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Monday, March 11, 2024

Krishna Kumar - The IAN Interview

KrishnaKumar

Krishna Kumar studies, evaluates, and analyzes events in Indian history with particular emphasis on the British Period.

Krishna's interest in history and analysis started early when his father encouraged him to learn about various global historical events and their implications.

Krishna, therefore, learned to analyze and separate the wheat from the chaff before reaching any conclusions or forming an opinion, given the multiple narratives.

Spending most of his life in a non-related profession, books and picking up information remained constant companions, and the internet opened a floodgate about the past and different viewpoints. Three years back, his interest became his career.

Krishna grew up in India and lives with his wife and daughter in New Jersey.

IAN: Tell us about your latest book.

Krishna Kumar: 1942: When British Rule In India Was Threatened

British Rule in India started with a governorship of one of the provinces and slowly extended to the entire country, either directly or via ‘subsidiary agreements’ with multiple kingdoms. The local ruler accepted British Sovereignty in relationships with other kingdoms, the size of the army, and other matters.

In 1942, British Rule came under severe threat when Japan conquered Hong Kong, Malaya (now Malaysia), Singapore, and   Burma (now Myanmar) one by one. As per British policy, the defense of these areas was the responsibility of the British Indian Army and the Government of India, and people of Indian origin conducted a lot of trade and administration.

When Japan attacked, Hongkong surrendered on Dec 25th, 1941, followed by Singapore and Malaya in February, and Burma was taken over in April ’42. After that, India was bombed, and ports on the eastern side of India were closed.

In Singapore on 17th February 1942, the Indian National Army (INA)was formed from Indian soldiers who were taken prisoners. A year later, when Subhas Bose took over this army, he declared a Provisional Government of Free India, and INA became its armed wing. They began the fight to liberate India from British Rule, reaching deep inside Northeast India and flying an independent Indian flag on the Indian mainland. After the surrender in 1945, these soldiers were imprisoned, and some of them were tried for treason to make an example, as many of them were part of the former British Indian Army and had broken their oath to the British King by joining INA.

That led to a wave of protests and agitations in the country that made it ungovernable, and the British had to leave before their economic interests were damaged forever.

This book examines the relationship of various events of 1942, their linkages, and how these eventually led to Indian freedom. It also briefly discusses the nature of British Rule.

IAN: Is 1942 published in print, eBook or both?

Krishna Kumar: Available in paperback and as eBook.

IAN: Where can we go to buy 1942?

Krishna Kumar: Amazon, Kobo, Google, and Apple.

IAN: What inspired you to write 1942?

Krishna Kumar: 1942 was such a pivotal year that it changed Southeast Asia's future, and this had to be brought out clearly. I desired to bring out these events that triggered Indian Independence in particular, how they are connected, and their impact using multiple sources and citing them for the reader. Indian history has been selectively presented after independence, and the truth has been a victim. Many researchers and authors are now bringing the facts into the open of various periods, and I am trying to do my bit.

IAN: Did you use an outline, or did you just wing the first draft?

Krishna Kumar: I did an outline as most of the research was over when I started writing the book, but some changes had to be made while writing to ensure the sequence was clear and maintained flow.

IAN: How long did it take to write 1942?

Krishna Kumar: This book took about six months and had three major activities: writing, some additional information, and arranging the flow of information. But I have been researching this period for three years. For this book, I decided to pause the other book I had been working on. There were many reasons for doing this book first. Among these are checking how the audience reacts to my writing style and learning the ropes in marketing.

IAN: How did you come up with the title?

Krishna Kumar: I had prepared several titles, and this one was chosen because it clearly explains the book's content.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading 1942?

Krishna Kumar: I hope the reader finds it interesting to learn some truths of Indian history that have not been covered in popular narratives. For example, most do not know that Japan had bombed three Indian ports in 1942. They know about the Bengal famine of 1943 but do not know that one of the significant reasons was that the import of rice from Burma stopped as Burma went to the Japanese, and no alternative supply was arranged.

