Author Spotlight: Interview with Melissa Crowe

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

Journey, The Beast Within novellas #3.

It is Urban Fantasy. Ian is summoned to the Otherworld by the Goddess Danu, but Karina won’t let him go without a fight. Would you travel to the ends of the earth for the one you love?

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

The NA market is my target audience. I had never heard of the Tuatha De Danann before and I have shaken up Celtic mythology with my own little twists. So if you are looking for something different, then The Beast Within novellas will appeal to you.

3. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

The Beast Within represents discovering things about yourself that you didn’t know existed. When you have a life changing event you will find an inner strength and unleash your ‘inner beast.’

4. Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

I have a friend of a friend who has a photography business. She has never done book covers before and was willing to help me out so we work together.

I tell her what I am thinking of and she comes back with exactly that. I try to tie in a scene from the book that appeals to me, to represent the cover.

5. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Karina is my favourite, she is kick ass. I love strong powerful women.

6. How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

Fintan. He was introduced towards the end of Journey, but he will be a larger character in the coming novella’s. He is arrogant and pompous and will be a real antagonist in book 4.

7. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

Wow what a question! I guess I would show a little more of Karina’s character in book 1. Some of the reviews did point out that she is a little docile, given the life changing information she has dropped on her.

8. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

My series explain lycanthropes as a religious curse. I know there are different theories on what they are, but that is the quirky twist I am taking on it.

9. What other books are similar to your own?  What makes them alike?

If I am being completely honest, I have never read any werewolf or fairy books. Everything from this series is from my own imagination. I’m sure there would be other stories similar to mine, but just wouldn’t know of any. If any readers can tell me that would be great, I’d love to have a read.

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

My five year old son has made up a superhero for himself. He calls it Super Giraffe, and I am his honorary side kick. I am Super Mum and my super power is baking muffins to throw at people. I’m not sure if I should take this as an insult to my cooking, but that is really the only unique talent I have.

11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

Facebook

Goodreads

Title: The Beast Within

Add on Goodreads!

Amazon - Kindle or Paperback

Smashwords

Title: Haunted

Add on Goodreads!

Amazon - Kindle or Paperback

Smashwords

Title: Journey

Add on Goodreads!

Amazon- Kindle or Paperback

Smashwords

12. What can we expect from you in the future?

I am working on book 3 from The Ivory Series, my NA vampire stories.
Then I will start book 4 of The Beast Within novellas.

13. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Reviews are really important, it helps people ‘stumble’ across you. You can also connect with me on facebook and stay in touch with updates.

14. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

I never really thought about how much work goes into writing a book until I actually did it.

First you need an idea, then you need to research the topic, write, re-write, then write some more.
Cover ideas, marketing, publicity, networking, editing, releasing, all while juggling home life!

I have two young kids and my husband and I both work. So finding the balance is hard. Don’t ask me how I do it, because to be honest I don’t really know. I just get it done.
Writing is not a 9-5 job, it’s a 24 hour one because idea’s will come to you in the strangest of places.

So be prepared to work hard.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to thank you for giving me this great opportunity. Also a big thanks to all my fans, without their support in promoting me I wouldn’t be here.


16. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

The car was dangerously silent as it sped south through the countryside. Karina’s eyes didn’t move from Aedan’s silhouette as he concentrated on the road ahead. Lines of worry were forming around his eyes. In the back with her, Ian and Lorcan drifted in and out of consciousness as Lakeyn drove. How dare he order me around, she thought, and what exactly did he mean by her and Ian meeting our fate?

“Are you going to speak to me or continue to throw visual daggers at me?” He asked turning around.

“Let’s get one thing straight. You don’t order me around.”

“If you weren’t hell bent of trying to get yourself killed then I wouldn’t have to.”

Karina’s mouth dropped open. “I’m not trying to get myself killed!”

Aedan raised his eyebrows. “In the last few hours you have attempted to swim across the North Channel through a swarm of Lion’s Mane jellyfish, tried to slit your wrists, went toe to toe with a lycanthrope and wanted to run into the night, on the full moon, looking for a Guardian.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. “You should have been with me for the last few weeks then.”

