Jenue’s Journal is pleased to talk with Erik Tomblin about his book Riverside Blues.  The description reads as follows:

Fifty years ago, Gordon’s wife disappeared without a trace. He still mourns her. In an attempt to keep himself occupied, Gordon decides to clean up their special place along the river running behind his home. It’s there he finds something from his wildest dreams and his darkest nightmares that will reveal the lies surrounding his wife’s disappearance, lies he has believed for the last half century….

Erik, without giving away the story, tell us a little bit more about Gordon and his situation.

Gordon lost the love of his life not long after their wedding day. He settled into a joyless existence, just going through the motions of life. He works, he watches television, he sleeps, never quite able to find the enthusiasm for living he once shared with his new bride. But one morning, after a brief experience of a past he’s tried to forget, his life takes a dramatic turn and Gordon decides he needs to do something, anything to change the way he’s been living.

Gordon still mourns his missing wife after 50 years. Don’t you believe that time heal all wounds?

In a way it does, but the deeper the wound the more prominent the scar. You might lose a loved one and feel you’ll never be able to function normally again. Time passes and you’re eventually living your life as you had before the loss, and you can even make it through a day without thinking about it or feeling the weight of that initial sorrow. But once in a while those feelings come back, weak or strong, and you can choose to embrace the sadness or save it for another time. Time gives us the distance we need to continue to function.

What was your motivation while writing Riverside Blues?

Strangely enough, with most of my stories I already have an idea or concept I want to explore or explain with an interesting plot. With Riverside Blues, I wanted to write something that wasn’t premeditated. It started with a simple image as I sat behind my house at dusk looking at the edge of the woods: a woman walking out from the trees. From there, I put myself in the story and began answering the questions that came to mind. Who was she? Did I know her? Why is she there and where has she been?

I’ve tried writing horror and failed miserably. My niche is fiction/fantasy. What is the secret to writing horror?

I don’t think that any genre has a secret to it; it’s mostly about the reaction you want to get from the reader. And to make sure you accomplish that, you have to start with yourself. If you’re writing about something that doesn’t even scare you or make you uncomfortable then why should it do the same to others?

What’s the best piece of advice that you can give to writers that are in search of a publisher?

Know your market. That sounds simple enough, but there’s more to it than just knowing what’s popular at the time. It helps to become familiar with others involved in your market, from small press publishers and authors to the editors and agents in the larger markets. Like practically any business, your talent will play the largest part in your success, but knowing the people who run it can provide opportunities you might not normally have.

Jenue:  To find out more about Erik Tomblin, please visit his personal website.  Erik, thanks so much for taking part in this interview.  I’m definitely looking forward to reading Riverside Blues.    

Jenue’s Journal has the pleasure of interviewing Anirban Ray.  I’d like to begin this interview by saying that it’s so refreshing to see a great piece of fiction that also has a spiritual meaning behind it.  The book is titled God behind the Firewall.

Is this book for all faiths and religions?

Yes. God Behind the Firewall is not about faith, religion, or beliefs. On the contrary, it is about opening our minds to new possibilities, ideas, concepts, and understanding. It is about understanding and accepting the truth, as opposed to creating a veil of delusion in our minds that we commonly refer to as ‘belief.’

 How did you make a connection between technology and spirituality?

Science and technology helps us understand the world around us. However, our perception of the world is limited by our senses and the capabilities of technical equipments that we have built as an extension of our senses. In other words, we do not fully understand the world we live in … yet. Spirituality helps us take a peek beyond such limitations. Effectively, it is about understanding oneself completely and realizing the limitations of human experience. However, it is important to note that what was spirituality yesterday is scientific knowledge today (although partially), and what is spirituality today could well be scientific knowledge tomorrow.

Arun, the main protagonist, is a brilliant programmer who works in the computer security industry. As he researches the possibility of building an Intrusion Detection System with built-in artificial intelligence, his mentor tells him to ‘feel like God.’ Arun, not only becomes the creator of a new possibility, he also finds ‘godliness’ within him and the people he interacts with. 
 
