and watch you face that bully by yourself. I care for you.” He brushed away the tear that had escaped her eye. “I should have trusted you had everything under control.”

Her anger deflated.

She squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want this, this kindness, this caring, these warm and contented feelings that were being stirred up inside her. She couldn’t trust those. She’d felt those with Dean and she’d been oh so wrong about them.

But, damn, she was tempted.

George stepped closer, gathering her into his arms, and she didn’t resist. How could she? She wanted to be able to lean on someone, even if only for a minute.

Giving in to the temptation, Elle wrapped her arms around his waist and felt him relax.

He was as uncertain as she was.

That made her smile.

George stroked her back, sending lovely, shimmery warmth everywhere. She gave herself a minute to enjoy it and then stepped back.

His eyes captured her; something in them said he would protect her, that he cared for her.

After five years of having no one she could turn to for help, the invitation was beyond enticing. She wanted someone she could rely on, someone she could talk her worries over with, someone to just be there.

But was she wanting too much?

George watched her, waiting. He was letting her make the choice. He was giving the power to her.

That was what made her decision for her.

She leaned forward and kissed him.

Links:

Website | Blog | Reader Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | YouTube 

Retailer links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Google Play | Kobo | iBooks                       

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Interview with novelist Nina Schuyler

Today’s spotlight shines on novelist Nina Schuyler as she talks a bit about her book, The Translator.

As Nina does a virtual book tour for The Translator she is also sponsoring a giveaway that includes a copy of the book and a packet of bonsai seeds for the Japanese cherry blossom (the blooms featured on the cover of The Translator.) To be entered for a chance to win the giveaway, use the form below. 

Welcome, Nina. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in Washington State, on the west side of the Cascade Mountains, where the rain and heavy gray clouds are a constant, but everything's green green. That green, I think, is in my blood forever. There were four of us, four girls, and I was the second oldest. I could always be found reading a book, in bed, on the couch, a lawn chair. I think it caused my parents grave concern--will this girl ever venture out into the world?

The Translator is my second novel, and it won the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. It was also named a Recommended Book by the San Francisco Chronicle, and has been translated into Hebrew, Taiwanese and Chinese. My first novel, The Painting, was nominated for the Northern California Book Award and named a Best Book by the San Francisco Chronicle. Nina Schuyler teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco and Book Passage.

Please tell us about your current release, The Translator.

When renowned translator Hanne Schubert falls down a flight of stairs, she suffers from an unusual but real condition ― the loss of her native language. Speaking only Japanese, a language learned later in life, she leaves for Japan. There, to Hanne’s shock, the Japanese novelist whose work she recently translated confronts her publicly for sabotaging his work.

Reeling, Hanne seeks out the inspiration for the author’s novel ― a tortured, chimerical actor, once a master in the art of Noh theater. Through their passionate, volatile relationship, Hanne is forced to reexamine how she has lived her life, including her estranged relationship with her daughter.

What inspired you to write this book?

In 2007, I read an article in The New Yorker, "The Translation Wars," by David Remnick about a married couple busy re-translating all the great Russian novels into English. They'd originally been translated by an English woman, Constance Garnett, and she'd done a poor job of it. As a girl, I devoured Russian literature, and, it turned out, I'd read the Garnett translations. The article got me thinking about translation, which I'd never really considered before. When you read a translated book, whose story are you getting? What is the process of translation? Where does subjectivity come into the picture?

Excerpt from The Translator:

Hanne sets down Kobayashi’s novel. The book did well in Japan, in part because Kobayashi revealed in an interview that his main character, Jiro, was inspired by the famous Noh actor, Moto Okuro. So intrigued, so fascinated was he by this remarkable man, that Kobayashi began the book right after he met Okuro. “Moto cured five years of writer’s block,” Kobayashi told the magazine. “If he reads my book—and what an honor if he did—I hope he sees it as homage to him.”

