Amina Thajudeen Author Interview, Book Review, Book Tour, Fiction, Self-Help, Young-Adult

“Jealousy destroys creativity, and I have to constantly remind myself to move beyond it and just write!” Ruth Rotkowitz on the process of writing and launching her novels

Today I’ll be hosting author Ruth Rotkowitz on my blog. Her novels, Escaping the Whale and The Whale Surfaces are available on Amazon.com

Ruth Rotkowitz is the author of two novels: Escaping the Whale and the prequel, The Whale Surfaces. Both novels feature a daughter of Holocaust survivors who struggles with a legacy of inherited trauma. Readers’ interest in the background of the adult protagonist in Escaping the Whale, which was published first, inspired the creation of the prequel, which describes the woman’s childhood and adolescence. As a daughter of survivors herself, Rotkowitz has experienced, observed, and researched inherited trauma. In the talks she has conducted via Zoom this past year, she has been heartened by the reactions of many types of readers of varied backgrounds who relate to her protagonist’s struggles.

Rotkowitz has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in various literary journals and has been a staff writer and member of the editorial board of the (now defunct) Woman’s Newspaper of Princeton, where several of her feature articles garnered awards. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in English and has taught English on both the college and high school levels. She currently conducts book talks for the Phoenix Holocaust Association in the Phoenix, Arizona area, where she resides.

It is my pleasure to welcome Ms. Rotkowitz to this interview.

  • When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I always knew. I felt the “calling,” so to speak, as a little girl, because I always loved reading and marveled at the power and beauty of the written word.

  • How long have you been writing?

I was always writing. I got serious about trying to get my work published in the seventies, when I left teaching and was home with a child.  I started with small pieces – fiction, nonfiction, poetry. I began framing ideas for novels a few years later, and began working at novel-writing in the eighties.

  • What inspired you to write these books?

 I was visited by the idea of a troubled young woman as a protagonist. As I began writing of this woman’s life and her attempt to conceal her fears and delusions in order to appear normal, I connected her problems with the problems of children of Holocaust survivors as well as the struggles of women to be taken seriously, in their relationships and careers. I was inspired to set the first novel, Escaping the Whale, in 1980 because women were just beginning to break out of the passive role set for them, and because I vividly remember the fascination that year with the Iran hostage crisis. I saw a connection between that situation and my protagonist’s.

 The creation of the second book, The Whale Surfaces was inspired by the questions readers of the first book asked. They were curious about the protagonist’s upbringing and wanted a picture of how she became this woman haunted by demons, trying desperately to banish them herself. Thus, during the lockdown, I wrote the prequel, a novella, which fleshes out this character’s story.

You can now order Hardcover, Paperback, eBook and Audible version of Escaping the Whale from Amazon.com and Hardcover and Paperback version from Barnes & Noble, The Whale Surfaces is available on paperback and eBook version from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

  • What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

The most difficult part is getting away from the artistic process. When I become obsessed with what I perceive as the success of other writers who have also published late in life with small presses, I become discouraged. How did they get that review? How did they get on that show?  Etcetera etcetera. That is the kiss of death, leaving me angry and discouraged. I have to remember that I must not compare myself to anyone else. Just do my work, enjoy what I do, and feel pride in what I have achieved. Jealousy destroys creativity, and I have to constantly remind myself to move beyond it and just write!

  • What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your books?

What surprised me, and still surprises me, is the total immersion I experience in my character’s life. I become her. Her problems, fears, obsessions, and joys become mine. I actually dream about her. I think, in those dreams, I am working out some parts of the story.

  • Who is your favorite author and why?

There are many authors I adore, but Alice Hoffman is by far one of my favorites. I love the way she weaves myth, legend, and the supernatural into her tales of human characters. As you might surmise from the titles of my novels, I feel a connection with the Biblical story of Jonah and the whale, and I employed that as a metaphor for my character’s dilemma. Myths from all cultures have so much to teach us, and I am inspired by Hoffman’s ability to create a smooth flow between that world and the real world.

  • What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

As a young girl, I was enamored of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I loved how the book drew me in so that I truly cared about the characters. The emotional connection I felt with Jo, the main character, and the pain I felt at Beth’s death, made me realize that writing has the power to connect with readers on an emotional level.

As an adult, I devour novels that portray a female character struggling with mental illness and/or butting heads with others who do not understand her. How To Be A Good Wife by Emma Chapman, The Pleasing Hour by Lily King, Beloved by Toni Morrison, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, Illumination Night and The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare, and Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver are some of the books that have inspired me to explore the stories that reside in my head.

  • If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Sensitive, creative, searching

  • Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

If you love your character or your story, focus on that. Let it come to life on the page. Don’t be distracted by other worries about what you are creating. Enjoy the writing itself!

  • Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers?

I have begun two other novels. One deals with a woman who has inherited a castle in which she grew up and that she has spent her adult years trying to maintain. At some point, she will begin to question why she is doing that, since it has prevented her from having a life of her own. The other novel I have begun features an installation artist who teaches art in high school to pay her bills. She meets a charismatic, dysfunctional couple who fascinate her.  They are both successful actors and they worm their way into her life, helping her but also controlling her.

You can follow me on Instagram @ruthrotkowitz to keep up-to-date on the progress for this project.