Can you tell us more about Arun’s battle with his personal addictions?

Arun, while working in the United States passes through a phase that is more aptly termed as the ‘dark night of the soul.’ He battles with the trinity of greed, anger, and lust and eventually realizes that he is merely trying to satisfy his ego—a delusion that keeps us from realizing the ‘godliness’ in us.

 What would you say to someone who says there is no God?

God is a concept and the perception of such a concept is only limited by the limitations of our human manifestation. Believing in the concept of God without realizing what it means is merely a ‘belief’, and so is atheism (a ‘belief’ about not believing). What is important is to open our minds to new possibilities, as opposed to holding on to beliefs without questioning them.

 Do you have any tips for new writers?

1. Be a creator. Create a world of your imaginations and help others take a peek into it. And while you do so, shut off the ‘physical’ world as we know it. Be focused.
2. Drop your ego. You know nothing. Take professional advice. Get a professional editor.
3. Keep learning. You need lots of input to create something of value.
4. Love what you do, and do it with love.

Jenue:  To find out more about Anirban and God behind the Firewall please visit his blog.   Anirban, thank you so much for taking this interview.  Your book will help people, of all faiths, grow stronger spiritual roots and that… is a golden gift. 

Jean, welcome to Jenue’s Journal.  Ace of Hearts is defined as a romantic thriller, how is the book divided between the two?

One of the hardest things for me is to try to put a genre label on Ace of Hearts. The consensus is from erotic thriller (that’s a hint as to how steamy ;o) to romantic suspense. The sensual romance between my heroine, Detective Shevaughn Robinson, the first Black female detective in fictitious Portsborough, NY (it’s set in 1981) and Tony O’Brien, a White reporter, who is a thorn in the police department’s side, is a relationship I hope all will enjoy.

Now, the thrill comes from following the serial murderer and being involved in his descent into madness.  I try to let the reader in on his thought process and the emotions behind his hideous crimes.

How steamy is the romance in Ace of Hearts?

Pretty steamy, but tastefully (no pun intended) done, I hope. Let’s say I have two sons who bought Ace, but confessed they can’t read it! You know how sons are when it comes to Mom. LOL! I’ve found I have a vivid imagination and being married to the same man for 36 years has its perks!!

But it isn’t all about the heat, it’s about the turmoil people go through when they realize their love will put them through trials that most haven’t dealt with. I hope the reader falls in love along with Shevaughn and understands her reasons and her doubts. I try to share their intimate knowledge that when a relationship is right, it’s worth the cost.

What do you think readers will like most about this book?

The range of emotions Ace of Hearts puts you through. To me the best books and movies are ones that hit me when I don’t see it coming. My favorite review said it was a roller coaster ride. Another said it was a guilty pleasure because I take you out of your comfort zone, but you can’t put it down! I love that.
Ace of Hearts also takes you back to the good old days, the days before computers and cell phones, HIV and DNA, cappuccinos and four dollar a gallon gas. When I write, I want to take the reader on a trip down memory lane with some twists and turns.

How long did it take you to write Ace of Hearts and what was your main source of moral support?

It took two years to write Ace of Hearts in longhand back in 1980 and that’s one of the reasons I stuck to that era. Ace has been through a number of transitions; from longhand to typewriter via my sister, Lori, typing it up after work to entering it on a word processor (that I later found out wasn’t DOS compatible!) to finally being saved on my computer. My family, especially Lori, have been my moral support. She started it one day, over 27 years ago, when she said “You read so much, I bet you could write a book” and I answered, “I bet I could!” Thus began the conception of Ace of Hearts.