He shook his head and laughed. “You are like no Tuatha De Danann I have ever met. I’ll give you that.”

“Until a year ago I hadn’t even heard of the Danann, so excuse me if I don’t conform to protocol.”

Lakeyn let out a deep belly laugh and Aedan joined him. Karina blushed with embarrassment.

“You’re in for a surprise,” Lakeyn commented. The two continued to laugh at Karina’s expense a little longer before Lakeyn turned the car around and stopped.

“What are we doing?”

“Just checking,” Lakeyn answered as he stepped out of the car and listened.

“I don’t feel anything,” Karina said and looked out into the night as her fingers tightened around the handle of Ian’s blade. Her knees was bouncing with anticipation, they were so close she could sense it. Something was urging her to continue on. Lakeyn strode away from the car and began to jog. Aedan undid his seatbelt and turned to Karina. “Stay here.”

“Yeah right,” she scoffed and opened the door.

Aedan followed Lakeyn and Karina looked around. The moon was high above and illuminated the landscape. A man was lying in the field and Lakeyn was now at his side trying to rouse him. Aedan stopped and turned to Karina, his face was sympathetic and she knew it must be Noah. Running down the hill she joined them.

*****

Thank you Melissa for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at authorjejohnson@gmail.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with Stifyn Emrys

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

“Identity Break,” dystopian novel about two teens on the run, hunted by adults who want to control them. They aren’t who they seem - or who they think they are.

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

I targeted this book at a wide audience. It should appeal to YA readers, science fiction fans and readers who enjoy paranormal fiction (even though it’s not exactly paranormal or science fiction). I wanted to give the humanity of the characters broad appeal and provide the kind of twist that blindsides you. I want you to say to yourself, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.” Think “The Sixth Sense” meets “The Twilight Zone.”

3. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I wanted something original, so I did some research and found “Identity Break” hadn’t (to my knowledge) been use before. The “break” refers to a break with perceived reality and a break with expectations, which plays into the twist I referred to above.

4. Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

I design all my own cover art. It’s a creative process I enjoy, though it can be a challenge.  In this case, I found the photograph online and messaged the photographer, asking permission for use. Once I received consent, I used Photoshop and an online photo editing tool called Pic Monkey to convert the photo to black and white and enhance it to create the stark, haunted feeling I was seeking. The cover photo depicts a child named Charlotte who’s one of the key characters in the book.

5. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

My favorites are the two protagonists, Elyse and Jason, both of whom are outcasts for different reasons. Jason is a gifted scholar and athlete who has little patience for the social games of high school. His parents keep him at arm’s length and have put him in therapy so someone else can deal with his “problems.” Elyse is an artist with a more cynical worldview whose father has died a couple of years earlier and has withdrawn to some extent. Both, however, are heroic figures whose courage comes to the fore when they face challenges they never imagined.

6. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Definitely Pamela Throckmartin. The reader isn’t supposed to like her, because she’s very manipulative and scheming. But I don’t like one-dimensional villains.  She’s one of the adults trying to control Elyse and Jason. You’ll read a bit about why she has turned out the way she has, and you might even have some sympathy for her. Not much, but maybe a little.

7. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

I’m very pleased with the way it turned out. I can’t think of anything specific I’d change.

8. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

It’s written in a multiple first-person format. Most chapters are written from Jason’s or Elyse’s point of view, but some are written from Pamela’s and a few are viewed through the eyes of other characters. I was worried this might confuse readers, so I was careful to give each character a distinctive voice. I think it worked well, especially considering it’s my first novel, and those I’ve asked about it say the changes in voice are clear.

9. What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?

I’d say it’s more similar to some visual-media stories I’ve seen in terms of style and approach. I referred to “The Sixth Sense” and “The Twilight Zone.” There are also elements of “The Matrix” and “The Hunger Games” movies. In terms of literature, I’ve always been taken with the themes George Orwell brings up in “1984.” There’s an element of turning the world on its head and manipulating people’s minds that is somewhat Orwellian.

