Robert J Dornan is someone who wishes to leave a better
world to his children. He realizes that the odds are slim but he will do
whatever he can to increase the probability of success. He is always open to discuss new and
innovative ideas and hopes someday to see the building of a functional solar
city as well as a fair and community-driven compensation system.
Robert’s latest book is the historical fiction, 23
Minutes Past 1 A.M.
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It’s a pleasure to have you here today, Robert. Can you tell
us what your new book is about?
First of all, thank-you for the opportunity to discuss 23 Minutes Past 1 A.M. with your
readers. I welcome all feedback and can be reached via email to discuss my
books as well as a variety of environmental subjects.
During the early hours of April 26, 1986, Reactor Four of the Chernobyl Nuclear
Plant exploded, 23
Minutes is a fictional account of how the lives of two sisters were forever
changed by this horrific accident.
Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting
characters?
Mila and Tania Kharmalov are sisters in their early twenties
who were born in Moscow and later
moved to the nuclear city of Pripyat. Mila is strong headed, and at times, bold
while Tania has a soft personality and timid of confrontation.
Valeri Markov, the primary villain, is the most complex
character I have ever written and a complete enigma to the other characters in
the novel. He appears vain and overly
extroverted yet as the story unfolds we learn that he is totally dependent on
the person that most would consider as Markov’s sidekick.
Aaron Byrd is the friend of Mila’s daughter and is
“interviewing” Tania, hoping to write the story of a lifetime. He is often flabbergasted and confused by
East European customs or mannerisms but even more flabbergasted by Mila’s
daughter, whom he loves dearly.
Your book is set in both Pripyat and Kiev. Can you tell us why you chose these cities in
particular?
Pripyat was situated a kilometer and a half from Chernobyl’s
Reactor Four. The city, the most modern
in all of Ukraine,
was considered the jewel of all Soviet nuclear cities. Although tiny in comparison to Moscow,
Pripyat had every imaginable luxury including a marina, coffee shops and
high-end restaurants. When Pripyat was evacuated, a good percentage of its
citizens found refuge in Kiev and
most remained there for the rest of their lives.
Open the book to page 69.
What is happening?
The Kharmalov family is eating dinner the evening before
Tania is to be married. Her future
husband, Yuri, is joining the family and has been discussing his boss as well
as the surprise inspection intended for the nuclear plant that evening. The discussion turns to Yuri’s best friend
Alex and Alex’s mother who will also be attending the next day’s ceremony. When Mr. Kharmalov jokes about Alex’s mother
he is admonished by his wife but he manages to crack one more silly comment to
his son. Mila laughs, not realizing that
this would be the last dinner they would all spend together.
What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life?
The first time a stranger told me she liked one of my books
was pivotal for me. It was exhilarating
and in turn, inspired me to continue learning the craft. Aside from that, in the past decade I’ve
become more involved in topics that will affect the lives of my children and
these issues have inspired me and are thus central in most of my stories.
What kind of advice would you give other fiction authors?
The very first subject I’d discuss is research. If you haven’t exhausted your research lines
then you haven’t done enough. Also, and
take the following with a grain of salt, but write what you wish to write. The second that you worry what your family
and friends will think of your creation, the story is dead.