Four years ago, she was the one who suggested I get it down, dust it off, do some editing and see if it would fly. She pushed me to print several copies of my manuscript and paid for my attendance at NBCC (National Book Club Convention) which is held in Atlanta annually, the first weekend in August. I met my good friend and soon-to–be publisher, Diane Dorcé, owner and CEO of Firefly Publishing and Entertainment there. I guess the moral of my story is: Never give up your dream. I have to say my family (hubby, Fred, has turned into quite the manager and daughter-in-law, Tasha has been my top salesperson!) and friends have supported it and me 110%. And Ace of Hearts has been flying ever since! Right now, a NY publisher and a reviewer in Essex, UK are reading it! When you have a moment, please check out my website  where you can purchase Ace of Hearts as an ebook for $7.95 and join my mailing list.

If you could meet one famous author who would it be and why?

Hands down, Stephen King. That man has given me chills since young adulthood and I’m now a Gramma of eight!!  Then his book, “On Writing” helped me get through what I thought was an impossible editing period shortly before Ace was published.  He’s a BAD man (in a good way! ;o)

Jenue:   Jean, Ace of Hearts is at the top of my reading list.  Thanks so much for taking this interview and best of luck with future endeavors.

Filip, welcome to Jenue’s Journal.  Tell us a little about your background.

When I was 17 years old, I had to decide what university courses to take. My parents wanted me to study law, which horrified me. Although they insisted that it was a good career choice, I never studied it.  In retrospect, that was really strange because law is now one of my passions.  I wanted to study philosophy, and so I did. Early in my academic career, I was attracted to political and legal philosophy; probably because my best teachers taught these subjects.

I finished with a master thesis on totalitarian government (Arendt and such). My special interest in human rights and democracy only matured after the end of my master studies. I then decided to take my doctorate degree on these subjects and had the luck of having my thesis published.

What inspired you to write a book on human rights?

It’s books in plural by now. When thinking and reading about politics, it seemed that I always ended up with human rights and democracy. Much of our lives revolve around these concepts, even if we don’t make it explicit to ourselves. The idea of human rights is very beautiful. It shows the best, and the worst, of humanity. There’s also the idea of progress; moral progress, which appeals to me a lot.

Have your rights ever been violated?

Of course, like the rights of all of us, but without much harm. I never experienced a government induced famine, genocide, torture etc.  I’m fortunate, like most of my fellow westerners. However, this doesn’t mean that the West is somehow superior to the rest of the world. Our history is terribly bloody and still today our policies wreck havoc on many parts of the world (take for example the common agricultural policy of the EU, or the war in Iraq).

In your opinion, are the Olympics a proper venue to protest China’s stand on human rights?

Yes, it’s a chance in a million. Those who say that the Olympics is only about sports forget that the Chinese government didn’t have sports on their mind when applying for the Olympics. They had politics on their mind. They don’t care about sports. They want to project a positive image of China. They want to boast etc. If you see how the poor Tibetans have cleverly used the Olympics, I suppose the Chinese already somewhat regret that they applied. One shouldn’t underestimate the effect of protest. Sure, they won’t make China a human rights paradise – there is no such paradise – but the protests, the openness and the presence of journalists and tourists, will all help to make things a little better.

Are you planning a future in politics?

No, I don’t think so. Too busy with my writing and my blog. As I’m a citizen of a small country (Belgium) I wouldn’t be able to make much of an impact anyway.

Jenue: Audience, Filip’s modesty has left a few blanks in his profile.  In order to complete the picture of who he is, you must know that he’s also a poet, artist, and speaks a total of six languages including Dutch, English and French.

I personally would never ask him what he did on his weekend because his answer is sure to be:  I hung out with the family, wrote a book, drew a sketch, learned Swahili, blogged, composed a poem, worked on my website, and there was still enough time to plant a tree.  What did you do?

My answer would be, “I made a pie”.

Filip, it was a pleasure interviewing you.  I’d wish you luck with future projects but that hardly seems necessary.  God bless.

 
by Phillip Jennings

Intelligence Failure
Two words now joined at the hip. Remember when our alphabet agencies -CIA, DIA, NSA, FBI – were actually competent? Are you sure? Maybe they were just better at burying their mistakes. . . .

Our spooks have been playing games with other governments for half a century. Allies and enemies alike have gotten tired of our grubby fingerprints all over their national interests. Gearheardt’s answer? Be sure to wear gloves!