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I’m a journalist, and I’ve spent nearly three decades working as a writer and editor for daily newspapers. I’ve also spent a good deal of time researching the myths, stories and philosophies that have gone into the development of Western religion. It’s a topic I address in some of my non-fiction works, such as “The Gospel of the Phoenix,” “Requiem for a Phantom God” and “The Way of the Phoenix.“ I consider myself a strong advocate against bullying, and my non-fiction work “Undefeated” spotlighted stories of people who have overcome prejudice and oppression. I also occasionally sing karaoke.

11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

Visit my Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Stifyn-Emrys/e/B008LHKFM2/. You can also follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/semrys or Twitter @stifynemrys.

12. What can we expect from you in the future?

I have a couple of ideas for novels, one of them being another installment in the “Identity Quest” series (I’ve also written a novella called “Artifice” that explores some of the backstory). I’ll also be doing more non-fiction writing.

13. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

The best thing you can do is recommend it to friends and rate/review it on Amazon or Goodreads. Positive ratings are a huge help, both in terms of visibility and encouragement to any independent author. I don’t have a big publishing house to back me up, so I rely entirely on word of mouth.

14. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Just do it. You don’t have to wait for a publisher to accept your work. There are a number of self-publishing options out there, including CreateSpace (which I use). Be meticulous about your work. Go over it carefully yourself, then hand it off to an editor you can trust to be thorough and honest. My wife, who’s also an author, and I edit each other’s work.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to thank Jenna for spotlighting my book on her blog.

16. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

Jason Nix in session with Dr. David Stanton, psychiatrist:

He spoke to me in his lecturing tone. “Everyone has a subconscious, Jason. It’s just a matter of accessing it. I’d like to do a little experiment, if you don’t mind.”

I squinted one eye at him. What was he getting at?

“What kind of experiment? I’m not a lab rat.”

“Oh, nothing that will hurt,” he said. “I’d just like for you to go to sleep here in the office for a few minutes, and we’ll try to discover what’s going on behind that tightly drawn veil of yours. I understand you might be too nervous to sleep, so I’m prepared to help you with a little meditative exercise.”

This time, I was the one who had been taken off guard.

Sleep? In the office? This was the kind of thing you did in a hospital on a couple of weeks’ notice. Not in a doctor’s office on the spur of the moment.

“What kind of bull is this?” I demanded, slapping the good doctor’s precious glass globe against a marble tabletop and watching it shatter.

Amazingly, Stanton didn’t seem to care.

“Come one,” he said in his best attempt at a reassuring tone. “This will be interesting. You’ll learn a lot about yourself, and it might even be fun.”

“Fun for whom?” I asked. “For you, sure. For me, this seems ...” I pulled out my mobile phone. “I’m calling my parents.”

I started to dial the number, but Stanton grabbed the phone out of my hand.

“Nice,” I said, doing my best to stay composed.

“Now, we can’t have any of that. Besides, your parents have approved what I have in mind, so you really don’t have any say in the matter, Jason. Just lie back on the couch and try to relax while we peer inside that incredible little mind of yours.”

The couch. Yeah, Stanton actually had a couch. I had always thought it was another one of his stupid props. No one actually lay down at a therapy session anymore. Did they? And what was this about my parents having the final say? I was of legal age now. Barely, but it counted.

Stanton pushed a button on the intercom on his desk. “I think we’re ready, Ms. Throckmartin. You can come in now.”

My eyes flashed toward the doorway, which opened in a same moment to reveal someone I’d never seen, a woman with a jet-black bowl-shaped head of hair and a dark birthmark just over her right eyebrow. She wore a gray pantsuit and a pair of white gloves that made her look a little like the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

To her left was a small man in spectacles - the round-framed glasses I’d seen in pictures of John Lennon - and a white physician’s coat. Under one arm, he carried a tablet computer. He looked like a mole.

I stood and took a step backward.

Directly behind the mole man stood an imposing specimen of humanity even bigger than Haze.