The name Moto Okuro meant nothing to Hanne, and she doesn’t know much about the ancient Japanese theater art of Noh, except masks are used for different characters, and the characters speak in a stilted, almost unintelligible language. There’s music to contend with, and almost like a Greek play, a chorus. She’d have to read Kobayashi’s Trojan Horse Trips herself first, on her own terms, she told the publisher. Only if she understood the main character would she be able to successfully translate the book into English. At her enormous blackboard, custom-made to take up one entire wall, she begins to write a sentence in Japanese.

Iradachi, the Japanese word for frustration. Of course you are frustrated, Jiro, thinks Hanne. You’ve brought your wife from one doctor to another, and more than a year later, there is no sign of improvement, no answers. You are in the same place you were three, five months ago. And what has become of your life? Turned into something unrecognizable, you no longer know who you are.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I'm not sure what's unfolding. Something to do with the blend of history and contemporary, and how family secrets bleed into and distort the present moment.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I'd always been an avid reader, but I think the awe and reverence I felt for what writers could do on the page stopped me. Or at least made me doubt that I could ever create something worthwhile. I still have that awe, and I'm glad about that. My sense of myself as a writer began through journalism, as a newspaper reporter. I wrote for a legal newspaper, covering criminal law and employment, and anything else I stumbled upon. I had to file 10-15 stories a month. That job taught me to turn outward to the world, to be curious and ask questions and explore. I find that muscle is there in my fiction. For The Translator, I interviewed nine literary translators, to understand how they work, and read a great deal about translation theory.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

With two children, I've learned to be very flexible in terms of time and my goals. I write every day, not necessarily a lot, but something. When I reflect on my writing life, I see I'm pretty good at transitioning--from making breakfast, getting the kids to school, to sitting down and writing. Or after dinner, baths, bedtime stories, homework, I sometimes find myself at my desk again. I always keep a notebook nearby, so if something comes to me, I write it down. When you're in the thick of something, it's interesting how the world hands you these gifts. A snippet of conversation that seems to fit perfectly into the story; a gesture, an image, an idea.

As a writer, I've learned to cobble together a life, in order to pay the bills. I teach writing, fitness classes, interview lawyers for a trade publication, edit novels and short stories. Right now, I think I have five jobs.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I fiddle with language-- a lot. I print out a passage and go over it, reading it out loud, changing words. Print it out again, again. A writer friend of mine introduced me to the work of Russian psychologist, L.S. Vygotsky, who believed that we come to know ourselves and our world through "inner speech." It's a private language, almost preverbal, that comes closest to pure meaning. I think I'm listen to the way words sound, but also this private speech.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, I had such dreams of being a professional tennis player. I could see it, right down to my bright white shoes, my ankle socks and tennis skirt.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I'm grateful for the opportunity to talk with you. I love hearing from readers and can be reached at ninaschuyler@gmail.com.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

To buy the book:

IndieBound | Powell’s | Book Passage | Amazon

Thanks, Nina! 

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Interview with urban paranormal fantasy author Kirsten Campbell

Happy Monday, readers! Today’s guest is Kirsten Campbell. We’re chatting about her new urban paranormal fantasy novel, Blood Master – Book 1 of the G.O.D.s series.

Bio:

Kirsten Campbell is an author of several published Urban Paranormal Fantasy short stories and a published poet. Her work has been published in Bewildering Stories, The Pittsburgh Quarterly Online, Ascent Magazine, The Fairfield Review, Poets-Artists & Madmen, Interracial Voice, The CoffeehousePress Journal, The Write Gallery, Sagazine Online, Beauty Talk, COBRA, and several other magazines. Pudding House Publications published her chapbook, The Abandoning Kind,” in 2009 and Ladybug Press published her chapbook, “Poetry from the Covert Bourgeoisie.” Her Urban Paranormal novel, Blood Master-Book 1 of The G.O.D.s Series is an Amazon Top 100 Best Seller and the second book of the series, Blood Rage, is due out this year! Kirsten also co-authored a non-fiction book, Chocolate & Diamonds for the Woman’s Soul, and it’s due out on September 13, 2015.

