Louisa May Alcott worked obsessively to become a successful writer, which meant that despite her gift for tart observation she often retreated into homilies and platitudes.
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/04/18/stifled-rage-a-strange-life-louisa-may-alcott/
Jonathan Blitzer’s new book deftly explains the impact of decades of US foreign policy on Central America, but fails to move beyond the troubled terrain of our immigration policy “crisis.”
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/04/18/the-truths-of-our-american-empire-jonathan-blitzer/
Writing in 1998, fifty years after the publication of his first novel, The Naked and the Dead, Norman Mailer called his younger self an “amateur,” by which he intended something between self-deprecation and self-praise, leaning toward the latter. He had grown up in Brooklyn in a Jewish family that was modest in both means and […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/04/18/a-hell-of-a-performance-norman-mailer/
“Prabowo’s victory opens a window onto how the depredations, violence, and corruption of the Suharto era unevenly influence the present.”
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/03/30/the-price-of-stability-margaret-scott/
In the days that followed Hamas’s heinous October 7 attack on military bases, kibbutzim, towns, and the Nova music festival, several high-ranking Israeli officials announced that they intended to deprive Gaza’s civilian population of its most basic needs. At the time, over 80 percent of the goods entering the Gaza Strip came from Israel, which has kept […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/03/30/the-road-to-famine-in-gaza/
Brazzaville—A Sequel to Casablanca follows four friends who, at the end of Casablanca, fly off to Portugal and tell the story of what happens after that. I think this original idea is intriguing. How did you come up with it and develop it into a story?
At the end of the classic film, Casablanca, Louis tells Rick they can go to the Free French garrison at Brazzaville. That prompted Rick to say … “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” But the war hadn’t ended. And Brazzaville is in the Congo. I have always wondered what happened after these two friends walked into the fog at the end of the film (and I know I’m not alone in this regard). Resistance to fascism was growing, and America was about to enter the war. Rick had fought for the underdog in Ethiopia and in Spain; it was natural for him to join the fight in North Africa. Ilsa Lund and Victor Laszlo found their way to Portugal. During the war, Lisbon was a free city where British agents and SS agents roamed its streets freely. When the British meet Ilsa and Victor at the airport, we think that their struggle is over, but it is just beginning for Ilsa.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
Rick’s reunion with Ilsa. In the book, they each experience loss during the war. The Nazis in Lisbon shot and killed Victor, leaving Ilsa alone. Rick, still carrying a torch for Ilsa, becomes involved in the resistance movement and eventually marries Yvonne, who fought alongside him. The Nazis kill Yvonne, compounding Rick’s losses. The struggles of these star-crossed lovers – Rick and Ilsa – and their reunion was for me a joy to write. Throughout all their troubles and perils, they still loved each other, but how could they reunite? The means of that reunion became clear as I started to write the pages.
As an accomplished writer with books in multiple genres, what advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Write about something that makes you want to get up in the morning and work on the plot. Outlines and storyboards are great tools if they help you, but they are no substitutes for having a clear inner picture of where the plot is going and how the characters are going to develop. If you are writing a historical novel, be sure to do your research carefully. Dialogue is also important; make sure you accurately use each character’s unique voice to enhance the believability of the story. If you’re writing fiction, make sure your characters are believable and your plot development engaging for the reader.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
We are finishing Sunrise Over Casablanca which deals with our band of friends during the end of WWII and the turmoil that Europe and North Africa faces. Europe was devasted by the collapse of her economy with the bombing of her industry and infrastructure, and North Africa was under the boot of European colonialism. The story deals with pre-Marshall Plan efforts to stop the communist takeover of Western Europe, the Greek Civil War, and the liberation of Morocco and Algeria. Also, we have just published a historical novel about Pope Joan, the first female pope (which might get me excommunicated) and a few other books are on my editor’s desk. I am currently starting a project on the Reconquista, about a family involved in the struggle between Spaniards and Muslims.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/30/star-crossed-lovers/
In If I Could Wish, a teenager’s final suicide letter reveals the personal struggles and immense anguish leading up to their suicide. Why was this an important story for you to share with readers?
I would say it’s always important to discuss how us humans handle and react to situations and or chains of them. However, it is far more important to me to discuss suicide as it is a very prominent issue in our world. I feel like this topic can be seen as taboo or unacceptable to talk about where it really mustn’t be: these are human lives we’re talking about, mental states, families. How can we just sit back and turn a blind eye to the issue all because it can be seen as too gloomy or depressing? I say we should take these dark & depressing subjects and create an open dialogue about them so we can make progress and help each other instead of becoming more isolated with the world. Many of my teenage peers are falling victim to mental health issues due to an abundance of reasons, I am Scottish, and we are very lucky to have our own national health service which covers mental health too, but the way the UK is being run is leaving our NHS with no adequate funding and therefore, we have a crippled NHS. So if we can’t fund services, if we can’t afford services, then we should at least change our international or national mindsets on the matter and start communicating again. Not through our phones, but through our humanity.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from If I Could Wish?
