In February Jérôme Tubiana and Joshua Craze wrote a report for the NYR Online about a series of massacres in Darfur, Sudan, where Arab forces are attacking the non-Arab Masalit community as part of a broader civil war between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the regular Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Tubiana and Craze reflected on the tensions […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/03/23/tell-it-as-it-is-jerome-tubiana/
Judging from the architectural plans that the Border Patrol presented to Congress in 2009, the I-19 Border Patrol Checkpoint was supposed to be enormous. It was to be built in Tubac, Arizona, some twenty miles north of the conjoined border cities of so-called Ambos Nogales (“Both Nogales”). As freeway traffic approached, personal vehicles would be […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/03/23/checkpoint-dreams-arizona-border/
Good Looking follows blind twin brothers as they navigate both college and the complex relationship they have with a classmate who is attracted to people with disabilities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but the idea came to me in a dream. I had a very vivid dream that was basically the opening scene of Nick and Nate trying to buy beer. I knew right then that these were amazing characters who deserved their own novel. I wrote the first five pages or so right away, but then it took another eleven years before I went back and turned it into a full-length novel because I was writing some other books first.
Do you have a favorite character in this novel? What makes him/her enjoyable to write for?
I love all my characters equally, haha. I try to include character quirks, interests, and other details based on real people I know, to add depth, believability, and relatability. My favorite scenes to write are the funny ones. I have to admit, I did enjoy Abby’s sarcastic, judgy asides. I tried to add as much understated satire as I could because while college life is great fun, it’s also so ridiculous, and everyone does some stupid things they would never do when they’re older.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It’s really important to me to represent disability and sexuality positively. I wanted to tell a story about characters dealing with a disability in a matter-of-fact way, that’s not melodrama, a tear-jerker, or what some people call “inspiration porn.” I also wanted to show how most people with disabilities exist in a community of other disabled people, not as one single character, which is often how they are portrayed in novels. The other major theme is coming out, learning to accept yourself and others, and how difficult that can be for people with different types of sexual attraction.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I mainly write historical fiction, so I am returning to that for my next book. I write very slowly, so no promises!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | LucyMayLennox | Amazon
Abby: That guy in Abby’s lit class is just her type, not only because he’s sweet and gorgeous, but because he’s blind. Abby is a devotee—she’s attracted to people with disabilities. But after her ex rejected her when she came out to him, she’s scared to reveal the truth of her attraction. How can she tell Nick he’s not her first blind boyfriend?
At a big Midwestern state university in the 1990s, Nick and Abby stumble towards adulthood, through awkward parties, regrettable flirtations, frantic cramming, and poorly planned road trips. It’s college life in all its exciting, raunchy, disgusting, hilarious glory, set to a 90s alt-rock soundtrack.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/23/characters-dealing-with-a-disability/
SOAR: A Soul’s Quest follows a young eagle on a quest for self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment. What inspired the setup of your story?
Soar’s journey acts as a metaphor for all human existence and builds on the themes of our international award-winning first book: The Legendary Quest: For Professionals Seeking Inner and Outer Excellence and Authentic Fulfilment.
In working together, we envisioned creating a body of work that reflects our views and collective philosophy on life, which we believe is rarely reflected in the prevailing media and cultural messages that people tend to receive.
I truly believe that there’s a Soar in some capacity in all of us. All of us are capable of living the best possible lives we can and becoming the best versions of ourselves. So, the idea of Soar came from the verb soar. We evaluated hundreds of words, but that kind of stuck in the end as we could find none better.
There’s a lot of literature in the modern world about how eagles are really special. They live in communities. They can fly enormous distances without moving a wing and they are among the highest-flying birds. It gave us a great fabric for the story because we practically wanted the reader to soar on the wings of the eagle and experience the wonder of our world.
Is there anything about Soar that came from yourself or your life experiences?
Yes, many parts of Soar were inspired by our journeys. It embeds real life experiences all through the story. So many of our readers have also found the same.
The story of Soar is, we believe, broadly applicable to human experience across the globe, regardless of all demographic and social factors. This story is for everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or any other identifier. The story is equally applicable for, and to, any preferred pronoun.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Soar highlights several critical issues and conflicts we collectively face! Soar experiences challenges with authority, hierarchy, cognitive rigidity, and lack of growth as well as xenophobia in his community. Soar’s journey highlights many conflicts (within and outside us) that we face and then provides an approach to resolve them. Soar’s journey highlights the importance of growth mindset, openness, willingness to accept alternative perspectives, and seek wide and vivid life experiences to enrich oneself. Further, the journey highlights the importance of grit, resilience, continuous growth, acceptance, gratitude, and forgiveness. The journey challenges the reader to reflect and assess their own cognitive biases and presumptions!
