Interview with
S. S. Bazinet
Author of
Today I have the pleasure to present an author whose work embodies the abiding power of love. Like many people in today’s world, S.S. Bazinet AKA Sandy S. Bazinet creates characters who often feel overwhelmed in the beginning of the story. However, their journey is one of healing and rediscovering their true selves.
First of all, I want to thank Uvi Poznansky for giving me the opportunity to discuss my passion for writing. And I’m very grateful to have a passion for telling stories. After having writer’s block for over twenty years, I feel very fortunate to have published over twenty books. My key to success was trusting that inner part of myself, my heart, instead of listening to my critical mind.
Is there a theme in the books you write?
All of my books have a central theme, the abiding power of love. The characters face situations that are often emotionally very difficult, sometimes traumatic, but in the end, they find the strength and courage to triumph.
You’ve written a number of series. Would you like to discuss one in particular?
Yes, I’d like to talk about “The Madonna Diaries.” The series is about two brothers trying to survive during a deadly pandemic. Dory, a famous, successful artist, is an introverted, tortured soul. He paints Madonnas as a way of coping. His brother, Milton, a doctor and researcher, is a humanitarian who’s trying to find a cure for the virus that’s consuming the world’s population. When Dory is infected with the lethal virus, they come together to not only fight the disease and keep Dory alive, but to also heal their childhoods and to find the faith and happiness that’s missing in their lives.
Why did you pick this series to discuss?
“The Madonna Diaries” have a universal theme. Like its main character, a person named Dory, many of us can feel overwhelmed by circumstances. Some of us are burdened with grief, some with health issues, and some with troubled relationships. In Dory’s case, he’s been hit with it all. However, as he faces death, he has nothing to lose. He decides to dig deep for answers to his traumatic life. Early in childhood, he was labeled a curse and deficient. While he’s battling the disease, he searches for the real person under all his negative self-talk. After being a loner for so long, he reconnects with his brother, Milton, and finds he has an ally in his battle to live.
This isn’t a depressing series. On the contrary, Dory turns out to be quite humorous at times. He’s also a fighter. Eventually, he learns that fighting isn’t the best way to handle life and is open to new options that have better outcomes. In other words, he learns to leave behind his childish ideas, those beliefs his father preached over and over. Dory returns to who he is, the person who can not only paint exquisite pictures, but a person who can be open to love and redemption.
There are three books in The Madonna Diaries series, and all three are available as both eBooks and as audio books. Here’s a link to the series: The Madonna Diaries
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
The reason I love to write stories is because they come from an inspired part of who I am. I’m often the first one to benefit from things my characters learn. Their triumphs lift my own sense of self and wellbeing. And that’s what I wish for my readers. While they’re being entertained, I hope they experience more freedom to be their true, authentic selves and to allow more love in their lives.
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Today I have the pleasure to present an author whose work embodies the abiding power of love. Like many people in today’s world, S.S. Bazinet AKA Sandy S. Bazinet creates characters who often feel overwhelmed in the beginning of the story. However, their journey is one of healing and rediscovering their true selves.
CommissionsEarned
Interview with
C.S. McDonald
Author of
Today I have the pleasure to present an author who taught dance and choreographed shows for twenty-six years. Nowadays, C.S. McDonald AKA Cindy McDonald resides with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister, on their Thoroughbred farm, Fly-by-Night Stables, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Using your full name, Cindy McDonald, you used to write romantic suspense novels. Why the switch to cozy mystery and the addition of the pen name, C.S. McDonald?
Actually, The Fiona Quinn Mysteries were meant to be a youth mystery series. My romantic suspense novels had adult scenes—NO they were not erotica, just adult scenes that indeed moved the story forward. That said, my eight-year-old granddaughter (who is now nineteen and in college) complained that the children’s books I was writing at the time were too young for her and wanted to read the First Force Series. Um….yikes!
Well, that’s when a friend encouraged me to write cozy mysteries. I told her she was crazy. There was no way I could write a mystery! One year later, Fiona Quinn debuted, and she’s been popular with adults ever since. I wrote two more romantic suspense novels afterward, and then I simply fell in love with mysteries, and that’s what I write these days. Meanwhile, adults ended up being my cozy mystery audience and believe me, that’s perfectly okay. As for my pen name, C.S. McDonald (very original!) I wanted to keep the children’s books and cozy mysteries separate from my romantic suspense works. In fact, I tell everyone, The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are perfect for anyone 12 to 112!
