Friday, June 26, 2020

Interview with Thriller Author N.J. Croft @nj_croft #Interview #blogtour

After a number of years wandering the world in search of adventure, N.J. Croft finally settled on a farm in the mountains and now lives off-grid, growing almonds, drinking cold beer, taking in stray dogs, and writing stories where the stakes are huge and absolutely anything can happen.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE – http://njcroft.com/
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NJ_Croft
FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/NJCroftThrillerwriter/


About the Book

A woman with a rare genetic illness must uncover her connection to a terrorist group before their next attack in this exciting new bio-thriller from the author of Disease X.

Lucas Grafton has spent the last ten years hunting the Conclave, a secret organization who took everything from him, including his very identity. Now he has a lead—an imminent terrorist attack on London—code-named “Descartes”. But he can’t connect the dots until a seemingly innocent woman appears during his stakeout.

Jenna Young can’t believe she was attacked and barely escaped with her life. Now she’s on the run with a stranger…and racing against the clock. With only a note left by her father after his death, telling her to use the code-word “Descartes” to get the pills that slow the progression of her illness, Jenna has only days before her body will start to rapidly deteriorate.

Lucas and Jenna must piece together why she’s wanted by a terrorist group she’s never heard of. And why, despite her claims that she needs an unknown and presumably illegal drug to stay alive, she seems to be getting stronger by the day…

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2zGHV65

 Barnes & Noble → https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-descartes-evolution-nj-croft/1137073479

Entangled Publishing → https://entangledpublishing.com/the-descartes-evolution.html

 Kobo → https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-descartes-evolution




Can you tell us what your new book is about?

The Descartes Evolution is about a man seeking revenge, a woman searching for the truth about who she is, and the ancient, secret organization that ties them together. An organization that has decided it’s time to take control of the world before we self-implode.  

Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?

There are two main protagonists in The Descartes Evolution.

Luke is a man motivated by revenge. He’s spent the last ten years chasing the shadowy group that murdered his family. He’ll do just about anything to get to them, and he’s crossed his own lines so many times that he no longer knows who he is or what he is capable of.

Jenna is a woman who’s about to find out that her whole life is a lie. And it quickly becomes clear that she needs to uncover the truth or die.

And the villain of the story…Lauren grew up within the Conclave, a clandestine organization who’s only creed is power. Lauren’s loyalty to the Conclave is absolute. She has a mission and she won’t let anything stand in her way.



Your book is set in London.  Can you tell us why you chose this location in particular?

I wanted to set most of the action in a major city and I actually lived in London for a number of years so I know—and love—the city.

How long did it take you to write your book?

The actual writing of the first draft took me about a month. But I do a lot of planning beforehand. That often takes longer than the actual writing, but means that once I do start, I know what my characters are going to do and why they are doing it. I can immerse myself in the writing without constantly stopping to decide what happens next.

After the first draft is finished, then I put it aside for a few weeks before I start the editing process. Which in this case took about another month. So probably three to four months from start to submission.



What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life?

I think moving to Spain. I’m English, but I now live on an almond farm in the mountains of southern Spain between the Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean.  The area is remote and peaceful with spectacular scenery across the mountains and down to the sea. 

As it’s a relatively cheap place to live (we’re a long way from any shops!) I get to write full time, which makes a huge difference. 

And if I’m ever stuck for inspiration, I just go and sit under an almond tree, drink a glass of local wine, and admire the views.  

What kind of advice would you give other thriller authors?

For me, thrillers are all about exploring the things we fear in life, plagues, secret organizations intent on taking over the world, global warming, terrorism…. 

So start with what really scares you in the world today, make it as bad as you can possibly imagine, then write.