For more information on author Ruth Rotkowitz, visit her website

About Escaping the Whale

To everyone who knows her, 28-year-old Marcia Gold leads the perfect life. A high school guidance counselor in 1980 Brooklyn, New York who specializes in helping pregnant teens, Marcia thrives in her work. She also has a handsome, successful boyfriend who has won the approval of her Jewish, Holocaust-survivor family – no easy feat.

However, beneath the shiny surface lurks another reality. Plagued by frightening and debilitating panic attacks brought on by her family’s wartime legacy and exacerbated by the Iranian hostage crisis in the news, Marcia becomes convinced that “demons” are occupying her closet and her mind. Determined to keep her terrifying secret life a secret, Marcia is pushed closer and closer to a breaking point.

A series of crises finally forces the explosion Marcia can no longer contain. Determined to rid herself of her “demons,” she concocts a plan, desperate to be reborn as a new person. Unfortunately, she discovers that her plan creates its own problems. Can she find another path out of her psychic pain, one that will lead her to true normalcy?

Purchase here: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Apple Books

About The Whale Surfaces

Marcia Gold is the daughter of Holocaust survivors whose lives have been defined by their painful experiences in Europe. A sensitive child, Marcia has absorbed this history as her own, and the Holocaust looms over her childhood like an ever-present cloud. Despite caring parents and a safe life, Marcia’s childhood is filled with panic and delusions.

Marcia realizes early on that her fearful imaginings are upsetting to others. Yet demons are haunting her and she feels them infiltrating her life, making her ‘different.’ No one can understand her sense of alienation and her frightening ‘visions.’ Mortified by them herself, she believes her only hope lies in escaping the scene of her childhood and beginning an independent life. Only then, she concludes, will she vanquish those demons whose tentacles seem to be sliding relentlessly through the inside of her brain, poisoning all that they touch. Marcia’s search for independence is really a search for mental health.

Read after Escaping the Whale, the prequel explains Marcia’s journey to adulthood. Read as a stand-alone, it provides a picture of a child struggling to be ‘normal.’ Marcia Gold, in both books, is waiting to be understood.

Purchase here: Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

Your Marketing Content Planner Guide by Izabela Cottle | Review

Title: Your Marketing Content Planner Guide: 8 Steps to Supercharge Your Content Plan and Build a Social Media Strategy that Sells

Author: Izabela Cottle

Pages: 100

Genre: Business, Marketing

My review

Content marketing is the driving force of a business. If there are no customers then there will be no business. Converting an audience into potential buyers needs effective strategies. Being a sought after marketing strategist, the author, Izabela Cottle draws her wisdom from years of experience to this book. This is a concise summary of effective, foolproof, battle-tested tactics. Because of that, I find these techniques, believable, practical, and most importantly converting.

This book mainly addresses small business owners and entrepreneurs. It gives a thorough knowledge of content planning, execution and monitoring. But you can still learn a lot if you are an experienced marketer. Because the author has written very valuable and unique content that actually drives the sales. These strategies analyse our business to the core. It gives a structured and proper content framework focusing on the audience.

Marketing is now all technology-driven. Making your mark on every social media platform is a game-changer. But every platform is different and we have to customize our content to tackle down these algorithm-driven platforms. First, we have to identify our business goal. It is important to decide where to go before starting the journey. The next step is knowing your audience and creating the content. But creating content is inseparably related to monitoring and analyzing its performance. This is the most important part of a strategy. Most authors don’t stress this part. But here, the author explains this part in detail.

This 8 step content planner creates a full circle. We can easily repeat the process by changing our goal in the first step. With new data, we can customize this strategy accordingly. Undoubtedly, this is an all-in-one solution for content marketing.

One of the best features I found in this book is simplicity. The author explains A-Z details with utmost clarity, without giving any chance to raise doubts in between. But this is not a book with theoretical concepts. It is an implementation plan. This unique feature separates this one from others.

The completeness of this book is fascinating. The author has left no stones unturned. A must-read for everyone who wants to learn or innovate their marketing skills.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Science Fiction, Young-Adult

Songs From The Other Side by Robyn Bernstein | Review

Newly orphaned, Jayne reads her father’s physics notebook to comfort herself. The journal is filled with private lectures and hand written theories. These writings mirror the darkly restrictive circumstances unfolding in Jayne’s life, but also foresee the chance encounter with Jonah, another science nerd who may guide her through her grief. Despite the punishing judgment inflicted by Aunt Pauline, a religious zealot and Jayne’s new guardian, Jayne believes the contents of her father’s journal provide secret messages for her, encouraging her and Jonah to enroll together in a science contest that takes place in New York City. Jayne and Jonah’s friendship grows as they begin to plan their escape, hoping to win prize money for proving the science of salvation. But is Jayne willing to betray the lessons in the journal when they no longer align with what she and Jonah ultimately intend to do? Only Jayne can decide if new love is worth the risk of losing her last connection to her Mom and Dad

Title: Songs From The Other Side

Author: Robyn Bernstein

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 254

My review

What a story this is! A heartwarming young-adult romantic drama. But, I must not tag this as a cliche romantic drama. It will be an injustice to the story and the beautiful storytelling efforts of the author. This tale is more about the depth of emotional bonds between parents and children.

