Don Quixote is at times referred to as the first modern European novel. It has been translated into almost every major language. This makes it one of the most widely distributed books, second only to the Bible. Many years ago when I was in school, I read Don Quixote. I remember the story being about…
When I first came up with the idea for the Mrs. B series, I knew Mrs. B would be Polish. My mum and my grandma both grew up in a little Pittsburgh neighborhood called Polish Hill, a microcosm of the “old country.” In Polish Hill, school lessons were in Polish, as was Sunday Mass, and…
Polish Mrs. B is elderly and leads a quiet life in her neighborhood. She interacts with her friends at St. Mary’s Senior Citizen Center, has lunch in the afternoons with friends, and spends quiet evenings at home with her coffee, books, or the movie channel. Wearing her babushka and comfortable shoes, Mrs. B might possibly…
A thunderstorm produces heavy rain and it accompanied by thunder and lightning. At times, it also produces hail and heavy, damaging winds. They are a force of nature, and when conditions are right, they unleash their fury. Unstable air or air that is heavy with water—wind will pick up water from the ground or a…
My first experience with night terrors was at the young age of ten. I remember coming home from a long day of playing at the pool. There’s definitely something to be said about being in the water all day with the sun beating down; it always drained the energy right from me. I recall going…
When you look at any picture, do you only see what is right in front of your eyes? Or do you see more? Maybe you can see romance. Or maybe you are someone who reads mystery, intrigue, or even horror into everything you see. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it…
A story for young and old alike, Recovered: The Shapeshifters’ Library Book 3 takes place in a fantasy world full of dog-shifters, libraries, and books. The characters’ names—such as Sybilla Dinzelbacher Romano, Ms. Robin Quail-Bore, and Digby Manchester Dinzelbacher—are humorous as are the actions of the ones bearing those names. Shipsfeather Public Library has a…
What was the inspiration for this series? How much research did he have to do on medieval words and dialogue? Why are songs and music such a vital part of the story? What advice does he have for writers who aren’t yet published? What was your inspiration for this series? I’ve been a huge fantasy…
Whether you like to be left with questions or prefer to have the plot all bundled up neat and tidy by the end of a story, it is a never-ending debate among both authors and readers: does a cliffhanger ending make a story better or worse? Or is it just plain laziness on the part…
What was the author’s inspiration for this series? Which of the characters would he like to sit down with and have dinner? What is the biggest misconception that he had about being an author before he became one? What was the inspiration for this series? A news report? Random thought? A dream? My wife and…