Monday, June 22, 2020

Interview with Thriller Noir Author Lee Matthew Goldberg @leematthewg #Interview #blogtour

Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of the novels THE DESIRE CARD, THE MENTOR, and SLOW DOWN. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the 2018 Prix du Polar. The second book in the Desire Card series, PREY NO MORE, is forthcoming, along with his Alaskan Gold Rush novel THE ANCESTOR. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Fringe, dedicated to publishing fiction that’s outside-of-the-box. His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in the anthology DIRTY BOULEVARD, The Millions, Cagibi, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Underwood Press, Monologging and others. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: http://www.leematthewgoldberg.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LeeMatthewG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leemgol
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leematthewgoldberg


About the Book

How far would you go to make your dreams come true? For budding writer and filmmaker Noah Spaeth, being a Production Assistant in director Dominick’s Bambach’s new avant-garde film isn’t enough. Neither is watching Dominick have an affair with the lead actress, the gorgeous but troubled
Nevie Wyeth. For Noah’s dream is to get both the film and Nevie in the end, whatever the cost. And this obsession may soon become a reality once Dominick’s spurned wife Isadora reveals her femme fatale nature with a seductive plot to get rid of her husband for good.

Slow Down, a cross between the noir styling of James M. Cain and the dark satire of Bret Easton Ellis, is a thrilling page-turner that holds a mirror up to a media-saturated society that is constantly searching for the fastest way to get ahead, regardless of consequences.

Here’s what readers are saying about Slow Down!

“Slow Down is a frenetic first novel…full of unedifying characters scrambling for the elusive, perhaps imaginary, brass ring.”
Publishers Weekly

“Lee Matthew Goldberg writes like a young Bret Easton Ellis doing a line of uncut Denis Johnson off the back of a public urinal. Memorable in the best possible way, also mostly illegal, Goldberg’s Slow Down is a mad man’s tour of Manhattan’s vices, follies, and ultimate betrayals.”
–Urban Waite, author of The Terror of Living and Sometimes the Wolf

What would happen if one of Raymond Chandler’s 1940’s femme fatales were to join forces with one of Jay McInerney’s enfant terribles? Lee Matthew Goldberg wrings every delectable trope imaginable out of this mashup while still managing a fresh spin. A writer to watch out for.”
–David Kukoff, author of Children of the Canyon

“Slow Down starts fast and gets faster quick, gunning through yellow streetlights on its way to a full collision with your shattered soul. Lee Matthew Goldberg takes on the American Zeitgeist in this stunning debut.”
–Stephen Jay Schwartz, LA Times bestselling author of Boulevard and Beat

Slow Down is a brilliant rush of a work charting the rise and fall of Noah and other pretentious losers. Savor this book.”
Foreword Reviews

“Dark and hard-boiled writing that grabs you by the throat. Slow Down is one of those rare novels that’s so good you want it to go on forever!”
–Nick Pengelley, author of Ryder: An Ayesha Ryder Novel

“The plot takes off…there’s no denying it’s fun to watch rich snots destroy themselves.”
Booklist

“Goldberg’s portrayal of the New York demimonde is one of the book’s strengths and brings to mind Bret Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero. He also succeeds in marshalling a complicated plot.”
CrimeFictionLover.com

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3dmv8UU




Can you tell us what your new book is about?

Slow Down is a noir about Noah Spaeth, who wants to be a famous writer and director. He falls in with a film being made by avant garde director Dominick Bambach. Dominick is married but is having an affair with Noah’s first love, Nevie Wyeth. He starts to work for Dominick in the hopes of getting Nevie back until Dominick’s wife Isadora hatches a plan to kill her husband.

Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?

Isadora is the wife of Dominick Bambach, she is inspired by Barbara Stanwyck’s character in Double Indemnity.



Your book is set in New York City. Can you tell us why you chose this location in particular?

There are very few places that are more fast paced than NYC. The mantra of the book is for the characters to Slow Down. Something that’s very hard to do in a big city.

How long did it take you to write your book?

A long time, since it was my first. I was learning how to write a novel with it.



What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life?

My second book The Mentor was translated into French and nominated for an award there.

What kind of advice would you give thriller  authors?

If this is the career want, understand rejection will happen and to just be persistent. If you are truly talented, you will get published. 