Tell us about Fiona Quinn. So many reviews state that the readers identify with your unlikely, amateur sleuth. Why do you think that is?
Fiona is a kindergarten teacher who teaches at the elementary school I attended in Pittsburgh. She’s like so many people. She goes to work each morning and cooks dinner each evening. Ah, but now that she’s tied to homicide detective, Nathan Landry, she helps figure out murders and when she comes face-to-face with a killer, she’s not exactly a cool, customer. Oh, no. Our Fiona tends to get verbal diarrhea—it’s terrible for her, and for the criminal, but for the readers it is so much fun. And I think that’s why everyone identifies with her and falls in love with her.
One reviewer wrote, “I just love Fiona!”
Tell us a little bit about Fiona, Detective Nathan Landry, and of course, Fiona’s ghostly grandma, Evelyn Burrell.
Fiona Quinn: As I mentioned, Fiona is a kindergarten teacher at the elementary school I attended. She also lives in the house and on the street where I grew up in Pittsburgh. When flustered, she gets verbal diarrhea, and no one can fluster the woman like her younger brother, Chad Quinn. Well okay, murderers tend to fluster her too.
Detective Nathan Landry: Of course, he’s a handsome and charming homicide detective for the Pittsburgh Homicide Unit. He’s quick witted. He doesn’t carry a gun, and he loves bite-size Snickers. He loves to throw his suspects off their guard by offering them a Snickers when being questioned, which not only momentarily confuses them but causes them to regard him as inept—always a mistake. A big mistake.
Evelyn Burrell: Fiona’s late grandmother, and by the way, she was my grandmother too! Yes. Our house on Oxford Street had an attic apartment. No. Grandma Ev did not live there. She lived about a block away on Guyland Street. My grandmother had a huge personality and a great sense of humor. The woman was not afraid to laugh at herself. When I decided to write The Fiona Quinn Mysteries, I included a ghost in the attic to give the series a fun, slightly paranormal feel. Who? Who would the ghost be? My grandmother came to mind, and it has been such a wonderful experience to write about her. Many of the conversations Fiona has with Grandma Ev are actual conversations I had with her many years ago. The readers love her, and why not? She was such a lovable person. These stories have kept me connected to her.
Now to the newest installment of The Fiona Quinn Mysteries. Melodies of Malice has an international espionage flavor. And while it isn’t true of all the books, it appears The Fiona Quinn Mysteries has taken on this new flair. Tell us about Melodies of Malice and Fiona’s new international ventures.
Since the moment Fiona met Detective Nathan Landry in book 1, Murder on Pointe, he has talked about his mom, Rita Landry, yet never revealing too much about her. Rita was a complete enigma to Fiona and the readers until book 10, Matrimony, Mayhem, and Murder when Fiona picked her up at the airport for the wedding. Moments later, espionage erupts in the series. I enjoyed writing it so much that I moved Rita to Pittsburgh and feature her international security firm, Global Shield, and her merry band of secret agents as often as possible.
In Melodies of Malice Fiona’s teenage cousin, Madison, finds the new Maestra for the Pittsburgh Junior Symphonic Orchestra dead in her dressing room after a concert. Turns out, the woman is Mila Guseva, the sister of Ivan Guseva one of the agents in Detective Nathan Landry’s mom’s international security firm, Global Shield.
They soon discover the Maestra was a Russian spy. Furthermore, an operative from Russia has been dispatched to the US to kill former female spies, known as swallows, in order to protect delicate secrets.
While the possibility that Madison witnessed something and her life is in danger, Detective Landry places her under protective custody—in his and Fiona’s home. Global Shield operative, Ivan Guseva, stays with Fiona and takes up residence in the attic apartment where her ghostly grandma, Evelyn, lives. To Fiona’s dismay, he’s enjoying every moment, and it appears Grandma Ev is too! Meanwhile, Madison is proving to be quite the expert in teenage shenanigans.
Fiona’s about to move this investigation up an octave by pulling out her amateur sleuthing skills to track down a Russian operative, send her house guests packing, and bring her home back to normal—whatever that is.
In Melodies of Malice you feature Fiona’s ghostly grandmother, Evelyn, and the crazy relationship that develops between her and Global Shield agent, Ivan Guseva. Tell us about that relationship and how you decided to include this in the book.