I personally hope that readers are able to take away the fact that stories like these aren’t too far off from reality and we need to start being communal again rather than plainly individualistic. We really do need to speak up on this matter and speak to people who may be struggling, even people who we don’t think are struggling very well could be. We ought to look out for one another more often, we really never know how far that goes.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about mental health, especially as it relates to teenagers?
I think that the common misconception about teenagers’ mental health issues is that it’s ALL due to social media. It’s really not. Today’s teenagers are in a predicament of the likes our species has never seen before. Personally, I even say that we have progressed too fast without thinking about the effects. However, although some of the issues stem from social media and digital use, the other issues stem from social situations, economic situations, and national attitudes towards teenagers. I’ll break them down a bit more. Social situations meaning a workplace or school, friends even. Sometimes we’re not always in the healthiest relationships with our schools or workplaces or friends. Economical situations meaning the state of the country’s economy: if the nation isn’t financially strong then how will one seek the help one deserves? How will one get the job one needs? How will one see the light? And national attitude meaning how other age groups view teenagers, most of the time in UK media recently: it’s not great. There needs to be realisation that these issues of the digital world are unprecedented, and the real world affects everything. 2 worlds conflicting, 1 mind trying to manage both.
Can readers look forward to more stories from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Oh absolutely! More stories with variety are on their way. At the moment I believe I have 5 currently being fully conceptualized. However, I am a third of the way through working on a new short story I’ve named: Burning Memory. I won’t get too much into it but just know it is another philosophical perspective on life. I plan to write short stories for a while, I’m not entirely sure how I would handle a full novel but I have 2 ideas for them which I will eventually finish: but as for the moment, short philosophy will be my niche.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Peer into the downfalls of the human condition and the gloom that follows you. Ponder the bigger picture, ask the questions of purpose, learn from the life of despair. But most importantly: how will you help your fellow humans?
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/30/start-communicating-again/
In Deep Cover – The Unknowing Agent, an Army Intelligence officer finds himself amid an espionage plot when he defies orders and follows a cryptic message. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story of how this came about is different from how my most recent book release, Watching Volume 1: The Garden Museum Heist, came about. With that one, there was a definite event that triggered the story. With Deep Cover, I did something I’d never attempted before. The story started out as a screenplay I’d written about 15 years ago. I wasn’t ready to start Volume 2 of Watching, so I was thinking about different possibilities for my next project. With that in mind, I decided to review some of those earlier screenplays and, when I came across Deep Cover, found that it resonated with me and was even more relevant today than when I originally conceived it.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
Because I had written the story so long ago, I had a general idea about where it was going. That being said, novelizing a screenplay has taught me that changes to the story are inevitable. With a novel, you are much more free to expand on themes, concepts, and background. One of my favorite things about writing is that the characters and events lead you in directions that you had not originally intended. Deep Cover was no different. So yes, many of the twists were new and came to me as I was writing.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I think I enjoyed writing for Stephen Beck the most. That character speaks in the first voice and so I was able to insert myself into his head, which leads to me trying to think like him. In doing so, I find that it leads to places I may not have otherwise gone, which is just so much fun!
I think the greatest challenge for me was writing for Pushkin. He is so different from anybody I’ve actually had contact with. In addition, I had specific goals for how I wanted the reader to react to him. While it was more challenging, it was also fun to come up with the various scenarios and backstories. He was one of my favorites.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing Volume 2 of the Watching series. Hopefully, it will be available during the early part of 2025.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The Cold War, a period of history during which spycraft rules the world by substituting subterfuge and lies for actual war and mass death. The Soviet Union and the United States of America, the two major players, spend untold sums of money and put their best minds to work at attempting to gain the “upper hand,” whatever that means. Two distinct ideologies. One takes the long view, while the other prefers instant gratification. They find common ground only in their willingness to utilize experimental methods and the lengths to which they are willing to go to “win,” including using their own citizens in unimaginable ways.
During the Cold War, the Soviets plan to infiltrate the U.S. by placing deep cover agents into the country as everyday citizens. Was the plan successful? If so, with détente and the collapse of the Soviet Union, where are they today?
Lisa Jones and Jennifer Turner are two brilliant scientists working at United Genetics Research Lab, a state-of-the-art facility located outside of Washington, D.C., doing state-of-the-art genetics research. Lisa’s boyfriend, Sgt. Stephan Beck, works at the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) as an interpreter of intercepted Russian language messages. One such message, intercepted by Homeland Security, piques his interest due to what he, and no one else, perceives to be a hidden message. Unable to resist the challenge, he breaks protocol in an effort to unravel the mystery, unprepared for what he actually learns: a possible connection to the people he loves and an attempt to manipulate the next presidential election, only months away, altering the fate of the U.S., and the world.