Thursday, June 11, 2020

5 Questions with David Armstrong, Author of the Historical Novel, 'The Rising Place'


David Armstrong was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. A former mayor and recovering attorney, The Rising Place is David’s debut novel. The book has already been made into a film and is currently available on DVD. David has written two other novels, one of which, The Third Gift, will be released this summer, in addition to four screenplays. When he isn’t working his daytime job as the COO for the city of Columbus, Mississippi, David is working on his fourth novel. He is the father of two grown sons, William and Canon, and he lives in one of the oldest and most haunted antebellum homes in Columbus with a snarky old cat named Butch.

Q: What’s inside the mind of a historical romance author?

A: Well, first of all, I really don’t consider myself a historical romance author. My other two books are coming of age/YA novels, but I also don’t consider myself a Bildungsroman author. My fourth novel is…actually, I’m not too sure what genre it would fall under. With this one, I’m still deciding who/what my audience is, and that’s something I’m really struggling with. Not an ideal place to find yourself in when you’ve written almost two-thirds of the first draft. Anyway… if an idea comes to me, in whatever genre, or a character appears in my head—which is what happened with The Rising Place—then I try to develop it into a novel. Better yet, I let that character inside me tell me his/her story, and I just write whatever they tell me.

Q: Tell us why readers should buy The Rising Place.

A: The story is based on an intriguing premise: What if you found a hidden box of love letters from World War II that belonged to a reclusive old maid who had just died—would you read them? And what if you did read them and discovered a compelling story about unrequited love, betrayal, and murder that happened over seventy years ago in a small, southern town? The novel is written in epistolary form, as the letters tell the story. And it’s a deeply moving story, with unforgettable characters that will escape the reader to another time—an age of innocence, prior to, during, and after World War II America, when life moved more slowly, and more emphasis was put on values like true friendship and forgiveness. And for anyone who’s ever loved someone who didn’t return their love, The Rising Place is definitely for you.


Q: What makes a good historical romance?

A: I think setting is just as important as the story—to some readers, maybe even more so. For the setting of The Rising Place, I chose a small, Mississippi town in the 1940s. Growing up in a historic, old town like Natchez, Mississippi, I heard a plethora of stories (what southern writer hasn’t?) about life and love. I’ve always been fascinated with anything World War II, so I didn’t have to do a great deal of research on the period, which, obviously, is critical for this particular genre. I also think what makes The Rising Place a good, historical romance novel is that it makes you both cry and laugh. And, after all, isn’t that what love is all about?

Q: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

A: The website for the book is therisingplace.com, and the Link to the book is The Rising Place by David Armstrong. I can be contacted at dmatyro@outlook.com.

Q: What has writing taught you?

A: First of all, it’s very hard and consuming work. But when I write, I’m “in the flow”— totally immersed in what I’m doing and basically oblivious to everything and everyone around me. I remember writing the last thirty pages of one of my screenplays, sitting at the bar of a loud and busy restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi. Yes, the bartender and patrons all thought I was totally nuts, and they were probably right. Writing has also taught me to never give up—despite the hundreds of rejections I’ve received over the years—and to listen to my inner voice, which all of us have. Mainly, though, it’s taught me about true friendship. Sadly, I think some people never know true friendship because they’re afraid to reveal who they really are to others. Writing has taught me how to reveal myself to others.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Interview with Steampunk Author Rie Sheridan Rose @RieSheridanRose #Interview #blogtour

Rie Sheridan Rose multitasks. A lot. Her short stories appear in numerous anthologies, including Nightmare Stalkers and Dream Walkers Vols. 1 and 2, and Killing It Softly Vols. 1 and 2. She has authored twelve novels, six poetry chapbooks, and lyrics for dozens of songs. These were mostly written in conjunction with Marc Gunn, and can be found on “Don’t Go Drinking with Hobbits” and “Pirates vs. Dragons” for the most part–with a few scattered exceptions.