I glared at him. Always challenge the biggest dog first; if you lose, you get it over with quickly. If you win, all the others will fall into line. I don’t know where I’d heard that, but it had always seemed like a damn good way of handling conflicts. If I was intimidated, I wasn’t about to let them know it.

Any of them.

“Allow me to introduce Ms. Throckmartin, Mr. Davey and Mr. Olson. They’ll be assisting us this afternoon.”

My mind flashed back to the football field and my winning touchdown. There was only one door to the room, which wasn’t particularly large, and Mr. Olson - the big dog - stood directly between me and the goal line. He was big, but I surmised that I was faster. A lot faster. I took a step forward and stuck out my hand, imitating Stanton’s plastered-on smile. Reflexively, the mole man took a step forward and extended his own hand. In the moment that he shifted his balance, I grabbed it and pulled him toward me.

His knees buckled and I let go, thrusting both hands firmly against his shoulders and knocking the off-balance mole backward into the surprised big dog. Both went tumbling backward in a heap. I had just a split-second to make it past them, but I knew it would be enough. I ran for the goal line …

And felt my shoulder wrenched back firmly from behind. Arms flailing, I landed flat on my back.

Ms. Throckmartin was staring down at me.

“Don’t worry about them,” she snarled. “Worry about me. Be afraid of me.” Her lips curled up in a menacing, self-satisfied smile.

“Sweet dreams,” she said.

Then everything went black.

*****

Thank you Stifyn for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at authorjejohnson@gmail.com

 

Author Spotlight: Interview with Delin Colón

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

I currently have a two non-fiction/biography/memoir companion books published about Rasputin. The most recent, Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary by Aron Simanovitch, translated and annotated by me (Delin Colón), is the English translation of the memoirs of my great-great uncle who was secretary and friend to Grigory Rasputin for a decade.

My earlier book, Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History, is the result of my fifteen years of researching sources who could substantiate Simanovitch’s claims of Rasputin’s aid to and advocacy for minorities, especially the oppressed Jews, as well as his account of Rasputin’s progressive and egalitarian ideas for social reform that caused the nobility to detest him.

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

There are numerous groups of people interested in Russian history, Jewish history, and those who have a particular fascination with Rasputin. Both of my books present Rasputin in a different light than ever seen before, as a healer and humanitarian (even if he did like to party) who was actually the victim of a smear campaign by a greedy and power-hungry aristocracy. Why hasn’t this come out before? Think about who writes history: the powerful, the literate, the credentialed. Not the common man who, no doubt, has an opposing view of events and conditions. For example, while there are books about the subject, Russian history doesn’t often detail the ethnic cleansing that took place under the tsars, most often by the military. 

While Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History deals with a more global and academic historical perspective, offering a view of Rasputin in a more socio-political context, Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary is a lively, personal account of daily life with Rasputin as well as the gossip, plots and intrigues of Petersburg society. My footnotes to the memoir provide context and explanation.

3. How did you come up with the titles of your books?

Originally, I wasn’t going to publish my English translation of Simanovitch’s French memoir. My intention was to garner further evidence for Simanovitch’s claims about Rasputin and publish a more researched book, focusing on Rasputin’s political views and aid to Jews. When Simanovitch first published his memoir in Russian (1928), it was titled Rasputin and The Jews. When it was translated from Russian to French, it was called Rasputin by His Secretary Aron Simanovitch.  My guess is that, especially at that time, the French publisher felt having “Jews” in the title might impede sales. So, for the book I authored, I took a variation of Simanovitch’s Russian title and called it Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History. When I decided to publish my translation of Simanovitch’s memoir, I went with a variation of his French title, calling it Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary.

4. Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

For the memoir translation, I was very fortunate to strike up an exchange with graphic designer Siri Nadler (http://cargocollective.com/siricreative) to whom I had complained that I was too busy editing Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary to be concerned with the cover which just seemed like a looming burden. I placed myself completely in her hands and as I worked on the manuscript, Siri sent me a variety of options for the cover, any of which I would have been happy with. I had her choose the one that she liked best, which I thought was stunning, with its mustard, leather-look background, the old Russian scrolling, and the red and black ornate lettering. It was an absolute blessing for me not to have to think about the cover and to be able to concentrate on the manuscript.