Further, the book brings out the interdependence and relationships in this geographical area.

IAN: How much of 1942 is realistic?

Krishna Kumar: It is 100 percent based on real-life incidents, and extensive citations are used. My father, my uncle, and their friends who lived through this period narrated many incidents that particularly created an interest in this period.

IAN: What books have influenced your life the most?

Krishna Kumar: Mahabharata. This epic covers success and failure, emotions across a wide spectrum, and is a guide to living life.

IAN: Do you see writing as a career?

Krishna Kumar: After I retired from business, this has become my full-time activity.

IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Krishna Kumar: My parents encouraged me, and while in school, I started writing articles whose publication became a major inspiration. My first article was published when I was thirteen. Even though I pursued a professional career in an unrelated field, I kept studying books and publications in history and politics.

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing 1942?

Krishna Kumar: Keeping the focus on the main part of the events and maintain the flow while citing various sources. The citations are the most important part of presenting truth; they often have expressions specific to the period, so the language differs.

IAN: Did you learn anything from writing your book, and what was it?

Krishna Kumar: Truth can be hidden, but it will come out eventually. This, by the way, is also part of the Indian National emblem and is taken from Mundaka Upanishad, which is part of ancient Hindu wisdom books.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Krishna Kumar: My next book is fiction—a collection of short stories inspired by real events in the history of the Indian Subcontinent. The protagonists in each story have an emotion that determines their activities and guides their lives.

Besides, for three years, I have been researching the period of 1920-1950 of the Indian Freedom struggles and hope to have this book- No Stone Unturned, Indian Freedom Struggle, and Subhas Bose- out later this year or early next year. This examines the events and roles played by various persons and influences, Subhas Chandra Bose in particular.

Monday, January 29, 2024

K. Reagan Zell - The IAN Interview

K. Reagan Zell

I currently live in southern New Jersey with my husband, two lovable St. Danes, and four energetic cats. As a true New Jersey-ite, I can usually be found taking walks on one of the state's breathtaking beaches, watching the amazing sunrises and sunsets while listening to a variety of music. I also enjoy discovering and exploring many of the amazing New Jersey nature trails or visiting any one of the remarkable New Jersey historical sites. It is in the nature that surrounds us and the psychology within us all that intrigues and inspires me the most to write about what I see, hear, and feel around me.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

K. Reagan Zell: During the Covid quarantine, I began to write a nine book paranormal romance series, The Beguiled West Series I. Beguiled Persuasion (Book 1) begins the captivating journey of Cait, an empath who accidently discovers that her once despised empathic gift has a different purpose in her life. Nevertheless, her discoveries and ultimate decisions are not without perilous consequences.

Having broken up with her boyfriend when she discovered that he was married and then immediately having to deal with the sudden death of her father, Cait takes a sleeping pill to help her cope. Her one innocent action of that pill as she tries to find emotional relief sets into motion an incredible journey of unimaginable paranormal events. Traveling between her present-day timeline and 15th century Ireland, she encounters psychics, a Shaman, Druids, a rogue time shifter, and the Galloglaith warriors. As she slowly but surely makes her way through the astonishing events, she also makes some devastating discoveries and must decide who is dangerous and who is not.

Beguiled Persuasion is the first book in the series, followed by Mists of Tiarnas, Valley of Ogham Na, Nattfisker Ridge, Tears of Tårene, Lanterns of Sennaire, Manens Sunrise, Buran of Qaneame, and Borde's Rim.

IAN: Is Beguiled Persuasion published in print, e-book, or both?

K. Reagan Zell:The books are only E-books.

 IAN: Where can we go to buy Beguiled Persuasion?

K. Reagan Zell: Currently, books 1-5 are available on Smashwords.com (formats: epub, mobi, pdf, lrf, pdb, and txt); Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Beguiled Persuasion is also available on various library channels.

IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

K. Reagan Zell: Interesting question. I began to write the books as I listened to music. As different types of music provided a background, the ideas entered my mind. I could actually imagine and feel the characters, their actions and reactions, their dialogues, and their emotions all set against different locales. It was like when an idea pops into your head when you want to fix something, make a recipe, or decorate. It was like that, but different. There was no outline or winging it; it was as if I were a viewer watching a movie, losing myself in the storyline, and feeling the full impact of the tale.

IAN: How much of the book is realistic?

K. Reagan Zell: I would say that as far as being realistic, or even tied to personal experiences, there are some elements in the book in regards to that. As we grow in life, we always draw upon our own experiences and that of others. Love, birth, life lived, déjà vue, and death are all universal. Experiences are what make us human, connecting our values and realities through life.

IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

K. Reagan Zell: Many years ago, I had an English teacher in high school who had assigned the classto write a short story. Once again, through music, my mind moved into a scene and I created a fiction story as the images came into my mind. After we had turned in our assignments, the teacher asked me to stay behind to talk. Once everyone had left, he began to question me as to where I got the idea because he felt that I could not have written something as good as that. Although he could not find any story that matched my fictional story (of which he never would - the story was original), he was still cynical. After a long discussion back and forth and explaining my inspiration process, he finally gave me an "A". He realized through our conversation that I liked to write, but he still seemed doubtful that a high school student could write such a good fictional short story. Back in the day, educators did not recognize talent, felt that anything out of the ordinary was false, and did not encourage growth of a student's special talent. I was graduating high school a year early, had good grades and he still had doubts. Unfortunately, because of my experience with him, I never wanted to write fiction again.

Then years later, came college and working on an advanced degree, a master’s in psychology. Writing assignments and term papers based upon science and the strict association writing rules (400+ pages) left me feeling cold, empty, and not producing anything worthwhile. Although I did well, my heart was not in it. In my opinion, I was not creating anything meaningful, just plugging along with the required norm. Once I got my degree, I was done with writing such cold and emotionless papers and assignments; it was not my passion.  

IAN: I see. Then how did you find your way back to fiction writing?

K. Reagan Zell: It was not until decades later with the Covid pandemic/quarantine that I once again decided to put pen to paper - with my headset on, listening to music - and wrote what I saw, heard, and felt in my mind's eye. As I approach another milestone in my life, I will eventually write full time, listening to my music, and writing what I see, hear, and feel. I have found my passion and will enjoy it well into retirement down the road.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading Beguiled Persuasion?

K. Reagan Zell: It is my hope that not only is it a good story line, but that people associate the emotions and experiences as being universal, connecting to something that we have personally known, a shared understanding of life. By being able to relate to the challenges and joys in our lives, it is those experiences that connect us all as humans.

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing Beguiled Persuasion?

K. Reagan Zell: For me, the hardest part is not the writing of a book, but rather the disbelief of some of those around us that cannot fathom that any person they know can even be creative. The reasoning is something very basic; people have an unconscious tendency to connect a person with what they do in life rather than what they are. A newscaster who is a talented painter will always be first referred to as a newscaster; a homemaker who has a dog training business will always be first referred to as a homemaker; and a talented high school student will always be first referred to as a student. It is unfortunate that our positions in life are what label us first, limiting our primary recognition of the talents we possess and where we prosper and flourish the most. Again, as with the English teacher, people have the tendency of viewing talented people through the eyes of skepticism, an unaware portrayal based upon their own association of the world around them.

It is a slow process when they discover and finally believe that a person has a natural and imaginative talent. In the end, the most important thing for any creative person to remember is that it is not what we do or earn, but rather, it is our passion and drive to create what we value the most.

IAN: Who designs your book covers?