Kirsten is an Executive Assistant to the Vice President, General Counsel and the Legal, Compliance & Funds Department of an investment firm in Stamford, CT. She lives in Brewster, NY, with her lovely daughters and three beautiful grandchildren. She loves to watch anime and is an accomplished sculptress and she paints and draws.

Visit Kirsten at www.kcampbell-gods.com or www.kirstencampbellbooks.com or check out her Facebook fan page for Blood Master - Book 1 of the G.O.D.s series.

Welcome, Kirsten. Please tell us about your current release.

2052: Griffin Storm lives in Underground Atlanta & he cares for the abandoned children there. He's kidnapped, brought to the Brotherhood. Many think Griffin is the prophesied one because of his unusual abilities, but Griffin is an escaped experiment. He's destined to transform into a G.O.D., a Genetically-enhanced Omni Dimensional being with the power to call demons from hell and angels from heaven. He will be a Blood Master. Do you believe in G.O.D.s? Read Blood Master. You will believe...

What inspired you to write this book?

I was abandoned as a child and left with very abusive grandmother. I always wished for someone to take me out of that horrible situation. I dreamt of a hero, dreamt of Griffin Storm…

Excerpt from Blood Master:

Forward

“The Underground, what’s the Underground? You keep saying that like it’s an actual place.”

“It is an actual place. I live there. I’ve been there a while now. It used to be Underground Atlanta, but since the earthquakes, it’s just called the Underground. It’s a wreck, but people still live there. My friend, Waylene, lives there. She told me that I shouldn’t stop to help anyone or I’d wind up getting hurt.”

“She was right,” Tassta said and chuckled. She left the room for a second. When she returned she handed Griffin a wet washcloth. “Put it on the bump. It’s bleeding again.”

Griffin nodded and laid the washcloth over the bump on his head. He smiled sheepishly then continued. “Waylene’s my best friend’s daughter. His name’s Skylar Jennings. He’s the leader of the underground dwellers, the people that I take care of and go on raids for.”

“Why do you put your life on the line for them?”

Griffin shrugged. “I guess there’s no one else stupid enough to do it.”

“How many people are down there?”

“I don’t know, hundreds?”

“That many? Why don’t they get their own supplies?”

“Because most of them are children, little children,” Griffin said quietly. His lips tightened and his head suddenly felt heavy, so he bent forward while peering up through his feathery, white eyelashes. He knew this little piece of information would hit Tassta hard, but he also felt she had to know the truth. He figured Tassta was sheltered at the Brotherhood and from what he could see; she knew nothing of real life out on the streets or in the Underground since the Great War and the earthquakes. Oh, he knew she had heard rumors and been on a few raids, but he also knew that her brother would never let her go out and investigate the validity of the rumors of those five blocks underground that used to be known as Underground Atlanta. No, sweet little Tassta Vinetti was protected from the harshness of the typical life outside of the Brotherhood.

“There are hundreds of children in the Underground? That can’t be true. That’s impossible…”

What exciting story are you working on next?

Blood Rage – Book 2 of the G.O.D.s Series

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I was published in a magazine in 1996. After that, I sent out poetry and stories every few months and got published a few times a year.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I work at an investment firm and I wrote my books on the commute to and from my job. At times, I just write at home.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I need to have my pens, paper, phone, pads of paper and thesaurus right there within my reach or I can’t write.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A fireman and a doctor.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I love children and animals, hate getting flowers because once they’re picked, they die and I love cheddar cheese more than chocolate!

Links:

Website | Website | Facebook

Thank you, Kirsten!

Review of Stephanie Gayle's mystery "Idyll Threats"

Idyll Threats

by Stephanie Gayle

Mystery

Reviewed by Lisa Haselton

Transitioning from being a NYC detective to police chief in a small CT town is quite a change and Thomas Lynch wants to make it work while keeping his private life separate from his professional life.