Jayne is a newly orphaned teenager who is trying to find solace. She tries to find some peace by reading her father’s journal. A chance encounter with a fellow science nerd, Jonah opens a new realm of aspirations for her. Will she able to find hope and meaning, once again in her life?

Death is always an uninvited guest in our life. Its unexpected visit shatters our deep-seated bonds beyond repair. Grief is one of the hardest emotion to surpass. Especially when someone walks away without saying goodbye. Then the people who are left behind with the curse of memories has to find the answers to thousands of questions by themselves. Even then we can’t know anything for sure. The author has conveyed these raw emotions perfectly through words. It is not easy to pour these complex emotions into words. But we can clearly feel the pain Jayne is having, as we read through. This clearly shows the talent and craft of the author.

I really liked Jayne’s character. She finds her comfort in music and science. She shows maturity beyond her ages. Her hopeful outlook is one of the best element in the story. Because of that, I really loved the climax. I like the warriors who never bows to their circumstances. She is an ordinary character with extraordinary grit.

Every scene is scripted flawlessly. The author explains every minute detail with utmost clarity. Her vivid description paints the exact picture of every scene. She only introduces characters or their interactions after this description. Reading this tale is like watching a steady paced movie by frame-to-frame.

The strength of this story lies in its originality. The plot is really unique. We can easily relate to this story. But telling a relatable story without being overdramatic is another level of the game. The author has proved her abilities beyond doubts here.

Overall, this is a very well-written story. I highly recommend this one.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.com

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Young-Adult

Truth or Love (Whispering Willows #9) by Diana Dawn| Review

After hundreds of years, the villagers have found Snow and Lily’s mother Liz in the mine, and she has made herself at home in the Willows. After the big “blowout”, Lily has left the Willows through the mirror, just missing her mother’s grand entrance. But unbeknownst to Lily, Thomas has gone after her. Will he be able to find her and reconcile their love? Snow has left her prince, Mitch, and moved in with ‘King’ Edward. But is it really Snow, or is something more sinister going on? ‘Truth or Love’ is the ninth book in the Whispering Willows series.

Title: Truth or Love (Whispering Willows #9)

Author: Diana Dawn

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 98

My review

A real page-turner in the Whispering Willows series!

Truth or love is undoubtedly the most exceptional book in this series. The ninth instalment is literally mindblowing. Diana Dawn has changed the course of the whole story in this one. She introduces some shocking revelation from the first chapter itself. Willows is under the magic spell and we cannot believe anyone or anything at all. Every character is under suspicion. The author has used this uncertainty to weave an element of mystery in the story. She introduced twists at unpredictable instances and they all made the story even more interesting.

The one character I look forward to meeting again was Liz. Her motherly affection added a refreshing touch to the life at Willows. The best feature of Book 9 is, the author gives equal space to all the characters. The strained relationships of Snow, Mitch, Edward, Lily and Thomas were explored with equal importance. The author even narrates the two stories, one in the Willows and one in the Kingdom, parallelly. The atmosphere in the Willows is much better now. Everyone is working towards a common goal, finding Margurite and save Willows from her evil tantrums.

The narration is at its absolute best here. The story never drags and it keeps a fast- pace from the beginning. So many things happen in each chapter and it is very hard to anticipate what will happen next.

As always, the story ends in a cliffhanger. But this time, the author introduced a novelty in that too. I was quite sad at the quick turn of events in the last chapter. But I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Memoirs, non-fiction, Travel memoir, Travelogue

My China Dream: What I learned from teaching in China by Scott A Morrill

A humorous story of a lawyer’s journey of discovery in the Middle Kingdom. Follow along with his and his wife’s experience teaching young, impressionable Chinese university students western ways as they learn about China and eastern ways. Pandas, certificates and Red Stamps are staples of Chinese society, but the people, food and culture is what won them over.

Title: My China Dream: What I learned from teaching in China

Author: Scott A Morrill

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 236

My review

My China Dream by Scott Morrill is an eloquent memoir reminiscing the time author and his wife spent in China. It all started when they got an unexpected offer to consider teaching positions at Zhejiang University in China. Accepting this offer means, leaving the comfort and safety of home and travel to an unknown country with zero knowledge in their language. Ultimately he decided to take a break from his soul-squishing law practice and bring a sense of novelty and adventurous spirit to his life. Moving to China, a country that has surrounded by a fair share of prejudices and speculations in the western world were not easy. But their experience in China proved them all wrong.

This is a unique blend of emotions. It is heartwarming and humorous at the same time. For someone who lived almost all of his life in the modernized western world, China offers quite a big cultural shock at the first instance. But soon they have accustomed to its ways, thanks to the people who welcomed them with big hearts. The Eastern world is completely different by all means. The government, law, ethics, educational system, culture, faith…everything has its difference. But I really liked the author’s perspective towards them. He looks into this new world with an open mind and enthusiasm. His positive outlook on life is quite evident from the beginning of the book. He keeps this attitude throughout the book.

One of the best features of this memoir, which I liked most is its impeccable narration. The author has narrated every bit of his experience with utmost honesty. It is flawless and captures the emotions behind the words very easily. He included his thoughts, beliefs, frustrations and everything else which made his China dream a blend of sweet and sour. This memoir will make you laugh, excited and sad at times. But, it will certainly leave you with a big smile in the end.

