Vashti’s Daughter follows a 29-year-old book publisher who discovers a mysterious manuscript; she must find a way to break an ancient curse put on her and fulfill a vow she made centuries ago, before her 30th birthday in the present. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

This will sound quite strange, but the inspiration for Vashti’s Daughter originated from a very unique relationship I was involved in with a former high school classmate several years ago.

It was so intense, I felt as if we had known each other in a previous life. When I ended it, he was quite upset and told me, “You will never find love again, now and for all eternity.” (Which was certainly not true as I’ve been married to my current and forever love for over 40 years!)

However, that one line also felt was like a “curse” made centuries ago, and most definitely was the spark that created the theme of Vashti’s Daughter, although the Jewish holiday of Purim and all that followed wasn’t originally the concept or the title of the novel.

(Unfortunately, the real person who was the inspiration for the book passed away several years ago and never knew how important he was to my creative process.)

The rest of the inspiration came to me during COVID, when I had plenty of time and plenty of unemployment, to concentrate on finishing Vashti’s Daughter. The history of basketball at Kutcher’s in the Catskills, the basketball scandals at Syracuse and Israel, the archeological dig and earthquake in Qutar, and even Alexander the Great, became part of the story. Where all these themes came from, I honestly have no idea!

Anna is a strong heroine who is determined and resilient in the face of challenging odds. Did you incorporate anything from your own life into the characters in your novel?

As with most authors, and certainly with my own novels, there are a number of personal experiences intertwined in every book. With Vashti’s Daughter, I drew from my more than twenty-five years of experience in the ever-changing book publishing industry, as well as having gone through a vicious divorce (over 40 years ago) with a very abusive self-centered jerk who became the character of Anna’s ex in the story.

My own mother Reginia Cohen was a very strong, fiercely independent woman who was way ahead of her time. She faced many challenges, as did many women of her generation after WWII ended, but I credit her intense determination as the key factor in the Anna character.

When we celebrated Purim at our ultra-conservative synagogue in Ellenville, New York, both of us dressed as Vashti while all the other women extolled the virtues of Esther. The congregation wasn’t that impressed. to say the least!

Other aspects of the novel I’ve incorporated into the story; I graduated from Syracuse and am a huge Orange basketball fan! I’ve also studied astrology, numerology, and Kabala and have been reading Tarot cards for over 60 years, and have, of course, attended many book events both here in Los Angeles and New York City over the years.

Unfortunately, many of these events as well as bookstores, author book signings, and conventions are no longer around, which makes selling novels even more challenging than ever before. Add to that, the disappearance of major publishing houses, mergers, and the new A.I. “fake” writing that’s become so popular, and it’s going to get a lot worse for creative human beings to make a living in the publishing business – BUT like Anna, I firmly believe we will prevail!

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

All of my novels have the similar theme of strong, independent women who overcome great odds. Jenny Reed is a strong, determined New Yorker who has to shake off the laid-back attitude of LA to overcome the challenges of an industry that threatens to turn her off and a man who only wants to turn her on in Red Wine for Breakfast.

Attorney-turned-writer Rachael Clark has to fight off her vengeful ex to bring justice to her new love interest in First Class Male.

Voice-over actress Melanie Tyler becomes involved with a secret spy agency to help bring down a former classmate’s evil organization in Undercover Reunion.

Two continuous themes in all my novels are first, my #1 rule of life; Always keep a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator because you never know when you’re going to have something to celebrate, and you do NOT want to be without champagne.

Second, the secret of the “socks test” which you’ll have to read the novels to discover that that is!

What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?

Vashti’s Daughter is my fourth novel! My first book, Red Wine for Breakfast was published way back in 1999. (Read The History of a Novel)

That novel was followed by what started out as a 2,000 word short story for a romance magazine that grew to the 96,000 word novel First Class Male. Undercover Reunion was written just before my own 30th high school reunion and also the 50th anniversary of the television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

As far as the future of my next books – Bourbon for Brunch and Daiquiris for Dinner have been sitting in my computer hoping to become completed works someday when I’m a “rich and famous” (or just rich) author and can quit my “day job.”

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Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/06/01/strong-independent-women/