Gearheardt – apparently back from the dead, or maybe Laos – wants to play for all the Mexican marbles, and he insists he needs Jack’s help to do it. Just like the last time in Vietnam, he claims to be working for “the Company.”

Jack really is in the CIA now, temporarily running the Mexico City station at the embassy, and ought to know better, but Gearheardt’s sexy assistant with the disdain for clothes is so darn cute and Gearheardt’s insane resolve is just so darn convincing. (Even though it’s true that the last time around they failed spectacularly in their attempt to get Ho Chi Minh to retire to Hawaii, and then they didn’t even shoot him either.) But does the Agency really want the Cubans to take over Mexico?

Phillip, what inspired you to start writing?

When I first began to talk, as a two year old, I could only communicate in a Croatian dialect. My parents could find no one in our small Kansas community who understood, let alone spoke Croatian. For years I carried a Dictionary of the English Language everywhere I went and would point to words in the dictionary to indicate to others what I needed to communicate. In high school the dictionary was confiscated by the police as evidence in an assassination attempt on the District Superintendent of Schools. Being too poor to afford a new dictionary led me to begin writing down as many words as I could recall. The effort, over a number of years, became my first novel.

Later a chance meeting in a gymnasium parking lot and a threatening letter to one of the judges gave me the Pirates Alley Faulkner Society award for best fiction in 1998. It was my (misguided) understanding that I could use that name for my writing efforts henceforth and have since published a number of works under the name Faulkner, most notably Absalom My Ass which brought a great deal of personal satisfaction as well as numerous restraining orders.

I have always loved to write. Found it a more compatible medium than speaking as I was always painfully shy. And with satire (my current genre) I can write things without getting chased by machete-swinging dopes who have taken umbrage.

Did you use any of your own personal experiences as a former US Marine in the development of “Goodbye Mexico”?

I think so.

 In your book, which character is most like you?

That would have to be ‘Jack.’ He is the thinking man’s CIA agent. A little secret is that Jack and Gearheardt just might be each other’s alter ego. Only one of them really exists. The other is an invention to create a safe way to deal with certain insanities of life as a killer and sneak. However in writing the book (and Nam-A-Rama before) I forgot which was which. In a crazy way, it may be that Jack and Gearheardt invented me in order to get their stories told. Those rotten bastards. Anyway, Jack would be more like me in real life—a wimp. Non confrontational. A go-along idealist. A guy who worries about things like whether or not Einstein ever ordered anything from the Sears catalog. Maybe a jacket or some underwear.

You’re currently working on the “Goodbye Mexico” movie. What goes into a typical day of movie making?

I hear the ‘f’ word even more than in the Marine Corps (and, trust me on this, that was a lot). Most Hollywood people are only thirteen or fourteen years old. Except for the people who are about four hundred years old but dress like teenagers and have scary faces. I spend a great deal of my day fighting back the urge to beat the crap out of people. As we are only in pre-pre-production (in this stage we lie about where we are, who’s in the movie, and who all is chasing us with other, better deals) I am just interviewing screenwriters and discussing actors and directors. That part is good. Sometimes the discussions are serious as in ‘can dogs get human clap? or other STDs?’ and sometimes they are just a waste of time. Mostly we discuss sex and naked women. My wife says she’s never seen me happier.

What’s the secret of your success as an author? What does it take for new writers to make it?

A few years ago I sent a check for $1000 to an author after I had read his interview. It seems that that investment in myself gave me the confidence and energy to begin writing like I had always wanted to write. Even as I sit here now at 7621 E. Cranmont Street, Kingston, Ohio, 69003, I can still remember the sense of commitment and freedom that came over me. Supporting another author, particularly one who you have just read his interview, may in some ways be the most important thing you can do as an aspiring author. He might even write you back and provide direct deposit instructions. Certainly he will take a look at your work of genius (really, a lot of genius-like work is found in this manner) and immediately call his agent and editor. Then you’re off on a whirlwind of writing and getting nearly published and other magical things.