Sometimes I find it difficult to include Grandma Ev in the storylines. Mainly because she does not leave the house and moving things around or turning lights on and off to toy with Nathan’s patience gets boring—although, she has been a main source of helping to solve several mysteries. That said, this was a perfect opportunity to include her in an entertaining manner.
When Ivan Guseva moves into the attic apartment at Fiona’s home, where Grandma Ev resides, he comes face-to-face with the ghost and her two sisters (also ghosts) Bert and Anna. At first, Ivan does not realize they are ghosts and keeps asking Fiona why the woman are in the attic and never come downstairs for dinner.
Much to Fiona’s shock and the reader’s delight, Fiona find him playing cards with the ghosts and sharing funny stories and jokes with them. This portion of the story was such a joy to write. And ya know what? I think my grandmother would be so very thrilled to know she (and her sisters Bert and Anna) are part of The Fiona Quinn Mysteries.
Melodies of Malice is the thirteenth installment of The Fiona Quinn Mysteries. How many more do you plan to pen?
As long as people are enjoying the books, I will continue to write them.
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Interview with
Sandra Nikolai
Author of
Today I have the pleasure to present a Mystery author who weaves ordinary characters into extraordinary, life-threatening situations, using the premise that evil often lurks in familiar places. Sandra Nikolai is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, she grew up in this cosmopolitan city and later moved to Ottawa, capping off a career path in sales, finance, and high tech.
What inspired you to write mystery novels?
I loved reading mystery novels since as far back as I can remember. I enjoy the challenge of discovering which suspect had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit the crime. It’s one of the reasons I was drawn to writing in this genre.
Another reason I chose to write mystery novels was the satisfaction that the crime is solved by the end of the story. In real life, a killer might manage to stay under the radar and elude police investigators. Many murders remain unsolved and become cold cases. In my novels, I ensure that the criminal is brought to justice and loose ends are tied up.
Did you do any research before writing False Impressions, the first book in the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series?
Lots! My research ranged from checking street names and commercial sites in Montreal–the main setting in the story–to learning about Canadian police interrogation systems and legal processes. Law enforcement and legal procedures in Canada vary in certain aspects from American practices, so I couldn’t rely on the investigative processes recorded in American documentation.
On a related note, my main characters Megan and Michael travel to a different location in every story. In Fatal Whispers, the second book in the series, they visit Portland, Maine, where they help solve three mysterious deaths. I did a fair amount of research for that story too!
Where do you get your ideas for a mystery novel?
A fact on the news sometimes triggers an aha! moment that inspires me to weave a similar detail into a work in progress. Some of the true crimes out there are rather shocking, though, and I prefer to leave unwarranted gore and violence out of my stories as much as possible. Using the premise that evil often lurks in familiar places, my stories highlight the courage and determination of my main characters in their quest for justice.
The hook in your book description reads: Her cheating husband was murdered and she’s the prime suspect. Proving her innocence is one thing; evading a killer who wants her dead is something else. Can you elaborate on this?
I based my story on a familiar premise: The wife is always the last to know. After her husband dies, Megan Scott is shocked to discover that he had betrayed her. Worse yet, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. Her once private and organized life is thrown into disarray, her reputation is tarnished, and she faces threats from an unknown aggressor. When crime reporter Michael Elliott is drawn into the case as a person of interest, they work together to clear their names and hunt for the killer in the process.
How would you compare your writing style to that of other mystery writers?
Every writer has their own innate style of putting words together to tell a story, so I rarely compare my work to theirs. Readers who enjoyed my stories have left reviews that describe them as fast-paced, non-stop intrigue, well written, clever plot, page turner, a clean thriller, lots of twists and turns. I’ll accept those reviews anytime!
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Interview with
Paul Hollis
Author of
Today I have the pleasure to present an American author of fictional terrorism and espionage. Paul Hollis’ bestselling trilogy, "The Hollow Man Series", follows a U.S. government analyst and his partner in an odyssey of suspense across Europe.
What inspired The Hollow Man?
The inspiration for the storyline comes from a series of true incidents that occurred during the early 1970s. The Hollow Man traces some of my lesser-known experiences traveling in Europe as a young man. To make a long story short, I met a guy in early 1973 who thought I was wasting my time digging latrines in East Africa for the Peace Corps. He had a better offer for me. The story is based on my true adventures.