Her favorite work to date is The Conn-Mann Chronicles Steampunk series with five books released so far: The Marvelous Mechanical Man, The Nearly Notorious Nun, The Incredibly Irritating Irishman, The Fiercely Formidable Fugitive, and The Elderly Earl’s Estate.
Rie lives in Texas with her wonderful husband and several spoiled cat-children.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://riewriter.com/  and https://theconnmannchronicles.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RieSheridanRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConnMannChronicles/

About the Book

The Marvelous Mechanical Man is the first book in a Steampunk series featuring the adventures of
Josephine Mann, an independent woman in need of a way to pay her rent. She meets Professor Alistair Conn, in need of a lab assistant, and a partnership is created that proves exciting adventure for both of them.

Alistair’s prize invention is an automaton standing nine feet tall. There’s a bit of a problem though…he can’t quite figure out how to make it move. Jo just might be of help there. Then again, they might not get a chance to find out, as the marvelous mechanical man goes missing.

Jo and Alistair find themselves in the middle of a whirlwind of kidnapping, catnapping, and cross-country chases that involve airships, trains, and a prototype steam car. With a little help from their friends, Herbert Lattimer and Winifred Bond, plots are foiled, inventions are perfected, and a good time is had by all.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3bfoz55

Can you tell us what your new book is about?

The Marvelous Mechanical Man is about a young woman who needs a job and the absent-minded professor who she meets at the newspaper office looking for a new assistant. Told from Josephine’s point-of-view, it recounts the adventures they have revolving around the nine-foot mechanical man that Professor Conn has created.

Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?

The main character, Josephine Mann, is a young Irish American woman trying to make her way in the 1870s. She is independent, opinionated, and wryly amusing as she tells the tale in her own inimitable way.

The hero, Alistair Conn is a professor who uses his spare time to create marvelous mechanicals and other fantastical inventions.

One of the things that Alistair has created is the mechanical man, Goliath—which Jo promptly convinces him to rename, as Goliath was a villain and a bully. She christens the marvel Phaeton. He is the centerpiece of the story.

While there are a wide and varied cast of colorful supporting characters, the other that I want to make sure to mention is Jo’s cat, Miss Priss. She may not say much, but she also has a key role in moving this story along—as well as the sequels.



Your book is set in New York City.  Can you tell us why you chose this location in particular?

I wanted to write Steampunk that wasn’t set in England. The whole world existed during Victoria’s reign, so I wanted to explore what might have been going on this side of the pond. Having never been to England when any of the five books were written, that seemed the best course. New York City was pretty much the London of America in the era of Victoria in my eyes.

How long did it take you to write your book?

The original first draft was written for National Novel Writing Month several years ago. It then went through an extensive edit and was published by Zumaya Publications in 2013. In 2016, I regained control of The Marvelous Mechanical Man and its sequels and republished the book with some additional edits. So, depending on how you look at it, between six months and three years.



What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life?

The most pivotal point in my writing life was when I was laid-off in 2002 right before I got married. My then fiance told me I could be a full-time writer and not look for another job. I’ve been working on living up to that gift ever since. That was about ten novels and lots of short stories and poems ago.

What kind of advice would you give other Steampunk authors?

While it doesn’t have to be completely accurate in every detail, your inventions should be plausible. Research is fun, and key to success in this genre. You can add a bit of fantasy or magic to your steam, but don’t forget that at its heart, the mechanics matter.

Also, keep in mind the period. To really work, anachronisms should be kept to a minimum. Life in the 1800s was different than our world is now, and that includes speech patterns and ways of moving. Clothing needs to be taken into account. If you step outside the period, there should be a reason, and someone should probably notice.






Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Interview with Cozy Mystery Author Lena Gregory @LenaGregory03 #Interview #blogtour

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, and the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island. She recently relocated to Clermont, Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

To learn more about Lena and her latest writing endeavors, visit her website at http://www.lenagregory.com/ and be sure to sign up for her newsletter http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts

About the Book

Cass Donovan is reminded that you can’t believe everything you hear, especially when it comes from the dead . . .