Purchase link: Amazon.com

Amina Thajudeen Author Interview, Book Review, Book Tour, Poems, poetry

“Creativity can never be killed but that doesn’t stop people from trying”, mokradi on the process of writing and launching his debut collection, The Personal Diary of Mr. Heartsleeve

Today I’ll be hosting mokradi on my blog. His debut collection The Personal Diary of Mr. Heartsleeve is now available on Amazon.com

mo-kra-di (he/him/his) is an Indian storyteller and chronicler who uses digital media as his primary platform for artistic expression. mokradi engages directly with readers through social platforms where he showcases his work and interacts with a thriving community of thousands. In the years to come, he hopes to continue his digital exploration of themes ranging in masculinity, migration to spirituality and self-identity.

It is my pleasure to welcome mokradi to this episode.

Me: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

mokradi: I am not too sure but now I am curious to know! I regularly post poems and prose, some even attempting to describe myself, on my instagram page @mokradi_ 

I think if you get to know me through my work you are welcome to try!

Me: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? How long have you been writing?

mokradi: I can still recall my tiny white eyes opening wide with unfettered excitement on opening one of my very first books: an illustrated poetry magazine by Sukumar Rai, a renowned Indian writer fondly remembered for his poems for children. I was maybe six or seven at the time.

As any child, I was captivated by the bright drawings of characters and scenes in this children’s book but for the first time I was drawn to the words. The effect words had in rhyming was so magical to me and how Rai effortlessly created these sonic worlds that told a story, all coming out from the nib of his pen!

I feel my artistic expression began very shortly after. I would pick up random crayons, red, blue or yellow and start scribbling over these very same pages with my own inspired rhymes. They probably didn’t make much sense, but the fact I could rhyme this word with that word and make a verse was an exhilarating affair. I don’t think I have stopped since.

Me: What inspired you to write The Personal Diary of Mr. Heartsleeve?

mokradi: Although this fascination for poetry continued throughout my childhood, it really started to take shape during my University days in Canada.

University is an ideal space to explore different forms of expression without worrying about it defining you. I started to take courses in writing and poetry even though I was pursuing a Science degree. Now looking back, I am beyond grateful for the tools these courses provided not only in writing but also in my day-to-day life.

On the other hand, University can also be quite a dark environment. During my four years, I saw many friends endure academic stress, financial hardship, break ups and other emotionally-draining experiences. These first-hand encounters sparked the image of a young adult in me: a boy trying to come to terms with a rapidly changing world, both from outside and from within.

Mr. Heartsleeve was born.

Based on these observations, I began creating these stories within stories you will read in the book. These stories explore the nature of sadness in young people, what it means to love, to lose, to consume and to grow up.

You can now order your official paperback of The Personal Diary of Mr. Heartsleeve across Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, Amazon.es or Amazon.co.jp.

Me: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

mokradi: This is a great question and the answer might already be embedded in there somewhere: The process is key I think. Trusting the process is the most difficult part.

Some days you come up with great material, other days you spend twice as much time, but nothing comes. This unreliability can be very frustrating, and you might stress and tell yourself you are no longer creative and that spontaneous part of you has died.

Creativity can never be killed but that doesn’t stop people from trying. Our minds are quick to self-sabotage and abandon the process. However in my experience, I feel we never really possessed this creativity to begin with, but it was something we tapped into, perhaps after having earned its trust first.

You have to trust the process, only then does creativity let you in, even if it’s for a short while. Once you are in, you just hold on and the rest it will do. It might then decide to suddenly leave you, don’t take it too personally, be grateful that when it left, it left you with all these gems in your hand that you can then reveal to others. Trust the process, have faith in it. 

Me: What books or authors have most influenced your own writing? Who is your favourite author and why?

mokradi: Ahh.. so many to name! I’m fortunate enough to have been surrounded by a diverse group of friends growing up who introduced me to many inspiring authors that have shaped my style.

Some that come to mind would be Roald Dahl, R.K Narayan, Franz Kafka, Murakami, George Orwell, Syliva Path, Sarojini Naidu, Miss Louise Bennett, Adichie Chimamanda and so on!

Fascinatingly enough my favourite author at the moment is one of the greatest painters the world has known, Vincent Van Gogh. I chanced upon a book of his in a dusty second-hand book store. It is a collection of intimate letters he wrote to this brother, ironically much like a personal diary! I find his writing to be so eloquent, maybe even slightly better than his paintings.

Me: Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

mokradi: Yes, I am already working on my next poetry book which is rooted in themes of migration.

Each year, millions of people, now more so, begin an astounding journey to leave their homeland, in search of a new country to call home. Whether by choice or force, these travellers endure great adversities that they must overcome.

My next book will highlight these endeavours, as I too draw on my personal migration story, describing the challenges encountered in adapting to a new way of life, having moved from India to Canada almost a decade ago!

You can follow my page @mokradi_ to keep up-to-date on the progress for this project!

About the book

The Personal Diary of Mr. Heartsleeve is a collection of poetry and prose dedicated to the nature of sadness and the wisdom that emerges from its exploration. Through Mr. Heartsleeve’s Personal Diary, the reader probes answers to profound questions like: what is sadness made of?

Is the nature of suffering the same in everyone?
Is there an ending to attachment?

