📖Authors To Watch: Rob Kaufman Author of ALTERED #authorstowatch #interview

 

 

Rob Kaufman novels are known for having characters with whom people can relate, while at the same time, bringing them on a journey from which most people would crumble.

His degree in Psychology was the first step toward getting beneath the surface of the people in his life. What followed was a lifelong search for what makes people tick – what forces them to become evil when deep down they are yearning for love. Rob’s characters walk this search with him, deep into the human psyche, creating psychological thrillers from everyday events.

Rob’s books are perfect for those who enjoy thrillers but also need strong emotion to keep them deeply involved with the characters.

“All my books hit home for me,” says Rob. “There are always parts that make me laugh out loud as I write them… and many, too many, that make me cry. And the great thing is, I’m finding that many readers of my books experience the same emotions.”

Rob’s books receive both national and international praise with most reviews noting that his storylines are extremely “unique” and “sobering” and the twists and turns are “masterful”.

Website or Blog:  www.authorrobkaufman.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorKaufman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobKaufman

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/745558.Rob_Kaufman

Can you tell us how you got started writing fiction?

I’ve been writing fiction since first grade. I would write a story using blank pieces of white paper, tape them together and then give it to my mom. Of course, I always received a 5-star review! Although the last book of mine my mom got to see before she passed was “One Last Lie”, she still always gave me 5-star reviews. Other than loving to write, my mom’s encouragement of my writing is one of the main reasons I started, and continue, to write fiction.

Describe your writing process. Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants? When and where do you write?

I lie in bed every night until the story (or next chapter) is fleshed out. I then create an outline of each chapter. I used to write by the seat of my pants but realized that having an outline makes the actual “writing” part of the process easier. Not “easy”… easier. ☺

Can you tell us about your most recent release?

My latest release, “Altered” is the first in a series about a renowned NYC psychiatrist, Justin Wright, who takes on a patient with Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personalities, also known as “alters”). Little does he know that the patient is weaving himself into Justin’s life in ways that will change the lives of he and his family forever. There are a number of interesting characters and subplots that I won’t get into here, but I will say that those who have read “Altered” can’t wait for Book 2 “Jaded”, which should be released late January or early February.

Of all your characters, which one is your favorite? Why?

Of all the characters in all my books, I’d have to say my favorite is Jonathan in “One Last Lie”. I think it’s because he’s me in so many ways – a bit OCD, neurotic, Type A, and distrustful, while at the same time compassionate, giving and kind to those people who have the same qualities. Jonathan is me, but with a much stranger set of circumstances to contend with. 

What was the most challenging aspect of writing your book?

The most challenging aspect of writing “Altered” was making sure I had all the details about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) correct. I did online research, checked my writing with psychiatrists and psychologists and was lucky enough to have an editor who knows a lot about psychology and “reality”. Getting the facts right was my number one priority – and the toughest part of writing this book.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently writing BOOK 2 of the Justin Wright Suspense Series. The book is titled “JADED” which is similar to “ALTERED” in that it can be taken two ways. “ALTERED” represents the patient with DID who has alters and how lives are changed (altered) by the patient’s actions. “JADED” represents Justin’s newest patient, Jade, while at the same time describing how a very important character feels about life (and if it’s worth living).

What advice would you offer to new or aspiring fiction authors?

Be unique, don’t follow the crowd and have a very, very good editor. The first two will help ensure that there will be an audience for your work. The second will guarantee that your readers will enjoy your work. A manuscript with misspellings, plot holes and factual errors will turn astute readers off in a matter of seconds. Oh, and unlike me, don’t look at your reviews every day. You’ll easily forget the thousand 5-star reviews, but the one 2-star review will stay with you forever.

 

 

Title: Altered (Justin Wright Suspense Series Book 1)
Author: Rob Kaufman
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 276
Genre: Psychological Suspense/Thriller

When Frank Devlin walks into Justin Wright’s office, the renowned New York City clinical psychiatrist decides to take on one of the most challenging cases of his career.

After their first session, it’s obvious Frank has multiple personalities (“alters”) and each one couldn’t be more different than the other. Justin must get to know each individual alter in order to discover the best route to take so that Frank can live a full and happy life. He must also delve into Frank’s past, one filled with mystery, darkness and trauma — the true causes behind his personality split.

As Justin deals with Frank’s issues, he’s also confronted with his own demons: the kidnapping of Michael, his youngest son, seven years earlier… a wife he adores, Mandy, who refuses to accept her son is gone… a constant struggle with his oldest son, Dylan, who was watching over Michael the day the boy was taken. And his problems get worse as, unbeknownst to Justin, Frank and his alters are secretly weaving themselves into his life in ways that will affect the Wright family forever.