When stories begin circulating of a centuries-old ghost haunting the Bay Island lighthouse, Cass is caught up in mystical happenings of her own, with countless voices from the beyond all clamoring for her attention with dire warnings. But before she has a chance to learn whether there’s a connection between the rumored ghost and her restless visitors, the lighthouse keeper mysteriously falls to his death, and Cass’s reputation for communing with the dead lands her right in the middle of the police investigation.

Cass knows the victim was no saint, as he made little effort to hide his philandering ways from his wife or anyone else, and often acted out with no thought for the feelings of others. But had he finally gone too far, or were there more menacing motives behind his murder? As Cass begins building a list of suspects, including the man’s supposedly grieving wife and a mysterious new woman in town, she also turns her ear to those otherworldly voices, hoping for a clue. And as she begins to close in on the culprit, she realizes too late that if she’s not careful, she’ll soon be communicating with the dead in person . . .

BUY LINKS

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0881XMPB2/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=lena+gregory&qid=1588623125&sr=8-6
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grave-consequences-lena-gregory/1136968677?ean=2940162632931
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/grave-consequences-10
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1019948

Bay Island Psychic Complete Series


Can you tell us what your new book is about?  

When stories begin circulating of a centuries-old ghost haunting the Bay Island lighthouse, Cass is caught up in mystical happenings of her own, with countless voices from the beyond all clamoring for her attention with dire warnings. But before she has a chance to learn whether there’s a connection between the rumored ghost and her restless visitors, the lighthouse keeper mysteriously falls to his death, and Cass’s reputation for communing with the dead lands her right in the middle of the police investigation.

Cass knows the victim was no saint, as he made little effort to hide his philandering ways from his wife or anyone else, and often acted out with no thought for the feelings of others. But had he finally gone too far, or were there more menacing motives behind his murder? As Cass begins building a list of suspects, including the man’s supposedly grieving wife and a mysterious new woman in town, she also turns her ear to those otherworldly voices, hoping for a clue. And as she begins to close in on the culprit, she realizes too late that if she’s not careful, she’ll soon be communicating with the dead in person . . .

Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters? 

Cass Donovan gave up her psychiatric practice in New York City and returned home to Bay Island to open a psychic shop on the boardwalk after she lost a patient, divorced her husband, and disowned her best friend. She now spends her time giving psychic readings and solving crimes with her two best friends, Bee and Stephanie. 



Your book is set on Bay Island, New York.  Can you tell us why you chose this location in particular? 

I created the fictional island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, where I grew up and lived until recently. I loved living on Long Island and wanted my town to have all of the same charm as a small Long Island town but with a little bit more remote setting. In book two, Occult and Battery, Bay Island is cut off from the mainland and help because of a blizzard.

How long did it take you to write your book? 

It took about three months to write and edit this book.



What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life? 

Starting to write cozy mysteries was the most pivotal point for me. When I first started writing, I wrote fantasy and sweet romance. When my agent suggested I might enjoy writing cozies, I gave it a try, and I loved it. It’s definitely my favorite genre to write and the one I’ve had the most success with.

What kind of advice would you give other cozy mystery authors? 

I would say make sure to take the time to research the genre. Cozies have a very specific set of guidelines that most readers expect to see.

Thank you so much for having me! 



Monday, June 1, 2020

Interview with Author Ross Victory

Ross Victory is an Award-Winning American author, singer/songwriter, travel geek and author of the father-son memoir, Views from the Cockpit: The Journey of a Son (2019) and Panorama: The Missing Chapter (2020). Ross spent his early years collecting pens, notepads and interviewing himself in a tape recorder. With an acute awareness for his young age, Ross was eager to point out hypocrisies and character inconsistencies in children and adults through English assignments. If he weren’t keeping his English teachers on their toes for what he would say or write next, he was processing his world through songwriting and music.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: http://www.rossvictory.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rossvictoryofficial
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rossvictoryofficial

About the Book

After a friendship ignites and morphs into a curious tale of parallel souls with a Brazilian-American soldier serving in the U.S. military in South Korea, Panorama reflects on the author’s contemplations
to return to a crumbling family life in Los Angeles or to endure his life in Seoul for an end-of-contract cash payout.