Multi-talented book cover designer and award-winning author, Melissa Alvarez (https://bookcovers.us/). She is one of the most amazing, passionate, and outstanding creative designers that I have ever met. When designing a cover, it is so important to get the elements right, to be able to have the designer see what you see, and Melissa nails it every single time. I am truly blessed to be working with her.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Beguiled Persuasion is currently available on Smashwords.com and I will be uploading books 6-8 of the Beguiled West Series I this summer. I am currently finishing the dramatic conclusion in book 9 (Borde's Rim). The new series (Beguiled West Series II) that I will be working on is The Eshunna Trilogy, a futuristic romance genre.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Donna Silveira-The IAN Interview

Donna Silveira

From the California beaches to the Massachusetts harbors, and now settled on a Texas cattle ranch, this wandering heart has traveled far and wide to understand people, culture, and primarily God! Led to Christ through Mary, Donna seeks to pass on the lessons learned, knowledge, and the love she has for Him. Journey with her as she takes people on a tour through a spirituality as unique as she is! A fervent ambassador for Catholicism and a guiding light as a life coach, Donna hosts an online sanctuary, MyCatholicChat.com, which offers a treasure trove of spiritual resources. Her drive? To lead souls towards a deeper relationship with God.



IAN: Please tell us about This Is Your Last Warning.

Donna Silveira: This is a book that examines purported Marian apparitions and mystic visions where the messages discuss future events, scrutinizing them for their reliability. Using guidelines given by the Church in discerning valid from invalid apparitions, the book discusses the reasons some prophecies are invalid. The apparitions and prophecies from mystic visions which are highly reliable are then taken to form a timeline of the events we can expect to see if mankind does not turn back to God. The timeline spans from today, and some of the craziness we see in our world today, through an era of peace, and ultimately to the antichrist and Christ's return on the last day.

Only the Church-accepted or highly reliable apparitions or mystic visions were used to construct the timeline.  Further, these prophecies relate to happenings in our current society and world issues, the Church itself, and our general state.  It is this contextualized approach to the prophecies that allows them to be understood and clearly draws the picture of what is to come. This was painstakingly researched and the sources documented.

IAN: Is This Is Your Last Warning published in print, e-book or both? 


Donna Silveira: It is an eBook and is available in color-print paperback format.

IAN: Where can we go to buy This Is Your Last Warning?

Donna Silveira: The Kindle and the Paperback.

IAN: What inspired you to write This Is Your Last Warning?

Donna Silveira: I’ve always had an interest in Marian apparitions, but I come at them with quite a bit of skepticism.  Many of them turn out to be false! So I think in large part, it was a matter of looking at these prophecies, which I have run across, and these concepts that relate to the end times, and wondering if there was any validity to these things! So, I began researching these prophecies, and since I was doing the research anyway, I decided to formulate a timeline out of the prophecies that could be determined to be unquestionably true, or at least had a very high probability of being true. I wound up with so much information, that the book kind of wrote itself!

IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

Donna Silveira: For this one, there was sort of a combination of both. I did a ton of research, and it was on various apparitions, and certain concepts.  So things like “the great monarch”, or the “illumination of conscience” I wanted to tackle first, to see if there was any validity to either of those concepts. Then things sort of fell into two categories: Apparitions, and mystics.  So the research I was doing, simply by its nature, lent itself fairly well to its organization.  An editor who looked at it suggested that I go in chronological order for each of the sections, since each section seemed to be sort of haphazardly put together.  When I started, I was building out the timeline and providing supportive argument from apparitions as I was building out the order of what was to come, as stated within these messages. It did make more sense to put the apparitions and the mystics in chronological order and build out the timeline in a slightly different order though. Turns out that a good editor is an invaluable resource!

Do you have a specific writing style?

Donna Silveira: My writing style is unique to me, I think. Basically, I write in just about the same manner that I speak. Therefore, my writing is replete with sarcasm, (you can almost envision the eyes rolling), and a dash of humor here and there. Life tends to be rather absurd at times, which truly makes it entertaining. One supposed prophecy that I discounted was pretty funny when you examine it logically. After recounting the story of this prophecy’s source – I just had to summarize it to show how ridiculous this whole thing was: “We’re left with a no-name ‘newly ordained priest’ giving a book that was hidden, so no one could corroborate, to a king who immediately destroys it after reading it.”   Really?  Someone seriously is going to take that as a valid source?  Sorry, I just can’t. Again, too absurd not to be funny!