With each diary entry, the sense of separation between the reader and Mr. Heartsleeve seems to collapse leading one to inquire whether Mr. Heartsleeve and his Personal Diary could’ve ever existed outside of us?

Purchase link: Amazon.com

Connect with mokradi here: Instagram

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Young-Adult

Courage Johnathan: An uplifting read set in Bali by Heather Nadine Lenz

Courage Johnathan by Heather Nadine Lenz

ARE YOU SURE JOHNATHAN?

Are you sure you’ll be the same man without all the trappings of your ego for love?

WHAT WILL IT BE JOHNATHAN? THE BILLIONS OR YOUR SOUL MATE?

The luxury lifestyle, your business, the attention, your reputation – will Johnathan be able to give it all up for the love of his life? And if he does, can he remain the type of man that Caroline deserves?

Title: Courage Johnathan

Author: Heather Nadine Lenz

Genre: Romantic fiction

Pages: 262

My review

How often you will get the chance to immerse yourself in a story which portrays the depth of human emotions? Courage Johnathan is one of a kind novel. It is a slice of real life. Not all of us are figured out everything we want in our life. We often step into emotional dilemmas that we are not ready to face. One way or another, we all want to run away from our problems. But it is never the solution. The real solution will come only when we decide what we really want by upholding our ethics, integrity and emotions. Courage Johnathan is a beautiful story that reflects this message.
Johnathan is going to marry Caroline at the picturesque Bali. But he is unsure of his feelings. His family has put on huge pressure on him to choose between his fiancé or his trust fund and business. He worked day and night to build his company and he enjoys his job. He is not ready to give it up. But what will it cost him? He knows money can’t buy love and love can’t make money either. He has to make a decision that is true to his
feelings and ethics.

Courage Johnathan is the second part of the Courage to Rise series by the author. I have read the first part of this series, Courage Caroline. It revolves around the life and decisions of Caroline. But in this part, the author has reversed the point of view. Here the whole story follows Johnathan and his strained relationships whether it is with his family or Caroline.

The author has used her exceptional storytelling skills to narrate this story with the right pace and concise dialogues. She has painted the emotional struggle of Johnathan and Caroline using very few words. We can literally feel their inner conflicts and indecisions. There is also a little bit of suspense and mystery in the middle, which makes the plot intriguing.

This realistic story is undoubtedly a perfect choice to uplift one’s soul. Highly recommended.

Rtaing:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Author Interview, Book Review, Book Tour, Erotic fiction, Young-Adult

An Interview with Amercia Morris| The Quintessential Author And Content Creator Taking the World By Storm

Considered as a visionary by peers and audience, Author And Content Creator Amercia Morris’s strength lies in her ability to see the big picture

Amercia Morris is an author and content creator who was brought up in the city of Buffalo, New York. She graduated with a degree in Social Sciences from Erie Community College. Known as a talented lady with vision, Amercia Morris’s life mission is to inspire and encourage others to live the life of achievers, full of abundance and fulfilment by creating an inspiring environment.  This is because she has quite an influential aura and inspiring personality.

Amercia has always loved writing and has freelanced for various online magazines and blogs. She is currently operating her own web blog Nooky life. Her first novella, Planet Nooky has already been published. Also a fiction novel Blooms of Nooky following that and many more promised to come.

It is my pleasure to welcome Ms. Amercia Morris to this episode.

Me: What inspired you to write Blooms of Nooky?

Ms. Morris:  I wrote Blooms of Nooky, to shed light on Kinks and fetishes mainly in the African American community and promoting sex in a light where we can be free and respected as individuals. It has been a constant fetishization of black women and we see women being degraded a lot in the media. When it comes to sexuality, men as well. But here, I wrote this book where a beautiful intelligent young black woman who is introduced into this depiction of a secret society and is happy and respected and not degrades or demeaned or shamed for merely being herself intimately. And it says being kinky is ok.

Amazon.com

Me: Are your characters created from scratch or are they based on people from your life?

Ms. Morris: These characters are completely new and fresh. Of course as a writer we were given the advice to write what we know of. So Ebony’s personality is taken from myself and some of my favorites like Betsey Johnson. I absolutely love Betsey Johnson and everything she designs. That was Ebony’s inspiration as a fashion designer along with Gi Gi and Nathan. They all have pieces of me in their development but the events are all created by me. Some may stem from real life experiences like hooking up with the wrong guy but none of the same. When I write or create something, I like it to be original as possible as that leaves mystery and suspense. I will be coming out with a memoir very soon which will help people as well. I researched a lot while writing my books. Because I try to make accurate descriptions and give solid information that can be fact checked. So that my readers can actually dive into my work and relating to the things which is happening.

Me: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?        

Ms. Morris: Since my childhood, I had a fascination of words, especially with the English language. Because most words in the American English language have several meanings and tenses. Which is why I choose the word Nooky. Because, even though there is a mainstream meaning for nooky, it can really mean anything you want it to be. So with that base, I started writing using the new words I learned and fell in love with. I continued to write here and there, mostly in a way to express myself clearly. Once I was introduced to poetry, that’s when I fell in love and realized that I enjoyed it and was good at it.

Me: How long have you been writing?

Ms. Morris: I have been writing for entertainment purposes since I was 15/16 as a sophomore in High school.