A suspense-filled story driven by emotion, angst and the ultimate revenge, “Altered” brings readers down a twisted path of uncertainty and mind games ­— leaving them shocked, heartbroken and questioning what could possibly come next…

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“Crazy-good plot lines and shocking information that had me gasping for breath at every turn!” – Anne F., Amazon Vine Reviewer

“It was an amazing ride with tension building throughout until the final twist ending.” – Patricia G., NetGalley Reviewer

Release Date: November 15, 2022

Soft Cover: ISBN:979-8358757523; 329 pages; $13.99; Kindle $7.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BlpCjs 

 

 

 

5 Questions with Paul Midden, Author of 'Riley'

Paul Martin Midden is the author of five previous novels, each of which explores different writing styles. He practiced clinical psychology for over thirty years. Paul’s interests include historic restoration, travel, fitness, and wine tasting. He and his wife Patricia renovated an 1895 Romanesque home in 1995 and continue to enjoy urban living.

Q: What’s inside the mind of an adult fiction author?

A: Most importantly, I think, is a desire to create something. Something that has not been done before, at least not in the way I would do it. Then there is the desire to create characters and let the lives of these characters unfold. For me, this means not overplanning my work or worrying too much about how they will turn out. Once a book is populated with believable characters, events take on a life of their own. It’s a matter of suspending left-brain thinking and respecting the characters that have been created.

Q: Tell us why readers should buy Riley?

A: For those who are interested in how relationships work (or not) in contemporary American life, this book would be of especial interest. It would also appeal to readers who sympathize with normal, even typical, people and how they navigate their lives in often difficult situations. The characters are not meant to be idealized versions of humans; they are living, breathing, mistake-making humans. Like all of us.

Q: What makes a good general fiction book?

A: The writing must be appealing and readily understood. Beyond that, the virtues of a good novel are clarity, candor, and representing the world as it is. Authenticity on the part of the characters is essential to a compelling read.

Q: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

A: My website at http://www.paulmidden.com

Q: What has writing taught you?

A: Writing fiction enables me to reach beyond the everyday world to create something that reflects that world and allows me, and, it is to be hoped, the reader, to see it in another way, from another perspective. It has deepened my appreciation of the complicated issues that we humans struggle with. It has also taught me the importance of letting events unfold, listening to the characters as they come alive on the page, and developing a greater perspective on life and relationships. And mostly it has taught me to savour the precious human experience.

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Author: Paul Martin Midden

Website: http://www.paulmidden.com

Publisher: Wittmann Blair Publishing

Find out more: http://www.paulmidden.com/riley.html

About the Book:

Riley, a young writer, finally divorces her husband and begins a novel about a fictional couple in conflict. Supported by her best friend, Jennifer, she begins her life of freedom. In a complicated turn of events, she meets and beds Edward, a shy young man who falls for her instantly. She does not want to continue the relationship, however, and her refusal lays the groundwork for a series of dangerous events. Her conflicts and those of her characters play out in this psychologically intriguing story.

New release: Maximilian's Treasure, by James D. Bell

Genre: Romantic Adventure 

Author: James D. Bell

Website: http://maximilianstreasure.com/

Find out more on Amazon       

About the Book:

Rumors of a legendary treasure fuel a battle over possession of a Choctaw family farm.  Two young lawyers, John Brooks and Jackson Bradley, agree to help the family keep their farm.  Early legal success prompts the drive-by murder of the patriarch of the family.  The grandson chases the suspects whose bodies are found on the farm, scalped.  At the same time clues to a vast treasure are found on the farm.  Jackson, pursued by fortune seekers, adventurers, an exotic beauty and a homicidal maniac, follows the clues from a Caribbean reef to the Chiapas jungle.  John stays behind to defend the grandson and continue the fight for the farm.  His efforts are complicated by arson, murder, race riots, and the realization that he lost his one true love.  Though there is great distance between them, their adventures are intertwined as they rush toward a triple climax that could shake the world.  Join the adventure and discover your Maximilian’s Treasure.

About the Author:

James D. Bell is an award-winning author and retired Judge who received the highest bar association approval ratings ever given to a Mississippi Circuit or County Judge. He is listed in Preeminent Lawyers, Outstanding Lawyers of America and Top 100 Attorneys of North America.  He is the author of two novels, Vampire Defense and Maximilian’s Treasure.  His short story, The Adventures of Sherlock Hound, was published in Mardi Allen’s collection, Dog Stories for the Soul, alongside stories from Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Willie Morris and others.  The son of a Choctaw mother and a Mississippi businessman, Judge Bell is devoted to his wife, Joanne.  They live near Jackson, Mississippi and have four children.  Judge Bell returned to law practice but is frequently called back to the bench by the Mississippi Supreme Court for short term assignments.