IAN: How did you come up with the title?

Donna Silveira: This wasn’t supposed to sound really fatalistic, although in hindsight I think I should have come up with something else. Having poured through numerous messages, and seeing the patterns, I wouldn’t expect any more valid apparitions anytime soon. There have been a fair number of valid apparitions and warnings given. I just put all those warnings together. So the ”last warning” is this compendium of all the previous messages. Oftentimes, when things are scattered, it’s difficult to see the bigger picture. I simply took all those scattered messages, put them in one place, and put them in the best order I could discern. As such, it turned into a timeline, since I’m a little bit visually oriented and I’ve heard a picture speaks a thousand words. So I like pictures!

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading This Is Your Last Warning?

Donna Silveira: With this, because I honestly believe that this is the most accurate picture of the future, I really want readers to come away with an understanding of how God simply wants us to return to Him. Hopefully they’ll get a sense of the fact that humankind has gone our own way for long enough, with terrible results. Our society isn’t peaceful, isn’t based in love and truth, isn’t generous and kind, and isn’t respectful of life, authority, or much of anything. I think it leaves us getting more and more wounded with each day, and God simply wants to put a stop to it.

IAN: How much of the This Is Your Last Warning is realistic?

Donna Silveira: Well, obviously, this comes down to one’s beliefs. What I can say is that with many of the Marian apparitions, there is substantial evidence. Now granted, there is no apparition that has given “irrefutable” evidence – although I would say that the apparition at Las Lajas is one of the most convincing with regard to evidence. That one didn’t discuss future events and is not included in this book, but I am also planning on writing another book simply on significant Marian apparitions. That will include a greater portion of the overall messages given, not just the messages relating to the future. In the Las Lajas apparition, an image appeared on a rock, which turned out to be the rock itself – not paint, not dye, not some natural means.  Rocks don’t normally rearrange themselves at the molecular level so that the color striations within the rock form images that look like paintings. So although not “irrefutable”, because I’m sure someone somewhere will try to argue why this can’t be from divine origin, it’s enough to convince me. The Church goes through a fairly hard-core process of looking for ways to deny an apparition, or to refute a mystic, before the apparition or vision is approved. They look at everything from psychological disorders to the demonic. In the book I mention the guidelines the church uses for discernment of these visions, and I use some of those guidelines in discerning the validity of the messages in the book. As a result, only the most reliable ones are used to formulate the timeline.

IAN: How is This Is Your Last Warning different from others in your genre?

Donna Silveira: Well, another author who read this book and who has an interest in eschatology, or the study of the end times, said the following: “I’ve been both a keen observer and critic of apocalyptic literature, and I must confess, this is among the few books that have captivated me entirely.”

So I suppose I must have done something right! With many of the books I used as sources, I noticed that people would use books as sources that themselves didn’t cite where these supposed prophecies originated! That was really frustrating to me, so I made sure to document every source I used.

IAN: Do you see writing as a career?

Donna Silveira: It’s kind of funny, but I don’t really consider myself an author. I just impart information. I once had a Literature teacher in college tell me that I should become an author, but at the time my thoughts were something along the lines of “Yeah, right.” Now that I’m older, I just feel like there’s so many things that I have learned, so much progress I’ve made in certain areas, and not an insubstantial amount of “hard-knocks” type lessons I’ve had to go through, that I really need to pass this along. I didn’t have much in the way of mentors, and most of these things I had to figure out for myself. If I can save someone a little time in their spiritual growth, steer someone clear of things that are patently false, or give them a leg-up on gaining a valuable life-lesson, then my time writing is well-spent. That would make it all worth it.