At the time, terrorism was on the rise and I was assigned to learn as much as I could about it. Most early acts of terror were specific, personal and damage was focused on a distinct, definable enemy. But terrorism was beginning to change its strategy to the familiar, senseless chaos we recognize today. The death of political figures no longer seemed to bother us as much as these new, random attacks against our children. Targets of innocence became preferable to these people because it was the kind of shock and hurt that hit close to our hearts. The fear inside us grew larger with each incident.
Were you actually a spy?
I usually say that 80% of the story is about 90% true. With that in mind, I was never classified as a spy. I was more like a tourist until needed for surveillance or other activities. I was not particularly trained, certainly no hero, not clever or capable, talented or tested. This is not another story about Jason Bourne or Jack Ryan. Picture a guy in a red shirt on a Star Trek episode. The word that comes to mind is expendable.
What is The Hollow Man really about?
It is a story about a U.S. Government field analyst, haunted by the ghost of a dead child that becomes obsessed with finding the terrorist who murdered her.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War in 1970s Europe, The Hollow Man follows the harrowing journey of Doc, a disillusioned American government analyst haunted by the ghosts of his past. Tasked with surveilling a notorious terrorist, Andrew Chaban, Doc becomes embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy that blurs the lines between reality and the illusion.
The story opens with Doc experiencing a surreal encounter in a misty cathedral, where a young girl, a ghostly figure covered in blood, warns him of the danger he faces. This haunting vision is only the beginning of Doc's descent into a world where nothing is as it seems.
Doc is soon assigned to monitor Luis Carrero Blanco, the Prime Minister of Spain, whose life is under threat. As Doc navigates the treacherous streets of Madrid, he becomes entangled in a web of political intrigue involving various intelligence agencies, including the CIA, KGB, and ETA, the Basque separatist group. Despite his attempts to stay ahead, Doc finds himself manipulated by forces beyond his control, leading to the assassination of Blanco in a catastrophic explosion.
Haunted by the mysterious girl and driven by a need for justice, Doc relentlessly pursues Chaban across Europe. His journey takes him from the devastation of the Prime Minister in Madrid to the shadowy corners of Paris, where he confronts the brutal realities of espionage and the supernatural forces that seem to be guiding his fate.
Your writing style is fairly unique. Please tell us more.
I’ve had many reviewers say The Hollow Man should be on the big screen. Here’s why I believe that’s true:
My writing style is very visual. It’s important for me to completely immerse readers, drawing them totally into each scene. I want my readers to experience what’s going on around them, feel the excitement, and hear the voices. As I mentioned, when readers say the book should be on the big screen, I feel like I’ve made the story completely real. For me, there are 2 aspects that make the story real:
First, realistic dialog is key. How people talk makes characters come to life. Readers may skip parts of the description, scenery, and story of any book but for some reason they always seem to be drawn into what characters say. Dialog has to use words the way people actually speak, complete with contractions (or lack thereof), slang, accents, hesitations, word selections, physical actions while speaking, etc. Each combination is unique and specific to that one character. When you get that right, your character walks off the page, enters the reader's imagination and joins you for the ride.
The same applies to location. It has to feel visually real. Would you be satisfied with a movie set in Paris or London that takes place exclusively indoors or on a Hollywood set? Maybe not, so for me, it's important to take the reader along for the full ride. Each location provides its own set of rules in which characters must make decisions. Characters are challenged by location - language, culture, the weather, the people around them and so on.
The location, or setting, also creates the mood of the story which helps shape emotions that a reader feels. It’s important for the reader to "feel" the environment and experiences surrounding them - the proverbial mist of the fog in London, the taste of French cuisine, the excitement of bullfighting in Spain.
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Interview with
Janice Spina AKA J.E. Spina
Author of
Gateskin Chronicles Book 1
Today I have the pleasure to present a multi-award-winning author with 46 books of which there are 22 children's books,12 MG/PT books and three books in a YA series with three more coming over the next few years, eight novels and a short story collection for 18+ written under J.E. Spina. She is also a copy editor, blogger, book reviewer and supporter of fellow authors.
When did you realize you wanted to become an author?
I loved writing poetry when I was a young child. After writing my first children’s book, I began to think more seriously about becoming an author one day. Working and child bearing kept me too busy to begin my journey toward becoming an author until after I retired. By that time I had written several stories that were waiting to be published. From then on I began working tenaciously on bringing all my books to the attention of readers on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What is your favorite genre to write?
I write in many genres but find that MG/PT (middle-grade and preteens) are my favorite genre in which to create stories. It is because I feel like a kid again and thoroughly enjoy weaving stories from my child-like imagination for this age group.