Me: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Ms. Morris: The most difficult part is making sure your message is clear within a length of time you believe is suitable. I myself like to get straight into the point in a sense I like to give as much punch as possible. I want my readers to want more. That is why I leave each writing ready for a sequel.

Me: What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book?

Ms. Morris: Hmm… good question. I think it must be that I discovered more of myself. Meaning, I never know where my imagination will take me to. For each book I published, I started with an outline of idea and characters. But I keep surprising myself as to where it actually takes me.

Me: Who is your favourite author and why?

Ms. Morris: I would say Toni cade Bambara. Bambara used her writing to inspire and ignite change. Her stories were entertaining and also educating. She wrote short stories which I love and there is not a lot of black women who write short stories. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and touch on an array of different subjects. She did not box herself into a certain genre or field. She was an author, activist and a teacher. She also pursued many other interests like arts.

Me: What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Ms. Morris: Donald Goines is an inspiring author. Unlike Bambara, he was not formally educated. Meaning he wrote without having a college degree. He was actually an ex-con and started writing in jail. From there, he was able to produce amazing content that is still respected today. He broke barriers and beat the odds and stereotypes of a black man of his history, during his time.

Me: Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Ms. Morris: Yes I would say, to  be patient with yourself and don’t be afraid to start over. When I was writing my first book, I was literally a couple hundred words away from finishing it and I lost the whole of what I wrote, and I had to start over. I cried and cried. I lost a lot of my work prior to that as well. They were destroyed some way or other like my broken laptop or my notebooks being literally eaten by my dog, which is so ironic. But never give up on what you love and your gift.

Me: What is the best piece of advice you received about writing?

Ms. Morris: I actually didn’t received any advice. I actually wish, I would have been given the gift of a mentor. I am actually still searching for one. Ha ha… so if anyone is out there, seasoned and listening, please contact me.

Connect with Ms. Amercia Morris here Instagram: @Planet_nooky and: @Nookyis Email: mercy@nooky.life

Me: What inspires you to get out of bed each day? 

Ms. Morris: Knowing that I have a new chance to achieve my goals, and move beyond of what is expected of me. Literally one day can be the worse day and in the next, you will be ready to faint at what has been presented to you. All we need is an opportunity in life and perseverance. We will succeed because we, who strive will find a way for each interaction and each encounter as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Me: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Ms. Morris: Bold, Fierce and Honest

Me: Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

Ms. Morris: I Have a website dedicated to assist those who are in the process of healing from trauma. It is not intended to replace the traditional medicine but aid in the process by allowing you to read different articles and link with peers. It is also a way to explore kinks and fetishes from people who actually experienced those and not just researched. I want to connect with people in the most organic and honest way. I also am going to release a part 2 of Planet Nooky and Blooms of nooky. I have more than ten works that have not been published. So I have lots of content and fresh ideas that come to me consistently. So please stay tuned and you will be surprised.

Author bio

Amercia Morris is not the type of person who can be easily categorized in a few written notes. She can be best described as a multi-talented go-getter who identifies numerous opportunities and successfully grabs them immediately. Her education and life journey have provided her with a unique set of skills that led to the establishment and hosting of Planet Nooky, a TV show and podcast that is a spinoff of her first Urban Erotic Science Fiction. She Also Co-Hosts and creates content for NookyAfter Dark, which is both dedicated to a sex-positive environment.

Amercia has always loved writing and has freelanced for various online magazines and blogs. She is currently operating her own web blog Nooky life and her first novella, Planet Nooky has already been published. Also a fiction novel Blooms of Nooky following that and more promised to come.

In her free time, Amercia likes gardening, visiting museums, going to outdoor parties, traveling, swimming and exploring the world around her. She loves playing games of all sorts and when the time comes for relaxing it is often with a glass of her favorite wine. Previously she was a supporter of and volunteer for The Restore Program, RAINN, and The Geva Theatre. Today, she spends her time between her home in Buffalo and Atlanta Ga.

She is also exploring a career as a Certified Sex Coach in the hope that she can help other women, and men, who may have reservations or fears about sex because of past traumas and hopefully to aid in their healing and ability to have a healthy and happy sex life.

With the iconic success, Amercia Morris has garnered much respect and recognition at such a young age. An epic axiom ‘hard work pays off’ has been an inspiration. Yet, she aspires to achieve more. It is her wish to create a community where we see the true value in our bodies and relationships and use what we have been given to heal each other and not to hurt. She is hopeful that this will enable her to expand nationwide/worldwide and have hubs of little Planet Nooky in all corners of the globe.

For more information about Amercia Morris, her personal story, and her businesses, You can contact or follow her on:

Instagram: @Planet_nooky and: @Nookyis

Facebook: Exquisitemercyllc

Email: mercy@nooky.life

Planet Nooky Amazon.com

Blooms of Nooky Amazon.com

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Erotic fiction, Fantacy, Fiction, Young-Adult

Blooms of Nooky by Amercia Morris | Review

Meet Ebony “Duchess” Brown A beautiful young lady who’s ambitions take her from Buffalo, New York to New York, New York to pursue her dreams of becoming the next top fashion designer. During Ebony’s pursuit to have it all she meets Keith who unexpectedly forces her world to take a turn for the worse and interrupts her plans. Through this upset, she meets Nathan ‘Mr. Daddy” Stern whom she feels rescues her and places her back on track, part of her Journey leads her to work part-time at “Blooms of Nooky” which is a Flower Shop run by Gigi who is responsible for giving her an internship at a World recognized Fashion Magazine.
Blooms of Nooky is not your average flower shop in the Big Apple, and once you find out why you may be questioning your spouse’s intentions and allow you to have a new passionate pleasure for Nooky the next time they bring you home a Bouquet of Flowers

Title: Blooms of Nooky

Author: Amercia Morris

Pages: 145

My review

Blooms of Nooky by Amercia Morris is a perfect slice of creativity that invites you to experience a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Meet Ebony, an ambitious girl who aspires to be a top fashion designer. She moves to New York to pursue her dream. But certainly, life has some other plans for her. She has to overcome many hurdles on the way to make her dreams a reality.