IAN: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Donna Silveira: I really like Michael J Sullivan’s work with the Riyria series and all the books of Elan. It’s fun when you have a series that paints a detailed picture of a whole world, and cross-references back to the earlier works. I would love to be able to have that level of talent to create a whole fantasy world! I absolutely love to immerse myself in good fiction where the characters are like us, both honorable and flawed, with all the nuances that make each person so fascinating! Plus, there’s enough humor in his books that make them a pleasure to read. In my case, they’re a delight to listen to since I tend to do audiobooks. Tim Gerard Reynolds is the perfect narrator for the series, and you can truly become lost in the story. This is one author where I find myself pre-ordering the next book in the series and have read all the others! The original seven or so books of Harry Potter were a good read too, although I don’t find myself waiting with as much anticipation for any other follow-ups. Sometimes it’s good for a series to just end, but maybe that also had something to do with the movies and other marketing “spinoffs” that the whole series generated.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress.

Donna Silveira: My next book is soon to be released. It is entitled “A Mother’s Walk Through Scripture: A Prayerful Journey Through the Gospels”

It is a view of some high points of the Gospels, based on the “Mysteries of the Rosary” as Catholics would reference them. These are meditations on these points in the Gospels, which comprise a fairly comprehensive narrative of the Gospel story, but looking at it from Mary’s perspective.


Tuesday, November 21, 2023

David Whittet the Independent Author Network Interview

 

David Whittet

David Whittet is a family doctor, a multi-award-winning independent filmmaker, and an author.

Storytelling has been in David’s DNA for as long as he can remember. As a child, a dramatization of Oliver Twist had a profound effect on him. In its day, Dickens’ novel reformed the poor law, which convinced David of the written word’s potential to change the world.

He decided then that he wanted to be a writer. Subsequently, A J Cronin’s novels inspired David to become a doctor, especially The Citadel, which pre-empted the National Health Service’s foundation in the UK and beyond. Further proof that books change lives.

Medicine is a constant source of inspiration for David’s writing and brings a gritty realism to his work. Like writing, general practice is about being interested in people’s stories. The colourful cast of characters David has met throughout his career––colleagues and patients alike––breathe life into his writing.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

David Whittet: Goliath and the Gang is the second book in my Gang Girl trilogy. The first novel introduced us to Alicia, the daughter of a notorious gangster. We shared both the joy and despair of her lifelong struggle to break free from the Gang and build a new life for herself.

In Goliath and the Gang, we meet Aaron, Alicia’s beloved son. Aaron is cruelly separated from his mother when he’s just five years old. Raised by his aunt after losing his mother, Aaron’s uncle bullies him mercilessly, and his cousins treat him with disdain. His dream of making something of his life, of becoming an entrepreneur like his late father, rapidly disappears in the wake of his miserable childhood.

The sudden appearance of a mysterious Māori diviner sparks hope in Aaron’s heart. Is she the anonymous patron who will change everything? And will he win the heart of her haughty foster daughter?

Twenty years later, Aaron is the CEO of an industry-leading power company and still fighting the Godzone Gorillas—the Gang that kidnapped his mother.

IAN: Is the Gang Girl series available in print, e-book, or both?

David Whittet: All my books are available in print and e-book. Gang Girl is also available as an audiobook. I plan to make an audiobook of Goliath and the Gang.

IAN: Where can we go to buy your books?

David Whittet: This is my author page on Amazon, where you can buy copies of all my books.

The Gang Girl audiobook, beautifully narrated by Romy Hooper and Paul Harrop, is available from Audible and all major audiobook platforms worldwide.

I also sell personally signed books through my website DavidWhittet.com

IAN: What inspired you to write Gang Girl?