With a thought-provoking storyline that covers eating live octopus, philosophical debates about the gender of God, a pregnancy, and bisexual erasure in men, Panorama delivers a page-turning cerebral adventure. Ending with prose that simultaneously bites and soothes, Panorama suggests readers stand tall in their unique intersections of relationships and sex. Reminding us that as daunting as the vicissitudes of life, and no matter the view from the cockpit of life, the human spirit cannot, and should not, be restrained. While truth may be the bitterest pill of them all, the effects of our truth can bring us closer to an unbroken life.

PRAISE
In this small book are two masterpieces, a riveting remembrance of several life-altering experiences and relationships the author began in Seoul, South Korea, and an essay, let’s call it part tirade, part profound reflection on our view of men, masculinity, sexuality, and romance. You cannot stop until finished because there is no midway, no stopping point as you become a part of his world. After nearly every sentence you scream with or at his observations either with critical reflections or ecstasy. Ross has his pulse on his generation and the most precarious issues confronting sexuality and romance.
–Dr. Ritch C. Savin-Williams, Ph.D. –Cornell University & Author of “Mostly Straight: Sexual Fluidity among Men”

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2xZyCNi

 Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/2xfXQac

 


Can you tell us what your new book is about?

Panorama: The Missing Chapter is a follow up to my first book Views from the CockpitViews from the Cockpit is a memoir that reflects on a father-son relationship using airplane metaphors to explore broken bonds, divorce, and memories. A lot of men struggle with their father's decisions, so Views was also of service to men who are trying to navigate life with their fathers. I discovered my dad being abused and neglected by his 3rd wife. The abuse was a lot to accept and cope with in the face of a starkly religious home, which taught me that prayer was the answer. Views helped me move past all of that pain into surrender and understanding. Panorama explores spirituality and sexuality as a coupling, using themes of fatherhood and masculinity to expand on topics covered in Views.

Panorama explores the idea of "Where do we find love?" Is character or one's gender/political affiliation/race the most critical attribute of a human? In a time of collective chaos (COVID-19) and personal chaos (health, finances, and isolation related to COVID-19), Panorama's theme resonates. My father's abuser illuminated how it is nearly impossible to glean one's character on a surface level. So, the healing journey of my dad's loss opened the door to also heal from past relationship traumas that I feel were explicitly tied to being a bisexual man. When I look out into the landscape, bi men are still underrepresented even though lesbians and gays have elevated into the mainstream.

Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?

The main characters are Ross and Alví. Both men find themselves in South Korea—Ross by way of Los Angeles, Alví—by way of New York from Sao Paolo, to escape familial dysfunction. Ross moves to South Korea to teach English in a work abroad program, and Alví moves to South Korea to find shelter in the U.S. military from Brazilian gangsters. Ross is African American, and Alví is Afro-Brazilian. Sasha is a bi-racial woman (African-American and Korean). She moves to South Korea to escape her cat hoarding parents. Nerissa, the final role, is the only character living in the United States. All the characters identify as bi+.

Your book is set in Seoul, South Korea.  Can you tell us why you chose this location in particular?

Seoul is where the events naturally occurred. Seoul is a colorful, 21st-century metropolis filled with traffic, food stands, and the random Korean temple.

How long did it take you to write your book?

Panorama took approximately one year to write and was finally completed while I was vacationing in Tulum, Mexico.




What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life?

The most pivotal point of my writing life was the release of my first book—Views from the Cockpit. I never imagined writing a book and releasing it to the world and reigniting my passion for music. But then I never imagined all of the events and the pain that would occur that would inspire the need to write a book. Over the past two years, every moment, I am thankful I can express myself through the written word.

What kind of advice would you give other Memoirs/Real Life Stories authors?

Keep it real. Don’t write to please people. Write from your heart.