I was quite familiar with the style of writing of the author through her previous work ‘Planet Nooky’. Although both stories are entirely different from one another, they possess one single most common feature- a strong female lead which drives the story. Ebony undergoes a full transformation in this book. Her naive and innocent nature transforms into a more polished, intelligent and strong charismatic personality. The author never fails to surprise her readers with an original plot. Blooms of Nooky is the best testimony to this fact.

If you are too innocent in the world of greed, you will certainly become a puppet in unknown hands. But once you realised your true power, it will only a matter of time, you can turn the tables. Ebony realised this by experiencing the hardest struggles and unknown emotions. But the path to self-discovery is essentially liberating. Since the climax offers the scope for a sequel, I hope we can visit a new set of adventures sometime soon.

One of the strongest features of this book is its storyline. The author added an element of mystery and suspense to it. This creates different shades in the main characters. We don’t know who is right or wrong. We can only see things from the viewpoint of Ebony. So the layers of this story yet to be unveiled. Looking forward to reading more books from the author.

Rating: 5/5

Purchase link: Amazon.com

Amina Thajudeen Author Interview, Book Review, Book Tour, Fiction, Thriller

An Interview with Ronald S. Barak| Author of JK’s Code

Today I’ll be hosting  author Ronald S. Barak on my blog. His book “JK’s Code” is available on Amazon.com

Ronald S. Barak

Ronald S. Barak, bestselling author, Olympic athlete, law school honors graduate, and experienced courtroom lawyer, is uniquely qualified to write his novels that appeal to all political and legal thriller fans.

Described by his readers as a cross between Agatha Christie, Lee Child, and John Lescroart, bestselling author Barak keeps his readers flipping the pages into the wee hours of the night. While he mostly lets his characters tell his stories, he manages to get his licks in too.

Barak derives great satisfaction from knowing that his books not only entertain but also stimulate others to think about how things might be, how people can actually resolve real-world problems. In particular, Barak tackles the country’s dysfunctional government representatives–not just back-seat driving criticism for the sake of being a back-seat driver, but truly framing practical remedies to the political abuse and corruption adversely affecting too many people’s lives today. Barak’s extensive legal background and insight allow him to cleverly pollinate his fiction and today’s sad state of political reality.

Barak resides in Pacific Palisades, California, where he is hard at work on his next novel, JK’s Code.

Me: What inspired you to transition from lawyer to fiction writer? 

Ronald: I wrote my first novel on a dare from some friends while I was still practicing law full time. I had so much fun writing that first novel that the transition from lawyer to fiction writer became a no brainer.

Me: How did practicing law help with being a writer?

Ronald: My novels are legal and political thrillers. I was already a political junkie and knew from every day reading what was current. My legal background helped me write my novels without having to do much research. My first novel, The Amendment Killer, took me the better part of a year to write. Practice makes better if not perfect; I wrote JK’s Code in six weeks. This would not have been as easy for me or as timely if I didn’t have the law practice background that I do.

Me: How would you describe your writing process (plotter versus pantser)?

Ronald: I am definitely a pantser. I typically have only one or two thoughts in my head about the plot and the possible outcome when I begin writing. Each day, I review what I wrote the prior day (and clean it up) and then keep going from there. The story often turns out quite a bit different than I originally anticipated. In the case of JK’s Code, I originally thought I was going to write a story about crypto currency crime and, given what was going on in the world, I completely changed that to cybersecurity crime.

Me: I see in your bio that you were an Olympic athlete. How does preparing and competing compare to writing a novel?

Ronald: I was an Olympic gymnast. Writing a novel is kind of like mental gymnastics. One is physical and the other is mental, but they are remarkably similar in terms of practice and focus. The more you practice and focus, the better athlete you can become (assuming a certain amount of innate ability in your genes). The more you practice and focus, the better writer you can become. I think my earlier discipline as an athlete has definitely helped me as a writer.

Me: Tell us a little about the Brooks/Lotello series.