David Whittet Gang Girl was born of the twenty-plus years I spent working as a rural doctor in a remote New Zealand community with a strong gang presence. Goliath and the Gang takes inspiration from my move south to the beautiful Waitaki District, with its magnificent lakes and hydroelectric power stations. Privatisation of the power industry remains a contentious issue in New Zealand. It was headline news when I first drafted the story in the early 2010s, with the government selling shares in Mighty River Power, as it was called back then. Power and conflict against the stunning background of the Waitaki Valley proved the perfect canvas to take Alicia’s story to the next generation.

IAN: How did you come up with the titles?

David Whittet: Goliath and the Gang begins with a mother reading her five-year-old son a bedtime story, David and Goliath, from a book of Bible stories. After finishing the story, Alicia is abducted by the gang and cruelly separated from her beloved son, Aaron. Left in shock and determined to avenge his mother’s kidnapping, Aaron decides then and there that he has two sworn enemies, Goliath and the gang. I chose matching titles for the series to ensure continuity. The first book is Gang Girl, followed by Goliath and the Gang, and the final book will be Godzone and the Gorillas.

IAN: How much of the boos is realistic?

David Whittet: While Gang Girl and Goliath and the Gang are works of fiction, Alicia and Aaron’s struggles reflect those of themany extraordinary men and women I have met in the course of my work as a family doctor in rural New Zealand. Alicia’s plight, in particular, has resonated with readers. At the heart of Gang Girl, we have a strong woman determined to take charge of her own destiny. In these remote communities, many women battle to escape poverty and build a new life for themselves. Their courage is my inspiration and the lifeblood of the story.

IAN: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

David Whittet: While my second novel, The Road to Madhapur, is also fictitious, it draws on my personal experience of family medicine in both New Zealand and India. My first-hand knowledge of medicine in the raw and many real-life events helped shape the story. I have relived these episodes while writing the book. My time at a remote township in the Mayurbhanj district of India was during a period of considerable unrest following the recent murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines by Hindi militants. The community remained in crisis, with the tension between the Hindu and Christian communities threatening to ignite at any moment. Graham Staines’ widow, Gladys, stayed on in the Mayurbhanj and continued to provide a home for leprosy victims. I was privileged to meet Gladys and witness her extraordinary work caring for the poor and the destitute.

IAN: What books have most influenced your life?

David Whittet The art of storytelling has been part of my being for as long as I can remember. As a nine-year-old, I looked forward to Sunday evenings and the classic serial on television. A dramatization of Oliver Twist inspired me to become a writer. Dickens’ novel brought enormous social reform and forced the repeal of the poor law in Britain and beyond. The written word could change the world, and I knew then that I had to be an author. Books also influenced my career choice. A J Cronin, a doctor and a writer, is now largely remembered for the popular TV series Dr Finlay’s Casebook. But it was his early novel The Citadel that inspired me to become a doctor. Cronin’s book exposed inadequacies in the health system and shamed the British government into launching the National Health Service. A model subsequently replicated throughout the world. Proof positive that books change lives.

IAN: What book are you reading now?

David Whittet: Of all the incredible books I’ve read this year, Homecoming by Kate Morton stands out with its captivating multi-generational story and exquisitely crafted writing. Kate Morton wrote the book during the Covid-19 lockdown, having returned to her homeland in Australia, much like the story’s protagonist. This gripping story has stayed with me long after finishing the book.

IAN: Do you see writing as a career?

David Whittet: With three books published and three more in progress, am I ready to hang up the stethoscope and become a full-time writer? Not quite. Medicine is a constant source of inspiration for my writing. Like writing, general practice is about being interested in people’s stories. Without the colourful cast of characters that enter my consulting room each day––who knows? My words might dry up.

IAN: Do you have to travel much concerning your books?

David Whittet: I am a New Zealander, and my debut novel, Gang Girl, is set in our beautiful country. However, my second book, The Road to Madhapur, has a much broader scope, spanning rural New Zealand and the vast plains of India. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted my plans to revisit Madhapur to research the book. My current work in progress, Threepence on the Carpet, also has a vast canvas. The story follows Tommy, a would-be Kiwi musician, on his overseas experience in London in the swinging nineteen sixties. Although much will have changed from the novel’s setting, I would love to return to London for inspiration.