Find out more: 

http://maximilianstreasure.com/

http://www.judgebell.com/

https://www.facebook.com/VampireDefense/

New release: 'Manipulated' by John Ford Clayton

Genre: Political Thriller

Title: Manipulated

Author:  John Ford Clayton

Website: www.johnfordclayton.com

Find out more: https://www.amazon.com/Manipulated-John-Ford-Clayton/dp/0999548204

About the Book:

Manipulated is a political thriller set during the 2016 presidential election season from January 2015 through January 2017. During these two years, a fictional account of the election is chronicled. The first half of the book provides a back story illustrating an American political system soiled by political parties, a misguided media, and lots and lots of money, all orchestrated by a clandestine organization known as Mouse Trap.

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The second half of the book provides a glimpse at what the 2016 election might have looked like had a different candidate been introduced into the campaign. A candidate not bound to either political party, deep-pocket investors, or Washington insiders. A candidate who had absolutely no interest in the job but is drafted by those that know him best to fix a broken system. A candidate who personifies integrity, character, and humility. A candidate whose core values are guided by his faith.

About the Author:

John Ford Clayton lives in Harriman, Tennessee with his wife Kara, and canine companions Lucy, Ginger and Clyde. He has two grown sons, Ben and Eli, and a daughter-in-law, Christina. He earned a BS in Finance from Murray State University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He is active in his East Tennessee community having served on the local boards of the Boys and Girls Club and a federal credit union, on church leadership and creative teams, and on a parks and recreation advisory committee. When he’s not writing he works as a project management consultant supporting Federal project teams. John is a huge fan of Disney parks and University of Kentucky basketball.

Connect with John Ford Clayton on the web:

www.johnfordclayton.com

www.facebook.com/johnfordclayton

www.twitter.com/johnfordclayton

FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH HUSBAND-AND-WIFE MYSTERY NOVELISTS ROSEMARY & LARRY MILD, AUTHORS OF 'HONOLULU HEAT'

Rosemary and Larry coauthor the popular Paco & Molly Mysteries and the Dan & Rivka Sherman Mysteries—and most recently, Unto the Third Generation, A Novella of the Future. They call Honolulu home, where they cherish time with their children and grandchildren. The Milds are members of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Hawaii Fiction Writers. Find out more about their books on their website. 

1.      The best part of writing as a husband-and-wife is…

Larry: Never having to write in a vacuum, always having someone to turn to and discuss the process.

Rosemary: Spending valuable time together while sharing a meaningful project

2.      The most challenging part of writing as a husband-and-wife is…

Larry: Negotiating a difficult description passage or plot twist or character name or trait.

Rosemary: Accomplishing “a.” without ruffling any feathers. It’s the only thing we ever argue about.

3.     My absolute favorite part of the writing process is…

Larry: Developing the original plot idea into a complete first draft.

Rosemary: Researching and learning pertinent facts needed for the book.

Larry & Rosemary: Holding the final published and printed book in our hands

4.     My absolute least favorite part of the writing process is…

Larry and Rosemary: Proofreading!

5.     We seem to come up with the best writing ideas when…

Larry and Rosemary: when the two of us discuss something we’ve read or heard in the media.

6.     If we ever get “stuck” when I am writing, we get through it by…

Larry and Rosemary: going on to the next page, chapter or section and come back to it later.

7.     _________ is the book that changed my life.

Larry:  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas is the book that changed my life because it convinced me that history and adventure together make great novels.

Rosemary: Gone with the Wind captivated me with its life-size characters and Civil War setting. My second favorite: Forever Amber. So steamy for a fourteen-year-old in 1949 when Amber undoes two buttons of her blouse. I even announced to my mother that I was changing my name to Amber. You can imagine how well that went. 

8.     __________ is the book I wish I had written.

Larry: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is the book I wish I had written.

Rosemary: Strangers on a Train, Patricia Highsmith’s first novel; a brilliant psychological suspense/mystery.

9.     If I weren’t a writer, I’d most likely be…

Larry: An electronics engineer, which I was until I retired in 1993. I’ve been told that I might have made a decent lawyer otherwise.

Rosemary: I can’t imagine not being a writer. I spent my full-time career as an assistant editor at Harper’s; a copy editor at a major medical/scientific publisher; and as an engineering writer at Westinghouse. I love writing personal essays; my stock-in-trade is humor, exaggeration, and dramatizing the minutiae of my quirky everyday life.