Ronald: When I was dared by some friends to write a novel, and dared to rise to the challenge, I figured out I should write what I liked reading, political and legal suspense and mysteries. I also figured I should write what I know. I had extensive experience as a trial lawyer and to a lesser extent as a trial judge. From there, I created my primary protagonist, Cyrus Brooks, a retired U.S. District Court judge, who kind of thinks and looks like I do, and has a personality and sense of humor similar to mine. I love Constitutional Law (it take all kinds of law and it takes all kinds of people, what can I say?). So, I dreamed up the issue of whether amending the Constitution requires Congressional participation. I needed a victim. I created a precocious 11 year old granddaughter of a Supreme Court Justice. I forced him to choose between saving the country and saving the life of his granddaughter, who was kidnapped by a psychopath wanting to control the outcome of a Supreme Court case about whether an amendment to the Constitution opposed by Congress could still be valid. Because I am diabetic and know the subject, I made the kidnapped youngster diabetic to add considerable complication and tension to the story. Because I’m a pantser, these complications arose as I wrote and not at all neatly in advance. I called that first novel The Amendment Killer because the bad guy, a government spook wanted to kill that Constitutional amendment. In my next novel, The Puppet Master, Cyrus Brooks and his colleague Frank Lotello, a homicide detective, are tasked with finding a vigilante serial killer, a puppet master you might say, assassinating corrupt government officials because he feels they had stripped him of everything he had, his family, his business, his dignity and—maybe—even his sanity. The third novel in my Brooks/Lotello series, Payback, was about a psychopathic serial killer at an international writing conference killing prominent writing personalities because he believed they were not paying him the proper respect as a writer. Some think this killer reflects how I feel as a writer. (You do have to be able to laugh at yourself!) Brooks just happened to be at the conference studying to write a novel of his own. In my latest Brooks/Lotello novel, JK’s Code, a young college technology genius who happens to be the brother-in-law of Frank Lotello stumbles across the plot of a U.S. president to assure his continuing control of the country, right down to the events of January 6. However did I imagine such a story in mid-2020?

Me: JK’s Code is your 4th book in the series. What is it about?

Ronald: In my latest Brooks/Lotello novel, JK’s Code, a young college technology genius who happens to be the brother-in-law of Frank Lotello, one of the two protagonists in the Brooks/Lotello series, stumbles across the plot of a U.S. president to assure his continuing control of the country, right down to the events of January 6. However did I imagine such a story in mid-2020?

Me: What are some of the challenges when writing about real-time issues?

Ronald: Keeping them timely, often referred to as “ripped from the headlines.” In my opinion, to really be “timely,” it is necessary to do your writing before the headlines happen. In The Puppet Master, the second in my Brooks/Lotello series, the killer asserts a legal defense to murder that had never been tried in the real-world courts. Two years later, a real-world serial killer asserted that very defense, which went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. In my latest in the series, JK’s Code, the fictional U.S. president attempted a coup to take over the government. I wrote that seven months before it happened on January 6. I refer to the challenge of writing about real-time issues as having to be creative, to have an imagination on steroids one might say, and to dream up things that might happen before they do in the real world. I might have liked JK’s Code to be traditionally published, but that would have taken another year to come to market and by then it would not have been as timely as when it was released, before many of the events I imagined came to pass.

Me: Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Ronald: The short answer is “I don’t know.” Sometimes they come to me in my sleep. I just wake up with a thought, jot it down on a post-it note and go back to sleep. Sometimes it comes to me when I’m playing golf or exercising. Sometimes it comes to me when I’m watching or reading the news or a movie and I say “What if . . . ?” The key is to jot down a few words before you forget the idea.

Me: Are your characters created from scratch or are they based on people from your life?

Ronald: Most of the time, they are based on people that I observe in real life. Brooks is very similar to . . . me. Lotello is quite similar to our son. The president in JK’s Code bears a remarkable similarity in personality to Donald Trump. In fact, I’m quite apolitical. I picked on Trump because he was there and people would see who I was mimicking. My next novel might very well pick on Biden. The 11 year old kidnapped granddaughter of a U.S. Supreme Court justice in The Amendment Killer has diabetes. So do I. I used that trait because I know the subject well and could write about it without having to do much research. I also think it’s a subject that can benefit from more attention. Payback involves a novelist who is a psychopathic serial killer and thought he deserves more recognition. Was I thinking of me? Hardly, but it always helps to be able to laugh at yourself.

Me: What is the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Ronald: If by “process,” you mean the art of writing, I don’t have an answer. If you enjoy writing as much as I do and you are patient, the process will come to you. If you include in process everything that goes with a writing career, then the most challenging part of the writing business is, hands down, building a market and a brand. If you’re an athlete, as I have been, then all you have to do is be talented and work hard. If you’re a lawyer, as I am, then all you have to do is be talented and work hard. If you’re a writer, as I strive to be, it is not enough to be talented and work hard. There are many talented novelists who have worked very hard who you’ve never heard of. You need a little bit of luck to go with the talent and effort.

Me: What is the best piece of advice you received about writing?

Ronald: Write what you know and what you love.

Me: What is the worst piece of advice you received about writing?

Ronald: Write a good story and the readers will come.

Synopsis

Genre(s): Political Thriller; Contemporary Fiction

“Twenty year old computer genius Jake Klein, known to his friends as JK, drops out of college to pursue fortune and fame in the field of cybersecurity. Discovering and upending a conspiracy between the presidents of Russia and America to manipulate the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, JK finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the heads of state of two of the world’s most powerful countries—with the emphasis on deadly. Revealing the truth to the world definitely comes with a price. The fourth in the bestselling Brooks/Lotello novels, JK’s Code, is a political thriller teeming with real-time events, satire, suspense, and just a hint of romance that couldn’t come any closer to the realities of 2020 if JK were covertly dividing his time between the White House and the Kremlin—which he may just be.”

Purchase here: Amazon.com

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