5. Who is your favorite person in the memoir and why?

It would seem obvious to say Rasputin is my favorite person and Simanovitch did affectionately depict him as lively, principled, and complex but humorous.  However, I was very drawn to Simanovitch, not only because he was my great-great uncle, but because of his commentaries on the mentality of the aristocracy contrasted with that of the peasantry. Although he often exaggerated his own importance, he had interesting insights into the dynamics of the different social classes. Simanovitch also had no qualms about describing Rasputin’s wild night life which he shared, nor did he hold back on any of the juicy court gossip of the time, some which he apparently believed. Simanovitch was a jeweler by trade (one of the few Jews allowed to live in Petersburg), but also ran several gambling clubs, a profession not kindly looked upon by the upper classes.  I enjoyed the fact that while Simanovitch bragged about some parts of his life, he also freely admitted some of his fears, weaknesses and mistakes.

6. How about your least favorite person?  What makes them less appealing to you?

My least favorite person whom Simanovitch described is the Tsar’s uncle and Commander of the Russian Armies, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich Romanov. He was such an avid anti-Semite that he accused all Jews of being spies during World War One and, in the course of retreating after military defeats, encouraged the torture and slaughter of entire villages of Jews. He was ruthless and bloodthirsty.

8. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

One interesting fact is that while the aristocracy spread exaggerated or fabricated accounts of Rasputin’s drinking and womanizing, they themselves consumed champagne and vodka by the case, and many in the court, government and upper classes were afflicted, due to promiscuity, with venereal diseases which were so rampant at the time that the newspapers were filled with advertisements for cures. One historian even noted that if Rasputin had been born into nobility, no one would have thought anything of him drinking or philandering.

Another interesting fact is that more than a hundred people a day lined up at Rasputin’s apartment door to request help or favors of some kind. Many Jews who were denied educations (only 3 to 5% of university students could be Jewish) by law obtained notes from the Tsarina due to Rasputin’s intervention, permitting more Jews than allowed by the quota to be educated. He also helped people who had been unjustly imprisoned and people who wanted to live outside The Pale of Settlement that most Jews were confined to. In addition, he helped the poor by demanding that the wealthy who came for favors (promotions, titles, awards, etc.) empty their pockets and give money to the poor who had come for help.

Rasputin also saw to it that his daughters had the best possible schooling in Petersburg. He always went home to Siberia in the spring to help with the harvest on his farm, and his wife came to visit him once a year or so while he stayed in Petersburg. She was very proud of him and the attention that society women paid him. When asked if it didn’t bother her to have so many women fawning all over her husband, she reportedly smiled and said he had plenty of love to go around for everyone.  Rasputin adored her and treated her with great respect.

9. What other books are similar to your own?  What makes them alike?

I was very impressed with another memoir, The Accidental Anarchist by Bryna Kranzler who also edited Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary.  Bryna had taken the diaries of her grandfather, a Jew in the Tsar’s army during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and edited the three dozen composition books of his Yiddish notes into a memoir as good as any action/adventure/suspense/historical novel, with some dry humor thrown in.  Both memoirs cover the subject of Jewish history in tsarist Russia from the perspective of and in the voice of men who lived it. 

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I’m not sure how unique it is, but I enjoy doing collage art – cutting various shapes out of colored construction paper and creating an abstract design by pasting the pieces onto a background. A few of my works are on the Fine Art America site.

I also talk to myself a lot. I don’t think that’s a talent, but it could be a hobby.