IAN: Who designed the covers?

David Whittet: I am fortunate to have found the incredibly talented New Zealand designer Holly Dunn. I have worked with Holly on the covers for each of my novels. She has a gift for capturing the spirit of a book in her cover designs. Holly’s expertise has helped me develop an author profile, which is crucial in the present indie publishing environment. We are already working on the covers and internal design for my next two books¾before I have finished the manuscripts!

Like editing, cover design can make or break a book’s success¾and an author’s career. I’m so glad I found Holly.

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing your books?

David Whittet: I’m not sure if my research for Gang Girl was the hardest part of writing the book, but it was definitely the scariest. Determined to make the novel authentic, I fronted up to a notorious gangster’s house. My heart beat even louder than the rottweiler that greeted me at the gate. I banged on the door. No reply. Muffled voices came from inside. Then, a nine-year-old boy gingerly put his head around the doorframe. 

‘Is your father at home?’ I asked.

‘I’ll go and ask him,’ the boy answered.

A loud voice boomed from inside. ‘Is it the cops?’

‘No,’ the boy replied. ‘It’s the doctor.’

‘The doctor? We didn’t call the doctor. Are you sure it’s not the cops?’

‘Positive. It’s the same dude that stitched my hand.’ He shot me an evil look. ‘And it bloody hurt.’

When the gangster finally emerged with his full-facial tattoo, he told me about his daughter’s lifelong struggle to escape the gang and forge a life of her own. I have endeavoured to capture that brave woman’s spirit in every page of Gang Girl.

IAN: Do you have any advice for other writers?

David Whittet: Seize the moment! It’s never too late to follow your dreams. I was nine years old when I decided that I wanted to be a writer, but I published my first novel in my sixties. Age is no barrier! Take every opportunity life affords us, and remember, in years to come, it’s the missed opportunities we will regret most.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

David Whittet: If only there were more than twenty-four hours in the day! I am currently working on three new books, each competing for my time. The buzz surrounding the launch of Goliath and the Gang has inspired me to complete Godzone and the Gorillas, the final book in the Gang Girl trilogy. I feel a great responsibility to the many readers who have told me how much they have enjoyed the first two books. Alongside Godzone and the Gorillas, I am working on my next stand-alone novel, Threepence on the Carpet. Tommy is a Kiwi musician caught up in the hippie movement while on his overseas experience in Britain in the 1960s. During the day, he works for a South African-owned bank. But at night, he writes and performs anti-apartheid folk songs with his flower power girlfriend. There’s trouble when his two worlds collide. Writing Threepence on the Carpet has been a blast—it’s full of real-life occurrences from the sixties, like the Aldermaston marches, the ban-the-bomb demonstrations, the political scandals, and, of course, The Beatles. This was truly the decade that changed Britain and sent shockwaves around the world.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Seas of the Zovah by Tim McKay



Seas of the Zovah - Book Two of the Draemeir Chronicle 

Destiny calls from the ashes of Kartumol.

The battle for the fallen fortress is over.

But the war for every soul in the land of Naevoroth is about to begin.

Darkness hides in every heart, and no one is who they seem. Heroes become villains when the quest to vanquish evil comes at any cost.

In the sequel to Rise of Dresca, the last soldier of Ceremai disappears.

Those whose lives he forever changed will begin to piece together the mysteries of their world and the powers growing within. Hunted by the corrupt and malevolent alike, they’ll band together against the ultimate threat.

Or die trying for those who come after to find a better way. 




About the Author:


Tim McKay is an unrepentant indie author from Ottawa, Canada. He used to be a pastor, still cares about good and
evil, and still strives to create meaningful experiences for others. He has degrees in history, theology, and public policy, along with a diploma in professional writing, but likes nothing more than hiking in the woods, running along the Rideau Canal, and connecting with the people he loves. Oh, and reading a good book.