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.

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Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/30/star-crossed-lovers/