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
We truly hope that readers embark on their own authentic journeys of life and recognize that the journey is at least as important as the destination.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/23/the-wonder-of-our-world/
The Knight, The Pig-Wizard, and The Dragon follows an unlikely quartet who embark on a quest that, in addition to being a great adventure, teaches them about self-acceptance and friendship. What inspired the setup of your story?
I’m disabled and, in a sense, I’ve given each adventurer a small “disability.” Some strange talent they had to find a resourceful way to use. The only question I asked myself was, “How far can silly go?” That worked wonders in creating the adventurers. After that, I challenged each to show their best selves. “How much can you achieve?”
The unlikely friendship that this group finds is inspirational for children to read. What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between the characters?
Even though each is very unique, they still have something of importance to contribute. Every contribution has value. I wanted to show children that even when we are feeling like the odd man out, we
all have a gift that we can give to others.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I really wanted to show kids that a little hard work can improve life and life skills. Everyone has a talent, yet it is unlikely that personal talents extend as far as we’d like them to. I also wanted to show that no matter where strength lies (even weird strengths) they will become useful, sometimes even mandatory when solving problems. Everyone has a place and it is of importance.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes, the second in the series is entitled, Quest For the Pig-wizard. The quest at the beginning is to find the wizard who accidentally vanishes himself. Then feeling invisible, sets out to find himself. But the adventurers, as usual, find a higher calling along the way. In the next book, the heroes must stop a war. (Which is sometimes hard to do when armed with pot roast.)
Disclaimer: No pork chops were harmed in the writing of this interview.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Will they slay the dragon? Will they find a way to stop an oncoming war? Will they save the Five Kingdoms Over the Wilds? Or will they turn into bacon? It’s anyone’s guess, in the book, The Knight, the Pig-wizard And The Dragon.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/23/every-contribution-has-value/
In Conversations of Windows, Dr. Durga Madiraju combines insightful material on the art of conversation with vivid metaphors and a distinctive personal narrative. This collection of fifty-four succinct essays delves into often overlooked elements crucial to structuring relevant and coherent dialogues. Madiraju reflects on the myriad factors influencing conversational choices, such as the participant’s demographics, duration, setting, atmosphere, and purpose of the interaction.
The author explores conversation in a metaphorical sense, presenting unique perspectives like deriving conversational inspiration from a list of items for a Hindu pooja ritual, the evocative power of petals caught in a breeze, or the hues encountered in daily life. Madiraju poignantly observes that days devoid of memorable conversations are mere task-oriented existences, urging readers to pause and engage more deeply with life. Madiraju’s narratives are deeply rooted in the cultural significance of festivals, prayers, and rituals, set against the backdrop of changing seasons and the natural world. The text is rich in sensory details—spices, kumkum, floral aromas, jasmine, and sandalwood—lending a tangible quality to the abstract and philosophical nature of the essays.
Conversations of Windows is a unique blend, part practical guide to effective conversation, part creative writing exploration, and part poetic and philosophical reflection. It offers an accessible reading experience. Students seeking to refine their conversational skills will find value in the literary language and the exploration of conversation’s various dimensions, extending beyond the scope of more traditional instructional texts in the field.
Pages: 104 | ASIN : B0CQJ4FRMY
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/23/conversations-of-windows-a-conversation-i-gather/
In If I Could Wish, by Owen Carrol, the narrative unfolds through the poignant format of a final suicide letter penned by a teenager. The letter offers an intimate glimpse into the narrator’s journey through immense personal struggles, including the early loss of a father, estrangement from their mother and stepfather, and the pains of teenage homelessness. Central to this narrative is the bond with Laura, the narrator’s sole friend, whose own battle with mental health challenges culminates in her suicide.
Carrol’s writing sensitively captures the complexities of mental health, as seen through the narrator’s perspective and Laura’s experiences, although she remains a secondary yet significant character. The story navigates heavy themes such as questioning faith and feeling of abandonment by a higher power, reflecting the narrator’s disillusionment and loss of hope. It serves, in a way, as both a heart-wrenching recount of despair and a subtle, perhaps final, plea for understanding or intervention. The narrative is undeniably poetic and raw, touching on subjects like religion and existential despair with a candidness that might be intense for some readers. Particularly for those grappling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts, the content could be profoundly affecting. The story concludes with an implication of the narrator’s suicide, underscoring the gravity of its subject matter.
Owen Carrol demonstrates remarkable skill in this short story format, effectively conveying a deep sense of loss and disconnection in just a few pages. If I Could Wish is a testament to Carrol’s ability to create profound narrative experiences, though its themes necessitate a word of caution for sensitive readers. As a reviewer eager to explore more of Carrol’s work, I keenly anticipate future publications, appreciating the depth and authenticity he brings to challenging topics.
Pages: 9 | ASIN : B0C1HTR3GG
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/23/if-i-could-wish/