Which genre do you find the most challenging to write?
I began a fantasy series, Gateskin Chronicles, in 2023 that will have six books at completion. This is the series I find the most challenging to create. It also is the one series that takes the longest time frame to complete. It is an epic series with myriad characters, lands, creatures and magic spells that will make your head spin. I had to create a list of characters, creatures, spells, and lands in order to keep track of them all and added this list to each book for readers. With each story the list continues to grow as the characters take over the story and guide my hand. There are many aspects of the adventures that I need to keep in mind as I create the story causing a constant challenge to complete each as I lead into the next book.
I have published the first three books in this series that have received three Gold Medals from Mom’s Choice Awards. Book 4 will be out in 2025 with the other two in 2025 or 2026.
What is the most difficult part of being an Indie Author?
Being an Indie Author is a difficult road because there are so many such authors on Amazon. I feel like a grain of sand on the beaches of Amazon with each year being joined by many more Indie Authors.
The most difficult jobs of being an Indie Author are promoting, finding your audience, and using the correct tags for a particular book and genre to get noticed by readers and Amazon. There are many online companies that court me with their promotion options daily. It is a confusing and inundating process to choose the right ones or just do my own promotions on my blog, online media, book reviews and with the help of fellow authors. I like AllAuthor.com and Book Marketing Global Network (BMGN) and have been using both for many years.
It is not easy to find the right audience for a book or use the most advantageous tags. I do use Rocket for insights into handing these two phases of publication. All in all, being an Indie Author is not an easy road to travel. It takes perseverance, determination and belief in oneself.
How important is it for an author to read other authors’ work?
I am an avid reader who reads 7-10 books each month on my blog and reviews them. I feel it is extremely important to read other authors’ books in order to learn more about my craft. It improves the way I write by offering me a different view, person and characterization of each authors’ work and how they handle each scene, storyline and dialogue. We all have our own distinctive voice that is displayed within our work. No one can steal them from us for it is innate, but we do learn how to use our own voice by observing others’ strengths and weaknesses.
Thank you so much, Uvi, for having me on your blog. I enjoyed sharing a little about my work with you and your readers. I appreciate your kind support
Please share an excerpt with us.
At one time the land was known as Territory of Noella Provence to honor the first fairy queen who moved from the region of Sovorotskina to the village later known as Votovia. As time passed, the Noella Provence separated into the different villages. The elders still called it Noella Provence, but the younger ones did not, though they were taught the history of the land.
The villages each had their own wizard king and fairy queen who ruled their individual regions.
Sovorotskina – Land of Goodness & Light – ruled by Wizard King Gateskin and Fairy Queen Solinara
Votovia – Land of Magic & Mystery – ruled by Wizard King Cavelan and Fairy Queen Savina
Merona – Land of Peace & Harmony – ruled by Healers (old wise men)
Merlina – Land of Myths & Legends – ruled by Wizard King Zuri and Fairy Queen Zuleima
Amora – Land of Faith & Love – ruled by King Noderan (not a wizard), and Queen Davora (not a fairy)
Parotovina – Land of Evil & Darkness – ruled by Wizard King Kaposkaran and Fairy Queen Beregina
The strongest wizard of all was Gateskin. He ruled Sovorotskina with a firm but kind hand and aided the other villages when needed. He and the ruler of Votovia, King Cavelan, protected the regions from the evil Wizard King Kaposkaran who continued to reap terror upon his own citizens if they did not do his evil deeds. This king also consistently threatened to harm the other villages.
To the north of the land lay the Unknown Territory. It did not have another name, but it was feared by the villagers. They did not venture over the border. Some who did in the past never returned.
The villagers did not talk about this territory but kept clear of its borders. They did not want to explore, for they were fearful of what was unknown and were content in their own land.
To the south lay the Sea of Shakelle which was a dark and stormy sea that crushed many ships that tried to ride its course. They did not need to travel to the ocean for food since they had plenty from the waterways that coursed through their villages.
If one day they depleted this supply of fish, they may have to look to the Sea of Shakelle for food. The power of the wizards was what kept the villagers secure in their lives and free from worry.
This is where the story begins – one hundred years ago in the village known as Sovorotskina.
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Much thanks, Uvi, for your feature of my book today! So appreciated! ox
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Sarah! Can't wait to read it :)
DeleteThank you so much for this opportunity, Uvi. The presentation looks fantastic, too.
ReplyDelete