When he’s called in to investigate a murder, it’s common ground for Lynch with his introspective and methodical ways of approaching a new case. But it’s not common for small Idyll, CT. In fact, it’s quite inconvenient for the small town as Founder’s Day – a tourist draw – is about to begin. So Lynch and his staff are under a lot of pressure to solve the case quickly.

The realistic details add a lot of dimension to the fictional town of Idyll – whose inhabitants are anything but idle. Everyone knows everybody and secrets quickly become town gossip. As the new guy, Lynch faces a lot of suspicion and questions – especially about why he’d move to a small town from the big city. On top of that, he needs to not only get to know his staff, but also teach them the intricacies of solving a murder, as it’s not someone anyone has any experience with.

Gayle has crafted a main character with real-life flaws. He has doubts, he’s awkward as the new guy, and he’s struggling with his past – not unlike most of us. He’s a likable character and I felt natural empathy as I learned more of his back story. He loves being a cop – it’s a calling more than a career – and he’s good at it. The interactions with his staff are naturally awkward, since he’s so new to the job and change is never easy for anyone.

I loved how Chief Lynch pulled me into the small town’s murder investigation and I enjoyed the contrasts explored from his NYC experience to small-town America. It was also fun realizing how much technology has changed since 1997 – and attitudes toward an individual’s lifestyle. I admit to being a murder mystery buff and this story kept me engaged and curious. I forgot I was reading at times, as it seemed I was in the moment.

This is the first novel in Stephanie Gayle’s new Thomas Lynch series. I have to hope the next one comes out soon! Gayle has published several stories, narrative nonfiction articles, and another novel, My Summer of Southern Discomfort.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Idyll Threats and look forward to more in this new series. I consider this a highly recommended, pleasurable mystery read.

If you’re interested in learning more about Stephanie, visit her website.

Also: she’ll be the guest at The Writer’s Chatroom where you can chat with her live on Sunday, September 13 from 7-9PM EST.

Release date: September 8, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-6388-078-8

Publisher: Seventh Street Books

(I received an ARC of this book with no promise of a review of any kind.)

Interview with new adult novelist Iris Dorbian

Author Iris Dorbian is in the hot seat today. She’s touring her new adult novel, Love, Loss and Longing in the Age of Reagan: Diary of a Mad Club Girl.

During her virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, Iris will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Iris Dorbian is a former actress turned business journalist/blogger. Her articles have appeared in a wide number of outlets that include the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Venture Capital Journal, Buyouts DMNews, CFO.com, Playbill, Backstage, Theatermania, Live Design, Media Industry Newsletter and PR News. From 1999 to 2007, Iris was the editor-in-chief of Stage Directions. She is the author of Great Producers: Visionaries of the American Theater, which was published by Allworth Press in August 2008; and Love, Loss and Longing in the Age of Reagan: Diary of a Mad Club Girl, which was published by Tablo in 2015. Her personal essays have been published in Blue Lyra Review, B O D Y, Embodied Effigies, Jewish Literary Journal, Skirt! Diverse Voices Quarterly and Gothesque Magazine. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Welcome, Iris. Please tell us about your current release.

Love, Loss and Longing in the Age of Reagan: Diary of a Mad Club Girl is a young adult coming of age story set in downtown New York City in the early 1980s. Edie is a naïve NYU student desperate to lose her virginity and to experience adventure that will finally make her worldly, setting her further apart from her bland suburban roots. But in her quest to mold herself into an ideal of urban sophistication, the New Jersey-born co-ed gets more than she bargained for, triggering a chain of events that will have lasting repercussions.

What inspired you to write this book?

The book is loosely based on my experiences as an NYU student in the early 1980s. It had been a very exciting but chaotic time, one that took me a long time to reconcile myself with long after it was over.