It’s important to have a lick of sense. And try to be interesting. It wouldn’t hurt to know a bit of spelling. And never never never believe someone who says “Go ahead and send it, I’ll overlook the errors, typos, and poor grammar to just get the story.” They don’t. In fact it’s impossible to do that. Have your writing as good as it can possibly be before letting anyone, even your clapped-up dog, read it. This I mean.

Finally, try to get to be a better writer. That’s the secret to making it. Read what you’ve written out loud until you don’t puke after you finish. Rewrite after each puke. Get a tattoo.

Jenue:  Phillip, you’re an interesting character and I wish you lots of luck with the movie.   Where can I get wit like yours?

Jayne Sterne, author of Destroyed, talks about her book and domestic abuse during a very sensitive interview with Jenue’s Journal.

Destroyed is an emotional true story of your life.  It must have been difficult for you to relive the abusive memories.  How did you get through that?
 
It was very difficult to relive the abuse. However, I lost two very special people in my life through horrific and very brutal circumstances. Media also became a part of my life for a while, not by choice but by the nature of my loss, which is enclosed in my book Destroyed.  I didn’t know how to deal with grief and could not understand the pain that ripped through every part of my body mentally and physically.  It was like no other pain I had felt in my life. I learned very quickly that grief brings memories, some of which I had closed doors on a long time ago.  The memories of the abuse came to the surface as though it was happening all over again.  Feeling powerless and afraid of my feelings and memories, I decided to write my thoughts down as it happened. Writing a book was the last thing on my mind. If I’m honest, it was simply a way to keep me sane from the terrible thoughts that entered my mind.

Before I knew it, pages and pages of my tragic childhood began to unfold. A journalist, who had become friends with me from much earlier on, said that it was an interesting story.  I started to feel that this was a good way to express to people, who don’t understand, why children that have been violated with such brutality don’t speak out.   I became strong, focused and determined to break the chains of silence. I wanted to be a voice that was heard.  I wanted to show other abused victims that they’re not alone. We are not dirty and most importantly it was not our fault. 
 
I realized that the only way to help others was to share this story and to hand the guilt back to the guilty.  I wanted my voice heard, but more importantly to help others through my words.
 
How long did it take you to write Destroyed? 
 
Destroyed took three and a half years to write.  I left school at fourteen so I don’t think that I could have done it without the luxury of a computer and spell check.

Was it difficult finding a publisher?

I was very lucky, there was such a huge interest in my story. You do need an agent, but again, I was lucky to have a friend that could introduce me to someone; so getting it published was not so hard for me. I will say though, it was still a very anxious time waiting for responses.  It all takes time, perhaps longer than most of us would think.
 
Do you have any advice for those who are currently facing domestic abuse?
 
I would say to anyone going through domestic abuse, please, please get out.  You can not help those that can not help themselves. Sorry becomes an all too easy word. I know myself how easy it is to forgive, how lonely it feels, and the failure and shame it brings. Walking away from everything is very hard but it will save your life.  Don’t allow the perpetrator to play physiological games where you are made to feel it’s your fault.  It’s what they do and they’re very good at it. I can hear people say but I love him/her. When they’re nice they’re perfect, they don’t mean it! I say love holds no conditions; it’s not harmful and does not seek to destroy. Domestic abuse is all the things love is NOT.
 
Now that your story is told, where do you go from here?
 
I really want to help others. I would like to start an organization where people can be heard. I’m not sure how yet but I’m in the process of finding out. I’m more than willing to do talks on these subjects.

Jenue:  I also had to live through an abusive childhood so I know how memories can sneak up on you.  Just recently, I saw a date which spiraled me into crying uncontrollably in front of an important contact.  This contact was the very first person to tell me that it’s good to cry.  Of course, I know that it’s okay for Tom, Doug and Harry to cry — but not for me.  Contact, thank you.

Jayne, you’re a fascinating woman and an inspiration to us all.