Deep Cover, the second published novel by acclaimed author Jeffrey Jay Levin, author of Watching, Volume 1: The Garden Museum Heist, asks the question: Are the two countries, and the behind-the-scenes players, really all that different? Who can one really trust?
If The Manchurian Candidate and The Americans had a baby, it would have been the adult action thriller Deep Cover.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/30/novelizing-a-screenplay/
Phoenix Gumshoe, by G. L. Rockey, is a fascinating trilogy that delves into the dark underbelly of human trafficking, the complexities of human relationships, and the intricacies of personal dilemmas. This trilogy includes three distinct stories—”Help Wanted,” “Massage,” and “High Stakes Pandemic,” each unfolding unique narratives. Readers follow Max Baer, a former police detective turned private investigator in Phoenix, Arizona. The trilogy takes readers on a journey filled with suspense, emotional depth, and raw human experiences.
Rockey’s writing style is both engaging and thought-provoking, seamlessly blending gritty detective work with psychological insights. In “Help Wanted,” the narrative thrives on intense, fast-paced action as it unravels the horrific world of a human trafficking ring. Rockey’s detailed portrayal of the seedy underbelly of society is both disturbing and compelling, painting a vivid picture of the moral abyss that Baer navigates. The author’s choice to tackle such a dark topic through the eyes of a hardened yet vulnerable protagonist like Baer adds a layer of authenticity and emotional resonance to the story.
“Massage,” on the other hand, takes a slightly different turn, focusing more on dialogues and character interactions, particularly through a radio talk show. This section offers an interesting exploration of human sexuality, emotions, and the complexities of personal relationships. The conversations are raw and unfiltered, providing an honest look into the diverse spectrum of human experiences. However, the shift from a high-stakes crime narrative to a talk show format might be jarring for some readers, though it certainly adds depth and variety to the overall trilogy.
“High Stakes Pandemic,” the last story in this trilogy, dives into a world of deceit and danger within the pharmaceutical industry. In this crime thriller, Max Baer finds himself entangled in a complex plot involving the VP of a pharmaceutical company, who is coerced into creating a virus and its vaccine for financial gain. The story expertly intertwines elements of suspense, corruption, and ethical quandaries, as Baer navigates through a maze of lies and peril. The author’s adept storytelling shines in depicting the unraveling of the conspiracy, leading to a gripping climax where justice precariously hangs in the balance.
Phoenix Gumshoe is tailor-made for readers who enjoy crime dramas with a psychological twist. Its exploration of dark themes, combined with a deep dive into the human psyche, makes it an ideal read for those who appreciate narratives that don’t shy away from the grittier aspects of life. While the content can be intense, I think it’s well-balanced with moments of introspection and character development, making it a thought-provoking read. G L Rockey’s “Gumshoe” is highly recommended for fans of crime thrillers, detective stories, and those who appreciate a deep dive into the complexities of the human condition.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/30/phoenix-gumshoe-a-max-baer-trilogy/
In Severed Echoes, author D.V. Chernov weaves a compelling mystery centered around Detective Nick Severs, who stumbles upon a perplexing case. A tip from an old school friend leads Nick to investigate a suspected murder, initially disguised as a suicide. The story gains complexity as Nick’s friend’s honesty comes into question, and he grapples with a haunting, recurring nightmare.
Chernov skillfully uses sharp, succinct sentences to escalate tension, exemplified in lines like “woman’s startled shriek. Short, sharp, and clear.” This narrative style not only builds suspense but also immerses the reader in the role of a detective, encouraging them to piece together the mystery alongside the characters. Parallel to Nick’s story is Kat, engaged in a quest for retribution with the aid of the hacktivism group ‘f8sabitch’. The connection between their paths remains an intriguing aspect of the plot. The book’s opening line, “The boy’s skull cracked, and the sound made Nick open his eyes,” sets the tone for the unfolding mystery. From the outset, Chernov captivates readers with questions that can only be answered by delving deeper into the narrative.
Severed Echoes incorporates contemporary themes, including references to COVID, which adds a layer of relatability for modern readers. This novel is a compelling read for those drawn to mysteries, providing a rich blend of suspense, character development, and relevant societal commentary. Chernov’s storytelling is engaging, making it a challenging book to put down for anyone captivated by unraveling a good mystery.
Severed Echoes is an intricately crafted narrative that masterfully balances suspense and character-driven storytelling. D.V. Chernov presents a modern mystery that not only engages readers in a complex plot but also resonates with contemporary themes. The book’s strength lies in its ability to immerse the reader in the detective’s journey, turning each page into a step deeper into its enthralling mystery. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the genre or new to mystery novels, this book offers a captivating reading experience, marking D.V. Chernov as a noteworthy voice in mystery fiction.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0B65Q8K78
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/30/severed-echoes/