Excerpt from Love, Loss and Longing in the Age of Reagan: Diary of a Mad Club Girl:

From Chapter 8:

I was mesmerized by Chloe’s adventures but also a little jealous. My virginity was becoming a grievous burden and a source of shame. I wanted to get rid of it but how? I was not unattractive but I was timid when it came to my body and awkward with expressions of physicality. Outside of a peck during a game of spin the bottle when I was nine years old and an awkward smack on the lips during a bad date in high school, I had barely been kissed. I felt myself a walking embarrassment to myself, my peers, NYU and the sophisticated life I wanted to have and emulate. Would Anais Nin and Gloria Steinem be so mousy and maladroit? I don’t think so.

            Drugs might not have helped me unfasten this invisible chastity belt squelching my erotic existence but I did see them as a way of gaining insight into life’s true secrets. Except for pot, which I adored but never purchased, always relying on the kindness of strangers and friends to ply me with it, I never really developed a passion for narcotics. But I didn’t refrain from using them to satisfy my curiosity or to keep me up if I had to cram all night for a final the next day.

            Sometimes, it would backfire. Like one time, Chloe gave me a “caffeine pill,” when I told her I needed to stay up all night and finish an English history paper due the next afternoon. I took that “caffeine pill” alright—and then proceeded to clean and vacuum our dorm room—twice—before throwing on my mini gold lame dress and galloping off to Danceteria, a then popular club located nearby.          

But I had always been curious about LSD. My rock heroes, the Beatles and the Who, had taken LSD and had spoken at length about its effects. I wasn’t interested in taking the drug on a regular basis; I just wanted to see what the big deal was with the drug and take it just once. Even if I would remain a virgin always (the thought palled), at least I could gain experience in other areas to make me the quasi-rounded woman of my dreams.

“Acid is great, Edie,” Peter said to me over dinner when I told him I was interested in taking it. “It’s truly like no other drug. It’s like a truth serum—the way it clarifies your feelings—about everything. We should take it together.”

            Unfortunately, that never happened because Peter had always devised a string of barely plausible excuses for us not to do it together. We would plan to do it and yet again something would come up on Peter’s end to derail it.         

            Around this time, Chloe and I began going to the clubs on an almost nightly basis. Monday night it was Danceteria, Wednesday was the Pyramid, Friday was the Ritz and Saturday it was Danceteria again, (our favorite club) or another new hotspot. For me, those nights were bathed with a perfume of sweetness so airy and intoxicating I felt like I was floating in my own cloud. Pot and Quaaludes only deepened the pleasure. As the strobe lights poured over our bodies and everyone else in the club, limbs writhing, conjoined in a human tangle, I would look at Chloe and smile. I had never felt so alive. This was the reason why I came to New York. To feel like this. Always.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I just finished writing a draft of a novella. The story is very loosely based on my father’s experiences in a displaced persons’ camp in Germany after World War II. He was a child survivor of the Holocaust who lived in the d.p. camp for four years after being liberated by British troops in May 1945.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I got paid for it! My first published byline appeared in the English edition of the Forward newspaper. It was a book review of W.G. Sebald’s “The Emigrants.” It was a few hundred dollars, not a lot. But I was so excited and thrilled that I made a copy of that check and pasted it on my mirror so I could look at it every day and get motivated.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I’m a journalist and blogger so the answer is yes. My work day starts with my getting up after 6 am and logging onto my computer. I’ll take a short break after I finish the first of my duties and then resume work. Much of what I do is post breaking news briefs/stories and I’ll try to compile as much as I can because I’m constantly on deadline. I’ll work until 4ish when the work flow begins to ebb.

As a creative writer, I’ll work in the evening and on the weekends but only when I have something to say. That goes for my personal essays, short stories and my current book, Love, Loss and Longing in the Age of Reagan.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Other than a red Kabbalah bracelet that I always like to keep on me for good luck, I can’t think of any. Sorry.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was 6 or 7 years old, I fantasied about growing up and being a singer/frontwoman of a rock band. My stage name was Lilac Crusade. I have no idea how I came up with that name. I had a very busy inner life.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

If you are interested in reading an engaging and engrossing young adult coming of age story set in the greatest city in the world and during one of the most fascinating, event-filled periods of the modern era, then you should read my book!

Links:

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Thanks, Iris!

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