11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

My website, The Real Rasputin, has articles, excerpts, reviews and background:  http://therealrasputin.wordpress.com/

Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary by Aron Simanovitch, translated and annotated by Delin Colón, edited by Bryna Kranzler, is available in paperback and on Kindle at: http://www.amazon.com/RASPUTIN-Memoirs-Secretary-Aron-Simanovitch/dp/1484925858

Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History by Delin Colón is also available in paperback and on Kindle at: http://www.amazon.com/Rasputin-Jews-Reversal-Delin-Col%C3%B3n/dp/1461027756

12. What can we expect from you in the future?

Rasputin movies seem to be returning to popularity. I’ve been considering writing a screenplay, although it will tell quite a different story than any other movie about him. In the interim, I’ve taken on some jobs editing the work of other writers. Frankly, I don’t know what to expect from myself in the future, but I know it’ll come to me when the timing is right.

13. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

The obvious response is “Please write a review!” They’re always appreciated. Give the books as a gift, recommend them to friends and reading groups, tweet about them — in general, make as much noise as you can about them. Authors (especially lesser known ones) aren’t exactly the wealthiest sector of the population, so we can use all the help we can get!

14. Do you have any advice for other writers trying to get published?

Whatever you’re working on, go at it doggedly and edit, edit, edit. I don’t write fewer than half a dozen drafts of a piece. After you’ve edited your manuscript, get a professional editor – a developmental editor to lend a critical eye to the structure and logistics of the work.

If you’re going to self-publish, don’t use any of those presses that charge a fee or force you to purchase a certain number of volumes. Print-on-demand can be done for free. The only fees you should have to pay are for extra services purchased, such as formatting or cover design, but one can learn to do those things.

Most importantly, writing the book is the easy part. It’s finite; there’s a beginning and an end to the process. Promoting and marketing the book is an endless and full-time task but there are resources available on LinkedIn author discussions, Goodreads, and many other sites. It’s wise to establish connections with other authors who can be very helpful with any questions or suggestions.

16. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

From Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary

Chapter 1

 

My Introduction to the Imperial Court

Allow me first to say a few words about myself: For more than 10 years, I occupied a position, in Petersburg, that one could certainly call ‘unique’.  For the first time in Russian history, a simple Jew from the provinces was received by the Royal Court and had some influence over affairs of state.  The upper classes of that time posed no serious obstacle despite their profound anti-Semitism.  They sought my advice and assistance even though I was a Jew; however, most of my activities consisted of trying to aid my oppressed people, and lighten their load.

My success in Petersburg has generally been attributed to my bond of friendship with Rasputin.    It has been said that it was Rasputin who cleared the way for my introduction to the Imperial Court.   This is not exactly true.  My friendship with Rasputin was certainly very precious to me, but the truth is that I had established connections with Petersburg society before Rasputin arrived in that city.  And this is how I did so:

I was an established jeweler in Kiev and knew many influential people.  Living in the provinces, I acquired a lot of experience in dealing with the police and other bureaucrats.  I became adept at the art of manipulating these state officials.  However, life for all Jews in Kiev, meant tolerating all sorts of vexations and humiliations. So, in 1902, I moved to Petersburg, temporarily leaving my family in Kiev to manage my thriving business.  In Petersburg, I often met people for whom I previously had performed important services.  Most had not forgotten my assistance and remained ready to oblige by helping me to get established in the city.  Due to several among them, I was later able to escape certain death, as well as save the lives of my children.

In 1905, at the first worrisome reports of a pogrom in Kiev, I hurried back to join my family.  My stores had been ransacked.  My business managers and many of my relatives had been massacred.  My own life and that of my immediate family were in grave danger.  But General Mavrin, who led the pogrom, and Zichotzki, the police prefect, took us under their protection and, thanks to them, my family and I escaped to Berlin.

As we were leaving Kiev, in front of the synagogue, we saw the corpses of Jews massacred during their holy service.  This horrible spectacle left such an indelible impression that, after arriving in Berlin, it took me some time to recover.  It was then that I firmly resolved to engage in the struggle, using any and all means, to defend the lives and rights of myself, my family and my fellow Jews.  I decided to actively support the causes and interests of my people.  Only now, and for the first time, am I making a public report of what I attempted and accomplished, taking full responsibility for my actions, and ready to accept any attacks or accusations.

*****

Thank you Delin for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at authorjejohnson@gmail.com